Sewing for Girls – Page 8

One Thimble Issue 22 Blog Tour

One Thimble magazine has just released issue 22! How exciting is that! I’m here to show-off the Xanadu Bodysuit by Duchess and Hare, one of five pdf patterns included in the issue. I knew this pattern would be perfect for my little dancer. I was planning on a full leotard but she begged for a crop top version for hip hop class. She fell in love with these sets at her dance competitions this spring but me being the ‘mean mom’ wouldn’t let her get one. I knew I could make a set that would fit her long proportions for a fraction of the cost. So it was about time I lived up to that promise! I sewed up a size 8 with added length according to her measurements. I added about 2 inches to the short sleeve length as well. It was a very straightforward sew and was super quick. I did get a little confused at the band finishing and just sewed them on like bands instead of binding. I think in the future I would actually make them wider and slightly smaller to help the crop top bottom not crawl up as much and stay in place. I paired the top with Thread Faction #131 Drop Crotch Pants that were part of Issue 21. That big front pocket had her giggling when she discovered it! I love that they’re loose but not ginormous. I sewed up a size 9 width with a 12 length but still ended up having to take in the waist a bit after these pics were taken. These were such a fun sew and I think she’ll request more of these. They’re comfy and oh so cute! The fabrics for this outfit all came from CaliFabrics. I think they have the biggest selection of Liverpool around and it was fun picking out a few to mix and match. Since her inspiration outfits were made out of Liverpool I wanted to get as close as we could to recreating them. These fabrics were perfect! I love to sew Liverpool. It’s sturdy but not too thick and doesn’t curl when sewing. It’s soft and almost squishy like scuba making it super comfy. The finishing touch was this cool embroidered floral that I had in my stash from a previous project. It tied the top together with the bold floral of the pants and really took it to another level. I’m pretty sure it took longer to sew on this applique than it did to sew up the whole top. Totally worth every minute!

Thanks for stopping by my stop on the tour today!

For your chance to win a copy of the new One Thimble Issue 22 – Summer 2019 please enter the rafflecopter prize draw here.Open until 12am Wednesday November 20th AEST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We have some amazing bloggers joining in to share their makes this week. Be sure to check each one out on the tour and show them some love.

November 13

November 14

Make it Sew with the Bear and Pea Atelier

November 15

The Graham Crafter

Marvelous Auntie

The Accidental Sewist

November 16

Beri Bee Designs

{Spools+Oodles} of Fun

November 17

November 18

November 19

Idle Sunshine Tour Wrap Up!

SLPco Holiday Blog Tour 2019

The SLPco Holiday Blog Tour has turned into one of my favorite traditions each year! This is our third year joining the fun (you can see our past looks here and here). It always pushes me to get our holiday dresses done a little earlier and my girls get to wear them through the whole season and beyond.

This post is sponsored by SLPco, Sly Fox Fabrics, and Raspberry Creek Fabrics. I’m so grateful for their generosity in helping make these looks a reality.

These looks started with this amazing scuba knit from Sly Fox. The floral is flocked onto the most vibrant red scuba knit. I’ve always loved scuba for it’s thick, soft and squishy texture. Throw on the velvety goodness of the floral print and I’m smitten! This fabric was destined to be a holiday dress and so perfect for this spitfire.

I turned to a tried and true pattern- the Adelyn. I’ve lost count of how many of these I’ve made. That big bow back just makes such a statement!

The pretty puff sleeves and twirly circle skirt are details this girly loves! I love how quickly it comes together. The bodice is lined (I used a cotton lycra to reduce bulk) and there are no closures. I skipped hemming on the skirt (I couldn’t get the scuba to give me a crisp press and I’m always game for anything that makes my life easier, lol). I did an 8 with a 12 length on the skirt according to her measurements and think the fit is spot on. I can always count on SLPco to fit just right!

My older daughter wanted something a little more sophisticated. We used a classic black velvet from Raspberry Creek Fabrics to create a timeless look. I used Autumn’s Shift Dress with the shoulder ruffles for a simple dress with so much class.

She’s off the charts for height now but this pattern was easy to add length to. I did the bodice lined version to skip the neckband. This is the 3/4 sleeve length as well.

It was so fun to get together with Inara and her mom for this shoot. Anna shot all of these group pics and I’m dying over how cute they are! These girls love any chance they get to see darling Inara.

Make sure to stop by all of the other stops on the tour!

11/11 Boo + Lu — Idle Sunshine

11/12 Kutti Couture — Pear Berry Lane

11/13 Candice Ayala.com — It’s Liesel

11/14 Kainara Stitches — SewSophieLynn

11/15 Sunflower Seams — Sew and Tell Project

Now’s your chance to grab the Simple Life patterns you’ve been crushing on. Use code slpcorocks to save 40% off all patterns now through November 25th.

Today’s giveaway is right up my alley! Enter to win a fun iron-on bundle.

Day 4 Giveaway (11/14)

Enter to win Cricut Vinyl and SVG Cut Files

Personalized Christmas Jammies with Cricut Maker, EasyPress 2, and EasyPress Mini

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

How many of you have the tradition of fresh new pajamas for Christmas morning? It was a tradition in my home growing up and one that I’ve loved carrying on with my own kids. Some years we all sport matching sets, sometimes they’re a mix of store-bought and handmade, and sometimes the littles get cozy footie pajamas while the rest of us are happy with new flannel pj pants. This year I’m excited to be ahead of the game and my kids are thrilled with their new jammies that match their personalities to a tee. This post is sponsored by both Cricut and Raspberry Creek Fabrics to really bring their visions to life.

We broke out all things Cricut for this post and I can’t wait to share all about them. We used the new Infusible Ink products, some fun Iron-On Designs, Everyday Iron-On with my Cricut Maker, EasyPress 2, and EasyPress Mini. Having the right products and materials made it so easy to create looks that this crew really loves.

The first thing we did was head to Raspberry Creek to pick their fabric. My younger three are all about the CLUB fabrics. I try to keep them in CLUB pajamas for every season. The CLUB fabric bases are so soft and comfortable and are their absolute favorites. I loved that they immediately found prints they loved and that they went for three different base fabrics- the famous cotton lycra, double brushed polyester, and the new sweatshirt fleece. My big boys wanted flannel bottoms and you can’t go wrong with any of the Robert Kaufman flannels in the shop. They are so soft and fluffy and wash up better and softer with each wash. I have a pair from many years ago that still look brand new even after constant washing during the colder months.

With their fabrics picked, we found the perfect matches for their personalized tops. My big boys wanted simple designs so we tried out a couple of Infusible Ink papers. My oldest daughter loves buffalo plaid and we just had to do the matching Infusible Ink. My spunky younger daughter fell for the perfect Iron-On Design and my little man went with easy Everyday Iron-On.

My littlest was very insistent he needed this adorable Christmas Cactus print for his pj’s. He sat on my lap and scrolled through DesignSpace with me and just cracked up at this design he picked. Boy, does it suit him! He’s sweet to the bone but his curiosity can get the best of him. We used Kelly Green Everyday Iron-On for a simple tee that we both love! I used the Titchy Threads Rowan tee for his top and Sew A Little Seam (free) Movie Night Pj’s for his bottoms.

This little miss loved this bright and fun Iron-On Design. I let her cut it all out and place it on her tee how she wanted. We used our favorite raglan pattern, Hey June’s Camden, and leggings pattern, Love Notions free Leggins’ to create an easy set. I wouldn’t be surprised if these pieces made their way into her everyday wardrobe too. This striped double brushed polyester is one of my favorites from the fall collection and I can always count on my go-to mustard dots to coordinate with just about everything.

It’s no surprise that this daughter of mine picked something I totally want for myself! I would live in those cozy fleece joggers! We used this buffalo plaid sweatshirt fleece for a pair of Made for Mermaids Lexi and Lou Loungers (with added elastic in the waist) that I’m sure she’ll wear every chance she gets. How fun is it that this Infusible Ink matches so good?!! Perfection! She picked this darling deer head from DesignSpace for a look that is so on trend. We used a Cricut blank tee as the base and we were both in awe as we watched the Infusible Ink melt into it. It was shocking to see how bright and smooth it came out! We were both mesmerized by it and are already planning more projects with it so we can see the magic again.

This kid is the ultimate sports fan. His room is decorated floor to ceiling with all things Broncos, Jazz, Yankees, and soccer. It was no surprise he wanted a simple Utah Jazz note on his tee. We used Infusible Ink and a Cricut blank tee paired with his cozy Patterns for Pirates Walk the Plank pj pants (another free pattern!).

My oldest is a senior this year and spends all his free time playing soccer. We found this cool silhouette in Design Space that looks soooo much like him- it was perfect! I added his school name and graduation year to really personalize it. He also got a pair of Walk the Plank bottoms.

For the front designs, I used my big EasyPress 2. I love the even, smooth results I get every time! I couldn’t live without my EasyPress! I was so excited to get the EasyPress Mini. I used iron-on size tags in almost all our handmades (it makes hand-me-downs easier and also helps my kiddos find the back, lol!). The EasyPress Mini is going to live in my sewing space and makes adding those little tags so.dang.easy. It heats up fast and is the perfect size to get in the neckline. My mind was blown!

A HUGE thank you to Cricut and Raspberry Creek Fabrics for providing all the supplies for this post. I love that we were able to spend time together creating the perfect jammies for each of my kiddos. The memories of that day are just as special as the pj’s! That’s what the holidays are all about!

Quick and Cute Mime Costume

Who else loves a great last-minute Halloween costume idea? This costume came together quickly and I bet you have most of the components in your closet and dress-up bin.

I had to giggle when this chatty girl wanted to be a mime this Halloween. She’s ever the performer and has been ‘practicing’ her silence for a couple of weeks in preparation. The whole family is loving it, lol! We snapped these pictures on her way to dance (yep, it was snowing brrrrr!). Upon picking her up, she said her dance team LOVED her costume and insisted she stay in character all night. I’m thinking her school teacher might appreciate her commitment to her costume as well!

For this look, she is wearing an Ocotillo Leotard in Riley Blake knit and suspenders from this shoot paired with black pants. We picked up the scarf, gloves, and beret at the costume store and I was surprised we didn’t already have them in our own dress-up bin. I think they’ll come in handy in the future and will work for so many other simple costumes.

We went with simple make-up. I am definitely not a make-up artist. I need some You-Tube lessons stat! Luckily, she’s not picky and the teardrops and red lips were perfect for her.

I’m secretly jumping for joy that my girls picked striped costumes. That’s my girls!

Easy Halloween Costume featuring Riley Blake Stripes

Halloween around these parts is pretty low-key. I’m not the mom that loves to spend hours creating masterpieces. I adore seeing other amazing handmade costumes but for me, I’m all about keeping things simple. My little man wanted to be Captain America this year and I almost danced to the register to spring the $20 on a store-bought costume- done and done! When Sophie said she wanted to be Wenda from the Where’s Waldo books we love, I was all on board. I knew I could whip up a tee and beanie in no time. My kinda costume!

I reached out to Riley Blake and they generously sent over these perfect red and white stripes. After searching the net for the perfect fabric I was happy to see that Riley Blake’s stripes were the best match for what we needed. It’s a bonus that they’re soft and comfy too!

I used the Love Notions Girl’s Classic Tee (affiliate link) for a simple silhouette that fits Wenda’s style. Throw in the free Patterns for Pirates Slouchy Beanie with a couple of mods and Wenda is complete. I added length to the beanie and lined it so she could flip up the bottom and made a pom-pom for the finishing touch.

I love that she can wear this costume to school and be comfortable and not too flashy. Perfect for a middle schooler! What are your favorite quick costumes? I’ve got one more to share this year that the whole family is loving!

Riley Blake Designer Knits for the family

I love working with Riley Blake Fabrics and get excited with each new release. As a garment sewist, I get especially excited by their new knits. This latest collection has me giddy! There was something for the whole family and I had to decide which kids I liked best that got in on this goodness, lol.

Riley Blake knits are similar in quality to other custom knits. It’s a little lighter in weight than our Raspberry Creek Club knits which give it a bit more drape. It has a similar softness and stretch and is a 95/5 cotton spandex blend as well. We LOVE our knit garments and these will fit right into our wardrobes.

This boy is soooo picky when it comes to how his clothes feel. I think I’ve spoiled him by sewing him only the softest knits and this Riley Blake fabric is no exception. He wanted this top to be a pajama shirt because he only wants the comfiest things to sleep in. When I told him he can wear it all day AND sleep in it, he thought he’d hit the jackpot! I sewed up my new go-to tee for him, the Titchy Threads Rowan Tee. The pattern is full of options and fun details. This was my first time skipping all the extras and making a plain ol’ long sleeve tee. The fit is so good on him, slim but not tight. It’s just so perfect for really highlighting this fabric.This little miss absolutely loves to browse the Riley Blake site with me and pick her favorites. She was immediately drawn to these blue flowers (she’s narrowed down her favorite colors to wear and we’re lucky that blue is one of them!). I’m still loving a good floral and stripe combo so we paired it with some navy stripes. She requested another Little Luxe Collection Palmetto Pullover. We both can’t get over those adorable cuffs (dad even mentioned how cute they were)! We did the mock neck version this time and I love how sweet it turned out. I love that it’s not just a basic tee but that all those little details really elevate it to a whole new level.I honestly debated on getting any fabric for me. You guys know I’d much rather be behind the camera but I couldn’t get this print out of my head. I’ve really been wanting an easy to throw on maxi dress and I knew this print was too perfect for my vision. Those colors are just meant for me, right?! How much mustard, navy, grey, and pink can a girl have? Never enough!For this look, I turned to two of my favorite Love Notions Patterns, the Willow Wrap dress and Olympia Dress (affiliate links). I really love the wrap style bodice of the Willow but the maxi skirt with built-in pockets of the Olympia is the skirt of my dreams. The combo of the two of them- my ideal comfortable and cute dress! I sewed up a size small in both patterns and the waist seam matched up perfectly. Easiest ‘hack’ ever! I sewed it up using the Willow tutorial for a quick and simple sew that I know I’ll be making up more of.This print matches the dreamy autumn trees in my front yard, bright mustard yellow and so happy and crisp. This dress is so great for fall but will definitely work year-round. It’s one of those dresses I’ll throw on Sunday morning for church then lounge in all afternoon because it’s even more comfortable than the sweats and tees I usually wear for a lazy day at home.A huge thank you to Riley Blake for the chance to work with these fun fabrics.

Project Run and Play: Project Street Style

Project Run and Play’s latest collaboration is here. Project Street Style is a collection of patterns for kids with a cool downtown vibe. I was thrilled to get to work with Lisa of Mabey She Made It again on a photoshoot for the latest lookbook. These fun photoshoots are really my absolute favorite. Cute kids, cool clothes, good friends- yes, please!

Project Street Style includes 7 new patterns from past PRP designers. I love that they all have multiple options to them making this a super versatile bundle. There are three unisex patterns, the Senpai Bomber Jacket, the Easy Street Tee, and the City Lights Cape. Then there are two bottoms patterns; the Stoplight Skirt and the Metro Pants and Shorts. Rounding out the collection is two girl patterns with loads of options, the Via Top, Tunic and Dress, and the Indigo Dress and Romper.

The Via pattern by Sofilantjes is a showstopper. It’s a color-blocked tee, tunic, or dress with loads of sleeve options as well. I chose the dress with long sleeves since we’re moving into cooler weather here. I used scuba knit paired with faux leather accent pieces. This pattern is perfect for using up all those fabric scraps.

My tween was thrilled with the theme of this collection. She’s a huge trend follower and is loving all things 90’s right now. For her birthday, she saved her money and splurged on a pair of boots. They were absolutely perfect for this look and were the jumping-off point to picking fabrics and pattern options. She is wearing patterns by Audrey, the amazing woman behind Project Run and Play. The Stoplight Skirt has three options; a pencil skirt, midi, and maxi all with unique details. I sewed up the pencil skirt in faux leather and ponte for a great structured look. I love how quickly it sewed up and the color-blocked sides give you lots of choices to spice things up a bit.

The top is the Easy Street Tee, a relaxed dolman style tee with cuffs and a long-sleeve option too. I used a fun ribbed velvet for a little texture and color. I made her size according to her chest measurements and like that I can size up or down for different looks.

The final pattern I sewed up from this collection was the Senpai Bomber jacket from Sew Chibi Designs. I love Kat’s playful style and it was fun to take her pattern and make it our own. The jacket is a boxier style, slightly cropped and comes with loads of extras. There are fun numbers and letter templates for a true letterman style jacket. You can add a lining, pockets, and go with a collar or hood neckline. My little man wanted an easy to wear hoodie that he could keep on all day. I used a french terry/sweatshirt fleece combo for a light layer that he has worn constantly since it came off my machine. He wanted a tiger graphic for the back (thank you Cricut Design Space) and picked his favorite number for the front. I used a flocked vinyl to really up the cool factor.

This collection was so fun to work on. It brought back so many memories from my own childhood of exploring new cities and the excitement that was in the air. There’s just something about heading downtown. The food, the sights, the people… the energy is so invigorating!

What pattern will you sew up first? With so many to choose from, the sweet kiddos in your lives will be set and will be the coolest kids around!

JillyAtlanta Agatha Dress

One of my favorite school projects has always been the 5th-grade wax museum. It’s a chance for students to pick someone from U.S. history to learn about and really get to know more about the amazing people in our country past and present. Sophie came home so excited and immediately googled “important women in the United States”. She wanted someone strong who really made a difference in our nation. I’m not gonna lie but her fashion sense was also key. Knowing she’d get to dress up like her subject really got this fashionista excited!

She stumbled across a few articles on Nancy Reagan and knew that she’d be a unique choice. After reading about her work with the ‘Just Say No’ initiative and scrolling through countless glamorous pictures, she’d found her match! We used this iconic picture as our inspiration for her wax figure day look.

I turned to the JillyAtlanta Agatha Dress to recreate the pussy bow dress in the photo. The pattern is full of options and I loved the timeless style of it. I used a red linen blend from Joann’s (I would have loved to find a more lightweight solid red but you work with what you can get). Simple red buttons really keep with the classic style.

The details with this pattern are incredible. I love JillyAtlanta’s aesthetic and hope I can sew up more of them. The back pleated bodice and bishop sleeves are my favorites!

We happened upon the Healing Field while out doing photos and it was the perfect backdrop for this dress. Our city sets up a field full of American flags, one for each person lost on 9/11. It’s a humbling sight to see and was such a great opportunity to share the events of that day with my kids. It opened up a conversation about love, healing, and the incredible people of this country.

I told her this photo could be her campaign picture when she runs for president! It captures her heart and represents so much love and hope for our future.

And this one is just her… trying to hold in her smile as she quietly glides through life. She’s destined for greatness and I’m thrilled to be along for her ride!

Riley Blake Paper Daisies

Riley Blake Paper Daisies is a new fabric line from one of my favorite designers at Riley Blake, Sue Daley. I always fall in love with the colors and prints in Sue’s collections and Paper Daisies is no exception.

My partnership with Riley Blake is such that they send me fabric in exchange for posting and promoting. I love to sit down with my kids and look at the upcoming lines and see what jumps out at them. This pretty geometric print immediately caught my daughter’s eye. She’s always looking for unique designs and prefers anything but florals and this is right up her alley. When it arrived at our house we both fell in love with the tiny scale and gorgeous colors.

Payton on the other hand still loves florals and anything cheerful and fun. This sweet grey floral reads both precious and cute and also kinda vintage 60’s boho too. I was leaning towards a fun midi length version of this skirt to play up that 60’s vibe but she really wanted a shorter version. In the end, she’s the one wearing it so she wins 😉

There are so many adorable prints in this line from the bold main floral to the subtle dandelion. The gorgeous color palette of peach, coral, pinks, and grey is so pretty. They’re colors I’m drawn to again and again.

For my Sophie’s dress, I used the Spencer from Violette Fields Threads. I sewed one up for my cute little niece and have been wanting to make one for my girls ever since. It’s a classic style with a few options to choose from. I did the sleeveless version with a straight skirt (there are puff 3/4 sleeves and an optional tiered skirt). We wanted something classic and simple. Honestly though, before we picked buttons it was looking very much like a nightgown. The style is a little young for her and it was tricky to style it to her liking. I sewed up a size 8 width and added 3 inches to the 9/10 length. It still ended up ‘vintage’ length (also known as pretty darn short). She loves it paired with sneakers but will most likely wear it with tights, boots, and a cardigan as the weather cools off here. I think this style is adorable but will probably not make it again for her. It’s so sweet and I do think I’ll try it for little sis but maybe in a more lightweight fabric.

Payton’s skirt is the Soliel Skirt from Lil Luxe Collection (also in the Project Run and Play Shop). It’s a quick and fun pattern for a faux button front skirt, elastic back waistband in knee, midi, and maxi lengths. There are optional suspender straps and pockets. I will make this pattern over and over again until my kids no longer fit it. It’s such a timeless style and is so easy to wear. I paired it here with a Modkid Perfect Tee in Riley Blake Aqua knit. It’s an outfit she can wear to school, church, or on weekends. She likes things comfortable and this is perfection in her book.

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you love this adorable new line as much as we do!

Love Notions Game Day Jersey

This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing patterns through these links gives me a small commission that I use to keep this ol’ blog running.

The Love Notions Game Day Jersey released today and it’s just in time! It’s such a versatile pattern. Perfect for representing your school or favorite professional team. It’s also so on-trend and works great for upcycling old t-shirts or just creating great vintage style tees.

Both the Kid’s and Women’s versions are chock full of options. They both have a scoop or v-neckline, short or 3/4 sleeve, tee or dress length, and optional sleeve stripes.

The kids version is a unisex tee in sizes 2t-16. I love that I can make tees for most of my kids out of one pattern. Big sis already has one cut out and waiting and big bro is eyeing to upcycle some of his old tees into jerseys.

Charlie is anxious for me to up the cool factor on this version with a little Denver Broncos vinyl. This pattern is just itching for some great vinyl creativity!

Both are tees are made using fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. Charlie is wearing a solid cotton lycra. Mine is luscious modal spandex jersey in light grey and deep mauve. This fabric hit the shop early this summer and I’ve been dying for a tee in it ever since. This tee totally lives up to my dreams. It’s so soft and relaxed. I know grey is a bit boring but I can never have too many grey tees. I always reach for them first!

I’m so excited about the possibilities with this pattern. I have a couple of cool vintage tees saved on my phone that I’m dying to recreate. Think cool colors using the color blocking and adding a few stripes across the chest. I’m loving all the tester versions that used a print on the shoulders and sleeves too. So many choices!

Category: Sewing for Girls