I have the details for all my most recent projects, a life update (at the very end), and a video for you today!

Let’s start with the video. You can watch that here.

I seemed to have a color trend this month without even realizing it! I normally tend towards pink, but I have sewn a lot of mustard and burnt oranges and navy more than other colors recently. I still love pink, so maybe I need to add some pink projects in February for Valentine’s Day.

Bottoms

The first category of projects I want to show you are the bottoms I have made. I made one pair of woven pants, two joggers, and a pair of leggings!

True Bias Lander Pants

I made the Lander pants pattern two months ago, and this pair of pants has gotten so much use since then! I love the button front style.

I also love the high waist and wide (but not too wide) legs.

I also especially love how soft this fabric is and how comfortable they are to wear in everyday life!

I wrote a more detailed post about these pants here and you can also see more photos of them here. 

Greenstyle Brassie Joggers

I love wearing comfy joggers, and I wear them so much when I am at home. My favorite pattern for joggers is the Greenstyle Brassie joggers, and I made two pairs this month!

I made this pair in this soft and cozy bamboo cotton french terry from The Fabric Fairy. This is the bengal grass colorway (that looks more green than yellow). I love the soft feel of this fabric, and I plan to buy the black or navy next time I order some.

I also used some camel french terry from The Fabric Snob for another pair of Brassie joggers. This one is more goldish or dark mustard. It has a charcoal heathered textured look due to the wrong side of the fabric being a charcoal/brownish color. When I went to find a link on their website, this particular one was sold out, but they have the same color without the heathered look and contrast backing. You can find that one here.

I made the high-rise version of the pattern for these and love it!

Are you as big of a jogger fan as I am? I have a sew along for the Brassie Joggers here if you want to sew a pair with me or want to watch any of the techniques for sewing them.

I also made one pair of leggings! These are the Cavallos. 

I made this pair to go with a sports bra that I made a few summers ago. You can see the post I wrote when I initially sewed the bra here. Since I am no longer breastfeeding, I removed the nursing clip access and found it was the perfect time to make a pair of matching leggings.

I love that the Cavallos have no inseam and BIG pockets.

They also don’t feel as compressive as other workout leggings patterns to me. 

The feather fabric I used is called Feather Bound and is Athletic Brushed Polyester (ABP) from The Styled Magnolia. 

Tops

I made four different knit tops, using two different patterns.

Friday Pattern Co. Adrienne Blouse

The Adrienne Blouse has sleeve volume and a slim bodice silhouette. 

I made one top using this Navy Double Brushed Poly (DBP) from Knitpop. It is such a perfect fabric for this top! I want several more in solid colors.

I also made one from an ITY from Minerva.

It is such a pretty floral!

I wrote more details about this project here and here.

Helen’s Closet Elliot Sweater

My next knit top project was using the Helen’s Closet Elliot Sweater pattern. I made one top in a bamboo spandex from The Fabric Fairy to wear with my Lander pants.

The pattern has different hem length options, and this is the crop view. 

I love that the turtleneck is wider and looser and does not choke me. It feels really comfortable to wear. It kind of flops over in this fabric, but I like it!

I also made another Elliot sweater in a bamboo rib knit I got from Blackbird Fabric. This color is called Wisteria. 

I used the neckband option on the pattern for this top. I think it makes a great basic cropped tee, and the rib gives it a little texture.

Layers – A Pullover, Cardigan, and Jacket

I made two layering tops to wear out on our colder days as well as a jacket! I used my scraps from my Brassie joggers for pullover and cardigan and my Lander scraps for the jacket. I was happy to be able to make so much out of each fabric and have very few scraps left over.

FibreMood Didi

The Didi is an oversized drop shoulder pullover with a nice zipper detail and big collar.

The Didi pattern states it is for knit fabrics, but I did not find anywhere in the pattern that indicated the minimum stretch required. This French Terry has minimal stretch, and I went with the smaller size (I am between sizes). I think the sizing turned out perfect so feel free to use any knit fabric regardless of how much stretch it does or does not have. I did add length to the cuffs and bottom band since this fabric is not stretchy. I would have rather used a rib knit, but I did not have one that matched that well.

I DO NOT plan to wear them with these joggers, but alas, I did not want to change out of these joggers when I was taking photos! So, imagine this pullover with some jeans or colorful leggings. How would you style it?

I love how the zipper part is done. I first read through the instructions and had no clue how this was going to work out, but once I followed the pattern step-by-step, it all made sense and felt genius! I would love to sew this pattern up again while we still have cold weather.

I used a basic YKK plastic zipper for this one, but I would love to find some unique ones to add even more interest. Do you have a source for unique zippers? 

True Bias Marlo Sweater

Next, I used my left-over bamboo french terry for a Marlo. This is an oversized dropped shoulder garment as well.

This one has a V neck and comes in a cropped or mid-thigh length.

It has wide bands and requires big buttons. The bands really cinch it in to fit snugger around your waist. I used the pattern piece for bands that are made out of non-rib knit. I bet that if I used rib knit, the bands would be more relaxed.

Chalk and Notch Joy Jacket

Ya’ll, I am so excited about this jacket!! The Chalk and Notch Joy Jacket is such a great pattern!

Do you ever finish a project that you just can’t believe that you made it?

That was definitely this one! I mean, it took forever (well, not really but there were times that I felt like I would never finish!). The instructions were very easy to follow, and there wasn’t anything in particular that was hard. It was just very involved, and there were so many pattern pieces.

It is fully lined.

It has a collar option or hood. The hood is a three-piece hood.

The hood has a drawstring casing, and there is also an option for a drawstring casing through the hem.

As far as adjustments, I removed one inch in length from the body and sleeves. I also used a smaller seam allowance through the bicep, elbow, and forearm. 

You can get more details on the blogpost I wrote for this jacket here.  Can you believe I had enough fabric left over from my Lander pants? I ordered 3 meters and had a few moments of doubt that it wouldn’t work. Thankfully, it is easier to play pattern Tetris with solids. 

I made the bottom drawstring long enough to tie a bow, but I think I may take an inch or two more off the length. Does it look like it hangs a little long to you?

Dresses

Last, but not least, I made four dresses!

Deer and Doe Myosotis Dress

The Myosotis dress is an oversized dress with all the ruffles.

I love the shorter length and how it feels to wear.

The bodice has three buttons, a collar, and 6 darts! I felt like the darts were unnecessary since it is not fitted and has so much room. Can you see my scar from my ankle surgery a few months ago in the photo above? It has healed so much!

You can read more about my dress in the post I wrote on it here.

Twig and Tale Driftwood

With my scraps, I made my daughter a Driftwood dress.

This is such a cute peasant-style blouse or dress pattern. It was pretty quick to sew for her too!

You can read more about her dress on the post I wrote on it here.

Friday Pattern Co. Wilder Gown

I also made a Wilder Gown in this gorgeous bird print from Minerva. 

This is a flowy tiered dress with a neckline that has a bow. I left mine untied when I wore it.

I wore this one on New Year’s Eve to ring in the New Year. It was a great dress to be festive while lounging around at home.

You can read more about the dress in the post I wrote on it here.

Ellie and Mac I Love the 90s Dress.

Finally, I made my daughter another I Love the 90s Dress. She picked out this adorable fabric from The Fabric Fairy and asked for a dress from it. 

This babydoll style dress is quick and perfect for cotton lycra. I made her one several months ago in this candy print from Jumping June, and she wears it so much that I knew it would be a winner. Here is the other one I made her.

It was cold outside, and her hem was flipped up, but I think you get the picture. She LOVES that dress. And now she has another one she loves just as much.

Life Updates

This fall – I started a new job (well not new, but one I had taken a break from for five years), both boys played competitive baseball with lots of tournaments and practices, my oldest ran cross country, and I had ankle surgery. It was a full season for sure.

Ankle surgery was tough. In August I sprained my ankle a week before my kids started back to school. After three weeks in a boot and two months of physical therapy, my foot was still not much better. So, I had an MRI and found out that I had a tarsal coalition. It was that moment where all of my random ankle pain that I have had for so long made sense. I was happy to know the cause and sad to be facing surgery.

The doctors said the surgery was not necessary if I did not plan to be that active and could live with the pain. I definitely did not want to live in pain, and I felt like not being active was a death sentence. I turn 40 next week, and the thought of becoming sedentary seemed so bizarre!

So, I had the surgery in October. I was not able to do anything for a week. I was not casted, but I was too swollen for a boot. My husband carried me around or I crawled if I needed to use the restroom. After a few days, a sweet local lady let me borrow her foot scooter. After the first week of immobility, I was able to wear a boot again. Then after a week in the boot, I was in a regular athletic shoe and started physical therapy. After a month of physical therapy, I was walking without a limp and starting to run and jump again!!! 

Writing that all out seems like I had an easy recovery, but I had so many emotional days and pain-filled days. My biggest problem was all the nerve pain. I had nonstop tingling and strange sensations all on top of my foot. I did acupuncture, and it helped (especially with the swelling and constant tingling). I still have random zaps and burning sensations and numbness, but I am about 90-95% of the way better. The only time it still tells me that it is hurt now is when I lay down at night. This too shall pass.

What have you been sewing? Which garment is your favorite of the ones I sewed?

I hope I inspired you in today’s post!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate your support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

On my video, I show each project and chat about each one. I would love your feedback if you like this format! Here are all the projects I show in the video:

Woven Dress Sewing

I have had the By Hand London Hannah Dress on my list for some time, and I am so glad I finally took the plunge and sewed it up.

This pattern is perfect for Spring and so flattering in this rayon challis. I wrote a pretty extensive pattern review on it here when I first posted it. You can also see more photos of it here.

After writing about it, I fixed the gaping neckline issue and then immediately cut out another one! I can’t wait to share that one with you soon.

Woven Top Sewing

I made two woven tops this month – a short pleated sleeve Seychelles and a flowy Victory Tank Top. The Seychelles is in a Swiss Dot. You can read more details and see more photos of my make on this pattern here. 

The Victory tank has a low cut neckline and a peekaboo in the back. It is fully lined so you have no binding or facing. 

I wrote more about the Victory Tank at the bottom of this blogpost. 

Swimsuit Blog Tour

I was on a blog tour this month with Raspberry Creek Fabrics and had the opportunity to sew swimsuits for myself and my 3 daughters. 

It is not quite warm enough to jump in the pool yet, but sewing these suits made us look forward even more to summer and vacation! I also feel so happy to know that I am getting a head start on summer sewing. 

You can read all the details of each suit pattern and the fabric on the blog tour post I wrote here. 

Activewear Sewing

Ya’ll know I have a special place in my heart for activewear!! I sewed up an activewear set out of a pink and cream athletic brushed poly, and I have worn this make the most of all my makes this month. It is so comfy, easy to move around in, and I feel good in it! I have a tutorial on how to do the adjustable straps on this bra here and a post with more details on this make here.

I made two other pairs of simple (no pocket or side seam) leggings and finished a tank top that I found in my scrap bin as well. 

You can find my post on these two pairs of leggings here. 

Knit Top Sewing

Gardening Shirts

I have lots of work waiting for me in the garden this year. I have really been procrastinating and seem to be spending much more time in my sewing room. We had a long and hard freeze that a few of my plants did not survive as well as I have areas that still need a little TLC.

The days are finally warming up, and it feels good to be outside; so, I made a shirt for myself that offered some sun protection as well as protection from poison ivy.

I used the scraps to make a shirt for my youngest, and I am so happy with how these turned out.

It definitely helped to inspire me to get out there and get some yard work done!

I used the Greenstyle Waimea Rash Guard pattern for my top. You can read the details of the fabric and pattern for my top in the post I made on them here.

I used the Misusu Flex Raglan for my daughter. You can read more of the details on my daughters top here.

A Bumblebee Romper for my Daughter and a Matching Fitted Top for Me

I also made my daughter another Jade Romper from Made for Mermaids this month. This is a pattern all my daughters just love, and this little one has grown out of hers. I was happy to make her another!

These bumblebees are so cute and the knit is really soft and comfortable for her to wear and play in. You can read a more detailed post on her romper here.

After I finished her romper, I realized I had just enough of this knit left over for a fitted tee. I am so happy with how my V neck turned out on this one. This will be a nice top to wear with some loose and flowy skirts or culottes.

I used the Megan Nielsen Rowan for my top. Here is the post with more photos and details. You can also see more photos of me having fun twinning with my daughter here.

Kids’ Oversized Tee

I also made a quick and comfy Oversized Tee for my youngest using a scrap of cotton interlock. You can read more details on this pattern here. 

The Itch to Stitch Gothenburg

At the beginning of the month, I made a stretch sweatshirt fleece pullover that has been perfect for chilly mornings and cold baseball games. This one has an interesting funnel neck and bust darts. I love that the pattern includes cup sizes and how quick this one was to sew up.

The pattern is the Itch to Stitch Gothenburg, and you can read my more detailed post on it here.

Resources

• By Hand London Hannah Dress Pattern 
• Woven Top Sewing – Itch to Stitch Seychelles Woven Top and Chalk and Notch Victory Woven Tank
• Swimsuit Blog Tour Post
• Athletic Sewing – Greenstyle Cavallo Tights, Power Sports Bra, Simpatico Leggings, and Lille Tank
• Knit Top Sewing – Greenstyle Waimea, Misusu Flex Raglan, Rowan Tee, Jade Romper, Ellie and Mac Oversized Tee, and Itch to Stitch Gothenburg

Before we get into the tutorial, I have to show you this new pink and cream leopard set that I can’t stop wearing. I used this Athletic Brushed Polyester print from The Styled Magnolia. You can find it in their current preorder here.

Their Athletic Brushed Poly is one of my all time favorite athletic bases. I feel so comfortable wearing it all day long whether I am active or not, and it is so soft and holds up to washing very well over time.

For this set, I used the Greenstyle Cavallo Leggings for my bottoms. This is an athletic leggings pattern that has no inseam!

Not having an inseam is just genius and helps avoid chafing and is one less seam to feel next to your skin.

In addition to no inseam, the pattern has massive pockets and a booty lifting back curve.

I did lots of fun reverse coverstitching on this pair to have a subtle pop of pink.

For this set, I removed length from the first lengthen/shorten line at the thigh and pocket (.75 inches). I made a size D and graded my calves to an E. I started my calf grading right at the knee. Then, I removed 1.25″ at the second lengthen/shorten line at the calf and another 1 inch at about 4 or 5 inches below that, and then, I removed another inch from the bottom! 

Now, let’s chat about this bra. I used the Power Sports Bra pattern from Greenstyle. It has princess seams in the cups for shaping as well as a regular neckline and a lower neckline. I used the lower neckline included.

The pattern has three different back options – a strappy back, racerback, or U back. I did the U back and used adjustable bra strapping instead of the straps included in the pattern.

You can watch the tutorial for how I did the straps here. At the end of this post (in the resources section), I will link some places to get the bra straps, sliders, and rings you will need to sew this option.

Victory Tank and Fernway Culottes

I do not have very many animal print items in my closet, and I am happy to also have made a tank top for this summer using Rayon Challis. I have sewn with this base multiple times, but this is my FIRST time to try the one offered from The Styled Magnolia.

Rayon Challis is a woven fabric with wonderful drape. It has a soft fluid texture and is one of my favorites for apparel sewing. I have sewn with a range of qualities and some lighter weight varieties can be downright frustrating to cut out because of how much it can slip and shift around.

I can happily report to you that this is more of a medium weight amongst the rayon challis bases I have tried. It is not thin or sheer and does not slip and shift around. It was an absolute pleasure to sew with! It was also easier to cut out and find the grainline, which made sewing with it not such a time intensive project like it can be on the slipperier rayon challises I have tried.

For my tank, I used the Chalk and Notch Victory Tank pattern. This pattern includes two lengths, and I chose the longer length. It also has a strappy front option and a solid back or a peekaboo back.

It is flowy and roomy so this pattern works best in fabrics with drape. It also is fully lined so works best in lighter fabrics. I lined mine with a very lightweight shifty rayon challis from my stash.

The only thing that I didn’t like about this Rayon Challis is that it is only around 50 inches wide. I wished it had just a few more inches so I could have even more of it. I will just need to remember this on my next order so I have enough for my project. I wanted to make my daughter pants in addition to my tank but did not quite have enough. Thankfully, I was able to still get some culottes, though! She was adamant that she needed pants in this fabric and is still so happy with the culottes she got instead.

She will probably wear this pair until they are long shorts! She loves this pattern.

The pattern I used is the Fernway Culottes. I made these for her a year and a half ago, and she still wears the pair I made her then! (Now, those are just culottes!) You can find that initial post here.

These have a solid front with pleats and an elastic back.

The pattern includes multiple lengths and plenty of ease for play.

Which project is your favorite?

I hope I have inspired you in today’s post!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

Resources

• The Cavallo Leggings Pattern. Do you want to see how the Cavallo stacks up against the other Greenstyle Leggings? I have a leggings comparison video here. The only leggings that are not included in this video are the recently released Sundial leggings. The Sundial leggings have no side seam, no pockets, and stand out from the others by their V front and optional cross over waistband. You can see the full sew along for the Sundials here.
• The Power Sports Bra pattern.
• Bra Straps and Sliders
  • Bra Makers Supplies has Bra Rings and Sliders and Bra Strapping
  • Lace and Trims on Etsy has a selection of Bra Rings, Sliders and Strapping
  • Tailor Made Shop has Bra Rings and Sliders as well as Bra Strapping
  • The Fabric Fairy has Bra Rings and Sliders
• Soft Waistband Elastic – I used solid white 1.5 inch Dritz for mine, but I am seriously eyeing the ones that were just stocked at The Styled Magnolia. If there are any left, I plan to get some in my next order!
• Chalk and Notch Victory Tank Pattern
• Twig and Tale Fernway Culottes Pattern
• Pink and Cream Leopard Print Fabric
• Tawny Leopard Print Fabric

Thanks for reading today! XO

Sharon

P.S. I made a matching sweatshirt for my leggings set! (You can find the post for this top here).

My pink loving heart is just so happy with this one 🙂

I also have a few more photos of my sweet little one with me.

I received Raspberry Creek’s Spring line in the mail last week, and I have been happily sewing it up, especially since the colors and prints are everything I want to be wearing this spring and summer! For today’s post, I will talk all about the patterns I used as well as the fabric!

Sinclair Patterns Dakota Dress

This was my first time to try a Sinclair pattern. I was immediately drawn to the button front bodice on this pattern, but when it came down to it, I ended up not using the part of the pattern that caught my eye! I thought the buttons may get a little lost in the strawberry field, so I made my life easier and used the solid front option on the pattern!

The Dakota pattern comes in petite, regular, and tall sizes, and I seriously began doubting myself as to which file I should use. I am definitely in the petite range at 5’2,” but I have sewn for myself long enough to know that I have a standard 8 inch side waist and do not fit petite clothing on top. All of my shortness is in my legs, so if I make height adjustments it is only on my bottom half. In my doubt, I consulted my Facebook sewing friend Beth, and she confirmed my gut reaction. So, I downloaded the regular file and made zero alterations to the bodice. My measurements fit squarely into a US size 2 (the XS). On the skirt, I also used the regular file but took one inch out in length. Maybe I could have saved myself time and just printed the petite skirt and used it on the standard bodice? Either way, I LOVE how my dress turned out! The fit is just perfect!

It has an interesting hemline that goes up a little on the sides. It also has POCKETS!

I love all the pinks and reds in this fabric and the pop of green. It reminds me of Strawberry Shortcake! I also love that this dress works for everyday wear or can be dressed up with a cute bag, earrings, and the right shoes. Speaking of shoes, my friend Beth said I needed some red ones to wear with this dress!

Ellie and Mac I Love the 90s Dress

I made my middle daughter a favorite Ellie and Mac pattern of mine – the I Love the 90s Dress. I have this one printed in so many sizes for my daughters. This dress is also very aptly named because I remember loving baby doll style dresses in the early 90s.

The dress has a lined bodice and is really quick to make. I used a solid white cotton lycra to line this one. I think the part that takes the longest is gathering the top of the skirt. My daughter said she felt so pretty in this dress and wanted to wear it to a picnic! Too bad it has been raining all week and is so cold and muddy outside. I told her we would dream of the summer heat and wear our dresses again when the weather cooperates.

She was so excited that she has strawberry earrings that match her dress!

Chalk and Notch Waterfall Raglan

I made my youngest daughter the Waterfall Raglan by Chalk and Notch. I have made this pattern for myself a few times and was excited to try it out on her. She turned 2 last month, and based on her measurements I made the 18 month width and size 2 for height. She is still pretty petite, and I am glad to tell you that this dress is going to probably fit her until she is at least 3! It will just slowly become a tunic and then a shirt!

I used Raspberry Creek’s white cotton lycra for her sleeves and neckband and also made her some pink leggings in cotton lycra to wear underneath it to keep her legs warm. I love the contrast and how the pops of green go with my dress! I also love how she smiles now for photos!

When I got my package of fabric in the mail last week, my youngest helped me to open what I got on Instagram, and she squealed with delight when she opened this fairy tale print.  I was so happy and relieved that she loved it just as much as I did.

She kept checking on the fabric in my sewing room for a few days after, and I had to watch her that she did not drag it off somewhere else. She was definitely more than happy to show off her finished dress for me!

Love Notions Vanguard Tee

The Vanguard tee is part of a pattern kit that also comes with a pants pattern. I made the tee for my boys because I love all the color blocking included in the pattern. It was perfect for the pirate swords print that they picked out for their shirts!

My oldest son wanted a V neck and short sleeve. I really like how easy the V is in this pattern because you overlap the pieces instead of having a line straight down the middle. It has a little more wiggle room for getting it on point that way!

My youngest son wanted long sleeves and was confused that I gave him the option for short sleeves. I tried to explain to him that I am trying to sew ahead and prepare for summer, but he was like “No, mom. You said I can’t wear short sleeves outside even just yesterday!”

The prints are just perfect for play!

Red rover, red rover, let Aaron come over!

I hope you enjoyed what I made! I am loving all the prints that Raspberry Creek has available in their spring line this year. They also had avocados, watermelon, and citrus! I just adore fruit prints!! I used cotton lycra for all of my projects, but they also have the same prints available on french terry.

Resources

• Patterns: Sinclair Dakota Dress, Ellie and Mac I love the 90s*, Chalk and Notch Waterfall Raglan, and Love Notions Vanguard
• Fabric: Strawberries, Fairy Tale main, Pirate Swords, solid pink, and solid white

Thanks for stopping by today!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

*Disclosures

This fabric was sent to me for free so that I could sew it up and show how the fabric looks when worn. I am so grateful for the opportunity to sew for them! Also, this post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

XO

They fit every aspect of my life – from the gym, to the grocery store, to date night, to housework, to late night movies, to grab a quick cup of tea… you get the picture, they work for evvverrything.

I have already blogged about joggers multiple times (obsessed much?), so for today’s post, I will stick to How to Style Joggers! I have three main ways to go over (dressed up, sporty, and loungewear). I will also talk about the sewing patterns I used, the fabric, and the accessories.

Look #1 – It’s Time to Go OUT

I think the absolutely best way to look and feel your best in joggers is to add all the accessories.

Grab your favorite necklace. Put on your heels or any dressy pair of shoes that make you feel like you sparkle. Earrings, clutch, glasses, check. Let’s go. If it is the fall, grab a jean or leather jacket.

Who is ready for date night or girls night out?? 

Patterns

I used the capri length version of the Greenstyle Brassie Joggers for my pants. I made my usual height adjustments (hello 5’2″!) by subtracting length in the pattern at the lengthen/shorten line and again at the calf. I don’t like to make major length adjustments all in one place so am careful to spread it out. I also altered the pattern to have a pocket bag instead of a topstitched pocket. I recorded myself doing this soooo if we have a jogger sew along one day, I can show you how to easily do that. Does anyone want a jogger sew along? You know, because I can always make a few more pairs with you!

For my top, I used the Chalk and Notch Pony Tank. This tank is perfect for loose and flowy fabric, and I love the V neck with the hem that covers your bum. It also gives me lots of room to tie a knot if I want a little more waist definition. I removed .75 inches of height at the lengthen/shorten line and picked my size based on my full bust.

Fabric

Fabric can play a big role in how you feel about your joggers. As much as I love all my fun prints, I feel that a solid pair (or a very subtle print) is easier to dress up and use for many different styles. A small scale print makes joggers look more pajama like and great for lounging while a large scale floral (especially in a velvet or fun texture) can look more dressed up with the right accessories.

Also, a HUGE thing to think about with fabric is how much spandex content it has and how well it recovers after being stretched. If you use a fabric with poor recovery and stretch, you will have saggy bottom before the day is over.

I used two extremely soft fabrics from The Fabric Fairy for both of my pieces. For my joggers I used the Kale Dry-Flex Ubersoft Poly Lycra. It is not a heavy fabric but is still warm and soft to the touch, but it breathes well and works great for the fall (and winter if you live in a milder area like I do).

My top is made with the Fabric Fairy Dusty Mauve Bamboo Lycra. I love the Fabric Fairy’s bamboo. It is soft and has amazing drape. It breathes very well and just feels good to wear in the summer. I also really love this color! It is like pink, purple, and brown got married and had a baby! Sadly, the dusty mauve is sold out at the moment, but several other beautiful colors are still in stock. Hopefully this one will restock soon!

Accessories

Let’s talk about this clutch. I found it on Amazon here (not an affiliate, just sharing my fun find). I can fit my iPhone XR in it, all my money, and credit cards, and just put it on my wrist. No more big mom bag on one arm!! It has been a life (and neck!) saver lately. It’s also rose gold soooo… it fits right into my life. I bought it before we went to Mexico last month and used it to minimize how much I was carrying, while keeping all the important stuff I needed attached to me. 

My shoes came from DSW and my necklace came from Kendra Scott. I hope you aren’t getting tired of seeing it because it is still my absolute favorite necklace. My sunglasses came from Target. I have a limit on how much money I will spend on sunglasses because I either lose them or break them.

Look #2 – Let’s Do LIFE

In my every day life, I need clothes that MOVE. I am cleaning, holding little people, running errands, running to the gym. I need some shoes that can keep the pace of my lifestyle, and if I will be out in the sun, I need a hat.

I can’t chase this sweet girl in heels. Carrie Bradshaw may be amazing in Sex and the City for her ability to run in heels, but I need a good pair of tennis shoes to do that. These came from Nordstrom Rack.

Look #3 – Let’s Relax

So… this is what I really want to do in joggers – Shoes off, contacts out, make up off, a good cup of tea, mom bun, and AH. Time to recharge!

Which look is your favorite? 

Thanks for reading! I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram, or you may receive updates by liking my page on Facebook. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Resources

• My joggers are the Greenstyle Brassie Joggers in Fabric Fairy Dry-Flex Ubersoft Poly Lycra.
• My top is the Chalk and Notch Pony Tank in Fabric Fairy Dusty Mauve Bamboo Lycra

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

The Pattern

I was so excited to volunteer to be a pattern tester for the Victory Tank Pattern by Chalk and Notch! The pattern fits bust sizes that range from 32-50 inches, and it has lots of ease and free flowing forgiveness in the tummy area. The pattern has two different neckline options (straps or no straps), two different back options (v cut out or no cut out), and two different lengths (crop or high hip). I made both front and back options, but only made the high hip length during testing. I think I will need to make the crop view, though, next to go with a pair of high waisted pants. 

When I signed up for the test, I was originally very drawn to the shape of the tank because it reminded me of Chalk and Notch’s Pony Tank that I made a few years ago and still love to wear. This top is a little different than the Pony tank (neckline options, fabric, etc.), but its forgiving shape reminded me of my favorite, so I had to jump in and see if I liked this one just as much. Spoiler alert: I DO!

Fabric 

I used rayon challis for both of my tanks and for the lining fabric. The shape of the tank will largely depend on your fabric choice. Do you see how mine fits closely to my body? You probably can’t tell that there is 10 inches of ease in my midsection due to the soft hand that rayon challis has. 

If you want more structure, you can use a linen or gauze or even a quilting cotton, but do note, it may make you look a size bigger than you are. Whichever fabric you decide on, make sure it is lightweight because the tank is fully lined. 

My next tank is View A, which is the easier version to sew of the two. If you are a beginner or just making a quick version to check fit, make this view first. 

The hardest part of sewing this tank is the straps. You do the burrito roll method, and it takes a bit of patience to turn everything through the smaller straps. (Note, one of my straps has a little lining showing in this photo because I changed in the car after photographing my first top, and just didn’t notice that my cheetah print lining flipped up. Whoops!)

I think the patience to turn the straps is definitely worth it because they are such a perfect width when they are finished. Just give them a good press, and you will forget all about what you said when you were turning them. Also, use a slippery lining fabric, and you will be all the happier. 

Which view of the tank is your favorite?

Resources

1. The Victory Tank Pattern can be found here.
2. The fabric I used on my first tank is Anna Maria Horner Swarm rayon challis.
3. The fabric I used on my second tank is Anna Maria Horner Starry Eyed rayon challis. 

Thanks for reading! I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram, or you may receive updates by liking my page on Facebook. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own