Sew Straight and Gather – SewSophieLynn

Back to School Tour Capsule Wardrobe

I love sewing for fall and the Back to School Blog Tour hosted by Lulu and Celeste and Sprouting Jube Jube was a great excuse to sew for my oldest daughter. Make sure to head over to Sprouting Jube Jube to see the amazing list of sponsors- so many great pattern and fabric companies!

When it came time to plan my sweet girl’s back to school wardrobe we first went through her closet to see any gaps that needed to be filled. It’s no secret that this girly has quite the closet full of clothes. In an attempt to keep it from overflowing we decided a capsule wardrobe for fall would work best. We pulled old items from her closet, added a few new handmades, and then hit a couple stores for a few more pieces. I think this collection of handmade and store-bought clothes sums up her wardrobe in general. I love to sew her easy, quick pieces and fill it in with ready-to-wear items that don’t make sense for me to sew- items that are inexpensive or too time consuming for me to fabricate. Sometimes it’s even easier for me to purchase things and then alter them to fit her skinny body- a quick taking in of the waist and hips has saved many ready-to-wear pants! Now on to the fashion show…

This blush pink bomber jacket, purchased at TJ Maxx, was the starting point for this capsule. I love it so much and have a serious case of jacket envy! It’s the perfect weight for fall and has been in heavy rotation here.

Jeans are one thing I’ve yet to attempt so I will gladly keep purchasing them! It’s hard to find pants that fit this girl and when we do I feel like cheering! H&M offers a wider range of sizes and their pants run on the skinny side so they are usually our first stop. Both of the jeans featured are from there. We also order online for her quite a bit since more stores carry slim sizing only in their online shops (Old Navy, Target, and Crazy 8 are some favorites).

This girl loves to browse online and fell in love with a few pieces from Children’s Place, including this hoodie and the button-up shirt (no longer available but here’s a similar version). For under ten dollars each, these pieces were no brainers for me to purchase. Button plackets, collars, button-holes- eek! She loves her button-ups and for that price I will gladly save myself the time, stress, and expense of making them. These hi-top white sneakers are also from Children’s Place.

The leggings and this tee were found at Ross and were both under $6- easy things to make, yes, but for that price point we were both happy to add them to our cart! For all you vinyl-lovers like myself, Thread and Grain has a super cute vinyl file with the same saying! The black and white polka dot Reebox were also a Ross score.

Onto the handmades!! I’m a huge fan of the Love Notions Boyfriend Cardigan (affl. link) and knew she’d love her own french terry version. I picked up this french terry from Raspberry Creek Fabrics and while it’s currently not available there are PLENTY of other french terry options in the shop! It’s beyond cozy and a good alternative to the classic hoodie.

These two tops are oldies but goodies and are still going strong. The floral is the Andromeda Top from Sew Straight and Gather (you can see more pics of it here). The striped tee is my go-to t-shirt pattern, the City Park Tee from Hey June Handmade (more pics here). These are both shirts that she continues to gravitate to so they were no brainers to include in this capsule.

The Patterns for Pirates Butterfly Cardigan is another tried-and-true pattern for us. It’s an incredibly quick sew and I love the slouchy-cool look it has. This thin sweater knit has been in my stash forever and was perfect for this light-weight fall cardigan.

The last piece I made might be my favorite! The Lazy Day Lounge Pants from Gracious Threads are the perfect comfy pants! They’re a relaxed fit but not too baggy and sloppy. In this gorgeous french terry from Raspberry Creek fabrics (currently out-of-stock), I don’t think I could love them more!

Phew! You made it to the end- you might deserve a medal for sticking through all those details! So many pieces but they all add up to one super cute, versatile capsule wardrobe!

Thanks so much to Deb and Ula for hosting! Make sure to check out all the amazing inspiration this week. If you love sewing for kids then this tour is for you!

Monday, September 25, 2017

Host: Sprouting JubeJube

Sewing by Ti * mahlicadesigns * Momma You Can Make It * Kutti Couture * MoonStar – Wondermirakel * Call Ajaire

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Host: Lulu & Celeste

Sew and Tell Project * From-a-Box * Ronda B. Handmade * MeMade * House of Estrela * My Heart Will Sew On * Tales From A Southern Mom

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Host: Sprouting JubeJube

mahlicadesigns * Gracious Threads * Adventures With Bubba and Bug * Elli & Nels * Bellevi * Little Heart Threads * Sewing By Ti * Lulu & Celeste

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Host: Lulu & Celeste

Paisley Roots * The Crafting Fiend * Sewstarly * It’s Liesel * Tales of a Tester * Kaleidothought * auschick sews

Friday, September 29, 2017

Host: Sprouting JubeJube

SewSophieLynn * Sew Haute Blog * mahlicadesigns * Sew and Tell Project * RP Custom Fabrics Blog * FABulous Home Sewn * Sewing By Ti * Phat Quarters

Fall Sewing with Raspberry Creek Fabrics

My sewing time this summer was pretty much non-existent. I love having my kids home all summer and tried really hard to focus on just being with them as much as possible. The crazy busy-ness of school and sports and dance and singing has already started and I’m longing to get those lazy days back! The end of our summer break coincided with the release of Raspberry Creek Fabrics newest CLUB fabrics line. I snuck in a couple of sewing days to sew strike offs and counted it as our ‘back to school shopping’- new school clothes for kids + sewing time for mom= win, win, win!

Today’s post will just be a photo explosion of my love for all the new CLUB prints. All fabric is from Raspberry Creek (including coordinates) and should be around until the new year. I love that I was able to find something that each member of the family fell in love with. This guy right here is super picky and let me tell you that this tee is worn at least once a week- cool enough for high school, wahoo!

Patterns used: Hey June Camden Raglan and Chalk and Notch Waterfall Raglan (minus the ruffle)

Patterns used: Hey June Morrison Tee, Sew Straight and Gather Andromeda Top

Patterns: Hey June Camden extended to dress length, Hey June Halifax Hoodie

Patterns: Hey June Camden (are you sensing a theme here?), Hey June Lane Raglan, and Love Notions Maggie Peplum (affl. link)

Patterns: Patterns For Pirates Jolly Roger Raglan, Made For Mermaids Mama Ava (modified neckline)

Patterns: Made For Mermaids Rowan Raglan, Liesl + Co Men’s Metro T-shirt

If you can’t tell we all absolutely love our new duds. I’m always so impressed with the quality and feel of RCF fabrics. These things get worn and worn and quickly become favorites because of how soft they feel and how cute they look!

Sew Straight and Gather’s Avenue Collection

The newest collection of patterns is now available from Sew Straight and Gather! The Avenue Collection features a dress/top, flare pants, and a duster cardigan.

I was lucky enough to test the Duster and the Dress patterns and I couldn’t love them more!

Terri’s patterns are always impeccably drafted and feature the best tutorials out there. Her designs are always on trend but classic at the same time. I’ve really cut back on testing patterns lately but couldn’t resist these. I knew I’d have a great experience as Terri takes her time and listens to her testers. She works so hard to put out the best patterns around. I always feel so comfortable and confident in recommending a Sew Straight and Gather pattern.

For my look, I used the calf length Duster with pockets and facing. I love that there are multiple length options and you can choose to do a band, hem, or facing. I used Soft Coral Ponte from Cali Fabrics and love how flowy it looks but how easy it was to sew up!

I did the knee length dress version with split hem in the back. This gorgeous fabric is part of Raspberry Creek Fabric’s newest CLUB fabrics line (it will be available for retail soon!). I used the cotton/lycra version and it was just the right weight for this dress.

My little girl just loves this dress! She says she feels so grown up in it but I love that it’s not too mature looking on her too.

Make sure to grab the collection while it’s on sale- the whole collection is just $15 (CAD) or you can pick up the individual patterns for $5 for the next two days! Any US peeps that’s a smokin’ deal! I can’t wait to see all the stylish girlies in these!

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Sew Straight and Gather Andromeda Top and Dress

Terri at Sew Straight and Gather has done it yet again. I swear she can do no wrong. Her patterns are always so unique and so well done. The Andromeda Top and Dress is no exception. AND- she’s having an AMAZING Black Friday Sale right now. All single patterns are just $5 CAD! What a steal!!! I suggest heading over there right after reading how much I love this new pattern 😉

I tested the girls version but there is also a ladies- yessssss! The girl’s comes in sizes 2-14 and the women’s in sizes XS-3XL. They both feature banded top, tunic, free flowing dress and gathered waist dress options. Those sleeves make it so incredibly fun!

I made my first one out of pretty double brushed poly from Knitpop. It worked perfect for this pattern. I left the sleeves raw and did a simple neckband. This pattern could possibly be the quickest thing I’ve ever sewn! Just a few seams later and this beauty was done.

She’s worn it a few times since and always gets so many compliments. It’s so darling and definitely has that wow! factor.

Little sis was intensely jealous and was dying for her own. I’ve been crushing hard on stretch velvet lately and snatched up some gorgeous colors from Stylish Fabric. I used this pretty gold and I’m thrilled with the quality and great customer service I received. AND it was also a steal compared to what I’ve seen elsewhere. It was my first time sewing with it and I new this simple pattern was a great choice to begin with.

From cut to finish this was done in under a half hour (it helped my pattern was all ready from big sis- loving that they wear the same size!).

Can we talk about this goofy girl for a minute? She did NOT want to model but the second she got this on she was smitten. She turned on the super model moves like that! She kills me!

I’d say she likes it!

Make sure you grab your Andromeda- you can get the girls, ladies (Terri’s sweater-knit cover version is killer!) or the bundle. Don’t forget to pick up some of my other favs too- check out my versions here, here, here, here, and here.

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Project Run and Play- Week Three:On Safari

Wow! I can’t believe I’m here on week three! This competition has been so fun and I’m so lucky to be doing it with such amazing, fun ladies. They’ve been knocking it out of the park and keeping me on my toes.

This weeks theme is Halloween Costumes. I have a confession- I HATE sewing costumes! So much work for something that gets worn once or twice. I’m far too practical for that. In the past my handmade costumes have been quick, easy projects. This competition pushed me to spend a lot more time on their looks BUT I also stayed true to myself and made pieces that can be worn long after the last piece of Halloween candy has been eaten.

Their costumes this year are a little tribute to their Grandma and Grandpa who are serving a humanitarian mission in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Some of us were lucky enough to get to visit them and a highlight of our trip was an amazing three-day safari. We thought it would be a special homage to them to plan our Halloween costumes around an African theme. (Little brother will also be wearing his favorite RTW lion costume-roar!)

Sophie’s outfit is one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever done. I used the Cafe Romper from Sew Straight and Gather. This girl loves rompers but can never find one that fits her tall, skinny body. I added two inches to both the bodice and pants to get the perfect fit for her. We skipped the hidden button placket in order to showcase these brushed gold buttons. I added cargo pockets to the bodice and also to the pants. She loves ALL the pockets!

A faux button sleeve tab and leather pocket tab are little details that really elevate this outfit. I used a faux suede from Joann’s for this romper. I love the look and she loves how soft and comfortable it is.

For those chilly Halloween nights she can throw on her cozy quilted knit bomber jacket, made using the Ollie Bomber Jacket from Sew A Little Seam. The quilted knit is from Hobby Lobby. It’s such a great jacket- chic and so on trend. She will get lots and lots of wear out of this piece.

This girl is ready to hit the savanna!

Payton is comfy and cute in her leopard costume. I went simple and easy and made pieces that will mix and match into her wardrobe when Halloween is over. I used this fabric from CaliFabrics and it was perfect! My original plan was to make a one-piece skinsuit with a built-in tail. Then the practical side of me kicked in 😉 This is much easier to wear and going to the bathroom will actually be doable, haha!

Her top is a slimmed down Flashback Skinny Tee modified to have a mock-neck and thumb-hole cuffs.

Her leggings are our favorite pattern- the Love Notions free Leggins’. They fit my girls like a glove!

Her tail is a simple belt that can easily be taken on and off.

To keep her warm on Halloween night I did a self drafted scarf-neck cardigan using sleeves from the Hatteras Hoodie from Hey June. I used a cheap blanket from Wal-Mart that is both comfy and warm. I added pockets to keep her treasures too!

We had such a blast shooting these looks. We headed to our little slice of savanna and it was just amazing!

We’ve had such a blast sharing our creations with you during this competition. It’s really been a dream come true and I’ve had so much fun working with my kids on these looks. I hope to stick around for next week so we can show you our ‘Signature Looks’. Take a quick minute to head over and vote over at Project Run and Play. Thanks for stopping by!

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Sew Straight and Gather Cafe Romper

Every once in awhile I love a good, rewarding sew. Something that requires a bit more thought and time but the result is usually well worth it. The Cafe Romper from Sew Straight and Gather is just that.

With details like a hidden button/snap placket, mandarin collar, bodice contrast, belt loops, and matching belt, this romper looks so professional. The bodice yoke can also be pleated which is a stunning look! In sizes 2-14, I will be using this pattern for years to come!

The belt is one of my favorite things!

The snap placket makes for easy potty breaks too!

I think this will be a favorite outfit come back to school. She loves how comfortable it is and didn’t want to take it off!

It can be made sleeveless and with shorts or a knee length skirt making this a year-round pattern! I think a skirt version is in our future.

As with all of Terri’s patterns, the tutorial on this one is so thorough and I always learn something new. It comes together easily and smoothly and really didn’t take much more time to sew it up than it did for me to pick which fabric to use (that’s ALWAYS the hardest part!). The instructions have clickable links to make it super user friendly and the pattern is layered and no-trim! I absolutely love my SSG patterns and the whole experience of sewing up her patterns.

Make sure you grab your copy on sale through Sunday!

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!

Sew Straight and Gather’s Metro Pullover

Terri at Sew Straight and Gather has got another brilliant pattern for you. I have an addiction to making sweatshirts and consider myself quite the hoodie connoisseur so when I say you need this pattern you better hop right on that!

There are two patterns- one for kids and one for women/men. A pattern for the whole family is always going to get a lot of use in my house.

Each pattern comes with a hooded version or a cowl neck. I made a couple of each just because I couldn’t stop. Seriously, I want to see you make just one…

This cutie got the first one off the sewing machine. I just adore his little face peeking out of that hood. I love the unique hood and the fit of this sweatshirt.

I used Raspberry Creek Fabrics french terry in solid charcoal and oatmeal. The combo is neutral and the charcoal stripe hood lining just ties is all together.

Payton’s was next and sewed up in a flash. She picked out this anti-pill fleece from Joann’s and it worked just lovely for this pattern.

She got the cross-over cowl version. It’s nice and big which makes it so cozy and cute!

The girls and ladies version have this darling pleat detail in the back. It gives it a little more flow and adds just that little something extra.

There is a curved hem or a banded bottom option. Payton got the curved hem. I loved her version so much I headed to the fabric store the next day so that I could make one in my size!

I wasn’t signed up to test Sophie’s size but just loved this pattern so much I knew she needed her own too! She got a cowl with a banded bottom out of Joann’s fleece.

My first version was a beautiful eggplant french terry (from Raspberry Creek) hoodie version.

I’ve had this lightweight mustard/cream stripe in my stash and it was absolutely perfect with this eggplant. I used it to line both the hood and the pocket.

I love the slim fit of this sweatshirt- not too baggy, not too tight!

I whipped up my cowl microfleece version in about a half hour after making the others. Seriously, the cutest, quickest sew ever. It is so cozy and I dreaded taking it off!

I think we’ve found a new favorite pattern. The big boys are feeling left out so we might need to whip up a few more real soon!

Terri’s patterns are so clearly written and I love her clean, crisp layout. She offers lots of tips and her tutorials make sewing a breeze even if you’re just a beginner to sewing.

Terri has graciously offered both patterns for $4 each or $8 (CAD, so us Americans will save even more!) for the bundle for a limited time. Are you doing last minute Christmas sewing? Or finished up and need a little selfish sew? I’d waste no time and grab this pattern TODAY! Pick up the kids version here or the ladies/mens here but really you should just get them both– you won’t regret it!

The Ladies Uptown/Downtown Dress

I’ve already professed my adoration for Terri of Sew Straight and Gather. Her patterns are the bomb and I am thrilled that she is now working on ladies patterns! I had the chance to test for her again on her latest project, The Ladies Uptown/Downtown Dress.

This pattern is another winner- lots of sleeve options, knee and maxi lengths, and tank and sleeveless choices too. There is also a cowl neck that I adore! My girls have a few bimaa sweaters that I love and now I get to join in on the cowl fun.

I have to admit I was worried how this dress would skim my i-had-five-kids-belly. The cut was way more flattering than I expected and I loved seeing how it flattered all body types on the other testers. It really looks amazing on every shape and size- magic pattern, I swear.

I fell in love with this gorgeous jersey knit from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. The drape and flow was perfect for this dress. Another great fabric/pattern combination!

Summer Sewing- Why is it so hard?

With five kids, sewing time is precious. When they are all home for the summer, it’s even more sparse. Here are a few of the projects I eeked out this summer.

I had the pleasure of testing for Striped Swallow Designs again this summer. Her Wildflower kimono is so unique and simple to sew. I sewed one up for Soph in a cute striped knit and Payton got a cozy french terry version (from Raspberry Creek Fabrics, of course).

I also had the pleasure of testing for Terri from Sew Straight and Gather. Her Cousu Collection was kinda groundbreaking for me, pushing me to try new techniques and totally taking me to a new level. This time I tested her versatile Urban Garden Dress and Tank. It’s such a cute pattern and her tutorials are THE BEST! If you haven’t tried one of her patterns you are totally missing out. Beware though that once you do, all other patterns will be lacking in comparison.

This summer my quest for myself was to make the perfect pants and shorts. I tried a gazillion patterns and I think my quest is still on…

Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop Summer Lovin’ Shorts

School starts this week and it’s always a little bittersweet. I adore having my kids home and the adventures we get to do every day. For the most part, they get along great and we spend a lot of time laughing and just being together. BUT… we are together ALL THE TIME. I feel guilty stealing away for an hour or two to create. So the sweet part of back to school is that I will have every afternoon to myself (thanks to a cute three year old that still naps)! I’m so excited to be able to sew without the guilt of negletting the kiddos. Oh, the project list… 🙂

Tag: Sew Straight and Gather

Back to School Tour Capsule Wardrobe

Fall Sewing with Raspberry Creek Fabrics

Sew Straight and Gather’s Avenue Collection

Sew Straight and Gather Andromeda Top and Dress

Project Run and Play- Week Three:On Safari

Sew Straight and Gather Cafe Romper

Sew Straight and Gather’s Uptown/Downtown Dress

Sew Straight and Gather’s Metro Pullover

The Ladies Uptown/Downtown Dress

Summer Sewing- Why is it so hard?

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