Skinny Pants Sew Along Day 4

Skinny Pants Sew Along

Day 4

Today we finish the Skinny Pants.  I hope you have enjoyed sewing with me and are loving your Skinny Pants!

Simple steps for today:

1.  Sew leg side seams.

2.  Sew crotch together.

3.  Add waistband and hem pants.

You are finished!  Congratulations!  Now, lets see some photos of Skinny Pants in the sewing group.  See you soon.

XOXO,

Kara

Peplum Sew Along

Peplum Sew Along

Are you ready for a quick sew along?  The Peplum Top and Skater Skirt are such quick patterns, you can have a new outfit in just a couple of days (or if you do it all at once, just a few hours!).  I'm planning to make a holiday outfit with the Peplum as a sparkly top and Skinny Pants.  I hope you will join me!

Here is the schedule we will follow.  Grab some fabric and get ready!

Nursing Modification -- Peplum Top

Hey ya'll! This is my *first* post here for Jodi, but I already feel at home with the Jocole family! When I burst onto the self-care sewing scene like the kool-aid man, ya'll were huge in building my confidence and inspiring me at every turn. So I thought it was high time I returned such generosity!

Today, I'm going to taunt you with the unreleased peplum tee show you how to adapt the upcoming peplum tee with easy nursing access.

Now, don't fret! Just because this pattern is unreleased, doesn't mean you can't whip up your own version tonight! You can use this same tutorial to adapt any knit bodice pattern you have laying around. The quick dress, for example, would make an excellent substitute.

Let's hop to it, shall we??

As with all of my projects, this one started with a need. Mine is 13 months old and HUNGRY.

So I designed a project around the need for nursing pieces, that are appropriate for 90+ degree weather, and fit my overall aesthetic. For that last part, I found this inspiration piece! (Hey, I can afford to dream $$BIG$$ when I'm sewing my own version for just over $6!)

NEED, CHECK.
INSPIRATION, CHECK.
PATTERN? No brainer! This peplum tee / pencil dress / a-line maxi bodice / whatever-else-I-dream-up-tonight pattern is so versatile that I knew it made the perfect canvas for this masterpiece.

So I cut a front and back bodice as directed (with direction of greatest stretch across the width).

Then I did some fancy foot (stitch?) work for my nursing-cover overlay, and took a few measurements: 

I measured my shoulder to the top of my bra (where I unhook a nursing cup) = 5 inches. 

Then I measured a few inches across from my belly button (this bodice hits at the natural waist), to roughly below my.. ahem... utters. 4 inches.

So I measured 5 inches down from the shoulder seam, and 2 inches across on the fold.

Connect the dots, and fold along that line. (You could cut it... but that's just so permanent!)

New pattern piece in hand, I lined up the outside edge of the bodice along one of my stripes. Added a 1/2 inch seam allowance along the inside AND outside bodice pieces, then cut another mirror-image.

Lay these pieces right-sides-together, being careful to match the stripes. Stitch the center seam with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Then neatly hem the outside edges.

Now grab your front bodice, and cut along the fold. 

I serged these inside seams, though it's not absolutely necessary since this is knit and won't fray. I just think it looks neater :) 

Now we lay the pieces together, pin...

and baste together! Then assemble the rest of the top per pattern instructions, and voilà! Your very own nursing top!

Come on now, that's pretty cool huh?? Whenever babe gets hungry, you can nurse discreetly with no trouble at all! And when you're done nursing, you still have a top you'll be stoked to wear anyway :)  Now go on and make one.. or ten!

Yoga A-Line Skirt ... using wovens

I get asked ALLLLL the time about how to make the Ladies A-Line Skirt out of wovens ... instead of knits.  So if that is what has been holding you back ... go run out and grab your copy of the pattern ... and then checkout the AMAZING Becca Duval's tutorial for modifying the pattern at Pattern Revolution.

** Becca Duval is a lifestyle photographer based out of Richmond, Virginia.  She juddles life with two kids, two resuce dogs, and her super-fine husband.  She's a hard-core DIY-er who loves sewing, crafting and tackling home decor projects.

Yoga A-Line Skirt **Pattern UPDATE & Correction**

If you have had issues printing your copy of the Yoga A-Line Skirt you are *not* alone.  We finally found a solution !!  YEA !!  If you would like an updated version of the pattern, please forward your current copy to us a proof of purchase (attach the pdf to your email) and we will send you the updated version back.

The pattern piece or the instructions have *NOT* changed, the pattern has just been optimized for printing

Subject line: Update request for Yoga A-Line Skirt

Email to: jodijeanbaird [at] yahoo [dot] com

THANKS !!!  ~ Jodi Jean

** I'll be working on updates and edits for other patterns as well.  So keep your eyes out for when they are ready.

Hi-Lo Skirt -- adjustment and modification

Hi-Lo skirts are ALL the rage ... instead of creating and selling a separate pattern I've decided to write up a quick tutorial on modifying the Ladies Yoga A-Line Skirt pattern from Jocole.  (Photo above courtesy from Nikki Luke).

I'm passing along the savings to YOU !!!  You're welcome.

First ... you'll need to purchase and print and tape together TWO copies of the pattern  (one for the front and one for the back). [BELOW]

 

Next you'll need to draw your new cutting line for the front (aka the "high" portion of the skirt) -- shown in RED.  [BELOW].

**These lines are shown on the largest size, of course you'll need to draw them on whichever size you are planning on making.

Then ... you'll need to draw your new cutting line for the back (aka the "low" portion of the skirt) -- shown in BLUE. [BELOW].

**These lines are shown on the largest size, of course you'll need to draw them on whichever size you are planning on making.

BELOW you'll see a close up of the front (RED) and the back (BLUE).

** You could totally use this concept on other patterns as well ... the basic idea needs to stay the same ... the front needs to curve up ... the back needs to curve down ... and the side seams NEEEED to be the same length

Maternity Skirt -- adjustment & modification

Did you know you can EASILY change the Yoga A-Line Skirt pdf sewing pattern from Jocole into a maternity skirt ... yup ... it's easy.  I promise.  Of course you don't HAVE to make the adjustment ... this is if you want to wear the skirt below your belly.  Above photo courtesy of Kirsten from Sugarplum Cuties .... isn't she the CUTEST pregnant momma ever??

Draw a new line for the FRONT of your skirt.  Start 3"-4"below the original waist and curve it up to the side seam (shown on a XXXL ... of course you would end on whatever size you are planning on making).  Use the original line for the back pattern piece.  You also will want to add 3" to 4" more length to the yoga waistband to help accommodate your cute growing belly.

D-O-N-E ... that's all it take ... so go get sewing.  These skirts are SUPER cute and sew up SO fast ... as one tester said ... they are like CLASSY sweatpants --- they are *that* comfortable.  Yup you're going to want to wear your new skirts EVERY day.