Mulberry Lane from Riley Blake Fabrics is such a sweet collection. The bright cheery colors and prints made me long for spring!
Doesn’t this picture just make you so happy! All of those darling prints lined up. They’re just so cheerful and fun! The color palette couldn’t be cuter!
I used a new pattern that will hit the Project Run and Play shop on Monday, December 6th as part of the incredible Project Happy Holidays collection. I’ve got some adorable holiday looks using patterns from the collection but I was anxious to use the patterns for everyday wear too!
This is the Noel Pattern from the team at PRP. It has a top, peplum and multiple dress length options. I sewed up a dress version for our holiday looks and loved how quick and cute it was! I love the multiple tiers and the just right not too loose not too tight fit.
For this version we did the simple peplum top. When using quilting cotton, I like to do simple skirts as the weight of the cotton can add unwanted bulk with ruffles or gathered tiers. I think this peplum skirt had just the right amount of flare in this fabric.
The back feature a button placket and these snaps are my favorite part! They just added to the fun of this print.
Make sure to check out the other fun prints in this collection and head over to Project Run and Play for the latest on the new pattern collection!
As the seasons change, one of my favorite things to sew up is fresh new pajamas for my kids. As we roll into the holiday season, my kids will be getting a few new pajamas and I can’t wait! For their newest sets, we used Riley Blake Designs newest Designer Flannel.
There are so many new prints to choose from and it was fun for my kids to pick their favorites. I was seriously tempted to sew some up for myself because their were so many prints I loved too!
This little guy is in that perfect in between stage. He loves to be big and wants to do everything his teenage brother does. But get him in pj’s and he’s my little snuggle buddy! He still loves to sleep with his favorite stuffed animals and would wear pj’s 24/7 if he could so this new set will get lived in for sure. This simple navy star print is classic and ageless. I used the Northern Lights pattern from Little Lizard King for his bottoms. This pattern is so full of both boy, girl, and unisex options making it a great pattern to have in your collection. It’s designed for knit fabrics but the pants can be made in woven. I love the slightly slimmer cut of this pattern compared to other pajama pant patterns that I have. His tee is from Wal-Mart with a cute iron-on design found in Cricut Design Space.
Big sis got a pair of Limone Loungers from Jennuine Designs in mint stars. The Limone Lounge set is another workhorse of a pattern. It comes in sizes newborn-14 and has pant, crop, and shorts options as well as multiple skirt choices too. It’s great for year-round wear and the elastic waist means that it’s so comfy too! I sewed up a size 14 for this girly and added 3 inches to the length but sadly it wasn’t quite enough so these are already a tad too short. Good thing they’re just pj’s but I think it’s finally time for me to move on to sewing her only women’s patterns. I’m trying desperately to hold on to my little girl but boy is it fun watching her grow up!
“Rise and Shine” is what I say to my kids every morning when I wake them up and it’s one of those phrases that means so much to me. I want my kiddos to greet everyday with potential and shine like the amazing little humans that they are! This graphic is from Cricut Design Space as well.
This little rainbow print was my personal favorite and I’m thrilled this girl loved it too! I used the Gracie Tween Pajamas from Violette Fields Threads for this set. It was a simple set to sew up and I love the option to add piping too. Just a note that I did have a hard time easing in the sleeve cap and have found that on a few VFT patterns that I’ve sewn up. Not sure if it’s just me but I will try to reduce the sleeve head a bit in the future.
I purchased buttons to go with this fabric but pulled out my KAM snaps at the last minute. We couldn’t decide what color to use so we went with all four and she said the snaps are her very favorite part!
I love sewing with flannel! You almost don’t need to use pins or clips because your pieces stick together (anyone else remember using flannel story boards? same concept!) and make sewing a breeze. This fabric isn’t too thick and was easy to iron. The best part? It’s soft and mid-weight making these pj’s a dream to sleep in! Make sure to check your local fabric shop for these cute prints and more.
*The fabric in this post was provided to me by Riley Blake Designs in exchange for this post. All opinions are our own!
As sad as I am to watch my Sophie grow out of kids pattern sizing, it’s also so exciting to know that she is starting to fit into women’s patterns! I’ve had the Cielo Top and Dress pattern from Closet Core Patterns in my stash for far too long and these cute fabrics were the perfect chance to finally sew it up.
The Community fabric line from Citrus and Mint for Riley Blake fabrics is so darn cute! The little houses are adorable and the florals are so fun! The coordinates with this line are just as fantastic as the main prints.
For Sophie’s top, I sewed up view A in the smallest size, 0. I left off the bust darts and used the facing pieces to finish the neckline.
We both love the boxy shape and cropped length of this top.
I sewed up version B in a size 6. I left off the sleeve cuff and simply turned the sleeve hem under and inserted elastic to bring in the puff sleeve. Those full sleeves are everything! There is a darling shoulder yoke (that of course I didn’t get any photos of!) that adds just the perfect little detail.
The colors in this print are all some of my favorites! I was planning on sewing a dress for one of my girls with it but the colors just hooked me and I had to have it for myself. I think it really needs to be a sweet little toddler dress though (paired with knee highs and Mary Janes and I’d die!).
This pattern has so much potential! I love discovering new patterns that we love. There are dress options and a quick IG search pulled up so many incredible hacks. I love that it works with so many different fabric types too. It’s hard to find patterns that work well with quilting cotton and I love how these turned how! It’s very similar to our beloved Inari Dress but includes even more options.
Oh how I love this little mini me of mine! She celebrated her 14th birthday last week and I feel so incredibly lucky to be her mom.
There’s just something about tie dye! It’s having a major moment right now but for us, it’ll always be a staple. My kids LOVE to tie dye every summer (we’ve been doing cousin tie dye days for-ever!) and a good portion of their wardrobe consists of past tie dye projects. When I saw these new Tie Dye quilting cotton prints from Riley Blake I knew we had to give them a try! All the fun without the mess!
There are eight tonal colors to choose from and two fun multi color prints. The quilting cotton base makes them great for clothing, blankets, and decor. My girls had very different ideas on how to use these prints so we went two totally different directions with our projects.
My oldest daughter is my future interior designer. She recently got her own room and has changed up the decor as often as she can. Her newest aesthetic is a playful pastel palette and this tie dye print was just perfect for it.
We debated between so many projects from throw pillows to framed art but finally settled on a fabric covered cork board to display all of her favorite pictures and mementos. I added a LOVE graphic (found in Cricut Design Space) with iron-on vinyl for a little pop and reminder of what’s really important in life.
Little sis is ALL about the clothes. In fact her bedroom is currently decorated with them, lol! She’s our messy one and usually goes through multiple outfits a day and her room is littered with the evidence. It works out great for me though because she is always the happy recipient of mama made clothes!
For this skirt I used the tonal purple tie dye (her current favorite color). She’s been asking for her own version of this skirt and this fabric was too perfect for it! The easy breezy feel of this print just begged to be a tiered skirt.
I used the Made for Mermaids Siena Skirt pattern. It’s such a fun and cute pattern. I love the different options and the results are always so darn cute!
This girl is definitely my free spirit and she channeled those vibes for this quick shoot. Pretty sure she needs to wear this to a summer picnic or concert in the park.
What do you need to make out of these great prints? Are they screaming home decor to you too? Or are you dying to add a little fun to your wardrobe? Whatever you pick, you can’t go wrong!
I’ll leave you with a little glimpse into some of our past tie dye makes! It’s not summer without them!
I love working with Riley Blake fabrics and the opportunity that I have to pick fabric from their upcoming collections. Sometimes there’s prints that I let my daughters pick out and sometimes there’s some that I just fall in love with myself. The Carnaby Collection from Liberty Fabrics is FULL of prints that I just adore!
The retro style of this collection is just dreamy! Look at all of those florals! This collection reminded me so much of my first childhood home. The colorful wallpaper that matched the bedspreads, the bright shag carpet, and the fun vibrant kitchen. Born in the late 70’s, these prints take me back to being young and carefree!
I used Daydream Sunny Afternoon-B because I just loved the colors. I tend to gravitate to blues and I love the pop of yellow in this print. It is just such a whimsical fabric.
I couldn’t help but feel like my own mom when I was thinking about what to sew up with this fabric. The trends of the 90’s are so hot right now (thanks to my teens for keeping me up on things) and it’s fun to see my own kids wearing similar things to what I wore in high school. Just how my own mom would laugh about how those 90’s trends were just like the clothes she wore when she was a teen too! I knew this print needed to be a killer sundress and had planned on making it for Sophie. But, I really wanted this fun print for ME- it’s just so happy!
The Tempo Dress just released from Love Notions and as I watched testers sew up their versions, I just knew it was perfect for this fabric. It’s a classic style that works easily with a tee underneath for that cute 90’s throwback.
I sewed up a size small with the elasticated back. I took in the bust area from the underarm to the waist but otherwise got a great fit from the start (my full bust measures into the XS).
My bottom tier is slightly shorter and more full than the pattern calls for to accommodate the yardage I had (I used three shorter pieces instead of the two pieces per the pattern). I love the midi length!
The pattern sews up quickly and works for so many different fabrics. As always, Love Notions patterns offer a wide range of sizes, XS-5X, and a full bust option too!
As the hot summer days continue, I’m excited to have a cute sundress added to my wardrobe!
Our newest makes for Riley Blake Designs might have you a little confused. Christmas prints in June? If you’re a planner, that’s perfect! Time to get your handmade holidays started. If you are anything like me though, you sew for the here and now. If only I was able to think that far ahead…
All About Christmas by J. Wecker Frisch is such a fun collection. I love the color scheme and think these prints would make adorable stockings. The snowflakes would have been top of my list for matching dresses for my girls when they were just a bit younger too!
When picking prints with apparel in mind, I tend to go subtle and was immediately drawn to the Stars in all of the multiple colorways. In thinking summer holidays, I went with Charcoal and Red. I think these prints will be festive throughout July but will work year round too!
I originally planned dresses with these prints but really wanted them to get more wear through the summer so I did top versions instead. As my teen quickly outgrows most kids patterns, I’m finding more and more women’s patterns that she now fits into. This is the Inari Top and Dress from Named Patterns (one of my go-to patterns for myself!) I sewed up a size 0 crop top version with no alterations.
I love the almost boat neckline and cuffed short sleeves. This pattern works well with a variety of fabrics. There is an option for a neckband when using knit fabrics but the woven version is finished with a neck facing. The crop length works so well on her!
Payton got a Vintage Little Lady Chloe Dress hacked into a peplum length top. This is a free pattern and such a great one to try if you’ve been eyeing Vintage Little Lady patterns but are hesitant. I love the simple dolman sleeve and baby doll waist. It’s a quick sew and has a handful of cute little details you can add.
Isn’t that back just too cute?!
So tell me, do you have Christmas sewing on the brain already? What’s your favorite handmade item to gift? I love this collection and think it’d be perfect for gifting this holiday season. And if you’re like me, don’t brush those Christmas prints off as just for December!
I’m sharing another great fabric collection today from Riley Blake Fabrics. Beautiful Day Fabrics from Echo Park Paper Co. are so pretty and totally on trend. My girls were in love with these prints!
The pretty boho florals won them over but look how darling those ginghams and bees are too! I keep imagining the CUTEST summer picnic quilt in this collection. Isn’t the color pallet so fresh and fun?!
My girls have requested more skirts and when I saw the new Siena Skirt from Made for Mermaids I knew it would be a great addition to their wardrobes. The Siena is a woven, elastic waist skirt with multiple length options. Tiered skirts are so in style this spring and those Made for Mermaids girls do a fantastic job keeping up with RTW trends. They keep these picky girls happy with all of their patterns!
Cute Payton got a mini skirt version. I had one of those amazing mom moments when she slipped this outfit on and it was just so HER! A little sweet but fun and trendy too.
Sophie wanted a midi version. Hers is slightly modified to work with the amount of fabric I had so the last tier is shorter than the pattern calls for. It’s still a great length and nice and comfortable on her. She wore hers to church this week which I always count as a huge win when they can’t wait to wear their new handmades.
Sophie is my crafty queen and is always trying something new. She started embroidering a little and I thought these skirts were perfect for a little embellished tee to match. We grabbed tees from Target and spent an evening working on these tops. She did hers and I did the simple lazy daisies on Payton’s (yes she is WAY better at it than me!). I love catching any moment I can to spend quiet time with my kids and this was such a fun night. Don’t be surprised if we start adding a little embroidering to all the things!
I love discovering new patterns that will get added to our go-to collection. The Siena skirt was just meant for these cute prints!
This girl has too many dresses as you all can probably guess but I can’t help but keep sewing them for her! These gorgeous prints from the Tea with Bea line from Riley Blake Designs were just meant for this dress.
This whole line is the best of all spring has to offer. The pretty soft hues, florals, and fun geometric prints are just so lovely!
I used the Sprigs Lake for the main and the Honeycomb Coral for the bodice. I love this combo! The colors in these prints are some of my favorites on her and are just so springy.
I sewed up the Tween Ashton Dress and Top from Violette Fields Threads. I usually show my girls all of the new releases from our favorite pattern companies and she immediately fell in love with one of the modeled versions of this dress. I’ve been patiently waiting for the right fabric to sew it up!
Now if you’re thinking, “WAIT! Those sleeves go against all of my rules for sewing for my tween/teen”, I was right there with you. They are so dramatic and usually not my girls style but I was excited to give it a try. Sometimes it’s good to push her style a bit and since she liked the examples she’d seen I felt good giving it a go.
She loved it during the shoot and I love that it’s different from her other dresses.
I sewed up a size 10 with a 14 skirt length. This girl keeps stretching right out and is trying to catch up to big sis!
You can grab Tea with Bea from your local quilt shop or online shop!
I’m sure we’re like so many in the western hemisphere, getting our first glimpses of spring. Utah spring means snow one day and 65 degrees the next. It means constantly checking the forecast but also knowing that if you don’t like the weather today, don’t worry! Chances are tomorrow will be completely different! The warm days have me so excited for spring!
The sunshine and warm weather was perfect to photograph the newest line from Riley Blake and Carina Gardner, Ava Kate. Ava Kate is full of beautiful florals, stunning damasks, and fun stripes. The black, seafoam, blush, and cayenne palette is one I can get behind.
I used three fabrics from this collection. My younger daughter is in Vines Seafoam and my older daughter picked Cayenne stripes. I lined them both with Flowers Cayenne and did a matching hair tie as well.
Payton has a thing for baby doll style dresses. Week after week she reaches for this style to wear to church. Something loose and easy to wear almost always wins with her. I sewed up the Chloe Dress from Vintage Little Lady. This is a free pattern and is available in Tween, girls, and baby sizing. Talk a bout a winner!
I sewed up a tween size 10 and forgot to add length to the skirt (she’s in a 14 height!). Yep, this little miss is shooting up just like her sister. For so long, she was my easy, one straight size girl. The last year she has really lengthened and is growing up way too fast! I tried to convince her it was ‘vintage length’ and she said “Vintage like what they wore on the Brady Bunch?” That was my cue to add a little more to the skirt, lol! Luckily I had just enough fabric left to do another quick tier and now we’re calling it a design feature.
This dress pattern is a dolman style bodice and is a super quick sew. I’m pretty sure both girls will be getting many more of these. It’s just such a classic style!
I had a sweet neighbor give me some of her old sewing notions and I was so happy to come across these buttons in her stash. They were just the perfect pop!
I just love this color on her and will keep filling her closet with it. She had to double check when I told her it matched her eyes perfectly!
This cute girl is definitely a teenager and it’s getting a little trickier to sew for her. Luckily she’s easy to please!
She’s still barely in the sizing at Little Lizard King and I am going to be so sad when the day comes that we can’t use their kids patterns for her anymore. I sewed up the Mavora in top length. The Mavora has so many options and darling ruffles (you might not even recognize it from my version!) but I fell in love with a simple tester version in stripes and knew I had to use it for this fabric. I was hopeful to fit a dress out of this fabric but sadly didn’t have quite enough. I think it was a happy accident though because this top couldn’t be more perfect for her!
I love the wide shoulders and fit. It feels sporty but still very feminine.
I sewed up a size 12 with added length to both the bodice (1.5″) and peplum (1.5″).
I used another vintage button for her keyhole closure and it was meant to be too! Her hair tie is created like you would do bias tape but I just sewed up the edges. Left untied felt very teenage-y!
Shooting these pics really had me excited for more outdoor shoots in the future. I have so many new favorite shots of my girls from this shoot!
Like these two! Pretty much sums up their relationship and personalities!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you’re enjoying that first taste of spring in your neck of the woods!
In the middle of all of my swimsuit sewing, I took a break to sew up this sweet dress. I’m really in the mood for all of the warm weather sewing and this dress just hit the spot.
Working with Riley Blake is a treat and I love being able to sew up their new lines. Stardust by Beverly McCullough of Flamingo Toes is such a fun line and was a pleasure to sew up!
I picked Glam Glasses in mint as our main print and paired it with Scallops Peony. I love the retro beachy vibe of the whole collection.
To keep with that retro feel, I sewed up the Byron Bay dress by Little Lizard King. The simple silhouette screams 50’s housewife to me. I sewed up a size 10 according to her measurements and lengthened the skirt a bit for her height (she’s a 14 for height).
The elastic back means this dress will grow a little with her. I love the look of it too!
I kept things simple and used snaps instead of buttons. I can’t remember the last time I used snaps and I love how easy and quick they are!
To finish off the look I sewed up a Lilly Bow Scrunchie from Little Fish. Rachel shares a genius way to make a scrunchie using your favorite hair elastics and the end result is just too cute!
This dress makes me want to head to the boardwalk and eat ice cones as the sunsets. It just makes me think of all the simple pleasures of life!
SewSophieLynn 