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?

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.

The Rowan Tee

I recently had the opportunity to test a pattern for Laura of Titchy Threads.  This was my first time working with her and she is great.  And she has some really great patterns, like her Small Fry Skinnies I made a while back.  Those jeans actually still fit Em and they get worn pretty frequently ( you will see them again in the pictures below)! Her newest pattern is a basic tee, the Rowan Tee, with some really fun options.

I made two Rowan tee's.  The first one is just a basic tee.  I picked up this adorable butterfly knit on super clearance at JoAnn's.  It is really soft and pretty thin, I love it for this tee!

The tee's fit is perfect, it is slightly slimmer than some tee's and it looks great on Em.  I also made one for A and the fit is great on him too.  I love patterns that I can use for both my kids!

The shirt pairs perfectly with her Small Fry Skinnies and the shoes I painted gold!

What really sets this tee apart from other basic tee patterns is all the options. This pattern has two pocket options, a chest pocket and a kangaroo pocket, two sleeve lengths, a hood option, optional hem cuffs for the sleeves and waist, and contrast sleeve stripes that you can add just to the shoulders or to the full length of the sleeve.  

On this shirt, I added the chest pocket, full length sleeve stripes and sleeve hem bands.  Em chose the fabrics for this one, both are from Girl Charlee. I think she's got some great fabric pairing instincts, she must get that from her mom ;)

This pattern s a quick easy sew that is really fun to make.  And the end result is awesome!  She wore this shirt the other day and got a ton of compliments from strangers. 

The Rowan tee will be available this week from Titchy Threads.  You will be able to find it in her shop.  

Maisie and Double Dutch

The Cottage Mama is releasing two new patterns, the Double Dutch Cardigan and the Maisie Skirt and leggings and I had the opportunity to test both patterns.  I have tested for Lindsay before, over a year ago when I tested the Maitilda dress and Daphne wrap dress (for a tiny little Em!), Lindsay was actually the first designer I ever tested for! I also tested her free Party Dress pattern earlier this year.  This will be the last Cottage Mama pattern I test, but probably not the last I sew.

The two new patterns include the Double Dutch Cardigan, a sweet little cardigan with elbow patches and an optional ruffle around the neckline and at both sleeves.

And the Maisie, which includes a skirt and ruffled leggings.

I sewed up this set of leggings and a cardigan in view B as well.

In my late night sewing frenzy, I left the ruffle Off this pair of leggings.  I really am a much better sewist in the early morning hours than I am late at night! But I love the pants without the ruffle too.

In addition to the two new patterns, she is also releasing a set of appliques.  I sewed one of them, a little deer, on a tank to match her set.

The three pieces are fun together, but I had a lot of fun mixing and matching them for the photos too.

And those big pockets on the skirt were perfect for stashing candy so Em would stand still for the photos ;)

You can find these two new patterns along with all the other Cottage Mama patterns in her shop.

Explorer Hoodie Pattern Anthology

Today I have one more pattern to share with your from the Pattern Anthology Make Believe collection that I had the opportunity to test (you can catch the other 2 tops I sewed up HERE and HERE).  

This is the Explorer Hoodie, it is a super cute, pullover hoodie that can be made with knit, or a combo of knit and woven fabrics.

The hoodie has an option for a straight zipper like A's hoodie has, or a cool angled zipper.  There are also options for a ruffle on the hood and a little button tab over the zip.  You can check out all the options on Pattern Anthologies site.

I used a Ponte de Roma knit for A's hoodie and, oh man, I love it.  I bought the fabric at Girl Charlee (you can find it here). I got it in a lot of slightly flawed cuts, the flaw was a tiny little line running down the fabric parallel to the selvage, but it was easy enough to cut around.  The Ponte de Roma is a great fabric choice for this pattern, it has enough weight to give the top good structure but it is still a lightweight hoodie.  And it feels like it would be really comfortable to wear, I want on in my size!

Like with the other 2 patterns I tested, this one has really great instructions that are easy to follow and clear illustrations.  It took me about an hour and a half to sew and has already gotten a lot of wear.  We took it on our trip to Washington, it was great for layering on cool mornings.  

Pattern Anthology has all four Make Believe collection patterns listed in a bundle on their site for a great price right now.  Or you can bundle the four top patterns with four pants patterns for an even better deal.  Go check it out!