Siestas and Sewing

I recently had the opportunity to try out* a new tween/teen pattern called the Breeze Top designed by Shannon from Little Kids Grow. Shannon has older kids herself and knows how hard it can be to find sewing patterns for that age group! Scroll on down to the bottom of the post for a coupon code and a chance to win your very own copy of the Breeze Top.

While MG is a tween by age she still fits into children's patterns so K (my 15 year old) was the guinea pig this time.

pattern: Peaches and Peanuts Breeze Top

size: 12

fabric: cotton/lycra rib knit and Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush voile

mods: due to lack of yardage the top is shorter, I didn't cover the elastic in the back

The Breeze Top can be made out of a knit, woven, or a combo of the two. I chose to sew a knit bodice and a woven 'skirt'. Per the pattern, there's a back band that you insert 2 cuts of elastic in to gather the back on either side of the racer back. But I had this soft elastic in the perfect width that was teal. I couldn't bear to cover it with fabric!

I serged the bottom of the racer back and the top of the back 'skirt'. To attach those to the elastic, I laid the elastic on top of the serged edges and used a zig zag stitch to sew it on. The zig zag stitch stretches with the elastic and doesn't pop like a straight stitch would have.

A cotton/lycra jersey would be a better choice than the hefty rib knit I used. But there again, the color was spot on so I couldn't resist using it. Shannon recommends sewing a muslin of the bodice to double check fit. Tweens (and teens) body shapes can vary so much even if their measurements are the same. I confess, I didn't make a muslin....and I really should have. The shoulder seam doesn't hit on the top of K's shoulder like it should. If I had made a muslin, I could have corrected that before cutting into my good fabric. Live and learn!

I love how light and airy the voile is. It's the perfect fabric for summer time and hot weather. It also gathers effortlessly.

Be sure to check out the other bloggers that are participating in the pattern tour. There are so many other fabulous versions of the Breeze Top. Pockets, ruffle fabric, dresses, swim coverups, lattice back, piping...there are all kinds of creative customizations! Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you don't win a free copy of the Breeze Top, Shannon has graciously provided a discount code. Use "BREEZETOUR" for 25% off the pattern. The code is good through 6/27/2014 at 11:59 pm.:)

*I received the pattern for free but as always all opinions are my own

Amanda, the guru behind Kitschy Coo, has released another fabulous knit pattern! This one is called the Comino Cap Top & Dress. There are 4 different variations: a sweetheart seamed top, a single piece cap sleeved top, sweetheart seamed bodice + a-line skirt dress, and a single piece bodice + a-line skirt dress.

I always look at pattern testing as an opportunity to try new fabric combinations. K has a lace back white t-shirt that she dearly loves but it was showing it's age. So, my first size 1 try was a sweetheart seamed top with lace for the upper bodice and back. Sadly, that one didn't fit K (luckily it fit her friend) so no pictures for the blog. When it came time for me to sew one of the last pattern revisions, I pulled out some of the stretch lace and paired it with a black cotton/poly interlock. I love the finished top! It's a dressier version, something my wardrobe was lacking.

This one was my first Comino Cap Top in a size 4 and one of the earlier versions of the pattern. The flower print interlock was leftover from a birthday gift I sewed a few months ago. Not my usual style...I definitely wear more solids...but it makes a cute summer top!

While digging through my fabric stash, I came across this interlock print that I had picked up several years ago from Hancock Fabrics. It was on the clearance rack and a steal at $1.99/yard. K asked for a dress from it so I did the single piece bodice + a-line skirt dress.

I may be a bit biased but I think she looks gorgeous in this dress! I sewed a size 1 for her.

I really like the Comino Cap dress and tops that I sewed. I'm sure they will become a staple in both mine and K's wardrobes. I'm looking forward to experimenting with the pattern and doing a bit of customizing. Maybe even try a maxi dress length like some of the other testers. You can get your own copy of the pattern at Kitschy Coo's online shop

HERE.:)

*I was a pattern tester so I received a copy of the pattern for free. However, I fully endorse this pattern and would absolutely buy it.

Thanks to my fabulous in-laws we were able to spend a week at the beach with my husband's side of the family. His parents weren't able to come down until Tuesday because his father had been in the hospital with pneumonia. Luckily, my father-in-law's health improved enough that he could fly down and spend the rest of the week with his 3 kids (+ 3 spouses), 12 grandchildren (+ 5 spouses), and 6 great-grandchildren!

The little girls ~~needed~~ wanted new swimsuits for the beach house so I pulled out all my swimsuit patterns and fabrics and let them choose.

BK really wanted another one piece but I convinced her to go with a tankini to make it easier for bathroom breaks.

patterns: top- Ottobre Design 03/09 #38 "Seahorse" swimsuit bottoms- Kwik Sew 3998, view B
sizes: top-128 bottoms- M 7/8
mods: a bunch! see below

Since BK is so enamored by Kwik Sew 3998 I modified the pattern to make the bottoms. I used pattern pieces 15, 16, and 17 and then added a waist band with elastic. I could have made the tankini top with the same pattern but I wanted to use an old favorite...Ottobre Design "Seahorse". Last time I sewed this BK was in a 110! I cut the pattern off right above the leg openings to make it into a top. The straps are also applied a bit differently than the pattern calls for.

BK chose a pink/white polka dot tactel/nylon from my stash and I paired it with a solid pink that Rachel Le Grand from Nest Full of Eggs so kindly sent me. Thanks, Rachel!

patterns: top- Jalie 2564, view B bottoms- Kwik Sew 3605, view C
fabric: swimsuit fabric from Hancock Fabrics
sizes: top- I bottoms- small
mods: didn't do the adjustable straps on the top

Jalie 2564 is out of print but it includes a long camisole with shelf bra, double front pull on bra, and bikini or brief underwear. I originally purchased this for the long camisole but the pattern sat and sat until I this past year when I pulled it out to make underwear for the little girls. I've made 11 pairs (I think!) and the girls love them.:) Back to the bikini, MG requested a bikini top that was straight across. I debated drafting one but then realized that I could use the Jalie pull on bra pattern. I did add elastic to the binding to ensure a snug fit.

I added a little green tie to the front of the bottoms so that they tied in with the top better. If I had had more time while sewing these, I would have added a green waistband. MG loves the Kwik Sew boy shorts...no wedgies when you jump into the pool!

This post is part of the Shorts on the Line sewalong. Shorts on the Line 2014 is sponsored by: Britex Fabrics, Hawthorne Threads, miss matatabi, and Soak Wash. Hosted by imagine gnats, small + friendly, and Kollabora.

My turn, my turn! This year as part of the Shorts on the Line sewalong, I'm sharing what I did with the Jalie 3351 Swim Shorts pattern. While I'm going to make a pair of swim shorts eventually, I decided to make...

...running shorts!

pattern: Jalie 3351

size: O

fabric: Heathered Quick Dry Performance Fabric from Jo-Ann Fabric

mods: eliminated the inner brief, cut the waistband elastic longer than the recommended length

*There is an error in the printed pattern instructions so you should refer to the downloadable instructions HERE when attaching the waistband to the shorts and briefs.

I'm not the first person to think that the swim shorts pattern would make good running shorts. Per the pattern description..."They are also very comfortable for running (especially with mesh briefs) or tennis." Also, Dawn at Two On, Two Off made running shorts here and here.

K goes running pretty much every day. I've been slowly adding to her running clothes so that laundry doesn't need to be done quite so often. I've discovered that quick dry fabrics are the way to go as cotton shorts tend to develop embarrassing sweat marks on long or hot runs. I found some performance fabric at our local Jo-ann Fabric store that is very similar in feel to a pair of Soffe Dri Shorts that I recently bought her.

The shorts fit great and have a neat side detail with pockets! Though, if you wanted to leave the pockets off and have a more conventional side, you could easily lengthen and square off the side panel pattern piece and skip the pockets.

The side panels and separate waistband are great for color blocking. I left out the inner briefs as K has never cared for how they feel. The recommended elastic length for size O was too tight for K so I ended up cutting the waistband elastic 2 inches longer.

After pictures, K went for a 5 mile run to test out the shorts. She came back with a smile on her face saying that they worked well. I'll definitely be sewing more!

The last time I sewed Class Picnic Ruffle Shorts, BK wore a size 5. She outgrew them at least a year ago. They were always a favorite so it was time to sew up a new pair. This time with a few more modifications to make my girl happy. The shorts are also one of my entries in the Shorts on the Line 2014 sewalong contest. If you'd like to participate, more info is HERE.

pattern: Oliver + S Class Picnic Shorts
size: 8
fabric: hot pink twill
mods: A lot! Zip fly, added 1" in length, added 1" to the front panels on the side, squared off the front panels, put darts in the back for some shaping, topstitched the crotch seam, added raw edge ruffles, and made the fit a bit slimmer Whew!

I used my Zip Fly Tutorial to add the zipper and loosely followed my original Ruffle Shorts Tutorial for the rest of the shorts. I wanted a bit of a slimmer fit so I sewed the inseams and zip fly first and then had BK try on the shorts so I could adjust the fit. BK's ready-to-wear shorts that she likes have a leg opening of approximately 18". Based on that and BK trying on the shorts, I ended up cutting close to an inch off the back panels to get the fit I wanted.

I wanted the back to hug BK's curves so I added 2 darts for shaping. The back waistband does still have buttonhole elastic for sizing flexibility. I really like the raw edge Hosh Pants that I made for MG back in the spring so I decided to leave the ruffle edges unfinished. There is a line of stitching about 1/2" from the edge to keep the fraying in check.

The top is also from the Class Picnic pattern. I wanted to sew a top to coordinate with the shorts and was wishing that BK still fit into the Swingset Tunic. A lightbulb began to flicker over my head and I decided to try and make a spaghetti strap Class Picnic blouse.

I finished the armholes with bias tape and then added the straps to the front and back bodices in a similar method as the Swingset Tunic. I'll post a tutorial when I make the next one. There are a few snags I ran into that I need to address first.;) I'm not the first to make a sleeveless Class Picnic, Jessica at A Little Gray made one with bias tape ties last year.

This is the perfect summer outfit for my active girly girl!

Want to know how I made the Class Picnic Blouse into a spaghetti strap top? Pop on over to the Oliver + S blog to find out!

If you're visiting here from Oliver + S for the first time, Hello! My name is Cindy and I sew for myself and my four kids known as K, P, BK, and MG here on the blog. As the kids grow older, I'm finding that I'm not sewing quite as much. Time to sew is hard to come by with four active kids who always seem to have a practice or activity away from the house. My productivity may be way down but I did manage to sew an Oliver + S outfit, Jalie running shorts, swimsuits and more swimsuits, and tops for my girls and myself this summer. Hopefully, with all the kids back in school in a couple of weeks I'll have more time to sew.:) Thanks for stopping by!

I have always wondered what leads a blogger to go from posting on a regular basis to seemingly disappearing from the online sewing community. Did something tragic happen or have they quit sewing altogether?

I can confidently say that in most cases it's a matter of life being busy. Once you get out of the routine of posting every few days it gets harder and harder to find the time to start again. I'm doing my best to get back in the habit of blogging again.

School is back in session here and fall sports are proving to not be quite as jam packed as I originally anticipated. P broke his left arm at middle school football practice a couple of weeks ago so that cleared tackle and flag football practices/games from our schedule. He's doing fine...disappointed that he won't be able to play but not in any pain. With a little extra time available, I'm hoping to get back on the blogging wagon and share on a more regular basis. Fingers crossed!

pattern: Mission Maxi by Jamie Christina purchased from Pink Chalk Fabrics

fabric: rainbow stripe knit from the red tag table at Jo-ann Fabrics

size: 2

mods: added 2 inches length and took in bodice by 2 inches overall

Cute fabric, right? Not so cute to try and cut out after it's been washed. The stripes ended up being horribly off grain. Luckily, I had been forewarned via Instagram by Laura (@thegrimtuesday) who made herself a Lady Skater top from the same fabric.

The pattern is great and a very easy sew. I spent more time trying to make sure my stripes were straight before I cut the fabric than I did sewing the dress. I'm glad that I finally caved and bought it! I did add some length to the dress since I wanted to hem it. I also ended up taking in the side seams right under the arm as the arm holes were gaping a little bit. From this picture, I can see that K needs a sway back adjustment. I suppose it's time for me to learn how to properly do one.

K is not the only one with new stripes to wear...

This is my second 'Grey Stripes Sun Top' and this one is officially MG's.;) The fabric is a nice hefty weight cotton-rayon blend knit that Christine so nicely sent me from The Fabric Stash.

I love how her shoulders peek out. Too bad the top doesn't meet the school's dress code. With any luck, it will still fit next summer.

Happy first day of Fall!

We've all got that one pattern that we love to sew and for me that is the Oliver + S Sandbox Pants. I've sewn it up countless times over the years. It's a great basic pants pattern all on it's own but with a little imagination you can make pretty much any kind of pants/shorts with it. This time around, I made a pair of shorts for BK. If you want to see my other renditions of the Sandbox pattern over the years, check out the Oliver + S blog HERE.

pattern: Oliver + S Sandbox Pants
size: 8
fabric: Sew Classic Bottomweight Twill from Jo-Ann Fabrics (army green)
mods: shortened the pants to shorts, curved the bottom of the front pockets, contrast topstitching, used gray ribknit fabric for the waistband

For a slightly more feminine look, I rounded the bottom of the front patch pockets. My inspiration was this pair from Mel.

I double stitched the pockets and topstitched the side/crotch seams with light gray thread for interest. Added bonus is those pockets and seams are very sturdy now! Always a plus since BK is hard on her clothes. I also used a ribknit for the waistband as I thought the twill was a little too stiff to be comfortable.

The shorts are perfect for our warm (so far) Fall! I'm sure I'll be using the pattern again to make a pair of long pants once the weather turns cooler. Perhaps a pair of convertible Sandbox pants like Brittney made?

Another Kids Clothes Week is in progress and even though I didn't make any plans to participate this time around, I found myself sewing for the kiddos. One project was for K but ended up being too big on her so I am the proud new owner of a Briar top. Pictures and details to come when I find some time (and a photographer). I've also been slowly working on a trench coat for MG. BK wasn't left out...she got herself a new long sleeve top. Can you guess what pattern it is?

Sure enough...it's a Bimaa Sweater! Sarah of LouBeeClothing has expanded the size range from 6/12 months all the way to 12 years. And it's the Crafterhours Friday Fiver so from 10 am EST today to 10 am EST Saturday you can purchase the pattern for $5 with the code FRIDAY5.

pattern: Bimaa Sweater from LouBeeClothing
size: 10
fabrics: cotton/lycra knits
*I was a pattern tester of the expanded sizes so I received the pattern for free. All opinions are as always my own!

BK's chest measurement puts her is a size 8 but since the Bimaa is meant to be slim fitting I went up to the size 10. BK prefers a little more ease in her clothes.;) For reference, she now wears a 10/12 (for shirts) in RTW.

perfect amount of ease, not too tight and not too loose

The Bimaa Sweater pattern has more options than the cowl. It also has a shawl collar and a hood. I really like the way the hooded version looks. I'm thinking of giving up my precious wool/nylon knit fabric I've been hoarding so that I can make MG one to wear for Girls on the Run practice. It would be perfect for running in cool weather. But that cowl...there's no denying that it's super cute!

I took advantage of the beautiful afternoon and no running around right after school to take a few pictures of a top that's been finished for over a month. I had plans to photograph the top shortly after finishing it (with a stunning location to boot) but I had forgotten to put my memory card back in the camera. One of those Doh! moments. I'm not the only one who has those, right?

pattern: Oliver + S Ice Cream Top
size: 8
fabric: Tula Pink - Prince Charming - Dandelion in Coral

Not much to say about this pattern that hasn't already been said. This is the fourth time I've sewn it and I love the way it looks. It pairs perfectly with a pair of shorts (Sandbox Shorts here) or jeans. My younger girls prefer knit tops but will happily wear an Ice Cream top.

The only thing I did 'differently' was to cut the yoke on the cross grain. I had slightly less than a yard of the Tula Pink print left and by the time I got around to cutting the yokes out there wasn't much left. I like it! The direction change is subtle but it's there. I think it adds a little additional interest.;)

Who's that girl?

Why it's MG! She's been missing from the blog lately but agreed to be one of my models to help show off what I made with the 2 yards of 100% organic cotton jersey that Organic Cotton Plus sent me.

pattern: Skater Dress from Kitschy Coo
size: 7/8 years
fabric: Cloud Cover cotton jersey from Organic Cotton Plus and a few pieces of a Chez Ami jersey that is no longer available
mods: added a pocket and an extra inch in length to the sleeves
*Organic Cotton Plus sent me the 2 yards of fabric for free. All opinions are as always my own (and in this case MG and BK's too).

The dress is a little big on MG as in truth, I made it for her younger sister. Shush, don't tell!

The jersey was a dream to cut and sew. The only 'hard' part was pressing and pinning the hem prior to sewing. Jersey fabric (almost always) curls in on its self. But with a little patience and a lot of pins/pressing it's not a big deal.

pattern: Oliver + S Hide-n-Seek Tunic

size: 8

fabric: Cloud Cover cotton jersey from Organic Cotton Plus

mods: cut the back yoke narrower and on the fold to eliminate the buttons (there was a recent tutorial on the O+S blog showing how to do it HERE), cut the lower back piece not as wide, used a larger seam allowance (3/4") for sewing the neckline

The Cloud Cover Jersey is 55" wide and with 2 yards worth I was able to cut out a dress and a top. I did need to use another fabric for the front and back yoke lining on the Hide-n-Seek Tunic. I also didn't have quite enough width when it came time to cut out my final piece. Basically, I ended up eliminating the need for gathering on the lower back pattern piece. That was lack of planning on my part and could have been avoided if I'd thought it through before cutting.

Even though eliminating the gathering in the back was a make do moment, I rather like how it looks. If you did it in the front and also did color blocking, it would make a really cute customized Hide-n-Seek top.

But the gathers are also sweet!;) My inspiration for the top was this Gymboree top that BK wears multiple times a week. I had planned on adding buttons on the sides of the front yoke but we decided that the blue top was pretty enough on it's own. My one other mod was to use a larger seam allowance on the neckline to make sure that there was enough room for the tunic to pull on over BK's head.

Both girls agree that the organic cotton jersey is soft and comfortable to wear. After the photo shoot, they opted to keep the clothes on instead of changing back into what they were wearing. You know you have clothing that will get worn when they aren't begging to change!;)

This sew was both a pattern bust and a fabric stash bust!

pattern: Oliver + S Secret Agent Trench Coat
size: 8
fabric: mustard yellow twill and a floral stretch poplin
no mods

Like all Oliver + S patterns, it's a good one. It's a bit more time consuming than some if you make your own bias binding for the seams (which I did--can't believe I didn't get a picture of the inside!).

I sewed this up over a few weeks as my days of being a stay-at-home-mom are over. I recently started working at a retail store while the kids are in school. Right now it's seasonal but I'm hoping they will keep me on after the holidays...even if it does cut into my sewing/blogging time.;)

My only problem was picking a contrast fabric since I didn't have quite enough of the yellow twill. The O+S forum (it's all new if you haven't been there recently) came to the rescue and the consensus was to go with a print that I had on hand. Good call ladies! Choosing buttons was another dilemma so I sought the opinion of those on IG and Flickr. Orange was the overwhelming choice and MG loves them!

See you later, Alligator!

I wouldn't feel right jumping in to 2015 sewing with out some kind of close to my 2014 sewing. I don't have the time (nor pictures in some cases) to devote entire posts to each of theseso here's a down and dirty wrap up of 2014's projects:

Hosh Pants, size 8 with yoga style waistband (the expanded sizes/waistband haven't been released yet), aqua interlock and yellow ribbing

*Grandma Made*

I know I didn't sew these but they are so darn cute I couldn't resist sharing. I did buy the pattern.;) Simplicity 1233 Frozen Costume MG wanted Anna's coronation gown and at the time there wasn't a specific pattern so my mom worked her magic. Thanks Mom!

The Thinking Closet Settlers of Catan free cut file on the onesie and the free Go To Baby Leggings pattern for a special baby gift that was long overdue.

Lady Skater Dress, size 1, blue cotton/lycra knit

Excuse the headless picture...K had double jaw surgery a few weeks before this pic was taken and didn't want her swollen face showing. Yes, the hem is uneven. Some things I just don't notice until I see a picture of it.

Here's a sneak peek at some sewing that was done before K's surgery. Once the pattern is released, I'll fill you in on all the details!

My sewing goals/plans for 2015 are to keep it simple and to only sew what I love. Should be easy, right? Hope everyone's New Year got off to a great start. I can't wait to see what y'all make in 2015!

Ever since I put on my first long sleeve running top with thumbholes, I've been a bit obsessed. It sure beats tugging down your sleeves to cover half your hand. And I'm not the only one, it seems. Thumbholes are popping up everywhere!

pattern: Bimaa Sweater from LouBeeClothing

size: 10

fabric: Charcoal Gray Microfleece from Jo-Ann Fabrics

mods: added thumbhole cuffs

MG has taken over the other Bimaa top that I made (BK and collars or high necklines do. not. go together very well). I knew the size 10 would not be slim fitting on MG but that was okay since this is a layering piece. And I was too lazy to trace off the size 8.;)

I made new cuffs that were longer than the pattern, marked where the thumb openings needed to be, and sewed. When I stitched the cuffs to the sleeves, I placed the thumbholes 1 1/2" forward of the sleeve seam.

Though it doesn't show up so well on the microfleece, I used a decorative stitch around the hood edgein thread that matches the cuffs and hem band.

Now MG is ready to go running with me on cold days...and we'll match!

When it comes to sewing, I'm pretty fearless. I'll tackle any project even if I ~~know~~ think it's above and beyond my skills. After all, if you break it down and take each individual step as it comes, it doesn't seem quite so complicated.

So when my oldest daughter wanted a moto jacket, I threw caution to the wind and dove right in to my hardest sewing project yet!

pattern: Ottobre Design Woman 02/2013 #11 'Biker Style' Linen Jacket
size: 34
fabric: Black Pleather from Jo-Ann Fabrics and heavy black lining fabric (originally from my mother-in-law)

This was my first time sewing with pleather but it was very similar to sewing with laminate fabric. I used a Teflon foot and a microtex sharp needle in my machine. Just like with the raincoats I sewed, I used Clover Wonder Clips to hold the fabric together and for the front zipper. Unfortunately, they didn't do me any good with the zippers on the sleeves. I ended up using Wash A Way Wonder Tape to hold those in place.

There were several times during the construction of the jacket that I began to wonder what the heck I'd gotten myself into. The sleeve gussets and zippers were not fun to construct. I didn't really understand the directions at the start but went ahead and followed them. I limped my way through the first one and did an okay job of it. Midway through the second one, I googled "sleeve gusset tutorial" and came across this tutorial. Even though the jacket in the tutorial has a seam down the front of the sleeve and the steps are in a different order than the Ottobre Design instructions, the pictures helped to clarify the process for me. The second sleeve gusset and zipper went in much nicer!

The sleeves are set in which was a bit challenging. There again, the first sleeve gave me fits but the second one went in smooth as silk. Too bad I didn't have a practice sleeve to work the kinks out before sewing them to the jacket.;)

It was when the jacket was almost completely done that I had my biggest issue....the hem band. I followed the instructions but the pleather kept stretching and getting wrinkled when I tried to sew the outer hem band to the jacket. I had to rip out my stitching several times and the pleather in that section was starting to look rough. Pins would have really come in handy here! I ended up putting my walking foot on the sewing machine which helped some and topstitched the bottom edge of the hem band. The topstitching really did the trick as it stabilized the band.

So there you have it...my most challenging sewing project(yet)!

The sisters at Frances Suzanne are up to it again with a twist to their Flip this Pattern series. February is a "Free for All" where everyone can be a competitor and can use any pattern as long as it's free. Who doesn't love a free pattern?

From February 9 - 20 various bloggers will be sharing a free pattern of their choice and you guessed it, today is my day!

pattern: Kitschy Coo Tennis Skirt

size: 5Y/6Y, version 2

fabric: Sofia Floral Interlock

*Ideally, you should use a cotton/lycra or ribbing for the waistband but we were snowed/iced in and I didn't have any in my fabric stash that matched.

mods: made the waist band a little longer since BK wears a 10/12 in ready-to-wear (RTW)

I'm a fan of all things Kitschy Coo and this pattern does not disappoint! It comes in 3 sizes: 18 month/2T, 3T/4T, and 5Y/6Y. There are 2 versions to compliment the rounded bum/belly AND the straight up and down body. (I've got one of each.)

A couple of weeks ago, my middle girl needed a black skirt to wear to school. They needed to dress up for their field trip to the symphony. I had a black corduroy one started but ran out of time to finish it. No big deal, she could wear her younger sister's black skirt...except it was too big.

The morning of the field trip I got up early, printed off the Tennis Skirt pattern pieces, dug out some black knit fabric, and half an hour later had a black skirt. The Tennis Skirt pattern saved me! That skirt has been worn multiple times since that day. You can't beat a basic black skirt.

I also made the Peek-A-Boo pattern shop Janey Jump Around dress. My original plan was to make a long sleeve top from it to pair with BK's Tennis Skirt but I didn't have enough fabric that would coordinate with the skirt. I need to stock up on solid knit fabric.;)

pattern: Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop Janey Jump Around

size: 8

fabric: knit print from Joann Fabrics, City Weekend Interlock, and stretch velour from Chez Ami Fabrics (none of these fabrics are available anymore)

mods: continued the ribbing on the neckline all the way to the side seam, left off the buttons/loops, did double sleeves (lack of fabric again!), and added length to the sleeves

I had fun mixing and matching fabrics for this dress. I'd love to do a version similar to this.

Be sure to check out the other bloggers as they share their free pattern creations:

And don't forget to link up your Free for All creations right HERE.

BK needed an active wear top for running and I had this really nice cut of merino wool/nylon/lycra knit that was begging to be used. A quick look through the Ottobre Design magazines and we had the perfect pattern. BK looked through my ribbing stash and picked an excellent contrast fabric. I love this color combination!

pattern: Ottobre Design 04/2014 #37 'True Friends' Hoodie
size: 140
fabric: Watermelon Pink Merino/Nylon/Lycra knit from New Zealand Merino and Fabrics ,swimsuit fabric for the hood and inner pocket bags, and cotton/lycra ribbing
modifications: added some length to the body and sleeves, made thumbhole cuffs

Cold weather active wear tops have to have thumbholes (at least at our house)!

BK picked a pretty aqua blue for the ribbing and I didn't have any jersey that was the same shade. However, I had a rashguard that was too wide and short to fit anyone sitting in my swimsuit fabric bag. It was a great match to the ribbing. Bonus: the slick surface makes the hood slide on and off easily with minimum hair messing up.

I love everything about this top...the hood with ribbing on the edge, the welt pockets, the thumbhole cuffs, the wide ribbing waistband, the colors and most of all, BK wearing it!

My oldest wanted a one piece swimsuit for her lifeguard certification class and around that time Shelley made one for her daughter. It was a Jalie pattern that I had been eyeing and seeing it made up by someone I know was all the incentive I needed to purchase it. (I sewed this swimsuit 2 months ago but didn't have a chance to get photos until we were on vacation this past week.)

pattern: Jalie 3134

size: O at top, Q at bottom, and U for length

fabric: Peacock Blue Tricot Satin Matte Nylon Spandex Knit Fabric from Girl Charlee (this color is no longer available)

I screwed up a little when tracing the pattern. There was quite a bit going on around me at the time and I kept losing track of what size I tracing! No fault of the pattern...next time I'm blending between sizes I'll wait until the little girls are in bed or at school;)

Per K's instructions, I kept the swimsuit all one color and didn't add any piping.

The back pattern pieces are where I messed up while blending sizes. Luckily, despite my blending blunders, the swimsuit stays in place while swimming laps and practicing rescues! K wore it for all 5 of her classes and reported that it was comfortable to wear. While it won't get much wear this summer at the beach, it'll come in handy when she swims laps as part of her cross training during track season.

I also made myself a new swimsuit...well, bottoms at least...for our recent vacation in Florida. I only have this one picture that K snapped before trying out our Go Pro camera underwater. Sadly, I seem to have left the bottoms some where in the Florida Keys as I couldn't find them when we were back in Kissimmee and I had K all ready to take some pictures.

pattern: Barrie Boy Cut Briefs from Kitschy Coo*

size: 4, mid rise

fabric: Black Tricot Satin Matte Nylon Spandex Knit Fabric from Girl Charlee

mods: I fully lined the bottoms and skipped the gusset.

*Full disclosure: I tested the pattern so I received a copy for free.

After numerous swims in the pool and several beach outings, I have found my new favorite swim bottoms! The key difference from all my other (6!) bottoms are the bands at the waist and leg openings. They hold the bottoms in place but don't dig in to my skin like elastic has a tendency to do. I promise that I will be sewing more for the summer and I'll make sure I get photos.;) I basically lived in these while we were on vacation (until I lost them). Bonus: the Barrie Briefs are a really quick sew since you don't have to fiddle with elastic.

We had a wonderful time in Florida and got to spend a few days in the Florida Keys which was a new experience for everyone but my husband. I even got to meet up with Alisa from Making More With Less who was in Orlando with her husband. This vacation was just the break the entire family needed after a very busy past 7 months. I'll leave you with a couple of pictures from our time in Florida...

Kissimmee, FL l resident gator in the lake behind the house we stayed at

sunset in Key West

pattern: Oliver + S Fairy Tale Dress, View A
size: 8
fabric: Lisette poplin print from the Spring 2012 collection and white Kona Cotton
mods: piping on the sleeves and I omitted the belt and bow

a little crumpled from being worn

BK picked the fabric and the pattern. I wanted to leave the sleeves off but she insisted that the dress have sleeves. There was a brief moment of panic when she tried on the dress midway through construction and complained that it was uncomfortable under the arms. I went back and trimmed the seam allowances and crossed my fingers. Happily, there were no complaints today when she wore the dress to church!

Also, per BK, I left off the fabric belt. I still think it would look cute with something at the waist. I'm keeping my eye out at work for a white girl's belt. If I can find one before the dress is outgrown, I'll add thread chain belt loops to the side seams to help hold the belt in place. Assuming of course that BK will wear it.;)

pattern: Oliver + S Butterfly Blouse + Skirt
size: 7, the skirt was cut at an 8 length
fabric: Lily Pond woven cotton* and White cotton interlock, both from Organic Cotton Plus
mods: eliminated the peplum from the Butterfly
*I received the Lily Pond fabric for free from Organic Cotton Plus in exchange for a honest review. However, I purchased the white interlock. I've been very happy with all the fabric (rib knit, twill, jersey) OCP has sent me over the past 18 months. I hadn't actually purchased from them and when I needed some white knit, it was time to put my money where my mouth is. Spoiler: I'm very happy with the fabric I bought!

It's been awhile since I've bought a pattern right after it was released. But I really liked the Butterfly blouse and the fact that it could be sewn out of a knit or a woven fabric. MG likes simple, unfussy clothes so I eliminated the peplum. I took the peplum pattern piece and taped it to the front and back bodices, overlapping the 1/2" seam allowances. I also folded out the extra width of the front peplum pattern piece.

Knit tops are what my little girls prefer to wear. I usually use cotton/lycra knit as that seems to be the easiest to find but I prefer the weight of a good interlock. The interlock from Organic Cotton Plus doesn't disappoint! I'll be ordering more to use for some selfish sewing.;)

I used cotton voile (OCP included a scrap at my request with the Lily Pond print) for the keyhole facing and the bias binding at the neckline. I love the keyhole opening in the back! Some of my favorite tops from Gymboree have that same detail. I used elastic instead of a thread loop to hold the opening closed.

Like so many others have said, the Butterfly skirt sews up really quick. The pleats in the front add a little interest to an otherwise simple skirt. MG likes that the front waistband is flat.

It's a great pattern to use a fun print. I love the whimsy of the lily pad print. The fabric looked familiar to me but I couldn't quite place it. Then it dawned on me...it's part of Rae Hoekstra's Lotus Pond fabric line. I did a quick search online and it looks like Organic Cotton Plus has the fabric for $1 less than other retailers. They also have a few other prints from the Lotus Pond fabric line. The fabric is a little lighter weight than your typical quilting cotton...perfect for a summer skirt.

As you can see, MG is very pleased with her new outfit!

My little girls are following in big sister's footsteps and are exploring the world of Track & Field. Two of K's high school coaches run a track club during the summer for kids 5-18 years of age. Practices are held 3 nights a week and it's been very hot here. The girls had several athletic t-shirts but 100 degree weather really calls for tank tops.

pattern: Crafterhours Racerback Tank Dress (free!)

fabric: Performance Fabric from Jo-ann Fabrics

size: 5-6 for M and 7-8 for B

modifications: lowered armholes, shortened length

The younger girls had a real problem finding shorts that fit and were a style they liked this year. I had searched all our usual kids' clothing stores but we had no luck. The shorts they do have are starting to become quite worn out. Luckily, Ottobre Design had a pattern that I thought might work.

pattern: Ottobre Design 03/2014, #34 'Minnie Mouse' shorts

size: 128, added about 1/2" to the length

fabric: cotton twill in stone from Organic Cotton Plus, leftover from my shorts here

Both MG and I are happy with how they turned out. The only qualms I have is that they are a bit short and the seat of the shorts is a little baggy on MG. I ended up serging and turning up the hems to preserve as much length as I could. Next time, I'll add an inch so that I can do a double fold hem. As for the baggy butt, it's just the way things fit on her. If she wasn't going to outgrow the shorts in 6 months, I'd see about doing an adjustment.

Summer meant next to no sewing for me between work, taking kids to practice, and taking kids to their summer jobs. I spent more hours in the car than anything else this summer. Though I was able to spend several mornings at the beach each week since my son's cross country practice is held at a state park across the street from the ocean. So there were a few perks to being the taxi driver!

School has started now and even though I am still working, I'm going to do my best to squeeze a little sewing in. I've missed it! Now the question is, do I go ahead and trace off BK's size to make a pair or move on to fall sewing?

I am way behind schedule for this post but in the end I think it worked out best. Back in October I was asked to pick a fabric from Organic Cotton Plus* for my semi-annual blog post. I dithered for a bit and wound up asking my little girls to pick out a fabric. They chose the Waverine Interlock which is an animal print. Between finding a coordinating rib knit (I ordered the White Fine Rib) and then the holidays, sewing was put on the back burner until after we returned home from Wisconsin.

How did it work out for the best? Well, January is Jungle January at Pretty Grievances and these clothes will fit right in.:)

BK is wearing a Kitschy Coo Skater Dress. I took the size 7/8 that I had traced off and added a little width and length to it as she wanted a looser fit. Every time BK asks me to sew her a dress she states that it needs to be fitted up top and then flare out and it has to be comfortable. That is why the Skater Dress is my go to pattern for her. It's perfect for church, playing in the backyard, or whatever mischief my youngest gets in to (which is A LOT).

I had enough leftover fabric to make MG a top until I made a ~~big~~ little cutting mistake. Uh oh. Since I had promised a top, I was going to make a top even if that meant substituting another fabric for one of the pieces.

MG is wearing an Ottobre Design top from the Fall 2015 issue. "Rosy Grey" sweatshirt (#30) in a size 128 width with 140 length. For future reference, I found the neckline ribbing to be a little too long and the hem band a bit short. It's a hard to see but I finished all the seams with the mock coverstitch stitch on my sewing machine in blue thread.

I'm having a tiny bit of regret regarding my choice of using the White Fine Rib for the back. My reasoning was that I wanted the wearer to be able to look down and see the Waverine Print. But when I handed the top to MG, she assumed that the white was the front.Too late to do anything about it now but if I run in to a similar situation, I'll put the solid on the front.

As far as the fabrics, I was a little concerned about the how the waverine design would hold up since it's printed on top of the interlock. So far, it still looks like new and it's been through the wash multiple times. I'll post an update at the end of winter to let you know how it's doing. I love the white fine rib. It's so soft! The recovery is okay. I will definitely be using it again to make tops out of.

*Disclosure: Organic Cotton Plus sent me the Waverine Print in exchange for a blog post. I purchased the White Fine Rib. I am a part of their affiliate program but also a happy customer or I wouldn't be doing these posts!:)

Hello there! Long time no see.:) It's hard to believe that it has been an entire year since I last posted here. What have I been up to? Well, I've been working a lot more and any free time has been taken up with my oldest daughter's college search. She decided last spring that she wanted to continue running in college. Spring of junior year is a bit late to start the recruit process but we jumped in and did our best. Over the last year, K applied to 11 schools, went on 6 overnight recruit visits (2 D2 and 4 D3 schools), and was accepted at all 11. She's turned down over half of the schools but we're still waiting to hear back about school scholarships that she applied/competed for before she makes a final decision. It's a nerve wracking process!

Amidst all the college stress, I was asked to pattern test the Rowan Bodysuit and Tee from Megan Nielsen. It was a great distraction and bonus, I got back behind the sewing machine!

Forgive my goofy posing and facial expressions...I'm out of practice!

From the Rowan pattern description: "The ultimate wardrobe builder fitted tee and bodysuit. Pattern features figure hugging close fit, three neckline options, three sleeve lengths and tee or bodysuit versions." I sewed up a long sleeve tee with the v neckline in a size medium using a forest green cotton lycra blend.

I have nothing but good things to say about the pattern! It took no time at all to sew which is a definite plus to me these days. I chose not to sew the bodysuit option but the instructions for doing so were very straight forward. Sewing v necklines are not my strong suit but I had no problems doing this one.

The fitted tee is a great wardrobe staple. My favorite item to pair it with is a denim a-line skirt and tall boots. I've also worn it with skinny jeans, layering a long cardigan over the tee. Megan Nielsen also released the Flint pants/shorts pattern that works perfectly with the Rowan tee.

I've worn my Rowan tee many, many times.The fitted tee filled a hole in my wardrobe that I didn't even know I had.;)

Thanks for stopping by and happy sewing!

Over Half Way Through

Breeze Top Tour

The Captivating Comino Cap Top & Dress

Summer Swimsuit Catch Up

Shorts on the Line: Jalie 3351

Hot Pink Ruffle Shorts

Customizing with Oliver + S

September Stripes

Sandbox Love

Bimaa for BK

Ice Cream for Fall

Girls in Blue

Autumn Secret Agent Trench

2014 Wrap Up

Thumbhole Obsession

Ottobre Design Moto Jacket

Free For All!

'True Friends' Hoodie

Swimsuit Season

Mother's Day (Easter) Dress

Butterfly Blouse + Skirt

Run, Jump, Throw

New Shorts

Animal Print for the New Year

Rowan Tee