Super Hero Mask

Have you ever needed a last minute project? I don't typically sew on the fly, but this time I just had to make an exception. My kids were getting ready to go "trunk or treating" with their cousin. My son said to me, "Mom, I really wish you would make me a super hero mask." I sent my 16yo to JoAnn's to get some felt (it's super nice to have an extra driver in the family now). By the time she was home with the supplies, I had the pattern printed and cut out.  

The rest of the project was a simple matter of cutting out the felt and sewing the mask together. It was really, really easy to sew. And he had a mask in less than 15 minutes. As payment for making the mask for him, he agreed to be photographed. And I think he even had fun doing that!

The mask attached with a piece of elastic. There is an option in the pattern to make masks out of cardboard. I think this would be a great idea for a kid's craft project at a party. In fact I even tried to talk my son into that idea, but he really wanted a sewn mask. I love quick and easy sews that make boys happy!
(This post uses affiliate links. When you use my affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!)
You can purchase this pattern at UpCraft Club. If you make a super hero mask, I'd love to see it!

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Summer of Sewing--Soleil Dress

I'm back today with my favorite dress pattern to sew for summer. And modeling it is my adorable niece. Her measurements were just under the recommended measurements for the Soleil Dress pattern for size 12 months, but since that was the smallest size available in the pattern, I went ahead and made it for her. So she has a little bit of room to grow into it, and maybe it will fit her next summer as a little tunic. 
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(This post contains affiliate links. When you use my affiliate links, I get a small commission. Thanks for supporting my efforts!)
My very favorite detail in this dress is the back opening. I love that little surprise. An option for a closed back is also included in the pattern if you wish for that instead.

My second favorite detail in this dress is the pockets. They are so adorable in size 12 months, but you can see in my previous post that they are just as fun in the larger sizes.

This dress calls for knit fabric and ribbing for the bindings. You could also substitute fold over elastic (FOE) if you prefer that look. I like working with FOE but it is a bit tricky to really get the hang of it. The best tip I can give is to stretch the FOE slightly while applying and be sure not to stretch the fabric at all. But truthfully it just takes practice. My first few attempts at FOE ended up in the trash can. #truestory

I also really love how the gathers in the front of the dress are all bunched together at the center. This helps the pockets to be shaped well. In fact this pattern is the first one that I have ever made and bound pockets in this way, so it took me a minute to wrap my mind around the construction. If you have never sewn with knit, this would be a great dress to try it out on--especially if you choose the solid back option. Normally I like to sew knits with my serger, but lately I've been finding that I really love my standard sewing machine for knits by using the knit stitch. If you don't have a special knit stitch, just use a short zig zag stitch.

I love patterns by Lauren at Baste and Gather. You can purchase all of her patterns at (affiliate link) UpCraft Club. If you are a member, you can even purchase them with your monthly credit too. 

Who will you be making a Soleil Dress for?

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Summer of Sewing--it's a mystery!

Today I'm blogging over at Crafting Con where I'm sharing my Top Secret notebook cover. Read the post over on the Crafting Con blog for all the details and to see the awesome photos!

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Summer of Sewing--Satya Romper

Rompers are simply adorable. And they are easy to sew. When rompers first started coming back into style, I had horrible flashbacks to my childhood of hideous styles and impossible to get off rompers when I had to go to the bathroom. Thankfully the Satya romper is not one of these styles! 

I'm honored to be participating in the Poolside Beach Party blog tour with lots of awesome bloggers. Check in each day on the Sprouting JubeJube blog for links to all the posts. Enter the different giveaways. And don't forget to read to the very end of my post for the discount coupon codes from a few generous shops! (This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through my affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my creative efforts!)

The Satya romper pattern was created by (affiliate link) Jennuine Designs. I first sewed this pattern last year when I was in her tester group. That was this bitty girl was a wee few months old. She was so tiny, that I made her the newborn size. This summer she is just over a year old and I was able to make her a 9-12 month. 

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I chose to make the romper and didn't include any snaps in the crotch. The romper is easy to remove for diaper changes, but really I think it would be more convenient to have snaps. So next time I will add the snaps.

I also chose to put elastic in the legs of the romper. I adore the little bubble look that it adds to the outfit. 

This gorgeous romper would be perfect to put on after a day at the pool or beach. It's cool and breezy and easy to put on when you are finished swimming. Use those adorable pockets for collecting shells or other treasures while you take a break from the water.

The back of the romper is just as cute as the front. Those straps are made out of fold-over elastic (FOE), which really has excellent stretch and recovery. FOE used to be a bit of a challenge to find, but I have noticed in recent years that many of the local shops are carrying a very nice selection. If you don't want to use FOE, instructions are given in the pattern for fabric covered elastic straps, which look equally adorable. Those FOE straps are what makes the romper easy to put on and easy to remove.

This pattern is available in sizes newborn through 12 years. I love sewing clothes in smaller sizes. They take very little fabric and sew up so quickly that you can easily have a new outfit in no time at all! Other options include:

• playsuit length
• romper length
• optional snaps added to the crotch
• FOE straps
• fabric covered elastic straps

I love to purchase my PDF patterns through the (affiliate link) UpCraft Club. Are you a member yet? There are 3 levels of membership available, so you can choose the one that best applies to your situation. You also receive free pattern credit to use each month as well as a convenient discount on any additional patterns you wish to purchase. And did I mention webinars? That's a fabulous perk to the membership. I adore that free pattern credit each month (and who can resist a discount anyway?). 

This little cutie thinks you should run (don't walk) and purchase your Satya romper soon! I would love to see what fabric you use for your romper. 

Now for the discounts: I'm giving all of my readers a 50% discount in my Etsy shop. Use the coupon code PoolSideParty16 to receive half off your pattern order. Code is valid until July 4, 2016. You can also receive a very generous 25% discount on any patterns in the Modkid shop using the code POOLSIDE2016. I have my eye on a couple patterns over there too.

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Summer of Sewing--A New Bag

I have decided that it is time to do a little bit of sewing for me this summer. Also I needed a new bag. I almost always carry a cross body bag. I like to have my hands free and since I carry my purse everywhere, it's convenient to just wear it rather than find a safe place to keep it where it won't be bothered.

(This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through my affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site.)
For this summer's bag of choice, I sewed the Sandra Saddle Bag pattern by Swoon Sewing Patterns. I like that Swoon sewing patterns help me produce a high end and quality product that looks like it was bought in a store. People who don't know me, don't know and can't tell that I made my own bag. I like that. I have learned how to produce high quality bags and have also learned a thing or two about hardware and interfacing.

For this bag, I worked with a new type of fabric--vinyl. This particular vinyl happened to be in the remnant bin at my local JoAnn's. Of course I can never pass up a bargain in the remnant bin! One trick that I learned while sewing with vinyl is that in order for the presser foot to glide across the vinyl, you need either a teflon foot or a walking foot. I chose to use my walking foot, and I am very pleased to report how well it worked on the vinyl. In fact I love my walking foot so much that I have used it on almost every other project that I've sewn since this one!
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Changes that I made to the pattern: 

• I placed the zipper pocket on the back of the bag instead of in the inside. I wanted to be able to have quick and easy access to my cell phone. With this pocket on the back of the bag, I knew that it would be secure since it would be worn against my body and zipped shut. But I also didn't want to hassle with having to lift the front flap and dig through my purse to find my phone.

• I added 2 slip pockets into the inside of the purse. I made these to face the front of the bag so that the bulk from the items in the pockets wouldn't add to the bulk from the back zipper pocket.
• I didn't have the required hardware for this project on hand. Since I wanted to sew it right away, I improvised and placed the strap into the top seam instead of on the side of the bag.

I'm really pleased with my bag and have gotten several compliments on this one. Next I want to try to sew with cork. Which pattern should I use for that project?

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Summer of Sewing--Let's Talk About Laundry

OK. Here's my story about the laundry thing. I mean, seriously, who likes to do laundry anyway? In the middle of packing for an overnight camp out, I decided to sew this pair of shorts for my son. 

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The Domi Sweatpants by Sofilantjes, which I got from UpCraft Club, are so quick to sew. UpCraft Club has all the latest (affiliate link) PDF sewing patterns. Being a member of the club allows you to receive a free pattern every month plus discounts on other pattern purchases. There are 3 different levels of membership, so choose the one that best fits your current sewing needs. And anyway who doesn't like free patterns?!

Several weeks ago, I cut these shorts out. I like to cut out sewing projects in batches, that way when it's time to sew, I just choose a project and go with it. Since the shorts were already cut out, all I had to do was stitch them up. It took me 30 minutes tops--using just my sewing machine instead of my serger. I love the stretch stitch on my machine and since my serger was set up with white thread for another project, I just really didn't feel like switching it out. I really like the style of these shorts. The knit fabric that I used to make them is soft and comfy--a slate gray ponte knit. I sewed a size 12 for my guy. You can see the size 12 months that I also sewed for my niece with a different pocket style. I can't wait to make this pattern in pants length come fall. 

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Pattern features:

• unisex pattern is perfect for girls or boys 
• sizing ranges from 12 months through 14 year
• two pocket styles
• three pant lengths--shorts, 3/4 length, and pants--perfect for all seasons
• cuffs or folded hem options for 3/4 and pant lengths

Anyway, on to the laundry topic. I actually do have a system for laundry at my house. Everyone does their own! A very good friend told me about her system and I tweaked it just a bit to fit our current situation.

Summer of Sewing--patterns to sew for girls

These patterns just so happen to be my favorite, go-to pattern for summer for girls. I'm sharing them with you in hopes to inspire you to have some fun with your summer sewing and maybe try something new.  Also don't forget to check out the sales and giveaways that some of the designers have been so kind to share! (Some of these links are affiliate links. When you purchase through my affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my site!)

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Soleil Dress--Baste and Gather

I simply adore this summer dress. Finish the edges with ribbing or with fold over elastic for a fun look. And choose whether or not you want to showcase the peek a book back or leave it solid. This dress is available in sizes 12 months through girls 12. This is a dress that I like to sew in assembly line fashion. In fact, I have one dress already cut out and ready to sew. Don't forget to check out the giveaway at the end of this post for a chance to win one of these awesome patterns.

LOL Swing Top--Jennuine Designs

Ranging in size from newborn to size 14 this one is sure to fit all the little girls in your family! Make them matching or make them all different. Just make sure you sew more than one so she can wear them all summer. Use the code SewHappily for 20% off your LOL Swing Top pattern purchase--code expires Friday, June 3. Enter the giveaway for a free LOL Swing Top PDF pattern at the end of this post!

Hip Hop Tank--Love Notions

With 3 different styles of back details and easy to sew, this one will be a staple that you girl will grab every day. And with all of the options, no shirt will look the same. This pattern can be made in sizes 4T through 14. Such a large range of sizes mean you can sew this pattern for several years before she outgrows it! Use the code sewhappyhiphop to save on your purchase of the Hip Hop Tank pattern--code expires on Friday, June 3.

Norah Dress and Tunic--Mouse House Creations

This pattern goes from size 6 months through girls size 12. The adorable dress AND tunic is perfect for summer. Choose long or short sleeves or even sleeveless. Choose to add the collar and the adorable little ties. Or leave them off. Whatever you want. It's up to you. Make it out of knit or woven. Customize this fun little vintage style top to match your daughter's personality. It's sure to be a favorite! This happens to be one of our very favorite mommy-made dresses. The shape of this pattern make it a fun sew. In fact this one is printed and waiting on my sewing table to be sewn. Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end for a free copy of the Norah Dress and Tunic PDF Pattern!

Provincial Top--New Horizons

Looking for a quick and easy to sew knit top? Use your serger to roll hem the sleeves and bottom of the shirt. After that it stitches up super fast. Make one in the morning and she can wear it in the afternoon for that play date. My favorite feature about this top is the elastic shirring. Never shirred before? It's easy! Summer is the perfect time to try this technique out. This was one of my first experiences with pattern testing--a fun experience for sure--my how my blogging and photography skills have grown! Size range available from 6 months through girls size 10. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a free copy of the Provincial Top PDF pattern.

Enter the giveaway below to win one of these four PDF patterns for free: LOL Swing Top, Provincial Top, Soleil Dress or Norah Dress and Tunic. I'll draw 4 winners at the end of the giveaway.

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And there you have it! My top 5, all-time, best sewing pattern suggestions for summer. Which pattern will you sew first?

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New Muscle Shirt Upcycle Project

I love a good upcycle project, don't you? I took this Michigan Football t-shirt and turned it into a cool muscle shirt for my son. (This post contains affiliate links. When you follow these links and purchase through them, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!) The pattern is the Swiss Army Shirt from New Horizons Patterns. I blogged about a similar shirt before. I really love this pattern because of how quick and easy it is to sew! And the pattern is perfect for upcycling. I especially enjoy the side panels. It's a great excuse to add some contrast into the shirt. This pattern is perfect for boys, but don't forget to make some for all the girls in your life too!

Options available in this shirt:

• 3 sleeve styles: muscle, short, long, layered
• woven fabric can be used for some parts of the shirt
• crew neck, polo, henley
• military style details
• upcycle friendly
• size 6-12 months thru size 16

It's probably the only t-shirt pattern you will need for the boys you sew for (girls too for that matter)!

My son is modeling the size 12. I probably could have made him a size 10, but I wanted him to wear it for the entire summer and then into the fall. And since he's been growing so fast lately, I figured I had better go with the 12. He wears this one all the time. I definitely need to make more for the summer since it is such a quick sew.

What New Horizons Patterns have you sewn? I'd love to see what you have made.

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Nana's Insulated Totes NEW Pattern

I've been hard at work and at long last have my first PDF sewing pattern available for sale! One year ago, I enrolled in Pattern Workshop with big dreams. I have learned so much through this process of developing a pattern. I learned how to use Adobe Illustrator and InDesign over the course of the past year. Of course there were some intense and frustrating moments, but now that I understand the basics, I actually like the Adobe programs. 

Designing a pattern is so very rewarding, from the beginning of the process where your design is just a concept in your mind, to the first actual product, to writing the instructions, and of course to the testing. I couldn't have asked for a better group of testers. These wonderful ladies each made a tote following my pattern rough draft and then offered their suggestions, which helped me to take the pattern and really make it the best! 

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This pattern is named after my mom, who we all lovingly call Nana. Nana adores her grandchildren and loves to spend time with them. The pattern includes a tribute page and her picture. You can read more about her battle with Lewy Body Dementia and how we all help Nana inside the pattern.

With this pattern, you can make a market tote or a lunch tote. The pattern calls for insulated interfacing, but if you don't want to bother with insulation, you can substitute fusible fleece. An optional magnetic flap can be added if you are concerned about keeping your goodies concealed.

Included in the pattern are pattern pieces and a cutting chart so you can use whichever you prefer. Also included are clear photographs with step-by-step instructions.

Personally the lunch tote is my favorite size. It is tall enough to keep all of your lunch goodies tucked safely inside and keep them cool until you are ready to eat them. 

The market tote is the perfect size for carrying cold items home from the grocery story. Or for bringing home fresh veggies from your local farmer's market.

This is a PDF sewing pattern. You will not receive an actual product, but you will receive a digital file with patterns and step-by-step instructions to make your own lunch or market tote.

The price of this PDF pattern is $4.95. If you are ready to purchase your own copy of my brand new PDF sewing pattern Nana's Insulated Totes, please go to my Etsy shop. If you purchase from Etsy, I would appreciate if you leave a review of the pattern. You can also leave a comment on this blog post as a review if you would like.

I have several free sewing tutorials and patterns, don't forget to check them out as well!

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