Made for Mermaids Vivienne and Dylan patterns

Made for Mermaids just a released a collection of coordinating family shirt patterns! There is something for mama, sis, brother, and for the first time: DADDY!  I tested 3 out of 4 of them (I sat out of the daddy one as I was a little too swamped to attempt that one this go round unfortunately).  I still have a couple in process I haven't finished and photographed yet, but I do have a mommy and me matching set I made for my girl and I, and another brother/sister set I was able to make!

The first version I made was a shirt length top for myself and a tunic length top for my girl.  I used some awesome Zebra jersey knit I had bought at Fabric.com several years ago.  I picked up the black and white stripes from Raspberry Creek Fabrics a good year or so ago as well, and the two fabrics have been hanging out on my shelf together waiting for the perfect pattern to use them with.  As soon as I saw the line drawings of the Vivienne patterns I knew this fabric pairing would be perfect for it!

The next set I made was a matching set for my son and daughter.  My kids are both OBSESSSED with all things construction, so as soon as we spotted this fabric at Joann's, they had to have it.  The girl has been asking for a construction dress ever since we bought it, so I knew these would be the perfect pattern to make them a matching set!  The stripes on these are also from Raspberry Creek Fabrics!

Be sure to pick up your copies of the patterns while they are on sale for release! There's Vivienne, Mama Vivienne, Dylan, and Men's Dylan... Or grab the family bundle of all four patterns for a HUGE discount! (but that is only available for a very limited time!)

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these may be "affiliate links" which means that if you decide to make a purchase I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased, but at no additional cost to you.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of sewing up or testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Girl's Portlander Pants from New Horizons

A couple months ago I made a pair of pinterest inspired lounge pants using the Portlander Pants pattern from New Horizons Designs, and they were a hit! I wear them weekly because they are the most comfortable things I own, and they're cute enough to wear in public!

Thankfully, there is now a matching girl's version of the Portlander pants! You can pick up the patterns individually, or grab the bundle of both the girl's and women's if you are needing both patterns! I made my little girl a matching pair to mine... because I clearly have a thing for Mommy and Me sets! :)  I have to admit though, she is in a "dresses only" phase and did not appreciate these as much as she should! Her attitude towards them did improve a bit when a neighbor walked by and saw us in our matching set and gushed at how cute we were, especially her.  I also made her a pair of adorable shorts using the pattern that she thankfully does love, but haven't gotten to photograph them yet.  I'll definitely be making her more shorts for summer, and then try again with the pants closer to fall!

This is a ridiculously fast pattern to sew up.  Even with adding the grommets and making my own drawstring for the pants, I had them done and hemmed in 40 min.  The shorts only took me 15 total! Since my girl is still in a pretty small size, the shorts will be an excellent scrap buster!

I also made us some coordinating shirts to go with our pants.  Hers is a Dublin Dolman in an ivory brushed poly, and mine is a modified Key West Tank that I changed up to have an open back and side vented hem. (The Key West Tank pattern is free with a code found in the facebook group, FYI! Its an awesome basic pattern with several options, and also lends itself to lots of easy modifications as well!) The ivory brushed poly and the floral french terry for our pants are both from So Sew English Fabrics.

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these may be "affiliate links" which means that if you decide to make a purchase I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased, but at no additional cost to you.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of sewing up or testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Sommer and Mama Sommer patterns from Made for Mermaids

You KNOW a pattern is a good one when I make more than one during testing!!  And based on the fact that I completed SEVEN different versions, I would say the new Sommer patterns Catherine Muzatti designed for Made for Mermaids are some WINNERS!!  Yep, I really did make seven versions between the Women's and girl's version of the pattern (plus a few hacks, so check back on that later!), not to mention I had 4 other pattern tests going on concurrently. Phew.

Anywho, 6 of the versions were for my girl, and 1 of them was for me.  I'll share 4 of my daughters and also mine with you now, but I'm saving the 2 other versions that I hacked for later in the week! These patterns have so many options, from skirt lengths to strap styles and added ruffles... not to mention the countless hacks and mashes you can do with them!

The first version I made was my assigned version, a maxi length dress.  I chose to do the single straps, and also added the bodice ruffle.  The bodice itself is a cotton spandex knit from Raspberry Creek Fabrics, and the skirt and ruffle are a cotton woven from Hobby Lobby (from many, many years ago, although they likely still have it!) This is the girl's first maxi dress, and she loved it! Said she felt so fancy. (Don't let some of the pouty faces fool you, she DID love it, but she's 3.5 years old, so what do you expect!)

After I completed my first version (and fell completely in love) I started cutting out 3 more versions for the heck of it!  Then, for one I started for my daughter, I decided to make a matching dress for myself too, because... why not! For our Mommy and me set, the dress portion is a cotton spandex from an old Knitfix fabric from Girl Charlee.  Remember Knitfix!?  I'm still working through my stash that program helped me build!  The cute navy polka dotted bindings are a cotton spandex from Raspberry Creek. Its part of their club line and comes in a dozen fun colors (that are all so perfect for little accents like this!) I opted for dress length and the double straps on these versions!

Next up came a mash of the Sommer bodice with the hi-lo circle skirt from the Noelle pattern. These two are a match made in heaven!  My daughter absolutely adores the Noelle dresses I've made, but I needed a more warm weather friendly bodice to go with it, and VOILA Sommer to the rescue!  I used a cotton spandex from Hobby Lobby for the dress and straps on this version. Also opted for the single straps on this version! There is a whole post on the M4M blog about what other patterns mash well with the Sommer bodice besides Noelle, so go check it out!

Lastly, for my final dress version, I chose another cotton woven as the skirt and paired it with a pretty hot pink cotton spandex from Girl Charlee. (again, from ages ago... thank goodness for an overflowing stash to pick from!)  Both my daughter and son LOVE my little ponies, so this is a much loved dress by everyone in the house! I decided to do another double strap option for this as well!

Phew, if you made it through all that, then BLESS YOUR HEART! Sorry for the overload, I just loved this pattern so much I had to go a little overboard with it!  I still have 2 more versions to share with you, and they are some hacks using other Made for Mermaids patterns. It'll be posted on their blog on Thursday!  Be sure to pick up your copies of the patterns while they are on sale.  Also, I should mention there is a third Sommer pattern I have no use for anymore... the baby Sommer that includes a cute bubble romper! You can get one individually on sale, no coupon needed, or create your own bundle and save! Use the code BUY2SOMMER for $3off your bundle of 2 of the Sommer patterns or code BUY3SOMMER for $5off your bundle of all 3! Bundle discounts are only available during the release sale.

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these may be "affiliate links" which means that if you decide to make a purchase I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased, but at no additional cost to you.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of sewing up or testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Bayside Romper and Dress by New Horizons

Terra at New Horizon's Designs is one of the designers I regularly test for.  I adore her patterns and the instructions are always so clear.  The new Bayside Romper is no exception.  This pattern is PACKED with options, and all of the results from testing were awesome for all of the different versions!

I've had trouble in the past finding RTW rompers that fit me, as I must either have an incredibly long torso... or those are drafted for people shorter than average!!  I was so excited to be able to customize my own romper to fit me!  I made up a pants length romper for testing, and only had to add length to the pants pieces... the bodice fit me perfectly as drafted!!  I love the consistency of Terra's patterns too.  I normally do not need to add length to her top patterns (being 5'7" I am a bit over the standard 5'5" patterns are drafted for) but I do normally add a bit of length to her Portlander pants pattern... and I am pleased to say the new Bayside Romper falls right in line with that consistency!

The fun crossover back is not only a cute visual detail, its also super functional for easily getting the romper on and off without requiring any closures!  This was a surprisingly quick sew, even with all the neat features it has.  And with all of the options, you can make lots of different versions from one pattern.  Up next for me is a shorts version.... Then probably a mini skirt.... and then I'll probably make another pants version. And I need to make a color-blocked version like the cover photo of the pattern. Oh and I've already hacked the pattern to be a pair of joggers, so I'll have an upcoming post of a tutorial for that as well!

This version is all double brushed poly, so let me tell you, its like wearing the most comfortable pajamas possible, but is actually really stylish! I feel so sneaky when I can be this comfortable AND trendy! Striped fabric is from So Sew English fabrics and floral is from Knitpop!

Pick up your copy of the pattern now while its on sale!  You can find it here! You are going to want to grab this while it's only $8. So many options in one pattern!

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these may be "affiliate links" which means that if you decide to make a purchase I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased, but at no additional cost to you.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of sewing up or testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Telluride Top Open back hack

If you follow my blog or other social media posts you know I have a thing for pockets. That's a given.  Something else I have quite the obsession with is open back tops to show off my interesting sports bras and bralettes.  The more straps a bra has the better, and I want to be able to show those off!  I did a super simple hack on the Telluride Top from New Horizon's Designs in order to turn a basic shirt pattern into an open back top! (I say "basic shirt pattern", but the Telluride is actually far from basic!! Its packed with options, I just used the basic options for this hack!)  I wanted to make 2 versions, one in athletic fabric to wear for working out and one in a bright print to pair with jeans!  My athletic fabric is from Hobby Lobby. (And its awesome! I just went back and bought it in 2 more colors because its an excellent weight and was super easy to sew with!)  The bright printed Paisley is from So Sew English fabrics.  I originally bought it to make leggings with, but I changed my plan and opted for a fun t-shirt instead.  I love all the colors in it, and decided to use some solid black ribbing for the cutout and neck binding for a little contrast.  I wrote up a quick tutorial on how I did this hack, which you can find on the New Horizon's blog!

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these may be "affiliate links" which means that if you decide to make a purchase I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased, but at no additional cost to you.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of sewing up or testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Women's Favorite Tee and Girl's Fav Tee from Patterns for Pirates

Just when I thought I had enough "basics" in my pattern stash, designer Patterns for Pirates comes out with a new staple piece!  The Favorite Tee (and the girl's sized Fav Tee) has loads of options from top, to dress with various hemlines and sleeve lengths, not to mention scoop or v-neck options as well!  As a tester for this pattern, I made a dress length version for myself with 3/4 sleeves and a v-neck.  I used some double brushed poly from Sew So English because I knew the drape would be beautiful for a cute little dress.  I know a lot of my cuts from SSE are cut generously, and thankfully I stumbled across one in my stash that was a very generous yard and I was able to squeeze this dress out of it!

I also made a coordinating but not matching tunic top for my daughter using some pretty coral and cream stripes from Hobby Lobby.  I love how the tunic and top lengths have a side vent to them.  Such a classic little detail (and its honestly a whole lot easier to do than I had expected!)

Following the testing period, I made myself another version, this time opting for the split hem top length, and modified the sleeves to be a half/elbow sleeve length.  I opted for a scoop neck on this one to try out the difference, and I honestly love both necklines equally!  The fit on this is so spot on!  I lengthened the top an inch for my height (I'm almost 5'7") and it hits exactly where I'd like it to!  For this version I used a yard of double brushed poly from Knitpop.  I've purchased a whole lot of fabric from there, but this is the first thing I've made with any of it!!

 

If you want to pick up the pattern, you can do so here, and it'll be on sale for the next few days!  There is also the girl's version, and for a limited time a bundled version of the girl's and women's patterns!

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these may be "affiliate links" which means that if you decide to make a purchase I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased, but at no additional cost to you.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of sewing up or testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Portlander Pants

Small sampling of Pinterest Inspiration

Small sampling of Pinterest Inspiration

There are a bunch of beautiful,  floral wide leg lounge pants that show up in my Pinterest feed several times a day....  I have been absolutely swooning over them, so I took a little bit of time and fabric from my stash and made myself a pair using the Portlander Pants pattern from New Horizon's! (It was released prior to the name change, so you may remember it being from Terra's Treasures before she changed the pattern company name, just an FYI!)  The one thing missing from the "Pinspiration" pants is POCKETS!  If you've been following me for a while, you know that pockets are life and 90% of the time I will pass on a pattern if it doesn't have pockets..... Thankfully, there is a blog post on the New Horizon's website with a tutorial and extra pattern piece so that I could add some patch pockets to the front of the pants, therefore making them EVEN BETTER than the "pinspiration" pants!  :)

For my pair, I used a couple of amazingly soft rayon blend French Terry fabrics to make sure they are the most comfortable lounge pants around!  The floral print is from So Sew English, and comes in a couple other color ways as well.  The solid waistband is very lightweight, and ultra soft.  It is the perfect true "oatmeal" color I have been searching for!  I found it at Love Adore knit fabrics, and also grabbed a royal blue and black because one can never have enough solid color french terry's on hand! (or so I like to tell myself...)  These pants came together very quickly, and are exactly what I was looking for!  If you want to recreate these popular pants for yourself, you can grab the copy of the pattern here, and don't forget to check out the blog post mentioned above for adding the pockets!

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these may be "affiliate links" which means that if you decide to make a purchase I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased, but at no additional cost to you.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of sewing up or testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Pattern Test - Sutton Dress from Made for Mermaids

About a week and a half ago I sat down to sift through my patterns and start planning Madelyn's Easter dress.  Holiday's always sneak up on me, so I wanted to be well prepared and start on her dress soon.  None of the patterns I own were really jumping out at me for an Easter dress (except Harper, but I used that last year for Easter!) so I took a break and was going to search around for a new pattern to pick up. No joke, I logged onto Facebook and saw there was a tester call out for a gorgeous new dress in the works from Made for Mermaids! It was EXACTLY what I was looking for in an Easter dress pattern!  I signed up and crossed my fingers and toes that I would be chosen!

Thankfully, I was picked to join in on the test and immediately got to work.  I made a trip the next morning to Hobby Lobby to grab some fabrics for the dress, because despite my over-flowing fabric closet, I truly did not have anything that would work for this dress in my stash!  (it calls for about 2-3 yards of cotton woven and I do not have much of that in my stash!)  I picked up several fabric combinations (and a bunch of notions!), and settled on this stripe and floral combination for my first go.  I also picked up this beautiful pink floral I will make up for her actual Easter dress!

For the longest time I only worked with knit fabric, and I've gotten used to the more "forgiving" nature of knits.  If knit pieces aren't cut precise, its much easier to fudge it with knits because you can stretch them a bit.  I had forgotten how time consuming woven projects are, but I sure do love the crispness of a perfectly finished woven piece!  The details on this dress are stunning: from the princess seams, to the bias ties and plackets on the sleeves, to the perfectly twirly gathered circle skirt!

 

If you are in the market for a new Easter Dress pattern or just a beautiful everyday dress, go get yourself a copy of the Sutton Dress and top pattern while its on sale (for $7 instead of $9 through 3/5 only!!)

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these may be "affiliate links" which means that if you decide to make a purchase I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased, but at no additional cost to you.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of sewing up or testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

New Horizon's TAMI revolution Hoodie

I just love it when pattern designers take a trending design on pinterest and make it reality for us!!

This cozy double hood pattern may be all I make for the rest of the winter.  I made up two during testing and they could not be more cozy!  Both of my versions had the same options, but I'll probably switch it up and try some of the other options my next go around!

Here is one version made with some heathered mint french terry I have been hoarding from Raspberry Creek Fabrics for quite some time now.  I also used some floral french terry scraps from So Sew English Fabrics that were leftover from my Driftwood hoodie test!  I also happened to have the perfect zipper in my stash.  It had a cute little turquoise zig zag on it that matched my fabrics perfectly.  (I bought it on clearance at JoAnns for $.97 last spring!)

My second version is my favorite.  I bought this fabulous neon yellow Double Brushed Poly fabric from Love Adore knits knowing it would likely be an awful color on me, but needing it in my life anyway.  Thankfully this pattern allowed me to use it as an awesome accent!!  I lined the hood on this version to make it a little thicker and cozier.  The grey french terry actually has some silver metallic threads throughout it that were difficult to capture with my camera.  I picked that up at JoAnn Fabrics in the Famous Maker section!! (I also grabbed it in navy and burgundy, because one can never have enough metallic french terry, amiright!?)

This was my first time adding grommets to the garment, and once I figured out how to actually use that little tool that come with them, I was set!  Thanks to Terra for posting this youtube video for me that is! I don't know why I was so intimated by grommets... I would always do buttonholes instead but am now realizing grommets are actually so much quicker and easier!

I do believe everyone needs this pattern in their lives, especially with all the fun options it has!  Go grab it now while its on sale!!  You can grab your copy here!

 

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these may be "affiliate links" which means that if you decide to make a purchase I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased, but at no additional cost to you.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of sewing up or testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

New Horizons 11th Hour Gear pattern set

The newest pattern from New Horizons is a MUST HAVE if you sew for boys!  Its got so many options packed in one pattern set, you can mix and match to your hearts desire!  I made joggers and a plain t-shirt for my son, and he is in love!  This style of pants is perfect for him as he LOVES the pockets, and the fabric could not be softer (its a double brushed poly from So Sew English).

I love that this pattern is also totally unisex.  Joggers work perfectly for little girls, and the shirt is pretty slim so would work great for my daughter as well!  My son has already claimed the next spot on my next sewing project , but after that will be some joggers for my daughter!  Be sure to swing by and grab the 11th Hour Gear pattern for yourself!

Claire pattern - a 2 way dolman top from Made for Mermaids

If I had to list one of my top priorities when choosing a new sewing pattern to purchase.... it would have to be versatility.  I tend to quickly pass up patterns I know I can only sew up once or twice.  I want patterns in my stash that I can use over and over again.  The new mama Claire top from Made for Mermaids is pretty much as multi-purpose and versatile as they come!  Its a dolman style top with a cross over bodice piece, and a crew neck bodice piece, and the kicker is that it can be worn with the cross over in either the front or the back!  I made up 2 versions during testing for this pattern, and love how both turned out!

My first version I made in a cute checked jersey knit I got from Fabric.com a good 2 years ago.  I should note, this was the first version of the pattern that was later tweaked, so the neckline is a little higher on me than it would be with the final version!  I love this worn both forwards and backwards.  I have a thing for pretty lacy bralettes, so I adore how the open crossover back shows them off!  It also looks cute worn with the crossover in front as well!

My second version I made from a very stretchy and drapey rayon spandex that I got from So Sew English fabrics as part of their "make it a bundle" offering. Next time I make one of these tops in such a stretchy material, I will size down as this one grew a size as I sewed it! But, I also love how this turned out!

 

Be sure to pick up your copy of the pattern this week while its on sale! There is also a girls version of this pattern too. The tester photos of the girls top all look super cute as well! For a limited time, you can also purchase a bundle of the two patterns for an even bigger discount!

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these are "affiliate links" which means I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

 

Made for Mermaids first Mama Dreamy Pattern - Joy Dress

I am so excited to have been able to test one of the newest patterns from Made for Mermaids.  This one is also a new addition to the Dreamy Collection, and the first one for Mamas! It also comes in girl sizes!  The pattern is designed for stable knits and features 2 necklines, 3 sleeve lengths, and 5 skirt lengths with everything from peplum to Maxi! The skirt is pleated, and I was initially intimidated of doing the pleats, but it turned out to be so simple and quick!  It can also include a zipper if you wish, but it is not necessary for function, so I left that option off mine to make it even quicker.

My version is a low neck, short sleeve mini length, and I made it using the same kelly green ponte de roma fabric I had in my stash from Girl Charlee from several years ago. You may recall I also made my daughter's Christmas dress from this same fabric.  I love having a coordinating dress to her.  They are similar enough to just be cute, but different styles that it doesn't look TOO cheesy....

joy and noelle2.jpg

The silhouette of this dress is very similar to the popular Lularoe Amelia style dress with the pleats.  I love the fact that I can make my own version at an affordable price and tailor it to fit me perfectly!  The pleats are so flattering.  My next version will definitely include the pocket option though!  You can purchase the pattern here, or for a limited time, pick up the the bundled version with the girls pattern here!

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these are "affiliate links" which means I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Noelle Dress - Newest pattern in the Dreamy Collection from Made for Mermaids

The third pattern I tested last week was the gorgeous Noelle Dress from Made for Mermaids.  Its an addition to their Dreamy Collection, which is a beautiful collection of dress patterns, and includes a series of interchangeable bodices and skirts to create whatever gorgeous creation you wish!  The Noelle features a stand-up boatneck cowl and a high low circle skirt or peplum with optional pettiskirt layers.  Let me tell you, the twirl factor of this dress is perfect!!

I knew I wanted to make a Christmas dress for my daughter to wear to our Santa Brunch at the County Club.  I chose a gorgeous kelly green Ponte de Roma fabric I've had in my stash from Girl Charlee for almost 2 years now.  It was the perfect color and weight for this dress!  I also knew I had to make a pettiskirt for optimal twirling, so I opted for 3 layers of stretch lace.  I found my off white lace at Walmart of all places!

You can pick up your copy of this pattern here.  Remember its meant to be able to mix and match with some of the other pieces in the Dreamy Collection!

The lighting was so perfect for the dress photo shoot, and my kids were in such good moods, I took advantage and turned it into a Christmas Card shoot as well.  Found a winner!

The lighting was so perfect for the dress photo shoot, and my kids were in such good moods, I took advantage and turned it into a Christmas Card shoot as well.  Found a winner!

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these are "affiliate links" which means I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Deer Creek Dress and Tunic by New Horizon's designs

Last week, I somehow managed to pull off three pattern tests at the same time!  Phew. I loved all three patterns and my results were perfect for each one!

First up were the matching elastic waisted dress or tunic from New Horizon's designs.  I was assigned a tunic length top for my daughter and a curved hem dress for myself.  The most daunting task was choosing fabric to use for each!  I knew I wanted them to coordinate as I planned do to pictures together, and even with my extensive fabric collection, I struggled to find 2 things I liked well enough together!  I finally settled on a couple amazingly soft Double Brushed Poly choices.  I also decided on matching leggings for us, although I ultimately decided the leggings with my dress length did not work.  I went with a beautiful burgundy floral print double brushed poly for my dress (from So Sew English Fabrics) and a solid ruby double brushed poly for my daughter's tunic (from Purpleseamstress fabrics).  I also made up some matching leggins in Olive Green double brushed poly (from So Sew English as well).  Side note, if you have not tried sewing with double brushed poly, you need to give it a shot. This stuff is so soft, I felt like I was wearing a nightgown instead of a dress that day!  Do be careful with washing though, as it is a fairly delicate fabric despite its weight and warmth, and can easily pill or snag in the wash!

Back to the pattern at hand... This pattern has 3 different sleeve lengths (cap, 3/4 or long) and 3 different hem lengths (curved tunic, straight dress and curved dress).  It features an elastic waist with a casing, and I honestly found this method of construction the easiest yet!  Since there is no trimming of the seam allowance (phew!), I could use a serger to attach the skirt and bodice pieces leaving a nice finished look inside!  Also, it may sound like it may be bulky because the seam allowance doesn't get trimmed down, but the instructions call for very thin elastic, meaning there is no more bulk in this casing than other methods! I definitely recommend this pattern for beginners as its got clear instructions and simple construction!

Finally, I'd be remiss to mention, this dress has pockets.  You're welcome.

The patterns are available for purchase as a bundle, or individually (girls here and women's here) on the New horizons website!

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these are "affiliate links" which means I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!

Driftwood Hoodie by Striped Swallow Designs

Just wanted to pop in with quick post about the release of the Driftwood Hoodie by Striped Swallow Designs!  Love love love this comfy top!!  This was an awesome pattern to be a tester for!  I used an amazingly soft rayon spandex french terry from So Sew English Fabrics for it (I have it in 2 other colorways as well, so I was comfortable risking one cut on a pattern test!)  And just as I had anticipated... this turned out amazing!

There are some awesome details on this pattern that make it really unique!  I love the cowl and hood combination.  It is so cozy, but the cowl makes it slightly dressier in my opinion!  It also features a banded, curved hem with side vents.  The band makes for such a clean finish, and the curve makes it really flattering to wear over leggings!  The side vents are just icing on the cake of an awesome pattern!  Not to mention, it also has large kangaroo pocket that is a must have for any hoodie.

I love the versatility of this pattern. It comes in shirt length and tunic length.  I definitely see lots of various Driftwood hoodies in my future.  I love that it can be made with contrasting sleeves (they're raglan style by the way!)  Its a great way to use up smaller cuts of fabric that way!  I wore this one round all day and felt beautiful and comfortable!

The Venice Dress - 3 ways

DSC_0126.jpg

Over the summer, New Horizon's pattern company came out with a beautiful dress pattern called the Venice Dress.  I had completely missed any previews or sneak peeks when it was being tested, and I was floored by how beautiful it was when I finally saw it released! It included several lengths and sleeve styles, and all were gorgeous!  I added it to my "to sew" list, but didn't think much more about it for a while. 

As a stay at home mom, my need for a gorgeous dress like this is pretty limited.  I decided I was going to tackle it any way, and come up with a couple other ways to style it so that's its a little more functional for my everyday life!

My idea for this multi-functional dress really started to take shape when I found the perfect fabric to use.  I found a gorgeous and unique heather grey Rayon Challis from Califabrics.  In general, I tend to think Rayon Challis is a pretty dressy material.  It has such beautiful drape.  I thought the heathered nature of this particular fabric made it a little more suitable for every day. (Side note, my 2 yard cut arrived with an unfortunate flaw right in the middle of one of the yards.  The customer service at Califabrics took care of the issue right away, and shipped me an extra yard the next day.  I could have returned the flawed 2 yard cut and received a new 2 yard cut instead, but opted to start working with what I had and wait for the replacement yard. Very pleased with their excellent and prompt customer service!)  I also had some beautiful grey lace trim from So Sew English Fabrics that was the perfect accent for the bottom hem! Of course I had to add the pockets, because if you've read any of my previous posts, you'll realize pockets are life around here!

My first style includes some purple sparkly sweater knit leggings and some grey suede ankle booties.  This look is a step up from my every day-running the kids around look, but still fairly casual. I threw on a sparkly necklace with it to highl…

My first style includes some purple sparkly sweater knit leggings and some grey suede ankle booties.  This look is a step up from my every day-running the kids around look, but still fairly casual. I threw on a sparkly necklace with it to highlight the pretty shape of the neckline!

My second look will be perfect for fall.  I've paired the dress with some charcoal grey tights and tan boots.  I finished it off with a little black and charcoal buffalo plaid scarf for warmth and coziness!

My second look will be perfect for fall.  I've paired the dress with some charcoal grey tights and tan boots.  I finished it off with a little black and charcoal buffalo plaid scarf for warmth and coziness!

My third look is my dressy look.  This is something I would wear to a wedding or a holiday party.  I LOVE THIS DRESS.  To me, its the perfect balance of sexy and sophisticated.  I feel very pretty in this dress, yet comfortable.

My third look is my dressy look.  This is something I would wear to a wedding or a holiday party.  I LOVE THIS DRESS.  To me, its the perfect balance of sexy and sophisticated.  I feel very pretty in this dress, yet comfortable.

This dress is going to be a fall staple in my wardrobe with the many ways I can wear it.  I used to not think dresses were practical for my lifestyle with 2 busy preschoolers, but this goes to prove just how wrong I was!

Finally, I just wanted to point out why Terra from New Horizon's is one of my favorite pattern designers.  There are a LOT of talented designers out there, and I enjoy making patterns from many of them.  Most of them deliver beautiful and well drafted patterns, but I've come to appreciate a few small details in particular, all of which Terra includes in her patterns. Some of these may seem small and trivial, but all in all make for a smooth sewing experience for me!  Here are a few of my favorite little things:

  • Sleeves are not cut on the fold, they have a different curve on the front and the back as our bodies and arms are not the same on the front and the back.

  • When printing in layers, the size is still printed near the line, so there is no more deciphering which grey dotted line you printed to know which size you are working with!

  • Pattern pieces include a dashed line for lengthening or shortening as needed. No need to find the ideal spot and make sure its straight, there's already a line included for you!

The first pattern I made from New Horizons was the Telluride Top.  I was a tester for it, and I was super skeptical of having to make an XS in a fitted top.  I held up the pattern piece and saw lots of curves and thought "thats not gonna work on my rectangle body."  But, it did. And so has every other pattern I've made from New Horizons!  I love how flattering all of the patterns are on every body type! If you haven't made a pattern from New Horizons yet.... I highly suggest you give one a try.

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these are "affiliate links" which means I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of making up more patterns so I can share the love with you!

New Horizon's Dublin Dolman Patterns

A month or so ago I tested another pattern by Terra for New Horizon's patterns. (Formerly called Terra's Treasures, this is also the designer of the awesome color-blocked Elevation Hoodie I wrote about back in February!)  The pattern was for a Dolman top with loads and loads of options!  I made a long sleeve version that included a gathered back and POCKETS!  I have a mild obsession with pockets.  When picking out store bought clothing, I always check to see if tops have pockets or if its a top I would pair with pants that have pockets instead. Either way, I ALWAYS gotta have pockets in some way, shape or form!!  Its definitely a deciding factor in whether or not I purchase store bought clothing.  The good thing with sewing my own garments is that even if a pattern doesn't include pockets, they are fairly simple to add!  Well just my luck, I simply suggested to Terra prior to testing that she include pockets in the pattern, and lo and behold she did!  Hallelujah! There are a lot of Dolman patterns from various designers out there, and I've tried a handful of them, but I just have to say I LOVE the way Terra's patterns are drafted and all the options this one in particular includes!  I was excited when she came out with the girl's version as well! I knew this would be a style I would make a lot for my daughter with the various sleeve lengths and hemlines!  I opted to also make a tunic length for my daughter, but with a straight back instead of gathered like mine.  I love that we can have similar shirts, but with slight differences to keep it interesting! And the icing on the cake of these patterns:  The girl's version includes and 18" doll size pattern as well!  So, OF COURSE I had to make Sienna a matching outfit as well! :)  Now, just LOOK at all of the variations these patterns have!

And, take a peek at some shots of our versions!  Yes, my husband thought I had gone crazy when I sent him the picture of us matching, but you can tell by my daughter's smile that she's in heaven!

You can find these patterns for sale on the New Horizon's Website. They can be purchased individually, or as a bundle as you so choose! There's the Women's version, the Girl's and Doll version, and the Bundle!

All fabric is from So Sew English.  The leggings are made from a luscious Double Brushed Poly, and use the (free) Peg Leg and Bonny leggings patterns from Patterns for Pirates and Made for Mermaids! Codes for these legging patterns are available in each designer's respective facebook group! The dolman tops are made from a couple different rayon spandex cuts I've received in various bundles from So Sew English!

 

Please note that this post contains links.  Some of these are "affiliate links" which means I get paid a tiny portion of whatever is purchased.  Affiliate payments go directly to my fabric fund to continue the cycle of testing more patterns so I can share the love with you!