Trendsetter Easter Dress

I finished Em's Easter Dress way ahead of time this year!  (You can check out last years Easter dress HERE...still one of my favorites! and the year before that HERE)  This year, she will be wearing the new Trendsetter dress from Little Lizard King.

When I first saw this design I thought it was screaming for some embroidery on the bodice, and I had just the thing.  I did this hand embroidery a while ago for a different project and didn't end up using it.  It just happened to be the perfect size for the bodice and in perfect Easter colors...it was meant to be!  

Just like the Perfect 10 shirt Cassie also designed for Little Lizard King, this dress has lots of options!  I did a simple version with a double layer skirt.  There is also a single layer skirt and options for a fancy dress with fabrics like chiffon, lace, or tulle.  

And it has a couple of strap options.  I did a simple strap, they snaps in the back...or you can do some neat criss cross straps that tie in the back or add a little ruffle to the straps.

This PDF pattern has no pieces so no pages to print, you get to save your paper and ink!  All of the pieces are rectangular shapes and there are charts in the pattern with cutting dimensions.  

Em was pretty impressed with the twirl factor on that double skirt.  

I really don't often sew a pattern more than once, but I have already made two Trendsetters (you can catch a glimpse of the other one in last weeks post).  They are so quick and easy!

Thanks for stopping by!  Did you make an Easter dress this year?  What did you make?

One Thimble Issue 6

You probably already know how much I love One Thimble.  It is such a great sewing e-zine, I have been sewing up and sharing projects since issue 2 and last week the release issue 6!  Today I am joining in on the One Thimble blog tour with Pattern Revolution.

Just like the previous issues of One Thimble, issue 6 is chock full of PDF patterns and sewing related articles.  Jen does such a great job of rounding up talented people to contribute patterns and articles.  This issue has 10 PDF patterns, a couple dresses, a really adorable hat, a cardigan, a skirt, a bag, a multi-purpose apron, a boys (but could work for girls too) dress shirt, a cute fairy applique, and some fun little finger puppets.

The One Thimble e-zines are so fun to read.  I like to sit down with my tablet and flip through.  There are great photos of all the patterns and tons of useful info in all the articles.  If you have a handmade business, or are think of starting one, this issue is for you!  It has tips on increasing sales, branding your business, taking photos, writing item descriptions, and even for doing your book keeping.

But even if you don't have a sewing business you will find plenty of helpful information in this issue.  I was most excited to read the article on heirloom sewing, I have to try that soon!  You can also read about adding zips, choosing interfacing, hemming knits, pleating, applique, and find a tutorial for making fitted sheets for your kids.

OK, back to the patterns!  I sewed up two of the patterns from this issue, the Penny dress by Bubby and Me Creations and the Woodland Creatures felt finger puppets by Felt with Love.

The Penny dress is an A line dress with some set in pockets in the front.  It has little ruffles on the sleeves, I cut those out but then decided to leave them off the dress, I liked the straight lines of the dress without the ruffle to go with this stripe fabric.

The slant of the pockets continues onto the back with some set in panels.

And the dress closes with a button and loop closure at the back.

The Penny dress pattern is for sizes 1-10 (20"-28 3/8" chest sizes).  I sewed up a size 2 for Em, her chest size actually put her in a 1, but I wanted her to be able to wear it all summer, even if she grows a bit.  The fit is perfect, with a bit of growing room just like I wanted.

The pattern has 24 pages to print, that print in color.  And the instructions are clear and easy to follow, with clear pictures for each step.  The pattern is labeled advanced beginner.  Those set in pockets might be a bit tricky for beginners, but once you get that first one figured out, the second is a piece of cake!

Those pockets on the Penny dress are nice and deep, perfect for storing your Woodland finger puppets!

These little guys are so cute!

There are 6 different woodland creatures included in the puppet designs.  Em loves these but will only play with the colorful unicorn and fox, she says the grey and brown ones are for boys.  Looks like her brother will be getting those four puppets and I will be sewing them up again in pink and purple felt!

The puppets are really easy to sew up, but you do need some basic embroidery knowledge (there is also a short article with hand embroidery tips in the e-zine!) They take a bit of time to sew, I was excited to have some sewing I could do somewhere other than my sewing room.

I cut out all of my felt one night and made a little puppet sewing kit for myself.  I put all the pieces in bags, grabbed the embroidery thread I needed, some needles and small scissors and threw everything in a Ziploc bag that I could throw in my purse.  Then I worked on the puppets whenever I had spare time, I did a lot of sewing while watching my kids play on the playground.

These puppets are great for imaginary play and make believe, I can't wait to see the puppet shows my kids put on with them!

Want to get your hands on the e-zine?  You can buy it over at One Thimble.  And make sure you check out all the other stops on the blog tour!

2/13 Pattern Revolution, Lisa Lisa Designs

2/14 Made by Sara, Call Ajaire

2/15 Snickerdoodle Stew, Sprouting Jube Jube

2/16 Blue Wren Handmade, Kimmie Sew Crazy

2/17 HattieLu Handmade, Lady and the Gents

2/18 Handcrafted by Red, Horris and Deedle

2/19 Lily Shine , Rebekah Sews

2/20 Stitched By Crystal, Sweeter than it Seams

Lillian Pintuck Dress

My friend Hayley from Mouse House Creations is releasing a new pattern today and this pattern has been a long time coming!  I think she first made this dress over a year ago and it has been in testing for months!  I helped her test the dress and it went through several revisions and the final product is pretty much awesome!

I love all of Hayley's designs, I have made every single one of her patterns, most of them several times (I shared a Norah tunic last week I made from one of her patterns).  They all have a great simple, classic style and the Lillian Pintuck pattern is no exception.  It is a simple A-line dress or top with ten little pintucks along the neckline and it has options for short or long sleeves.

The dress has bias tape along the neck line that closes in the back with a bow, so no buttons or zippers to sew!  And it has an option to make the dress completely lined, which makes it a great pattern for using eyelet fabrics.

I sewed up one dress and two tops with the pattern during testing, and they all turned out so cute! The first one was a dress made with some fabric I had leftover from Em's Christmas PJ's last year.

The second a top.  The top pattern has been lengthened a bit since this test version, but it was still adorable even a little short.  I think it has a bit of a Cindy Brady look in those orange flowers :)

And the third one I made was a top out of flannel, I paired it with some simple elastic waist pants and she wore it as her Christmas PJ's this year.

This pattern goes on sale today only at Up Craft Club and will be there all week for only $7.  Hayley will also have it available in her shop for the regular price of $9 starting next week.

Tuallulah and Huckleberry

I got to work with Pattern Revolution on a fun new project this month.  It is a new monthly series that they are starting called MashUP.  Every month they will feature two different patterns to mash up, this month it was the Tallulah by Izzy and Ivy and the Huckleberry by Foo Foo Threads.

Have you ever done a mash up of two patterns?  This was the first time I had.  It is where you take the top half of one pattern and combine it with the bottom half of another.  I used the top of the Huckleberry and skirt from the Tallulah to make this dress, I have dubbed to the Tallulaberry.  Over at Pattern Revolution, you can see more pictures of these two patterns mashed up and some photos of the opposite match (Tallulah top and Huckleberry skirt), both ways turn out so cute!  AND, you can get the 2 patterns at a great price!

The Huckleberry top has 2 options, you can do a loose fitting bodice or a fitted bodice with elastic casings in the back.  I chose the fitted option, in a size 2 for my girl and the fit is great! And I think this is a dress that will fit her for a little while.  

The pattern also has a few options for decorating the front of the bodice, I just went with a couple buttons. And aren't those flutter sleeves great?!

My favorite part the MashUP patterns are those sweet pockets on the Tullulah, which is why I chose to do the Tallulah skirt!  Em loves the pockets too, but I think mostly because I filled them with candy to get her to cooperate for this photoshoot ;)

Head over to Pattern Revolution for some more great Tallulaberry photos and to get all the info on snagging the 2 patterns for cheap!  But the sale ends today so hurry!