skirt – SewSophieLynn

Faith, Hope, and Love Fabric from Riley Blake

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!

Hello Sweetheart from Riley Blake Designs

Hello Sweetheart from Riley Blake Designs is here and it’ll have your heart swooning! We love the darling retro feel and it has us gearing up for Valentine’s. It’s such a sweet collection full of bright colors and playful prints.

The Gradient Heart is black was such a great choice for my oldest. It’s got a modern edge to it that was so well suited for one of our favorite dress patterns.

I love the clean lines of the Blake Dress from Mingo and Grace (you can see our other versions here, here, and here). Those big box pleats and hidden inseam pockets are the stuff that makes me giddy!

Can you even stand those ombre hearts?!! The colors are just so fun!

For this dress, I made a size 8 width with a 12 length in the skirt. She actually measures into a 7 width but I was hoping by sizing up it’d fit a bit longer. The problem is this girly keeps growing up and not out so I’m pretty sure it’ll be too short the next time I blink! Little sister is already patiently waiting for her to outgrow it 😉

Speaking of litttle sis- she got a Samantha Skirt from Made for Mermaids paired with an Ocotillo Leotard from Honeydew Kisses with handmade suspenders.

This floral print is just too cute! It reminds me so much of some of my favorite art when I was growing up. Definitely brings me back to the early 90’s with fond memories! Paired with Riley Blake black and white striped knit gives it a fun, contemporary twist. This combo is just so adorable!

She loves anything with pockets and thanked me profusely the minute she tried on this skirt. Both patterns were new to me and I really liked them both. The Samantha skirt pattern uses the same fabric for suspenders but I left them off this version. It features an elastic back waistband so hopefully she’ll get to wear this awhile too. I had to do some grading for the leo using a size 8 width and a 10 length. It worked out really well and both girls have requested more (a sure sign of a great pattern!).

We picked the warmest day we could for pics and it was a balmy 40 degrees when we did our shoot. The sodas were both props and bribes for these two troopers! The things these girls put up with for their dear old mum!

Thanks for joining us today on our stop on the Hello Sweetheart Blog Tour. Riley Blake provided us the fabric to sew up but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love Notions Ravinia Skirt

I feel like Tami at Love Notions has secret powers. Every time I find a whole in my wardrobe Tami magically knows and poof! A new pattern appears. This summer I’ve been wanting to add a few more casual skirts to my closet and the Ravinia Skirt (Affiliate Link) is just perfect!

This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through my links provides a small kickback to me that I use to keep up this sewing hobby of mine 😉

Our summer days are usually spent either at the pool, sports lessons and games, or lazy days at home. With temps close to triple digits, these skirts will be perfect for whatever our day holds.

The Ravinia pattern comes in sizes XS-XXXL and can be made in three lengths- knee, calf, and maxi. There are three waistband options- a simple yoga waistband, a slimming contoured band, and a maternity option. As always, the pattern features no-trim pages which make putting it together a breeze. There is also a copy shop file so you can send it off to be printed as well.

My favorite feature is the pockets! They are nice and roomy and that gathering is so unique and fun!

I got both of my fabrics from Cali Fabrics brick and mortar shop Fabric Outlet when I was visiting San Francisco earlier this month. Anyone else feel the need to fit in just a little fabric shopping on vacation? I love shopping their online selection but touching and feeling all the pretty fabric in real life just can’t be beat.

You can grab this dreamy modal jersey here and it’s such a steal! It’s so soft and that drape is dreamy! I paired it with my stripe modal Classic Tee and it’s almost like wearing nothing at all- it’s just so comfortable, breathable, and soft! (And way better on my family than if I did cruise around in my birthday suit all day, lol!)

This skirt is a cozy double brushed polyester. It’s super soft and I didn’t want to take it off! This particular print is sold out but Cali has a large selection of dbp to pick from. I really like this pattern in DBP too!

I love the fullness of this skirt. These cuts were 2.5 yards each and I used almost every last scrap for these skirts. The floral fabric was a wider piece so I was able to fit the size small maxi out of it easily. The taupe modal wasn’t quite as wide and the midi length worked great for it. I did the contour waistband in the taupe and that needs four waistband pieces instead of the one yoga waistband piece. There is an option to add power mesh to the contour waistband so of course I was all over that! I sandwiched my power mesh between the front waistband and front lining piece and like the extra ‘help’ it gives the stomach area.

You can grab your own Ravinia pattern on sale now through Sunday July 22nd!

Project Run and Play Week Four: Signature Style

It’s the final week of Project Run and Play and I can’t believe I’m here at the end. It’s been such an amazing experience full of so many ups and downs. To be here with Cassie of Pear Berry Lane and Gemia of Phat Quarters is truly the icing on the cake. These two ladies have been with me on my sewing journey from my early pattern tester days and I’ll be thrilled no matter what the outcome of this contest is. These women are so incredibly talented and both deserve all the prizes in the world for their hard work and determination these last few weeks! It’s been an honor to compete with all five ladies and I know they make this sewing community a better place.

The theme this week is Signature Style- my favorite week yet! The pressure was off and I got to sew what I felt really expresses our styles. I wanted to highlight my own design aesthetic but also play up the girl’s tastes and personalities too. These two outfits really are such a great mix of the three of us and I love how they turned out. I lean towards classic styles with clean lines and simple silhouettes but I love to give them a contemporary twist. These pieces will integrate easily into their wardrobes, will get lots of wear, and really showcase who we are style-wise.

This dress is the highlight of our look. I’ve had this fabric for years and have just been waiting for the right project. This competition has been just what I needed to cut into all my beloved stash fabrics! This particular fabric came from Hancock Fabrics in their clearance section (that was always my favorite local place for unique, inexpensive apparel fabrics). I absolutely love the colors as I’m all over anything blush, olive, grey, or black these days. I’m usually drawn to stripes and florals but this bold geometric print is different and so incredible. Sometimes the design comes first and sometimes the fabric just knows what it needs to become. This fabric screamed to become a classic pleated dress so of course I had to oblige.

I used a favorite pattern of ours as the starting point, the Blake Dress from Mingo and Grace. I used this pattern for our Pokemon look in our first trip to PRP and it just seemed so right to used it for our final look as well. This time around I added sleeves and a peter pan collar. I always look for dresses with sleeves to make them more church appropriate and to give it more wearability in our ever-changing Utah weather. I used the sleeve and armscye of another pattern and was surprised at how easy an alteration it was. I will definitely be doing it more often in the future! There was a ton of hand sewing involved with this dress from the fully lined bodice to the hand tacked hem. All things that make this dress one that will be worn and cherished for as long as possible

One of my favorite features of this pattern and one I needed to keep were the hidden pockets. I love this design element and while it’s a little tricky to figure out it’s always a happy little surprise for my girls.

The collar is made from the same pleather as last week’s pants. I love the edge it gives the dress and knew she would too. She adores her pants from last week and thinks this collar is pretty cool. Little rockstar touches are always welcome with this girly. I wanted to add a little ribbon belt and this leather trim was too perfect.

I finished the dress with a lace exposed zipper. I had this one in my stash and loved the feminine feel it brings to an otherwise modern look. It suits my daughter so well. She’s full of spunk and sass but still sweet and girly too. It’s always so fun when you can sum up their eclectic personalities in one garment!

My older daughter is a mini me through and through. I always apologize to her for all the little things she’s inherited from me from my quiet personality to my funny teeth. Good or bad, she’s just like her mom. I know when I sew for her that if I would wear it she’ll love it too. I wanted to recreate one of my favorite makes for myself because I knew she’d adore it too. This top is my take on my own gingham Willamette Top from Hey June Handmade. We paired it with a classic blush twill skirt for a simply chic look!

For this top I started with Simplicity 1043, a pajama pattern. I used the wide collar but then almost completely redrafted it. I wanted it to be as close to the original inspiration as possible. I made a dolman sleeve and cuff, added a back yolk and pleat, and added in all the seam details.

The Willamette is such an on-trend top and I love all the unique features it has. That back pleat is just lovely in gingham! This fabric is a beautiful Robert Kaufman one inch gingham I picked up at my local quilt shop but is readily available online (in case you need some for yourself, hint hint!).

The seaming makes it so fun to play with the directions of the gingham. I cut the yoke, cuffs, collar, and bottom pieces all on the bias. I love the effect! I used all the same clean finishes of the Willamette pattern to create a garment that’s as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside. French seams, a magic burrito rolled yoke and hidden seams in the cuff make this top look so high end.

I used the Linden Shorts and Skirt pattern for the skirt changing up a few things for this look. I slimmed it down a bit and did my own slash pockets. I also drafted my own waistband and used an invisible side zipper for closure. This skirt is a prime example of why I sew for this girl. She measured an 8 waist and 12 length and I still needed to bring in the back middle seam a couple of inches and customize the width even more. Ready to wear bottoms are always so short on her and skirts are near impossible to get in a decent length! So glad we can create a garment that fits her tall, tiny frame!

This fabric is a shiny sateen I got in LA but I chose to use the wrong side of the fabric for everything but the pocket bag. She’s seriously lacking in skirts and this color will work so well with her existing wardrobe. I was happy to create a great basic piece that will get worn and loved!

This week’s looks are simple and timeless with fun details that bring them into the present day. It was so rewarding making garments that not only highlight my own style but also bring out my daughter’s unique personalities as well. Isn’t that why we sew moms? After a long month of sewing, this week’s pieces truly reflect who we are and why I sew.

For this week’s shoot we headed to my favorite location, a quaint old town street not too far from us. I love the dirty alleys, gorgeous wood wall, and aged brick buildings. So many options for amazing backdrops in one easy location. We were racing the sunset and these girls have become experts these last few weeks at nailing poses and hamming it up as quickly as possible. For once, the sun was shining and I didn’t need to edit out goosebumps, lol! These two have earned a good break from blog pictures that’s for sure!

Thanks so much for bringing us this far in the competition. I’m so grateful for the sewing community and all my real life family and friends who have been cheering me on through this adventure! Make sure you head over to Project Run and Play to see all the looks and to vote for your favorite. I’m sure you’re in for some serious eye candy!

Hey June Sandbridge Skirt

I’m here to introduce you to the newest member of my wardrobe- The Sandbridge Skirt from Hey June Handmade. I really can’t believe this came off my sewing machine. It’s way up there with my proudest accomplishments- you know graduating from high school, giving birth to five kids, and sewing a denim skirt; all high up there on best moments in life!

When I saw Adrianna was working on a denim skirt I knew it was the perfect pattern to conquer my fears and learn from the best. She made this a simple sew, no swearing involved 😉 The details are so authentic and I really do feel like the finished project looks straight off the rack. This is not patting myself on the back but is a total shout out to Adrianna. Every single tester version was brilliant (you can check them all our here for yourself!).

I used a dark stretch denim I picked up from my local quilt shop- it was a steal and has been sitting in my stash just waiting for me to get the courage to cut into it. The rest of the notions I picked up at Hobby Lobby- the jeans button, zipper, leather patch, and rivets (found in the leather section), even the topstitching thread. I love that I didn’t have to order a fancy kit or wait for an online order- I’m sure your local JoAnn’s carries everything you need too. No excuses!

A skirt was a great way to ease into jean sewing. You tackle all the essentials: zipper fly, bartacks, topstitching, etc. but without all the fit issues of pants. If you’re like me and hesitant at all, this is the pattern for you. Adrianna’s instructions are thorough without being too wordy and her sew-a-long coming next week will be such a great tool too. It wasn’t a difficult sew but one that did require a bit more time. I worked on it over a few days here and there and it was so relaxing. Sometimes a good, intermediate sew just makes my sewing heart so happy! I loved learning new things and stretching my skills too. I skipped the double top stitching lines because I wasn’t confident enough in my ability to keep the lines even. I like it as is and feel like I could tackle them on my next one though!

The raw hem detailing makes it feel so on trend right now and makes me feel on point! I really do feel like a million bucks when I wear it. Something about creating such an awesome garment has me on top of the world. I created a little secret tag on the inside to commemorate how much I love this thing!

I also love how easy it is to style. It’s so hip and casual with a tee and sandals but I also can’t wait to wear it with boots and a cardigan when cooler weather hits. The relaxed fit means that it’s so comfortable too! I easily chase kids in it all day but still feel a little more put together than normal. Such a mom wardrobe win!

You can pick up your copy here. Make sure to check out the sew-a-long coming to Hey June too to help you along your way!

Love Notions Allegro Pants and Skirt

Tami at Love Notions was in my head yet again with her latest pattern release. My go-to for those lazy-I-don’t-want-to-shave-my-legs-days are lightweight, flowy pants. I’ve got a handful I wear faithfully but I’m always on the hunt for more. The Allegro Pants and Skirt (affl. link) are those comfy, yet stylish pants we all crave.

For my pair I used a rayon challis I picked up in LA. I skipped the drawstring to keep this a little more versatile. I like being able to dress them up a bit too. I love the looser through the thigh, slimmer through the calf fit of these. Totally comfortable but not sloppy looking.

The front slash pockets are nice and deep and perfect for my phone. I’ve turned into a pocket connoisseur and these totally get my approval!

These are my tester pair and I really love when a tester garment is 100% wearable. I’m between sizes and went with my waist size for this pair, sewing a straight medium. I think for my next pair I will try a small to get a little more slimmer fit. My current favorite pair of lightweight pants is from H&M and they are almost identical to this pattern, only a bit more fitted. I’m almost giddy that I can now recreate them any time I want!

Are you ready for all the options with this pattern? There are two shorts lengths and two skirt lengths too! I’ve got a lovely rayon gauze on my sewing table ready to be made into a fun beach skirt! I can’t wait!

Make sure to grab your copy on sale today!

Sew Caroline Weekend Style

If you’ve been following me here for very long, you know my style is casual and comfortable but I still like to feel pulled together. Sew Caroline’s newest book, Weekend Style, is exactly my cup of tea. Weekend style, everyday style- it’s all the same to me!

It was a happy mail day when my copy arrived! I had the hardest time deciding which project to do first. I knew I had to do the Tilly Tee- who’s closet couldn’t use a new basic Tee?!

Caroline graciously sent me this cute knit I’d been crushing on (Corollas Ashen). How perfect is it when you can sew up a designers pattern in her own fabric?! It was meant to be!

I couldn’t shake the desire to make an Afternoon Skirt to match so it just had to happen. Luckily I popped over to Raspberry Creek Fabrics and grabbed this pretty chambray- it’s the perfect weight for this skirt!

I’ve decided it’s called the Afternoon Skirt because you can easily sew it up in one quiet afternoon. See how Caroline is speaking to me… stylish, quick and easy projects are heaven!

One of my favorite details of this skirt is the pockets. They have a cute curved bottom and are nice and deep. I have a little tip for you for when you go to iron the pocket edges under because it can be pretty tricky. I like to make a cardstock template from my pocket pattern piece and cut it down to the correct size minus seam allowance. I simply trace my pocket pattern piece onto cardstock and cut it out. Then mark the 3/8″ seam allowance line all around and cut it off. Now you can place your template on top of your pocket and fold your edges up around it to easily iron them in place. Your template will really come in handy it you plan to use this pattern over again like I do!

One more tip- I will add a hook and eye closure above my top button and just below it also. My waistband tended to gape a bit and it’s probably due to my lack of a waist and the fact that I did my top and bottom buttonholes horizontal just to be cool (don’t do it!). A couple hidden closures will fix it up in no time!

Here it is Thursday and I’m ready for the weekend! I’m anxious to try out more of the projects in the book! I’ve got a pair of flip flops just waiting to be transformed into yoga band sandals. And I could always use a new tote bag! There are 15 easy projects- tees, skirts, a dress, accessories, so much good stuff!

This was one of my first experiences with a book that included all the patterns on a CD-ROM. I can’t believe how easy it was to use! I’m so used to tracing patterns from my Japanese pattern books and I think I loaded the patterns on my computer, printed them, put them together and cut them out in half the time it’d take me just to trace a pattern from the Japanese books. Another point for Caroline!

On a side note- tell me I’m not the only one to ever pull over AFTER a photo shoot to take even more pics just because the lighting was gorgeous! These last three pics my cute 9-year-old was nice enough to take for me on our way home after my cool dad took the others. Family members of bloggers have it rough, yo!

But who can pass up an empty field and golden hour… hahaha!

Thanks so much Caroline for letting me join in the fun. Make sure to follow the fun all month long! You can grab your own copy here– you know you NEED it!

One Thimble 15 Blog Tour

One Thimble Issue 15 is here! If you’ve been following me for awhile you know I just love when a new issue comes out. I’m always so excited to see what each issue has in store- so many different designers and contributors that always keep things fresh and fun.

I was happy to hop on the tour and sew up two patterns from this latest issue.

I did Thread Faction #116, a comfy unisex v-neck cardigan. It comes in sizes 2-10 and is a super quick sew. I let her pick between buttons, snaps, or a bow closure and she went with the ribbon. I love the little feminine detail it adds and how it made the project even faster!

I also sewed up the Miriam Skirt from OUSM. It comes in sizes 12m-8 years and has a high waist with big pleats. I did a size 7 with 8 length but totally should have added a few more inches- doh! She’s off the size chart height-wise so it’s much shorter than intended. I’m calling it ‘vintage-length’ 😉 The skirt came together so quickly too. I added the exposed zipper- I couldn’t help but use this cute polka dot one I’ve had in my stash forever.

She had a Paris-themed birthday party to go to after this shoot and won ‘Best Parisian Outfit’ at the party. She loved how chic she felt. She had requested a stripe shirt for the party and this was perfect paired with the floral skirt and knee highs.

Totally French school-girl esque, right?!

This issue is chock full of goodness- 10 pdf patterns and 29 sewing articles. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect afternoon- sitting in the backyard with a lemonade and the latest issue?!

You can catch the rest of the tour bloggers here:

5/11/2017

5/12/2017

5/13/2017

5/14/17

Once Upon a Sewing Machine

5/15/17

5/16/17

5/17/2017

Crazy, Craft Haute Mama

Adventures with Bubba and Bug

Lulu and Celeste

Little Kiwi’s Closet Straight Skirt Tour

Little Kiwi’s Closet is a new to me pattern company but apparently I’m late to the party, they are celebrating 5000 members in their Facebook group– hooray!

As a thank you to members, they are offering a code for this darling FREE Straight Skirt! I love to try out new designers and their free patterns are the perfect start. This pattern from LKC did not disappoint.

I paired the skirt with the Flutterby Peasant Dress and Top. I’ve been missing a basic peasant top pattern in my collection and this one is fantastic. There are multiple sleeve, elastic, and ruffle options and it comes in sizes newborn to 12. Peasant tops are such a great starting point for so many looks so I know I’ll turn to this pattern again and again.

She’s been wanting an off the shoulder top and it was a super easy hack to get this look. Ready for it… just use longer elastic in the casing- DONE! It’s such a trendy look and I love that I didn’t have to get a special pattern for it.

This skirt is really so darn cute! I used more Raspberry Creek CLUB fabrics for this whole look. These fabrics should be available again starting this week. I love that you can play around with fabric combos with this pattern. Those pockets just beg for a contrasting fabric!

There are a variety of options with this skirt too. You can do angled or curved pockets, yoga or elastic waistband, above or below knee and banded or hemmed bottom. It comes in sizes 12 months- 14 years. I did a straight size 7. She measures a 7 waist and 10 height, this is the below knee option hitting her right at her knees.

I love that right after we took these pictures she was climbing poles and running around. That’s a sign of a comfortable outfit! Definitely kid approved! And yes, she habitually wears shortie leggings under all her dresses and skirts so she can feel free to play to her hearts content in style!

This sweet, girly outfit has won Little Kiwi’s Closet another fan! Make sure you join the Facebook group to get your copy of the Straight Skirt today!

You can check out more fun looks here:

Idlesunshine

ChristaCoDesign

SewSophieLynn

Tales From A Southern Mom

Phat Quarters

Living in Twinado Alley

Curtiepie

Lilliepawillie

Woohoo by Davina

And head to the Little Kiwis Closet Blog for more pattern details AND an awesome giveaway too!

Simple Summer Sewing

Ever look in your closet chuck full of clothes and have absolutely nothing to wear?! Who hasn’t right?

This week I’m sharing a few of my favorite things to actually wear. I love all my pattern testing and have lots of ‘date night’ or Sunday clothes but my everyday clothes have been seriously neglected.

I could live in maxi skirts! I’ve got a few I self-drafted but this year I went ahead and made a few using the Jocole Yoga A-line Skirt Pattern. I love that there are nine (yes nine!) length options. I chose the regular maxi option.

There are options for different waistband heights but I always just make them as tall as I can (using every scrap of fabric left!). I love to scrunch up the waistband or fold it over.

I love that the waistband works as a little magic tummy hider!

I seriously can’t get enough of these! They are a breeze to sew and a breeze to wear. I think I can do them in about twenty minutes.

I can dress them up for church too but more than likely come Sunday they are all in the wash! I love, love them paired with my favorite v-neck tees for easy, summer dressing.

What’s your favorite everyday thing to wear? Do you have a summer uniform? Stay tuned tomorrow for a couple of my favorite tees and another of my new favorite pattern hacks!

Tag: skirt