A blog of Sewing Sweetness. Pattern Reviews, Tutorials, and More.
I was completely excited to find an email in my inbox from Audrey of Skirt Fixation inviting me to join a tour celebrating and showing off the latest fabric line from Bari J. for Art Gallery Fabrics, Indigo and Aster. I actually met Bari …
As part of the summer capsule I’ve been working on, I was on the hunt for woven top patterns. I particularly wanted several with thin, spaghetti-like straps because I know my girls choose clothing based on comfort and they are already complaining about the heat. …
I’ve been working on several projects while also trying to pack up my sewing space to do some room swapping with the girls. For this post I’m sharing some makes from Oliver +S with fabrics from Riley Blake Fabrics, but I want you to know that these pieces are part of the capsule I’ve been working on. You will see these pieces mixed and matched with other parts of my capsule down the road.
I won quite a few patterns from Oliver + S as part of my Project Run and Play prize winnings. It’s so exciting because many of the patterns come with tops and bottoms which gives them an even greater value. I’m a total sucker for patterns that give you options and multiple pieces. For this post, I used the Swingset Tunic and the Puppet Show Shorts. Each of these patterns actually contains a top and a bottom as part of the pattern, but I mixed and matched a bit.
The Swingset Tunic definitely pushed my brain power. This is not one of those tops that you can wing without the directions. You really have to mark all the notches in the pattern pieces and follow the exact directions to make this top. I struggled on this first one, but I really do love the finished product. The sizing in the size chart was spot on and I didn’t need to make any adjustments. I made a straight 4. It is a perfect top for summer and I know it is going to be worn. I made top with Penny Rose Lawn that was sent to me from Riley Blake fabrics. The weight was a great match for this pattern and will be perfect for hot summers. My capsule was mainly based on the colors sent to my by Riley Blake, so you will see reds and blues have a heavy presence in my pieces.
The Puppet Show Shorts are a super quick sew. They have no outer side seam. Two less seams speeds up the construction process. These shorts also feature a gathered pocket, but I left this off because I knew I was planning to pair these with tunics that would cover the feature and I was trying to be efficient with my time. Now, I know I said I saved time leaving off the pockets, but I have to confess that I wish I would have left off the bias binding around the legs. It worked perfectly, but I’m just not great at doing bias binding on things, especially if the binding is made by myself. I just don’t like the stress of not catching the binding on both sides when I stitch everything together. I’m OCD about that type of stuff I suppose. I used navy linen for shorts which also came as part of my winnings from Riley Blake Fabrics. I somethings have troubles with getting the girls to wear linen because sometimes it is itchy and not comfortable. I haven’t had any complaints about these shorts yet, so I’m calling that a win for sure.
Overall, my favorite thing about these two pieces is that they look nice enough to wear them out to dinner, but are comfortable enough for everyday play. It’s a perfect combination of what I would want for myself. I really look forward to seeing how these two pieces play into our summer capsule wardrobe. I’ve already paired this top with some yellow shorts I’ve made and it looks great!
Have you been following the recent videos and posts about The Great Upcycling Challenge? To kick off this challenge I’m partnering with Candice Ayala, SewingPortfolios.com, and some of my friends to share some tips and tricks we utilize when we upcycle. Michael Miller Fabrics …
I’m beginning to tackle sewing through my prizes from the awesome package I received from Project Run and Play. Part of my package was a bundle of 8 patterns from Violette Field Threads. How amazing is that?! It was like Christmas! Thanks to Violette Field …
Well my friends, it has been a busy blogging week if I do say so myself. I’ve had quite a few posts and while I’m typing this out I’m printing a pattern to make a costume for a school musical. I’m almost to the end of my sewing list… except for the last two tasks are the biggest projects I have. Have you seen that I’m planning to whip up a capsule wardrobe for the twins? Find all the details here (plus a free capsule planner to download) if you want to join in on this #capsulesewcial.
A few weeks back I found an email in my inbox from Suz of Sew Pony Patterns asking me to join in on an Instagram tour for her newest pattern, the Jeune Twin Set. I’ve sewn several of her patterns in the past and blogged …
A week or so ago popped a little sneak of this girl in a new dress on Instagram and I can finally share all the details of this new pattern with everyone. This is the Callie’s Strappy Back Top, Dress, and Maxi from Simple Life …
I haven’t sewn anything for myself since my Joy Jacket. I was feeling like I needed to get my adult sewjo juices going, so when I saw Love Notions had a new dress pattern coming up I thought I’d give it a go. This was actually the first time I’ve been selected to help with a pattern test for Love Notions, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I found that Tami took a lot of care to help make this pattern a great fit. I think she ended up with 5 revisions before she settled on final product. I was impressed by the little details that were tweaked to get this ready for the masses. *This post contains affiliate links.
The Sonata dress, is a simple dress with no closures. The size range goes from XS-XXXL and includes bust sizes as well. The pattern includes four sleeve options and several options for the neckline which includes a facing (exposed or hidden), plus a lined bodice option. Elastic in the back gives this woven pattern the ability to pull on, yet allows for a little but of cinching in at the waist to keep things flattering. This pattern has been tested using many different types of wovens, but my personal opinion is that you can get the most flattering look with a fabric that has a nice drape. I used this fabric that I bought from JoAnn’s sometime last year. It’s from the Nicole Miller line and is so SOFT! I’m pretty sure it is rayon, but I’ve obviously slept since I bought it. Seriously a comfy make!
The Sonata is recommended for the confident beginner. I feel like this is an appropriate label. I also love that a beginner would gain some additional skills when sewing this up. Tami has included directions on how to adjust the bust darts so that you can get a personalized fit for yourself. For myself I did not need to move the darts, but I did make a length adjustment utilizing the shorten and lengthen line. This is a typical adjustment for myself.
For my version I chose the hidden facing, however be sure to check out the exposed versions of this dress in the listing. Using the exposed facing is a great way to add a pop of color or contrast to your dress. I may try that on my next version. I also plan to use the flutter sleeve on my next version. Sleeveless isn’t the most flattering on my arms and my body hasn’t seen the light of day since last August, I need to cover up as much as possible until I get some sun on my skin.
I also have to give some kudos to my oldest daughter (nine years old) who helped me out by shooting these photos. I think she did a pretty great job! It was the most awkward photo session we’ve had in a while because people were fishing off the bridge around us and we both felt totally dorky standing in the middle of the road while she shot photos and people were standing around nearby. Oh the things we do for our beloved hobbies.
Part One Every year when the temperature begins to warm up, I dream about how I could create my girls’ entire summer wardrobe. I imagine the girls running around in adorable, yet wearable clothing and know it is going to hold up because I made …