Sewing for Boys – SewSophieLynn

PRP Project Jet Set: Destination Greece

If you’ve been a follower for very long you know just how much we love to travel. When Project Run and Play announced the theme for the latest collection I was over the moon! It’s been so fun to travel along with the other designers and to see all the incredible and creative destinations. My husband and I have been fortunate to travel to Europe a few times but I’ve yet to go to my ultimate dream destination of Santorini Greece. I knew that’d be the perfect place to let our imaginations explore and I had so much fun creating looks that embodied that beautiful setting.

Between Mamma Mia!, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and my favorite hidden gem tv show, The Durrells, Greece and particularly the Greek Isles and coast have charmed me!

We used fabrics from Raspberry Creek Fabrics for our looks. We stuck with vibrant blues, teals and white to recreate the incredible colors of Santorini.

Charlie went for comfortable travel clothes that can take him wherever he wanders. We used the new Singapore Shorts and Pants and paired it with the Chromium Hoodie.

I used this fun wave print available in the Design Library at RCF. Printed on french terry, it is ideal for throwing on after swimming or on cool summer nights. For the hoodie, I made a couple of alterations. I sewed on the kangaroo pocket from the Story Dress (he can’t live without a front pocket on his hoodies!). I also used the long sleeve pattern piece and hacked it to be elbow length.

The shorts pattern is actually made for wovens making it so versatile. It looks great in linen or even for swimming sewn in boardshort fabric. You know this kid and his sensory issues so I opted to use a soft knit for these. I used a faux denim ponte and love the look! These shorts have a nice wider elastic waistband, front pockets and back patch pockets, faux fly detailing, and short and pants length. They are a little relaxed fit and a great basic pattern to have in your collection.

The first piece for this cute girl is the Cancun Coverup. Again, if you know us, it was obvious I had to sew up a pattern with that name! Bonus that it is the cutest swim coverup EVER!

I used a beautiful woven swiss dot in off white and a cute dot trim I had in my stash. I sewed up the knee length version with a regular hood. The only changes I made were to sew my placket to the outside so I could add a little trim there and I skipped the pocket trim piece and used the embellished trim instead.

I think this piece will get the most wear all summer long. It’s a classic style and so easy to throw on. It sews up quickly and the fabric possibilities are infinite! How cozy would this be in a plush terry? Or sophisticated in a mesh or chiffon?

She’s been adding bucket hats to her accessories collection and I knew the Camper Hat would be the perfect addition. In a classic striped seersucker, this hat can coordinate with so much!

This pattern comes in a huge range of sizes from preemie to large adult. It’s easy to get the perfect fitting hat! I sewed up a teen size according to her head measurement and it fits so well.

It’s fully reversible so you can make it super versatile too. I did the same fabric for the main and lining, interfacing one side per the instructions. This gives it just the right amount of body without being too stiff. It’s also slimmer and the brim is shorter than a lot of her other hats, giving it a different look that I think is too cute on her!

The final pattern in this collection that I sewed up was the Saltillo Swimsuit. I can’t seem to pass up a good swimwear pattern!

This is another pattern that is full of bells and whistles. And in true teen fashion, we skipped almost all of them. I sewed up a solid royal suit with cross-back straps and optional big bow. There are leg and strap ruffles and a neckline flounce that can be added too.

The construction of the straps was my favorite part! I tend to shy away from straps because my topstitching is usually less than desirable. For these you create a casing around the elastic- no topstitching required!

A note on sizing, I talked about negative ease in my last swimwear post and how important it is to note. Her measurements are almost spot on for a size 10 but she is a 12 girth. I sewed up a straight size 10 and had to cut the back straps off about 2 inches each. The pattern tells you to try the suit on to get correct strap length so I just wanted to let you know not to skip that step! Every body is different and it’s great to get a more custom fit. You can also see the suit is a little bunchy and loose. Not terrible but just note that this suit doesn’t have the negative ease I’m used too. This is a bonus though for anyone with sensory issues as they won’t feel as tight or confined as other suits. AND there are no exposed seams on the inside so they’ll be extra, extra happy! The crotch area is wider which provides extra coverage in the front and back but I think I’ll need to slim hers down a bit in the front for her next one.

As you can tell, we had a little too much fun at our photo shoot. It was 8 pm (yassss to late sunsets!), Charlie had just been swimming all night and Payton was at dance all afternoon. It could’ve been a recipe for disaster but these kiddos were amazing! I think it’s the taste of summer in the air. We can’t wait for long days together, sunshine, and fun!

Pajama Time with Designer Flannel from Riley Blake Designs

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!

PRP Mini Season: Comfort Encapsulated

It’s with mixed emotions I bring you this post. I’ve joined in Project Run and Play Mini Season 2 as a last minute replacement for our dear friend Gemia Carroll, who tragically lost her oldest daughter this last week. My prayers are with Gemia and her family in this tender time and I’m so grateful for this community and the way they have rallied on her behave. While I love a good PRP challenge, sewing and photographing our looks in a weekend provided an added obstacle. Lucky for me, my family was up for the challenge as well. You can head over here to vote and to check out my competition.

The theme for this week is Comfort Encapsulated and if you are a follower of mine you know just how perfect that was for me and these kiddos. This season is focused on the Project Lounge Library patterns and that was another reason for me to jump on board. The Lounge Library patterns are some of our favorite PRP patterns and just work so well for our lifestyle. They are easy to wear and sew up so quick. I was able to sew Friday and Saturday and my kids were happily wearing these on Sunday.

I picked our theme, Easy Like Sunday Mornin’, because Sundays have become the perfect family day this past year. We usually do a quick Zoom or in person church service in the morning and then get to spend the rest of the day lounging and enjoying each other’s company. We binge watch tv shows, play all the board games, bake cookies and cakes, do puzzles, and recently joined the Nintendo Switch world and like to get our Just Dance on. Sunday’s are all about comfort and these outfits are meant for these lazy days.

When it comes to comfort, it’s all about the fabric, right? I’m lucky enough to live just down the street from Raspberry Creek Fabrics so my first stop in planning was to raid the fabric racks. These fabrics are all sponsored by RCF and I don’t know what my kids would be wearing without Diana and her magic fabric shop. Raspberry Creek Fabrics is known for it’s huge selection of cozy knits and it was the perfect place to get started. I grabbed silky double brushed polyester, cozy waffle knits, plush sweatshirt fleece, and soft ribbed knit. I love that I was able to find coordinating prints and solids that work so well together.

Charlie is all about comfort and hates anything stiff or itchy. I usually have to bribe him to wear jeans so I knew he’d be so excited about these denim look joggers. I used a double brushed polyester for pants that are so soft. He says these are his most comfortable pants ever! I used the Joseph Joggers and adjusted the waistband for a wider elastic. A little added top-stitching and these are the perfect little boy pants.

His top is a Theodor Raglan with the George hood added. Sewn up in camo and rust waffle knit with soft ribbing cuffs, it’s such a cozy top! The Theodor is a favorite of mine now. It’s a great loose fit and such a fun sew. I like to add top-stitching where I can and I think it really elevates it. Throw on a couple of tags and I think this top passes the ‘cool’ test for sure.

To finish his look, he got a Bookish Beanie out of the charcoal ribbing lined with the heather grey ribbing. He’s growing his hair out and I love that he can throw on a beanie for those not-so-great hair days.

Payton is my busy bee and loves to really relax in her rare spare time. I knew a cute lounge set would be perfect for her. She’s totally obsessed with rib knit and she’s living her dream in this head to toe look.

We picked this pretty floral rib knit to coordinate with her siblings. I sewed up a Story Top for her tee. She’s loving mock necks right now so I used two back bodice pieces and added a tall mock neck band. I also cropped about four inches off of the top length to give her this cute cropped length.

The pants are the Nini Noni Pajama pants just slightly modified with a wide yoga waistband. Skipping the elastic waist really ups the comfort factor!

Sophie is on top of all the latest trends and wanted a cute sweatsuit. It was fun to brainstorm and come up with the design for this adorable set. I used the Joseph Joggers and George Hoodie for her look. She’s getting so close to outgrowing most children’s patterns and I’m pretty sure I’ll cry big crocodile tears when that day comes. She’s just at the top of these two patterns size charts and I was glad I could squeak this outfit out for her.

She got all of the yummy sweatshirt fleece for her outfit. I used a combo of light grey, mustard, and mauve. RCF sweatshirt fleece is super plush on the backside and oh so cozy!

The color blocking on this sweatshirt was my biggest challenge and so much fun to come up with. We searched Pinterest for ideas and boy are there some incredible looks out there. I don’t color block often and now I’m wondering why. It adds so much to a simple silhouette. For her hoodie, I chopped off three inches and added a drawstring hem casing.

I added a wide twill tape side stripe to her joggers. I also used cuff ribbing for the ankles and wrist bands to tie the two pieces together.

For this shoot I went back to our PRP roots and headed to our local parking garage. I’m pretty sure the first time I shot here was for week 3 of Season 15, our Shine Bright looks. I loved our shoot that day and have since used this location a TON! It’s perfect in winter or rainy weather because you still get lots of light but are protected from the elements. I love the neutral backdrop that really lets the colors and outfits take center stage.

You can head over to Project Run and Play to vote for your favorite looks. This week I am competing against Carin of Art Bella Creates. I absolutely adore Carin’s style and she always blows me away with her creations so I know I’m in for tough competition this week. Thanks for all your support and make sure you join in the sewalong with this mini season!

Project Run and Play Lounge Library

The newest Project Run and Play collection, Project Lounge Library is here and I can’t wait to share it with you! We got to join in the lookbook fun and you’ve just got to check it out. The PRP Lookbooks are some of my favorite inspiration ever! I love to see the creativity and gorgeous makes and I always feel so inspired. You can check out the newest one here.

All of our fabric for this post and lookbook was sponsored by Raspberry Creek Fabrics. From linen to french terry and double brushed polyester, this collection is all about the comfort and these fabrics were the perfect match!

For the lookbook spreads we all picked books we loved. When I had just two little boys, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day was a favorite. Of course, we had our own Alexander so it was extra relatable. We laughed at all of the silly things that kept going wrong in his day and I loved the end sentiment that some days are just like that (even in Australia!). 2020 has felt just like his day. Just when we think we’ve heard and handled it all, something else comes along to throw us all for a loop. Not gonna lie, it’s been rough BUT I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We’ve learned so much along the way and while it hasn’t been the year we’d planned, it’s definitely had it’s bright spots. Instead of focusing on the negative, we put a positive spin on it!

Our toilet paper supply is ready for whatever may come. We’ve never been more prepared!

We’ve had endless time for new hobbies! Music, puzzles, crafts, games- you name it and we’ve done it. With all the time at home, we’re loving learning new things and spending more time together.

For girls who like to accessorize, masks are just one more thing to complete a look. We’ve tried all the DIY patterns and store bought masks and love having a variety to match just about anything.

And one of my favorite things is jammie day, all day, every day! We love living in our comfy clothes and this whole collection is just meant to be lounged in. From pj’s to joggers, our wardrobe has changed this year and I’m not mad about it one bit.

I also designed 5 cut files as part of the collection that you can pick up in the PRP shop. It was fun coming up with our favorite book quotes and reading themed graphics!

Are you ready for all the glorious details on my makes for this collection? This collection features 10 garment patterns and a darling beanie and there is a separate collection of dolls and clothing too! I was able to sew up 9 of the patterns this round and they were all soooo good! This is by far my favorite collection to date and each pattern will be a staple in our house.

Charlie is wearing the George Hoodie and Joseph Joggers, both are unisex patterns from Bobbins ‘N Buttons. The George goes from 12 mos- 12 years and the Joseph Joggers are 12 mos- 14 years. The George is a great relaxed fit hoodie that come together in a flash. The Joseph Joggers are a slim-fit (but not too slim!) with optional knee panels.

For his outfit, I used simple french terry solids in light grey and navy.

In true little boy fashion, this kiddo put those knee patches to the test ASAP. Within minutes of putting these pants on, he’d already slid across the wood floor multiple times (clean wood floors are just too tempting!).

I had to hide a little bit of my all time favorite RCF print for my boys in the hood lining. Anybody else hoarding this oldie but goodie?

He got a Bookish Beanie in one of his favorite fabrics, a camo waffle knit. He had originally said he didn’t care what fabric I used because he wasn’t really a beanie guy but then I slid this puppy on his head and he had a total change of heart!

This look is the Novella Pinafore paired with the Story Top and Dress by Elegance and Elephants. They both are in sizes 2-12 and have multiple options for each. I did the aline skirt for the Novella and the top version of the Story.

I used a stretch linen for the Novella (currently sold out but this dusty purple would be lovely too!). The stretch in the linen makes this such a great kid fabric- comfortable and still so chic! The top is a soft double brushed polyester.

I love that these pieces look extra special but still are comfortable. They pair so well together but that top also looks darling with jeans too!

To finish her look, I sewed up the Biography Bomigan from Jennuine Designs. This is a unisex pattern that comes in sizes newborn to 14. It is a cross between a cardigan and bomber jacket and makes a great lightweight layering piece.

I used ponte for this version (black from RCF and teal from the stash). You can add either snaps or a zipper but once she tried it on she really wanted the open cardigan look so we kept it simple.

This girl got an Alice Top (and dress) and Prose and Poetry Cargo Joggers. The Alice Top and Dress is a woven garment with optional sleeves and shoulder ruffles that comes in sizes 12 mos- 13 years. The Prose and Poetry Cargo Joggers have skirt and short options and come in sizes 1-16.

Her top is made in a flannel from the stash (maybe Joann’s?) and her joggers are a rayon linen. I think the weight of this linen was ideal for this pattern. It gives it a little structure but also drapes really nicely.

I squeezed in the Alice Top very last minute and I’m so glad I did. My girls are kinda too ‘simple’ for ruffles and I had a hard time envisioning this pattern without them. When I spotted this plaid in my stash I just knew I had to give it a try. I did a tie at the neck that matches the drawstring in the joggers and love the little detail.

With each make I thought I’d found a new favorite but these Prose joggers really might take the cake. There are so many fun pockets (including a couple of secret pockets that your kids will die over!). The fit is amazing and they really don’t take too long to sew up. Which is a great thing considering the other two kiddos have already put in their orders for their own pair.

She also got a George Hoodie in yummy burgundy french terry (don’t ask me how this color is even softer than the others?!). I threw in a fluffy faux fur scrap for the hood lining and this is the garment that I’m wishing was in my size. It’s a little piece of heaven!

The last pattern I sewed up was the Nini Noni Nightwear. This is such a powerhouse pattern. It’s a unisex pattern in sizes newborn to 16 years (talk about an amazing size range!) and is loaded with different views. Nightgown- check. Shorts and short sleeves- check. Puff sleeves and long pants- check.

This girl got a nightgown in maxi length with long puff sleeves. In a super soft double brushed polyester, she loves to wear this as often as it’s clean.

Big sis is in long pants and short sleeves- perfect for year round lounging! This cute leopard print double brushed poly is a teenage dream.

This kiddo also got short sleeves and long pants. CLUB jersey is his favorite for pajamas and add in the fact that it’s tie dye and these are already well loved.

Phew! If you made it through that novel (see what I did there?), head on over to the Project Run and Play shop to check out the whole collection for even more inspiration. And follow along on the blog for the next two weeks as all of the look book collaborators share their makes!

Thanks so much for your support and let me know if you have any questions about this latest collection. I know your kiddos will love it as much as mine do!

Theodor Sweatshirt New in the Project Run and Play Shop

The Project Run and Play shop just got a little sweeter! The Theodor Raglan Sweatshirt from Bobbins and Buttons is part of the latest batch to hit the shop. You’ll have to excuse me while I go sew up a million!

The Theodor is a unisex pattern that comes in sizes 12 months- 12 years. It’s got classic raglan styling and is a looser, easy fit.

You can’t go wrong with a good raglan, amiright? They are right up there with the easiest things to sew and they are always, always in style.

They are also perfect for using up all those precious scraps. This sweatshirt is a mix of some of my favorite fabrics. That’s glorious Raspberry Creek oatmeal french terry for the body (I know we’re all waiting anxiously for it to arrive this year). The sleeves are from another shop local to me, Design Co. Fabrics that I picked up during the early quarantine months. Looks like most of their french terry has sold out (they’re a clearance shop that sometimes gets amazing one time buys in) but I’m glad I snagged some while I could. This teal is nice and muted and oh so perfect. The rib knit is from the ever popular ISEE Fabrics, another shop that has grown incredibly fast these last few months. This particular color is currently sold out as well but join their Facebook group for all the latest stocking news. So basically, I’m the worst and all my fabrics are not available BUT I couldn’t resist this amazing combination and I knew my little man would flip over it. And this pattern really is good enough to cut into those fabrics you’ve been holding onto forever!

I sewed up a straight size 8 and I love how it fits. It’s slightly oversized and that makes it extra comfy! It also means that maybe, just maybe it will fit him through the whole winter. I also love the big wide cuffs and neckband. They really add so much to the look. I added extra top stitching to his top- I like the finished look and it takes just a few minutes longer. All in all, this pattern can be cut and sewn in a nap time for sure! It’ll probably take you longer to decide on your fabrics than to sew it up!

My little man loved his sweatshirt enough to model it in scorching heat. Well, it was that and the fact that he got Takis as his after shoot treat! A little bribery goes a long way with this boy.

Make sure you head to the Project Run and Play shop and check out all the new patterns on sale for a limited time!

Love Notions New Year Sale- A LN Roundup!

Happy New Year! We celebrated with a little fondue, Rock Band and confetti cannons and now it’s time to relax and settle into an exciting year to come.

My first post of the year (decade!) is very fitting. I’m bringing you a round up of some of my favorite Love Notions makes from 2019 in honor of their rare 30% off site-wide sale. 2019 brought a little slow-down to my sewing but I still made sure to make plenty of time to continue to work with the companies that I love- Love Notions being at the top of that list! I love the quality of LN patterns and the fact that there’s a little something for the whole family.

This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through them does not cost you any more but I do receive a small commission. I like to mention that I joined the Love Notions family AFTER being a long time tester and falling in love with the patterns and thorough testing process.

The Samson Sweater is one of those patterns I use over and over. I love it for my girls and also my little guy. It’s a little boxier than our other raglan patterns and makes the perfect sweatshirt. It’s easy to size up, add length or crop to get different looks. Plus it sews up soooo fast!

I made my first Kayak Boardshorts last year and I’m hoping to squeeze in another pair for our mid-winter beach trip. They were super easy to hack to get this look for my teenager but I think my littlest man would love a pair as-is. The knit waistband would be just what he prefers.

The Sloane Sweater continues to be a favorite for both me and my kids. Last year I made for my first one for Charlie and I adore how it turned out. There are a ton of options and that back yoke piece is just perfect for playing with fabric combos.

Last year was all about the dresses for me. Dresses are my favorite things to sew and Love Notions Lyric and Dolce dresses were a big hit for me and my girly. I can’t wait to sew a new one for my this spring!

I also added a couple of new Willow Wrap dresses to my wardrobe and I adore this pattern! These are both maxi hacks- the mustard version uses the Olympia skirt and the tropical print is just a lengthened gathered skirt version. These dresses are the ultimate in comfort!

The Melody Dolman is the LN pattern release I anticipated the most and it did not disappoint. I wore this top to death all summer and love how easy to wear it is. It looks great with jeans and feels so pulled together. If you are looking to try a button-up pattern for the first time, this is a great intro pattern. It’s easy to follow and sews up so nice and quick.

The Octave Coat is one of my proudest makes of 2019. I wear this beauty so much and feel giddy at the thought that I actually made it. It was a fairly simple sew and another great pattern for anyone wanting to push themselves just a bit. With so many different recommended fabric choices, you can make just the coat you’re dreaming of.

To round out this round-up, I’ll leave you with my absolute favorite Love Notions pattern, the Classic Tee (the girl’s version is equally awesome!). I wore these tees to death all spring, summer, and fall and continue to wear them layered under cardis and sweatshirts in the cold weather. I also love the long sleeve option. This tee is the perfect slouchy tee and I love it in so many different fabrics. If you were to just buy one pattern during the sale, do yourself a favor and pick up this beaut.

It was really hard to pick my top Love Notions patterns! If you’re looking for more options you can head here for all of my past Love Notions makes. Happy New Year and Happy Shopping!

Love Notions Game Day Jersey

This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing patterns through these links gives me a small commission that I use to keep this ol’ blog running.

The Love Notions Game Day Jersey released today and it’s just in time! It’s such a versatile pattern. Perfect for representing your school or favorite professional team. It’s also so on-trend and works great for upcycling old t-shirts or just creating great vintage style tees.

Both the Kid’s and Women’s versions are chock full of options. They both have a scoop or v-neckline, short or 3/4 sleeve, tee or dress length, and optional sleeve stripes.

The kids version is a unisex tee in sizes 2t-16. I love that I can make tees for most of my kids out of one pattern. Big sis already has one cut out and waiting and big bro is eyeing to upcycle some of his old tees into jerseys.

Charlie is anxious for me to up the cool factor on this version with a little Denver Broncos vinyl. This pattern is just itching for some great vinyl creativity!

Both are tees are made using fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. Charlie is wearing a solid cotton lycra. Mine is luscious modal spandex jersey in light grey and deep mauve. This fabric hit the shop early this summer and I’ve been dying for a tee in it ever since. This tee totally lives up to my dreams. It’s so soft and relaxed. I know grey is a bit boring but I can never have too many grey tees. I always reach for them first!

I’m so excited about the possibilities with this pattern. I have a couple of cool vintage tees saved on my phone that I’m dying to recreate. Think cool colors using the color blocking and adding a few stripes across the chest. I’m loving all the tester versions that used a print on the shoulders and sleeves too. So many choices!

Project Run and Play:Project Farmer’s Market

Project Run and Play is an institution in the children’s sewing community. The talent that makes up the PRP alumni is staggering. When I heard that a group of past designers was putting together a capsule wardrobe collection, Project Farmer’s Market, I jumped at the chance to be a part of it! I was honored to be able to sew up a few pieces of the collection and to get together with a couple of past PRP contestants for an epic photo shoot was like a dream come true.

For our shoot, I joined Lisa of Mabey She Made It and Sabra of Sew A Straight Line. My kids had met theirs at past photo shoots or park playdates and it was so fun to see them instantly get comfortable with each other. You could tell this wasn’t their first rodeo as they turned on the charm and smiles and nailed whatever us crazy moms told them to do. Totally blogger kids and such cuties!

A HUGE shout out to Raspberry Creek Fabrics for sponsoring this photo shoot. All of my fabrics are from the shop.

For my looks I sewed up 5 pieces from the collection (and one freebie!). I sewed the Banana Boat Tee, Soleil Skirt, Turnip Up Trousers, Up Beet Tee, and Jonagold Jumper. The collection is full of both girl and unisex patterns and a huge size range making them something you can use for years to come. I really love patterns that I can use for multiple views and more than one kid. These patterns checked all my boxes.

Charlie got a pair of Turnip Up short and an Up Beet Tee from Celina of Petit a Petite. This is such a great summer outfit.

The Up Beet Tee has such a unique construction. The sleeve piece extends to the back yoke for such a cool look. I love the stripe and solid pairing- it really highlights the shoulder detail. Of course I had to throw on a little vinyl. This little guy is looking so ‘fresh’ it was totally appropriate 😉 I used a font and image available in Cricut Design Space for a tee that was perfect for our produce themed shoot.

The Turnip Up Trousers are so full of amazing details. I love the bound seams and he loves the knit waistband. With multiple pockets these are perfect for those little treasure hunters out there.

I love this easy tee and shorts combo. It’s comfy but definetely not boring. With unconventional details these patterns are great additions to my pattern collection.

My Sophie is at the top of most kids sizing and I was thrilled to see she could squeeze into this look by Jess from Lil Luxe Collection. The Banana Boat Tee and Soleil Skirt were just perfect for this fashion forward tween.

The Banana Boat Tee is so darn cute! I want it in my size! Sleeve cuffs, button tabs, side drawstring rouching, and a wide boat neckline take this tee over the top. So many darling details!

In a drapey rayon spandex, it pairs perfectly with the Soleil Skirt but also looks so cute with jeans.

The Soleil Skirt has a faux front button placket, back elastic waist, pockets, three lengths and optional suspender straps. It’s one I can see turning to again and again.

The Jonagold Jumper was the one I was most excited to sew up. My girls have been begging for overalls and it’s just so hard to get them that fit them both in the length and width. Shortalls can be soooo short on their long legs and long overalls tend to be capris 😉 This pattern is so full of options they can have a closetful now!

I sewed up the squared bib, shorts version but there are also pant and skirt options. You can add patch pockets to the bib and front hips too.

This simple chambray version will get worn to death this summer! I sewed up the free Seed headscarf and it adds the perfect touch to this outfit.

I’m so thrilled to be able to share this amazing collection with you. What a pleasure it was to be back in PRP mode for this shoot! For some serious eye candy, sit back and relax with the brilliant Lookbook– so much goodness in one place.

You can get the whole Project Farmer’s Market Collection here, the unisex mini collection here, and the girls mini collection here. All individual patterns are available in the PRP shop.

Love Notions Thomas Track Pants

There’s exciting things happening in the Love Notions Pattern world. Kelly has joined Tami as an assistant designer and has just released her first pattern! I love working with Kelly and know she’s been after a great track pant pattern for ages. So it was obvious they should be her inaugural pattern.

(This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through these links provides me a small commission that I use to keep up fabric hoarding obsession.)

The Thomas Track Pants are so full of options! You’ve got to check out Kelly’s ah-mazing cover pair. Pockets, colorblocking, and hem zippers make them perfect for your little athletes. They come in sizes 2t-14 and I’m thinking my teenage soccer players need some too!

Charlie asked for some cozy pajama pants and picked out this plush fleece for his first pair. After trying them on he declared them soooo soft and comfy and had to wear them to school that day. So they may have started out as pj’s but have become his go-to pants whenever they are clean. This is the basic no pocket, solid version. They’re a super quick sew and the perfect fit!

I made Charlie a couple Moto Maxx tops and he needed a pair of track pants to match too! This version features the cool colorblocking. I skipped the other bells and whistles which made these another quick sew. I used the much sought after oatmeal french terry from Raspberry Creek Fabrics with some olive heathered french terry (also from RCF but currently out of stock) for the accent. His top is also made with RCF cotton lycra jersey (so soft!).

Just in case you need the perfect top to go with your new track pants, I can’t recommend the Moto Maxx enough! I love being able to mix and match prints and that shoulder detail is too cool. Boys clothing can be boring but not with this pattern!

I’m so excited for Kelly to be joining the design team and to be dreaming up more boy patterns. I love sewing for this kid and know Kelly will do some fantastic things!

I’ll leave you with this gem. He’s pretty convinced that ‘matching’ means wearing head to toe of the same color. He just had to wear his new shades and I think he’s doing his best to intimidate you into grabbing this pattern! I know you’ll love it as much as he does!

Back to School with Heartland Fabrics

This post is sponsored by Art Gallery Fabrics.

This post contains massive amounts of my favorite things: beautiful fabric, cute kiddos, and great friends! I’m elated to be joining in on Heartland Fabrics Blog Tour put together by the fabulous Karly from Paisley Roots.

I love all things Art Gallery and this line is absolutely to die for! The patterns and colors are just right up my alley. Soft pinks and blues, vibrant mustard and greys… all the choicest colors in one line!

They are perfect for year round wear but especially fun for back to school!

For our back to school looks I used patterns from Shwin Designs. I used the Stella Tunic for my daughters top. I’m crushing hard on that high-low peplum! It’s such a beautifully classic top with just the right amount of flair. My little man is sporting a Maxwell Top. I adore all the details on this shirt that make it so cool!

His top is made using Trekant Rows Breeze. I love the modern geometric print! Big brother asked if I could make him the same exact shirt, he loves the fabric so much. This is a quilting cotton and is so soft and lovely. If you’ve never worked with Art Gallery cottons I suggest you get on that! They are my favorite for my kids clothes.

Wait! OK- maybe not my favorite. I forgot how AMAZING this voile is! It’s incredibly soft and luxurious and I want to sew with it forever! I’ll be making my own top out of this as soon as possible. Do you think people will notice if our whole family is sporting this fabric daily? This is the Blomma Garden Pastiche print just so you can get your own stat!

Pair it with knit in Unn Cross Pine and it’s an outfit she couldn’t wait to wear to school!

We had so much fun joining our friends Paisley Roots, Made by Melli, and Sew A Straight Line for a super fun photo shoot. The kids had so much fun together after they warmed up a bit.

My Charlie sure thought Sabra’s Jonas was the coolest kid on the planet.

He helped him start an acorn collection (mom’s favorite) and they bonded over their love of football- especially the Denver Broncos.

These two together were the funniest! So sweet, shy and awkward but so darn cute!

And these boys have all the heart eyes from me!

I loved watching the kids interact with each other and seeing how all the fabrics coordinated so well. It will really take all my willpower not to hoard every single print!