Christmas Skater Dress

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone! Sorry I haven't been very active on the blog lately. I have a quick project to share with you today--a Christmas Skater Dress I made for Ella!

I've been needing to make Ella another Skater Dress by Kitschy Coo forever, so when Modes4U sent me a half yard cut of both the green knit and the woven Cosmo Christmas print, I had a "make it work" moment! You see, Ella has gone up to a size 7, and the skirt of the Skater Dress requires more than a half yard of fabric to cut out the width of the skirt correctly. I decided to make the skirt not as full and make the half yard of fabric work. It turned out fine, in my opinion!

My New Oceanside Pants

A couple of months ago, my family and I took a beach vacation, but before we left, I needed some new pants to take with me. Since I was busy packing for everyone and taking care of last minute details, I didn't have much time to sew. No worries though! I tried out the very popular Oceanside Pants Pattern from Blank Slate Patterns (affiliate links) and had my new pair of pants in under an hour!

Butterfly Sling Purse for PPP

Have you seen the latest offering from Perfect Pattern Parcel (PPP)?  It's my favorite so far! All the patterns in this collection are bags and purses, and if you follow along here, then you know I love to sew those.

I was asked to participate in a blog tour for PPP #7 to promote the terrific patterns included in the bundle. Really, there are some amazing designs included in this one which made it super difficult to decide which one to sew! For the tour, however, I stuck with my absolute favorite bag designer, Janelle from Emmaline Bags, and sewed up a Butterfly Sling Purse.

Let me show you all the wonderful details of my Butterfly Sling Purse, and then I'll give you more details on the PPP purse bundle and how you can purchase it!

Sewing to Sell Book Review & Zipped Pouches

Recently, I received a complimentary e-copy of the new book, Sewing to Sell! by Virginia Lindsay of Gingercake Designs. The paper version of the book is releasing today and promises to be a huge success like all of the other wonderful patterns and projects from Virginia!

About the same time that I began to read through the book, I signed up to provide a handmade item or two for a silent auction fundraiser event being held at my daughter's school. I soon realized that one or more of the 16 starter projects included in the book would make the perfect item to donate to the auction. In the end, I sewed up six zipped pouches in varying sizes using the instructions and suggestions from Sewing to Sell! and donated them to the auction.

sewVery Simple Remote Control Organizer Tutorial

We have a big problem in our house. Someone is always misplacing the remote control to our television. Plus, if the kids want to watch a DVD, it's a 5-minute search for the other two remotes required to change the TV setting and start the DVD player.

But no more! I finally took the time to make our family a remote control organizer for the sofa end table. Now as long as everyone puts the remotes in it, there is no more searching through the sofa, blankets, and pillows looking for the lost controller. What's even better is that this remote control organizer also works as a drink coaster to help protect our table. 

Want to make your own organizer, then I'm here to help! Just follow my sewVery Simple Remote Control Organizer Tutorial, and you'll have one for your home in about an hour.

Making the Perfect Skirt--for You!

I hardly ever wear skirts. It's not because I don't like them, it's simply because I can never find a ready-to-wear skirt that fits my proportions properly and comfortably. Well, I decided to take matters into my own hands and learn how to draft a skirt to fit my body type! Keep reading to learn how I did it!

sewVery Simple Holiday Project Ideas

November is passing by fast which means Christmas will be here before you know it! While I haven't put together any new Christmas project ideas quite yet (a couple are in the works), I thought I would create a round-up of my own sewVery Simple Holiday Project Ideas to give you some easy projects to decorate with and give as gifts this year.

The Betty Skirt

If you are looking for a great, versatile girl's skirt pattern, then look no further! The Betty Skirt Pattern by the Shaffer Sisters is it!

I absolutely love patterns that offer you options or more than one piece to sew. With the Betty Skirt Pattern, you get 4 skirts--gathered, large pleats, small pleats, and gathered with placket--all in one pattern! What a great value.

And the best part of all, these skirts are easy to sew and the fit is fantastic! I'm pretty sure the Betty Skirt Pattern is now my go-to pattern for school skirts for Ella.

Oliver + S Music Class Blouse

With the arrival of cooler weather, Ella was in desperate need of a new long sleeve blouse that met her standard school attire requirements. Instead of buying her another basic knit polo style skirt, I decided to make her a few new blouses using the many wonderful patterns already in my collection!

One pattern I've had for a while and have been meaning to sew is the Oliver + S Music Class Blouse.

This pattern is amazing! I have loved every O+S pattern I have tried, and the Music Class Blouse is definitely no exception. Just look at all the details!

Cuddle Pocket Blanket Tutorial

It's that time of year again--holiday season!  How did it sneak up on me so fast?  If you're like me, you'd rather stay out of the crowded stores and shop (and sew) at home.  So to help you do just that, I've put together a great tutorial that will help you make a few gifts for some loved ones on your list. It's a Cuddle Pocket Blanket!

What is a Cuddle Pocket Blanket?  Well, it's a smaller sized blanket made using Cuddle fabrics that has a built-in pocket for your feet!  For adults, this would be considered a lap blanket size, but for children, it's perfect for curling up on the sofa on a cold, winter day.

The Everyday Tank

I've been absent from the blog lately due to vacation and being busy with my kids' school activities, but I've been sewing and have a few new projects to share with you this week! To kick things off, I'm participating in the Serger Pepper Everyday Tank Pattern Tour! 

I know what you might be thinking. Another tank shirt pattern? But the Serger Pepper Everyday Tank pattern is no plain ol' boring tank. It's got options and lots of fun style! 

Super Saturday Giveaway Day!

Today is a Super Saturday Giveaway over at The Daily Sew!

Some of you may now be asking what is The Daily Sew and how do I enter the giveaways! Keep reading to find out!

Signature Style Look for PR&P

I occasionally will participate in the sew along for Project Run & Play when I have a piece of clothing that fits the current theme of competition. This week, I timed things perfectly with my October Flip This Pattern introduction piece (the Hattie Coat), and the rest of Ella's new outfit--the Ayashe Blouse from Figgy and the Whitney Pants from Violette Field Threads. Throw in an amazing pair of black and white houndstooth shoes and a funky headband, and Ella has a terrific new signature style outfit for Fall!

How I Flipped the BG Hattie Dress Pattern!

I'm so so excited to kick-off the October edition of Frances Suzanne's Flip This Pattern Series with how I flipped the Brownie Goose Hattie Dress Pattern!

Keep reading for all the details of my flip to create this gorgeous Hattie Coat and the rest of Ella's stylish outfit.

Perfect Petal Purse & Pirates Treasure Wallet + Giveaway!

Now that my daughter, Ella, is in school and has a dress code, I'm finding that I don't have as much to sew for her anymore. Makes me so sad, but I'm finding new ways to make little things for her and for her older brother--accessories! When Fenna from Fabulous Home Sewn announced a pattern tour for her Perfect Petal Purse and Pirate Treasure Wallet (affiliate links), I jumped on board to make both for my children!

The Satchel Bag for Selfish Sewing Week

I love the idea of Selfish Sewing Week. It's a reminder that sometimes we just need to make ourselves a priority and sew something that we get to keep and enjoy!

When sewing for myself, I almost always prefer to sew a bag or purse. For Selfish Sewing Week, I chose to make myself The Satchel Bag from Sewing Patterns by Mrs. H. This was the first pattern from Sewing Patterns by Mrs. H that I had tried, but I have been admiring The Satchel Bag design for some time now. So glad Selfish Sewing Week gave me the nudge I needed to try it!

Clean Slate Shorts for School

School has been in full swing here now for almost two months, and this year, Ella started kindergarten while Connor moved on to middle school. Our public school system requires children to wear standard school attire which amounts to any solid color shirt with a collar plus black, navy, or khaki pants, shorts, skirts, or rompers. While Connor's wardrobe was fully stocked of acceptable items, Ella's closet was really lacking! As you know, I sew most of her clothes, and very few are solid colors!

Well, rather than go out and buy all her school clothes, I decided I would sew as many as I could. We purchased a few knit polo style shirts, and then I made her a khaki and black pair of shorts using the Blank Slate Clean Slate Pants Pattern (affiliate link). These shorts fit the bill perfectly!

Why I Blog...

A couple of weeks ago, Carrie from Right Sides Facing asked if I'd like to participate in a blog hop where I would have to answer some questions regarding why I blog. This particular post topic has been overdue for me for a long time, and I actually have attempted to write about my reasons for blogging for sometime now. Apparently, I unknowingly played a small part in Carrie starting up her own blog (read about it HERE), and now in return, she has encouraged me to open up a little more about why I blog. Thanks, Carrie!

I know I have said a few times in the past that sewing and blogging have changed my life, but I've never gone into great detail on the specifics of "how".  I'll attempt to explain a few of those reasons for you now.

Why do I blog?

Fabric Slippers + Craft Book Month

Come sew along and celebrate Craft Book Month all September with Craft Buds for a chance to win one of several amazing prizes! You know you have them--craft, quilting, or sewing books--just sitting in your sewing room waiting to be used. I'm guilty for sure, and for some reason, my stack of books keeps growing despite my lack of effort to sew from them more often. They are just hard to resist! An entire book full of wonderful patterns and ideas!

Craft Book Month always reminds me to reach for one of those books and finally make something I've bookmarked, and this year, I decided to sew up a pair of fabric house slippers for myself! Ella doesn't get anything this time. Nope! This one's all for me!

And it's sort of funny that the book I used was Little One-Yard Wonders which is actually full of tons of absolutely terrific projects for children! The fabric slippers pattern includes pieces for children as well as adults, and I have been needing wanting a new pair of house slippers for a long time.

Photo from Amazon.com

Sunny Romper + September Showcase Giveaway!

My lovely friends, Ashley and Emily (the sisters behind Frances Suzanne) contacted me a few weeks ago about a twist on their Flip This Pattern series for September called the September Showcase.

Instead of having competitors flip a single pattern, 30+ bloggers will feature 10 up-and-coming Indie pattern designers by sharing items flipped or not flipped from the designers' patterns. To kick-off the modified series, Ashley and Emily themselves wanted to "showcase" me and my sewVery Sunny Pattern! What an honor! More about this and the giveaway later in the post, but first...

Their Flip This Pattern series is one of my favorites--and not just because I won back in February with this flip! To celebrate the launch of their September Showcase and my pattern feature, I decided to share a "flip" of my own Sunny Dress & Top Pattern--the Sunny Romper!

sewVery Simple Cold Pack Tutorial + Giveaway!

You may have read my post from yesterday about my son's bout with Pityriasis Rosea and how we have successfully battled the symptoms of the rash using all natural products from Sodee Naturals. In addition to these products, he has used a cold pack at times to help sooth the most irritated areas of skin caused by the rash.

I've made plenty of rice hot pads using this tutorial that we love to use in the winter or for an aching muscle, but none of those bags is designed to drape over the shoulders/neck or lay across the entire stomach or back where relief is most needed. Since we still have a big bag of field corn from making corn bags for our corn hole game, I decided to whip up a sewVery Simple Cold Pack filled with field corn for my son.

Here's how I made it.

Sodee Naturals + Giveaway

Days before my son's 10th birthday, he got what we thought was a bug bite on his chest. He scratched it and the spot got bigger and redder. A couple of days after his birthday party at a nearby lake, he developed a rash all over his upper chest. At first, my husband and I thought he had an allergic reaction to the rash guard shirt he wore to the party, but after several more days, the rash continued to spread and began to itch. Finally, I took him to the doctor who diagnosed the rash as Pityriasis Rosea.

The doctor told us there is no medication my son can take to speed up the recovery and that hydrocortisone and an antihistamine are really the only things he can take to help relieve the itching. We tried both with Benadryl helping the most but causing Connor to become so sleepy that he had to take a nap each time he took it. Since this wasn't an acceptable alternative for a 5th grader who needs to be alert all day, I turned to a group of my blogger friends for help and advice.

Although none of the friends I polled had had experience specifically with Pityrasis Rosea, several have eczema themselves or children with eczema who experience itching, irritated skin. They suggested using ice packs to sooth the itch as well as several different all natural products to relieve itching and promote healing as well. One friend suggested a product she has used most of her life to combat skin irritation and itching, and since her parents happen to own the business, she had them send me a sample.

Within a few days of reaching out to my friends, I received a box full of all-natural soaps, creams, scrubs, shampoos, and lotions from Sodee Naturals--much more than I had expected! My son couldn't wait to give them a try. He was desperate for some lasting relief from the itching spots that were spreading to his underarms, groin, thighs, and forehead!

Simple Zipper Pouch + Fabric Bundle Giveaway!

Yesterday, my kids were arguing over a pencil pouch. One claimed the other took it without asking. Since I have no idea who the pencil pouch was originally purchased for, I decided to go make a couple of quick ones so they would both be happy.

I found the perfect pattern and instructions for making these simple zipper pencil pouches in Craftsy's Bag Making Basics: Reversible Tote and Zipper Pouch FREE mini class (affiliate link)! I printed out the materials list and cutting instructions and then grabbed some colorful fabrics I had received from Blend Fabrics. I used four different prints from Maude Asbury's Geofabulous collection. These were the perfect to make both a masculine and a feminine pencil pouch for each of my children.

A sewVery Simple Envelope Pillowcase Tutorial

Today I'm showing you how to make a sewVery Simple Envelope Pillowcase using half yard cuts of fabric. Two or three times a year around a big holiday (primarily Valentine's Day, Halloween, and Christmas), I sew my children a new holiday themed pillowcase that they use all season long. They get so excited about the pillowcases, plus they add a little holiday decoration to their rooms!

Winners Chosen & Sale Ending Today!

That's a wrap, folks! The sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern Tour has officially come to an end. It's been a fun week full of adorable Sunny goodness. Don't you think?

Here a just a few more pictures of some versions I made but have never shared on the blog. This was the very first Sunny Dress I ever made.

Final Day of Guests on the sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour

Well, we've come to the final day of guest posts on the sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour. I'm going to miss seeing and sharing so many lovely Sunny dresses and tops with you all each day!

But before we get to my guests, let me remind you that the giveaway ends tonight (Saturday, August 16th) at midnight CST! I'll announce the winners of the 2 copies of the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern here on Sunday, August 17th! Enter using the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the post.

Also, the code SUNNY20 to save 20% off the regular pattern price expires on Sunday, August 17th at midnight CST! Visit the sewVery Pattern Shop to purchase your copy now and sew up a couple of Sunny pieces this weekend!

Now on to the fun!

Although Marisa of the blog Thirtynine is experiencing winter weather "down under", she still managed to sew up two beautiful versions--a dress and a top--of the Sunny Pattern that her daughter has enjoyed wearing. She was part of my pattern testing team and used a lovely red and white voile for the first dress that you can read about here. Marisa sewed up a second, modified top version that includes eyelet trim and pin tucks! To read her review and see how the top turned out, head over to Thirtynine now!

It's Day 5 of the sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour

Today's lineup of guests will certainly inspire you to make some awesome, unique sewVery Sunny Dresses and Tops. Let's get right to my Day 5 Pattern Tour visitors!

I've had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out some with my first guest, Marissa, at the last two Sewing Summit conferences that we both attended. Marissa is the book-loving, Harry Potter fanatic who loves to sew and has a successful etsy shop making adorable themed bloomers, onesies, and halloween costumes among other cool items. She recently had a baby boy, but she still sews up tons of girl clothing items for her two beautiful nieces. Be sure to visit Marissa at her blog, Rae Gun Ramblings, to see how she involved her nieces in the fabric making decision for their new Sunny Dresses!

Day 4 of the sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour

Aren't you loving all the sewVery Sunny sweetness that my guest bloggers are sharing this week? Well, I'm back for Day 4 of the sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour to show you some more!

Up first is a blogger that is new to me--Shelly of Giggles & Beans. Shelly has some awesome tutorials and tips for sewing with minky or cuddle fabrics, and she recently released a free pattern for making bibs and burp cloths with it. She also runs an online fabric shop, So Tweet Fabrics, with her husband. Today, Shelly has created a precious color-blocked version of the Sunny pattern. Head to Giggles & Beans to see more of her precious daughter wearing her new top!

Day 3 of the sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour!

It's Day 3 of my sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour! Yipee! I've got lots more Sunny goodness to share with you!

My first guest is a fellow pattern designer whom I admire. In fact, I've sewn most of her designs for Ella! Melissa of Sew Like My Mom somehow manages to run her pattern design business, blog, and a couple of other jobs all while raising 4 adorable kids! Even with that hectic schedule, she managed to make time to help me not only test my pattern design but also be a part of my tour! Please be sure to visit Sew Like My Mom to see more of the precious Option A Sunny Dress she made for her daughter!

Next up is Sara of Made by Sara.

sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour - Day 2

Yesterday was an amazing start to the sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour, and today promises to be just as exciting! Everyone is melting my heart with all this cuteness!

If you are just now joining the tour, here's a quick run down of what's going on this week here at sewVery. All week, my blogging/sewing friends are sharing their versions of my new pattern, the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern. Each day, I'll introduce you to my guests and remind you to enter the giveaway to win 1 of 2 copies of the pattern!

If you don't want to take your chances with the giveaway, then be sure to grab your copy of the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern while it is on sale this week for 20% off with code SUNNY20! Just visit the sewVery Pattern Shop to purchase your copy now!

Now on to the fun!

sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour - Day 1

Today I'm kicking off the week-long sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern Tour! Be sure to stop by each day for some inspiring sewVery Sunny Pattern ideas from a group of amazingly talented sewing bloggers.

On Sunday, August 17th, I'll wrap up the party and announce the winners of the pattern tour giveaway! Yep! I'm giving away 2 copies of the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern to 2 lucky people. Keep reading to find out how to enter!

All this week, August 11th - 17th, use code SUNNY20 at checkout to save 20% off the regular price when you purchase the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern.

There are two ways to purchase: 1) through ejunkie and 2) through Craftsy (no code required for the discount here) (affiliate link).  You can find both of these links with more information on the pattern in the sewVery Pattern Shop.

Now on to my special guests for Day 1 of the sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour!

sewVery Sunny Pattern Tour & Giveaway Next Week!

I've invited a few of my sewing/blogging friends to try out my new sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern. Starting Monday, they will share what they made and a review of the pattern on their own blogs! Oh, and there will be a giveaway, too! 

Make sure you don't miss a thing by signing up to follow sewVery via Bloglovin', Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, RSS, and my new newsletter!

Check out this terrific line-up of bloggers on the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern Tour!

Did You Know...

Over the last few months, I've been blessed with some new opportunities in the sewing and blogging community, and I have added a few new features to the blog here.

For instance,

Did you know...

Sunny Pattern Tester Photos

Developing a clothing pattern and preparing it for purchase is a huge undertaking! I never could have completed the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern without the help from a terrific group of ladies who volunteered to be pattern testers. They all did an amazing job of providing feedback on the pattern instructions, sewing up the garment, and sending me photographs.  Most testers even opted to make more than one piece because the pattern is so quick and easy to sew!

sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern - ON SALE!!!

I finally did it! I finally created my very own pdf clothing pattern for sale! Introducing the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern available for sizes 2T - 12!

The pattern offers two styling options (Option A with the neck ruffle and Option B without the neck ruffle) and two lengths (dress or top).

Through Sunday, August 3rd, grab your copy of the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top pattern for 20% off the regular price using code SUNNY20 (no coupon code required if purchased through Craftsy (affiliate link)).

Go to the sewVery Pattern Shop now!

Thank you for your support and have fun sewing!

Bookworm Button Up (Make Believe Collection)

In less than two weeks, my baby girl will be headed off to kindergarten!  I can't believe it!  I'm happy and sad all at the same time.  My goal was to make most of her school clothing for the year, and I started with the Bookworm Button Up!

I was provided all four top patterns in the new Pattern Anthology Make (Believe) Collection in exchange for my honest review of any of the patterns.  Here's what I truly think about Bookworm Button Up pattern! This post contains affiliate links.

Kangaroo Pouch Pocket Tutorial for Skirting the Issue

I'm excited to be participating in this year's Skirting the Issue Series hosted by my friends at Simple Simon & Co. Today, I'll show you how to add a Kangaroo Pouch Pocket to the Tilly Skirt Pattern by Sewing Mama RaeAnna.  This tutorial would work on any basic skirt pattern that has two individual front hip pockets.

Skirting the Issue is all about making skirts to donate to girls in foster care.  All July long, Simple Simon & Co. will introduce you to a blogger who will either share a skirt tutorial or skirt round-up with you in hopes that you will feel the need to sew up a skirt or two for a girl in need in foster care.

sewVery Sunny Tops Preview

A huge weight has been lifted, and I feel I can relax for a couple of days.  My sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern has been sent to testers! I'm so nervous even though I had the three sizes in the free version tested last month without many issues. So much work goes into creating and preparing a clothing pattern, and even if you have sewn and tested for years, you just don't know how time consuming it is until you try it!

So, while I twiddle my thumbs and anxiously wait to see some finished test versions and receive their feedback on the pattern, I thought I'd share with you some more photos of the sewVery Sunny Tops in Option A (with the neck ruffle) and Option B (without the neck ruffle) of the full pattern.

The Retro RuckSack Pattern

I really enjoy sewing purses and bags. They are typically projects that are more involved and challenging than sewing a typical child's garment. When I sewed my first purse more than two years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed making it, and to this day, I continue to love the challenge of a purse or bag pattern!

Recently, I had the privilege of meeting Sara from Radiant Home Studio. She contributed her Water Bottle Tote pattern to the Perfect Pattern Parcel #3 bundle, and I chose to sew one up for the pattern tour.  As you can read in my post about my Water Bottle Tote, I was very impressed with Sara's pattern and design skills, so when she asked me to be a part of her Retro Rucksack Pattern tour, I did not hesitate to say yes!

sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern Call for Testers

First of all, thank you to everyone who has downloaded my FREE sewVery Sunny Dress Pattern! To me, it's been a huge success, and I sincerely hope that everyone who has downloaded it has enjoyed creating a fun, playful dress or two!

I've been working on expanding the sizes offered and including a couple of options for the design, but since it's summer, and I am a mom of two, my time to make these additions has been limited. Also, since this is my very first pattern-for-sale, I'm having to learn quite a few new business related things along the way.  I appreciate your patience!

Before we get to the pattern tester application, I want to share with you a few more pictures of what you will be able to make with the sewVery Sunny Dress & Top Pattern that I hope to have ready for sale later this month.

The Totes Ma Tote Bag

My favorite bag designer, Janelle from Emmaline Bags, has just released her newest pattern:  The Totes Ma Tote Bag!  I was thrilled when Janelle asked me to test out the pattern for her.  I already had the perfect Echino fabrics on hand to make up this bee lovers version for my husband's aunt, Jeannie, who is an apiarist (aka beekeeper).  

That's right folks!  I'm giving away this beautiful bag as a gift! I hope Jeannie will love it as much as I do, but don't worry, I already have plans to make myself my own Totes Ma Tote bag as soon as I can make time!  Now I just need to come up with something just as good to make her husband, Terry!  They are both so good to us and our children and give us all the free honey we can eat!  They sell their honey here, at Queen Bee Gifts.

Now, back to the Totes Ma Tote bag.