So, I went way out of my comfort zone and shot a video modeling each of the outfits while chatting with you about the details of sewing the pattern and my thoughts on it. You can watch it here. 

I also want to go over each of the projects here in case you can’t watch the video or want to see still photos. It also will serve as a way to condense all the different posts I have done this month into one place! So let’s get started.

Wardrobe by Me Freedom Dress

I kicked the month off by dreaming of spring weather and flowy dresses and made a Wardrobe by Me Freedom Dress. I used this gorgeous Art Gallery Rayon Challis print. I have worn this dress several times since making it, and I feel like I am floating around in all the tiers and layers. It is so romantic and pretty, and it has convinced me that I need to sew dresses more often.

If you want more details on this project, you can read the blogpost on it here.

The Greenstyle Bianca Pullover and Brassie Joggers

My next sewing project this month was some comfortable lounge wear. I made two pair of Brassie joggers using two different french terries (a berry one from Made Whimsy and a neutral hazel brownish color from Fabric Snob). They are both cozy and perfect for my lifestyle.

I also made two Bianca pullovers, one in a matching berry french terry for my joggers, and another in a Knitpop floral.

You can read my more detailed blogpost on the Bianca here. I also have a sew along for the Brassie Joggers here.

Greenstyle Sundial Leggings and a Cropped Scarlet Swing Top

My next project was an activewear set. I did a sew along for the Greenstyle Sundial Leggings at the beginning of March so I spent a lot of February videoing and sewing pairs of Sundials.

You can watch the Sundial Leggings Sew Along here.

Art Gallery Knit Tops for My Daughters and I

I sewed some comfortable knit tees for my two older daughters using a pretty yellow Art Gallery print.

For my middle daughter, I used the Sofiona Clover pattern and did a simple one with a neckband instead of using the hood. She loves it! I wrote a more detailed post on this project here.

For my oldest, I sewed an Elllie and Mac Oversized tee. She says it is exactly like her favorite store bought top! I also wrote a more detailed post on this project here.

Next, I sewed the cutest Art Gallery strawberry print for my youngest daughter and myself. I used a top pattern with pockets for hers and then all the sleeve detail for mine.

The pattern I used for her top is the Striped Swallow Falling for You. I wrote a detailed post on that one here.

For my strawberries top, I used the Greenstyle Cambria and did the pleated version. Are the pleats so pretty!? I wrote a more detailed post on this project here.

A Quilted Jacket and a Sew House 7 Merlo Field Tee

After sewing for Spring at the beginning of the month, Texas took a turn back towards winter. Out of the blue, we got negative temps and lots of snow – for a WEEK! Not only did we get cold weather, we got rolling black outs and chaos. So, in the dark one day, I was cleaning out a bin of fabric (Side note: It was staying very cozy in my sewing room since it is lined in fabric!), and I found an almost finished quilted jacket that I had started last fall and finished it up. I also made a quick long sleeve tee while I was at it.

You can read the blogpost for that project here.

Named Clothing Ninni Culottes and a Greenstyle Centerfield Raglan

Last but not least, I made another pair of elastic waist pants. These are high rise and full of room and as comfortable as they come. The fabric is a soft and breezy tencel twill.

I think my “go to” simple fitted top pattern for knits like cotton lycra lately is the Greenstyle Centerfield Raglan. I made another one to go with these and love this pairing.

You can find my more detailed post on this project here.

Which project is your favorite? Do you like that video style or have feedback on what you would like to see or hear more about when I do monthly round ups?

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.

XO

Sharon

Depending on fabric, you can make joggers look put together, you can wear them to work out, or you can wear them to lounge around in. Not only are they so versatile to wear, they are not difficult to sew!

I have 3 different patterns to talk to you today about – one for me, one for my husband, and one for all my kiddos 🙂 I also will chat about fabric choices. 

For the Kids – Sofilantjes Cessatio Joggers

This pattern is a newly released pattern by Sofilantjes that comes in 3 languages (Dutch, French, and English). The Cessatio jogger pattern includes sizes 12 months to 14 years and has options that work for all my kids like a paper bag waist (with or without a ruffle), a drawstring waist, front pockets, back patch pockets, or faux welt back pockets. I used a few different fabrics on this one, and I really like the ease and style it has for the kids.

For my youngest, I used a french terry fabric from Knitpop. It is a rayon/poly/spandex blend so it drapes nicely. I have to pay attention to fabric with rayon content that I do not dry it on hot, otherwise it will pill and look worn very quickly.

She is 2 (will turn 3 in just a few months!), but I make her a size 12 months. Since she is tall and slim, I grade up 2 sizes for the rise and for the length of the pants to make them tall enough for her. 

Making adjustments to the pattern for her helps her to have pants that fit her right in the waist and not fall off and be long enough where she needs! I have really had a difficult time buying store bought pants that have a tall enough rise/leg and are slim enough to stay up on her. I am so glad I sew!! 

For my oldest daughter, I picked a similar french terry from Knitpop. I also used the same options as my youngest on her pair. Thankfully, I did not have to make any adjustments for her. She fit right into the size 13. 

The paperbag waist option with the ruffle is probably the most complicated part on this pattern. The front ties are enclosed in the side seam of the waistband and the top ruffle is sandwiched in between the top of the two waistband pieces. The ruffling is caused by gathering a long piece and is not caused by tying the bow.

Here is how it looks to sew the ruffle into the top of the waistband. If you like the look of the ties but not the ruffle, you can omit the ruffle. Both of my girls liked the ruffle look on theirs!

If you have watched me any on my YouTube channel, you already know I am on overclipper. 

For my youngest son, I made a pair in a thick stretch sweatshirt fleece. I did his accents in a green cotton lycra so that the seams were not bulky.

I had to adjust for his height as well and am so happy with how his turned out. The fabric is thick enough to take all his tumbles. He runs and plays hard all day long.

I used the patch pockets on the back on all my kids joggers (except one who did not want back pockets!). The pattern does have a faux welt pocket that looks pretty nice, but my kids like pockets to be real!

For my middle son, I used a really cool wickaway athletic mesh that I got from the Fabric Fairy. This kid is always sweating so I wanted something he could stay cool in for his baseball practices!

I was happy with how opaque this fabric is because some meshes are too see through for bottoms. This mesh does a really good job of not showing anything under it while still having the breathability of mesh.  

The wrong side of the fabric is soft against the skin and the right side is a textured feel. I used the wrong side out on his cuffs, waistband, and pocket openings so the textured part wasn’t against his skin.

I have yet to add a drawstring on this pair. Whoops! Thankfully the elastic in the waistbands of this pattern helps for extra staying up power.

For the drawstring opening (that is there and ready for me to add a drawstring!), I sewed a one inch patch of green fabric onto it, and then used tiny grommets. I like the look of these for the pop of color to match my coverstitching.

My youngest son was pretty bummed that he didn’t get “a pair of eyes” on his. Instead of using grommets on my youngest, I did buttonholes on my sewing machine.

For his drawstring, I used the fabric from his pants and made a long strip that was 1.25 inches wide. I sewed the strip on the long end right sides together and then turned it right side out. His joggers were already getting dirty by the time we made it to this photo because he doesn’t like to stand still at a park!

Joggers for Me – The Greenstyle Brassie Jogger Pattern

For myself, I made joggers using the Brassie jogger pattern. It is one I have blogged about a lot because it is such a staple in my closet! I have made this pattern so many times and love wearing it! I also have a full sew along for this pattern HERE if you want any video support while sewing your joggers. 

This time, I did the midrise file and used a really high end feeling athletic fabric that I got from the Greenstyle shop called Align. I plan to wear them to work out in as well as do my daily active life with the kids in. I copied this pair of pants I saw online and was so happy to have mine at such a better price point! 

I did not use the waistband included in the Brassie pattern. Instead, I used the free contoured waistband pattern so that I did not need a drawstring and that the waistband is nice and firm for working out. It worked out great, but I think I will go up a size on the waistband next time to make it a little less compressive. This fabric has really nice recovery!

It has a cool and smooth feel to it and is not a brushed/warm/soft fabric. I plan to make a pair of leggings with it next. (or a top! It is definitely lightweight enough for a top.)

I tried to get nice photos with a few more of the kids but that didn’t really work out. So, here are some outtakes instead.

For my Husband – The Greenstyle Iron Joggers Pattern

I made my husband the Iron joggers in XL. I picked his size based off of his full hip measurement (the fullest part around his butt) and then used the waistband size that correlates with his high hip measurement (where he wears his pants). I did not use his natural waist measurement since he does not wear his pants that high. 

For fabric, I used this Dharma athletic fabric from The Fabric Fairy. It is a smooth cool feeling knit fabric that is perfect for playing outside with the kids or lounging at home. 

I did a buttonhole for his drawstring opening and used twill tape for his drawstring. This waistband has 2 inch elastic inside of it. 

Since this fabric is so stretchy, I took an extra 1/4 inch out of the inseam all along his thighs to reduce some of the extra ease. 

For pockets, I did the extra deep pocket option on the front and one zippered back pocket. 

In March of this year, my husband began working at home due to COVID-19. Even though this year has been tough, I am so grateful that he has been home with us on so many levels. I am also glad he has another pair of joggers that fit his new lifestyle so perfectly (that happens to be in his favorite color) to round out his collection. 

Resources

• Floral french terry from Knitpop 
• Black wickaway athletic mesh from Fabric Fairy
• This grey athletic knit from Fabric Fairy
• Align Navy athletic knit from Greenstyle
• Sofilantjes Cessatio jogger pattern
• Greenstyle Iron jogger pattern
• Greenstyle Brassie jogger pattern
• Full Video Sew Along for the Brassie and Iron patterns

Thanks for stopping by today!  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.

XO

As a sewist, I can write this same list in terms of what I love to sew in each season! In the fall, one of the many fun items I look forward to sewing is SWEATERS! For today’s post, I want to show you a new sweater sewing pattern I am loving as well as talk about sewing with sweater knit.

The Pattern

The Made for Mermaids Oaklynn is a dolman sleeve top that I was a pattern tester for myself and my daughters. The pattern comes in youth and adult sizing. I made size Pink for myself, a 1 (lengthened) for my 2 year old, a 10 for my almost 10 year old, and a 14 for my almost 12 year old. I did not make any alterations to the pattern.

The Oaklynn has the option of a crew neck, v neck, a crew neck with hood, and a v neck with hood. The pattern has color blocking or solid options for the front, back, and sleeves, as well as a high hip, banded, hip, and curved hem top length. The sleeves also come in 3/4 rolled up, regular length cuffed, or regular length hemmed.

For these two sweethearts I did the cuffed long sleeves in high hip length with a crew neck. I did the same length on my top.

We are all loving this length because it is not quite cropped to where it shows are midsection while our arms are down, but it is just short enough to hit higher at the top of our pants and give the illusion of long legs. My daughter loves that when she lifts her arms up over her head, a little of her stomach does stick out. All-in-all this is my favorite top length at the moment. I think it is really flattering on (especially if you are blessed with shorter legs like me!)

Fabric

The pattern is intended for waffle knit, sweater knit, and other cozy wintry fabrics. I made 5 and found out that this pattern really prefers knits with poor recovery if you are doing a neckband version. If you are doing a hood option, you don’t have to worry about how firm the recovery is on your fabric.

You see, it has a wide neckband, and if you have a sweater knit that has a tight recovery (even if it does meet stretch requirements!), it will stand up and not lay well at all! If you choose fabric that relaxes well, you will be fine. I found most waffle knits meet this criteria!

You are probably wondering why I am talking about this. Well, suffice it to say, I have a beautiful cream sweater at home with a neckband that I had to adjust. Since it didn’t look like the pattern as written, I didn’t take photos of it. I will for another blogpost and just tell you it is an altered Oaklynn. 🙂

I used a double brushed polyester on my youngest daughters top and made her the banded top length. I like the banded length on her because she just gets taller by the day it seams.

My oldest daughter has a very lightweight sweater knit on her top and my middle daughter has all waffle knit on her top. I have learned on my serger that stripes match up pretty well if I let the top fabric feed in slightly ahead of the bottom fabric. In this photo I told my daughter, “Look, I matched up all the stripes!”

My top is the same fabric as my middle daughters, just in a different order.

Sewing with Sweater Knit

Play with scraps before you even start sewing your project. By this I mean, take out all your scraps that are left over from cutting your top out, and sew seams on them to tug on and look at and see if you like them. Ripping stitches on sweater knit is not fun, and most sweater knits need different settings to get the seams to look nice.

Normally, I have to increase my differential feed to keep my seam from getting wavy. I can’t increase it too much, though, or my stitches will not stretch as well as my fabric (which can make them pop!). After sewing, I had to steam the seams A LOT. I still thought my seams were a little wavy in spots, but I was happy overall with how it turned out. If you are doing the color blocked version, I suggest doing your fabric with the poorest recovery on top so that fabric is used on your neckband.

Leave out topstitching your seams. I top stitched my seam that connects my bottom and middle block, and I really don’t like the look so much. I think sweater knit likes to be chunky, and top stitching kind of flattened it out.

I had so much fun getting photos with my daughters!

I think the longest part of this project was picking out fabrics! The second longest part was getting the 2 year old to stick around for the photos.

I think this is a great beginner knit project, and I can’t wait to make another! I want to make one with this V neck option included in the pattern. It is really unique!

Thanks for stopping by today!  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.

Resources

• Fabric – the sweater knit was from local sources, and the double brushed polyester was from Made Whimsy
• Pattern – Women’s Oaklynn, Youth Oaklynn, and a bundle of the two

Disclosures

I don’t have an affiliate link or receive any compensation if you purchase any of the items mentioned in this blog post. I just wanted to share a fun pattern I tried and loved while giving you some tips for getting started if you wanted to sew one too. I did receive the pattern for free as part of the testing process so I could give the designer feedback about the pattern and show what it looked sewn up. Thanks for reading!

XO

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 hat was so straightforward to make that I took the time to video each step of the way. You can see my video of me sewing the pattern HERE.

I have lots of fun inspiration and style to follow, so without further ado, lets get started.

I think this pattern is so beginner friendly that anyone with a sewing machine and a half yard of woven fabric can follow along and make one! 

The pattern includes the options for a standard brim or narrow brim. I found that the standard brim worked great for adults while the narrow brim fits better on kids. The other option in the pattern is for a standard crown and a taller crown. I used the standard crown on all the hats I made. I would suggest starting with the standard crown, and then going to a taller crown if you need your hat to be deeper. 

Fabric

So many different types of woven fabrics work on this hat! I used denim, corduroy, a waterproof performance fabric, twill, linen, and quilting cotton! If you use a lighter fabric like quilting cotton or linen, you will need to interface your main fabric.

Style

I had the most fun looking at what outfits worked well with my hats. Hats are a HUGE part of my wardrobe. They help you out on a bad hair day, give you sun protection, and add that little bit of accessory to give your outfit that extra bit of sass!

Are you a fan of hats? Did you know that bucket hats are such a great timeless trend for ALL ages. From date night, to the pool, to the park, to a fishing boat – just pick the fabric type that goes with the look you want. 

The first way I styled my first hat is what I am going to call “fall cozy.” I think a corduroy bucket hat is the perfect fall accessory and pairs well with a chunky sweater or cardigan. For this outfit, I grabbed a favorite pair of jeans, some sneakers I just got in the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, and an Elevate overlay I made last year.

This chunky sweater is nice and cozy! I think I need a pair of dangly earrings to pull this all together. 

This sweater is open in the back! I wore a power sports bra in this photo, and when it is extra chilly outside, I will put a fitted top underneath. I blogged about this bra here. 

It is also reversible, so I like to wear it with the opening in the front sometimes as well. 

Another hat I made is for rainy days or jumping into the pool! You could make a similar hat using boardshort fabric or a polyester woven that lets rain run off of it! 

I found this fabric in the performance section at Joann. This is a North Shore Swimsuit I made two years ago!

I added ties so that I can strap it on to my neck and not worry about it blowing off! I show how to do this on the video.

I also paired my hat with a Green Tee, and it is perfect for a rainy day!

Another fun way to style a bucket hat is with a flowy dress. I feel ready for a fun date night in this one!

This dress is made from rayon challis using the Havana pattern! I wore it last summer on our beach vacation to Mexico, and it was perfect for putting on over my swimsuit to grab a bite to eat at the burger bar by the pool!

On this one, I did not attach my straps to the bottom back, instead I tie them like a halter top. 

The skirt is gathered and has pockets 🙂 Don’t you love the structure of this hat? I made this one using denim and did not interface it. 

After my daughters saw my hats, they started sorting through my fabric and showing me what they wanted to become a hat!

I used the narrow brim on all of their hats. My older daughters are wearing sizes 20 and 21, and my hats are a size 22. 

The pink hat is a quilting cotton so I interfaced it and then when it was finished, starched it. The other two kids hats were a home decorator/twill type fabric so I did not interface them. 

My youngest daughter is 2 and fits the size 19. The smallest size on the pattern is an 18.

She picked out her outfit and the fabric for her hat. She is so happy to wear it, and I think it has something to do with the joy of picking your own fabric!

Resources

• The Nantucket Bucket Hat Pattern is $8, except during the month of September you can get it FREE with any $15 purchase in the Greenstyle shop (fabric or patterns). 
• Other patterns featured: the Havana Top and Dress, Elevate Overlay, the Power Sports Bra, North Shore Swimsuit, and the Green Tee.
• Fabrics used: twill, home decorator, denim, quilting cotton, woven performance, and corduroy.
• Video to watch me sew the hat can be found here. 

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.

I used the newly released Made for Mermaids Logan pattern because the colorblocking gives it such an edgy touch and allows them to show their own personality and style choices. My oldest daughter wanted a mint/black hoodie, while my middle daughter wanted some distressed pink!

The Pattern

The Logan is a hoodie pattern that comes in sleeveless, short, or long sleeves. The long sleeves can be hemmed or cuffed. The crop version can be made with an easy band or you can hem it, put buttonholes or grommets in the bottom, and cinch it at the waist. The pattern also includes a full length version if you want more coverage. The size range is expansive, from babies to tweens, as well as there is an adult version that picks up where the tweens left off.

Pattern Review

I found the instructions to be straight-forward and that this was an uncomplicated project to sew. I was able to sew one in an evening! The only complaint my daughters had were that their hoodie does not have pockets. I think everything could be better with pockets! I can see why no pockets make sense on the cropped version, but I may need to hack pockets onto the full length if I make one.

My middle daughter did not want to have more than one fabric on her hoodie, so I added detail by reverse coverstitching ALL the seams. It took a little extra time, but I think it was really worth it!

I got the distressed knit for hers at Mily Mae. This was a mauve color I bought a few seasons back.

Help – I need a Panty Pattern

The next project I am working on for them is panties. I used the Stitch Upon a Time Scrundies pattern when they were younger, but the bigger sizes do not fit them well. UH. Do you have any panty patterns that you recommend for tween girls? My oldest daughter is in that range where she still fits at the top of most kids size chart and also fits on a women’s size chart, but the kids aren’t full enough in the backside while the ladies are too wide in the crotch.

Are you sewing any “back to learning” clothes for your kids this year? I know with distance learning and COVID restrictions everyone is out of sorts!

Resources

• Made for Mermaids Logan Hoodie
• Distressed Knit
• Mint French Terry was from Joann but is no longer on their website, here is a similar one though. I used a black cotton lycra from Made Whimsy. It is a lighter weight than the french terry, and I wished I would have had a solid french terry in black in my stash. The criss cross fabric is from a local destash.

Let’s Stay Connected

Was this post helpful? 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

I received this pattern for free as part of the testing process so that I could give the designer feedback on the fit of the pattern. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own!

This racerback tank pattern has the option of 4 different back options and multiple length options. Choose from top to tunic to maxi! I made my oldest daughter the tunic length and my middle daughter the top length. 

I used all cotton lycra fabric for their tanks. The solids came from Made Whimsy Fabric. 

This print came from Jumping June Textiles, but I don’t see it in stock anymore. 

I used the single fold binding method to finish the edges. Now that I have a coverstitch, it makes it so easy and quick!!

For my oldest daughter, I used this Flavor of the Day print from Art Gallery. 

My daughters (and my oldest son) are leaving for camp for the week, and I have to admit that I am terribly sad. This is their first time to go to camp, and I am happy with the social distancing procedures put in place by the camp and know they will be safe and have a blast. I am just going to miss them!

Grab your pattern HERE while it is on sale! The pattern is also available in Dutch here and in French 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 to give the designer feedback about the instructions and fit. 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.

The Pattern

The Hibiscus is a one piece swimsuit pattern for girls that features side cut outs and a beautiful tied back that makes it really easy to adjust (such a win for one pieces and growing kids!). The sizing goes from Newborn to size 14!

The Hibiscus pattern is full of options and frills! You can choose from side ruffles, waist ruffle, top flounce, or leg flounces. If gathering swim is a pain to you, the top bodice and leg flounces do not require gathering so are a lot quicker than the ruffles. The swimsuit has the option for a full front or a pieced front so that you can use whatever size scrap you are working with!

I messed up several times while sewing for one main reason: I got way too excited and jumped ahead in the instructions. So, don’t be like me when you sew this suit. Take it one step at a time! Where I had to seam rip: (1) On the back top of the bodice binding, I didn’t read the actual instructions so I didn’t have a 3/8 inch overhang to enclose the strap loops in. Thankfully, it was an easy fix, but it did take quite the time to undo! (2) On the front ruffle, I ruffled all the way to the edge where it ends at the front of the swimsuit. I had to go back and make sure my ruffle ended 3/8 inch before the edge so that my ruffle didn’t get turned under when I put elastic in the bottom.

Sizing

What did go right? The swimsuits fit beautifully, and my daughters are both super happy with them! I used a straight size 8 for my middle daughter. Thankfully, all of her measurements fit squarely into the size. For my 2 year old daughter, she was a size 3 for trunk length and a size 18 month for chest, waist, and hips. So, when cutting out my pieces, I used size 3 for the length and size 18 month for the width. I was kind of holding my breath that everything would work, and it did!! I was so excited when she tried it on and that she had a suit so custom designed for her. Definitely trust the measurements and grade! It is worth it!

The Fabric

I LOVED sorting through scraps of swimsuits that I had made for myself and combining them into new suits for my daughters! The floral and gingham fabric came from Raspberry Creek fabric. The pink solid came from Made Whimsy! All of them are scraps from sewing North Shore Swimsuits!

Do you want to sew one? Join me for a sew along starting July 24th! The Sew Along will be in The Styled Magnolia Facebook group! One participant will be getting a $50 gift card to The Styled Magnolia and another will get a $25 gift card to Honeydew Kisses Patterns!! I will have videos on my YouTube channel each day showing how to sew the pattern so you won’t get stuck along the way!

I think you will have fun and that this may just be your face when you finish the suit!

You can grab the pattern here. The new release sale ends today!

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 to give the designer feedback about the instructions and fit. 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.

For myself, I made the Greenstyle Power Sports Bra with the nursing option and the Greenstyle Super G shorts.

Video Tutorials

You can watch me sew the nursing option of the Power Sports Bra HERE. If you want to see how I cut the Super G pattern into shorts, you can watch that video HERE.

I am nearing the end of my nursing journey, which is bitter sweet, but I am glad I took this chance to memorialize it and record how to sew the nursing option of the power sports bra! Hopefully, it can be helpful to those who are still in that stage or sewing for someone who is. I really struggled with finding good nursing sports bras before this pattern was released, and I just can’t say enough amazing things about how well this fits and how easy it is to make! I have at least a dozen in my closet and would happily make a dozen more!

I also sewed myself a new Muscle Up tank to wear over my bra. You know, I can’t just walk around in a bra and short shorts all day. 🙂 I used cupro for this one. It is such a buttery fabric with low stretch and good drape.

I LOVE the armscye on this pattern. It is a unisex tank, and I also have made several for my husband. It is my go to tank when I want a looser fit for a breezier tank. I prefer it in fabrics that have nice drape.

For my daughter, I made the Sofilantjes Litore.

This dress has a fun strappy back and several skirt options. I chose the high-low circle skirt on the pattern.

It is really good that I am able to sew because this girl does not have a typical shape for store bought clothes. She has had the same chest, waist, and hip measurement since she was like 4 or 5 months old. She seems to put all her growth in the upwards direction and has stayed in the 75% for her height, though. This means that store bought clothes are way too baggy if the length is correct.

For this dress, I made her the 18 month width and a 2t for the height. I probably could have made her the 12 month for width, but hopefully she will get a little extra tummy some time soon.

We had a fun goose come and visit us during photos. It kept her very happy and occupied while taking photos! It got very close to us, which made me a bit nervous. It never did anything but honk at us a lot, though. Has a goose ever attacked anyone?

She loves that I put pockets in her dress! Of course, my shorts have pockets too!

Resources

• Fabric: Feather Bound is on preorder at The Styled Magnolia through May 17th on multiple fabric bases. Of course, my fave and the one I used is Athletic Brushed Polyester.
• Fabric: Cupro, not sure where it is in stock at the moment. I have been looking for more!!
• Patterns: Power Sports Bra, Muscle Up Tank, Super G Tights, and Sofilantjes Litore
• Video Support: Nursing Sports Bra, Super G Shorts, Muscle Up Tank
• Other Supplies: Bra Cups, Clear Elastic, Soft Waistband Elastic, Nursing Clips

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you find my nursing bra tutorial video helpful! Let me know if you have any questions.  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 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