All Spice Dress pattern test

I had the opportunity to test the new All Spice Dress pattern by Paisley Roots.

It's a lovely dress with lots of options.  I tested the flutter sleeve and sleeveless but there is also a cap sleeve and long sleeve--truly making this a dress for all seasons.

The real focal point of this dress is the bodice. I chose a zipper closure because I felt a front zipper was really fun, unique and unexpected.  If the Bug were younger, I probably would have chosen the button option since she liked to unzip things!

For the fabric I chose this really soft, lightweight poly cotton blend. It's so silky and smooth on the inside while the right side has nice texture from those raised dots.

Here you can see the detail of the bodice. I love the square neckline. Three pleats on either side accent the zipper nicely.  I did my top stitching in the same green as the zipper. I think it adds a fun punch of color.

It's such a lovely combination.  There was a bit of a fit issue for some people with the first version of the pattern so it went through several edits.  This grey dress was an early version. The fit for the Bug was fine but I totally appreciate all of the tweaking to get things just right.

When the last of the pattern updates had been made, I sewed up another version to test out the final fit.  The Bug is just a hair bigger than the chest measurement for the size 6 so I went with the size 7.  You can see she has a bit of room to grow but it's not excessive.  I'm hoping it will still fit next Spring.

This time I skipped the sleeves altogether and just went sleeveless.  I think it works with this print. A flutter sleeve would have been too frilly with all those flowers.

The fabric is from a thrifted sheet so it's super soft.  I was also able to reuse the sheet hem for the bottom of the dress.  Hooray for shortcuts! I hate hemming.  I did cut the skirt panels shorter than the tutorial required to account for the pre-done hem so the skirts final measurement would be the same.

We have another hit on our hands. I took a big risk with both of these dresses. They are not in the Bug's typical color scheme (Pink, Purple and Blue) so I knew I was pushing it. But so far, she really likes them.  She likes that they spin (of course) but she also thought the front zipper was pretty neat.  I was surprised but one of the first things she noticed and commented on was the pleating detail.  It does my heart good that she is learning to spot and appreciate those details!

The All Spice Dress pattern should release today! I'll update my links here as soon as it does. You're going to want to get this pattern.  With so many options, you'll sew the All Spice again and again.

Edit--This just in! The All Spice Pattern is now available and if you get it before Sunday it's 25% off with the code ALLSPICE

~Lindsay

Pleated Denim Skirt

I love the little pleated denim baby skirt tutorial at KoJo, I really do.

One problem.

I don't have a baby.

And it seems like the easiest way to rectify that is to up-size the tutorial to fit my big girl.

I went simple with this one, no fancy dancy hem like the first one.  Seems like I'm always spiffing things up, but a girl needs some neutral foundational pieces in her wardrobe too, right?  What else would you wear your stripey tights with?

To make a bigger version of the skirt I just measured the Bug's waist, divided that number in half and added an inch for seam allowances then cut my tee shirt waistband to that width.  In hindsight, I could have made it a bit smaller to account for the stretch of the knit. But it works and gives her room to grow--which she insists on continuing to do. Humph!

I made the waist band piece extra tall so it could be folded over yoga style. You can kind of see that here.

I sort of just winged it on the width of the denim skirt piece.  

Eyeball it. 

My favorite method. 

Which is why I am no good at ever replicating anything--in the sewing room OR in the kitchen.

The skirt length was easy, I had an unusually cooperative Bug on my hands that day and was able to measure just where I wanted the skirt to hit.  I added about an inch and a half to allow for a narrow hem and the top seam allowance and I was well on my way.

I foresee this becoming a Fall wardrobe staple.

Just look how cute it is with a pair of leggings! And don't get me started on the striped tights up above. And the possibility of leg warmers? Oh my. . . I can't hardly stand the cuteness!

~Lindsay

Christmas Gift 3: Purse for Michelle

Over Thanksgiving, my sister and I went through boxes and boxes of vintage fabric from my grandma's attic. Jackpot!! What a gift!

It was almost all amazing. Even so, Michelle and I really only argued over one piece. She was kind enough to relent her claim on it and let me take it home. So, I thought I'd make her a purse out of it for Christmas!

See why we fought over it? Isn't it cute?

This pattern is the Buttercup Bag from Made By Rae. I did my pleating a little differently, left off the buttons and free styled the pattern a bit but it is essentially the Buttercup.

It is so cute! A little on the smaller side, it's great for an evening out or just a quick run to the store.

When I cut the bag out the first time I realized the fabric I had cut had a bit of age spotting on it so I had to cut another. The first one was still nice, just not perfect, so I whipped up the slightly spotted one quickly and used it as a White Elephant gift last Sunday. I'm pleased to say, spots and all, it was the hit of the party!

This is a super easy pattern and I'm looking forward to making more purses from it. Who knows, I may even bite the bullet and buy the rights to sell them! What do you think?

Christmas Gift 2: Purse for Mom

Forgive the terrible lighting and staging in these photos please. I work primarily at night when the Bug is in bed and I get so excited when I finish a project that it's hard to wait until day light to photograph them! And so, you get my wood floor and shine spots from the flash.

With that in mind, understand that this photo does not to this purse justice. It is so cute it was hard to part with it but alas, I wrapped it up nicely and put it under the tree!

The front, with button flap.

This fabric is a really nice wool. I wish you could see the true depth and color of it. It's beautiful and I rescued this scrap from the remnant bin at JoAnn's! Score!

On the back, I tried my first pleated pocket. No one warned me of the dangers and difficulties of pleating with wool. It probably wasn't the best fabric choice for my first revisit of pleating techniques since I was twelve (just 10 short years ago).

Ha!

Many burned fingers and frustrating hours later, I think the pocket turned out quite nicely. It's imperfect, but I love it just the same. I think there's a parallel in there for a mother's love, isn't there? Or am I over thinking the deeper meaning of my sewing projects again?

Here's a pocket detail.

I left just a tad of the pocket lining fabric showing at the top to break up that large expanse of brown wool back there. I love the little pop of color.

And the button. Found, once again, at the aforementioned Black Friday sale at JoAnn's. I sure am plugging them a lot here lately. But, they have regained a special place in my heart since my local store cleaned up it's act.

When I showed my Mom the buttons I bought that day she looked at this one and gasped a little. I think that's a pretty good sign she liked it, right? I knew when I saw it that this was the button for this purse.

And here's the button hole. Number two reason this purse almost did not come to be. I was an idiot and used two pieces of fleece interfacing inside of this button flap. I wanted it to be strong and to hold up well to lots of use. And, it is, so I've at least accomplished that.

However, it was so chunky that my sewing machine flat out refused to feed it through and the button hole foot kept getting caught. It was just messy and there was no way I was going to force it. So I broke out the embroidery floss and painstakingly stitches my way around the slit in the fabric. It has a cleaner look on the front side of the flap, but of course I didn't get a picture of that. I do like the yellow. Again, it's just a pop of color to break up all that brown.

And the inside.

Remember this vintage sheet? While I wouldn't necessarily want it on my bed--that would just be too much--I think this print is perfect in smaller doses. When I saw it laying next to the wool I just knew they were ment to be together.

And that's what my Mom got for Christmas this year!

~Lindsay