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!

Peplum Coloring Page

Peplum Coloring Page

Is there anything better than a printable coloring page to go with a pdf sewing pattern?  You can download the coloring page for the Peplum Top and the Skater Skirt Add-on HERE.

Have you seen tester photos of the Peplum?  Well, they are adorable!

Can you believe?  Not only a girls pattern but also a women's pattern.

It even works for the teen crowd.

I love this pattern so much I want to make a sparkly, dressy one for my holiday parties.  So, let's get to work next week and have a sew along!  That's right, go get some fabric this weekend and lets sew a Peplum together.  Ready?  Go!

Merry and Bright

Merry and Bright

A Few of Our Favorite Things Holiday Blog Tour

Boy do I feel honored to be a part of a blog tour with some of my favorite designers.  I hope you will go visit each blog to see all of the amazing work these girls put into some gorgeous outfits.  There are also great new releases as well.

Lily Giggle

My Sweet Sunshine for Brownie Goose

Snickerdoodle Stew for Izzy and Ivy

Little Lizard King

Ellie Inspired

Jocole

Blogs Like a Mother for Greenstlye Creations

I am so excited about the release of the Girls Peplum Top and the Skater Add-On Pack for Girls and Ladies!  I can't even believe the release is here.

I am so happy that I have found another Jocole Dress that my oldest daughter really likes.  She is thrilled with the way her dress turned out and I am so happy she will actually wear something I made her.  

I love the fabric that Riley Blake sent me to use on these dresses.  I used the Christmas Basics line for the skirt, it's a woven fabric.  Yes, you can even use woven fabric with the Skater Dress!  That's pretty exciting!  I went up one size on the skirt and the fit was perfect.  

I also used the Houndstooth line for her belt.  I used the tutorial for the sash belt on the Jocole Blog, so easy.  I used Knit Basics for the pink top and I love the different fabrics together. 

This dress is probably one of my favorites!  I used RB Houndstooth Knit and I love it!  I was afraid the houndstooth was too big but I really am in love. 

You can purchase the Women's Peplum or Skater Skirt Add-on and the Girls Peplum and Skater Skirt Add-On here.

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{tutorial} Crossover Wrap Sweater

another fantastic guest tutorial from the amazing Becca Duval ... are you ready?  here she is ...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Who is ready to draft their own pattern piece!?

Aww now don't panic! If this is your first time combining or modifying pattern pieces, you'll be thrilled to see just how simple it can be!

What you'll need:

• Wax Paper
• Marker
• Pattern pieces: Crossover Bodice, Mix & Match Basic Empire Bodice, Mix & Match Basic Tee Bottom, Mix & Match Classic Sleeves
• Ruler
• Fabric & the usual notions.

1. Tape two pieces of wax paper together, each the length of your basic bodice+tee pattern. You should be able to fit both halves of the pattern pieces across. 
2.  Lay wax paper overtop the bodice+tee pattern, and trace from the shoulder, down around the side, and across the bottom. Flip bottom piece, complete the trace across the bottom. So far so good, right?? Images below show the wax paper under the paper pieces so you can better read them.
3. Grab your crossover piece. Match the inside shoulder seam and trace. We will improvise this line in a minute.
4. Find and mark the narrowest part of the tee bottom. This is the waist. 
5. On the side opposite the shoulder seam, draw a line straight down from the waist to the hem. 
6. Now for our "improvising" step! Using your ruler, draw a line from the waist up to the crossover curve. 
7. Your finished piece should look like the bottom image:

That wasn't so bad, was it?? Let's call this our "front pattern piece. "Now to cut our fabric! You'll need:

• 2 Front pattern pieces, one mirror.
• 2 Sleeves
• 2 Ties (3 in x selvage-to-selvage)
• 1 Neck Binding (6in x selvage-to-selvage)
• 1 Back (basic tee bottom + basic empire back bodice)

Refer to any of the jocole pattern tutorials for diagrams and additional details on assembling shoulders and sleeves. 

Now we need to hem the remaining sides and bottom, as shown above. You can fold 1/4 and 1/2, or be a cheat like me and serge the raw ends, then turn 1/2 inch and stitch. 

Now let's measure down our neck binding! Grab it, your measure tape, and your scissors.

How long is the opening? Add 1 inch for seam allowances, and cut your binding to size. 

Have a bowl or other curved object around? Great! We'll need that. Or you can eyeball if you're feeling gutsy. Fold over the neck binding, then freehand a curve at the short ends. Start about 1.5 inch up from the long raw edges - we'll have to add our ties here.

Sew each tie piece into little tubes (first RST, then turn). They'll be a little unmanageable this way, but we will topstitch in a bit! Do NOT sew the short ends, we'll cut those down to size later.

Clip or pin the ties as shown, 1/2 inch up from the raw edge. Sew along the curve, back tacking at the ties for extra security. 

Stitch the neck binding RST across the opening. I knowwwww it looks ugly now, our top stitching will pretty it right up.

Now let's try it on! We need to measure down those ties. There's no button hole to feed the ties  through, but don't fret - this is a rather imperfect science. Your ties should wrap behind your bodies, around the side and tie in a loose, easy bow or knot at the front. What's left? Cut one of your ties at hip length. Now take off the sweater (that's already looking pretty schnazzy, might I add!) and cut the other tie to match. Fold the raw ends of the ties 1/2 inwards and pin.

Time to top stitch! Start at the center of the neck band/back bodice seam. Fold the raw edge inwards, and top stitch all around to the tie. Put the needle down, lift the presser foot, turn. (Do this at all corners.) Sew down the tie, across the tucked raw edges, back up the tie, and alllllll the way around to the other side, down THAT tie, and that folded raw end, back up the neck band/ back bodice seam and meet at our starting point. You just made one heck of a top stitch circle my friend! 

Those finished ties need a place to feed through when wrapped. Let's add a button hole!

Lay one front bodice piece down over top of the back bodice. Where the ties meet the side seam, mark a button hole the same size as the tie width. Take that puppy over to the machine and stitch your button hole!

Now hem (or add a cuff) to your sleeve, and proudly parade around in your completed wrap sweater!

Note on fabrics: The button hole - with certain machines, and certain light weight knits may prove problematic. I've used medium weight sweater knits and heavier weight ponte de roma. If you use thinner knits consider sewing the ties to the side-seam at the waist, so they don't need a button hold on the inside to wrap fully around the body.

There you have it! Your very own wrap sweater! Really - what *can't* we do with Jocole patterns?? 

Happy sewing!! 

Jocole Mix & Match Sew Along Day 4

Mix & Match Sew Along Day 4

Today we complete the Mix & Match Sew Along.  I hope you were able to complete a top or dress.  Please share your creations with us on our sewing page here, there might just be a little surprise if you share.  :)

Attach the sleeve to the bodice.

Sew the side seams together and finish the neckband.  Finish all hems.

Congratulations!  I hope you enjoyed sewing along this week.  Don't forget to come share your creation. 

Jocole M&M Sew Along Day3

Mix & Match Sew Along Day 3

Today we finish the sleeves for the Mix & Match outfit.  You should have the sleeves ready to sew on to the bodice.

I attached the flutter on top of the sleeve piece.

Attach the sleeve to the bodice.

Tomorrow we finish.

Mix & Match Sew Along Day 2

Jocole Mix & Match Sew Along Day 2

We are working with the Jocole Mix & Match Series for this sew along.  There are tons of options and combinations, so your pieces will not look exactly like mine but the process is the same.

You should have front piece, back piece, and sleeves at this point.  Again, I have the Basic Bodice with the A Line Skirt option cut.  I am also making the Classic Sleeve with a flutter sleeve on top.

Today we will sew the bodice front and back together.  I know this step won't take but a few minutes, but we want to give everyone a chance to get caught up.

Sew the shoulder seams together.  If you want, get the sleeve pieces ready for tomorrow.

I lined up the Flutter Piece with the curve at the shoulder on the sleeve piece.  This will allow us to attach the sleeve easily tomorrow.

If you haven't seen the beautiful creations that the girls at Pattern Revolution made, go see them here.  See you tomorrow!

Jocole M&M Sew Along

Jocole Mix & Match Sew Along

Are you ready?  We are giving the Mix & Match series a go for this sew along.  I'm excited to break down the process to make it all clear.

I am making a little dress for my daughter.  In order to create a Mix & Match Dress you need several pieces from the series; a bodice, sleeves and bottom.  I needed the following pieces:

Basic Empire Bodice

Radiant A Line Bottom

Classic Sleeves (I'm also going to add the flutter sleeve on top of the classic sleeve.)

We will combine all of these pieces to make a cute little dress.

Today we will print, assemble the pattern pieces and cut fabric.  When you have all the pieces cut and assembled, we still need to do some piecing to make the pattern work.  You can see in the picture below that I have placed the Basic Empire Bodice above the Radiant A Line pattern piece.  The fabric will be cut as one whole piece with these two pattern pieces together.  Be sure you are lining up the fold for the bodice and bottom on the same side.  

The bodice piece is turned toward the wrong side (in the photo) to line up the fold sides.  Cut one front and one back piece and two sleeves.  If you are making a dress that the bodice and skirt are separate pieces, you will need a front and back for each piece.

This is what you should have so far.

Here is the schedule for the Sew Along for the week of November 17- 21:

Monday - Print, assemble pattern, cut fabric

Tuesday - Sew bodice or dress front and back

Wednesday - Sew sleeves

Thursday - Finish

Friday - Share creations to enter for a prize

I hope you will join us in the sewing group if you have questions.

Let's get sewing!

Quick-Cardi Tutorial -- Modification tutorial

Fall has come, ladies and gents. Which means I will spend the next few months mourning Summer.. and the months after that anticipating it's return.

Until then, I will find ways to wear my fun summer wardrobe despite the chill! My favorite cold-weather-wardrobe hack?? The Cardigan! But where to find a pattern for such a wardrobe staple??

I have a not-so-secret dislike of pattern printing/taping, so my first instinct is always to go back to my assembled pattern stash and see how I can make like the Gunn and "make it work."

Enter: The Quick Dress. The fastest to cut, fastest to sew shirt/dress pattern out there. THIS will do the trick!

A word of caution before we begin: I wing it. A lot. Like a lot-a-lot. Sometimes it works out, sometimes I will suggest you learn from my error and adapt with your own versions. READ before you cut or sew! And keep that tape measure handy, you're gonna need it :) 

Here's what I cut:

• One front and one back, cut along the shirring line instead of full tunic length. 
• (Well, technically two fronts and a "poo! one of those should have been a back! Let me patch that up real quick..")
• Two sleeves, with 2.5 inches taken up from the bottom (to make room for a cuff)
• Two cuffs, Measuring the width of the sleeve and 6 inches height
• Two, 2.5 inch strip selvage-to-selvage for neck binding 
• One 6 inch high by double-the-width-of-the-bottom-of-the-bodice

Your finished pieces should look like:

 

Let's start with the obvious: We're going to need an opening there along the front center, aren't we? You'll notice I cut this on the fold still, mostly because I was working with stripes. If your fabric has a print you'll need to match up, I suggest you do the same.

So fold the front bodice and clip right up the fold. As for that slopey neckline? You may want to grab a cardigan from your closet, or draw a curve with a fabric marker. I used my ruler to measure about 5-6 inches from where the neckline starts to curve, down to the center fold.

Now stitch those front and back bodice pieces, right sides together, along the shoulder seams.

Take that neck binding and sew two short edges, right sides together. This should give you enough fabric to easily bind the entire opening, and still have plenty left over. You'll fold this piece in half to create a narrow binding, and join raw edges in the next step.

Clip or pin the neck binding seam to the back center neckline of your cardigan. Then slowly - without stretching the binding - clip around the rest of the opening. Stitch in place, and topstitch.

 Now your cardigan looks a bit like:

Sew sleeves and side seams per pattern instructions, then meet me back here for cuffs!

Cuffs are mega easy. Fold in half width-wise and sew the raw edges. Fold this loop wrong-sides-together. BOOM. Cuffs.

Wrap these rings around the opening of the sleeves, right sides together, matching raw edges, and stitch.

We're so close! Can't you see it now?? 

Alrighty now - here is where you can have fun styling the cardi of your choice. As a reminder - I cut my bodice pieces along the pattern's shirring line which, with a waistband, would yield a longer "boyfriend" cardigan length. For a crop cardi, you may choose to cut along the waist marking on the front/back bodice pattern pieces, and proceed with the following waistband instructions. If you cut your cardigan at the tunic length, you can do a standard hem here. 

Onto the waistband! Leave this piece UNFOLDED for this step, and match right sides together. As with the neck binding, start with matching the middle of the waistband with the back center of the cardigan. If your waistband is a smidge shorter than the width of the bottom of your cardigan (like mine was by a few inches - I was running out of fabric, ya'll!), this will make sure it stretches evenly. Sew.  

Now fold the waistband up, right sides together. In an effort to hide these raw edges, you're going to want to fold away a micro-hem (apx 1/4 inch?) at this step (see the clip on the right). Sew.

Do *not* follow my example here and use a serger for this step. It leads to much heartbreak when the neck binding gets clipped by the blade. Do this on the sewing machine and save yourself the tears (or curse words). 

 

 Now we're going to enclose those raw edges! Fold your waistband right-side-out. Continue the 1/4 inch miro-fold, and sew along the waistband/bodice seam.

Who has time to measure?? I let the width of my serger stitch be my guide for my micro-fold.

 Now we're onto our last step: BUTTONS! How far you space these out, and how many you use is totally based on your personal preference, I spaced mine about an inch apart, and added 6 buttons up to the "empire shirring" line.

Sewing button holes on knit always needs STABILIZER. I backed my binding with scrap computer paper, and it ripped right off. I figured any remnants stuck in the threads would disintegrate in the wash. It worked for me!

Annnnd there you have it! Your very own Quick Cardigan! Throw it over those tanks and sundresses and get out there and face the chill in style!