SewSophieLynn

Summer Caye Bermudas

Summer is in the air… The kids are getting antsy, end of the year programs/performances fill our days, and I’m hanging in there just waiting for those lazy summer days.

As the weather warms up, off come the jeans and in come the shorts- hallelujah!

For the Summer Sewing- The Long and Short of it tour, I sewed up some bermuda length Summer Caye’s (affl. link) by Love Notions. I love my pant versions and knew these would make the perfect summer short for me.

For my version, I cut them at the knee line in the pattern and did a full elastic waistband with a faux drawstring. If I’m wearing shorts, I’m most likely chasing kids at the park or roasting in the sun at a soccer game so comfort is key. I also used the slimmer wide leg cut line for the back piece and just rolled my hem up instead of using the cuff piece (the cuff pattern piece is made for the palazzo width).

I used Art Gallery denim and used the reverse for contrast on the pockets, hem, and waistband. They are so soft and lightweight!

Such a quick, easy pattern and I’m thinking I need a knit pair real soon too!

Make sure you check out the other bloggers today. Ti has a great giveaway you don’t want to miss! Happy Summer Sewing!

Summer Sewing, The Long and the Short Of It

The Socially Awkward Seamstress

Sew A Little Seam Hadley Top

Oh! How I adore this top!

The newest pattern from Kelly at Sew A Little Seam is the sweet Hadley Top.

With multiple sleeve options in sizes 12 months to 12 years, this is sure to be a warm weather favorite for everyone!

There is an option to add trim to the bodice and I choose to continue that trim on the cap sleeve.

The back has an elastic casing to keep it snug and modest.

The finishing on this top is superb! The inside looks just as pretty as the outside with no exposed seams and bias trimmed armholes. Even with the beautiful finishes this top is a quick, simple sew- perfect for confident beginners.

My little sassy pants approves!

Make sure to pick up your copy and join the Facebook Group for an amazing coupon code to grab it for a steal!

Dive into Dolmans Round-up Review

Can you believe the end is here? I’ve had such a blast with my co-bloggers and have learned so much. Did you pick a favorite pattern? Maybe find a couple you just HAD to have?

Here’s a little run-down of what we reviewed:

Diving Into Dolmans Week 1

Sewing By Ti- Sew Much Ado Seafarer
Creative Counselor- Sewing Cake’s The Tee
Sew Sophie Lynn- Patterns for Pirates Pumpkin Spice
Made By Melli- Patterns for Pirates Sweet Tee

Guest blogger: Rebel and Malice- Jalie Dolman #3352

Diving Into Dolmans Week 2

Sewing By Ti- Create Kids Couture Donna’s Dolman
Creative Counselor- Blue Dot Patterns Georgia
Sew Sophie Lynn- EYMM Kymy’s Dolman

Guest bloggers: Rebel and Malice- Kzjo Poppy
Adventures with Bubba and Bug- Little Kiwi’s Closet Take Flight Dolman

Diving Into Dolmans Week 3

Sewing By Ti- Peekaboo Sunkissed Tee
Creative Counselor- Seamwork Aberdeen
SewSophieLynn– Hey June Aurora
Made by Melli-Peekaboo Sunkissed Tee

Guest Bloggers: Sew Far North – EYMM Assymetrical Top
Adventures with Bubba and Bug- Seamingly Smitten Dolman Sleeve Sweater with Assymmetrical Collar
Dos Natural Sistas- Hey June Aurora

Diving Into Dolmans Week 4

Sewing by Ti: Jalie #3352 Dolman
Creative Counselor: Maria Denmark Olivia Oversized Tee
SewSophieLynn- Itch to Stitch Carey
Made by Melli – Shwin Day Tripper

Guest Blogger: Sew Far North – Seamingly Smitten Women’s Dolman Sleeve Sweater
Mahlica Designs: Fancy Tiger One Hour Top

Diving Into Dolmans Week 5

Sewing By Ti: Patterns for Pirates Pumpkin Spice
Creative Counselor: EYMM Natasha
SewSophieLynn- Tessuti Mandy Boat Tee

Guest bloggers: Sew Far North – Nap Time Creations Easy Breezy Summer Tee
Lulu & Celeste: Shwin Day Tripper

Diving Into Dolmans Round Up

Sewing By Ti
Creative Counselor
Sew Sophie Lynn

Guest Bloggers: Bubba and Bug

I love seeing them all together- what a variety of fits and features! All dolmans are definetely not created equal.

To check out my other beloved dolmans you can head here.

Ready to see my picks? Drumroll please….

My surprise favorite is …

The Itch to Stitch Carey Top! I love, love this top! It’s not super versatile (like, I think people will catch on if I were to sew up a dozen and wear them everyday) BUT I will make more for sure. I really want a light woven version for summer. The gathered arms are just so fantastic and unique and really elevate this pattern.

Most comfortable goes to…

The Mandy Boat Tee from Tessuti. It’s such a cute, comfy silhouette and very easy to wear. Not the most flattering but most days I don’t really care 😉

The one I’m most anxious to sew up again is…

The Hey June Aurora Tee. I love the side colorblock option with this pattern and definitely need to try it. I also want an easy-breezy short sleeve version for summer. Adrianna recently posted the cutest slouchy Aurora tee hack here that I’m dying to try too.

Most flattering goes to…

EYMM Kymy’s Dolman. My poor little chest and lack of waist gets camouflaged great in this silhouette. I’d love to try the side rouching option for even more belly hiding. I think in a drapier fabric it will be even better!

My cool weather staple will be…

the Pumpkin Spice Dolman from Patterns for Pirates. I love the silhouette of this tee with the long sleeves. The volume up top with a fitted sleeve and waist works wonders on my frame too. I will definitely be making more of these when the weather cools down.

My go-to staples will remain the same…

Sew Much Ado’s Seafarer Top is so quick and I love the slim fit of it. It’s the perfect basic top for me.

Shwin’s Daytripper Top is another go-to that I can’t give up- pockets in a top are genius! I’ve even hacked this one into my favorite loose-fitting maxi dress. It’s just so good!

The Love Notions La Bella Donna Top is so super flattering and could potentially dethrone my other got-to’s. I need to make a short sleeve version stat but I absolutely adore my long sleeve ones.

K- are you feeling overwhelmed? That’s a lot of dolmans, right there! The great thing about the pdf world is that there is something for everybody. I certainly loved following my co-bloggers on this adventure and even with my abundance of dolman patterns I think I may pick up a couple of their favorites too. Dolmans are so versatile and each pattern has it’s own unique fit and options that I hope you found the perfect pattern (or two…or ten!).

A HUGE thank you to the designers who so willingly gave patterns for this series and to the other bloggers who worked so hard each week. Thanks Ti for letting me join in the fun.

And thank ya’ll for following along! I hope to see you around here again soon!

Dive into Dolmans Bonus

I know- it’s not Thursday but I’ve got a special little bonus post for you.

Dolmans were some of the first pdf’s I ever tried and the very first knit garments I ever sewed myself. They are just perfect for beginners.

The Seafarer Top by Sew Much Ado is so quick and easy and I have a million in my closet.

It’s a slim fitting dolman with just the right arm curve, in my opinion. There are options for bands or hems and also a pocket piece. I love to change up the band widths for different looks too.

It makes a great basic top and looks totally different depending on fabric choice.

This is my favorite and it’s done in a poly jersey knit. You can check out Ti’s full review here. I think it’s great to see it on a different body type too and hers looks awesome.

Another favorite dolman pattern is the Day Tripper Top from Shwin Designs.

You can get full reviews of this pattern at Lulu and Celeste and Made By Melli.

I love all the options with this one- short sleeve, long sleeves, different hem lengths and curves, and POCKETS! The pockets are the best!!!

I love this cozy reverse french terry version. The pockets make it perfect paired with leggings.

I love the longer length to keep my toosh covered and comfortable.

It’s a looser fit than the Seafarer and I love the slouchiness of it. Bonus- it can be made in a woven too!

Aren’t dolmans just a thing of beauty? So quick and so cute!

I can’t leave out the fabulous Love Notions La Bella Donna (affl. link) that I reviewed here. It’s full of options too and looks great on every body. It’s got a longer dolman sleeve that creates a flattering silhouette. With tunic and regular length and multiple sleeve options, it’s a super versatile pattern to have.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a full round-up and links to see what my co-bloggers picked as their favorites too! Thanks for joining in on the super fun tour!

Pattern Emporium Blog Tour

I’m beyond thrilled to be kicking off Pattern Emporium‘s very first Blog Tour! Lucky, lucky me!

Pattern Emporium is so highly regarded in the sewing world and I can now see what everyone raves about.

If this is your first time to my blog, welcome! I’m a stay-at-home mom to five busy kids and I sew to stay sane. We rush from one thing to the next so I cherish my quiet afternoons with my machine. I’ve also learned that I love to take pictures of my kids almost as much as I love sewing for them so be warned that this post is loaded with pics!

I’ve had the Ladies Harem Pants pattern cut out and sitting on this fabric for an embarrassingly long time (we’re talking months). This tour was the perfect push to get them done and I couldn’t wait to sew some up for my girls too!

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect woven joggers forever and this pattern is exactly what I envisioned it would be.

I made mine up per the pattern with diagonal relaxed pockets and elastic casings in the ankles. They are so comfortable and fit like a dream. My fabric came from the LA fabric district and is a rayon challis.

I love the waistband and pockets! The pocket holds my phone perfectly which is always a struggle with this type of pant.

My oldest daughter’s are similar to mine but with a curved front pocket and no elastic in the ankle. She really wanted ‘flowy’ pants!

Hers are sewn with rayon challis from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. This style of pant suits her easy-going but sophisticated little personality.

My younger daughter is all about comfort. For hers I left off the pockets and cropped them quite a bit. I also used the same size as big sister’s so they are a bit looser. For ultimate comfort I traded the elastic waistband for a knit waistband. All fabric for this pair is also from Raspberry Creek.

These will be perfect for my little dancer. I love that she can push the cuff up for a true harem pant look or pull it down for a cute crop pant.

I honestly can’t get over the options that these patterns have. I could see these being a summer staple for sure.

My little guy may even get a comfy knit pair too. Really, I think he’ll be jealous if he doesn’t!

Thank you for stopping by! I can’t wait to see what the other great bloggers have to share for us. My first jump into the Pattern Emporium world has been such a thrill. If you aren’t a member of the Pattern Emporium Facebook Group make sure you join to be blown away with inspiration! Kate’s newest pattern The Heartlight Skirt has been filling it with gorgeous photos you won’t want to miss.

Pattern Emporium Tour Schedule

5/2 Sew Sophie Lynn
5/3 Handcrafted By Red
5/4 Sprouting JubeJube
5/5 That’s Sew Kari
5/6 Simple Blessed
5/9 Wally And Grace
5/10 Free Notion
5/11 Horris And Deedle

Love Notions Summer Caye Pants

Oh, Summer Caye’s, I love you!

*This post contains affiliate links. I get a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, which I will then use to buy more fabric and sew up more beauties to convince you to buy more patterns (isn’t that how it works 😉 ). I am also a paid tester for Love Notions and got on board AFTER falling in love with the patterns.

The newest pattern from Love Notions is simply divine!

With tons of options for women and girls, you can wear this pattern everyday if you wanted to.

I know me and my girls will definitely have a closetful.

There are multiple length options. You can choose 4″ or 6″ shorts for girls or 6″ and 9″ inseam length for women. There are also capri and full length choices. The girl’s pattern comes in sizes 2T- 16 and 8P-16P. The women’s pattern will fit sizes 0-28 (waist sizes 24.5″-45.5″).

All my versions feature a simple hem but there are a handful of options there too. You can add a cuff, split-hem, and a gorgeous tulip-hem.

And pockets… these are genius in construction! Super cute without the bulk.

The ladies version has two width options- wide leg (a bit narrower) on the left and palazzo on the right.

So many choices… one for every day of the week. I’m excited to try some shorts for myself next!

This is a size 8 pant length out of linen from Joann’s. They are so unlike her normal skinny jeans and we both love these!

I love these pants with a denim jacket!

You might recognize her shorts fabric from this Naples top. I had just enough fabric left for these shorts. You better believe I wasn’t wasting a scrap of this lusciousness!

My gorgeous rayon challis came from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. This particular print sold-out in a heartbeat but there are still quite a few to pick from. I think the tie dye would be awesome for these. Head over to the Love Notions Blog for a sweet RCF coupon code.

This rayon challis was a Hancock fabric score (oh, how I will miss my Hancock’s!).

You can grab the Ladies and Girls patterns separately or pick up the bundle for even more savings. They are on sale through 5/6 and you won’t want to miss it!

Raspberry Creek Fabrics Club Line 3 Preview

We’ve had so much fun playing with the new Club Fabrics here at Raspberry Creek Fabrics.

The colors of the new line are so bright and vibrant and perfect for spring and summer.

Our boys are loving it too!

Each print will be available in both jersey and french terry! Can you say ‘hello, summer shorties and hoodies!’?

The Aqua Yellow Pink and Grey Floral is a favorite of mine. The watercolor abstract floral is so unique and easy to wear. It pairs perfectly with the Grey Polka Dot.

It’s so versatile and all the girls in your life will just love it!

The Fuchsia Aqua and Yellow Floral is a showstopper!

It coordinates with so many solids in the shop for endless possibilities!

The Grey and White Geometric Abstract is another fun, versatile print.

It’s so hip and on trend. We’ll be sewing this print up for EVERYONE in the family!

Pair it with the stripes for the perfect tee!

The Grey/Pink Rose Floral is another beauty. With the new Grey Stripe it’s the perfect, classic combination.

Our little sweeties are adorable in this one.

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The new Club Line will start shipping this weekend. Today is the last day to order at preorder pricing saving you $2 a yard! I can’t wait to see what you guys make with it! Make sure you join the Raspberry Creek Facebook Group for loads of inspiration!

Dive into Dolmans- Tessuti Mandy Boat Tee

Dive-Into-Dolmans-3

I’ve got my last full review for you today. It’s been such a fun, insightful series. Stick around next week for a round-up and I’ll share my favorites and what I’ve learned. Will it be the P4P Pumpkin Spice, EYMM Kymy, Hey June Aurora, Itch to Stitch Carey, or this weeks contender?

mandymain

Today’s post is a FREE pattern- the Mandy Boat Neck Tee by Tessuti Fabrics.

Here’s the details first:

Sizes	One Size Fits All (finished bust measures 58″)
Printable pattern pages/copy shop version	20 pages/yes
Skill Level	Beginner
Measurements for Rectangle Pieces	No
Line Drawings	No
Size made	I made it as is
Options chosen	none
Fabric Requirement for your size	1.10 meters
Measurement Chart	None
Cutting Instructions	No
Pattern Printing Layout	No
Cutting Layout	No
Suggested Fabrics	cotton, wool, viscose and linen knits
Layer Printing Option	No
Neck Line Options	No
Sleeve Options	3/4 Sleeves
Hem Options	No
Color Blocking	No
Seam Allowance	3/8″
Hem Allowance	5/8″
Separate add-on pack	No
Fit	Oversized, boxy
Easy to read instructions	Yes
Drawing or photograph instructions	Photos

As you can see, this pattern is missing all the bells and whistles but c’mon… it’s free!

mandymain2

Printing the pattern, I was very skeptical. It’s hand drawn but went together very easily.

mandy2

It’s one size fits all but I’m not sure who ‘all’ is 😉 I usually wear a small in ready-to-wear tops so that will give you a reference on fit. The body is very loose on me but the sleeves fit just right. I think the sleeves may be the biggest fit issue for anyone much bigger than me.

mandy3

The top is very boxy and wide. It’s so different from what I usually wear but I think it’s fantastic!

mandy6

I used a super flowy remnant piece I got in LA and was barely able to squeeze this top out of it so don’t judge my stripe matching (or lack thereof!). It was the perfect weight and drape for this top.

mandy7

The sewing went so quick. It’s only a couple seams and hemming so it was done in a flash. The instructions were great and I think this would be a great beginner project.

What are your thoughts on this silhouette? Loose, flowy tops are all the rage right now and I think paired with some skinny jeans I could wear this just about anywhere.

mandy10

And with that my new dolman sews are done. I’ll have a bonus post soon with my go-to dolman patterns that were already in constant rotation in my closet. Have you picked a favorite yet?

Make sure to check out the other bloggers and their tops this week:

Diving Into Dolmans Week 5

Sewing By Ti: Patterns for Pirates Pumpkin Spice

Creative Counselor: EYMM Natasha

Made by Melli – Maria Denmark Kimono Tee

Guest bloggers: Sew Far North – Nap Time Creations Easy Breezy Summer Tee

Lulu & Celeste: Shwin Day Tripper

E & E Ruffled Playsuit

The new Ruffled Playsuit pattern by Elegance and Elephants seriously can’t get any cuter!

I love the sweet ruffled bodice- so feminine and sassy at the same time!

And the back is just as cute as the front!

This fabric from Raspberry Creek was so perfect for this pattern. It lends a little tropical vibe to the playsuit and I think it would look lovely on the beach -hint, hint hubby ;).

I love that while it’s super sweet on the little ones, with some cute sandals and shades it works great for my 6-going -on-16-year-old.

And the wide neck and elastic-buttoned back make potty breaks a breeze.

My playsuit was made during the first round of testing. Fit adjustments were made to the neckline and armholes so the fit is even better now! It comes in sizes 6 months to 8 years and has a shorts and pants option. There’s also a tutorial to make it a dress. The pattern tutorial is clear and well written and the construction method was brilliant. This was my first Elegance and Elephants pattern and I would definitely purchase from Heidi in the future.

These pics sum up this crazy girl’s personality pretty well.

Make sure you pick up your copy on sale today by joining the E & E facebook group.

Sew Straight and Gather’s Uptown/Downtown Dress

Guys, I feel like this dress needs a little drumroll… Introducing the new and improved Uptown/Downtown Dress!!!

Terri at Sew Straight and Gather has taken one of her most popular patterns and made it even better! To kick off the relaunch you can grab the pattern on sale for a steal of only $5 (CAD) or bundle it with the ladies for only $10 CAD (that’s a huge bargain for us in the US). You can see my ladies version here (I NEED a maxi version stat!).

She totally redid the pattern and tutorial and it is AMAZING!

All the options are still there- multiple sleeve lengths and tank options, knee and maxi lengths, cowl, pockets, and lining choices too! This pattern is jam-packed!

I love the sleek fit and clean neckline finish.

The inside of this dress looks almost as good as the outside. Terri has the best finishing techniques.

Can you tell she loves it too?!!! This just suits my lil princess so well- comfy yet sophisticated.

I love the styling options with this pattern. It’s so easy to dress it up or make it super casual too.

We had a ton of fun just walking and taking pics for this shoot- super casual and she was so relaxed. That always leads to the best pictures and these are some of my favs.

Even when she stopped to pout for a minute, she still managed to nail the shot!

After killing this shoot I asked her how old she was because she was posing like a pro. Love this dress and lil girly!

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