All Day Shirt Pattern for Men

A couple months ago I was really thrilled to be collaborating with Liesl from Olive + S again.

This week she is releasing many wonderful button down shirts for women, men, and children, on her site, be sure to check it out.

When I was asked to be a pattern tester for her new Men's button down shirt, the All Day Shirt, I jumped at the chance!  My husband wears this style of shirt literally 6 days a week. 

The shirt came out amazing! 

 It had absolutely every wonderful detail a shirt purchased from a store would have, including a dress collar with collar stays (I made my collar stay from a clear yogurt lid) and options for pockets with button flaps, plus other custom ideas included in the pattern.

   

This shirt is a size XL and I didn't change or modify the pattern at all.  It fits perfect! 

He's an especially big fan of the long sleeves, stores never seem to make them long enough.

How thrilling it was to actually do some sewing for my husband!

  Every time he wears this shirt (often) I get so thrilled that I sewed it for him. 

All around a great fit and wonderful pattern.  

Another home-run, Liesl!

You can purchase the All Day Shirt Here.

Little Poppy Giveaway winner!

 Yeah, we have a winner!!

But remember to you can use my promo code ALLISON50 to get 50% off your first month subscription! 

Thanks so much Little Poppy Co. for hosting this giveaway.

Little Poppy Co. Giveaway

Yesterday I was so excited to receive my first delivery of Little Poppy Co bows delivered right to my door! 

These two busy moms built this company because they knew

finding affordable, stylish bows for their little girls was not something moms have time to

worry about. And not everyone loves to sew bows for their girlie's like me.

With your monthly subscription, you get 3 bows a month

delivered straight to your door for $11.99! 

Right now you can use my promo code ALLISON50

and get 50% off your first month subscription!

These bows are totally adorable, and quality made with a little stretchy piece that will hold them perfectly in place in your girl's hair. 

For the Giveaway, please visit my Instagram to enter!

DIY Peacock Costume

So excited to share with you this darling Peacock Halloween Costume.

Usually my daughter goes for spooky or scary see HERE and HERE.

Last year when we were brainstorming costume ideas my daughter bounced around a lot of ideas and eventually landed on peacock -- due mostly to the fact that she had just been on a field trip to a farm and owned her very own peacock feather.

I searched around for some good ideas for a peacock and couldn't find anything that suited my fancy-- a lot of them were Va-va-voom, NO thanks!  And a few were not quite what I had inmind.

So, I stewed for weeks and weeks trying to figure out a good plan for this costume.

I happened to be in my sewing scrap pile, looking for something else, when I came across this maxi dress (purchased from Wal-mart several years ago).  I wore it twice when I was pregnant and everyone commented on how HUGE I was.  It was quickly thrown in the scrap pile after the baby was born.

Once I saw it, while still mulling over peacock ideas in my head, it quickly spoke to me--

 REUSE-- REFASHION -- PEACOCK!

I almost used the entire dress for the costume and it worked perfectly!

Here's how to make your own!

MATERIALS:

1. Maxi dress or green knit fabric

2. Sewing supplies

3. Thick poster board

4. Glue gun

5. Acrylic paint + brush

6. Headband, pipe cleaners, three puff balls.

STEP ONE:  Cut the dress where needed. 

 I cut the bottom for the feathers.  I left the top for the skirt. 

 And I reused the straps.

 STEP TWO:  With right sides together, cut out the feathers. 

 Pin the pieces together.  

Do a quick sew around the feathers from the left side to the right side, leaving the bottom open.  

Clip all the curved edges, so they will turn properly.

STEP THREE: Turn right side out and make sure everything looks good. 

STEP FOUR:  Using the sewn feathers as a guide, cut out the insert feathers from a thick poster board. 

I had a leftover poster board from the dollar store, which I reused, with lots of creative cutting and taping, plus a little cardboard for that one chunk that I ran out of poster board.

STEP FIVE: Using your model, determine where the four holes should be for the straps, using a knife or scissors, cut out the strap holes.

Place the cardboard inside the knit feathers, hopefully everything is a perfect fit! 

 STEP SIX:  Sketch out the feathers and base, where they belong. 

I used this image for help.

STEP SEVEN: Start painting!

 I used acrylic craft paint that dries really fast and it worked great!  

You can see my order below. 

I left it to dry over night, then the next day I flipped it over and did the exact same painting on the other side.

STEP EIGHT:  Once everything has dried.  Feel the straps that you cut out of the poster board, and use scissors to cut four (front and back) slits into the fabric.

 STEP NINE: Cut off the two straps, measure them with your model to make sure they'll fit.

Place them in the slits, pushing through the poster board, hot glue them against the backside of the board.  Repeat for the other strap. 

STEP TEN: Fold in the bottom of the fabric and hot glue down together.

For me, I had too long of poster board, so I had to cut off the excess, so it could fold it up and glue it down.

STEP ELEVEN: Make some simple peacock feather for the head.

I used a headband we already had, hot glued some puffballs to some sparkly pipe cleaners, wrapped them around the headband and called it good.  

She loved it!

All done!

Wa-HOO, Party!  Cutest little Peacock ever!

 Love this girl of mine!

The whole crew!

Halloween is so fun!  What are your plans this year?

We're going with a family theme-- My FAVORITE! 

Better get started!

What I Sewed-- EASTER Edition!

Each Easter I get the biggest joy out of sewing matching outfits for the family.  Sometimes I do just the kids, which is fun.  But this year, I found extra hours in the day and was able to sew a little something for everyone in my family.  JOY!

Here's the breakdown of what everyone was wearing.  

The boys got hand sewn bow ties, from my own pattern on my Etsy shop out of cute nautical seersucker.  And my oldest is wearing some suspenders I made him a couple years ago.

My husband is wearing an actual bow tie.  

The pattern came from this free pattern.

I was so proud I actually learned to tie a real bow tie when he and I tried to put it on.  It took a lot of trial and error, but I've got it now!

For me, I sewed a skirt with a lace overlay from a pattern I bought from JoAnns no less than 17 years ago-- whoa-- right when I was out of high school.  I remember wanting to do some sewing with my mom.  I grabbed a couple "sew and cool" patterns and sewed up a few skirts and dresses.  But I never got around to sewing up this skirt pattern.

About a week ago I decided to give it a try.  It was tricky.  I've become so accustomed to Oliver + S patterns, which carefully guide you through every step with wonderful directions and clear pictures.  Without all my previous sewing knowledge, I'm sure I would not have been able to sew this skirt.  But I figured it out...eventually.  I even consulted the Oliver + S website when this skirt told me to do french seams, but gave no instructions on how to do so. Oliver + S to the rescue, as always!

The girls are wearing dresses I sewed from Oliver + S patterns-- of course.

For my younger daughter I chose the Garden Party Dress.  But this time I decided to try to do some smocking for the bodice. I did the easy version, using elastic thread.  I cut my bodice piece too long, since I was eye-balling it.  So my side seams don't quite match up-- but I'm okay with that.

For my older daughter I tried to make an a-line, fully lined, invisible zipper, gathered sleeves, bias-faced neckline Dress-- Whoa, mouthful-- using the Building Block Dress book.

Because my girl is so skinny-minny the dress looked too baggy on her being just the a-line dress.  So I tried adding a belt to cinch things in and add interest.  That worked much better.

I had so much fun sewing for everyone! 

Happy Easter 2017!

How to Make Felt Hand Puppets!

I love making puppets with/for the kids.  This isn't my first "puppet rodeo".
Last year the kids are I made some simple felt puppets, made from their hands, using their own designs.

But sometimes you just want your puppet to be able to open it's mouth.  A puppet that can actually talk is So cool!

I did some looking around the internet and came across this awesome pattern found on Martha Stewart.  

It works awesome.  But to be honest the instructions were a little confusing.  I think if there were pictures involved it would really add some clarity. 

After a bit of struggle sewing this dog puppet, picking my sewing out three or four times, I thought I'd try again.  But this time I'd take notes and some pictures to possibly help future puppet sewers, like yourself.

Materials Needed:

1. Go to Martha's site and print off the pattern. (there is a video, but it's not helpful).

2. Felt or old sweaters to cut up

3. Typical sewing notions 

STEP ONE: Following the pattern, cut everything out. 

I recommend not cutting the eye piece out for the dog, but instead adding your eye detail on top.

 If you're making something other than a dog, try being creative and add other details to make your cute puppet.

STEP TWO: Sew all the pieces of the face and any other details in place through one layer.

I zig-zag stitched most things rather quickly.

Yes, I was too lazy to change threads, so Black it was! 

STEP THREE:  Fold the front face piece in half (right sides facing) and

 stitch along the bottom cut-out piece to make your face stand out. 

STEP FOUR: Place ear pieces together, right sides facing and stitch around the sides, leaving the bottom open.  Fold right side out and press down.

For any harsh angels, be sure to clip your corners.

STEP FIVE:Place the ears on top of the face, right sides facing, and sew along the edge, with an edge stitch.

STEP SIX: Place the face piece over the back piece with right sides facing (ears in between). 

 Sew along the top curve.

Place the front piece on top, with right sides facing, and only stitch along one side, bottom to top (where the curve meets).  Leave the other side open.

STEP SEVEN:  With right sides together place the upper mouth piece on top of the lower mouth piece.  

Stitch along the top, inside curve.

Open the "mouth" and place the second bottom mouth piece on top of the inside bottom mouth piece with right sides facing. Stitch together along the outside curve. 

STEP EIGHT: Turn the second bottom mouthpiece right side out to form a pocket.

*****

This part can be a little confusing, so I've tried to take it real slow and add lots of details.  You're now attaching your mouth onto the puppet.

STEP NINE:  Place the mouth inside the puppet, lining up the face piece of the mouth to the bottom of the front piece.  Make sure right sides are facing and pin the top of the mouth to the face.  Stitch the mouth and face in place.

Pin the bottom of the mouth to the puppet front, lining up the curves and stitch the mouth in place along the curve.

One that's done, clip around the curves to add ease to the felt so it will turn properly.

STEP TEN: Sew the other side seam to finish the puppet.

Check to make sure everything is attached!

STEP ELEVEN:  Turn your puppet right side out. 

 Depending on what you're making, you might be done here. 

STEP TWELVE: If you're adding a tail. Cut out two tails, stitch down the sides, leaving the bottom open.  Turn right side out and stuff with cotton.

STEP THIRTEEN: Cut a small snip in the back of your puppet, big enough to fit the tail.  Place the tail inside the hole and stitch in place. 

ALL DONE!

Ha, that wasn't too bad!  And aren't they cute?!

Talking puppets!  Can't be beat. 

"Hey, Mr. Dog. How are you doing today?"

"Oh, I'm fine, but I'm feeling hungry."

"Oh, yeah?  Well, you can't eat me!"

And lastly, I'm trying to learn to use Illustrator. So I thought I'd think up some other idea to make puppets out of, with this basic design:

A bow-tie wearing Bear.

A blue bunny:

 A girl!  

I tried to decide if this design would work for a person puppet. 

 I decided, Yes, it does!

Have fun creating your own!