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Category: madebyeleri

Introducing the Chloe: A FREE Skirt Pattern from Made for Mermaids!

I don’t know about YOUR facebook feed, but lately my Facebook newsfeed has been full of selfies of enthusiastic fans of a new line of bold and colorful clothing.  First there were rumblings over buttery soft leggings, then loud cheers for the fun and colorful designs.  Well, leggings are one thing, but then – there was great applause for cute and comfy dresses and skirts. Gorgeous, practical,  COMFY skirts. Sound familiar?  Now, what woman doesn’t love a pulled together look that is just as easy and as comfy to wear as leggings… or even yoga pants.  What is even better, if you love to sew like us, is making your own comfy and cute skirts. You pick the fabric, sew a few seams…. and a cute new piece is ready to wear a few hours later.  NOW, what is EVEN better than sewing your own gorgeously comfy skirt, is a FREE PATTERN for one!!  Introducing: the Chloe Skirt from Made for Mermaids – available in sizes for both girls and women! Continue Reading

Poolside Blog Tour: Journey and Riptides by 5 out of 4!

Hey guys!

It’s my turn on the Poolside Blog Tour today! Thank you Deb from Sprouting Jube Jube and Ula from lulu & celeste for letting me participate in an amazing tour. Did you visit my sewing bestie, Alisha, yet?

For my post I decided to feature the 5 out of 4 Patterns Journey Tank and 5 out of 4 Riptide Reversible Shorties. If you are wondering if you’ve seen me in this suit before, you definitely have! I tested the Journey a couple of months ago and shared it here! Continue Reading

Sew Americana: Sewing Independently

Independence.

noun 1. Also, independency. the state or quality of being independent. 2. freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others. 3. Archaic. a competency.

I’m so excited to be linking up with so many talented bloggers this week during the Sew Americana Blog Tour hosted by Wild and Wanderful! I love celebrating Independence Day with our family. We celebrate it small-town America style with parades, candy, and lots and lots of explosives. You will also see that Alisha and I share very similar tastes as we both used the same panel for our days on the tour. Make sure you check out Alisha’s darling boys from earlier in the week hereThe 4th of July panels, cotton lycra solids, and firework print were all ordered from Peek-a-Boo Fabric Shop. My look was created with Riley Blake white and navy stripes purchased from the Fabric Fairy. Continue Reading

The SLPco Jane featuring Art Gallery Denim and Art Gallery Lavish

Good morning, sewing friends!

What are you working on in your corner of the world? My sewing time has been rather limited lately but I carved out some precious summer time to test the new Jane Dress and Romper pattern from Simple Life Pattern Co. Jane is one of the newest SLPco releases so make sure you check it out!

Gemia is the newest designer at Simple Life Pattern Co. and I am so impressed with her design, her drafting, and her response to tester feedback on this pattern. Whenever I test the first time for a designer I hold my breath a little until the final fitting. I tend to stick to a few favorite designers since I know how their patterns fit my kids, and Gemia has made that short list with just one pattern! Continue Reading

Blaverry: Nina and Ollie

I love trying new things, don’t you? Today I am going to share a new-to-me pattern company, Blaverry. Christie Archer has excellent designs that appeal particularly to the fashion needs of tweens and their moms who want to sew for them. I recommend getting to know more about Christie, the force behind Blaverry, here.

The Ollie top and Nina skirt are Blaverry patterns that have been reformatted and updated. The patterns come in a wide size range (2T-16y) which is nice since my older daughters are approaching sizing out some of my other go-to companies that end at 10 or 12. The patterns feature layers which make it very easy for me to print only the sizes I need  to save me precious ink, and keep me from going cross-eyed while blending. Blaverry patterns also feature some neat little upgrades such as a cute printable measurement chart to keep track of my growing girls, and detailed instructions for blending. As with many PDF pattern designers, excellent customer service support is available via e-mail and in the Blaverry Facebook Group. Continue Reading

The Peek-a-Boo Felicity Release

I have been trying in vain to take a short break from testing so we can enjoy the glorious June weather that is to be had in the Upper Midwest. However, when I saw the Felicity from PAB I had to put a stop to those plans because I knew it would be perfect for my baby’s 2nd birthday outfit! And the only way to get my hands on a copy of it in time would be to test it!

The Felicity Dress is a sleeveless, button (or snap) front collared dress featuring woven fabrics. It can be made with a fully-covered back, or with the cute shirred, halter collar option. I did not test the shirred back version so my thoughts and review are based entirely on the full back version. Continue Reading

Make Laundry, Don’t Do Laundry: SLPco Adelyn

Thanks for stopping by Sew and Tell Project today for our first ever blog tour post! We are proudly participating in the Make Laundry, Don’t Do Laundry Tour featuring fabric generously provided for us by The Fabric Fairy and their Fairy Care services.

The Fabric Fairy carries an extensive line of Riley Blake knits as well as other trendy knits, organic fabrics, and performance knits and notions. I selected to use two colorways from some of her newest Riley Blake arrivals : The Desert Bloom Collection. I chose the blue floral for my main print, and the blue stripe for the coordinate. As in my previous Fabric Fairy experiences, shipping was prompt and well-packaged with a friendly customer service experience. Thank you, Meg! Continue Reading

P4P – Semi-Fitted Tank Top and Dress (Racerback and Straight Strap)

Welcome back to the Sew and Tell Project! We’ve been so busy testing and getting ready for our first blog tour that we have been quiet over here on the blog. Make sure you check out Eleri’s post today and Alisha’s tomorrow as part of the Make Laundry, Don’t Do Laundry blog tour!

Patterns for Pirates has been one of my favorite pattern companies for almost as long as I’ve been using PDF patterns. When Judy was looking for testers for her new Essential Tank, I was super excited because this style of tank is what I live in during the summer! Eleri, Genie, and I were all chosen to test this new release. Are you ready for all the versions we made? Continue Reading

Wardrobe Builder: Love Notions Tidal Top, Dress, and Maxi

There is nothing I like more in summer fashion than a comfortable knit dress. Can I tell you all again that I am 5’10”? This doesn’t make clothes shopping impossible, but it often means that I am missing the perfect fit. If it is a hair shorter than knee-length, I can’t comfortably bend or crouch to care for one of my small children. If it is a maxi, I must wear flats to avoid it being awkwardly short. Throw in the dilemma of different bustlines and backsides that every women regardless of height can relate to, and shopping for a simple knit dress is really not actually that simple. Continue Reading

Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop Long Beach Board Shorts!

Do I have a treat for you today! The PDF sewing world went wild for the release of the Rocky Mountain Raglan a short while ago. I know that my husband was thrilled with his new set of shirts that I shared with you here.

If your husband now can’t get enough of your sewing, or you are just in need of a fun Father’s Day gift like I am, the Long Beach Board Shorts are the perfect answer! I made my  husband’s board shorts with affordable boardshort material from the Peek-a-Boo Fabric Shop. You can shop their wide range of boardshort swim fabrics here. Continue Reading