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Category: Made for Mermaids

Sew what Do I Wear? Valentine’s Edition!

With three kids and no family nearby, my husband and I don’t get to go out on date nights often. So when we get the chance, my first thought is almost always OHMYGOSH WHERE WILL WE EAT?? because I love food. 😉 Ok but seriously, I usually think “What am I going to wear???” first.

When the Mama Claire Two-Way Dolman Top by Made for Mermaids was released, I knew it was a style that I’d like, and I decided rather quickly that I wanted to try it out for this blog tour. Continue Reading

Add a Little Joy to Your Wardrobe

Happy Mama Joy release day!

Joy is the newest addition to the Made for Mermaids Dreamy collection, and Mama Joy is the very first Mama version!

Here’s a secret: I haven’t worn ANYTHING knee length in years. When I saw the testing call, I was so excited. Just like that, I had a vision of what I wanted to do with the pattern and what fabric I wanted to do it with, and my knees came out of retirement. Continue Reading

Project Run & Play Week 3: Costumes!

Hello and thanks for stopping by!  It is hard to believe that it is already week 3 of Project Run & Play!  This week’s challenge was to create a costume – which is perfect because Halloween is right around the corner.  I’m delighted to share these Zorro and Victoria costumes with you.  Please make sure you click over to Project Run & Play  so you can vote!

Zorro is a favorite around here and we love the TV series – both the Disney one with Guy Williams from the 1950’s and this newer one from the 1990’s with Duncan Regehr.  The costume for this lovely little senorita was modeled after the spunky Victoria in the newer series. Continue Reading

Project Run & Play Week 2: I’m an Autumn!

I was excited when I found out that autumn was the theme for the second week of competition in Project Run + Play. It’s my favorite time of year! I was able to mix some of my very favorite elements into a stylish and super fun outfit for my tween daughter. Tweens are so hard to sew for. They’re picky, for one, and have developed their own sense of style. In addition, this age category, somewhere in between a girl’s and a woman’s shape, is so underserved by pattern designers. Patterns don’t fit well and are often either too old or too young in style. I’ve become pretty adept at modifying patterns to fit better, and definitely at choosing patterns that will suit her for both size and sensitivity. Even though I sometimes have to use adult patterns, she’s still my baby, and she still loves the things her mama makes her. Continue Reading

The Mama Ava by Made for Mermaids!

After spending most of my August unable to sew, I sure have been making up for lost time! This past week I tested the newly-released Mama Ava from Made for Mermaids! I always love testing a good wardrobe builder. And it’s been even more fun since I got my new serger! It’s a 5 thread and it’s made my sewing time so much more productive!

This was a bit of a sewing challenge for me. Not because it is a difficult pattern – no, it comes together very quickly! It was a challenge because drapey knits are recommended for it and I am a cotton Lycra girl. I have miles of gorgeous cotton Lycra prints  in my studio, but didn’t want it to end up too boxy per the designer’s recommendation. Continue Reading

New Made for Mermaids Lea!

The Made for Mermaids team has been busy cooking up your new favorite pattern, and I was lucky enough to test the girls version.

Introducing the Lea Dolman!

Lea is a super easy sew available in sizes 1/2 through 14 and offers options for a romper, dress, and tunic. It’s a dolman style, which means the sleeve is part of the body (woot woot…no sleeves to set in!) The pattern is designed for knits, although a woven can be used for the dress or tunic skirt. Continue Reading

Introducing the Rowan Raglan from Made for Mermaids

Genie and I are back with a great new pattern for Made for Mermaids today! The Rowan Raglan is a unisex raglan packed with options:

Rowan Raglan Options

Short, 3/4, or Long Sleeves with optional flutter

Shirt, Banded Tunic, Ruffle Tunic, or Dress Length

Neckband, Lined Hood, or Hemmed Hood

Adorable Animal Ears and Faces to personalize your shirt

Trying to choose from all the options was difficult! The animal ears and svg cut files (for a Cricut or Silhouette) machine were so fun that I’m adding a Silhouette to my Christmas wish list. Continue Reading

Back to School, Mermaid Style!

Welcome to our stop on the Made for Mermaids Back to School tour! Alisha and Genie are both sharing today with looks for both boys and girls. #madebyalisha When I first heard about this blog tour, I initially was bummed because my three oldest attend our local parochial school and wear uniforms. I can’t sew much of anything for them to wear to school.  Then I remembered that my baby (who is almost 3) will be attending preschool for speech therapy this fall. While the thought of sending my baby to school makes me want to cry, realizing I could sew some things for him to wear quickly made me feel a bit better. Since I have 4 boys, I chose Made for Mermaid’s Charlie pattern. I love a good classic button up shirt, and adding pintucks just makes it so much more fun! This was a fairly straight foward sew. I did change the assembly just a bit and used a burrito roll method while sewing the yoke. I was familiar with that method from a different pattern I’ve sewn, and it’s my preferred method of yoke construction. I used a orange gingham from Hobby Lobby for my son’s shirt. I wanted a classic look, and what is more classic than a gingham button up shirt? The pintucks can be a bit hard to see with the print, but I love the updated look the pintucks give to a basic button up shirt. Taking pictures of my almost 3 year old was a workout! Initially we went to his school but trying to run to the playground was way more fun than taking pictures with Mommy! In the end, we got a few keepers and I am so pleased with this cute shirt he’ll be able to wear for the first day of school.   #madebygenie My little first grader also wears a uniform for school, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to make her something cute to wear for dress down days, or maybe even fall pictures. After much deliberation (have you seen how cute the patterns from Made for Mermaids are??), I chose to make a Blair Top and Tunic and a pair of Bonny Leggings to match (and if you join the Made for Mermaids Facebook group, there’s a coupon code to get the leggings patterns absolutely free!) I know it’s still summer (it’s oh so hot around here lately!), but fall is coming, and I wanted a look that could transition. I found these fun fabrics at Hobby Lobby, and they’re part of the fall collection. The chevron print is a super soft French Terry, and the polka dots are metallic gold! Early morning sun and my daughter playing with Teddy made for a super cute photo. I love the candid catches that turn out so pretty! The Blair has many options. At heart, it’s a relaxed fit raglan with a v neck. It has options for short, 3/4, and long sleeves, tunic and top lengths, and a unique waterfall hem. You can add a ruffle, or double ruffle, to any of the options. I chose a high low hem. My top uses the ruffle measurements for the second of the double ruffle, eliminating the shorter layer. If you’re doing a double ruffle, you’re probably going to want a thin fabric, like chiffon or lace, to keep it from getting too thick.

The Bonny Leggings pattern is so quick, and so easy! I’m not a fast sewist, and I whipped these together (at the last minute, because of course, I didn’t like the first pair I made with the tunic!) in a half hour! I love how easy they are to customize! The pattern comes with a regular waistband and a yoga waistband, but it’s so easy to alter to in between waistband heights for comfort and coverage. You can also choose between shorties, capris, and ankle length, and a circle skirt pattern is included. Made for Mermaids patterns include a great tutorial for merging sizes to make the fit exactly right. Continue Reading

Made For Mermaids Ella 2.0

The Ella and matching Mama Ella tops have been updated! The top has always been adorable, with a ruffled neckline and low back, accented by a tie, but the new options and fit will make it an essential wardrobe piece! Now, the ruffle is optional, there is a higher back option, and in addition to the tie back, there are options for a plain band and bow back. Finally, there have been hemline additions; the regular top hem, which hits at the hip, a front tie option, and a dress option. The Mama Ella top has been updated to fit Made for Mermaids new, extended sizes. It has also added two hemlines, tie front with curved back and dress length, and a new cross back option Continue Reading