A Lovely Sunny Dress (Review)

Another designer I recently was 

given the opportunity to test for was Veronica of SewVery..

 The woman behind SewVery patterns and the SewVery Blog. 

She is just so sweet and a talented sewist. 

You should really check out her recent finish of  Radiant home studio's retro rucksack. I love the colors Veronica used! 

I actually won this pattern a while back and it is still hanging out it my to-do pile:) 

Any-who back to the Sunny Dress and Top pattern review.

This pattern includes a cute tie back and two neck options and two lengths.

 One neck option is your basic rounded neckline and the other includes a ruffled neck. 

Your two lengths available in this pattern is a regular top and a dress length. 

For my first run testing of this pattern I sewed up the size 8 for my Niece using view B (no ruffle) in a dress. The dress sewed up so very quick and you could easily sew up 3 or 4 assembly style for school in an afternoon. 

 This dress fits her perfectly; both in size and style. I used some Mr Men fabric from my stash.

 I had justenough fabric for this top and sadly have no more.

My Niece loved this so much I knew I had to sew her up another one. In true me fashion I used another irreplaceable fabric. I got this fabric in an estate sale recently and I just love it so much. I decided that I should stop hoarding these types of fabrics and just make something that can be loved or worn.

On this version I opted to lengthen the top to a tunic length (I went down to the length of a size 5 dress to make a size 8 tunic). I also used some estate sale fabric for the yellow mini polka dot bib and scraps to make a turned tube a ruffle down the center of the bib. Then accented  that with some white rick-rack
 I had laying around and a few buttons.
I really hope to see this on her in the fall with some skinny's, boots and a long sleeved shirt under it!


On adorb overload yet??
If you want to get your own copy of the Sunny Dress/top pattern you should go to the
 SewVery Pattern shop . And I mean like, right now because until
 tomorrow (August 17th) the pattern is 20% off!!

If you would like to try your luck Veronica is graciously giving away 2 copies of the pattern
(also ending tomorrow) I've included the rafflecopter for you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There are many talented sewists participating in the blog tour and you should totally
 check out all the awesomeness they have cooked up.

Monday, August 11th Sewing Mama RaeAnna While she was sleeping 4Kids + 1 Momma = chaos Mama Says Sew Wednesday, August 13th Sew Like My Mom Made by Sara Shaffer Sisters Friday, August 15th Rae Gun Ramblings Rebel and Malice Right Sides Facing Sunday, August 17th sewVery

Tuesday, August 12th Handcrafted by RED Two-Many Feathered Ruffles Call Ajaire Thursday, August 14th Crafty Biggers Sweeter Than Cupcakes Giggles and Beans Pattern Revolution Saturday, August 16th Thirtynine Made by Momma Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop

The Janey Jump Around Dress

The Janey Jump Around

A couple of months ago I sewed up the Janey Jump Around dress by Peek A Boo Pattern shop but just got around to getting pictures done.

It is a FREE pattern so go to the peek-a-boo pattern shop and download it today!

It is so nice when the pattern designers offer a pattern for free. I know how much goes into designing and testing each pattern. I believe that the drafting takes a long time too even though I never have done it myself. 

I made this for my Niece using some red tag knit from JoAnn's and the solid came from there too.
The cute little blue buttons came from my stash.
 I just can't help myself; anytime there is a cute girl's print in knit the red tag section I have to buy a few yards. 

Ok, well ... 

truth time here...

If there is ever ANY cute knit print in red tag I buy it. I have a ridiculous stash of knits 

and I just can't help myself. 

Ready for another truth?

There's 5 more lengths of different knits that are not pictured here...

and that does not include performance or swim knits.

Anyhow, lets ahem, move on and keep this our ((little)) secret and get back 

to the Janey jump around.

I opted to do this Janey Jump around in a size 10.



I did contrasting short sleeve band and lengthened them a little so it would be appropriate for the fall with legging and boots too.

Who's with me on getting some sewing done for
back to school??

Cartwheel Collection by Love Notions

I have been very fortunate recently to be picked to test some patterns. I can't tell y'all how much it means to me to be selected. I think that it speaks volumes to how much my sewing skills have come along since I started sewing. I know that I still have much to learn and I am grateful to have these opportunities.

Well now that I have gotten the mushy stuff out of the way...

My next pattern test is the cartwheel collection by

The lovely Tami of Love Notions has a new pattern in the works for a collection called the Cartwheel collection. It is appropriately named because the girlies can do all the cartwheels they want and remain modest with the attached bike shorts on the skirt (if you pick to sew that version). This is a a great collection because you have so many options. You can have a dress, shorts, tee shirt or a single or double skirt either without or with shorts attached.











I made the collection for my eldest niece. I think that it will be great for back-to-school which is quickly approaching. I used a purple and pink hounds tooth from Jo-Ann's as well as a solid lighter purple.

I was picked to do the tee-shirt

 (don't you just LOVE the cut out back?))

and the double skirt with attached bike short.

I have the perfect fabrics to do another one

for another niece, next time I'm making the dress though.

Here is a link to the Love Notions Etsy page.

The word is the first 100 purchasers can use the code
sixinone 
     for 15% off their purchase of the cartwheel collection!

Shared on

 Simple Simon Sewing Saturdays

My Little Junebug(s)

I know a pair of twin girls who's first birthday is fast approaching! The birthday party is next weekend--nothing like procrastinating, huh?? I decided since I rarely get to sew girly little dresses I would do something handmade for them. The Junebug dress from CINO fit the bill in size and style.

Happy Halloween...and Thanksgiving...

Well let's start at the begining I suppose.

The little guy was a viking for Halloween. For him I sewed up some faux fur boot covers and fur vest. It was raining and yucky out so we did not stay out long although he was pretty warm. He even had on a fake red beard and hair under his horned helmet.

Sorry this is the only decent picture I got that night; you can't really see the boot covers or the vest over his coat.  

 

Then I got started on sewing for Christmas...

5 Imke's for the neices/nephew and son.

This is after cutting but before sewing them up, of course, I have already wrapped all of these up. It is the same Imke pattern that I have used in the past but this time with long sleeves and made of fleece.

 

Then I had to pack up the entire sewing dining room for Thanksgiving. We had just over 25 people at our house and everything was fabulous. I tried out a few new recipes and they were really good.

I did my own homemade cranberry sauce which is SO much better than canned. It is also so easy so I don't know why I never tried it before. I also made corn casserole--also YUMM-O!

 

 

 

Okay so then black friday happened which was a little like this:

 

 

No not really...BUT I did go to two different Kohl's and JoAnn Fabrics as well as a few other stores. Yeah, I am that crazy.

 

 

Then back to the sewing.

I made a stinkin' adorable kimono pj set for my nephew, Baby Eric as my son calls him.

 

 

It is from the Amy Butler book.

Little Stitches for Little Ones.

It is actually the outfit on the cover. I made it with some of my JoAnn's $1.99 flannel from Black Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I made my neice a coloring book dress for her birthday. It is a reversible dress with a very light purple on the inside because it is her favorite color.

 

 

 

 

Last and not least I made some hanging dish towels.

 I used kleiosbelly pattern. That link takes you right to the PDF.

 I used another Black Friday score to whip these up. The towels themselves are The Big One hand towels from Kohls that I cut it half.

Total cost for each set $1.99 because of stashed fabric usage!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think that I only need to sew up some new PJ's for the little man

 and this mama is done Christmas sewing.

 

What are y'all making up for Christmas??

McCalls 6020 Review

 

Stock photo from Mccalls

Pattern Description: Below mid-knee length dress with front band, gathered skirt, tulle ruffle on lining, back zipper and ribbon sash or tie ends. Sleeve options: sleeveless or gathered sleeves.

Pattern Sizing: 3-14. I made my three dresses in a 7, 8 and 12. All with changes except the sz 8. These were made for my brother's wedding this coming weekend.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? 
I think it does mostly.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn't use them too much. I did the dresses assembly style; cut all the patterns on fabric, make all the bodices, ect.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked this pattern for the simple lines and square neckline.

Fabric Used: I used a Seersucker that was chosen by the wedding party.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:  I omitted the tie sash on the bodice and instead of using ribbon (too hard to match the colors right) I just used a scrap of the fabric and made it look like the ribbon. Again, omitting the tie on the ribbon opting for a clean front.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  It is a cute pattern but I don't know that I'll need another dress like this.

KCW Day 4-7

 

So I was working away on KCW and in the middle of it a family reunion.

 

This is what I got done

 

Day 4

 

I got to the button holes but decided that I should NOT do button holes while drinking a margarita.

 

Yea, your seeing that right, a margarita in a to-go cup. Who does that?? Me. That's who.

Better question? What restaurant let's a girl walk out of there with a margarita in a to-go cup?
As the big man said " Nothing say's drinking and driving like a to-go margarita."
Luckily I was not actually drinking and driving!

anywhoo...

 

 

Day 5-6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got them done! Yay:)

Here is a shot of the wonky pocket

and the cargo's rolled up.

 

 

 

I

Day 7

 

 

I traced out McCall's M6020 for 3 girls for my brother's wedding in early September. I almost didn't have enough exam paper for my pattern tracing. Guess it's time to ask the Dr. for more!

The couple is doing a rainbow theme and the girls picked out their colors.