Cyan Lilly Dress and Tunic pattern test

We love this dress by Mandy K Designs . The dress was so easy to put together. I learned a new sewing method. Fit was spot on. The directions were so clear and it went really fast to make - which always makes me happy. The twirl factor is also important here! Honestly,we just love this!

The beatiful Tip Top dress by Petit a petit

I was lucky enough to be able to test the new pattern by
Petit a petit and family: the Tip top dress. As always her pattern is pure perfection!

The fit is beautiful and the dress is so romantic, yet modern. It's on sale for the next two weeks. If you have a girl you sew for, this is a good dress to have.

More gifts, shirts, dresses... more sewing

 My girlies were going to a birthday party today. I made the present and one of the birthday dresses this morning. I used a raglan shirt pattern for the dress and the tunic. The fabric for the dress is 11 years!!! She loves how it turned out.

 "Mommy there's a alphabet soup, right? you can name this dress the Alphabet dress"

 My girls don't like ruffles and frills and sweet and overly girly anymore. They are getting older - almost 10 and want SIMPLE lines and not too much pattern on the fabrics.

 This dress is perfect for my high heal loving girl.

 For the present I made a tunic - I added elastics in the side seams to ruffle it up some - and a skirt. I had both fabrics in my stash. They are velveteen.

 The tunic is an extra lenght raglan shirt and the skirt is self drafted.

My parents are visiting my brother. So one of my nieces got this shirt. Also a raglan shirt  - it takes less than half an hour to sew, so this is my new favorite pattern! The pattern will come for sale at Titchy Threads!

My other niece got a similar shirt as the blue striped shirt - the Rowan Tee - shown in the previous post.

Love me some quick sewing!!!

The Rowan t-shirt pattern testing!!!

 I've been so, so lucky to pattern test the Rowan shirt for Laura from Titchy Threads. She released this new wonderful pattern yesterday. My girls and I love it!!!! The pattern has 144 different options - like, that's a lot!

 For this one, I used a fabric with two layers. Seen below.

Review of the pattern:

Why we like it:

It has a simple, basic shape (my girls like this)

It's a very simple sew, and fast

It has so many options

It is very easy to hack and make different - I see some hooded dresses in out future...

The directions are super easy

The fit is so nice

It's easy to combine sizes

The kangaroo pocket has high sides, so things won't fall out (also my daughter's comment) 

Very easy to make for both girls and boys

And there really is nothing I don't like...

If you sew for your kids, you need this pattern!

Some selfish sewing - the California Dress for ME!

 

So, this is the worst thing I do, pose for pictures... all in my winter white skin and all!!! But I've tested the California Dress, and I love it - so I think I need to show it to you!

Kymy from Everything Your Momma Made & More has made a grown up version of the California Dress I tested for my daughter.

 And even though I hate looking at pictures of myself, blah, I really love this dress. It's a very quick sew and it has so, so many versions to it: reversible (not mine as a high low version), two halter necks, two scoop necks, knits, woven, five different lengths - you can try and do the math... multitudes of variations! I can think of at least 20 ways to make and wear this dress. Oh, wait - you can also put the binding as a contrast as I did, or hidden on the inside. I give up - too many different versions for me to figure out how many.

Kymy has also included a maternity version and a nursing version!

 I chose to make the high-low version, because all the dresses I see in stores this season are high-lows. And I decided to make the dress a little different, and use different colors for the front and back.

 I love how playful and summery it looks. And it is super comfy!

The pattern will be released real soon! And if you need a quick sew for summer, this is it!

Thank you Kymy, for letting me test!

California Maxi Dress Pattern Testing for Everything your Mama Made and More

 I have once again been so lucky as to test a pattern, and man we are in love!

This is Kymy's (of Everything Your Mama Made & More) Reversible California Dress. And this beauty has so many options! I was chosen to make the maxi dress, but it also shows options for knee length, high-low and peplum top.

The pattern will be on sale Saturday the 26th as a pattern bundle sale at Pattern Revolution! you do NOT want to miss this!!!

 The only thing I regret about this pattern, is that I didn't get the lines and colors to match, but I just didn't have enough fabric to make the side seams match.

 The dress has two different bodices, and can be worn whichever way the child prefers. My daughter preferred the scoop neck in front, but I kind of like the halter neck.

 The pattern calls for knit fabric, and is is super comfortable. Just pull over your head and you're dressed for the day!

 The waist band is so easy to put where is most becoming for you or your child. My daughter wanted more of an empire waist, so I just moved the casing for the elastic up to where she wanted it.

 If I could only try to tell you how much she loves this dress.

April in Norway, not necessarily the warmest month of the year, but this is all she wants to wear! She loves the pattern and the vibrant colors of the fabric.

 This is some sort of lycra knit. It's very stretchy and a little heavy. Beautiful!!

What I love about this pattern:

• the look is so beautiful
• the size range going all the way up to size 18
• the easy instructions to follow
• all the different versions and alternations this pattern lets you do
• knit fabric
• it's a fairly quick project!

I'm really trying to come up with something I didn't like, but I can't think of anything. This is honestly a very good pattern! 

 And I've heard rumors there's a women's version coming as well! I know I want this dress!!!

Thank you Kymy for letting me test this pattern :))))

The ELM Raincoat Poncho

 Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!! I love this pattern!!! (I still haven't been able to put in the snaps, I need to bring this baby to my mother's house and let her have a go at it)

My daughter is also in love!!!

The pattern is of course one of Celina's (Petit a Petit) in the collaboration Willow & Co's Wanderlust Collection!!!

The release date is still April 22nd! I know it's hard to wait for this collection!

 I love making clothes that just look so professional, clothes where people will come up to me and ask where I bought it! And I know that will happen with this pattern. It is VERY professional.

 the poncho makes a full circle, but is longer in the back. It has a choice of welt and patch pockets and several hood options. The hood even has ear options.

 The size is all the way up to size 10/11 years, and it is rather roomy.

 I made mine in a laminated fabric (that's supposed to be a tablecloth...) and I didn't include a lining. In Norway this will be a summer raincoat, and I didn't think a lining was necessary.

 The hood and pockets are lined with a solid orange/peach cotton fabric.

 I folded all my seam allowances over to one side and top stitched them and then I sealed them with a rain coat sealer. I think/hope it will be totally water proof.

The only thing I changed up from the pattern, was making this thing in the neck to hang the poncho from. It's a large piece of clothing...

It's not a very quick sew, because there are so many long seams to sew, but it is worth all the time making it, it looks so professional and it is just so beautiful. If your child is anything like mine, they will wish for rain on a sunny day, just to be able to wear it!

Here are some of the other wonderful testers:

Sweet wonderful Ines - her daughter chose the fabric!

Kimmie - check out her daughter

Shino - all flowers and beautiful

Just a last reminder: WILLOW & CO, APRIL 22ND