Hank and Clementine Fabric Blog Tour

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I’m excited to be sharing a fun new fabric collection with you today!  I’m joining in the Hank and Clementine fabric tour, designed by Susan Emory of Swirly Girl Designs for Michael Miller Fabrics, hosted by my pal Gemia Carroll of Phat Quaters Fabric.  This collection is so bright and totally darling!  It brings hope of warm spring days, mornings in the garden, and afternoons in the sun.  I was so happy I got to bring this cute dress along with us on our own little trip to the sunshine and sand!

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I was excited when I realized that I could skip the dreary winter pictures and get these fabrics where they belonged.  That crystal clear turquoise water was the perfect backdrop to really make them pop!  The color palette of this line is so bright and happy- photographing them in my happy place was only suiting.

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I used the Sullivan Dress Pattern from Sew Much Ado.  I’ve been wanting to sew it up ever since it released and this tour was just the push I needed.  Make sure you check out all of Abby’s beautiful versions.  I’m dying to recreate her gorgeous black and white stripe version for my oldest.

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That scallop bodice and those sleeves are just the most darling details!

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This fabric collection has two color ways.  I picked these two from the coral color scheme.  This little miss sat down with me and we seriously had the hardest time picking.  All the florals are so pretty, the scallops are darling, and don’t get me started on those gnomes!  She’s a sucker for florals and I’m always eyeing the plaids so this combination won us over.  I’m excited for you guys to see the rest of the projects on this tour though- soooo many cute prints coming your way!

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Day 1
SewSophieLynn -and- Crafting in the Rain -and- Phat Quarters

Day 2
Thread & Grain -and- Handmade Boy

Day 3
Phat Quarters -and- GYCT Designs

Day 4
Mamma Sew Savvy -and- Lulu & Celeste -and- Sprouting Jube Jube

Day 5
Pattern Revolution -and- Sewing With Sarah  -and- Phat Quarters

You guys are in for a treat this week! There are two giveaways you won’t want to miss too! Enter below for your chance at two big pattern prize packs perfect for you Hank and Clementine fabrics.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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2017 Hits and Misses: Kid Edition

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I get so much pure JOY from sewing for my children.  I love creating unique, fun clothing that suits their personalities and body types.  In 2017 I sewed more for my kids than ever.  I thought it’d be fun to share some of our favorite most worn pieces as well as those that just didn’t work for us.  Let’s start with the good stuff!

PS- I’ve left off affiliate links in the post because I want you to know I honestly love and use these patterns.  Links to the blog posts describing each piece may contain affiliate links though since I’m not going back and editing them 😉

1- A Tie for the oldest

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I rarely sew for my oldest but this tie was too perfect for him.  Floral ties are a huge trend here and he’s worn this tie constantly.  This Cotton + Steel print was the perfect scale too.  Anytime he actually wears something I made him, I do a little happy dance inside.

(I used this free pattern from Purl Soho for this tie.)

2- Love Notions Sloane Sweaters

These basic tops just get worn- simple as that.  I let them pick the fabric 95% of the time and this time it paid off.  That camo/blush sweater is one of my favorite combos ever!  The options with this pattern are amazing and I will continue to fill their closets with them!

3- Raglans

 

Raglans are such a staple around here- like I feel like a make a new one at least once a week.  My go-to patterns are the Jolly Roger Raglan from Patterns for Pirates (with the add-on pack for extra cuteness!) and the Camden Raglan from Hey June for my girls.  They are so quick to sew and perfect for all the Raspberry Creek knits I love so much.  Add in the fact that they’re perfect for adding a little vinyl to the front and these are the best tops for really showcasing their personalities and style.  Looking at this fun collage gives me the itch to sew up a couple of more- the fact that these are almost instant gratification means I just might too!

4- Dresses

My favorite thing to sew my girls are dresses.  There are just so many different patterns out there and I feel like I want to try them all!   Whether I’m looking for a quick sew or want to take my time and really enjoy the sewing process, there’s a dress for that.  These were our favorites from this year:

Clockwise from Top left: Polina Dress, Avenue Dress, Adelyn, Wendy, Isabel, Larkspur, and Joy.

Do you see a bit of a theme?  Looks to me like we like things simple and sweet.  Tiny details like jewels, ruffles, and bows take them to the next level while still keeping things clean and classic.

5- Swimsuits

Oh swimsuits, how I love thee!  Just looking at these pictures makes me miss the sunshine and lazy days at the pool.  In the slew of suits that I sewed this year, these were the ones that they reached for again and again.  The Mermaid Shores collection just blew my mind- so many darling options!  And that men’s suit for my oldest- labor of love that truly paid off.

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I hate sharing these because it does feel like broadcasting my failures for all to see.  For the most part these are not pattern issues, just things that didn’t really fit into our lifestyle or sizing/fabric choices were off.  It’s great for me to look back on these to really see what gets worn, what designers fit my kids best, and what to sew in the future.

1- Camo Overalls

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Guys, I love these and her styling here.  This is the one and only time she wore them… Not girly enough for this princess.  She’s all about comfort so I was hopeful but these were definitely not her style.  These are already in the donation pile.

2- Knit Dresses/Skirts for the oldest

These have nothing to do with fabric choice or patterns and everything to do with what she likes to wear.  She swears she will wear dresses to school but never truly does.  These knit pieces just sit in her closet sadly.  I’m convinced the dress on the right will get worn again come spring (hello, it’s a raglan!) because she does really love it but she has too much of her mom in her.  I make knit dresses all the time thinking how cute I’ll be wearing them everyday but guess what?  They’re sitting at the back of my closet too!

3- Fiesta too much Fun

This dress was born with the photoshoot in mind.  I’ve decided that those garments are usually the ones that don’t get worn.  When my photographer side takes over the practical sewist side, dresses like this happen.  It’s a super fun dress and I think it pairs well with the fabric but it’s just not all that wearable.  It’s too over the top for church and she’s not invited to too many fiestas at age eight…  Pieces like this are what I want to avoid in the future.  I really started to analyze my projects, especially for blog tours.  I get caught up in the pretty fabrics and pictures and need to focus more on wear-ability.

Do you like to look back on your past sewing projects?  It’s so nice to learn what actually works and where you can improve.  It’s great to find the designers that you gravitate too and what fabrics work for your lifestyle.

Stay tuned for my own highs and lows next week!

 

A Christmas Naples with Hawthorne Threads

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The Naples Dress from Jennuine Design (affliliate link) is one of my favorite patterns and I’ve been wanting to sew another version for awhile now.  As a member of the new Certified Jennuine Design team I knew this should be my first project.  I know I can happily scream from the rooftops my love for this pattern!

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I fell in love with the newest Indy Bloom Christmas line from Hawthorne Threads and was so happy to partner with them to showcase this pretty print on this project.  This is printed on rayon and perfect for this pattern.  The drape and weight are lovely and those sleeves were just made for this fabric type.  This floral is just so beautiful and unique- a holiday print that she can wear all winter.

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This pattern is a quick sew and so original.  There are mulitple sleeve options and you can pick to do a gathered or a-line skirt. I picked the butterfly sleeves for this dress.  I think it’s my sleeve of choice right now and anytime it’s an option I go for it!  I love the drama it brings but without all the work of ruffles.

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I’ve made a couple in the past but this is my first gathered skirt version.  I love the extra fullness it gives the dress.  Perfect for a little twirling!  My version is a bit of a hi-low hem.  I’m calling it a happy accident as I gathered the straight bottom hem instead of the curved top of the skirt.  I love the little bit of edge it gives the dress.

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My favorite detail of this pattern is the big bow tie option.  I love the retro-cool look it gives the dress but it’s so sweet at the same time.  Every time I make this pattern I giggle at the images of 70’s supermodels it reminds me of.  It has such a vintage vibe but in a modern classic way.

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We had to do our favorite bow hairdo for this look.  Too perfect for the holidays and to imitate the front tie too!

Oh how we love this dress!!!  I’m so excited to be able to share my favorite Jennuine Designs makes with you and know you will love them too.

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A huge thank you to Hawthorne Threads for sponsoring this post.  Make sure to check our their incredible selection and all their house-printed lines.  They have fast shipping so you can get your holiday prints in time too!

Handmade Holiday Tour

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This year we have the opportunity to learn about and study the Christmas customs of Sweden.  It’s been so fun and we’ve loved trying some of their fun traditions.  The legend of St. Lucia is one we look forward to celebrating in our own home.

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We’re excited to join in the Love Notions Handmade Holiday tour to share with you our take on a very popular Love Notions pattern to complete our St. Lucia look.

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I used the girls Li’l LDT (affl. link) for this simple nightgown.  I love all the options this pattern has and with a few alterations it was perfect for this project.  This would work great for a beautiful maxi dress in a pretty floral print too!  Or use this idea to make your own little one a cozy nightgown of her own.

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I used the bishop sleeve and added length.  I measured from her shoulder to wrist and added seam allowance.  I extended my sleeve length straight down on both sides.  Next time I would add another inch- it’s a cute wrist length here but I always like to get as long of use as I can out of their clothes!

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To extend the length I used this tutorial.  I measured from the back of her neck to the floor and added hem allowance.  Extending the flare to the hem created a great dramatic skirt, making it comfy and easy to move in.  It also made it a fabric hog- I used almost 3 yards for this BUT keeping the main dress pieces as one piece makes construction a breeze!

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I used cotton/lycra from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. It sewed up so nicely and is so soft and comfortable too!

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If you’re looking to step up your handmade game this holiday season then look no further!  This tour is full of crafts, recipes, holiday wear and more- boy do I love these creative people!

 Monday: Handmade Boy
The Wholesome Mama
Four seasons and a Roadtrip
Sew Shelly Sew

Celebrate with the Made For Mermaids Isabel

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I’m excited to be joining in the fun of Sewing by Ti’s Celebrate Blog Tour.  Thanksgiving kicks off a month of celebrating around here.  So many fun activities coming up for us- the perfect excuse to do a little sewing!

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It’s no secret I love to sew dresses for my girls.  There are just so many amazing dress patterns out there and the possibilities seem endless.  I get a little giddy when I go through their closets and realize they’ve outgrown their dresses from the previous year.   Add in the upcoming holidays and I was one eager mama ready to whip up another pretty dress for my little girly.

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My little one absolutely loved my velvet holiday dress and begged for her own version.  I used the Isabel Dress pattern from Made for Mermaids with a twist.  I wanted to add a little feminine detail to the dress with sweet ruffles on the hem and sleeves.   My sister picked up this stunning velvet for me at the SAS store in Phoenix but this eggplant stretch velvet from Stylish Fabric would be a great substitute.  This color is amazing in real life- deep with that subtle shimmer velvet has.  Eeeek!  I’m seriously obsessed with it!

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I did a size 8 maxi length with long sleeves.  She loves maxi dresses and this velvet was just begging for the drama of a full length dress.

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Speaking of drama…  this girly can turn it on when I whip out my camera.  I let her style this dress up how she wanted and she piled on the 90’s edgy vibe.  The boots, choker, and rocker hairdo just kill me!  Totally flashing back to my teenage years and getting a glimpse of hers while I’m at it!

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She glammed it up a bit for church with gold accessories and curls.  I love the totally different looks!

If you’re wondering how practical a wrap dress is on a little one I have one tip for you- shorties.  The dress is nice and secure at the waist but a pair of shorties underneath saves her from any wardrobe malfunctions.  She’s still a normal active little girl and heaven knows she’s not the least bit worried about it but I am!  Shorties are just a good idea to save any unnecessary flashing 😉

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She loves how comfortable this dress is and I know it will quickly become a favorite of hers.  She’s all about the extravagance and luxury this dress evokes.  Drama queen in training right here!

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You’ll love all the great inspiration this month from so many of my blogging buddies.

December 1st Sewing By Ti (intro), Octaves of Color

Sunday December 3rd, Me Made

4th: Sew Sophie Lynn

5th: Hazelnut Handmade

6th: Tales from a Southern Mom

Monday December 11th, Tenille’s Thread

12th: MNW Sews

13th: Mahlica Designs

14th: Very Blissful

15th: Stitched by Jennie

Monday December 18th, Kate Will Knit

19th: Sewing by Ti

20th: Vicky Myers Creations

21st: Margarita on the Ross

22nd: Auschick Sews

23rd: Shalini’s Blog

Tuesday December 26th: Seams Sew Low

27th: EYMM

28th: Sew Like a Sloth

29th: Sewing By Ti

30th: Kathys Kwilts and More

31st: Embrace Everyday

 

Love Notions Acorn and Oakley Vests

Acorn and Oakley Vests- Love Notions Patterns sewn by SewSophieLynn

Are you ready to get your cozy on?!! Love Notions Patterns has just the thing for you!

This post contains affiliate links.  I became a Love Notions affiliate AFTER falling in love with her patterns and testing process.  Purchasing through my links provides me a small compensation that I use to keep my sewing hobby a float!

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This pattern is available in women’s, girls, and even a simple doll version, (you can grab the bundle here)!  There are three different women’s and girls views so you will definitely get your money’s worth.  I sewed up a view A for myself.  It’s meant for fur or minky- those super luxe soft fabrics you never want to take off!  View A is also lined- a great place for a fun contrasting fabric.  All views feature my must have option- pockets!

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For my oldest I did view C, a princess seamed zip-up style.  I love the way the pockets are done on this version!  They are part of the front pattern pieces and create a nice seamless opening.  View C is bound with bias tape on the bottom hem, arm opening, and front seam.  It’s a versatile, sporty look.

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My younger daughter got a cropped version A, left unlined for a simple, amazingly quick sew.  For her’s I took my pattern pieces and folded the hem up accordion style so I could keep the curve on the bottom.  I took about 5″ off the length.

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Shannon Fabrics was a generous sponsor of this pattern and sent Tami at Love Notions a couple of gorgeous faux furs to share with her team of ambassadors.  I was thrilled to get to work with this beautiful fox fur.  I couldn’t waste any of it which is why my little one got a cropped version as well as a dolly version.  It looks so high end and expensive and feels like it too.  I honestly stare at my wardrobe and dream of what else I can pair it with just so I can wear it as much as humanly possible!

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I also lined my version in a soft stretch velvet to really seal the deal as the coziest thing in my closet.  I never thought I could be so in love with a fur vest but here I am!

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Ready for cuteness overload?! How cute are these matching 18″ doll versions?!  My girls love their mini-me’s and especially love dressing them up.  My oldest is getting pretty confident on the sewing machine and sewed her doll’s quickly and easily.  I love a good confidence boosting project!

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Speaking of confidence boosting… I had my first epic fail in forever while sewing this vest right here.  It was an early morning and I was happily sewing away before the kids got up.  I got to the very last step and was sewing on the last side of the zipper when my mistake became glaringly obvious.  In my haste (and sewing cockiness)  I had somehow stretched the front of one side, making one side 1.5″ longer than the other.  Bias tape was properly sewn on and zipper almost fully installed.  I gave up and walked away, swearing to never look at it again…

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This sweetheart was so excited for her new vest though and swore she’d wear it as is.  I giggled at the thought and told her no way!  She happily began unpicking the three rows of stitching.  Her optimism and love of this vest kept me going and I was able to fix my mistake and give her the finished garment the next day.  This is why I sew- that joy and can-do attitude make it all worth it!

Tips- to avoid a mistake like mine I have a few suggestions.  First, measure the front of your vest and cut your bias tape the same for both sides.  My fleece had very minimal stretch so I didn’t even think about it coming out different.  Wonder clips are your friend and carefully clip you bias tape on, trying your best to not stretch your fabric.  When it comes time to sew on your zipper, Wonder Tape or fabric glue are very helpful.  My zipper had even ended up wavy the first time and I found that fabric glue really helped hold it in place.  Take your time and you’ll end up with a beautiful finished product!

 

 

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The Oakley and Acorn Vests make the perfect Christmas gift for you or someone you love.  The girls comes in sizes 2T-16 and the women’s goes from XS-XXXL.  Grab yours on sale through Tuesday, November 28th.

Special Occasion Blog Tour with Simple Life Pattern Company and Harts Fabric

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Oh man you guys! Have you been following the Simple Life Pattern Company’s Holiday Blog Tour?!!  If you have a little girl in your life you definitely need to see all the GORGEOUS dresses this week!  I’m blown away by the talent, not to mention all the darling little girls.  I’ll have all the links and giveaway info at the end of this post so you can check them all out and then win all you need to sew up a dress or two of your own!

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For my looks I went back and forth on what I wanted.  Right off I knew my youngest needed a Willow Dress.  Those sleeves and that v-shaped bodice are so darling!  She’s been begging for a soft velvet dress and I knew that pattern would be perfect.  Once Harts Fabric jumped on as a sponsor my plans changed a bit.  There were so many beautiful fabrics I struggled picking a knit for this look.  If you know me I usually gravitate towards simple looks in comfortable fabrics since I know that’s what gets worn.  The sensible side of me went with this pretty Art Gallery knit and this plush Robert Kaufman flannel, knowing we could easily style these up pretty for a special occasion but they’d also be perfect for weekly church services through the holiday season.  I was so thrilled with the quality of this fabric and the cute packaging from Harts.  The option to throw in matching thread is such a time and money saver too.  I know I’m not the only one that runs into the fabric store for thread and somehow comes out with $50 in other ‘must-haves’ 😉

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For my oldest, I was smitten with the Wendy Dress.   It’s such a classic look and I love the cute peter pan collar and sleeve cuff details.   Because of my fabric choice, I left off those elements on this version.  For this dress I chose to keep it simple but threw in my own little twist on the sleeves.  After seeing a RTW dress with big tie sleeves, I couldn’t get the fun detail out of my head.  I knew this simple silhouette would be a great canvas for it.

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I did a small placket, similar in construction to the skirt placket.  I then cut a 3″ by the width of fabric rectangle.  I folded it in half, sewed the short ends and sewed the long edge, leaving a gap in the middle the length of the sleeve hem.  This way I could iron the seam allowance down and sandwich the sleeve hem in the band, fully enclosing the hem for a clean finish.  I then topstitched around the band.  Hacks are not my favorite (why do I feel so brainless sometimes?!) but if I could do this I think anyone can!  I love the sass it adds to the elegant lines of this dress.  I think it’d look adorable on a rayon summer dress too!

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The Willow dress won me over big time.  It was a quick sew and it’s so easy to wear.  The lined bodice makes it so comfortable and in this amazing Art Gallery knit it doesn’t get much better.   I love that there are top and dress length options so I can use this pattern over and over for different looks.

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We are so happy to be included in this amazing tour.  We had a blast shooting these looks and know they’ll get worn long after the holiday season is over too.

Now for the good stuff…

Make sure to head to all the other incredible blogs this week.  Serious talent right here.

 

November 13 – Kainara StitchesAmmon Lane

November 14 – Sew and Tell ProjectLace and Pine

November 15 – Sunflower SeamsSewSophieLynn

November 16 – Wonderfully HandmadeIdle SunshineI am Mami de Sofiona

November 17 – Pear Berry LaneIt’s Liesel

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And now for the fantastic prizes…

There are TWO ways to win in this giveaway!

While both giveaways are open to everyone, contestants outside of the U.S. will be responsible for any excess shipping and fees and subject to the sponsors’ shipping guidelines.

Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win the following. One winner will be chosen at random after Rafflecopter closes.

1 winner of Rafflecopter of will receive:
5 Patterns of choice from Simple Life Pattern Co.
$50 Gift Card from Cotton Coterie with FREE shipping
$50 Gift Card from Little Feather

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Already sewing for the holidays with Simple Life Pattern Company? Share what you made for a chance to win the Link-Up prize! One winner will be chosen at random after the link-up closes.

1 Winner of the Link up will receive: 5 Patterns of choice from Simple Life Pattern Co. $50 Gift Card to Harts Fabric $50 Gift Card to Sincerely Rylee $30 Gift Card to Punkin Head Threads

Love Notions Sloane Blog Tour Day Three- free Cut File

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Here we are on day three and I’ve got another women’s Sloane for you.  This is inspired by a J. Crew sweatshirt I found on Pinterest

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It’s no longer available and I guarantee that I would cringe at the price.  Basic sweatshirts with a little embellishment are an easy DIY and usually carry a hefty price tag off the rack.

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For this version I sized up to a medium.  The inspiration pic looks really roomy and I wanted to keep that look.  I used one of my go-to fabrics- this light heather grey french terry from Raspberry Creek Fabric.  It’s a cotton spandex blend that’s medium weight with great stretch and recovery.  I did a basic view B without any of the bells and whistles.

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For my floral embellishments, I used my Cricut.  I knew I could achieve the look of the velvet flowers on the original with a black flocked heat transfer vinyl.  I love flocked vinyl and use it all the time.  It lends a retro vibe to graphic tees and holds up so well in the wash.  It mimicked the velvet so perfectly for this project too!

I’m not a graphics girl by any means so my flowers were done with a little trial and error.  I found a few free floral clip arts online and traced them in Design Space.  I copy and pasted them to get multiple sizes to get a good variety to play with.  I had fun laying them out on my top and playing around with placement.  You really can’t go wrong.  Use as few or as many flowers as you’d like.

You can make your own with these free files using your cutting machine:

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I think they’d look great in a metallic or a subtle monocramatic color on color too!

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I love this quick embellishment project!  So easy and adds so much to a boring old sweatshirt.

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You can check out all the other stops on the Sloane Tour this week here and stick around for my official post tomorrow!

Monday: Sew Shelly Sew, The Wholesome Mama, Ruby Rue Creations

Tuesday: Third Shift Creations, Sew Like a Sloth, Four Seasons and a Roadtrip

 

Love Notions Sloane Week

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This week Love Notions is celebrating it’s newest pattern and update- the women’s and girls (affl. links) Sloane.  All week long I’ll be sharing my Sloanes- it’s such a versatile pattern I can’t stop making them!  Today I’m starting with this repost from the CaliFabrics blog.  I love this sweater and just had to share it here too!

Make sure you check out all the bloggers joining in the Sloane Blog Tour.  There’s hacks and such a huge variety of looks you won’t want to miss.

 

I love scouring fashion magazines and Pinterest as we head into a new season. I’ve been loving the huge embroidery trend and knew I wanted to incorporate it into my daughters fall wardrobe (I’m hoping to add some to mine too- can’t let her have all the fun!). I hopped on Amazon and grabbed a bundle of embroidered flowers and then started brainstorming everything I was going to floral-fy! Jackets, sweatshirts, pants, tees… you name it. Then when I was browsing the CaliFabrics site inspiration hit! I wanted a subtle print and in my book leopard print is totally a neutral. This leopard sweater knit was perfect!

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Now that I had fabric picked out I struggled to find just the right pattern for the look I wanted. I knew I wanted a boxy cropped sweater and really struggled to find a pattern that suited what I had in mind. That was until Tami at Love Notions magically read my mind! The women’s Sloane Sweater is one of my favorites and just recently went under a revamp. While she was busy fixing it up she threw in a girls version too- hello! With a few little tweaks it was just what I had envisioned!

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I used the basic banded version, view B. I cropped off three inches at the hem then did my bottom band the same width as the hem. That’s it- super easy alterations to get this easy-going cropped look!

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This was one of my first times machine sewing embroidery on. The applique has a black base that made the thread blend in fairly well. If it was a fancy garment or special occasion dress I think I’d spend the time to hand sew the pieces on but for this everyday garment the machine was perfect. Do you have any tips or tutorials you love for attaching embroidery or appliques? I know there will be many more in my future. I think it really elevates the garment and there are so many possibilities.

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I love that this outfit could work for both a grown woman and your fashion-minded girls. It’s hard to find clothes in stores that are sophisticated without being too-grown up looking. Her school has a fairly strict dress code and it’s so nice being able to sew things that are suitable.

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I’ve decided having a tween is the best! She will happily wear all the latest trends and styles that I feel might be a little too ‘young’ and ‘hip’ for me. We have very similar styles so I always know that if I’d like it then she will be thrilled with it too. It’s a fun age and sure makes sewing for her rewarding. As a sewing blogger, I’d much rather be behind the camera taking the pics instead of front and center! She’s such a willing model that I honestly could just happily sew for her all day.

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She’s the reason I started sewing and the namesake of my blog afterall…

Are you sewing for fall yet? Make sure you check out the huge selection of sweater knits in the shop! So many cute fabrics, so little time!

Love Notions Bash and a couple new Forte’s to celebrate!

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Love Notions is celebrating!  Hop over to the blog for tons of pattern hacks all week and a chance at so many fun prizes!

To celebrate Love Notions is having it’s best sale of the year- 50% off ALL PATTERNS through October 27th.  You can grab patterns for you, your teens and tweens, little girls, boys, almost everyone in the family is covered.  I’d thought I’d share some of my favorites with you in case you needed a little help decided which one to grab!

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It’s no secret that I love my Love Notions Patterns.  I am an Ambassador but my journey began as a tester.  I had tested for multiple designers when I started testing for Tami.  I couldn’t believe how thorough and attentive she is.  She really listens to testers and makes adjustment after adjustment to get the fit just right for everyone.  I love that our voices are heard and that she is willing to do multiple revisions based off our feedback.  I especially love that she sews right along with us, usually ending up with dozens of prototypes by the time the pattern is released.  She uses trimless pages which make printing out and piecing together new patterns a breeze- so quick!  I was thrilled that her patterns fit a huge range of sizes- her women’s patterns start at XS and go to XXXL and most of her children’s patterns start at 2T and go up to a 16.  This was huge for my kids as I have teens and tweens that are super hard to find patterns for.  I always go off my measurements (you might find you are a smaller size than you’re used to) and have great fitting garments.  Safe to say after a few pattern tests I was hooked.

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I became an affiliate AFTER I realized I was constantly referring fellow sewists to her patterns.  I knew I could confidently recommend each one and figured I could make a little change on the side to pay for fabric for the next pattern test.  This post contains affiliate links meaning that by purchasing through them I earn a small kickback (which no doubt goes to my fabric stash).   As an Ambassador I am happy to answer any questions you may have and I will continue to spread the word about all things Love Notions!

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In honor of the bash I’m sharing two new Fortes.  I was on vacation during most of the testing of this pattern.  I whipped up a version C as I was packing and wore it multiple times during our trip.  Stripes and a sleeve flounce were all I needed to feel chic while sight seeing! I couldn’t wait to get home and make more.

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I came home and quickly made a couple more version C’s- one tee and one dress hack.  I also made a version B for my mom and love how quickly these come together (and the fact that there are soooo many options!).  This tee is a double brushed poly and is left unhemmed.  I love, love it styled with my Canyon Cardigan.

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I’d been dreaming of a simple dress using this view and it was such an easy hack.  I measured how long I wanted it and just extended the side seams straight down.  I originally thought I’d need more width through the hips and knees and had done an a-line extension.  The extra width was more frumpy than cute so I took it off and love the final result.

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I also raised the neckline on this one an inch and a half.  I prefer almost a crewneck look and Tami is a scoop neckline kinda gal.  She’s gotten me to branch out and I usually love the results but will alter the neckline now and then.

Are you ready for some more of our favorites? The Miss Mary Mack is one that I reach for over and over when I want to pair a couple different fabrics.  It’s such a sweet little girls top that can be worn year-round.

The Li’l Laundry Day Tee is also a huge hit.  A knit dress full of options that works for both school and church is something that get worn a ton!  With all the neckline and sleeve choices my girls can totally customize their dresses exactly how they want them.

For my boys the Moto Maxx set is essential.  Every fall I sew up a new batch for my youngest.  They are perfect for running and playing and the extra layer at the knee gives them a much longer life than his normal sweatpants.

Fun boy patterns are hard to find so you might like the Vanguard Kit as well.  Both these boy patterns come with top and bottom patterns and for $6 that’s quite the steal.  The colorblocking on the Vanguard tee takes all the guess work out of doing it yourself and those cargo pants are perfect for all his treasures.

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Now for ladies, I’ll give you my top five must haves (ok- counting the Forte it’s six but they’re on sale so I’m really ‘saving’ you money, right?!).  The Bluezette is just a winner guys.  There are two bodice styles, five skirt options and three sleeve lengths which means you could make a dozen and have a different dress each time.  This dress has gotten so much wear because it flatters and in this double brushed poly I honestly never want to take it off.

These four tops were made from the same versatile pattern- the Terra Tunic.  The Terra is full of options- hood, funnel, scoop, v-neck, asymmetrical, and boat-neck necklines and multiple sleeve choices too.  It’s a great basic pattern that lends itself to easy hacking.  The leopard print sweater is simply cropped a few inches and you can find my hack for the peplum top here on the Love Notions Blog.

The Boyfriend Cardigan is definitely my most worn piece in my wardrobe.  That charcoal grey french terry version in the middle there gets worn almost daily.  I just leave it out and if there’s the slightest chill in the air I grab that baby.  It’s comfortable and I feel like it’s a step up from my ratty hoodie.  There is also a girls version and I think my daughter is developing a very similar relationship to hers!

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I’ve got extra love for this pattern since it was the first pattern I ever tested for Love Notions.  Look how much my little girly has grown!

My next go-to pattern is the La Bella Donna Top and Tunic.  This is another pattern that comes in girls sizing too.  It’s a versatile dolman sleeve top that is full of options (are you sensing a theme here?  LN patterns are usually loaded with tons of options in each pattern, something I always look for!).  There are cowl, hoodie and boat neck options along with multiple sleeve lengths.  For my striped version I widened my cowl for a cute chunky look.  I love this pattern for everyday tees too and after comparing MANY dolman patterns this one remains the winner.

Last but not least is the Sybil Illusion Skirt.  This is the ULTIMATE knit skirt pattern.  Really, buy this one and you won’t ever need another skirt pattern ever!  There’s a box pleat, a-line, pencil, swing, drop yoke, asymmetrical wrap, and gored options and all come in knee or midi lengths.  There’s an optional control top waistband panel and best thing- no closures!  Wait, the real best thing is actually POCKETS!  I can’t live without them!  These skirts come together so easily and are perfect for dressing up or down.

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K, are you ready to do some shopping?  If you want more in-depth reviews of any Love Notions patterns you can use the search function on my blog to bring up all my past LN makes or click the Love Notions tag at the end of this post.  There are so many other patterns to choose from you really can’t go wrong with any of them.  Happy Shopping!