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Category: Women
I recently had the pleasure of testing a new pattern for Love Notions, the Octave Coat. This coat is so versatile! It can be dressed up or down so easily with fabric choice, offers a shawl or hooded collar, includes generous pockets in a clever design, and the choice of a belt or button closure. The option of a lined or unlined coat also gives all kinds of options for looks and added warmth.
I made a shawl collar coat with a button closure in a thick, cozy fleece from JoAnn Fabrics. Instead of trying to make a buttonhole through those thick layers, I sewed a snap under the button.
We put together this special post today with some of our favorite patterns in case you decide to stock up during the Fourth of July Sale!
To take advantage of the sale visit Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop and place your order! All sewing patterns are buy 4, get 1 free! No code necessary!
Need inspiration to fill your cart? Check out what the Sew and Tell Project team has made and loved!
Mariposa Dress and Top. Sewn by Alisha.
Swan Lake Leotard. Sewn by Eleri. (Make sure you also check out our tips and tricks for sewing with swim which features the Sun n Fun Leotard!) This one was made with swim supplies from the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop! 3. Rocky Mountain Raglan. Sewn by Genie and Eleri. Let’s not forget the MEN in our lives. Stock up on affordable knit solids and the Rocky Mountain Raglan pattern and whip up a pile for your favorite guy!
4. Bahama Mama Swim Wear PAB has a nice range of mama-friendly swimwear to keep you sporty and cool all summer long! See what Alisha and Eleri made below!
5. Sun Kissed Dolman and Little Miss Sunshine. Sewn by Eleri.
6. Bridgeport Jacket. Alisha made the black one using board short fabric from the shop!
7. The Lullaby Line Cardigan bodysuit. Check out Genie’s adorable cover model!
9. Marilyn Swimsuit. Made by Emily10. Dream Land Nightgown made by Emily. Keep it cool on hot summer nights in a breezy nightgown! 11. Lullaby Gown. Perfect for all the babies in your life! Made by Alisha. Check out the entire Lullaby Line for every baby’s need!
12.
Pocketful of Posies.
I made the Itch to Stitch Kathryn top in a cotton jersey from last year’s Raspberry Creek Fabrics club line. (If you haven’t heard, Raspberry Creek recently moved to their own website from Etsy, and it’s fabulous! Go check out their Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday sales this weekend.) The Kathryn features a pleated upper section and is available in both dress and top length. This is a perfect casual shirt with jeans and I find myself reaching for it frequently. (Fun fact: I was actually about 18 weeks pregnant with my baby in this picture!)
I love the pleat detail around the neckline of the Kathryn, and it was much easier to construct than I expected. Kennis has such fabulous and detailed instructions with excellent pictures. The neckline is faced with a woven to give the pleats stability, but with a wider neckline, it still slips over the head easily.
Thanks for visiting me and please stop over to Itch to Stitch and check out the patterns. I have several on my wish list, including the Marbella, the Arenal, and the Brasov.
For the blog tour, I opted to make something that is just my fit and style these days. I live in the upper Upper Midwest (like almost to Canada, yo). I sewed up View A with the optional yoke. I added 3″ to length both to account for the usual 2″ I add for my 5’10” height and also because I like my tops to run a little long to accommodate all the chasing and bending I do all day as a “go-everywhere-but-home” homeschool mom.
I wanted to add a bit of subtle detail to my Sloane, so I decided to add some embroidery to the yoke. Originally I wanted to do a full Mexican-inspired embroidered back yoke but ran into some challenges midway through the project. I ultimately decided to just add some light embroidery using only a backstitch to the shoulder yoke. I’m really glad I opted to do this instead of my original design because whether I wear my hair up or down, my hard work can be seen. I actually used a good old fashioned tea towel transfer for my design.
I styled my Sloane with my favorite Mossimo high-rise skinny jeans from Target and my Merrell Moto Boots. I used fabric from my first order from Stylish Fabric. This is a Denim French terry with very nice drape for my main and some scrap cotton lycra in my stash for the yoke. I chose cotton lycra for the yoke (it’s not recommended for the body of the Sloane) because I wanted it to have some stability for embroidery. I interfaced the shoulder section of my yoke, did my embroidery, and then lined my yoke by cutting another yoke piece to cover up the back side of my embroidery.
I hope this project and other projects on the Sloane Blog Tour inspire you to join us in making 1 Sloane or a dozen! Make sure you check out all the other makers!
Monday: Sew Shelly Sew, The Wholesome Mama, Ruby Rue Creations
Tuesday: Third Shift Creations, Sew Like a Sloth, Four Seasons and a Roadtrip
Wednesday: Seamly Behaviour, My Heart Will Sew On, Ma Moose
Thursday: SewSophieLynn, Very Blissful Blog, Kainara stitches, Sprouting JubeJube
Friday: Sew and Tell Project, Sewing curves, Princesse et
After a grand silence here on the blog by little old me, I have an exciting new pattern to share with our dear readers!
Tami from Love Notions Sewing Patterns has updated and extended the size range on her popular Ladies’ Sloane Sweater Pattern AND also released a brand new girls’ Sloane Sweater! You can buy both of them in a bundle right here!
Why do I love Love Notions Sewing Patterns? Size range of 2T-16 for girls, line drawings to showcase the different options/views, and excellent fit advice! I also love the no-trim pages and layered printing to take me from computer to sewing machine quickly!
Why do I love the Love Notions Sloane Sweater? My Middle Miss, Queen of Dresses and Leggings, has worn her Sloane Sweater 4 times since I made it last week. It’s the first thing she pulls out of the clean laundry. She has since asked if we can buy more french terry and if I can make her “a hundred more.”
I guess I can see her point.
The slimmer fit View A is fitted, but still cozy in this deep merlot heathered french terry from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. I used Bari J’s Garden Rocket print from the Bachelorette Fusions by Art Gallery Fabrics. I always have beautiful scraps of Art Gallery leftover that I can’t bear to part with you!
Even with taking the time to include details like the contrast yoke and of course blending sizes for my slim daughters, the Sloane Sweater is a quick sew. After making a muslin to check armscyes and length for my tall daughters, I was able to make this beautiful version in under an hour.
The subtle curved hem looks great with skinny jeans and will definitely become a wardrobe staple in our house. I can’t wait to make many more Sloane sweaters – including one for me!
What is your favorite option on the new Sloane Sweater?
My version is sewn (using double sided, heat sensitive interfacing to hold the layers together, and then top stitching for detail and permanence), but you could easily throw this together with a hot glue gun.
Another great feature is that it’s super inexpensive to make–I spent less than $20 on felt, tulle, interfacing, and the pre-made waistband. I added the rhinestones from craft supplies I had at home because sparkle is necessary for this little girl. I also have a set of Felt Wings cut out to match. I can’t wait to see them together! Don’t worry…I’ll share. 😉
I added an extra layer of tulle. It’s not a full layer, like the first two, just adding pieces here and there to fill in spots or add a pop of color. I used a wide selection of tulle–matte, shiny, sequined, and glittered. I love the effect all the colors and textures make together!
The mask includes sizes 2-10, and the tutu instructions will fit newborn to 12. The tutorial includes instructions to customize to any size, however…even to adult!
But did you know that PAB
recently expanded to include digital designs
The simple, sweet design, easy construction, two inseam lengths, and endless trim options interest me. My daughter likes the not-too-fitted fit and…
POCKETS. Yup. Seven-year-olds need pockets so Mom and Dad get their share of summer excitement when laundry day comes. 😉
This is the longer inseam, and I like this length on my long-legged, knobby kneed girl. The flat front gives them a nice, clean look, while the elastic back keeps them really comfy. This super soft chambray from Hobby Lobby was a great choice; it’s got the look of denim, but is much lighter and smoother. This hot pink ric rak came to me in a box of vintage trims and miscellany from my husband’s grandmother. I love that I’m able to use them for my kids!
The construction on these is a little different than other tulip shorts I’ve made, and I liked how the tulip pieces were separate, rather than continuations of another piece. These cross over in the front rather than the back and I really don’t have a preference there, but it’s nice to have the option.
Today is your last day to catch Tess on the introductory sale price, so don’t hesitate!
ps…they’re also available in women’s sizes…
I feel that I could write a chapter on the influence of sewing and motherhood on my life. I hope I can do this topic justice in one blog post.
I’m honored to have been invited to contribute to the #EaseIntoMotherhood series hosted by Jodi, Erin, and Monserrat. Here is a collection of my thoughts as a mother who sews.
The following testimonial will include the role sewing has played in enhancing my personal life and happiness over the past ten years. It does not include the tremendous support I have received from my husband, our extended families, our faith, and our community in my parenting journey.