Comfy Coral Cowl // Lane Raglan

 

 Can you say it three times fast?  Comfy coral cowl?

Fall is in full swing and it's time to get out the warm and comfy.  I recently tried on a cowl-neck sweatshirt that I really liked, but only came in gray and black.  I'm a girl that loves colors and thought, I bet I can make this.

 I used the Lane Raglan pattern from Hey June as my starting point. My pattern is cut out as an extra small, but for this I added a little width and length for a looser fit.

 I also tried to angle the hem from the back to front.  The goal was a fit that would cover my bum.  It's a personal preference, but I pretty much will only wear leggings if my bum is covered.  Mission accomplished here.

 The fabric I used is a sort of micro fleece.  It's super soft and stretchy, but wasn't easy to sew with.  The cut edges curled quite a bit and made it difficult to sew the bottom band and neck.  Overall, I think it's cute and it's definitely comfortable.  Now I'm on the hunt for a better fabric for my next one.  I'm thinking french terry.  Any suggestions?

Make It Perfect's BIG JOEY // Pattern Testing

 If you are a regular reader of my blog, you might know that I absolutely love pattern testing for people.  So, when Toni from Make It Perfect offered up the Big Joey pattern with a bit of a short turnaround time, I didn't hesitate. 

  This cute little tunic/dress is right up my alley.  The pattern is for knits, which I love to work with and my daughter loves to wear.  The pockets add a nice detail to front and a nice little spot to stash acorns or chilly hands.

 

The thing I love most about this dress/pattern is that the style works pretty much year round.

 I can see myself making many more of these, especially since it came together rather quickly.

 You can find this and other great patterns HERE.  I may have to try the grownup version of this for myself.

This pattern was provided to me for free for.  I am not being compensated for this post and all the opinions expressed are my own.

Back To School Boys Necktie

 I can't believe I haven't had a post up since mid-August.  The end of the summer was a little crazy with last minute vacations and getting the kids ready for back to school.  My son is starting Kindergarten this year and our town has them start a week after the big kids.  So, there's been quite a bit of mommy at home time.

 I wanted to make the little guy something special for his first day and came across this Tie Tutorial from Fishsticks Designs.

These adorable ties are so easy to make.  The tutorial has instructions for a velcro neck-strap which is what I made.  I ended up making my neck-strap narrower and longer than the instructions indicated.

This guy was so cute and excited for his first day.  When he got home he told me that a teacher asked him if he was the principal.  He was pretty excited about that!  I'm thinking maybe the Star Wars tie for Monday.  

Which is your favorite?

Perfect Little Lunch Bag Pattern is HERE!

 It's finally ready!  My Perfect Little Lunch Bag Sewing pattern is here.  Hopefully just in time to sew up a new bag for school.

 The pattern features a little ice pack pocket, a zip closure, 2 different sizes, and the bag is totally machine washable!

Get your pattern HERE.

I'd love to hear what you think!

Lunch Bag Pattern NEWS

With school right around the corner, I've had a lot of readers writing to ask where my lunch bag tutorial has gone.  I haven't had a chance to respond to every email, so I'm making the announcement here, hoping it reaches everyone who emailed.

I took the tutorial down a few weeks ago with the intention of writing up a more extensive pattern.  I'm getting really close to being done and I'm hoping to release the pattern for sale next week. Here's a little sneak peek.

I feel a little bag taking down my free tutorial, however, I try to keep ads to minimum on my site and I'll be selling this pattern at a fairly low cost.  It will include a full size pattern and instructions for 2 different size bags as well as a pocket for an ice pack.

Check back soon for more information.

I WONDER How I Lived Without....

wonder clips!  I've seen these neat little clips on other blogs and have been wondering what all the fuss is about. 

 So, I grabbed a small pack with a 50% off coupon at Joann's one day.  These puppies are pretty expensive.  But, oh my goodness, they are amazing!  I'm in backpack making mode and these work like a dream.

 Using pins to put together these backpacks is tough and my hands usually end up with many little scrapes and punctures.  Never again!  I'm waiting for another coupon so I can pick up a few more.

 Summer is in full swing, but school still feels like it's right around the corner.  I've got 2 new toddler backpacks in my etsy shop and more to come. 

Have you discovered Wonder Clips yet?  

What's your favorite project to use them on?

Sun Kissed Hat - Make It Pefect Pattern Parade

When Toni asked me to participate in the Make It Perfect Pattern Parade, my first thought was "what, huh, me?"  What an honor!  My second thought was, perfect timing.  We took a 2 week vacation to visit family in Florida and my daughter was in desperate need of a functional hat.

 The Sun Kissed Hat is a really great hat.  First of all, it's reversible.  I let my daughter peruse my fabric stash and pick her own hat fabrics.

The thing I love most about this hat is the little opening in back that lets you pull a ponytail through.  Perfect for my long haired little girl!  I've got on in the works for myself and my mom has already requested one for her.

I ended up having to alter the pattern a tiny bit.  The band on my first hat was a just a bit too wide.  I also only interfaced one of the 2 fabrics and the hat was a bit too floppy.  So on my second version, I shortened the band and interfaced both the inside and outside brim pieces.

I think it's safe to say the girl loves her new hat!

In case you missed the start of the parade, here are all the previous posts.  

Thanks so much Toni for letting me be a part of this!

The Make It Perfect Pattern Parade 

A Happy Stitch // A Lemon Squeezy Home // Behind the Hedgerow

Craftiness is not Optional // Craftstorming // Cut Cut Sew

DoGuincho // Film in the Fridge // Girl Like the Sea

Horris & Deedle // Glitter + Wit // Imagine Gnats

Janelle Wind // Made with Moxie // Miss Matatabi

No Big Dill // Noodlehead // Probably Actually

Sanae Ishida // Sew Charleston // Sewing in No Man's Land

Skirt as Top // Stitched Together // The Drapery 

Things for Boys // Zaaberry

Penelope Peplum Dress: One for Me, One for the Girl

 Last week I saw 2 really cute versions of the Penelope Peplum Dress over at iCandyHandmade.  I had seen the pattern when it was first released at SeeKateSew, but wasn't sure how it was different from the Lady Skater.

 If you read my blog, you know how much I love the Lady Skater Pattern.  Kitschy Coo also shows you how you can use your pattern to make a peplum top.  I have yet to try it, but it's on my list.

 The big difference with the Penelope Peplum is that the top is finished with a facing rather than a binding for a cleaner look.  So, I do really like my finished dress, but I will tell you, I only purchased the peplum top pattern.  I actually didn't realize until I sat down to cut and sew that I needed to buy a separate pattern for the skirt to make a dress. 

 I figured between the skirt piece from my Lady Skater and all the other dresses I've sewn, I could figure it out.  I added some in-seam pockets that I learned how to do when I made my Minoru Jacket.

 I'm happy with the dress overall.  The back view isn't great.  The top is probably a tad tight and the skirt is kind of wonky on my behind.  Oh well. Most people probably only see the front me. 

 Since I bought tons of this fabric from Girl Charlee, I made a similar dress for my daughter.

 School is almost out and she needed a special dress for a school presentation.  I used the tank top pattern from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom and added a gathered skirt.

So easy and so pretty.  She really wanted us to wear our matching dresses the day of her presentation, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.  She understood, thank goodness.  I was going to have to spill some ketchup on my dress otherwise.

Girls Bow Back Tank Top TUTORIAL

 

 I've been trying to work through my fabric stash and in the process, make some new clothes for my kids.  And, if I'm being totally honest, I'd love to make room for some new fabric!  I'm trying not to buy anything new, until I use up some of the old stuff.  So I cam up with a little pattern hack to help the process.  I bought a cute scoop back tank from Old Navy for my daughter and decided to recreate it with a little bow in the back.  I started with a free tank top pattern from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.  Mine is a size 8.

 I used the pattern to cut a front and a back, but on the back piece, I cut an extra deep scoop.

 I do my finishing/binding a little differently than the tank top tutorial shows.  I cut a strip of fabric that is 1.75 inches wide, iron it in half and then sew it to the raw edge of the neck, stretching it slightly as I go.  Whether you do it my way or bind it like the original tutorial shows, you'll have to cut the binding longer.  I didn't give a measurement because it depends on how deep you cut the scoop.  I always make my binding longer and then just cut off whatever extra I end up with. I sewed the shoulder, then added binding to the arms.  You'll want to add your bow before sewing the side seams.  You can do it after, but it's a little harder to manipulate.

 To make the bow, cut 2 pieces of fabric that are 8x6 inches for the bow, and 2 pieces that are 1.5x4 inches for the center.  With right sides together, sew along each raw edge with about 1/4inch seam allowance.  Turn right side out.

Fold the center piece in half lengthwise and sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Turn so that raw edge is on the inside of the loop.

 Pull the bow fabric through the center piece.

 Adjust the center piece to make a nice bow.

 Pin the bow in the back scoop neckline (I forgot to take a photo of the pinned bow).

 Top-stitch around neckline, making sure to catch the edges of the bow in the stitching.  Sew the sides seams and hem.  Super easy!

 I made 3 in about an hour.

 And the girl loves them!  Really cute and helps her stay cool.