Photo Contest!

I am super excited to announce a photo contest!

And, we have some super prizes lined up!

 

 

Basically, you sew up one of my patterns in the month of May (it HAS to be sewn in May!) and post a picture of it in the Facebook group, using the hash tag #FHScontest.

 

The contest will close May 31st at midnight MST.

Winners will be drawn and contacted the first week of June.

There will be a Grand Prize winner.

There will be a 'most-liked' winner.

And, there will be a Random winner.

 

Prizes are yet to be announced, but already included is a fabric prize, credit to a shop, and free patterns!

More details about the sponsors and prizes will follow!

 

So...where do you get the patterns?

You can get them either on Craftsy or on Etsy.

 

As an added bonus--those who leave a review on either Craftsy or Etsy will get a second entry into the Random prize draw!

 

I'd also love if you could share this contest with others!

Let's get the word out!

Greenstyle's Jillian Tank

I signed up to test a 'secret' pattern from Greenstyle.

Turns out, it's for the Bundle Up that starts the 1st!

The first one is the first tester version.

Angie worked with all of us testers to get the fit just right--it has been adjusted many times and has improved significantly from my picture here!

 

 

She made a higher cutting line option for the inner tank, lengthened the inner tank, made the outer tank come together a bit more in the front, added a woven option, added a fold over elastic option, sports bra option, etc.

I love the inner tank as a layering tank--this'll be the one I'll be sewing up to wear under other shirts that show off just a bit too much for my liking.

 

But, I had a little fun with the inner tank myself.

I added a 16" A-line skirt to the pattern piece to make myself a fitted dress.

I love it.

 

So...you can get this pattern plus a bunch more for a great price in the Women's Bundle Up!

Upcycled Hoodie

I had recently gone through my kids' wardrobes and handed down the clothes that no longer fit certain children, threw out the raggedy, stained clothing, and stored others.

In the process, I realized that my oldest son had only one sweater left.

One.

And, he wasn't impressed by that fact.

 

 

My husband I had gone through my husband's clothes some time ago and had saved some clothes that I thought could be upcycled.

A grey sweater was one of them.

 

Now, to find the perfect pattern to turn my husband's large sweater into a sweater small enough for a seven year old.

I found something that I could use as a jump-off pattern in one of my Ottobre magazines--pattern #40, issue 4/2013.

The only problem was that he wanted the hoodie all in the same color.

And the pattern pieces would not fit.

 

So, instead of using the hood for the pattern, I carefully seam ripped the hood off the original and re-used it as it was.

It had to be eased into the neckline as it was a bit larger than the neckline.

The pocket was also not in the pattern so I drafted my own for that as well.

(The pattern has in-seam pockets.)

 

He loves it.

It's comfy especially with the super-sized hood!

And, it turned out to be relatively stylish other than the mark you can see where I took the front pocket off the original.

KCW Day 6--Lazy Days Lounge Pants

Day 6.

In a bid to get some variety in his wardrobe, I made my 3rd son a pair of sweats out of one of my husband's old sweaters.

Actually--out of the sleeves, waistband, and hood. The rest is still salvageable for another project!

 

 

I sewed up Gracious Thread's Lazy Days Lounge Pants in a size 2. 

It's perfect for the weather we're having today--snow.

 

 

The inside of the pockets is a thin knit from one of my old tanks.

I wish I had put that on the front inside part of the pocket, not the back, but I learned a lesson for next time!

 

Even the drawstring is taken from the old hoodie!

 I love a good upcycle.

The waistband from the hoodie became the cuffs and waistband on this.

They are a little narrower than the pattern pieces, but my son didn't need the full width anyway!

 

And, that's it for KCW for me--I'm taking Day 7 off!

 

KCW Day 5--Tree Climber Trousers

 Next up--the Tree Climber Trousers from Go-To Patterns (affiliate link) for my 3 year old son!

 

This little man is just that--little. I made the size 18 months with 2" added to the length.

To make it not sound so bad, I tagged them with a size 2 tag.

The only other modification is that I left off the back flap for the pockets.

 



 

The fabric is a denim-like fabric from our local Fabricland that I bought about a year ago.

I also used it for my diaper bag.

 

He's pretty happy about the pants and I'm pretty happy he has some pants that fit him again.

All of his were getting too short but he definitely could still wear them for width.

I have at least one more pair of pants planned for him--possibly two.

 

 

KCW Days 2 to 4--Offbeat Oxford and London Pants

Days 2 to 4 !

 

First, I sewed up Terra's Treasures' Offbeat Oxford. (affiliate link)

I love the off-centered, curved placket!

I left off the pocket flap, but otherwise, I followed the pattern exactly.

 

 

Next up was the London Pants from Petite Kids Boutique.

I think this is around the 6th or 7th pair of these that I've sewn.

I love all the details.

 

The only modifications I made on these is I left out the bottom lining and the tab. I also drafted a different pocket for the back instead of the faux tabs.

 

Both fabrics I received from a friend who was clearing out some of her stash.

As soon as my son saw the plaid fabric, he grabbed it and excitedly told me I could make him a Sunday shirt out of it.

How could I resist that?

Of course he needed pants to match, right?

 

Are you sewing along for KCW? What's on your list?

I'm working on some pants for my third son now...

KCW Day 1--Maggie Mae Dress

 

After going through my kids' closets, I realized they all needed clothes.

All. of. them.

My oldest daughter really needed some new ones as a lot of her dresses were just getting too short.

So, she was first on the list.

 

 

I have sewn up a few of these Maggie Mae dresses now. (affiliate link)

And, I still love the pattern!

 

I received the brown fabric from a friend and the other fabric is from the Fat Quarter Shop, a long time ago now.

She is still a size 4 in width but I added at least three inches to the length of the main skirt (not the band) so that she wouldn't grow out of it for a little while at least!

 

Are you sewing along with KCW?

It definitely couldn't have come at a better time for me!