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

The Pattern

I used the Oversized Tee pattern for Kids from Ellie and Mac for my most recent sew for my daughter. I tried the adult version of this pattern out last month and was happy to sew another one in my daughter’s size. Here is my version of the adults pattern from last month.

Just like the adults, the kids Oversized Tee pattern includes a cropped, t shirt, or tunic length that can be finished with a hem or band as well as short or long sleeves.

For mine, I did the longer crop length with a hem in a cotton lycra. For my daughter’s I used a cotton interlock and did the shirt length with a band.

This particular cotton interlock is called Sidewalk by Rae Hoekstra and is a Cloud 9 Organic Knit fabric I got in a sale box from Simplifi Fabric many years ago.

The sleeves on this pattern are dropped and the fit is super roomy and is PERFECT for her growing self. I have a feeling she is going to be able to wear this for many years due to the extra ease.

I asked her how old she is, and she showed me 3! She is correct. Based on her measurements, I made a size 2 for her width and a 3 for her height.

The pattern includes the options to sew a crew neck, boat neck, or hood to finish the neckline. I did the crew neckline option for both of ours.

I noticed that she has more room in her neckline than I do, though. I felt the adults fit tighter around the neck than the kids. If I make another one for myself, I will lower the neckline slightly for comfort.

She is so happy with her pencil shirt! She wants another one in long sleeves, but I know that warm weather is right around the corner so I will probably make her another short sleeve or 2 for summer.

Sewing Notes

I completed this project in about an hour. I used my serger to sew all the seams and used a coverstitch to hem the sleeves and topstitch my neckband. The coverstitch is not required. You can easily use a stretch stitch or twin needle on your sewing machine to finish the sleeve hem, or if you do the long sleeve version, there is the option to use a band to finish the sleeves.

I love how this project was so quick to sew for her. This fabric is really soft and was stable and easy to sew with. If you use fabric with a lot of stretch and drape, you would get a very different look than I did.

My favorite thing about sewing Ellie and Mac patterns is the 1/4 inch seam allowance. I need to change the knife on my serger and have been putting it off. I have noticed lately it is dull in trimming seam allowances if I sew a pattern that is 3/8 or 1/2 an inch. I know this is something so silly to mention, but I really am happy when I can sew a 1/4 inch seam allowance on a knit project!!

Style

My daughter styled her top with a pair of cotton lycra leggings and her brothers cowboy boots. She loved this outfit she put together and was super proud to take photos in it. When she wore it a second time, she chose some black/white converse shoes so she could run a little faster.

For my cropped top, I chose a pair of high waisted leggings and running shoes. This is a great around the house comfy tee.

I love the longer leg line it gives my short (5’2″) self when I wear a longer crop with higher waisted pants!

Resources

• Oversized Tee Pattern for Kids
• Oversized Tee Pattern for Adults
• Oversized Tee Pattern Bundle of Kids + Adults

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

I received this pattern for free as part of the pattern testing process. I received the fabric for my top for free from a sweet friend. I am not sure where she bought it from and was happy to have a fun top out of it. 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 your support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

Was I happy with myself? YES! I now have no kids in diapers!! As long as I let her have a diaper, though, we were never going to get anywhere with potty training. The good news is that she went from refusing the potty to full potty trained in a matter of (a few very intense) days.

I use lots of rewards during potty training. We let her watch all her favorite shows while she sits to try, have unlimited juice and herb tea to keep things going, and lots of positive reinforcement. We even have a song for when she is successful. She feels on top of the world when her whole family is dancing and singing and cheering for her success.

I also can’t let them wear anything but a loose skirt, dress, or loose pants for the first week or so. If I put a pair of panties on her at first, she will think it is a diaper and use it just like one. YUCK. SO, after she has gotten the hang of it, I start slowly letting her wear panties.

I also made her this super fun cat shirt in fabric of her choosing. I have learned that toddlers LOVE control. So much of their world is just done to them rather than by them. She is my fifth toddler, and I have learned that when I talk to them about everything and give them choices when possible, they are happy little humans. I do not mean choices like “Do you want to go to sleep or stay awake?” I mean choices like, “Do you want to sleep in these pajamas or those?” You are telling them what is happening while letting them feel like they are somewhat in charge.

The Twist It Up Top

For her top, I used is the Ellie and Mac Kids Twist It Up Top pattern. I made a cozy fuzzy sweater out of the adult version of this pattern early last year. You can find that post here. Since it is still pretty warm here, I made my youngest and middle daughters short sleeved tops this time.

The pattern size range is from 6 months to size 14 and includes options for tank top, short sleeves, or long sleeves. The neckline can be finished with a band or a very nice cowl! I made the cowl on my sweater version last year, and it is nice and full!

Sewing Thoughts

The knot on this pattern is done in an interesting way. It makes it look like your shirt is tucked in. You gather parts of a hole that is cut out of the center bottom. Then, you twist and sew part of it on the inside. I always have to follow the directions really closely on this part, but it turns out really pretty. You do have to make sure not to skip the hand stitches on the inside otherwise the knot seam will continually push to the outside.

The rest of the pattern is really straight forward. The sleeves are cuffed so the only hem is on the bottom of the shirt. The only adjustment I made for hers was to grade to a 3T for height. Her width was only in 18-24 months so I used the 18-24 months for the wide part and 3T for the armscye, neck, and shirt length.

Fabric

I used cotton lycra for my youngest daughter’s top. This fabric was gifted to me from a friend when she cleaned out her sewing room. I don’t think I would wear a shirt out of it but kept it in case one of the kids liked it. This little girl thought it was the best fabric ever. I also made her a pair of panties out of it that she thinks are pretty amazing as well. She has a bad habit of showing them to everyone when she wears them so maybe now that she has a shirt out of it, she will keep her shorts up!

I think she was right about this fabric because when she wears this shirt, she gets SO MANY comments. “OMG, I love her shirt. Please tell me where you got it!”

My oldest daughter chose a solid black bamboo lycra. This fabric has wonderful drape and is really soft. She wanted a shirt that would go with lots of different outfits and this one has a fun little detail while working with lots of different bottoms.

My middle daughter was really cooperative for photos while my younger one needed cookies in exchange for photos.

My middle daughter was a straight size 10 without adjustments.

Let’s Stay Connected

I hope I have inspired you! I would love to hear your thoughts and questions. I also 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 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 Evergreen Tee

The Greenstyle Evergreen tee is a standard tee shirt without feminine shaping. It is a straight cut like a standard t shirt. If you are looking for a feminine and shapely tee, check out the Greenstyle Green tee (which is also free)

The Evergreen is a great canvas to put all the HTV. My friend Aimee applied this one the last time we had a crafting day together. You can find the cut file for free HERE.

The pattern includes short and long sleeves as well as crew and v neck.

The pattern is drafted for 5’10” and is very easy to add length to since the side seams are straight. I added 1.5 inches at the bottom. My husband is 5’11” and every shirt that fits his shoulders and chest correctly is just too short. He is always frustrated when he finds the “perfect” shirt, and then sees how short it fits him. He is incredibly happy to have shirts that he can lift his arms in without showing off his stomach!!

I like the sleeve fit of the long sleeve. It is just fitted enough that he can push his sleeves up and they “stick to” his forearm.

I made him a size large based on his measurement. That is the same size he also fits in the Men’s Hudson Raglan and Muscle Up tank I have made him from Greenstyle, and it is also the size he wears in store bought shirts.

For fabric, I used cotton lycra from Made Whimsy for the white t shirt. I used the white from her dream solid collection, which is super soft. It reminds me of the higher quality t shirt fabrics that I love from Abercrombie and a few other stores, except this one has stretch.

For his blue shirt, I used a fabric that I found in my stash that is 100% cotton and has only two way 50% horizontal stretch.

You can see that even though I used the same pattern, the blue one isn’t as long because the fabric does not have vertical stretch.

My husband is wearing some of his favorite Iron Joggers* that I made him in these photos! It makes my heart so happy to see how much he wears them!

Ellie and Mac Kids Joggers

I also recently did a pattern test for the Ellie and Mac kids joggers* for my youngest daughter. I ended up making three pairs of joggers! I think if I had more time on my hands I would have made her a dozen! I took photos of two of the pairs, and love the fit on these!

She has discovered that she loves clothing with pockets, or as she says it “poppets.”

She is also learning all the poses required for testing to show the full garment – front, side, and back!

I used all cotton lycra on her pants, but they could also have been made in a french terry or any fabric with at least 50% stretch.

I made the relaxed version in the pattern. A slimmer version is also included as well as color blocking options.

She is not as chunky as other 2 year olds but just as tall so I made the 12-18 month width and the 18-24 month height for her.

Resources

You can find the kids joggers pattern here. In order to get the men’s tee for free, you need to join the Greenstyle Facebook group or follow on Instagram. On Facebook, the Free code is in the announcement section. On Instagram, it is in the bio.

Thanks for stopping by today! I would love to stay connected with you. 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

I received both patterns for free as part of the testing process so that I could give the designer feedback about the pattern. 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

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

My latest sewing make is one I have had on my list for quite some time now. I was a pattern tester for the Ellie and Mac Paperbag Pants Pattern* and am excited to share my experience sewing these pants!

The Pattern

The Ellie and Mac Paperbag Pants Pattern* comes in sizes XXS to 5XL, which covers hip sizes 33.5 to 63 inches. The pattern is a knit pull on pant that doesn’t have a closure and has 1 inch elastic in the waist to hold your pants up as well as a sash to put through belt loops. The rise on the pants sits right at your natural waist. The pants have POCKETS and come in capri or regular length. 

Fabric

The Paperbag Pants Pattern* is drafted for a structured knit like ponte, scuba, or liverpool. You don’t want to use a knit with drape or that is thin. I used a ponte fabric that I found at Wherehouse fabrics dallas sometime ago. When I bought it, for some reason I thought it was olive. Once I got home and looked a little closer, it was actually brown!! I rarely wear brown, but I have to admit that this color is definitely growing on me for its versatility as pants. 

Unfortunately, this fabric store was a hit by a tornado a few weeks ago. While I was sewing these pants, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the amazing fabric that I have found at this place and said a prayer that they would be able to come back from the devastation. 

My Experience

My sizing was all over the place when I first looked at the size chart on this pattern. My waist is an XS, hips XXS, thights XXS, and my calves fell in between a M and L. I printed size XXS for my hips and thighs, used the XS waistband and elastic measurement, and as soon as I reached the knee point, I drew my line between the M and L. As soon as I reached under the calf, I began grading back in some because I know my ankles are just as small as the rest of me. It is just those calves that are a little beefy.

I also noticed that the pattern is drafted for a person who is 5’5.” I am 5’2″ but didn’t listen to the pattern about removing height. I measured the inseam for my size, and it was 26.5 before hemming!!! I felt like all the grading I had to do for my calves was worth it because I didn’t have to do a single height adjustment!! (insert jumping and clapping!)

The pockets are big and roomy. I wished that the opening wasn’t so big when I was making them because I was worried about it gaping. Once on, though, it really wasn’t such a big deal, and I didn’t really notice much. I may try to bring it in more on my next pair still, though.

I have to admit that I was not so sure how I would feel about a big tie around my waist. My waist is a size larger than my hips, so I am not as curvy as I wished so I thought that it would make me look even less curvy to accentuate this part. I believe I was wrong, though! 

I also didn’t know how I felt about such a high rise. When I think of high rise, I usually imagine a pant ending at my belly button, but these sit at my natural waist (which is where they are intended to sit). A sweet friend messaged me when she saw my photos and told me that it made my legs look long, though, so I am EMBRACING this. I reassured her that it was all an illusion! Haha! She knows how short I really am, but maybe, just maybe I have fooled you?

I have a thing for birds

My shirt is a scrap that I bought from Mandy Pickle. She was selling some scraps from her personal stash (she is the owner of Made Whimsy Fabric). I didn’t really pay attention to what size or the details of what this scrap was when I was claiming fabric. I just saw a bird and put both hands up. Then, when it came in the mail, it was a fully sewn shirt that was just missing a neckband and a hem!! I tried it on and the fit was perfect!! 

What a fabric score! It was a little long so I cut some off the bottom and used that strip to make a neckband. I have no idea what pattern she used to make this shirt, but I really like the fit too…. and the birds. Oh, the birds. 

Whatever top you decide to wear with your Paperbag pants, just remember you will need it to be fitted enough to tuck in!

Resources

You can find the pattern for the Paperbag Pants HERE*. 

Thanks for stopping by today! I would love to stay connected with you. 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

I received this pattern for free as part of the testing process so that I could give the designer feedback about the pattern. 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

The Pattern

The Be Creative Hoodie Pattern* comes in sizes XXS to 6X, which covers bust sizes ranging from 29 to 63 inches. It is a more fitted hoodie that features set in sleeves, a color blocked bodice with optional trim on the front, and a hood or a cowl for the neckline.

The hood is fully lined and crosses over in the front and has patches for grommets. The instructions call for a faux drawstring, which I did not include. If I want a drawstring, I plan for it to be real and will sew a casing to enclose it, I explained how I did this on the post I wrote last year on the Around the Block Hoodie.

The trim separating the top and bottom bodice is optional and can be used on the front and back. I think it gives it a nice pop of color to separate the sections and is really easy to sew in.

The pattern includes a top and tunic length. I sewed the top length and made no adjustments. The only thing I think I will do different next time is to add the pockets from the Around the Block hoodie pattern or another pattern because umm.. pockets!!

Fabric

Since the hoodie is a more fitted hoodie, you want to make sure that your fabric has 50% or more 4 way stretch. A lot of typical hoodie fabric is thick and does not have a lot of spandex or stretch to it.

I suggest looking for fabric with a spandex content so that you are comfortable in this hoodie. I used a cotton lycra french terry for both bodice pieces, arms, hood, bands and cuffs. The only fabric that was not a french terry was the piping. I used a lighter weight cotton lycra jersey for this part so that the seam was not very bulky. I also topstitched the seam to the upper bodice so it laid nice and flat.

Sewing Tips

The hoodie itself is really easy to sew because you are sewing just basic seams together. I recommend using clips to attach the top bodice to the bottom bodice, especially if using the trim, just so that you keep everything lined up. Then, give it a good press with steam.

The most advanced part of the pattern are the patches and grommets on the hood, and those are definitely optional and decorative so don’t let those intimidate you. If you are feeling adventurous and want to do the grommets, I have a video that I show how to install grommets on a hoodie. You can watch the video here. The grommet section starts at 7:50 into the video.

Resources

• You can find the Be Creative pattern for Women here. I also have made the kids’ version of this pattern and blogged about it here.
• I used white cotton lycra French terry from Simply by Ti for the bands and top bodice. I love how stretchy this fabric is, and it also has great recovery thanks to the spandex content in the fabric. I got the grey/white glitter print fabric from a destash, and it feels like the cotton lycra French terry offered by a lot of custom print groups. The rose pink cotton lycra is from Made Whimsy.
• I blogged about the pink athletic tights I am wearing in this blogpost here.

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

I received this pattern for free as part of the testing process so that I could give the designer feedback about the pattern. 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

Pattern Details

Sizing and Adjustments

Fabric

Resources

• You can purchase the sewing pattern for the Tres Belle Wrap Dress HERE. It is on sale to celebrate its release!
• I got my fabric for the dress at Knitpop.

Disclosures

For today’s blogpost, I am sharing with you the latest pattern by Ellie and Mac – the Kids’ Be Active Shorts pattern.

Be Active Shorts

I was a pattern tester this past month for the Be Active Shorts. I was really excited to test this pattern because I have lots of athletic scraps to use up, and it only took me about an hour to make a pair. It was definitely worth it for how happy he was to get them!

I made him a size 7, which is his measured size.

Elastic Waistband

The pattern has you sew 3 casings in the waistband, and then, you insert 3/8 inch elastic into each casing. 

To get the most comfortable elastic waistband, do not use the suggested waistband elastic measurement in the pattern but rather measure where the shorts sit on the child’s waist and subtract 2 inches from that measurement (so not the natural waist but where the pants are worn).

He was so excited about his shorts. He plays a lot of ball with his brother and dad so they were just perfect for him.

If I make these in the future, I plan to add buttonholes and a drawstring for them, and maybe pockets. The pattern does not include either, but I think they will really bring it up a notch (but also make it take longer to make a pair!).

Resources

You can find the Ellie and Mac Kids Be Active Shorts pattern HERE.

Thanks for reading today! I hope I have inspired you! You may follow me on Instagram or 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

I received the Kids Be Active pattern for free as part of the pattern testing process to give the designer feedback about the instructions and fit of the pattern.

This post also 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 appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.