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!
The Newport Dress pattern is part of the April Simple Life Pattern Co. Monthly Challenge. Each month a new collection of patterns is highlighted at SLPCo and you can enter to win store credit when you sew them up and share! Bonus, all of the patterns are on sale for the month of April!
As part of the SLPCo Promo team, I got to sew up this pattern in pretty Art Gallery Fabrics. I had made this pattern once before in a pretty floral that unfortunately didn’t get worn a ton. She loved the style but it was a little too young feeling for her so I knew fabric would make all the difference.
We went with a bright fun pink solid, Dragon Fruit, with a simple graphic print for the pockets, Seedmap from the Pollinate collection from Jessica Swift.
The bold bright color is so happy and I love it on her. It matches her sunny personality!
I sewed up a size 10 with added length. I love the simple design but those big fun pockets are the highlight of this pattern.
She said she was feeling very Audrey Hepburn in this (she’s forever our ideal of classic style!).
Make sure you head over to the SLPCo Fan FB group for details on the Monthly Challenge and for all the girly inspiration!
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!
I’m always a sucker for Sue Daley’s lines at Riley Blake and her newest Faith, Hope, and Love line is another winner. I’m always drawn to her style and color palettes and this line will draw you in too!
The pretty pinks, muted golds, deep charcoal, and pale blues are so good together. Throw in simple prints, darling florals, and a vintage feel and this collection is giving me all the heart eyes!
I got Stems in Charcoal and Geo in Antique Gold and was seriously tempted to use them both for myself. I love that these prints aren’t too bold and are fantastic blenders but also work so well on their own. They’re subtle and classic- my favorite combination!
With snow in the forecast, we decided to have a little fun for this shoot. We headed to our favorite little wooded park and had so much fun. It was just cold enough to snow (it wasn’t cold enough to stick to the roads) but not windy or too cold to play in. Payton, in her little short sleeved top, didn’t complain a bit and just loved the novelty of shooting with those big gorgeous snowflakes falling around us. It was a magical moment with my girls and I’m glad to have these pics that captured it all!
This girl has a closet full of dresses and asked for a top this time. I used the Odeline Blouse from Iris May (available in the Project Run and Play Shop). I used this pattern once before and we both loved the top so it was about time we revisited it. The pattern is full of options (like the cute ruffles!) but we stuck with just the simple neck ruffle again.
The pattern does not include seam allowances (are we just spoiled in the US?) and that always intimidates me. I used the two pencil method to trace the seam allowance and it was a quick and simple step that I really need to not stop me in the future. I’m always worried that I’ll do it wrong and end up with an ill fitting garment but the directions are very clear as to where to add the seam allowances and it really just took a few extra minutes.
That pretty button placket in the back is so cute!
This cute teen is inching her way into women’s sizing and I’m always excited when I find more of my patterns that fit her. The Justine Skirt from Ready to Sew comes in sizes 32-52 and was perfect for her. I love that all of the proceeds from this pattern are donated, making it a great one to have in your stash.
The skirt features a fitted waistband (no elastic), button front, and nice big pockets. You can see my other version here for more of those pretty details.
I love the cute midi-length which makes it so versatile. It’s super cute with boots for winter but will also pair so well with a tee and sandals come summer.
I’m grateful for Riley Blake and these cute fabrics. It’s so fun to sew them up and get to see them on my girls! They love their new pieces!
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!
Over the years, I’ve made many sewing friends and it’s been fun to meet them in real life. It’s rare when a real life friend comes into your sewing world. I’ve known Corinne Wells for years and to see her beautiful work become fabric has been such a treat! Her newest venture with Riley Blake Designs is absolutely gorgeous and it was so fun to be able to sew up her designs. Her line Rocky Mountain Wild is now available at your favorite quilt shop.
Rocky Mountain Wild is full of pretty prints inspired by the beautiful mountains that surround us. From lovely wildflowers to quaking aspen trees, these prints bring to life spring in our area. I feel so lucky to live at the base of these mountains and the year round beauty they bring. Currently covered in snow, they stand majestic and tall. Come spring they are bursting with color and life and provide such a comfort and peace to me. I love that Corinne drew on these mountains as inspiration and the collection really speaks to their beauty.
As I sewed up these prints, I envisioned styling them with chunky tights, boots and warm beanies and doing our photos in the actual Rocky Mountains. Through a series of crazy events, these pictures are taken in the opposite of picturesque mountains, instead on our quick escape getaway to sunshine and sand. It has made me excited at how versatile these prints are and how great they are year-round.
For these dresses, I knew I wanted to draw on the prairie-chic looks that are everywhere these days. Something loose and non-fussy, I searched my pattern stash and actually tried a new pattern I’ve been wanting forever too. Sophie is in a hacked Hinterland Dress by Sew Liberated. Payton is in a Spencer Dress from Violette Fields Threads.
I sewed up the smallest size (she is just under the measurements) and used two back bodice pieces. She didn’t need the bust shaping and I knew the front neckline would be a little low for her liking. I skipped the button placket and because this has no closures I lowered the front neckline three inches to be able to fit over her head and give her a little room in the neckline in front.
Side note- the walls of our resort are all this pretty pale yellow color and we laughed that she just camouflaged right into them!
She loves the loose styling and this will be such a cute dress to throw on. I’m anxious to make this pattern again and maybe try the placket as well.
Payton described the dress that she wanted out of this fabric as “Ya’ know, kinda flows out from here (under the arms) and no ruffles!” I searched my pattern stash for a-line dresses and the Spencer was the winner. I’ve made two in the past (one for my niece and one for Sophie) and have always loved them.
That little yoke and the puff sleeve are so cute! I modified the sleeves to omit the cuff and placket and I just did a simple elastic casing. I wasn’t sure if she’d want them 3/4 length or chopped to short sleeves but she was a fan of them just like this.
The full back button placket is one of my favorite details.
I loved everything about these dresses! Getting to work with fabric designed by an incredibly talented friend is such a treat. I hope you guys can get your hands on these beautiful prints!
I’ve got good news for you and great news for me: the newest Hey June Handmade pattern is here and this girly can officially fit in HJ women’s sizing!!! Bring on ALL the Sheridan’s, Halifax’s, Brunswick’s, oh man, and Greer’s (how cute will she be in them?!)!
The Wheaton Windbreak is a lightweight cropped jacket with long dolman sleeves. It comes in sizes 0-30 and has a ton of great features. Those welt pockets are amazing and the gathered fitted waist is so flattering. The deep three piece hood looks cute and is so incredibly practical too. It can be sewn up in practically any woven fabric and looks great in both structured twill or light linens or rayon blends.
When I signed up to test this pattern I had every intention of sewing one up for myself. That was before Sophie asked for a new lightweight jacket and before I took her latest measurements. It was meant to be! They no longer use lockers at her school and she hates lugging a big coat around with her all day so this jacket is just perfect!
I used a Tencel denim I had in my stash (I believe it was from Cali Fabrics). I happened to have just enough (3 yards) and it was the perfect neutral to go with everything.
The pockets are warm flannel and add a secret pop of color.
As always with Hey June patterns, this one went together so well and I love the new techniques and finishes I learned. If you are nervous about sewing a jacket, this would be a great starter pattern. With no sleeves to set in and an easy zipper install, this pattern will leave you feeling victorious. The welt pockets are one of the first steps you tackle and you’ll feel like a rock star when you look at the lovely finished pocket. From there, the rest of the jacket will be a breeze to you! You got this!
I love, love, love that I can continue to share my Hey June love with this girly. This jacket is the start of a beautiful relationship!
Make sure you grab your copy of the Wheaton during the big site-wide sale through November 30th!
Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays to sew for. I love that usually Valentine prints can be worn year-round and that they just promote love and happiness, something we could all use a little more of right now. Today I’m sharing looks made with Riley Blake’s new line, Sending Love by My Mind’s Eye.
This collection is so cute! I love the perfect combination of reds, pinks, and white. It’s so cheery and happy! Those lips are so darling and the florals are just beautiful.
I was really drawn to doing a cute floral and polka dot combo so I used the Main Floral on white paired with Petunia Dots. A good pink and red combo is so fun and classic! My oldest is more simple and the minimal styling of the Sending Love Hearts White was perfect for her. I used Barn Red poplin for her skirt and it was an excellent match.
I’m still on the hunt for the perfect juniors woven top pattern. Until then I will keep using the top of the Linville Romper from Hey June. I sewed up a size 12 and didn’t add any length (she’s off the junior’s size chart for height) giving it a cropped look.
Her skirt is an easy self-drafted, elastic back flat front design. I added a faux button placket down the front as well. She is loving midi-length skirts these days and this one will hopefully get worn a ton since it’s a nice classic red. We did tortoise shell buttons to really make it versatile.
Payton’s dress is one of my go-to patterns, the Pixie Dress from Violette Fields Threads. I love using this pattern when mixing prints. It’s an easy to sew pattern, with no closures and a loose, relaxed fit.
The cute tie in the back is one of my favorite details! And the option to add trim to the bodice is a great place to have a little fun. A mini pom pom trim just seemed right with this happy combination.
I love that these looks will be great for Valentine’s but also work the whole year long. Pretty sure I need my older daughters top to get me through the next few weeks. All we need is love, right?!!
I’m over on the Project Run and Play blog today sharing some of our favorite fabrics to sew with for tweens. PRP is bringing you a whole week dedicated to sewing for these cute kiddos and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
For that post I sewed up two new looks for my girls. We scoured the internet and all of their favorite online shops for loads of inspiration this fall. We noticed so many great trends and knew we could easily recreate them to fit their style and unique bodies.
Payton just started middle school this year and has suddenly become even more of a trendsetter and carefully picks her outfits out each morning. She has started wearing more dresses, skirts, and jumpers and has one jumper in particular that she wears at least once a week.
She loved the button front look of this Gap shortall and I knew we could do an easy hack of one of the many pinafore/jumper patterns in the PRP Shop.
I used the Mary Dungarees and did a simple faux placket hack to the front. I took a piece of fabric 3 inches by the length of the front and sewed it together along the long edge, right sides together. I then flipped it right side out and ironed it flat. I sewed it to the center front of the dress along both long edges. I then sewed it up according to the directions, adding interfacing to the top of the bodice front for a little more stability when attaching my jeans buttons. Adding matching jean buttons down the front completed the look. I used a bright and cheery mustard rayon linen from Raspberry Creek Fabrics and it totally suits her infectious personality.
For her tee I used the Emi Top. The Emi is one of those patterns I tested years ago and then totally forgot about. It has loads of options and is a great basic tee. I used the cuffed sleeve and cropped the bottom of the tee so she can wear it with her jeans too. We had to go with a cute sunflower print double brushed polyester to complete this totally 90’s inspired look.
All of us are head over heels for tie dye right now. I’m not sure how much tie dye is too much but I don’t think we’ll be getting there anytime soon. All of their favorite shops are carrying hoodies, sweatshirts, tees, joggers, and more in so many fun tie dye combinations.
We loved the casual, comfy look of this Shein outfit and knew it would be perfect for those lazy fall and winter days.
Raspberry Creek Fabrics just released all of their new fall sweatshirt fleece prints and there are so many gorgeous tie dye prints to choose from. This incredible Sage Tie Dye was so perfect to recreate our inspiration.
For this look, I used the Theodor Raglan Sweatshirt and Tintin Trousers. For the top, I sewed up the largest size, size 12, and cropped 4 inches off the bottom hem. I used wide ribbing from Hobby Lobby for the cuffs and neckband. The Tintin Trousers are an amazing pattern! There are so many options with it and it kinda blows my mind that these are the same pattern as this look too. I got such a great fit with those first pants, I knew it would be a good choice for sweatshirting too. RCF sweatshirt fleece has just enough stretch to be super comfortable but it’s not as stretchy as french terry or another knit you might lean to for joggers. Using a pattern meant for knits and wovens gave me confidence that I would still get a fantastic result. I widened the waistband to accommodate 1.5″ elastic (just my personal preference for waistbands) and cropped the hems just enough to add cuffs out of the same ribbing to really tie the pieces together. To say I’m supremely jealous of this outfit would be an understatement.
Make sure you follow along on the Project Run and Play blog this week for so much teen and tween inspiration. I’m excited for what’s in store!
The Patricia is a beginner friendly pattern that comes in sizes 2t-12. It features multiple sleeve styles and a dramatic or subtle high low hem. You can make a top or dress length and it works for either knit or woven fabric. With no closures, it’s a quick sew and so easy to wear.
I sewed up a size 10 with a 12 length for this girl. I did the dramatic high low skirt and the bell sleeves. I think this dress is a great year-round pattern. It works well with sandals and will look so cute with tights and boots too!
Art Gallery Fabrics sponsored this post and it was too fun shopping for just the right fabric for this project. I love this pattern in a nice flowy fabric and AGF rayon is some of my favorite to work with. Going into fall, I’m always excited for all things plaid and this pretty grid print, Grid Negative in Rayon by Katarina Roccella, really caught my eye. This girl is moving away from crazy prints and prefers subtle patterns and solids and this plaid was perfect for her.
This cute girl turned the big 1-3 this week! I can’t believe she’s officially a teenager. In so many ways, she’s been a teenager for years. She has such a mature attitude and is so wise beyond her years. She’s so thoughtful and creative and kind and it’s been my pleasure to be a witness to the beautiful young woman she’s become. Taking pictures of my kiddos so often gives me a chance to really connect with them and see them for who they are. It’s amazing to watch them grow and find themselves. This girl really is amazing and a great example to me. I’m excited for the coming years with her as we become more and more equals and it gets so fun to share so many interests and similarities. What a girl!
This photo shoot was a quick one, during my little man’s soccer practice so we were on a tight schedule. We headed to my favorite little Main Street in a sketchy part of town. We go here often for shoots but usually try to go in the afternoon and avoid it at night. On this day, we got here just as the sun was setting. The streets were busier than normal and I had to move the beer bottles and other garbage from our shots. This girly was such a pro- smiling like there was no one around and posing like a super model. She’s my sweet, shy girl and I was so proud of how well she pulled it off. We had a good laugh when we realized she had one boot unzipped the whole time. For my perfectionist daughter, it could have meant tears but instead we just giggled and knew it meant these pics would be ‘real’, not perfect but still good enough.
To enter the SLPCo Challenge this month, you can sew up any of the following patterns: Shelley, Eden, Georgia, Ava, Lydia, Patricia, Mattie, Autumn, and Roxy (many are available in Baby sizes too!). These patterns are all on sale this month too! Take a photo of your make and post it in the Simple Life Facebook group or on your Instagram and tag #slpcochallenge for your chance to win a $20 shop credit to SLPCo.
SewSophieLynn 