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

Sheet Skirt

I can't remember when I made this skirt. It's been at least a year ago, maybe two. It's been in the Bug's drawer but she hasn't given it a second look until for some reason a few days ago she came downstairs wearing it and it's been in constant, almost every other day, rotation since.  She pairs it with the most random shirts and I kind of love it.

It's a simple elastic casing waistband which I created to have a slight paper bag effect.

The fabric is a vintage sheet I picked up at a thrift store somewhere. It has the softest most amazing feel to it.  I went the super easy route and used the wide sheet hem as the skirt hem. Hooray for easy!!  I felt like the sheet on it's own was cute but a little blah so I put this band of wide ribbon around the bottom. I wasn't sure about it at first but now I am in love.  It adds just the right amount of "quirk".

I used the full width of the sheet which makes it extra spectacularly spinny--which I'm sure is the reason she loves it.

I'm glad this skirt is finally getting some air time with her. It's such a nice breezy summer skirt. It should fit for awhile yet, which is the glory of a simple elastic waist... just so she doesn't go getting too tall. . .

~Lindsay

Popolok Designs Cece top pattern test

Have you heard of Popolok Designs?

I hadn't, until I got the sweetest e-mail from Alviana asking me if I'd like to test her pattern for the Cece top.

After briefly checking out her Etsy shop, blog and facebook page I knew she had a great sense of style and I fell in love with her story (and her cutie pie of a daughter/model!) so I agreed to the pattern test.

Enter one of the craziest two week spans in my entire life. . . but somehow I still managed to crank out my own little Cece Top.  I think that's at least partially a testimony to the quality of the pattern.

I wasn't super sure about sizing. The Bug is in this weird phase where she is right between a 5 and a 6. So I took her measurements (never an easy feat) and opted to sew up a size 5.  It fits her perfectly.  In hindsight, I should have made a 6 so she had room to grow but at least it fits for now!

Her favorite part is the peplum at the bottom.  Of course! It's a shirt that spins like a skirt? Consider this twirly girls mind blown!

I think it would be super cute over a pair of leggings. I sewed up a pair but in my crazy week haze, I totally sewed them together wrong and they were all crooked in the crotch. Oops. Can't have that.

This pattern was fun for me because it had a few little details that made it more exciting.

I can't remember the last time I put in an invisible zipper.  This one isn't the best, I'm rusty!, but Alviana's instructions were so clear and walked me through the process step by step.  The bodice and sleeves are also both fully lined.  This is one really nice little shirt.

My very favorite part is the contrasting Peter Pan collar with little white pom pom trim. How sweet does that look right there with that little gathered sleeve? Seriously adorable.

Thanks Alviana for the chance to test this cute pattern! It was a lot of fun.

~Lindsay