Out and About Dress by Sew Caroline

I can not say so many great things about this dress. I've made it in stretch knit, I've made it in sweatshirt fleece and I've made it in fleece. All of the dresses has turned out great. I'm a sucker for a great pattern.

This navy striped dress was my first Out and About dress. I love the way it fits, I love the way it hugs the curves. I followed the patter to a T until it got the the skirt part. I'm a fan of flouncy twirly skirts. I never really look at what is needed for the skirt part of a dress because I prefer to make my own. When I am dealing with 58/60 in fabrics I usually just use the length of 22 and cut across the width and down the seam to have my two pieces for the skirt. The rest of the pattern I followed. This navy striped knit was very stretchy, I could've went down a size and did the small. I like the comfort of it though.

This purple and brown one is my second one. I decided to try my hand at fleece with it. It turned out great. I did it the same way I did the one above it. Only this time as far as the neck binding goes, I used a stretch formal wear material as opposed to a ribbing as I did in the first one. I'm not sure if you're supposed to wash fleece or not before you sew with it. I however did not. I finally got around to washing the dress, I didn't put it in the dryer, I let it hang dry. The dress looks the same as it did when I put it in. There was no shrinking. I also changed my hair up a bit, believe it or not, I have yarn in my hair. I wanted to try something different with it and I put a side (something like a) ponytail in it. I like it this way much better; as you will see in the rest of the pictures.

This dress was done in sweatshirt fleece. Although I love the comfort of this dress, sweathsirt fleece doens't have the same stretch as knits and fleece. I should have made the Large or I should have cut the front of the bodice in the large. It was a breeze once the dress was on but putting it on was a small challenge. The pink ribbing is from JoAnn's. I bought it some time ago. They had so many pretty colors, green, yellow, pink and turquoise. I haven't seen it there since that one time two years ago,. Although I haven't tried it, I will use some Rit Dye when there is a ribbing color I need and all I have is white. 

This would probably be my all time favorite Out and About Dress. The Fox Fabric is from Girl Charlee Fabrics. I just found out the day of that I needed a dress for that next day, the staff was taking pictures. I needed a new dress and I didn't have the time to actually wash and iron this fabric. I went into dressmaking as soon as I took my clothes off and got settled. Once the dress was finished, I didn't even realize that I hadn't cut the dress at my regualr 22 inches long. Needless to say it must've been 24-25 inches long. The skirts I usually make for the dresses stop at 22 however, the bodice is much higher as well. Needless to say, I didn't have time to cut into it at all. I paired it with a pair of leggings (with a like color) and my tall boots. I used some cream ribbing because the fox's tail and chin was that color and I had a new dress. Found the belt in my closet begging to be worn and here it is. 

One of the best patterns out there for women wanting to use stretch knits. Go on over and buy the pattern. 

http://sewcarolinepatterns.bigcartel.com/product/out-and-about-dress-pdf-instant-download-pattern

 I will say this, the dress is worth the price tag, however, I was able to snag it when it was a whopping $5 from http://crafterhoursblog.com/?s=friday+fiver+sew+caroline

Make sure you bookmark Crafter Hours. You never know what pattern you may get for $5.

I turned the Little Lady Jacket into a Little Guy Jacket

http://seaminglysmitten.blogspot.com/2012/10/girls-jacket-sewing-pattern-pdf-sewing.html


I used the Little Lady Jacket pattern from Seamingly Smitten. I caught a great sale. I've been eyeing the pattern for quite some time. I'm just a tad bit disappointed that it doesn't come in sizes larger than an eight. However, my nieces and nephews along with my youngest daughter can still benefit from it.

The only different thing about the jacket is that my collar is 5 inches shorter than the pattern calls for.

To make it appear more masculine, I made my collar come all the way to the end of the jacket front as opposed to leaving the front part alone .5 on each side.

My buttonholes aren't the best, it doesn't take away from the overall greatness of the jacket.

I just love the lining of the jacket. It makes me all warm and fuzzy on the inside. 

Gloria Party Dress by Peek A Boo Patterns

While I was not a tester, I really think I should have been. I think I would have actually had to sign up for it though. The dress has to be the easiest sew ever. Regular bodice, regular sleeves, regular skirt. Everything about this pattern is just awesome and easy as like all the rest of PAB patterns. I did the play dress. I didn't line anything and let me tell you, depending on you fabric choice the play dress can be just as casual as the party dress.

I was undecided on which color ribbing I was going to use. Eventually that went out the window as you can see the dress below and the color I decided to go with. The easiest sew ever. It reminds me of  the Out and About Dress by Sew Caroline, just a mini version. I've been looking for a dress for my girls that was a mini version of the Out and About Dress. When PAB had this one on sale I couldn't pass it up. My DD looking happy in something I made and it's just as stylish and chic as any other dress. 

She could hardly wait to put the dress on. She had to do chores first. However, she must've been really excited about putting the dress on along with her new boots. She didn't wait at all for me to check. Needless to say once I did check the areas were spotless. Now if I could just get her to clean up this well all the time, that would make me extremely happy. 

More of my pre-teen looking snazzy in her specially made dress.

Head on over to PAB and grab the pattern. While the sale is over, the dress is worth the price.

http://www.peekaboopatternshop.com/gloria-party-dress/

The Angie Dress Review

THE ANGIE DRESS PATTERN REVIEW

I am so in love with this dress pattern. As I've stated before in another post; I can never stick to the actual pattern. I always find a way to have a perfect fit for me. As you can see, I've added arms on most all of them. I wasn't a big fan of bias tape, well I can still say that now. I rather have sleeves than deal with the bias tape. I have a fully lined bodice. I guess I should have taken that into consideration that I would need to maybe expand .5 on both sides because of the extra fabric. It wasn't that snug though. I always wear a sash. Well most of the time. I do not like the gathered look with the elastic. It isn't for me. Looks good on others. Just not for me. I love the pockets that I have added. I am no fan of purses, so pockets came in handy for my inhaler, chap-stick and of course my phone. 

I always opt for the high neck. I do not like my neck plunging. It is very uncomfortable for me. There are those pockets ad then those sleeves. I love it. 

This picture is from my Employee Mardigras Party. Needless to say it was a hit. I even shortened the original skirt so that I could have a color block.The only thing I did to add the color block was sewed the green and purple pieces together and when it was time to cut out my skirt piece, I cut them out at the same time and treated them as one piece of fabric instead of two. 

This is the only dress I actually had some sense on. Not that I didn't on the other, well not so much. Anyhoo. This dress, I decided instead of doing a full bodice; I'd just cut out a pattern from the actual front and back bodice and go from there. I only cut out the neck line on each one. I don't remember taking a picture of it. However, it is super easy. So my bodice is not even 50% lined, it is lined enough to give me a perfect neckline without the bias and that makes me happy. 

I love the whole  mommy and me dresses. She's the reason I started sewing in the first place. I'm more of a tomboy and refused to wear dresses, outside of prom, grade and high school graduation.

This dress I have dubbed The Sunflower Dress. We were taking family pictures, the boys in shorts, suspenders and bowties, the girls in The Angie Dress and Peasant Dresses. I made this dress according to the pattern. It was too long for my liking. I tried shortening it. However, I only had enough time to shorten and then get dressed as we were meeting the photographer pronto. I now cut it just two inches shorter than I want and the measurements are dead on.

My husband and I sharing a moment.

 

The sleeves were actually borrowed from Made by Rae's Washi Dress Pattern.

http://www.made-by-rae.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Washi-Sleeve-Pattern-by-Rae.pdf

https://www.sisboom.com/store/patterns/angie-dress-pdf-pattern-for-women/

(I apologize for the blurriness of the pictures)

Thanks for stopping by.

Baby Legs for the baby. Ankle Socks for the toddler. From one pair of socks.

There are so many tutorial on the WorldWideWeb.... that I'm sure I don't need to make another one. However, when I first started making baby legs or toddler leg warmers. I never really knew what to do with that bottom part. Until. I'm thinking why throw it away when I can actually use it for something? Along came the anklet. You'd start off with your regular pair of women/men socks.

Next you would put the socks together and then cut them with a rotary cutter or scissors, whichever you have on hand. I find that the rotary to be the best. You can just slice right across and it is an even cut.

Next, you'd get some ribbing. The picture isn't the best. My photographer hasn't been hired yet. :-) you cut it to the lengths you need it. For the baby legs, no more than 5x5. for the toddler anklets no more than 6x6. The 5x5 would work with both depending on your child's leg. My skinny 7yo doesn't have a problem getting either pair on.

You then add the ribbing to the bottom of the sock and voila, you have yourself some baby legs. But what about that ankle part that was left. No worries, you don't have to throw it away. There's hope for you yet.

Take another 5x5 piece of ribbing or 10x10 and cut it in the center. Add the ribbing to the top of you ankle socks and now you have a functioning pair of anklets.

Here's the all in one. Easy enough?

THE LANE RAGLAN REVIEW (HEY JUNE PATTERNS)

                     The Lane Raglan is a darling pattern. I didn't pay much attention to the neckline when I purchased it. I just found a Raglan for women and I was sold. I printed it and took it home the same day and got started. First up is the navy and red Raglan Tee. I didn't want the bottom portion of it (the band) I didn't take that into consideration when cutting the pattern out. I should have make the back and the front much longer. It would've came to where I wanted it to. The length is fine (for my first shirt) The next few shirts I made I either put the band on or made up for it and just added the extra two inches. The neckline is rather wide. I prefer my shirts close fitting. I don't like too much of my neck/chest plate out. I did this shirt in a color block. Red in the front, navy in the back.

                        The very next one I did was the yellow and gray one. I'm not 100% sure that the neckline is as long as it needs to be. Even with 2x2 rib knit (very stretchy) I have to add an extra inch. When I use the knit from the actual shirt I have to add about 2-2.5 inches. That's not a big deal at all, however when you're not sure that you need to do that, it becomes a big deal; having to use the seam ripper and produce another neckband. Depending on how much stretch the material has I would just cut it to about 25 inches and form there cut off the excess after the neckband is attached. No biggie. I added the waistband just to add more yellow. The gray in the pants and shoes was too overbearing for my liking.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

If you guys haven't noticed by now, I have a huge obsession with coordinating. So much so that I don't care if my kids socks are the same colors, they have to be a match. (I'm working on it) This was the third one as you can see from the order of shirts. I really enjoyed making this one, mainly because it was dead on with the shoes (Saucony). I realized then that the stretch of your shirt really makes a difference. I've always known all knits weren't the same, actually having to sew with some though; that doesn't have much stretch was almost like sewing with flannel. The orange is a pop of color that I was trying my best to bring forth Spring in Chicago. Didn't happen though. 

I finally decided to couple the Raglan with Jeans, boy was I pleased. It goes well with just about anything. You can make it as colorful as you want or you can make it all solid. I don't understand why one would want all solid when there are so many colors in the world. 

Finally my last one well not really, but just a little bit different. I finally found some stretch lace for a decent price, $4.99; at least I think that was a decent price. The regular non stretch in Joann's in about $7.99-$9.99. If I'm not mistaken, I can get four front pieces out of one yard of stretch lace. Roughly two shirts (just the front and back) from a yard of stretch lace. You all should definitely get some. I paired this with a pair of stretch jeggins and some boots I found on sale at Target. Looks like a great match to me, even though the fuschurple (fuscia and purple) isn't an exact match. It got the job done.

Overall it is a great pattern, as with any pattern you'd have to do some adjusting to your liking, taking something out, extending, shortening.... I love it. Follow link below to get your own copy of the pattern. The possibilities are endless.

http://www.heyjunehandmade.com/lane-raglan.html