Blank Slate Patterns Prepster Pullover

Cold weather is finally upon us, so I put my latest Blank Slate Pattern to good use and sewed Ella a lovely Prepster Pullover (affiliate links). With the sleeve versatility of this pattern, she'll be able to wear it pretty much year round!

This post contains affiliate links. Although I was provided the pattern at no cost in exchange for my review, all opinions given are my own.

It's rare these days that my pretty little girl can wear a piece of clothing that isn't standard school attire. While the Prepster Pullover can easily be made to fit the bill for school in a solid fabric, I chose to make this particular blouse using beautiful London Calling lawn from Robert Kaufman. The blue floral print and drape of this fabric are both ideal for this design and a pleasure to sew.

Airport Sling Bag x 2

Have you been following along with the On the Go Bags book tour these last few days? There are lots of chances to win a copy of the book for yourself, plus, you'll see some examples of bags and organizers made from the book.

On Monday, I shared with you my Cart or Stroller Caddy project from the book. Be sure to click HERE to see it and read about my inspiration behind the design. Oh, and you can enter my giveaway of the book there, too!

Today, I'm sharing another awesome project from the book--the Airport Sling Bag--designed by Janelle MacKay of Emmaline Bags. A few months ago, I was asked to sew up a sample Airport Sling Bag for Fall Quilt Market using some new Riley Blake fabrics. I couldn't say yes fast enough!

On the Go Bags Book Tour + Giveaway!

Lindsay Conner of Lindsay Sews and Craft Buds and Janelle MacKay of Emmaline Bags have released a new book--On the Go Bags—15 Handmade Purses, Totes & Organizers (Stash Books)--and they invited me to contribute a project! You cannot believe how excited I am to have one of my new design projects, the Cart or Stroller Caddy, published in their book. I can check another item off my bucket list!

The book is available this month at CTPub.com (affiliate link) and January 7th on Amazon! Add it to your holiday wishlist now. Want to win a copy of the book? Read the review and all about the giveaway at the end of the post.

When Lindsay first told me her idea about the book, I had the perfect project in mind. When my children were little and used to ride in the grocery cart seat, I would often have a difficult time managing a grocery list, coupons, and snacks and toys for my child. I found that my child's stroller also lacked the convenient storage I needed for smaller items. I needed a hanging organizer that would fit over the handlebar, so one afternoon, I sewed together the pocket organizer I had been imagining in my head. I never got around to sharing the organizer on my blog, but when Lindsay asked me for a project idea for the book, I knew it was the one!

Remix Pouch Tutorial with Bonus Wristlet Strap

Recently, I was commissioned by the fabric designer, Ann Kelle, to sew up a few little pocket shaped zipper pouches using her new Rainbow Remix fabric collection. What's even better is that she asked me to write a tutorial for these adorable little pouches so that anyone could create their own! While part of this tutorial originally was posted on Kelle's blog, Ann Kelle, I've added a little twist to give you the Remix Pouch Tutorial with Bonus Wristlet Strap!

The Fairport Purse by Radiant Home Studio

Today I'm taking part in the Radiant Home Studio 2nd Birthday Celebration with this gorgeous Fairport Purse!

I've been searching for months for the perfect project to use this lux sateen fabric on, and the Fairport Purse design is it! I paired the sateen with a textured faux leather and lined it with Essex linen. I couldn't be more pleased with the results!

Cuddle Floor Pillow & Blanket Set

One of my most popular posts is my tutorial for a Cuddle Floor Pillow that I made for my children. The pillow is large, 20" x 30", has a zipper closure to allow for removal of the interior pillow form so that the cover may be washed, and includes a handle for ease of carrying. My children use these pillows all the time!

Recently, I shared the link to my tutorial on my sewVery Facebook page where a relative of mine saw it. She contacted me about sewing up a cuddle floor pillow and blanket set for her granddaughter, which I was more than happy to oblige. This is what I made for her!

Keep reading to find out what fabrics I used and how to make your own Cuddle Floor Pillow with my FREE tutorial!

Green Bee Scoop Tote

Recently, I participated in Purse Palooza hosted by Sara of Sew Sweetness. Throughout the month of October, bag pattern reviews were posted by a variety of bloggers and sewers. These reviews provide a great resource for anyone considering making one of the reviewed patterns.

For my bag pattern review this year, I chose to sew The Scoop Tote by Green Bee Patterns. I purchased this paper only pattern as part of a kit from Craftsy (affiliate link). 

This post contains affiliate links through which I may earn a small commission on purchases. 

Pasha Pleated Clutch

You are going to love my latest project as part of the Betz White Sewing Collective Team as much as I do--the Pasha Pleated Clutch! This beautifully detailed gem is one of the amazing projects from Betz's book Present Perfect: 25 Gifts to Sew and Bestew.  

If you don't already own this book, you should buy it! You'll be able to use it to make most of the people on your holiday shopping list a terrific gift.

Road Tripper Duffle Bag

Are vacation and holiday travel in your plans for the next couple of months? Then it's time for you to sew yourself a new piece of luggage! Recently, my family and I visited the white sand beaches of south Alabama, and instead of traveling with my normal large, hard sided suitcase, my things were packed in style in my new Road Tripper Duffle Bag.

Don't let the Road Tripper Duffle Bag pattern by Betz White intimidate you because of the bag's large 20" x 11" x 9" size. Although this is a big duffle, the sewing techniques used to construct the Road Tripper are typical to every basic to intermediate level bag I've ever sewn. If you can sew a zipper and a metal buckle on, then you are good to go!

Blank Slate Patterns Perfect Polo Shirt

I had such a great time trying out and sharing my thoughts on the fashionable and functional patterns from Blank Slate Patterns last year, and I'm proud to announce that I am continuing on as member of the Blank Slate Patterns Sewing Team! My most recent project is the ever popular Blank Slate Patterns Perfect Polo Shirt Pattern. (affiliate link)

Ella recently started back to school, and as I have mentioned before in this post on her Blank Slate Patterns Schoolday Skirt, her clothing has to meet standard school attire requirements. Polo style shirts are definitely on the list, and since her store-bought polos from last year no longer fit, it was time for me to try my hand at sewing one! Thanks to the Blank Slate Patterns Perfect Polo, I've got another great staple pattern to add to my collection. (affiliate link)

Paneled Sunsuit Skirt

I absolutely love sewing clothes for my daughter to wear to school. My little first grader is growing like a weed and could use a few new skirts and tops to add to her wardrobe. When Call Ajaire asked me to participate in her Not Just a Sunsuit pattern tour to celebrate the release of her first pattern, the Paneled Sunsuit, I knew I had to try the skirt view first for Ella a new school skirt! 

The Paneled Sunsuit Pattern has more options than any other pattern I've ever seen! It's insane the number of pieces and outfits you can sew up out of this one simple pattern. The instructions and diagrams are extremely thorough and detailed and a breeze to follow.

Coffee Cash Coin Pouch

My latest project as part of the Betz White Sewing Collective Team is this adorable and fun little Coffee Cash Coin Pouch from Betz's book Present Perfect: 25 Gifts to Sew and Bestew. These are great scrap buster projects that take only minutes to cut out and sew.

The Coffee Cash Coin Pouch is useful tool to store spare change in your purse or car for a future cup of Joe. I plan on making a few extras to keep on hand to stick a coffee shop gift card inside and give as gifts to coffee-loving friends! Wouldn't you love receiving a gift like this?!

sewVery Simple Checkbook Cover

Today, I'm bringing home a post and tutorial I originally shared on Andrea's Notebook. Enjoy!

Even in this tech-saturated digital age, most people still use a written check every now and then to pay a bill or buy something new. I find that nostalgic and very refreshing. Plus, writing a check is about the only opportunity I have to use cursive!

Here's the thing though. I despise those tacky plastic checkbook covers that come with every box of new checks. So I did what any normal, savvy sewing person would do. I made my own and wrote a sewVery Simple Checkbook Cover Tutorial to share with you!

Pillowcases for Ronald McDonald House

Recently, I was invited by the Music City Quilt Guild to help sew pillowcases for children staying at the local Ronald McDonald House. While I'm not a member of the guild (I haven't ventured into sewing quilts yet), I know several of the members and jumped at the chance to participate in a fun group sewing event. That's me holding up the pillowcase with a green edge.

Photos Courtesy of the Music City Quilt Guild

Keep reading to learn more about the method/tutorial we used to sew up these pillowcases so quickly!

sewVery Simple One Seam Skirt Tutorial

It's time for the Simple Simon & Co.'s Skirting the Issue series again, and I'm participating this year with my sewVery Simple One Seam Skirt Tutorial.

Skirting the Issue is all about making skirts to donate to girls in need. While the ladies at Simple Simon & Co. will be donating skirts to girls in foster care, I have sewn together several skirts in a variety of sizes to donate to girls in need at my daughter's school. These skirts, made using my sewVery Simple One Seam Skirt Tutorial, were a breeze to make and take little fabric.

DIY Fabric Clipboard

The other day at Target, I picked up a plain brown clipboard, a small bottle of Mod Podge from the $1 aisle, and a packet of sponge brushes and decided to cover the clipboard in fabric. This project was so quick and simple, that it took less than 30 minutes from start to finish! Here's how you can make your own DIY Fabric Clipboard, too!

Lulu Dress Pattern

This post is way, way, way overdue! About a year ago, Jessica from Craftiness is Not Optional came out with the Lulu Dress and Top Pattern, and I promised to make one and blog about it! I met half the promise since I sewed the dress immediately, but then one thing after another came up and I never took any photos of Ella wearing her Lulu dress. To make matters worse, I finally did take photos last September, but then I never wrote the post--until NOW!

So, so sorry, Jess, for the delay in sharing the news about your wonderful pattern. Ella wears her Lulu dress often and her wearing it today is what reminded me that it was way past time for me to share it.

Purr-fect Cat Toy Tutorial

My family is a cat family--no dogs here! We love our two little kitties and strive to keep them happy and healthy. It's important to provide indoor cats plenty of active playtime, not only for physical exercise but also to stimulate their minds. Playing with a mouse-like toy that they can bat around, chase, or pounce on can satisfy a cat's instinctual drive to hunt. Fill the toy with a little catnip, and watch your cat go wild!

Want to make your indoor cat happy today? Then sew up a few of these super simple Purr-fect Cat Toys in minutes! Your cat, like mine, will definitely thank you!

All Day Fun in the Sun Dress Tutorial

For the third year in a row, I'm participating in one of my favorite all-time sewing series: 30 Days of Sundresses at Melly Sews with my All Day Fun in the Sun Dress Tutorial! This year, I made a super simple dress that is just perfect for my active 6 year old, and I've put together a step-by-step tutorial so you can make one, too! The All Day Fun in the Sun Dress is a great project for the beginner sewer and takes less than a yard of fabric to make!

Marigold Peplum Blouse

Several months ago, I made my daughter this beautiful blouse--the Figgy's Ayashe Blouse--that has a mandarin collar and a back yoke that wraps over the shoulders and ties in to the front with subtle gathers. When I finished hers, I said, "I want one!" Low and behold, a few days later, Blank Slate Patterns released the Marigold Pattern  (affiliate links) that includes all those same details as my daughter's blouse! I was ecstatic! I couldn't wait to make my own Marigold Peplum Blouse!

Springtail Sundress Pattern

It's been a l-o-o-o-ng time since I've done any pattern testing, but when Rachael at Imagine Gnats posted a picture of a fresh summer dress pattern she was working on, I jumped at the chance to volunteer to try it out. I was thrilled when she asked me to give her Springtail Sundress Pattern a test run that I ended up making more than once since I liked it so much!

Field Study Tote Bag by Betz White

Today I'm sharing with you the Field Study Tote bag by Betz White. I recently made this lovely bag for my first contributor post on the Betz White blog. It was my first time sewing one of her bag patterns, and I can't say enough good things about it! Keep reading for more details on the Field Study Tote and to see more photos of this awesome bag!

The Field Study Tote bag is versatile and can be worn as both a large or an extra large bag. There are times when I am on a school field trip with my children or spending a day out at a local fair where I need to carry more items than usual, and the Field Study Tote gives me the flexibility to do just that!

Fantasia Fashion

Recently, Sara Lawson from Sew Sweetness announced the upcoming release of her newest fabric collection for Art Gallery Fabrics--Fantasia! When she offered to send me some of the prints to try out, I didn't hesitate to say yes! From the two prints Sara sent me, I was able to create this lovely Fantasia Fashion for Ella to wear this Spring!

Blank Slate Patterns Schoolday Skirt

Ella is growing so fast lately, so you know what that means! She's outgrowing her clothes and needs some new pieces for school. Since she prefers to wear skirts, I decided to sew her a new Schoolday Skirt by Blank Slate Patterns (affiliate links).

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to Blank Slate Patterns; however, all opinions regarding this pattern are my own. 

Bunny Face Bag Tutorial

Easter is almost here, and I'm gearing up for Spring by sewing a couple of Bunny Face Bags for my kids. My children love bunnies (what kid doesn't) and love bags (they take after their moma), so it was a no-brainer to put the two together to create these adorable tote bags for Easter.

The Bunny Face Bag is the ideal size for children, measuring approximately 11" x 11", and is perfect for holding books, crayons, Easter eggs, or candy! Have left over fabric from sewing your daughter's Easter dress or your son's new shirt? Then make them a matching Bunny Face Bag to complete the look.

It's a pretty simple bag to make. Here's how!

A Sunny Apron & Chef's Hat Tutorial

When I was a kid, I had my very own child's size apron and chef's hat that I would wear whenever I helped my mom bake or cook. Although my mom kept essentially every item from my childhood, I can't seem to find my apron and hat among my things in storage.  Since Ella has been wanting to help me cook and bake more, I decided it was about time that I make her some proper kitchen attire!

After only about an hour and a half of sewing, Ella finally has her very own Sunny Apron and Chef's Hat to wear when she is my sous chef.

This set was so simple to make and took hardly any time to sew. Plus, I used fat halves from this very appropriate fabric collection, Tea Garden from Blend Fabrics, to make both pieces.

Here's how you can make your child his or her own Sunny Apron and Chef's Hat, too! Just follow my tutorials below. And while I'm mentioning tutorials, I want to give a big shout out and thank you to Anne Weaver at Craft Gossip for featuring my tutorials often. Anne and Craft Gossip have done so much to help bloggers and readers alike--you help spread our projects to a wider audience and in return, more people enjoy our craft!

Sewing Blogger Secret Gift Swap

Recently, I participated in a secret gift swap with a group of sewing blogger friends. We've done this once or twice before, but this year, we decided to wait a few weeks after the holidays to exchange our gifts.

Here's how the secret gift swap works. Those who want to participate sign up and provide information on their favorite colors, fabric shops, or other useful information (like favorite chocolate). Then a designated organizer (that was me this time) uses a random method to assign each person someone from the list to make a gift for (the recipient).  Everyone gets a couple of months to decide what to make or buy and then ship it off to their recipient, but not before sharing a few little sneak peeks of the gift first! The recipient doesn't discover who sent the gift until it arrives.

We all love getting gifts in the mail, so it's a fun, fairly inexpensive way to brighten the day of a friend or even a stranger. My friends and I have gotten to know each other pretty well over the last few years, and the gifts we all exchanged with each other really showed that this time!

My Cool Butterfly Sling Purse

A few months ago, I participated in Purse Palooza at Sew Sweetness and shared the first Butterfly Sling Purse I had ever made. Today, I'm bringing home my post and sharing this awesome bag with you all here in case you missed it! Plus, you'll get to read a little history of how I started making bags!

A sewVery Simple Fabric Coaster Tutorial

Sometimes you just need to do a little sewing that's not complicated and can produce quick results. These sewVery Simple Fabric Coasters were the result of one such day for me! I sewed up a couple of sets--one to give as a gift and one to keep--and have thoroughly enjoyed using them ever since.

All you need to make your own are a few items you probably already have lying around in the sewing room and my sewVery Simple Fabric Coaster Tutorial: