Natalie Top

 (This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from those shops after clicking through my link, I get a small commission which doesn't cost you any more! Thanks for using them!)

*Edited to update links!*

This month for my Go To Patterns Brand Ambassador pattern, I chose the

Natalie Top from Liola Patterns in the Go To Patterns shop.

I used a lovely voile from Canadian National Fabric.

It was a bit of a bigger print than I had expected but I still love it.

It's the first time I've sewn with voile and it sews up really well.

I found the pattern to run a little boxy around the natural waist, which may be intended with the blouse-y look. But, I made a small mod and did three short rows of shirring to pull it in a little.

I also left off the optional pocket as I thought this print was busy enough without a pocket.

The rolled up sleeves are really comfy--I haven't worn them unrolled yet! 

And, I braved the cold (-15 Celsius) to get my husband to take a couple of pictures.

This from the lady (me) who is always cold and does not enjoy cold very much. In fact, my husband looked at me rather incredulously when I suggested it.

I'm glad we did go with the outside pictures--the snow makes a lovely backdrop.

Dungaree Dress, a Raglan, and a Sale!

Merry Christmas yet!

 

 It feels like it's been a while since I've posted any new outfits.

I have been busy with some, but it has been rather slow in my sewing area!

I thought I'd share this dress--I made it a little while back now, but never blogged about it yet.



 

It is the Cassidy Dungaree Dress by Modkid.

I used a denim I had in my stash, and since I had no purple topstitching thread, I used regular thread.

It is a lot lighter than it would have been with topstitching thread, but it does the trick in a pinch.

 

I love the details on the dress, the pockets, the front seam, and the topstitching.

I did not like the buckles I bought. They keep slipping open, even though I've tried bending them in a little tighter.

 

The top is a raglan from an Ottobre--the Rascal Raglan which I've also used here.

The fabric is from Girl Charlee a while back now--they have it in a different color way but I haven't seen this purple for quite a while now. The grey is also from Girl Charlee.

 

 

My daughter loves this outfit, even with the unhitching straps.

And, it's a sturdy denim so it should outlast her time of wearing it!

(Many of her dresses have been patched, either because they get caught on barbed wire, a tree, or in her coat zipper, even!)

 

Oh, and have you heard of the sale yet?

It ends on the 28th (and I don't know if it ends in the AM at 12 or in the PM at 12) but in my Etsy shop, you can get 25% off using the code BD2015 for Boxing Day.

Enjoy!!!

Giveaway! Patterns and Fabric!

Welcome to my little place on the internet! 

This is where I share about the things I sew, new patterns I've designed, and every now and then, a giveaway.

First of all, I'd like to share with you my Etsy shop where you can find my patterns listed.

If you prefer, I do have them listed on Craftsy as well! 

I enjoy designing these patterns, though it's slow going as I try to fit it in between life as a wife and homeschooling mom of five kids 8 and under. 

Also, a little more about me:

I grew up in a very Dutch family and still love droppies, stampot, and taai-taai. (plus many more Dutch goodies!) Plus, I can still speak a bit of Yankee Dutch. 

I was the worst at sewing of all my sisters (there are 5 of us) during Home Economics class. Seriously. 

But, I am now the only one who actually sews. (And, I've improved significantly since then!) 

I live on a dairy farm with my husband and our 5 kids. 

I love to garden and can all the delicious produce from our garden. 

And, I love baking a good batch of sourdough bread. 

So, there's a little about me.

Now, on to the giveaway!

This week, I'm giving away 2 patterns of choice (see shop above), and two pieces of fabric that are 1 yard each. 

To enter, please follow the directions on the Rafflecopter below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open internationally.
Winner must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.
Void where prohibited.
Must provide valid email address so I can contact the winner.

Make sure to check out the other giveaways over at Sew Mama Sew! 

Black Friday Sale!!!

I don't often hold a sale, and here's the biggest sale I've had yet, so make sure you take advantage of it.

Hop over to my Etsy shop for 25% off the entire shop! 

No coupon code needed. 

November 26 Midnight to November 28 Midnight MST. 

Lullaby Line Sleep Sacks--Some Baby Gifts!

*Updated to change links!*

(This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, I get a small percentage of the purchase price. Thanks for shopping through these links!!)

A lot of friends have had babies. And, a lot of girls.

I am waaay behind in sewing up baby gifts, so when I had to choose another pattern for the Go-To Brand Ambassador program, I thought I'd hit two birds with one stone.

I'd sew up some fun baby gifts while sewing up a pattern available in the Go-To Patterns shop!

I chose Peek a Boo Pattern's Lullaby Line Sleep Sack available at Peek a Boo Patterns Go To Patterns!

I sewed it up in size 12-24 months, using flannel for the main part and a cotton/lycra for the neck band and arm bands.

I only had two separating zippers that were long enough, otherwise I would have made a couple more!

I let my 16 month old try them out and she had fun pretending she was napping.

The fit is pretty good--the only thing with the fit is that I'm used to sleep sacks that are a bit longer, only because my kids are usually wearing ones that they can 'grow into.'

This pattern has to have the fit spot on so that the footed sleep sacks can be used properly without tripping up the child.

It's a pretty quick sew. The zipper is the most time consuming part!

I think I'd seam finish the front center edges before I inserted the zipper, the next time.

It would provide a cleaner finish, I think.

Again, you can get the pattern in this shop, or here.

Coffee Shop Lace Dress--Make that a Double-Double

(Contains affiliate links--I get a small percentage of the purchase price if you purchase through my links! Thanks for using them!)

When I saw the Coffee Shop Lace Dress from Bella Sunshine Designs, I knew I wanted to make one. 

No, I knew I wanted to make two.

Two dresses--one for each of my girls.

I figured that they'd make perfect Fall/Winter Sunday dresses, especially since the pattern has a long sleeve option.

 

My girls were both pretty thrilled with them--even the youngest!

I think I'll be lengthening my older daughters dress a bit yet by cutting the bottom of the skirt off, adding a contrasting strip of fabric and sewing the bottom back onto that. I feel it's a little too short, and that is my own fault since the pattern has finished dress measurements--I just didn't look closely enough at those.

 

The dark fabric is from Art Gallery's Tule line that I bought a couple of months ago at Canadian National Fabric. The other fabrics are a Ty Pennington line that I picked up at Stay Home Fabrics some time ago as well.

 

You can pick up a copy of this pattern here.

 

Jocole Blog Tour--Skinnies and Skorts and a Giveaway!

First up, my baby girl's skorts.

It's funny how excited a 15 month old can get over new clothes. 

Must be her older sister's influence....ha! 

I used Jocole's Faux-Wrap Skort pattern. 

No adjustments were made to the pattern--they were sewn in a quilting cotton that I had in my stash from a couple years back. 

They're perfect for a little girl on the move, and even though it's heading into Fall here, I think we'll get enough wear out of these, even in the house, or with tights underneath to make it look even more skirt-ish. 

If you follow me on Facebook at all, you may have heard about my hot pink skinny pants. 

Well, here they are, and I'm thrilled with how they turned out! 

I used Jocole's Skinny Pants pattern, and did have to make a few adjustments.

The waist was too big and the hips were perfect (even though I had blended sizes according to my measurements.) 

So, I took it in a bit at the side seams, tapering into the regular seam at the hips. 

I also added darts on the back, just above the pockets, to take in any gaping so that it wouldn't look bunched and saggy while on. 

The fabric is a slightly stretchy twill that I bought off a destash site on Facebook. 

They are super comfy with the yoga waistband! 

I now want to make many more in different fabrics...we'll see if I ever get to it, but I'm super happy with them.

Hop on over to the Jocole blog to visit all the other bloggers! 

Enter the Rafflecopter below to win one Jocole Pattern of choice! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Save up to 25% with Jocole's Fall Blog Tour.

Your entire shopping cart, no restrictions.

Starts: October 15th 12:01amEnds: October 26th 11:59pm PST. 

Use the code "FallBlogTour" during checkout.