Women’s Sewing – SewSophieLynn

Love Notions New Year Sale- A LN Roundup!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Favorite Fall Color

As soon as the stores start putting out their fall decor and clothes my mind heads right to the same thing every year- bring on all the mustard colored things! I love fall colors in general- plum, navy, olive, burgundy, ALL the jewel tones really. Something about those warm colors makes me want to cozy up with a good book and watch the leaves change outside my window.

My three latest makes for myself have all been in full muted yellow glory. It’s so fun to have a little break in pattern testing and blog tours to sew up a few things for ME.

This pretty mustard knit jumped in my cart during a button run to Joann’s. Don’t you hate when that happens?! I seriously couldn’t leave this fabric in the store and sewed it up the second I had a free afternoon.

The Toaster Sweater is a cold weather favorite of mine. I love the tall neck option of version #1. It’s not tight and constricting like other turtlenecks but is so cozy and warm! This fabric was just perfect for it.

This pattern sews up sooooo fast too! You know that’s my jam- something quick but with great finishes. I love the topstitching details.

I sewed up a medium which is what I had printed and ready. I fit into the small size chart now and might just have to size down for my next version. I love the chunky feel of this one though. I modified this a bit and added an inch to the length to make it hit mid hip.

While wearing this top I had one of those experiences that every seamstress lives for. While browsing in Madewell, wearing this sweater, a couple of ladies stopped me and asked if my top was from the shop. I blushed and let them know it was not from there. They pushed a bit more and asked where it was from. I hesitated as I told them that I had made it and laughed as their jaws hit the floor! They couldn’t believe it! I left the shop empty handed but renewed with a love of creating beautiful handmade garments that could indeed hold their own with the expensive trendy items from the mall.

My second make is a modified Chalk and Notch Waterfall Raglan. I grabbed this pretty windowpane plaid double brushed poly from Raspberry Creek Fabrics and knew it needed to be a pretty dress. I left off the bottom ruffle and added 6 inches at the lengthen/shorten line.

This is another one of those quick makes that looks amazing sewn up. I think I need a few more of these in my wardrobe. I sewed up a couple of these during testing and then set the pattern aside and kept meaning to get back to it. I can’t tell you how many of those patterns I have. I’m so glad to have sewn it up again!

What’s on your fall sewing list? Are you a mustard lover or do you steer clear of it? I’m so excited to see all the fall hues start filling my social media feeds!

Denim Joggers featuring CaliFabrics

This post was written for the Cali & Co. blog. Head on over for TONS of sewing inspiration from some super talented ladies!

As a busy mom of five I get my fashion inspiration not from the pages of Vogue magazine but usually from the chic mom running errands or pushing the cart around the grocery store. I live in comfy clothes but still like to look pulled together. I’ve been dying for a pair of denim joggers for what seems like forever!

Hallelujah! The stars aligned and these beauties were born! I love that they look cute but still feel like I’m wearing my pajamas. I used this lovely grey cotton/tencel denim that is a dream to wear. It’s lightweight but still feels like it will hold up to whatever I throw at them- whether it’s a Saturday at the soccer fields or a fun date night with the hubby.

I used the Pattern Emporium Ladies Harem Pants with some slight modifications. I like my joggers loose and these are just what I was after. I took about an inch off the back at the hips through the waist and used a slightly bigger seam allowance to bring them in all over just a touch more. I did an extra wide bottom hem and inserted 1.5″ elastic for a nice big cuff. I then ran a couple rows of stitching on top for detail.

I added grommets to my waistband and did a faux drawstring. All these details make them more like joggers and less like fancy harem pants. I think they are a nice marriage of both styles.

I love how versatile they are to wear! I’ll throw on my favorite tee to get me through the last days of summer. Then I can pair them with my favorite flannel button-up when the weather gets cooler as we head into fall. I can even dress them up for a fancy date night on the town. (Who am I kidding? Date nights are few and far between but at least I’ll be ready for it!)

I had to give you a little booty shot- these look fab, am I right?!

Hop on over to see more fun projects at the Cali Fabrics Blog. I’m so excited to be a part of the Cali & Co. team!

Sew Ready for Fall with Stylish Fabrics- GIVEAWAY!

Boy, am I excited to be here with you today! I’ve got a new favorite dress and a HUGE giveaway for you!!!

Stylish Fabric is sponsoring this amazing blog tour and huge prize package. It was my first time trying them out and I’m so happy with my experience. I love having another online source for inexpensive, great quality fabric.

I picked a black and off white striped rayon jersey (looks like this exact one is out of stock but this one is pretty close). I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived. I knew I wanted to make a swing dress and this fabric had the perfect drape for one! It’s so flowy and soft!

For my dress I took the Hey June Union St. Tee and followed these instructions on the Hey June blog to lengthen and add volume to the pattern. The tutorial is for the juniors City Park tee but you could use it for any tee pattern.

The slash and spread method was new to me. I added width starting right under the arm. I tapered my hem up about 4 inches on the side but next time I’ll do even more. For now I’m calling the longer sides a design element 😉 I also wanted a midi length dress to help transition my wardrobe into fall so this one got a little more length than my past swing dress hacks.

I really, really love that I can throw on sneakers or sandals and wear this while the temps are still in the 80’s and 90’s. It’s so loose and flowy that it’s perfect for those days when I’m melting!

Grab a few layers and it’s ready for cooler weather too! I love it layered under a sweater or jacket. I’m still on the search for the perfect fall booties and this will be the first thing I wear when I find them.

Speaking of boots… if you know me in real life this totally won’t surprise you. I was auditioning boots to go with this dress and apparently didn’t bother picking! I took a whole shoot worth of pics with two different boots on, haha! I even changed out of them quick and threw on my sneakers without noticing. It wasn’t until I was uploading pictures that it finally dawned on me! Crazy lady! Distracted mom moment or fashion statement? You decide 😉

One more look at that gorgeous fabric! Can I have too many black and white stripes? They seriously are my favorite!

Are you ready for the giveaway?!!

Stylish Fabrics is giving away a Brother XR1340 sewing machine! I have sewn on Brother machines my whole life and love, love them!

There are also pdf patterns galore- over a dozen different designers have generously contributed!

Head on over to the Stylish Fabrics blog to enter.

A huge thank you to Ti for running this super fun tour. Make sure to head over to all the other great blogs. Holy inspiration, guys!!

August 1st
Sewing By Ti and Rebel and Malice

August 2nd
Gray all Day

August 3rd
Wild and Wanderful and The Sara Project

August 4th
Doodle Number 5 and Sweet Red Poppy

August 5th
Paisley Roots and Dos Natural Sistas and My Crafty Little Self

August 8th
Made By Melli and Sew Far North

August 9th
Sew Sophie Lynn and Creative Counselor

August 10th
Frivolous at Last and EYMM

August 11th
Lulu and Celeste and Sprouting Jubejube

August 12th
Adventures with Bubba and Bug and All Things Katy and Sewing by Ti

Love Notions Luna Pajamas

Are you living in your pj’s this summer? No? Just me?!! If you’re enjoying the lazy days of summer like I am then you can now do it in style with the new Love Notions Luna Loungewear!

(This post contains affiliate links.)

In ladies and girls sizes, you will be the comfiest chicks on the block!

There is a cami and short or capris or a darling nighty option. This little one was lucky to get her pants made from yummy Raspberry Creek Club Hearts. Her top is an upcycled tee with Club dots as bands. I love a good upcycle and this tank is perfect for it!

I paired my capris with the La Bella Donna for a cozy, modest look. My fabric is lightweight rayon jersey from LA.

The girls version comes in sizes 2t-16 and 8P-16P.

The Ladies version is in XS-XXXL. They both feature optional pockets and drawstring waistband. The cami also has an optional shelf bra!

We hit the backyard for our favorite summer treat- s’mores!!

Doesn’t get much better than this!

Pick up your bundle here or the ladies version and girls separately and be prepared to spend the rest of your summer lounging in style! And when your neighbors come by at noon and you’re still in your pj’s you’ll be looking good!

Mingo and Grace Gigi Crop Set

Ever since I made my girls their Crop Sets I’ve been dreaming of my own.

I’m so grateful Farrah at Mingo and Grace heard our cries and the Gigi Crop Set is here!

I love that Farrah’s patterns make this mom of five feel hip and cool while still being modest and comfortable.

The skirt features a back zipper and either pleats or gathers. Simple and classic- just how I like things!

The top has multiple back options including this simple one button at the neck.

There are two sleeve lengths and bust darts to get the fit just perfect for your body.

My fabrics are Hancock deals. You might recognize the skirt fabric from this post and the top from this post. You better believe I went back and bought the last little bit of that skirt fabric they had- just enough for something for me!

I love, love the look of the crop top and high waisted skirt. After we binge watched Project Runway Junior I was totally obsessed with this look. The contestants couldn’t get enough of this pairing and I can totally see why.

Make sure you grab your copy today!

Hey June Handmade Sante Fe Tee

Adrianna strikes again… I’m convinced everything she touches is golden!

The Santa Fe Top is no different.

I’m going to live in these tees this summer!

A loose, flowy top is on everyone’s wish list right now. They are so on trend and this pattern checks all the right boxes.

With multiple options, you can have a cute tank or a fun cap sleeved tee.

The fun sleeve color-blocking option resembles a raglan and lends itself to some super cool pattern mixing.

There is also an option for a top-stitched seam down the center front and back- a detail that total elevates this tee.

Fabric choice makes such a difference with this pattern. The drapier the knit the better. My main fabrics are LA scores and the floral is from Pretty Posh Prints. I chose not to hem my tees since it won’t fray and I’m lazy 😉 I added an inch to the stripe version and 2 inches to the grey. I did a regular neckband on the grey also to bring it in just a touch.

Run and get your pattern NOW! Seriously… You won’t regret it! It’s on sale through May 16th.

Summer Caye Bermudas

Summer is in the air… The kids are getting antsy, end of the year programs/performances fill our days, and I’m hanging in there just waiting for those lazy summer days.

As the weather warms up, off come the jeans and in come the shorts- hallelujah!

For the Summer Sewing- The Long and Short of it tour, I sewed up some bermuda length Summer Caye’s (affl. link) by Love Notions. I love my pant versions and knew these would make the perfect summer short for me.

For my version, I cut them at the knee line in the pattern and did a full elastic waistband with a faux drawstring. If I’m wearing shorts, I’m most likely chasing kids at the park or roasting in the sun at a soccer game so comfort is key. I also used the slimmer wide leg cut line for the back piece and just rolled my hem up instead of using the cuff piece (the cuff pattern piece is made for the palazzo width).

I used Art Gallery denim and used the reverse for contrast on the pockets, hem, and waistband. They are so soft and lightweight!

Such a quick, easy pattern and I’m thinking I need a knit pair real soon too!

Make sure you check out the other bloggers today. Ti has a great giveaway you don’t want to miss! Happy Summer Sewing!

Summer Sewing, The Long and the Short Of It

The Socially Awkward Seamstress

Pattern Emporium Blog Tour

I’m beyond thrilled to be kicking off Pattern Emporium‘s very first Blog Tour! Lucky, lucky me!

Pattern Emporium is so highly regarded in the sewing world and I can now see what everyone raves about.

If this is your first time to my blog, welcome! I’m a stay-at-home mom to five busy kids and I sew to stay sane. We rush from one thing to the next so I cherish my quiet afternoons with my machine. I’ve also learned that I love to take pictures of my kids almost as much as I love sewing for them so be warned that this post is loaded with pics!

I’ve had the Ladies Harem Pants pattern cut out and sitting on this fabric for an embarrassingly long time (we’re talking months). This tour was the perfect push to get them done and I couldn’t wait to sew some up for my girls too!

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect woven joggers forever and this pattern is exactly what I envisioned it would be.

I made mine up per the pattern with diagonal relaxed pockets and elastic casings in the ankles. They are so comfortable and fit like a dream. My fabric came from the LA fabric district and is a rayon challis.

I love the waistband and pockets! The pocket holds my phone perfectly which is always a struggle with this type of pant.

My oldest daughter’s are similar to mine but with a curved front pocket and no elastic in the ankle. She really wanted ‘flowy’ pants!

Hers are sewn with rayon challis from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. This style of pant suits her easy-going but sophisticated little personality.

My younger daughter is all about comfort. For hers I left off the pockets and cropped them quite a bit. I also used the same size as big sister’s so they are a bit looser. For ultimate comfort I traded the elastic waistband for a knit waistband. All fabric for this pair is also from Raspberry Creek.

These will be perfect for my little dancer. I love that she can push the cuff up for a true harem pant look or pull it down for a cute crop pant.

I honestly can’t get over the options that these patterns have. I could see these being a summer staple for sure.

My little guy may even get a comfy knit pair too. Really, I think he’ll be jealous if he doesn’t!

Thank you for stopping by! I can’t wait to see what the other great bloggers have to share for us. My first jump into the Pattern Emporium world has been such a thrill. If you aren’t a member of the Pattern Emporium Facebook Group make sure you join to be blown away with inspiration! Kate’s newest pattern The Heartlight Skirt has been filling it with gorgeous photos you won’t want to miss.

Pattern Emporium Tour Schedule

5/2 Sew Sophie Lynn
5/3 Handcrafted By Red
5/4 Sprouting JubeJube
5/5 That’s Sew Kari
5/6 Simple Blessed
5/9 Wally And Grace
5/10 Free Notion
5/11 Horris And Deedle

Love Notions Summer Caye Pants

Oh, Summer Caye’s, I love you!

*This post contains affiliate links. I get a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, which I will then use to buy more fabric and sew up more beauties to convince you to buy more patterns (isn’t that how it works 😉 ). I am also a paid tester for Love Notions and got on board AFTER falling in love with the patterns.

The newest pattern from Love Notions is simply divine!

With tons of options for women and girls, you can wear this pattern everyday if you wanted to.

I know me and my girls will definitely have a closetful.

There are multiple length options. You can choose 4″ or 6″ shorts for girls or 6″ and 9″ inseam length for women. There are also capri and full length choices. The girl’s pattern comes in sizes 2T- 16 and 8P-16P. The women’s pattern will fit sizes 0-28 (waist sizes 24.5″-45.5″).

All my versions feature a simple hem but there are a handful of options there too. You can add a cuff, split-hem, and a gorgeous tulip-hem.

And pockets… these are genius in construction! Super cute without the bulk.

The ladies version has two width options- wide leg (a bit narrower) on the left and palazzo on the right.

So many choices… one for every day of the week. I’m excited to try some shorts for myself next!

This is a size 8 pant length out of linen from Joann’s. They are so unlike her normal skinny jeans and we both love these!

I love these pants with a denim jacket!

You might recognize her shorts fabric from this Naples top. I had just enough fabric left for these shorts. You better believe I wasn’t wasting a scrap of this lusciousness!

My gorgeous rayon challis came from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. This particular print sold-out in a heartbeat but there are still quite a few to pick from. I think the tie dye would be awesome for these. Head over to the Love Notions Blog for a sweet RCF coupon code.

This rayon challis was a Hancock fabric score (oh, how I will miss my Hancock’s!).

You can grab the Ladies and Girls patterns separately or pick up the bundle for even more savings. They are on sale through 5/6 and you won’t want to miss it!

Tag: Women’s Sewing