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!

The iPad Sewn Cover Pdf Sewing Pattern + Coupon Code

YAY!  The IPad Sewn Cover is complete and up in the Shop!

The iPad Sewn Cover PDF Sewing Pattern— this simple sewn cover with zipper offers excellent protection for your iPad or Tablet. Pattern includes three sizes to fit virtually every tablet. 

Sizes--

Final measurement for size Small (w: 6.5” x h: 9.5”), size Large (w: 8 ½” x h: 11”), size Ex-Large (w: 9 ½”x h: 12 ½”)


Sewn Pattern Fits: iPad mini, Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Nook, Kindle, Kindle paper white, Kindle voyage, Windows Tablet, Nook Glow Light, Google Nexus 7, HP Stream 7, iPad Air, Google Nexus 9 Tablet, Lenovo Android Tablet, iPad. 
Plus an Extra-large size for those with extra-large cases, or other larger tablets not mentioned.

+17 page PDF file with full size pattern pieces. 

+prints on 8.5" x 11" paper 

+ Instant Download

Thanks to my pattern testers everything is all ship-shape and ready to go!

I even decided to add one more size, for all those extra-large tablets or those with real chunky covers.

Here's a look at some of the pattern tester's adorable iPad Sewn Covers. 

Ready for that coupon code?

Well, in honor of SUMMER, my favorite season. 

 I'm offering my readers 30% of Anything in my shop with the code: summer. 

 It's good until September 1st.

Don't forget to check out the iPad Sewn Cover here.

A New Sweet Simple Dress.

I have a new niece that was born a couple months ago.  She is very darling with lots of dark hair and chubby, chubby checks.

Well, kind of last minute I decided I wanted to make her a dress.  My husband was going down for a visit and to participate in her blessing.  When I had some free time one afternoon while the babies were napping I quickly sewed up the sweet simple dress size 6 - 12 months.

I also cut out and prepared some cute pockets to add to the dress ... I did them in blue and ultimately decided they looked a little too bold.  So they got tossed.

See what I said about being adorable...and those cheeks?  

The blue ruffles really make her eyes pop!

All Ready for the Wedding

A couple weeks ago I was contacted from someone local who had been shopping in the shop where I sell my bow ties and suspenders.  She had been searching the world around for orange gingham bow ties and had come up short.  

We chatted back and forth about ideas and where to locate the correct fabric (orange gingham, we learned, is not that easy to come by). 

 I ended up buying this orange gingham from Online Fabric Store-- which ended up being exactly what we needed.

She asked if I could also add a coordinating strip of fabric around his fedora she picked up from H & M. It had a navy blue strip, which was easily replace with this orange one.

They turned out so cute.  I hope these young boys rock it at the wedding!

These bow ties were made using my Gentleman's bow tie pattern.

June is Made for Kids Month (Round up ONE)

Did you know June is Made for Kids Month?  'Tis true.

I've decied to casually play along-- when the kids are already wearing something I've made-- I try to snap a picture.  Usually on my instagram account and hashtag it #madeforkidsmonth.

Here's my first round up of some of the things my kids have been wearing.

We started on Saturday, with the kids wearing a bow tie and two dresses to their brother's baptism.

The my mother saw my post about Oliver + S' Sunny Day Shorts and made two cute pairs for my daughters.  These shorts are the best!

I'm counting this shirt since I "made"/painted it into a BYU shirt. 

Here's my daughter wearing her Little Miss Dress $1.50 pattern by Me.

 I made it size 2t, but somehow it still fits this almost 4 year old.

My daughters below are again wearing their Sunny Day shorts, as we got one of our Father's day gifts ready (more on that later).

This picture is from Father's Day and it really makes me smile.  Everyone is wearing something I sewed for them.

Dad and one of my sons is wearing a Gentleman's Bow tie.

My other son is wearing a School Boy Vest by Sew Much Ado.

My oldest daughter is wearing a Sally Dress by Very Shannon.

And my baby is wearing The Charlotte Dress by Mama Stellato.

Well, I enjoyed this round up-- how about you?  We're half way through the month, so there's more to come.

The Sweet Simple Dress-- as completed by my Pattern Testers.

When I designed The Sweet Simple Dress, I tried to make it with lots of options for customization and I encouraged my sweet pattern testers to get creative and to really make the dress their own.

Of course, they did not disappoint.  Every dress was done so excellently. 

In no particular order, here they are.

Up first, this darling dress by The Nest Creations , I love how her daughter picked out her own fabrics and styling.  What a cutie!

I love this darling blue and white stripped one from Stripes and Polka Dots. 

Ahh, matching sisters-- my favorite.  These two cuties are my nieces.  

I love the way their matching, darling dresses turned out!

Kerrie made two dresses for some cute little twins.  

I love the pocket designs she made.

 

I love this darling tunic from Made-by-Sara.  

She used knit for the bodice and cotton for the sleeves. 

Court from Court is Crafty made this darling green dress with cute little buttons on the sleeves.

Check out this cutie from Australia from the blog Sewn by Elizabeth.

Look at this darling little baby from Huckleberry Love.  She tested our size 6 - 12 m.  I love the bright colors.  Too cute.

  

I love this cute one with a darling ribbon in the front.

These dresses are too cute from Nap-Time Creations.  If you're asking yourself, "Hmm, why did she pick some of those interesting details."  You might be surprised.  You can read all about her inspiration here.

The sweet simple dress turned out very darling from Sewing for Sanity.  Look at that smile!

I love this darling heart dress with bird applicay from a LOT of ATTITUDE. 

And lastly, I just love this darling dress from Crissybell's Musings. 

Her daughter is too cute in it!

Hope you enjoyed my pattern tester round-up.  

You can pick up your own Sweet Simple Dress HERE or your FREE 0-3 m dress here.