The Sweet Simple Dress-- Looking for Pattern Testers!!

In a perfect world I would have written this post a month ago, so I could have had my new pattern all done and tested with plenty of time for the Easter sewing still ahead...but alas here we are.

I am Super excited to start testing on my new pattern 

The Sweet Simple Dress sizes 0 - 4t!!!

The Sweet Simple Dress is meant to be just that-- Simple..but also really sweet.

The simple refers to the fact that there are no zippers or buttons.  It has an elastic casing which slips easily over the head. 

The Sweet refers to all the fun ways you can customize this dress. I have included many ways to customize it in the pattern, as well as a few ideas you could easily try, to change up the dress again and again.

Here you'll see this cute gathered flower on the left and a gathered tiered neckline on the right, both included in the pattern.

  

Here's a fun option for changing up the hem.

Single stitch with gathered hem or using a double needle.

The sleeves are kind of my favorite.  They're super easy to make and really add that feminine touch.  I don't know if there's a real name for it...but I'm calling it the pleated puffed sleeve (Anne of Green Gables, anyone?)

 This simple dress is really easy and quick.  

Perfect for a first sewing project or a quick afternoon sew.

If you're interested in being a pattern tester please fill out this form HERE.

I'll be contacting people by Monday, April 7th.

** Important:  The sewing and testing will need to be done by Friday, April 18th**

12 New General Conference Activity Ideas

I was thinking about this round-up I made two years ago and thinking about how it needed to be updated.

Enter:

The Ultimate General Conference guide by Food Storage and Beyond.  Where she shares this adorable packet she made with 'A' is for 'Apostales', 'B' is for 'Book of Mormon"...etc.  It's really cute.  

Check out her post here to download and print it out.

Kiki & Company has this fantastic set found HERE. 

SugarDoodle shares this excellent general conference packet made for this April's 2014 conference.  I would say it's made for older kids, but has lots of great resources.

Click Here to see it.

Deseret Book shares this great booklet Here.

Jenny Philips shares some great packets and even includes one in spanish.

Somewhat Simple shares this darling idea of Conference Cash, where she uses play cash as rewards for being reverent, listening, and being to answer questions about each talk.  What child wouldn't love this?

Somewhat Simple also shared this darling packet last year.

Moms Have Questions Too is a great resource for younger children.  They have a ton of really great ideas.

Like this one

and this one

 and this one

Fluffy Bunny Feet Designs made this darling general conference packet that can be held all together with a ring and some crayons.

The official church website has this really cute find the hidden picture pages

And lastly, for those of you tech-savvy types, here is an app for general conference bingo.

Bow Ties and Suspenders for Sale.

 I finally got three sets of bow ties and matching suspenders in the shop today.

All the Little Gentleman's bow ties are made using my pattern and the suspenders are put together and hand sewn by me.  All really fun and really cute!

If you're in the Ikat mood, might I recommend this set.  Size Medium.

Feeling springy and need some blue gingham?  Got that in a size Large.

And finally, trying to jump on the trendy train, I even made up this cute Chevron and Silver set.  Size Large.

  

Please visit my Etsy Shop HERE for more.

Thanks!

Schoolboy Vest Pattern

I did some really awesome sewing for my boys the other day.  Sewing for the boys?  Finally, unfortunately I do not do a ton of sewing for my sweet boys.  

 There's just not a lot of options out there.  

So when this schoolboy vest pattern came out by Sew Much Ado, I had to jump on it.

This is a really awesome pattern, which includes a fully lined vest pattern.  You can go casual or more fancy.  I had Easter in mind, so I definitely had more fancy on the mind (matching girl dresses to come.)  The pattern includes directions for professional looking tie straps in the back and how to make the pattern fully reversible.  It also has directions for welt pockets or faux welt pockets (which is what I did).

Let's take a look at those handsome little devils.

They totally LOVED this look and their matching vests.

And those cute gentleman's bow ties?  From my pattern found in the shop HERE. 

I asked them to show me what they'd look like with their vest unbuttoned.

Wow, handsome.

And lets see those suspenders.

Fabulous!

You can grab this darling Schoolboy Vest Pattern by Sew Much Ado HERE.

The Lullaby Layette Set

If you saw my post yesterday you  heard me rave about the new Spring Line over at Oliver + S.

Well, I made the Hide and Seek dress to be used in their photo shoot.

And I had the pleasure to sew up the Lullaby Layette Set to be used for my Baby's First Birthday.  

The timing was Perfect!

Did you notice the word, "set"? Well, this is gem of a pattern includes directions to make a shirt, a bodysuit, pants, and a reversible jacket.  Awesome?  Yes.  And it's made for baby, but ranges from sizes 0 - 24 months.  Sweet, so I've still got a year to make more clothes from this lovely set.

Liesl recommends using using woven fabrics, but I went with a snuggly knit for the top and sweatshirt fabric for the pants.

My baby is round and snuggly, so I kinda wanted to make her clothing which reflected that, too.  I really love the look of woven fabrics, but they usually require ironing...and as my husband will attest, ironing often is not my strong suit. 

I love these pants.  They have their seam right on the front side of the pants. What a unique spin on the common pants.

For the back of the pants, she includes directions for some pockets.  I took a little liberty here, when I was making them.  Instead of the usual, straight across the top pocket (as directed), I went with a darling bow top.  Which really ties in the skirt to the pants. 

 I thought the placket on the front of the shirt would be confusing-- but of course, it totally wasn't.  She walks you through every step and you walk away from that part patting yourself on the back having mastered something new.

I would say the fit is generous, so be sure to use the given guide to make sure you're sewing up the right size. 

Since this darling outfit was made for baby's first birthday, her photo shoot was at our local science center on her birthday.  We have been visiting here for the last year, but this was really the first time baby could get around by herself and explore.  She had a blast.

These clothes are great for sitting, walking, and crawling around as fast as can be.

I finally got her to crawl over to an area where I could get some good light.  Since it was her birthday, I didn't want to bug her too much of her posing, like I usually do-- ha, ha.

"Hello, sweetie, oh...please don't put that in your mouth...even if it's your birthday, that's gross."

Again, lovely pattern.  Perfect for that little snuggly baby in your life.

You can get the Lullaby Layette Set Paper Pattern HERE

You can get the Lullaby Layette Set Digital Pattern HERE

Now let's Enjoy Spring and get Sewing!

Hide and Seek Dress

Have you heard the exciting news?

Oliver + S has just released their new 2014 Spring Line.

Which includes this adorable Hide and Seek Dress.

I was contacted in December and asked if I'd like to be a pattern tester.  Um, YES, sign me up!!

I actually sewed up this beautiful dress to be used in her photo shoot.  

See this dress.  I totally made that.  EEEKKKkkk, I can't believe that's the dress I made.  Thrilling.

After I made this dress I took a quick couple of shots of my daughter trying it out.  It's a size 3t, but is a little big on my mini daughter.

This pattern was really a fun sew.  It includes a darling v-notch neckline, simple to sew welt pockets, cuffed sleeves.  The result is simply darling.  And as always she easily walks you through each step and you feel so accomplished when you're done.

 After our photo shoot, I packaged it up and sent it to New York.  Where I haven't seen it since....until yesterday, when she announced her new Spring line-- and low and behold, there's that cute dress I sewed up.  

I just sat there and stared at it for 15 minutes feeling so thrilled that I had sewed up that dress.

You can buy the digital Hide and Seek Dress pattern HERE.

and the paper hide and Seek Dress pattern HERE.

Click here to see the Lullaby Layette outfit I made for my baby.