Peek-A-Boo Pattern Review

Awhile back I did sewing pattern reviews as a regular segment on my blog. My apologies if you miss them, but right now I just have so much going on it's hard to dedicate that time. However, at a blogger party earlier this year I met the fabulous woman behind Naptime Crafters. I found out that she has started a great line of patterns under the name of Peek-A-Boo Patterns. You have to check them out. Very sweet line!

I had the opportunity to test a knit dress pattern for her. You can find her whole line here at You Can Make This - this pattern is the Ashley knit.

Check out Kiddo rockin' one of her dresses for the holiday season - super comfy stretch velvet.


The dress was cut and sewn in a single naptime! I hope you'll take a moment to hop on over and check out more of her patterns. Tonight I'm actually working on a coat test pattern and will upload that post later this month!

Sunday Sewing Pattern Reviews - Lovely Ribbon Dress

This week I am reviewing Dear My Kids pattern - Lovely Ribbon Dress. For all of you that know a spring/summer bride, I *highly* recommend that you show them this dress for a flower girl!

My pictures this week do not the show the dress as well as I would like - our photo shoot came off the heels of an afternoon playing in the sprinklers on the freshly mowed lawn..

On to the review and pictures of my spring lovin' pixie!

Description of pattern:

Making a kid's dress has never been so easy!! This lovely dress can turn into your precious ones favorite spring/summer piece.

Level of difficulty:
DMK emphasizes that this dress is not difficult. While none of the elements are difficult, I do think they might frustrate the beginner seamstress. I personally recommend this for an intermediate seamstress, or if you're a determined beginner be sure to try the whole pattern on a muslin sample first.

I was not able to get a real accurate read on the time involved with sewing the dress (my kiddos would not nap this week. So I completed it in 15 minute intervals throughout the week. My best guestimate would be in the ballpark of 2-3 hours because it is completely lined and there is just a bit of hand sewing involved.

Fabric recommendations:

You will want a light to mid weight fabric. I used an ultra silky polyester blend from Joann's Special Occasion line and I lined it with Kona cotton. This was a great combination;it gave the dress a very upscale, fancy appearance and the heavier cotton gives the piece more stability.

Overall Design:

This dress is soo adorable! I really hope someone reads this review and decides to doll up their flower girls with this ensemble!! It is such a tailored and classic dress. I love dresses that are not only beautiful for little girls to wear, but also keep practicality in mind. There is no zipper - just a single button, elastic sleeves for comfort, and a wide skirt for those angels that love to run and jump. The little touches are perfect - pleated bodice, bow, and more.

Instructions:

This the most detailed pattern I think I've come across. Each step is taken slowly with pictures and clear steps.

Pattern Pieces:

It is a PDF pattern, so you will be printing out the pieces. There is only 3 parts that you will have to assemble and DMK provides a pattern map.

Modifications and Tips:

I personally don't make muslins. For all the clothing items I've made from patterns, I've made a single muslin and that was only because it was a vintage pattern that I knew I was going to have to alter. If you make muslins, great - you will be able to figure out the more advanced steps without effecting your final dress. If however you are like me and can't wait to make the dress, I recommend making the liner first. If you make a mistake and have to rip some seams, no one will see it because it is the liner!

I made my style as fancy as I could because it is for our Mother's Day photo shoot. It would also be super cute in a cotton print for everyday use. The bow is removable in case that is not your style - the bodice is pleated so it still looks amazing!

Conclusion:

If you are looking for a graceful dress for your kiddo, this is the one! It is perfect in fancy fabrics for a special occasion and would be just as wonderful in a cotton for play. I do recommend it for an intermediate seamstress or a advanced beginner that is willing to make a muslin first. The dress is very tailored and will require a little more thought in its construction.

Absolutely consider this dress for weddings this spring and summer. Flower girls will look ever so sweet walking down the aisle in this beauty!

**DMK did not compensate me in any way for this review, this is my opinion of the pattern I purchased. I am excited to announce that upon hearing I was going to review the dress, DMK is going to give readers a limited time deal on patterns and a giveaway!! Details will be announced on this post in just a bit.

Next week's I will be reviewing a paper pieced quilting pattern! I'm not a fan of traditional piecing, but I think this technique may be just the thing to turn it around. I'll be working on Artisania's Peeping Owl. I think it's fair to say I'm just slightly in love with this modern block!

***Giveaway and Pattern deal***

For a limited time, DMK is giving readers a Buy 1, Get 1 deal in their etsy shop. This is an awesome deal - there are tons of amazing patterns that I know you would love!! The checkout code is: DMKBOGO

And I'll be picking 3 readers to each receive 1 pattern from the DMK shop. To enter please a comment on this post stating which pattern you would love to win & you must be an All Things Belle blog follower. Giveaway will end next Sunday, the 15th, by midnight (MTN) time.

Good luck!

Sewing Pattern Reviews - #1 - The Lucy

I'm very excited to start a new feature for the blog. I will be buying, making, and then reviewing sewing patterns. And you are very,very welcome to submit requests! It can be anything from baby outfits to quilts to purses.. I would prefer the patterns to be from Etsy sellers or the like, but if you are just dying to know about a McCall's pattern..please feel free.

I am going to be writing my reviews similar to the ones I've seen on SewMamaSew.

If you feel like I'm missing something though, please speak up.

I'm very excited to begin this journey with OwlyBaby's pattern, "The Lucy"

I originally bought this pattern last November with the hopes of making the girls a pair of matching Christmas dresses. Well life was too chaotic and that task got shelved.

Isabelle's school pictures are this week and I wanted of course to make her a special dress. I remembered this fabulous pattern and bought some yummy fabric from The Pine Needle. Here is the end result...

This could be quite easily my most favorite dress for her.. ever! I love it, love it, love it... With the modern graphic print and solids - it is both classic and trendy. Here are the details..

Description:

This is a PDF Sewing Pattern for an above-the-knee length reversible wrap dress. This dress looks elegant with a sash and bow in the back or use your favorite buttons to cinch this adorable wrap dress. With instructions for a fully reversible wrap dress, or tied wrap dress with a sash - this outfit will come together for any occasion. Looks great with stripes and plaids and adorable with knee socks!

Level of Difficulty:

OwlyBaby describes it as great for a beginner to intermediate. I agree. I think it really depends on the fabric graphic you use. For my dress I wanted all the apples to go a certain way, so it required more time planning out the pattern pieces on the fabric. And you set in sleeves; if you take your time and pin generously, you will be fine.

Fabric recommendations:

OwlyBaby made an insanely cute version in silk, I choose a high quality cotton.

Overall design:

This is a great dress for active toddlers. The dress is loosely constructed and allows for lots of movement. The formality of dress can really go in either direction depending upon the type of fabric used in construction. I love it as a dress for Isabelle to go to school in, but I'm still planning on making the girls a formal set this next Christmas.

The pattern has 3 variations including a reversible option.

Instructions:

Very clear with lots of photos. There were minimal written errors and it is very easy to follow.

Pattern Pieces:

Since this pattern is a PDF, you will be printing out all the pieces. OwlyBaby includes a very detailed map of how to lay out the pieces, cut, and adhere. Use that map!

Modifications and Tips:

My final dress is a slightly modified version of the original. I didn't want to have the fabric ties - Isabelle would spend all day messing with them, so I sewed on a faux band in the solid red.

If you make this and want tips on how to sew the faux band, email me.

As I mentioned before, if you are using a very graphic print like I did - be aware of how you are laying out the pattern on the fabric.

Also if you have a serger, I'd recommend using it when attaching the skirt to the bodice. There is a lot of gathered material and it works great to serge those seams.

Conclusion:

This is a fabulous pattern. Owlybaby includes more sizes and variations then you see with most patterns. The dress has great classic details, but it is quite accessible for a beginning sewer to recreate. You are likely to want to make more than just one. I was personally able to create this start to finish in about 3 hours.

***Owlybaby did not compensate me for this review. This is entirely my own opinion. However, being the awesome seller that she is, she is offering you a special discount on her patterns in the shop (including the bundled packages!) Type the word "BELLE" at checkout, and you'll receive a generous 20% off! That is a smoking deal and I will be shopping this week. The discount is good for the next two weeks.

I am scouring around looking for the next great pattern to review. Have a suggestion - let me know!

Stop the Presses..

Grosgrain Fabulous

featured my flapper dress for Isabelle..!!

Off to bask in my happiness..

And give ALL credit to my darling Isabelle!

Riley Blake, You Had Me At Hello!

Riley Blake, one of my most favorite fabric designers ever

is having a contest!

They were looking for pictures of apparel items with their fabric.

Um, hello - I would love to make a cute apparel item with your fabric!

Here is what I made Miss Isabelle

I love it!

She loves it!

The faux smocking is created with elastic - adorable..

And the patchwork is of her two favorite colors - green & pink..

I'll find out next week if I'm a finalist,

and if I am then I will be begging for votes!

The grand prize is a bike,

and with my Little Red Riding Hood event in June..

I need a bike!

I've got my toes, fingers, and eyes crossed!!

Warning - Sweet Factor Reaching Maximum!

OK.. I had no foresight into the possible Project Run & Play themes

otherwise I would not have made

Isabelle's first Valentine dress a couple themes ago.

What to do??

Well several friends suggested making a dress for their little girl.

And I'd be happy to, but usually there are tons of little revisions

that require fittings.

((Even my bestest bestie suggested I make a dress for

her little boy..he's just that darn pretty..lol!))

And I'm addicted.

I couldn't miss a week.

I am learning so much by forcing myself out of my comfort zone

and creating these items without a pattern.

This week is my favorite outfit!

Her sweet black velvet tank and silky bubble skirt

is all Valentine in my book.

She looks ready for a special dance with her Prince Daddy.

Make Play, Not Tantrums

I have a croupy baby (2nd time in 5 weeks)

and a sick toddler,

so this is gonna be a lickety split post!

For Project Run & Play this week

we were challenged with a retro or vintage outfit.

Since I had just done the 20's, I thought it be fun to go groovy!

I made Isa a bell sleeved tunic in a pychodelic print

and bell bottom jeans.

ALL without a pattern again!

Definetly changes I'd like to make after I had her fitted in it,

but all in all I'm pretty tickled with my

"Make Play, Not Tantrums" 60's outfit!

The Unflappable Miss Isabelle Flapper

I completely forgot about this week's Project Run & Play.

Considering I'm not really "in" it, I guess it wasn't a huge

surprise that it slipped my mind.

The challenge this week was to create an adult inspired outfit.

Given more time than (1) 2 hour nap,

I would have loved to make Isabelle a Coco Chanel suit

in this amazing pink tweed fabric that calls to me from my stash.

Alas, I had little time.

I've never made an outfit without a pattern.

Ever.

I can design quilts.

I can design all kinds of fabric sewing patterns.

Not clothes.

There is a disconnect in my brain.

Since a majority of women's clothes these days are more risque

than I'd like to put my toddler in, I decided to go vintage.

I created for Isabelle a 1920's flapperish dress.

I can't get her out of it.

In her mind I created an amazing success.

In my mind, this is a great "muslin" and when I have time

I will make her another more refined one.

That is probably the closest I'll come to "Project Runway"

and I did it sweat it out.

Thank goodness Tim Gunn is no where in sight!

Toddler Dress In A Nap.. I Mean Snap..

While searching for even more crafty challenges online,

I came across Project Run & Play

Very similar to Project Runway,

designers are given challenges and voted off each week.

However, they have decided to let readers submit as well.

Granted the readers are not in the running for prizes,

it is still an awesome creativity generator.

And I'm a glutton for punishment.

And Isabelle told me yesterday that I am to make

her a Valentine dress.. with hearts.

(She tried to throw in a Halloween motif as well

but luckily I was able to veto that without a tantrum)

This week we were tasked to reinterpert

Leila and Ben's "Sweet Dress"

I love this dress!

Now.. the sleeves were done in a way

I have never done before, so I just had to trust them..

and it's fab!

Totally do-able in an hour

(if you don't have a gassy baby waking every 10 minutes

grumble grumble grumble)

Now since this was my first time working with the dress

and I am by no means a pattern designer,

I only made a few changes.

I made it with 2 fabrics,

I added the pockets,

and the ruffle on the bottom.

The pockets are simply a 5x5 square,

each sided ironed in 1/2".

I free motion embroidered the heart

(After spending a TON of money on a machine

that will do computer generated embroidery..

I favor my own free motion..go figure!)

The ruffle was just a long stretch of 4" fabric,

folded in half and run through

the ruffler at 12:1.

Looking back I wish I had serged the top of the ribbon

before sewing to the hem..

I did it after, and the serger caught a small

bit of the dress.

Not super noticeable, but it annoys me that I

could have *easily* avoided that..

Hope you like it!

Hope Isa likes it..

I will get pics of her in it after her nap..

**And not to be outdone by her big Sis,

I'll make a itty bitty one for Jules this weekend**

Holiday Rush

I remember those days that I was able to ship a client's item out within 48 hours from purchase. Then about 4 months ago the universe granted me some major business, and my lead time has been 2 weeks for a loooong time now. I used to do "rush" orders for free as long as I could finagle around it. Unfortunately, for the month of December, I can not in shape or form honor a "rush". I'm sooo bummed.

However, I will be trying to list some "ready 2 ship" items in the store each week.. And here's a look at what I have now...

Small 12" Evergreen & Snow Striped Hat

Small 12" Sonoran Desert Pom Pom Hat

OOAK (one a kind) Newborn 13.5" Candy Cane Pom Pom Hat

* Knit with incredible yummy handspun & dyed wool

Chocolate Damask Taffeta For Isabelle

Isabelle has 2 meetings with Santa this week and I'm hoping to get "THE" Christmas card photo from one of them. Tomorrow is the Tree Festival and on Thursday she'll be in her jammies heading up to the North Pole on "Polar Express". I sewed Isabelle a holiday dress with some gorgeous chocolate brown damask taffeta (I will be creating a bubble skirt for myself later so that we match this holiday season!)

This was supposed to be an "Easy" pattern. It took me about 3 hours, and I still have to hem it. It's close to midnight, and I'm not waking the

baby to see where it falls. Also the pattern included hand slip stitching as well as a zipper. Not the hardest things in the book,but I think for a new seamstress it would have been aggravating. I did make some changes to how I

placed the yoke on the skirt,but that can be a tad dry reading.. so if you make it and want to know what I did, feel free to drop me a line.

All in all,I'm pretty happy with it.

I will probably add a hook & eye

above the zipper later. Just a thing that is bugging me, but no biggie. And if I made it again, I

would definitely use my serger.. for first time

around projects I only use my sewing machine (don't want unwanted cuts to the fabric!)

My Little Turkey

As my business has grown over the last year, I've felt myself putting projects for family & friends on the back burner so I can get a little more work done. This was heartbreaking for me. The point of running my own business was so that I would be at home with Isabelle (and future kids), and give more to those I love. So each weekend I "try" to set aside all work, and only do projects for those I love. It's not a perfect system, and this weekend I slipped. A lot of the photographers I had orders from HAD to have items this coming week, that meant I HAD to work overtime and then some. With all that said, I was bound and determined to create a dress for Isabelle for Thanksgiving. My original hope had been to sew 2 ties that matched for her cousins; had great visions of the family photos. Sorry Brycen and Bailey, the ties are probably not going to get done in the next 48 hours. I'm sure they'll forgive me.. Well after some Wii and pumpkin pie..

The pattern I used was Olive Ann Designs : Jump-N . Purchased it at one of my favorite local fabric stores, Material Girls over in South Jordan.

And I'm still on my corduroy kick; using a heavy wide wale green cord and small wale chocolate brown w/ matching green polka dot .

I made some changes, and honestly now that I'm done I will make more changes to the next one. I am not a flamingo fan, so that appliqué got axed. Also..

* Isa is skin & bones, so her body measurements put her at size 1. However, I didn't take into consideration that she has my head. Big heads means big ideas! It is super hard to get it over her head and tears usually erupt. For the next dress I will either push the sleeves out more or increase the width of the neck.

* It is supposed to be reversible, but honestly with 2 cords it makes it very bulky. With the next one I'd either use only 1 heavy fabric or not intend to make it reversible.

* Your bobbin thread color is important!! For this reason I will probably not use the polka dot side as wearable option. The bobbin thread color is distracting to me though I'm sure Isa is unaware :o)

* I added a machine embroidered turkey on the bottom for a little added holiday decoration. The original had that flamingo.. I bought the embroidery pattern at SWAK Embroidery

If I had more time to spend on the dress I think I'd be slightly happier with it. It really only should have took around 2 hours to sew, but with a toddler yelling "Go Diego, Go!" and deadlines looming over my shoulder.. I said this Turkey is done, stick a fork in it!

Preview of Prototype

In the handcrafted world, in the past items for men have been neglected.

My husband has made it clear that while he appreciates the effort,

any hand knit scarves, sweaters, etc would only gather dust bunnies.

What's a girl to do?

Well.. this month I will be rolling out a line of ties for toddlers through grandpas.

Some will be embroidered

(think more tatoo style rather than bunnies..of course unless you custom order bunnies)

Here is my a pic of my prototype.

Of course I choose to work with one of the thickest materials out there.. sighs..

Alas, I love corduroy, so I'm ironing the kinks..

(pun fully intended)

These will be perfect for photography shoots, church, and

everyday for the fancy pants boys!

WIP for Isa

What is a WIP for a Hooker?

Got your attention there didn't I?

Well I'm a crocheter and we work with hooks.. So, just slap the label Hooker on me.

It's okay, I'm comfortable with my title.

And WIPS..

Works In Progress

<---- this is where I am at in making

this------>

for my cutie pie Isabelle!

It is from "Easy to Crochet. Cute Clothes for Kids" by Sue Whitling

It is such a fun shell stitch. Unfortunately when I work crochet from other people's patterns, I tend to do it very tight and tiny..

As skinny as my little girl is, this maybe one tight sweater..