Love Notions – Page 10 – SewSophieLynn

For the Love of Dresses and Tunics Tour

I’m thrilled to be a stop on the Love Notions For the Love of Dresses and Tunics tour! Stay tuned til the end for your chance to enter the fabulous giveaway!

I sewed up a La Bella Donna Top in a yummy sweater knit that’s just perfect for our traditional family Valentine movie night.

Paired with my jegging knit Sabrina Slims I’m ready for a cozy night in.

Before I cut into my planned fabric I made a tester version in a bargain find sweater knit. I did the slimmer shirt version and added height to the band to make it tunic length. I loved it right away and decided this will be my date night out top! It’s so easy to glam it up for a quick dinner at our favorite little Thai place.

I made a few tweaks to my planned version after sewing this to get exactly the look I was after.

I added height and width to my cowl to really make it pop! I love this floral sweater knit and really wanted to showcase it against the graphic stripes. I can never get enough stripes and florals together!

I added an inch to the arm length and also brought the front neckline down about an inch and a half. I kept the doubled height of the bottom band from my tester.

A comfy, cute top that will get worn way beyond Valentine’s Day.

We’ve had pizza and movie night every Friday night for as long as I can remember. With five kids our weeks are so crazy that come Friday night we just want to snuggle up and be together!

We always have pizza- by Friday this mom is done thinking about dinner! Sometimes we order in, some days we make our own but every Valentine’s we’ve got to get a heart shaped take and bake from Papa Murphy’s.

It was an ‘artistic’ heart this year…

The kids all settle in on our ‘pizza blanket’ while mom and dad get comfy on the couches. We’ve been loving introducing our kids to some of our favorite childhood flicks. This night though we had a handful of extra boys and they picked ‘Here Comes the Boom’- totally blew my Valentine’s theme!

Throw in a little popcorn and treats and who needs to go to the real theater!

We’ve always got a little snuggler or two who join us. The perfect start to our weekends!

(On a side note- my hubby is in a play and has to grow his hair out and can’t shave for a few months. He was super embarrassed to make his blog debut as my homeless husband! I love the change though but we’ll keep that our little secret!)

I hope you’ve enjoyed your glimpse into our little Friday night ritual with a Valentine’s twist. Make sure you catch all the other stops on this fun tour to see more gorgeous takes on some amazing Love Notions patterns.

Feb. 8th Pear Berry Lane Rebel and Malice Craft Blizzard

Feb. 9th Friends Stitched Together Bunch o Berries HattieLu Handmade

Feb. 10th Beri Bee Designs The Wholesome Mama Handcrafted by RED

Feb. 11th Phat Quarters Blog Sew Sophie Lynn Sew Starly

Feb. 12th Boutique Birdie Pen Seb & Rox Creative Counselor

Feb. 13th All Things Katy! Sprouting JubeJube Lulu and Celeste

Now the part you’ve been waiting for! Enter the giveaway for your chance to win your choice of 5 Love Notions patterns (you can check out some of my favorite Love Notions makes here, here, and here) and $50 to spend at Girl Charlee.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sabrina Slims by Love Notions

I feel like these posts praising Tami at Love Notions might get a little repetitive but ladies…Do…you…see…these…pants?!!!

The Sabrina Slims are THE perfect pants. With a change of fabric these can be worn for practically any occasion.

These pants went into testing the day before we went on our trip. I was crazy excited about them and didn’t want to miss out so I quickly (like under an hour quickly) sewed up this pair in a stretch bottomweight from Joann’s that I’ve had in my stash forever.

I sewed up the basic pant- no bells and whistles. They are sleek and fit like a glove.

They are made to hug your thighs then are straight from the knee to the hem. The high waist is flattering (more on that in a bit) and comfortable.

So while I was thrilled with this pattern from the start, other testers struggled to get the perfect fit. I got to watch the rest of the testing process from afar and I was absolutely blown away by the hard work and determination Tami showed to get these pants perfect for every body type!

She went through almost a dozen revisions as tester feedback came in and the fit just kept getting better. She’s included a detailed tutorial walking you through various fixes for common fit issues. I learned so much while testing these pants and you will get the same information right in the pattern tutorial. It’s worth buying the pattern just for the fit tips!

As soon as I got home I was dying to whip up another pair using the final pattern. I was not disappointed.

I used a knit jegging material from Joann’s and added the front seams and back welt pockets to this pair.

These were my first welt pockets and the instructions were fabulous! (gotta love the hand stamp 😉

I love how versatile this pair is. Paired with boots and some jewelry it’s perfect for going out.

Or with a tee and sneakers they’re perfect for running errands.

I love that they look a bit more pulled together than leggings but still are oh so comfortable.

Now for the flattering part. Everyone has their body issues and mine will forever be my belly. This is a comparison of my ready-to-wear leggings on the right and the high waisted Sabrina’s on the left. I love, love what these pants do for my gut!

The Sabrina’s are on sale through 1/30. Make sure to pick them up here (affiliate link). I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do!

Club Sloane Sweater

I have been so excited for the new Club line buffalo check. I have a serious plaid crush right now and this new print is just perfection!

I used the french terry version with the Club dots in cotton/lycra to make me a Love Notions Sloane Sweater (affl. link).

I love the color blocking option with this pattern. I used a simple coral french terry but I have a solid version with a woven plaid contrast I can’t get out of my head!

I was inspired by this pin. What are your thoughts on the boxy sweater/sweatshirt trend? I honestly can’t decide if I like this silhouette on me. I love that it’s different from my other sweatshirts and it is beyond comfortable! I think paired with skinny jeans it’s flattering and cute but hey, I totally want to wear it with my favorite joggers and I’m afraid I’ll look like I stepped out of the retirement home in my sweatsuit.

This pattern comes with a slimmer view and high-low shirttail hem option also. It really is a versatile pattern. There are some amazing sweater knit versions out there.

This new Club french terry sews like a dream and is so soft! I can’t wait to pair this buffalo check with a floral for my girls. And those dots! Possibly my favorite fabric ever! It’s buttery and coordinates with EVERYTHING!

I’m going to leave you with my late night sassy pants pose! Make sure you pick up the new Club Line from Raspberry Creek Fabrics and the Sloane Sweater for some serious comfy perfection!

Club Line 2 for the Boys

The boys in my house have been loving the new Club line from Raspberry Creek Fabrics, too!

I seriously can’t get over how versatile these prints are!!

So far they’ve gotten things made with the Club aztec and buffalo check but I think stripes are in their future too.

Charlie was the first up. He got a comfy new pair of Mini Hudson Pants out of buffalo check french terry.

He always grabs sports pants when he dresses himself and I love that these have a bit more style.

This time he got a 3t with a 4t length for the perfect fit!

Next up, Alex requested a tee like Tanner got out of the first Club line.

I used the Jalie Men’s/Boys T-shirt again. I like the slim fit but next time I’ll need to lengthen the sleeves. Too short for his taste even if mom thinks it looks great.

I used the Club aztec in cotton lycra and solid white and charcoal cotton lycra from Raspberry Creek also.

I think it’s a win and he loves it paired with his new joggers out of this french terry. I used Gracious Threads Lazy Day Lounge Pants for him since he’s sized out of the Mini Hudsons (they both go to size 10 but the LDLP was a few inches longer). We modified the pockets to be like the Hudsons.

Finally, Charlie got another Samson Sweater from Love Notions (affl. link).

I did a simple version with a lined hood and added length. I used this french terry combined with the aztec.

This is a first round aztec strike off and the colors have changed a bit since. The red in the print now is deeper and is a great match for the burgundy in the shop.

I love, love these prints on my boys and Tanner has already requested a hoodie with the aztec. I love that they let me sew for them and have even been spending a lot of time in the sewing room with me this winter break. My big boys both made their own pj pants and love to help pair and cut fabrics.

I’m also loving any excuse to get pictures of these two together. Charlie is such a mini Alex and it’s so fun to see them together. Best friends one minute and bugging each other the next 😉

Angelic Li’l LDT

This little girl had her winter dance recital the day we took these pics. She wore an angel costume for her recital and I spent the day thinking how appropriate that was.

For this version of the Li’l LDT I used a cream sparkle ponte from Joann’s. I had originally gotten it for a cardigan but it was really meant to be this dress- I heard it calling to me 😉

As I sewed this up in the wee hours of the morning, I was nervous it would either be fabulous or look like a fancy nightgown. With every project I cut out it’s so nerve-wracking hoping it turns out like the vision in my head.

This one was exactly as I’d hoped. Once she got it on and styled I fell even more in love with it.

I did the cowl neck, bishop sleeves and high low dress version. The front of the high low has been lowered a bit in the final version.

The cowl and bishop sleeves together just make such a classic, sweet combination.

This pattern will be such a go-to pattern in our house. The girls love all their versions and I love how quick and easy they are to whip up. It’s so fun to think of all the possibilities and how it will work for every season.

Have you picked up your copy yet? Head over here and use code ‘forthegirls’ to get 20% off until 12/19.

That scrunchy nose smile gets me every time!

Love Notion Li’l Laundry Day Tee

This post contains affiliate links. I became a Love Notions affiliate AFTER falling in love with her patterns and style.

The sewing world has gone crazy for the Ladies Laundry Day Tee by Love Notions. Tami at Love Notions has done it again with the Li’l LDT for girls.

The options with this pattern are absolutely incredible. It comes in sizes 2t-16. There are three different lengths- shirt, tunic and dress and high low options too! Five, yes five, sleeve options; tank, cap, elbow, long, and bishop sleeves. Finally there are a million, ok, maybe not quite a million neck finishes; neckband, asymmetrical collar, cowl, gnome hood, and rounded hood! How’s that for choices?!!!

I used all fabrics from my stash and had to try out every kind of knit I owned. And guess what? They all worked just lovely!

My first tester version was a dress length with long sleeves and a gnome hood. The fit of the shoulders changed a bit in the final version but you can see it was a good pattern to begin with.

Payton thinks the gnome hood is so fun! This is a soft ponte and flows beautifully. It’s got great twirl factor which is important if you’re six.

I cut into this gorgeous double-knit I picked up in Africa for Sophie’s long sleeve cowl version.

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I barely squeezed it out of a metre of fabric but it was just too perfect for this dress and my girl. She loves the color and it just fits her style to a tee.

Next up is an asymmetrical collar tunic version.

I used a Girl Charlee knit for the main and my trusty RCF coral for the collar. It’s just adorable and I foresee many of this version come spring/summer.

You know I just HAD to do a french terry version. I’ve been wanting to try one for me but knew my girls would look WAY cuter in it. I did a regular hood and used Raspberry Creek Fabrics french terry.

The drape of this particular french terry is just perfection! I scrounged up the last of this floral french terry I got in LA to line the hood and add bands to the sleeves. I wish I was wearing this myself right now!

I’ll do a separate post tomorrow on my final and favorite version. I did a ‘fancy’ one using sparkle ponte that I just want her to wear everyday!

So, is your mind blown? Seriously, the options are endless. I had so many versions swimming in my head I couldn’t sleep and just had to sew them up. Creativity can totally ruin a good nights sleep 😉

Pick up your copy here and use code ‘forthegirls’ to save 20% through 12/19.

Love Notions Samson Sweater

I love a pattern that can be used for all my kids. If you haven’t noticed, I’m kinda obesessed with making sweatshirts too. The Samson Sweater from Love Notions just feeds both of those needs (yes, sewing sweatshirts is a NEED for me).

With a crewneck, hood, and jacket option this pattern will get lots of use around these parts.

Charlie got a crew neck with a flannel front and french terry back and arms. Another combo I can’t get enough of. Both fabrics are from Raspberry Creek Fabric.

He said it was so cozy and didn’t want to take it off. He may or may not be going on day two with it on…

Payton got a hood version out of Girl Charlee knitfix floral french terry and a stripe french terry from Girl Charlee as well. The hood and band is oatmeal french terry from Raspberry Creek that matched perfectly!

I made her a size 8 and Charlie a 4 with the banded bottom. As with most patterns, I will have to lengthen it in the future (that’s what they get for being so darn tall and skinny!).

These two have such a cute relationship. They are usually giggling away together and having a blast. It’s always fun to see the baby of the family grow up and start having real relationships with their siblings. It was fun to capture some of that.

Love Notions is having a great Black Friday sale and you can pick up this pattern (and the dozen others you’ve been eyeing) for 40% off with code thanksgiving15. Here’s my affiliate link if you need anything 😉

Love Notions Pattern Shop

Love Notions Sybil Skirt

I wear a skirt usually every Sunday. So a new skirt pattern that is actually 7, yes 7, patterns in one is just what I need!

Tami at Love Notions has done it again. I had the chance to test this skirt and with each new version the testers sewed up I knew this was going to be a FABULOUS pattern.

The first version I made was a box pleated, midi-length out of beautiful ponte I grabbed in LA.

This is me showing how excited I am over the pockets! I just love me some pockets!

It’s such a simple design but it’s so lovely sewn up.

Styling it was so fun! I loved my easy everyday look with a tee and sneakers or a dressed up take with a button-up and textured tights. I also did just a simple sweater and scarf for a normal church service.

After the other tester versions came rolling in I knew I needed to make at least one more.

I did a midi, gored version out of ponte I picked up at Raspberry Creek Fabrics ages ago (she gets ponte in regularly so keep checking back).

I love the detail that the gore brings and the fit is just fantastic.

So these are just two versions. Let’s talk pattern details. This pattern is made for knits. There are seven versions- box pleated, gored, asymmetrical wrap, drop yoke with swing, pencil, and a-line. You can pick knee-length or midi length and don’t forget the inseam pockets! There is a yoga waistband (like mine) or an optional control panel waistband. I have loved every single version I’ve seen. It flatters all body types and comes in sizes XS-XXXL. It really is the only skirt pattern you’ll ever need!

Pick up your copy here!

I am an affiliate for Love Notions and while I will get a small commission off your purchase my opinions are 100% true! I just adore this pattern and you will too!

Laundry Day Dress (and tutorial)

I have the pleasure of testing for Tami at Love Notions. She was one of those designers I kinda liked before I started testing for her but my adoration has grown as I’ve followed her through the testing process multiple times.

She is a super woman- sewing right alongside the testers, perfecting her patterns until they are absolutely amazing. She put in that same time and effort to her free pattern, the Laundry Day Tee. (For my full review on that tee you can go here.)

Since I made my first version I’d been really wanting to hack it into a cute knee-length swing dress. I picked up this gorgeous floral spandex jersey from Joann’s and it sat and waited for me…

The stars aligned (sick kids and a lazy day) and this dress was born.

I shared it in the Love Notions Facebook Group and there were requests for a tutorial. So here goes…

Disclaimer- This is my first tutorial. I do not claim that this is the only way to do this or that I am doing anything new and exciting. It is a simple hack and I am sharing the way that worked for me. I tried to make it as simplistic as possible since I think this pattern is a perfect beginner project. If you have attempted this and would like to share what worked for you, please do! (Also, we received our first snowfall today so the lighting is indoor and fabulous 😉

I grabbed my main pattern piece, tracing paper, a ruler, a pen, scissors, and a glue stick or tape.

Next, glue (or tape) your pattern piece to your tracing paper. This helps to keep it in place from the get go.

I lengthened my pattern from the tunic length line by 8 inches. I got this measurement by measuring from my shoulder seam to where I wanted the dress to end on my leg. I then measured my pattern piece and added the appropriate length plus seam allowance. (I am 5’7″ as a reference.)

I started by lengthening the center fold line first. I lined my ruler up the length to the fold line and measured down 8 inches and drew a line.

To lengthen the flared side, I lined my ruler up the length of the dress and marked 8 inches from the bottom. Draw a line.

You should have two lines like this. Now the tricky part is connecting them. I just did the best I could at recreating the curve of the original piece.

I am adding in a suggestion here that I didn’t do on my first dress. I will add an extra 1/2 inch to the front of my dress to take into account my bust. I noticed on my dress that the front hem was a tad shorter because of the extra, uh-um, fullness in front. If you are more well endowed than me you may want to play with how much extra length is needed in front.

I used a dotted line to make my front markings.

Ready to cut!

Your final piece should look something like this.

The construction of the dress is exactly like you would do the shirt or tunic. Such a quick, easy hack for such a fun, versatile pattern.

I can’t wait to make a closetful. How perfect would these be come Spring too, with sandals and sunshine? Can you tell I’m already dreaming of warmer, sunny days?!!

I hope this helps and feel free to message me with any questions. Make sure you share your dresses in the FB group or on Instagram and hashtag #laundrydaytee.

I am a new affiliate for Love Notions. I decided to join the program since I love the patterns so much that I can’t help spreading the word. You can check out her patterns here and make sure to check back on Friday for the release of her newest skirt pattern. You won’t want to miss it!

Love Notions Laundry Day Tee

I love me a quick and easy sew. A t-shirt you can whip up faster than you can do a load of laundry? I’m all over that!

When Tami at Love Notions (affiliate link) came up with this breezy, easy tee I was so excited to sew one up.

I’d love to live in leggings but I need LONG shirts to be able to cover my rear. I’m not one for the leggings as regular pants thing. A tunic or long sweater is a MUST! This tee is perfect!

This tee has seriously been missing in my life. There are two different lengths- regular and tunic, and three sleeve lengths- short, 3/4, and long. This is the 3/4 sleeve length that I added bands to.

Are you ready for the best part? She’s offering this for FREE! You heard that right, FREE, just join her Facebook Group for the code. Then head over to her shop to pick up the pattern. You might get distracted while you’re there and end up with a few more cute patterns in your cart 😉

Tag: Love Notions