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Category: Bottoms
I’m excited to be a part of the Lulu and Celeste, Sprouting JubeJube Productions Back to School Tour again this year! Please be sure to check out the rest of the posts for the week for all kinds of amazing inspirations. Many of our sponsors are offering discounts, so visit them, too!
**disclaimer** I was given most of the patterns that I used by our generous sponsors and would like to 1) extend my thanks and 2) note that the opinions are my own here. I was just lucky, I guess, to have an awesome bunch of patterns!
I don’t know about you all but summer here has just flown by! I’m not sure how it’s almost the end of September! When the chance came up to do some back to school sewing, I decided to whip up a few new items for my preschooler who just turned 4 last week. It was fun to sew him some things now that he’s old enough to provide me with some input.
I started with one of my favorite patterns, the Peek a Boo Pattern Shop Boardwalk. It’s such a fast sew with some fun opportunities for color blocking. I used the Club airplane fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. I love their club line and they’ve recently come out with some more awesome boy prints! I used red cotton lycra from Peek a Boo for the top of my tee.
In the northern Midwest, we’re in the thick of summer. A Michigan summer is hot and humid, and shorts are a necessity! That being said, my middle daughter really isn’t fond of them; she’d live in leggings if she could! So I have to be careful to make them pretty, soft, and comfy. Enter Bella Sunshine Designs and the Tess Tulip Shorts.
The simple, sweet design, easy construction, two inseam lengths, and endless trim options interest me. My daughter likes the not-too-fitted fit and…
I am so excited to be a stop on the Laela Jeyne Summer Collection Patterns Tour! I first started using Laela Jeyne Patterns for myself last fall. Some of the items I have made from Laela Jeyne Patterns have been my most worn items in our closets! Even though this summer has been super busy for us, I could not resist signing up to share about some of the new patterns!
My new favorite top is the Dahlia Tank Top. It looks like a simple tank, but it is hands-down the best tank top I have made for myself. It is fitted, but not too fitted, and includes pattern pieces for different cup sizes! This is HUGE for me. I can print just my size and cup size pieces and get a tank that fits perfectly on the first try! I sewed a size Large B-Cup. (Sewing note: sewing cup sizes are different than bra cup sizes – make sure you measure and go by the chart!) I love sewing clothing for myself from my large stash of cotton lycra knits. My tank is made with 1/4″ knit stripe by Riley Blake Designs. You can grab some here!
It’s a pant…it’s shorts…it’s a skirt…no…IT’S ALLEGRO!
Maybe a bit over the top, but seriously. This pattern is all that AND a bag of chips. I give you the Love Notions Allegro!
The Allegro pattern offers options for shorts with a 5″ or 9″ inseam, a cropped pant, a knee length skirt, or a maxi length skirt. The shorts options can be hemmed or cuffed. The maxi offers two slits up to the knee. All options offer front slash pockets, back patch pockets, and a drawstring waistband.
Today I have something fun to share with you – a new pattern from Gracious Threads for BOYS! The Cache Cargo Shorts are the perfect staple for every little (and big!) boy’s wardrobe since there is such a wide size range – all the way from 2-12. Be sure to check out the giveaway details at the end of the post – we have a copy of this new pattern to give away to one lucky Sew and Tell Project reader!
Welcome to the Sew and Tell Project! I have had so much fun being part of the Knock It Off Tour and I’m excited to share my most recent project with you today! As fun as it is to let my creativity shine in the clothing that I create for myself and my children, sometimes it is great to straight-up borrow some inspiration from higher end brands. It isn’t a secret that I have a weakness for European inspired children’s clothing yet it’s something that I rarely purchase. Hanna Andersson and Mini Boden are two of my favorites, but it is hard to justify spending over $40 on a simple play skirt for a little girl. At times like this, I’m so glad I can sew! Just look at this darling skirt from Mini Boden! It comes in fun colors and also a classic chambray. SO perfect for pairing with a simple top and sandals for summer or fun tights for cooler days.
I have a teenager.
Weird, right? This itty bitty girl is now nearly 14 and in the 8th grade:
This was a flower girl dress that I made her. Back then, she liked party dresses with fluffy skirts, and ruffles, and bows, and really anything Mommy made her. Things sure have changed! She still likes the things that I make her, but the focus has changed. I think now it’s more about my taking the time and thought to make her something, while still wanting to look like her friends. The hardest sewing lesson I’ve had to learn is to listen to her and use fabrics and patterns that she likes. We still have our disagreements, but giving up the ruffles and florals when I sew for her has gone a long way. Now, if we could only find the perfect compromise to hemlines and NOT having everything fit like dance wear…
Welcome to the Sew and Tell Project! Today I’m excited to tell you about the Fat Quarter Skirt from Thread Riding Hood because it only uses 2 fat quarters AND is the perfect stash buster project! I’m sure I’m not the only one who buys fat quarters just because they are beautiful, even if I have no idea what I’ll do with them. Right?
The Fat Quarter Skirt comes in sizes 2-6 and is a quick and simple project – perfect for quilters wanting to venture into sewing clothing or maybe even for a little girl who wants to help sew her own clothes. My daughter is content with just picking out the fabrics – she insisted on owls this time. And pink. Always pink.
I (Alisha) have been quite quiet over here on the blog for quite a few months. I hope you missed me! I have a wonderful reason for being so quiet. We are expecting baby #5 in about 8 weeks! Right now I have 4 boys, ages 9, 7, 6, and 3, and we are very excited to announce that we are expecting a little girl! It was shocking news that I’m not sure I’ll believe until I actually see her!
Getting to sew little girl clothes has been so much fun! Caroline Hulse of Sew Caroline, a designer for Art Gallery Fabrics, provided me with some beautiful designs from her Chalk and Paint collection to sew up for my new little girl.