dress – Page 2 – SewSophieLynn

Coffee + Thread Tour: A Linen Madrid Dress

I can’t pass up a blog tour especially for someone as sweet and talented as Olga at Coffee + Thread patterns. I’ve loved testing for her over the years and her patterns are always so well done and amazing.

For the duration of the tour, make sure you stop by the C+T shop to grab a few of those patterns you’ve been eyeing. Use code ‘shopc+t’ to save 25% off everything excluding bundles.

I sewed up a pretty Madrid for the Madrid Tour last year and made one of my favorite makes of 2019. My crepe maxi Madrid was the dress dreams are made of and I feel like a princess every time I wear it. For this year, I knew I needed another Madrid dress but I wanted to do something totally different.

I used a gorgeous teal rayon linen from Raspberry Creek fabrics. I’m on a mission to sew up every color of this remarkable fabric. Teal is one of my favorite colors to wear and this vibrant shade is just exquisite. It’s a medium weight which makes it easy to sew but not too stiff giving this dress just the body I wanted.

I sewed up a size 4 and graded out to a 6 at the waist. I’m right in between a 4 and 6 and went down knowing this fabric would be a little boxier. I did the same sleeve alteration as my last Madrid since I’m still in love with bishop sleeves. I simply drew a straight line from the underarm and added two inches to the length to give a little fullness (and because I usually have to lengthen long sleeves a bit). For this version, I did midi length, the perfect all season length in my opinion. I think with the right accessories and shoes this dress will be worn year-round.

Don’t you love when a garment makes you feel amazing?! This one is comfortable but still has a bit of a wow factor. It’s casual enough to wear to church or can be dressed up for a fun date night.

My cute hubby met me for lunch and took pictures for me and was such a good sport. It was FREEZING this afternoon and he had me giggling through my shivering. He’s a keeper for sure!

Make sure you follow Coffee + Thread on Instagram to see all the incredible makes each day. I’ve been so inspired already! The sewing community is so amazing!

A Chambray Dress for all seasons with Riley Blake

If you’ve read this blog for any amount of time, you know I usually let my girls have all of my fun Riley Blake sponsored fabrics, well, they usually get first dibs on ALL the fabric honestly. When choosing fabric for this post, I knew it needed to be all mine! Today I’m highlighting Riley Blake chambray, a fabric substrate I love and wanted all for myself!

I had a tough time picking which chambray to get. I love the subtle prints but finally settled on the Indigo for a classic look. This chambray is lightweight and would work well for tops (a button-up would be divine!), full skirts, dresses, or light pants.

When debating what to make with this fabric, I knew I wanted something I would wear often. Love Notions Allegros or a Melody Top came to mind, or another Justine Skirt (I lived in this version all summer). When thinking about what I wear all year long, I immediately settled on a Named Inari Dress. I wear my past version so much and I knew a chambray version would be super versatile. So now I bring you my dress for all seasons!

For summer, I’d keep the styling simple and wear the dress alone with sandals or sneakers. The shape of the Inari is my favorite and really shines on it’s own. When sewing my Inari’s I make a few simple alterations. I eliminate the side slits at the hem and love to add inseam pockets (I can’t live without them!). I also add 2 inches to the length so it hits right at my knees. This is a size 6 with cap sleeves minus the sleeve cuff. I love the fit through the neck and shoulders and the cocoon shaping really helps out my rectangle frame. It’s loose without being too oversized.

Going into fall, a light sweater, tights, and booties really help transition this dress. I wore this dress to church this week with just the booties and was so comfortable!

Sweater and tights from Downeast Basics and are no longer available but here is a similar sweater, the booties are a Target score.

Winter means thick tights, a chunky sweater, and a cozy fun scarf.

Similar scarf and sweater (original was from Target last year)

Boots are my favorite Amazon purchase this year!

For spring, it’s time for a simple lightweight sweater and fun bright jewelry and shoes to really celebrate the arrival of sunshine and warmer temps.

Both necklaces in this post are from Charming Charlie (a favorite for inexpensive trendy pieces)

Sweater is another from Downeast Basics and shoes are well worn Target finds (Are you sensing a theme here? I mainly online shop but can’t help throwing in a thing or two while picking up ‘essentials’ at Target. And Downeast happens to be right next to my favorite grocery store, lol!)

I can already tell this dress is going to be well loved. It fits so well into my 2020 wardrobe- comfy, easy to wear, and super versatile. This chambray has washed up beautifully and will continue to get better with each wash I’m sure. As I sew for myself, especially in these times, I try to be really intentional and add pieced to my wardrobe that really make me happy. This dress does just that!

Little Lizard King Amsterdam in Gem Stones from Riley Blake Designs

Did you guys audibly gasp at this fabric?! I mean c’mon, it’s pretty darn amazing! When I first saw the new Gem Stones Bright line from Riley Blake Designs I knew this little girl would be in heaven! There are so many colors to choose from and that ombre is to die for! We chose the Flamingo colorway but it was such a tough choice. We love the subtle sparkle of the gold squares with the bright, vibrant colors. Sooooo pretty!

I knew this fabric needed an equally stunning pattern to really showcase it so we searched our favorite makers for something new to us. I’ve always loved the Little Lizard King Amsterdam every time I’ve seen it sewed up and she was smitten the first time she saw the listing. I knew we needed a maxi dress to really showcase this fabric and I think this pattern was the perfect choice.

This project was such a fun sew. I loved working with the fabric and trying to figure out the best way to really make it shine. She requested a yellow bodice and I love how the dress feels anchored by the turquoise hem. I love sewing dresses and sewing them in quilting cotton is so nice. The stability and weight make it so easy to sew and press. The weight adds a little more body to the skirt. She felt like a princess in this dress and said she can’t wait for an occasion to wear it (with us rarely leaving the house these days she might just be wearing it to the park or a backyard bar-b-que!).

Nothing like a happy kid to make you love this hobby!

This fabric really is amazing! The ombre runs selvage to selvage and it was the perfect width for this maxi dress. My mind is racing with all of the cute possibilities with it! Thank you to Riley Blake for letting us play with this fun line!

Simple Life Pattern Co. Molly Maxi Dress in Art Gallery Fabrics

It’s Maxi Month at Simple Life Pattern Company and I’m thrilled to be sharing our latest maxi dress. I’ve always wanted an excuse to sew up the Molly Dress and this was the perfect opportunity. All month long you can enter to win a $20 SLPco shop credit by sewing up one of their maxi dress patterns and posting a photo of your make in their Facebook group or on Instagram. Use #SLPcoChallenge to enter your makes. You can grab all of the details here.

This post is sponsored by Simple Life Pattern Company and Art Gallery Fabrics. All opinions are my own.

My girly and I perused the many amazing fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics and kept coming back to this gorgeous rayon from Bonnie Christine’s latest line, Her and History. I knew the colors would be stunning on her and she loved the beautiful floral print. Working with AGF rayon is such a joy and it was heavenly to sew up.

The Molly pattern is a scoop back top, dress, or maxi and features optional front bodice pleating and collar. It comes in sizes 2t-12. I sewed up a size 10 to hopefully get a little more wear out of it because she was between size 8 and 10. It ended up a tad big but I adjusted the buttons in the back and can move them as she grows as well. The simplicity of the pattern makes it easy to sew up. I love the gorgeous back and classic front bodice. Such a perfect pattern to really highlight this amazing fabric.

I love this amazing combination of pattern and fabric. The lightweight rayon just floats as a maxi dress and it’s so nice in the warm summer weather.

Make sure to enter your own SLPco makes this month! I can’t wait to see all of the maxi pretties you all sew up!

Abbie’s Garden from Riley Blake Designs

I’m excited to be back here on the blog today. Sewing time is scarce these days and blogging time seems even scarcer. The sun is shining and I’ve got a house full of kids these days so we are spending as much time outside as possible. I do love spending a morning at my sewing machines though and this fun fabric from Riley Blake was a perfect excuse to sew!

I always love Sue Daley’s designs and Abbie’s Garden is no exception. The pinks and blues are just the perfect shades and I love the pop of black with them. I always get sucked in by the florals but the darling main prints are so sweet too.

My girls and I picked two simple prints from the collection. My younger daughter went with Abbie’s Garden Floral in Black while my older daughter wanted something more subtle and non-floral and picked the Garden Lattice in Charcoal. There are so many great coordinating prints with this collection!

For this dress I turned to a free pattern from Simple Life Pattern Co., the Catalina Dress. I always love finding great free patterns that I can recommend and this one is fantastic! It’s a classic sundress that comes in sizes 2-12. The elastic back means no closures so it’s a quick sew too! It’s perfect for highlighting those special fabrics and a great base to really play around with. I’m already envisioning a pretty stripe version or playing with the straps a little for fun.

When she put this on and requested a ponytail, I got all kinds of 50’s school girl vibes. I had to teach her about Sandra Dee and she loved her style!

My oldest wanted something other than a dress and the search was on for just the right pattern. Little Lizard King released the Cannes pattern just last week and the moment I saw it I knew it’d be perfect! This pattern comes in sizes 12 mos.-14 and features top and dress options. With a v-neckline in the front and back, it’s another no closure pattern. It’s finished with bias around the neckline and arms instead of another layer or facing which makes it nice and lightweight.

While it works great in quilting cotton, I think it’d be lovely in a rayon challis or gauze too! Bonus points moms, there’s a ladies version as well!

It was so fun to head to one of our favorite walking trails for these pictures. Summertime is in the air and I can’t wait for more days like this. We had to stop for our first snow cones of the season after this shoot and for a moment all was right with the world!

A huge thank you to Riley Blake for sponsoring the fabric for this post. Make sure you check out Abbie’s Garden at your local quilt shop!

Simple Life Pattern Co. Piper Dress

Simple Life Pattern Co. is a favorite for my girls, especially for dresses. As part of the promo group I had the opportunity to pick this gorgeous Art Gallery fabric and sew up a pretty Piper dress. Fabric and pattern were gifted to us but all opinions are my own.

My oldest is quickly growing out of most children’s patterns so I was happy when she was still able to fit into Simple Life patterns. She’s a good 5-6″ off the chart height-wise but that’s an easy adjustment to make. The Piper pattern comes in sizes 2-12, features multiple lengths and a ruffled or plain bodice. When shopping the Art Gallery site, I steered her towards the rayon knowing that they produce a little more grown-up look than a quilting cotton would. This pretty print is just stunning and we went with the maxi length skirt to really up the drama.

Between the ruffled bodice, wide tank style, and elastic waist, this dress is tween approved! She loved how comfortable it is and that the wide straps hid her bra too.

She’s really looking forward to warm summer days when she can wear this to church. She was a trooper this day and took these pics when it was just 40 degrees! I tried to be as quick as I could and she’s hiding jeans under the dress too, lol! I’m not THAT mean! We had to catch the little bit of sunshine between snowstorms.

The Piper is part of Simple Life Pattern Co’s April challenge Garden Party. The other featured patterns are Newport (you can see ours here), Maggie, Kyra, and Jamiesyn. All of these patterns are 20% through the whole month. To join the challenge, sew up your own versions for a chance to win one of three $20 gift cards to SLPCo.

Sewing one of these pretty dresses is just the right cure for a gloomy day at home!

Abby’s Spin + Twirl Dress and more new patterns in the Project Run and Play Shop

The Project Run and Play pattern shop is growing! I’m excited to be here today to share just one of the TWENTY new patterns now available at PRP, Abby’s Spin + Twirl Dress and Top. You can grab any of the new patterns for 20% off through the end of the month!

This pattern is a classic skater dress with a semi-fitted bodice and full circle skirt. There are two bodice lengths: empire and natural waist, neckband or cowl neckline, multiple sleeve lengths, and a top or dress skirt length. It comes in sizes 12 months all the way up to 14 (yay!). I sewed up a size 12 with a 14 length with medium sleeves and of course we added the optional pockets!

We used a stunning floral jersey from Raspberry Creek Fabrics that is on sale through today. It was the perfect weight for this pattern. It’s soft and comfy but still dresses up so nicely. I love the pretty spring hues!

Obviously, she had to try out the spin factor!

Make sure to head over to the PRP shop to check out all the new arrivals. Then head on over to Instagram for a fun little giveaway. I’m giving away one pattern to the shop simply by following PRP on IG and commenting on my post- easy peasy!

With so many new patterns, make sure you check out the PRP blog each day for the featured patterns and fellow PRP designer showcasing it. The fun continues through the end of the month!

This post was sponsored by Project Run and Play and Raspberry Creek Fabrics. All opinions are my own. I’m a loyal PRP fan and RCF lover!

Liberty Flower Show Spring for Riley Blake Fabrics

I’ve been a lover of Liberty fabrics since I started sewing regularly almost ten years ago. I dragged my husband to the Liberty flagship store many years ago on a trip to London and I wandered the store for far too long for someone as cheap as I am! I left with a few small trinkets (fabric buttons, a handkerchief, and some gorgeous bias tape) and vowed to one day splurge on actual yardage when I felt confident in my sewing abilities. When I saw that Liberty has partnered with Riley Blake to offer affordable quilting cottons, my thrifty little heart rejoiced! You get the same iconic prints and Riley Blake’s quality cottons.

I’m excited to introduce you to the Liberty Flower Show Spring line. There’s an amazing variety of prints- from the vibrant and bright spring florals to the subtle tone on tone prints. I requested a few different prints that I fell in love with. I knew I needed something for myself and was torn between which children deserved this goodness.

Payton needed a dress in this happy floral print. I’ve been wanting to make a Simple Life Pattern Co. Newport Dress since it released and I knew this print would be great for it. I love the simple lines of this pattern and those pockets are the coolest thing EVER! The construction is unexpected but the look really adds so much to this dress. I sewed up a straight size 10 (she’s right in between an 8 and a 10 size-wise but I want her to be able to wear this through the summer too) with added length that I ended up taking out by doing an extra wide hem. I always think I want dresses to hit below the knee so she can wear them longer but in the end I decided that I like the look of slightly above the knee so much better. With a wide hem, I can just let it down when she grows! The joy of sewing your own clothes!I paired the Malvern Meadow print with the Wiltshire Shadow Collection Custard for the lining and pockets lining. The colors in the Malvern Meadow print are so fun and cheery. They bring a bit of sunshine to our gloomy winter days. I made a warm weather dress for an upcoming vacation and know she’ll be happy to wear this come spring too!

This print, Yorkshire Meadow, had me so torn. First, it was going to be a tie for one of my boys. The subtle print and muted colors make it a floral that works great for anyone. I finally settled on shorts for my oldest daughter because it was the most practical. As we get ready for our trip I noticed she’s grown about a foot and her shorts are a little extra short now. These will be perfect for throwing on with a swimsuit and wearing while we do a little sight seeing too.

I used the Free Purl Soho City Gym Shorts pattern. I love this free pattern! It’s quick and the racer styling never goes out of style. She’s in the largest kid size for her waist and I added an extra inch to the inseam length. I used store bought bias tape and 1.5″ elastic instead of the 1″ the pattern called for. They offer this pattern in children’s sizes 2-11 and women’s waist sizes 33-46″. It’s such a great lounging pattern and works well with lots of different fabric types. It’s fantastic for beginners too!

For my top, I used the Arley Gardens print (not available on the website but it should hit your favorite quilt shop soon!). These colors are divine! The rosey-pinks and dusty blues- c’mon! It feels a little more grown-up and not so flashy. It’s just so darn pretty!

I used the Melody Top from Love Notions (affiliate link). It’s the perfect beginner friendly button-up. No finicky plackets to mess with and great, detailed instructions. I sized down to an XS this time as I was afraid it would look too boxy in this heavier weight cotton. I love that the Melody looks amazing in so many different fabric types. I made one slight change to the pattern and cut the back piece straight across instead of the shirt tail hem. I plan on tying the front whenever I wear it and I found with my last Melody that my back hem just naturally bunched up in the back. Cutting the shirt tail curve off will reduce the bulk back there.

Are you itching to get your hands on some of this line now?! If you’re looking for the Liberty lawn feel, this isn’t going to work for you. It has the same feel and weight as a high-quality quilting cotton. It will be great for lots of home and apparel projects as well as nice on your bank account too! If you’re like me that means you can just buy ALL the prints then!

Holiday Plaid Inari Dress

As the holidays approach I usually sew my girls a new dress or two for the occasion. I love seeing them all festive and dressed up each Sunday. I didn’t want to be left out this year and sewed myself a fun new dress just for me!

I’m super lucky to have a Hobby Lobby just a few minutes from my house and every time I go I get sucked into the fabric section. I love their seasonal apparel fabrics and this plaid flannel just had to come home with me. I love the white background and bold red color and can’t seem to find anything like it in other shops. I love that it’s perfect for the holidays but I will also continue to wear it all winter long.

I made this Named Inari dress earlier this fall and it’s been in constant rotation. I added inseam pockets and skipped the side slits for a look that’s comfy and so easy to throw on. This version was made in ponte knit from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. I’ve loved this version so much I’ve been anxious to make another one for months!

I sewed up a size 6 and added 2 inches at the waist line. I used a pocket piece from another pattern because pockets are a must at church (almost every musical number will bring me to tears so I’ve got to keep tissues handy!). I used the same pattern pieces for both the knit and woven versions except for the neckline, opting for a facing with the flannel over a neckband.

I love this cocoon silhouette. It’s nice and relaxed without being too oversized. I think it will look great with a long cardigan or even a jean jacket.

I can’t express how much I loved this project. My schedule is full of deadlines and ‘must sews’ that I rarely take a moment to sew something just for fun. This pattern is quick and easy to sew (no closures to mess with makes it simple to sew but also so comfortable to wear). These kind of projects make me remember why I love sewing in the first place. Just me, my favorite podcasts, and my sewing machines= pure heaven!

Are you taking a little time to sew for yourself this holiday season? It feels extra indulgent but oh so good!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love Notions Secret Sewist Exchange

I have the opportunity to work with the loveliest ladies around as part of the Love Notions team. This year, Tami and Tessa created the most fun exchange for all of the Love Notions Ambassadors and today is the big reveal!

*This post contains Love Notions affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through those links I receive a small commission. Thanks for keeping this blog going!

Ready for all the details?! Tami and Tessa arranged a ‘Secret Sewist’ gift exchange. Each member was given the name of another ambassador and a fabric budget to shop for them. We got to pick out fabric and recommend a pattern for them to sew up. This part of the exchange was soooo stressful! I stalked my partner to try to get a feel for her likes and recent makes. My partner lives in a totally different part of the globe so it was fun to see what works for her and her environment. I had to pick fabric from a site in a foreign language which added another layer of trickiness (I feel like I barely know fabric terms in English, lol!). Our Secret Sewists are being revealed over on the Love Notions blog today and I can’t wait to see what she thinks and to find out mine too!

My fabric from my Secret Sewist arrived so quickly! Those Sly Fox girls are fast! I received 3 yards of this pretty floral double brushed poly with a note to sew up a Willow Wrap dress. I had just sewn up this maxi Willow Wrap that very day and was already wanting another one! I was ecstatic with her pattern recommendation!

This time I used Katie’s maxi tutorial on the Love Notions blog to add a gathered maxi skirt to the bodice. I also fully lined the bodice to give it a little more weight. This is the plain bodice with short sleeves in a size small.

This fabric was so perfect for this pattern. Little did my secret sewist know but we are headed to the islands after the holidays (if you know me in real life shhhh! It’s a surprise for the kiddos!). It’s become somewhat of a tradition to gift our kid’s experiences or trips for Christmas instead of more toys and gadgets that will inevitably get lost or forgotten. This year we’re headed somewhere tropical and this fabric was just meant for it!

I can’t wait to wear this out sightseeing or to a night out. I live in dresses on vacation and this maxi version will be so comfy! I didn’t want to take it off after these pics even if I did look a little ridiculous at the grocery store in near-freezing temps, lol!

I’m already pretending I’m on a beach somewhere drinking a mock-mojito! I can’t wait for a little bit of sunshine and sand!

I feel so lucky to be a part of the Love Notions team. Tami, Tessa, and Kelly are the most encouraging, thoughtful gals and I’m so grateful I get to work with them. The Ambassador team is a group of the most talented, kind, and inspiring women on the internet. It’s amazing to watch the behind the scenes as they cheer each other on and support each other and their creative makes. The internet is a crazy place that can bring together makers from all over the world and the Ambassador team is a great example of that. What a privilege it is to be a part of this community! Make sure you head on over to check out the first batch of makes and to hear all about our Secret Sewist experience.

Tag: dress