Sewing for Tweens – Page 2

True Bias Mini Nova Jumpsuit

I was lucky enough to test the True Bias Mini Nova Jumpsuit. You better believe this little miss was all over it! She is over the moon with her newest mama-made.

The Mini Nova has all the same options as the women’s version. There are four different views. Add a waistband for a more fitted look or keep it casual without. There are shorts and pants views for both. And don’t forget about the pockets- a must for all views! It comes in size 2t-10.

I sewed up a size 8 width with a 10 length according to her measurements. The neckline and arms are finished with a facing and the pockets on this version are sewn right to the front pattern pieces- no bulk! Such a quick sew too!

This girl lives and breathes dance and was super excited to have something new to wear to her classes. It’s perfect for slipping on over her leo and she just had to demonstrate how easy it is to move it too! She can’t wait to wear this to her hip hop class!

I used a gorgeous tie dye cotton lycra jersey from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. I struggled picking fabrics for this pattern. I love the simplistic look of an all black version but knowing she planned to wear this to dance gave me a little more license to be fun. A tie dye print was just too perfect!

You can grab the Mini Nova and Women’s Versions here and here on sale through Sunday, September 13th.

New Patterns in the Project Run and Play Shop

It’s traditionally back to school time but there’s nothing traditional about 2020. Project Run and Play has added new patterns to the shop and I’m excited to be joining in the blog tour. Instead of a back to school event let’s celebrate back to learning! Are your kids headed to school in person? Do you get the ‘pleasure’ of teaching them from home? Whatever your school year looks likes, it still calls for some cute new clothes!

This girl headed back to middle school last week and is loving it. With smaller class sizes and loads of extra precautions, she’s happy to be back with her friends and meeting all her new teachers in the flesh. She’s ever my fashionista and I have loved seeing her style each morning as she heads out the door. This new look, featuring all patterns in the Project Run and Play shop, is right up her alley.

This post was sponsored with fabrics from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. Diana recently got in a huge order of the most gorgeous linens and I was so excited to get my hands on some. The biggest question was what color to pick since I loved them all! After much debate the olive green won for it’s versatility and neutrality. These pants will work with so much of her existing wardrobe. This pretty blush waffle knit was from last year and I can’t wait for more waffles to restock for fall. The tee is in a cute double brushed poly print that tied the blush and olive together perfectly!

Let’s talk about that cute cardigan shall we? It’s the Josephine Cardigan from Iris May. Iris is a Belgium designer with impeccable style. The Josephine is a unisex cardigan pattern available in sizes 2-14. There are multiple sleeve options and optional buttons or pockets. Depending on your fabric choice, you can get a slouchy look or a more structured piece. The waffle knit I used made for a perfect transitional piece. It’s lightweight with lots of drape and is great for wearing in chilly air conditioned classrooms. The waffle has little recovery so the cuffs do get stretched out. We’ll see if she’ll want to switch them out with a ribbing or cotton lycra but she loved the slouchiness during the shoot.

The pattern does not include seam allowances which can be tricky for me. I didn’t over stress it since it was a loose knit garment but it did make me think a little harder, lol! I did the balloon sleeve option and a size 13.

The pants are the Tin Tin Pants also from Iris May. There are soooo many cute options with this pattern! Ruffles, shorts, pants, cuffs, pockets, you name it and it comes in sizes 18 mos- 13. We both loved the shorts versions but went with pants to get more wear out of them as we move into cooler weather. This pattern did include seam allowance which was a fantastic relief for me. I don’t know why I was so worried but I didn’t want my user error to affect the fit. As you can see, the fit is AMAZING!

Looking at those looooooong legs, you can see why we struggle to buy store bought pants. For these pants, I sewed up a size 12 width with a 13 length and an additional 1.5′ added to the length. I did the paperbag waist option with pockets and the waist tie. That waistband and tie are seriously the cutest!

These pants are just like a pair she’s been eyeing online. She came home from our shoot and tried them out with other pieces in her closet and quickly fell even more in love with them. My favorite was when she pulled out a cozy, slouchy cream sweater, half tucked and rolled up the cuffs a bit. Such a perfect look!

We paired these pieces with what has quickly become our go-to tee pattern, the Lemon Tee, also in the PRP shop. This version is a size 10 and we cropped it to fit with the high natural waist fit of the pants.

Make sure you follow along on with all the Project Run and Play fun for the next two weeks. And stay tuned next week when I show another look- this one for my little guy!

From Project Run and Play:

Usually we call this event our Back to School tour. However, because school looks so different this year, we’re calling this our back to learning event! And we’re ready to celebrate, how about you?

Let’s celebrate 10 new patterns in the shop! These pattern are perfect for whatever type of learning your child is doing right now. There is a great mix of knit an woven patterns, tops and bottoms, layers, and more! Here they are:

Friday Dress

Morocco Pants and Shorts

Hygge Vest

Woodland Wanderer Coat

Robin Dress

Tintin Shorts and Trousers

Let’s celebrate with new clothes!!! Over the next 2 weeks we’ll be featuring each of these patterns with some of your favorite Project Run & Play designers. Get ready to be inspired!

Let’s celebrate a SALE!!! These stunning new patterns are 20% off during our Back to Learning event. (No code necessary. Sale lasts from now until Saturday, September 12 at midnight Eastern Time.)

Thanks for stopping by our stop on the tour! And thank you Project Run and Play and Raspberry Creek Fabrics for giving me one happy young lady!

Midsummer Meadow by Riley Blake

The new line Midsummer Meadow by Katherine Lenius for Riley Blake is so quintessentially summer! It was fun to pick easy to wear summer pieces for this adorable fabric.

It seems like summer has hit us full blast here in Utah with temps climbing high! My girls wanted some cute play shorts to get them through this heat and these prints were so perfect.

My oldest picked the Brea Top and Shorts from Little Lizard King. I seem to be gravitating to LLK often these days and each new pattern I try cements them as one of my go-to pattern companies for my girls. They continue to come out with darling women’s and boys patterns too and I’m going to have to give them a try soon.

We both really loved that front yoke shaping! I think for our future pairs I will need to add a little length and pockets. These can feel a little pajama-y and I think pockets will make them way more functional. She loves these as is though and they’ll be perfect for our lounging at home this summer.

The Brea top has optional flutter sleeves but we went with the sleeveless option because it felt a little more grown-up. The tie-front waistband is such a sweet touch!

I love these two prints together! The sea glass color of the Woven print is one of my all time favorite shades. It’s a classic print that she’ll be able to wear with lots of her tees and tops. This main floral print is such a pretty wildflower look. She can’t wait to pair it with jean cutoffs too!

This butterfly print hooked me into this collection. When it arrived I couldn’t help but start dreaming up ways that an over 40-year-old woman could get away with wearing it. I think it’d be a darling Love Notions Melody Dolman or Hey June Amherst. Or I could always settle for darling pj’s too!

This girl was having none of that though! This print was hers and she was NOT sharing. We went with the Lilly Petal Shorts from Violette Fields Threads and I think they’ll get worn so much this summer! Paired with a tee in Aqua knit, this outfit was perfect for tramp jumping, cookie making, and bike riding.

I like the unique style of the Lilly shorts. I omitted the lining, knowing they’d already be pretty substantial in quilter’s cotton. It was so fun to pull out all my trims and let her pick. This trim from the Target Dollar Spot years ago was such a cute accent. She loves the fringe!

We love this gorgeous new line and know you will too!

Simple Life Pattern Co. Piper Dress

Simple Life Pattern Co. is a favorite for my girls, especially for dresses. As part of the promo group I had the opportunity to pick this gorgeous Art Gallery fabric and sew up a pretty Piper dress. Fabric and pattern were gifted to us but all opinions are my own.

My oldest is quickly growing out of most children’s patterns so I was happy when she was still able to fit into Simple Life patterns. She’s a good 5-6″ off the chart height-wise but that’s an easy adjustment to make. The Piper pattern comes in sizes 2-12, features multiple lengths and a ruffled or plain bodice. When shopping the Art Gallery site, I steered her towards the rayon knowing that they produce a little more grown-up look than a quilting cotton would. This pretty print is just stunning and we went with the maxi length skirt to really up the drama.

Between the ruffled bodice, wide tank style, and elastic waist, this dress is tween approved! She loved how comfortable it is and that the wide straps hid her bra too.

She’s really looking forward to warm summer days when she can wear this to church. She was a trooper this day and took these pics when it was just 40 degrees! I tried to be as quick as I could and she’s hiding jeans under the dress too, lol! I’m not THAT mean! We had to catch the little bit of sunshine between snowstorms.

The Piper is part of Simple Life Pattern Co’s April challenge Garden Party. The other featured patterns are Newport (you can see ours here), Maggie, Kyra, and Jamiesyn. All of these patterns are 20% through the whole month. To join the challenge, sew up your own versions for a chance to win one of three $20 gift cards to SLPCo.

Sewing one of these pretty dresses is just the right cure for a gloomy day at home!

Suit Up for Summer with Raspberry Creek Fabrics Day Five- Tween Sewing and Adding Coverage and Support to Swimwear

Today is the final day of the Raspberry Creek Fabrics Suit Up for Summer Tour and I’m sharing some tween sewing as well as a little tutorial on how to add coverage and support to your swimsuits.

As the tour comes to an end, I’m filled with mixed emotions. It’s been great to have a reason to get behind my sewing machines and also to share a little bit of hope and brightness with the community. Deadlines are great motivators! Not gonna lie though, I can’t wait to take a little break too! It feels awesome to have a head start on the swim season but I’m ready to sew some cozy stay at home clothes now. My emotions have been right on the surface lately and tucking away to my sewing space every now and then is still the perfect way to recharge and emerge ready to tackle the rest of the day. Have you been sewing or is it a struggle to find the time and motivation? This sewing community has been so supportive and it’s great to know that whether we’re sewing up a storm or just scrolling the web for inspiration, we’re all in this together!

For today’s post I’m sharing two swimsuits I made for my oldest daughter as well as how to add cups and elastic for a little bit of support and coverage. I’ve got an easy women’s rash guard with support coming at you too!

For these suits I used Coral Black and Grey Palm Leaf paired with Black Micro Stripes and Bright Pink and Navy Palm Leaves. You know I like to let my kids pick their fabrics and this girl always manages to choose the same ones I would want myself!

As soon as the Tadah Hapuna Swimmers and Leotards hit the scene I knew I needed to make one (or two!). This pattern is full of options and they’re all adorable! There’s a front color block bodice, a v-back or scoop back, one or two pieces, and so many cute sleeve styles. I really want to make a version with the circle flounce sleeves but this one wasn’t having it.

This pattern is full of measurements so I was able to get a great fit with our first suit. I sewed up a size 10 width graded to a 12 through the waist and a 13 length. This is the round scoop back with cap sleeves.

For this version I used the same front bodice piece and color blocked the front to match the v-back color blocking.

Just looking at that long and lean body you can tell that store bought suits just don’t fit this girly. We recently tried to buy one she fell in love with online for our Hawaii trip and I had to alter it by bringing it in a full 1.5″ on each side! Grateful I could make it work but even more grateful I can sew suits that fit her even better!

This girl is just starting to develop breast buds and we wanted to add a little bit of coverage to her suits. She doesn’t need support yet but really just wanted to add some chest coverage. I’ve been adding bra cups to all my suits for years and I knew some light foam cups would be just what she needed. Here’s how I did it:First, I had her hold up the lining front piece. We positioned the cups accordingly. I used light foam cups, similar to what you find in sports or lounge bras. In fact, I save all of the cups from old lounge bras to re-purpose for my swim suits. I also like to stock up when I hit the LA fabric district (they’re a screaming deal at like 4 for $1). Wawak is another option for cups and these ones are light and would work great for tweens. They come in multiple sizes which is perfect for our little girls. One more option would be to buy bra making foam sheets and cut your own cups to fit. Etsy has loads of retailers that stock it.

Next, sew your cups on with a zig zag stitch. I like to sew over the cup edge to really smooth the edge and make it not as noticeable from the outside of the suit. Depending on the thickness of your main swim fabric, you can sew your cups on either the right or wrong side of your lining. With thick quality fabric like Raspberry Creek, I usually put the cups on the wrong side of the lining between the lining and main fabric. I find it more comfortable to not have the actual cup against my skin but it really works either way. For my rash guard, I did the cups against my skin so you can see them more clearly in the tutorial.I love the results of adding this little bit of coverage. I also hand sewed cups to the lining of an already finished suit and she feels so much more comfortable with the extra support. This would work well for ready to wear suits too since most children’s suits don’t adapt for this in the larger sizes. This is new territory for me and I’m glad I could give my girl a little more confidence when she hits the pool this summer.If you or your girl need just a little more support, you can add an elastic band for a shelf bra to your suit too. I don’t need much support, just a little lift and this method is perfect for me.For this rash guard I used the Patterns for Pirates Layer Me Up top. You can use any tight fitting top pattern and the Layer Me Up is one of my favorites. It has lots of sleeve options and gives me a nice slim fitting swim top. I used the Black White Sage Light Blue and Blossom Pink stripe because these colors are so darn good together. I paired it with my Hello Sailor bottoms from last year for a suit that I can’t wait to wear this summer.For my suit, I used the same technique as my daughter to sew on the cups but this time I sewed my lining to the front and back bodice pieces at the shoulders first so I could ensure a good fit when placing them. I don’t like to fully line my rash guards because the extra layer is a little too hot for me. In the past I have fully lined the front but this time I chose to just line the top half. To add the elastic, determine how tight you want it to be. I cut mine two inches shorter than the width of the lining where I was placing it. You will then sew your elastic to your lining, stretching it as you sew. I like to sew my elastic just outside of the side seam allowance. This prevents pulling at the side seam. I use a zig zag stitch but you can use any stretch stitch. I had cut my lining piece longer than I needed so I had some wiggle room to work with. Once I had my elastic sewn on, I trimmed off the extra lining on the bottom.

If you’re like me and just need a little support this works fantastic. I’m not much help when it comes to the more well endowed. You’ll want power mesh and possibly underwires and that’s a whole new ball game. I just know I’ve used this technique for years and I love the results.

Are you ready for the rest of the tour bloggers rounding out the tour?! So much inspiration headed to you today from It’s Liesel, House of Curves, Stitching and Making, Replicate then Deviate, and Paisley Roots.

As a special treat Raspberry Creek Fabrics is offering 15% off your entire order this weekend with code SUNSHINE.

Raspberry Creek Fabrics

Hosted by: Sew Sophie Lynn and Paisley Roots

Sincerely, Shantelle Merritts Makes Sew Mary Mac

Phat Quarters Sewing Sew Haute Blog My Sew Bliss Kainara Stitches

Made By Kates Sewing and Things Desert Blooms Sweet Mama

Margarita on the Ross Auschick Sews Hazelnut Handmade Call Ajaire

It’s Liesel House of Curves Stitching and Making Replicate then Deviate

A HUGE thank you to all our pattern sponsors!!!

Simple Life Pattern Company Love Notions Hey June Handmade New Horizons Designs

Sew A Little Seam Jilly Atlanta Ensemble Patterns Petit A Petit & Family

Striped Swallow Designs Jennuine Designs Jalie Ellie & Mac Sew Like My Mom Lowland Kids Phat Quarters

Greenstyle Creations Chalk & Notch Made For Mermaids Lil Luxe Collection Violette Field Threads Patterns For Pirates

Rebecca Page Shwin Designs Sinclair Patterns Call Ajaire Boo Designs Tadah Patterns

Page and Mini Page Hoodie from Chalk and Notch

We have been on the hunt all winter for a good boxy hoodie pattern. My girls are obsessed and have a handful of ready-to-wear pieces in constant rotation. I’ve tried upsizing our favorite patterns but really struggled to get the fit they were after. Gabriela to the rescue! I’m so excited to be sharing all about the new Page and Mini Page Hoodies by Chalk and Notch. I was lucky enough to test both patterns and can’t wait to share our new favorite hoodies with you.

The Page is an oversized raglan sweatshirt with multiple sleeve and hem options. The Page pattern comes in sizes 0-24 and has 2 cup options. The Mini Page is available in sizes 12 mos.- 12 years.

I sewed up a size 6 A/B cup bodice for my versions. I did view A (the banded hem) with the full sleeves. I’m still hooked on this style of sleeve and waiting for the moment when I get tired of it but I don’t see that happening any time soon.

This rust french terry version was the first one I sewed up. It came together so fast that I immediately started planning other versions. For this version I added an inch to both the bodice and the sleeves since I am 5’7″. I tend to need to add length to all my long sleeve tops. This sweatshirt is soooo comfortable. It’s just loose enough but doesn’t feel sloppy. I want to wear this one every.single.day!

I’ve had this gorgeous double knit since our trip to LA last summer and I’ve been waiting for the perfect hoodie pattern. It was just meant for the Page! This time I added 2 inches to the bodice to make it a touch longer.

To really up the lush factor, I used this incredible Shannon minky I got at the first Love Notions retreat. I’d been saving it to use for a hood lining and it was just perfect for this! My kids have all requested matching hoods so I’m crossing my fingers I can get a few more linings out of it. It’s so soft and plush!

This sweatshirt is quite possibly the prettiest hoodie I’ve ever made and is right up there with my favorite things to come off my machines.

This cutie has been patiently waiting for me to sew up this Hobby Lobby fabric she picked out early this fall. She specifically wanted an oversized hoodie and I kept putting it off, hoping the perfect pattern would pop up. She squealed when I showed her Gabriela’s mini version and we both knew it was the perfect match!

This is a size 10, early tester version. The hood and length changed a bit since this but we love the fit! I can’t wait to sew up a few more come next fall. Big sis and little bro are waiting in line for theirs too!

Make sure you grab your patterns on sale through Tuesday, March 17th! I’m sure you’ll be as hooked as we are!

Liberty Winterbourne from Riley Blake Designs

The Winterbourne Collection from Liberty Fabrics for Riley Blake is my newest fabric obsession. I was head over heels for Flower Show Spring and this newest collection is just as incredible.

This time I sewed up two dresses- my favorite thing to sew with Riley Blake quilting cottons. As usually it was torture narrowing down our fabric choices. My oldest is steering away from florals and this collection had a few beautiful prints that she loved. My younger daughter loves pinks and blues and I knew so many of the prints in this line would look pretty on her.

This print was such a beautiful choice. It’s called Bankart Fresco-A and it has such a vintage feel to it. The dark jewel tones are so pretty!

She’s been wanting another Zoey Dress from Violette Fields Threads. This pattern is one of my favorites. I sewed one up for one of my very first collaborations with Riley Blake and it’s still in constant rotation. It’s such a pretty style and one of these days I’m going to convince her she needs a maxi version because it’s just stunning!

Those pretty sleeves get me every time! This pattern comes together quickly thanks to that snap-front placket and bias neckline finish. The fit is nice and easy with an elastic waist that adds comfort and a cute blouson effect.

Little sis got a beautiful ditsy floral in the most gorgeous colors. This print is call Primula Posey-B. The pretty pink, soft blue, and sage green is such a great color combo.

For her dress I used the Jilly Atlanta Marlow Dress. I’m on a bit of a Jilly Atlanta kick. I’ve hesitated to buy her patterns recently since my girls are at the top end of the size range but they seriously are sooo cute that I can’t help myself. They’ve got their eyes on a couple of more of her patterns so expect to see a lot more Jilly Atlanta love around these parts.

The Marlow is full of sleeve and skirt options which makes it a pattern that I can switch up a lot. This is the short sleeves with vintage length. You can do bodice or sleeve ruffles and there’s a clever front pocket to add too. I love the relaxed fit. It’s totally something I’d have in my closet too!

My love for all things Liberty continues with this collection. The collaboration with Riley Blake makes me so happy! The lower price point makes these precious prints affordable and hopefully gets more sewists a chance to work with them. Take a peak at all the Liberty collections with Riley Blake– so many to die for prints!

Back to School Tour 2019

I love a good blog tour filled with friends, awesome giveaways, and any excuse to get behind my sewing machines. The Back to School Blog Tour hosted by Karly of Paisley Roots was the perfect reason to drop everything and sew up a few back to school pieces.

This little miss starts middle school this year, sob sob. Her actual first day is TODAY and while you are reading this I just might be having a mini-meltdown. Middle School! How did that happen?! She’s so ready and I know she’ll rock it but when did my little girl get to be such an amazing young woman?!

She’s getting to be very picky and very particular about what she wears. She definitely follows teenage trends. She’s such a shy girl that she likes to fit right in and not be too flashy. For her back to school wardrobe, she shopped at her favorite stores, Tilly’s and H&M, and then we threw in three handmade pieces that would really compliment and work well with her store-bought items. What resulted is a cute mix and match mini capsule wardrobe that she loves!

I used three patterns from my favorite pattern designers that cater to tween and teen sizing. Modkid Boutique has an ever expanding catalog of tween patterns that are so on-trend. Hey June Handmades Hey Junior line is a collection of basic pieces that can be hacked into a million different looks. It’s a great starting point for classic patterns you can use again and again. I also turn to Love Notions Patterns because their patterns go from size 2t-16 which means I can use them for my girls and my nieces. I love a great size range!

The first handmade piece is a hacked Brooklyn from Modkid in a super fun Retro Stripe from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. For this look, I took the dress piece and just shortened it to top length. She loves mock necks and this pattern fits her well. It’s slim fitting and has multiple sleeve options. I used the long sleeve pattern piece and shortened it to hit mid bicep.

Her leggings are our go-to Love Notions Leggins’. They are a nice slim cut and always fit her so well. I used a mid-weight cotton lycra from CaliFabrics. I absolutely love the weight of this fabric for leggings. I’ve been on the quest for great leggings fabrics since this girl would live in them and I will be ordering more colors of this for sure!

Her last handmade item is a Morrison Tee from Hey June Handmade in a yummy modal stripe from CaliFabrics. This fabric is my absolute favorite for tees and if it looks familiar it could be because I’ve made a handful of other tops out of it in multiple colorways for her and I. It’s so soft and that drape is amazing!

The Morrison Tee is another pattern that I turn to over and over again. That back curved hem and the oversized fit just make me happy! I did an extra-wide cuff and folded it up and tacked it in multiple places. I just love a cuffed sleeve.

Her store-bought pieces:

Mustard Jeggings from H&M

Black Jacket from Tilly’s

Yellow Vans

White Slip-Ons

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure you head to the other stops on the tour for some adorable back to school looks. Head to the end of this post for a super fun giveaway too!

Paisley Roots / Sincerely, Shantelle / Kainara Stitches

Sewing with Sarah / Our Chez Nous / Custom Made by Laura / It’s Liesel

Pear Berry Lane / Sew Sophie Lynn / That’s Sew Kari

Crafting Fiend / Florence Taylor

Giveaway!

2 yards from Mimi’s Custom Fabric

10% off all patterns from DIBY Club with code: B2Sblogtour (expires Aug 25, 2019)

2 patterns of choice from DIBY Club (bundles excluded)

2 patterns of choice from Rad Patterns

2 patterns of choice from Paisley Roots

1 pattern of choice from Sisboom

1 pattern of choice from Little Lizard King

1 pattern of choice from Titchy Threads
1 pattern of choice from New Horizons Designs

Mimi’s Custom Fabric / DIBY Club / Little Lizard King

New Horizons Designs / Rad Patterns / Paisley Roots

Sisboom / Titchy Threads / Modkids

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Riley Blake Stripes

I’m not shy about my love of all things striped. I will pick striped fabric any day! Of course, I would jump at the chance to sew up some of Riley Blake Designs yummy stripes.

The toughest question was just which stripes to choose. With 1/8″, 1/4″, and 1/2″ widths to choose from in a wide array of colors, I was truly stumped. I love a classic black and white pairing and I knew my oldest would dig them as well. I got 1/2″ and 1/4″ so I could do a little playing around. My younger daughter is all about color and boy did I struggle to pick one. It was a tight race between mint, grey, aqua, and mustard before I finally settled on this baby pink 1/4″.

I used the Gwen Dress from Violette Fields Threads. I’ve been loving this style and went with this particular pattern because I loved the back elastic casings and nice big pockets.

That tie back is so adorable!

I mixed up the prints throughout the dress, playing with direction as I wanted. It made it so fun and stripe matching was a breeze.

She fit the size 8 waist and chest measurements but was off the children’s size chart for height. I added length to the skirt and button placket. Next time I will size up one and add a little length to the bodice as well. Combining sizes for width and length can be tricky! You’d think after all my practice I’d have it down to an art. As is, this dress is still adorable and will get her through this summer for sure before it’s passed on to little sis.

Speaking of little sis, she got a pair of paper bag waist shorts. They’re everywhere these days too and I’d been dying to hack some for ages. She got to be my guinea pig and the result is darling!

I used a shorts pattern I had handy (the Linden Romper shorts from Hey June). Since this was my first go at it I’ll tell you what I did, then tell you what I should have done. Live and learn baby!

First, I added a little width to them to make them more full using the slash and spread method. I also added length to the rise (about 1.5″). Now, this is what I’d do differently. I would actually shorten the rise and add a separate waistband. The way I did it the waist actually tapered a bit and didn’t want to fold down the full 2″. With a separate waistband you wouldn’t have that problem. No brainer for most of you I’m sure but I was flying by the seat of my pants as I sewed these up. Up until the moment I cut into them I had planned to do a button-front midi skirt but realized shorts would be way more practical. So I grabbed the nearest shorts pattern and went with it! Anyone else experience that rush of creativity and joy just letting go?!

For the paperbag style, I couldn’t believe how simple it was. I folded over the waistband an extra inch, creating a two-inch casing, leaving a small opening to insert your elastic. Then I sewed another row of stitching 1″ down from the top of the waistband. This creates the ruffle top. Insert your elastic into the bottom casing and finish your seam. I added a wide fabric sash and two small belt loops. The sash totally completes the look!

I’d say it was a great call! She loves them almost as much as I do and now I know just how to make my own pair!

A huge thank you to Riley Blake for providing the fabric for this post.

MadeIt Strip Tee Challenge

We are so excited to be part of the MadeIt Patterns Stripe Tee Challenge this week. The premise is so fun. We got to sew up the Strip Tee Adult and teen pattern and put our own little twist on them. We will be competing against 7 other mother/daughter teams to see who made it best. The girls had to sew their tops on their own but the mom’s were able to guide and help them along the way. Super cool, right?!

It was such a great excuse to get my girly behind the machines and to spend a fun afternoon together. My daughter is still a beginner sewist but loves the chance to create. She took a sewing class two summers ago that taught her the basics. I wanted her to learn the correct principles and I knew having someone else teach her would give her a foundation that would serve her well into the future. She made bags, pillows, and pajama pants that summer. Since then she’s made a hoodie, leggings, and a few other things. We struggle to find the time to sew together so this challenge was a great push to get us together in the sewing room.

We started with a trip to our favorite shop, Raspberry Creek Fabrics. She fell in love with this pretty burgundy windowpane sweater knit and I knew it’d be a great choice for her. I love the vibrant color and immediately thought of the faux leather in my stash as an accent for the strip in back. She loved the idea! This fabric is also fairly stable and easy to sew which I wanted for her (I steered her clear of all the lovely rayon spandex for this first one!).

For my version, I kept going back to this ‘boring’ medium grey french terry. I wanted to add sleeves to mine and the weight and drape of this blend is so good! I wear grey too much I know but I think you can never have enough of it. It’s a great basic that provides the perfect backdrop to add accessories or in this case a little bling!

I love that these tops are all business in the front. Just your classic tee and sweatshirt, right?

But there’s a little party in the back! The leather adds such an edge and those sequins are brilliant.

The sequins are a remnant from one of my favorite Project Run and Play looks for my daughter and it was super sentimental using them for this piece. We shot that weeks look in this same location too, bringing us full circle.

I added long sleeves to my top to be able to wear it as we head into our cold season. I measured the sleeve opening, my wrist, and my arm length. I used those measurement to make an angled rectangle. It’s very basic and probably not the ‘correct’ way but I’m very happy with how it turned out.

It’s such a cozy top and I love the little extra pop that back strip brings.

For my daughters look, she sewed up the smallest teen size although her chest is still a couple of inches shy of the charts (teeny girl!). At eleven she has a 26″ chest and is 60″ tall putting her in an XXS chest and S height so we went with an XXS and then added 2 inches to the length.

She did all of the work and sewing on this herself and I’m super proud of how it turned out. I gave her a little plaid matching lesson on the side seams but apparently forgot to check the back, oops! Design element?! She’s such a pro at topstitching though. Like so good I should hire her out to do all mine, lol! I showed her how to use soft and stretch hem tape for the hems and that sure helped make that step a breeze.

This top is just five pieces (four pattern pieces) which makes it a great beginner project. It took my daughter about two hours from print to hemming (mine was done in under an hour if you’re more experienced). I love that it’s such a blank canvas that she can now use to customize tees to her liking. I think she’ll be able to sew them on her own from now on and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with. We may need to add a sleeve piece to her pattern so she can wear them all winter long too. She’s requested a long sleeve black tee or turtleneck to layer with this one so she can get more wear out of it as our days get chillier. Don’t you just love that happy face?!

Make sure you head over to Instagram to see all the competitors this week. You can vote for our look by simply liking our post (easy peasy). Follow the hashtag #stripteeteamchallenge to see all the other looks this week. I have a feeling we’ll be in great company! So many amazing seamstresses and their daughter are participating!

Make sure to head over to Madeit Patterns to pick up your Strip Tee patterns for 20% off this week! I’m sure you’ll love them as much as we do!

Tag: Sewing for Tweens