EAM – Go Exploring Cardigan

Hi Friends! I have been lazy about blogging lately. I sewed this one up months ago actually. Ugg I have been a bum, but trying to motivate myself. I have several really great things to share actually. So with this first picture, you will see that I am not the one wearing my lovely new cardigan…Momma Mia is. Huummm….Keep Reading.

I received this amazing stretch velvet from Stitchin’ Pretties for my monthly promo fabric and then used some pretty SP scraps I had in my bin for the accents. Floral and Stripes will always be amazing together, you will never convince me otherwise. You can find this lovely fabric listed as Jocelyn here. I thought it would make a beautiful cardigan and I wasn’t wrong. Let’s start with talking about velvet a bit.

When working with any sort of velvet you have to keep in mind it has a nap. This just means that the fabric lays one way and and you want it to all match. Usually if you brush your hand down the garment it will be smooth, if you pull your hand up along the fabric it will be rougher. Another thing with velvet, it you won’t iron it like normal cotton fabric. Again this is because of the nap. If you lay it on your ironing board and press the heck out of it, you will crush your pretty nap. If you have to iron it, you can use a velvet board or have two besties help you hold your fabric up in the iron and iron the back side. Note to readers, I didn’t iron this at all. 🙂 Also check your stretch percentage when making a a garment. This is should be a given, but sometimes I don’t do it. This is why Momma Mia now has a pretty new cardigan and I don’t. I sewed the 5x to give myself some extra wiggle room, but it was still too tight. Momma Mia is 3 sizes smaller and it fits her well. She is so happy with it.

I decided pretty quickly that I wanted to use this lush fabric for a cardigan. After looking at several, I decided to try out the Go Exploring Cardigan from Ellie and Mac. I had not made this one yet, but really liked the look of it. All of the models on the website looked super stylish. So I quickly printed and assembled my pattern. I really like that EAM patterns are pretty straight forward and I have made enough of them to have the routine down.

My pockets flapped open a bit more than I liked, so I dug into my button stash and produced these lovelies. Momma Mia sewed them on herself! Another change I would have made was actually adjusting for height. I normally don’t height adjust on anything that is shirt or cardigan because my side waist measurement is normal even though I am short. This cardigan is on the longer length so was too long for my taste. Note to self for the next time.

The Go Exploring Cardigan is now on sale for $4. Here is my afflink. Using my link doesn’t change anything for you, but I receive a small commission from the designer as a thank you.

Beautiful Stretch Velvet fabric is here.

Game Day Jersey – A Love Notions Sew

Recently, I was contacted by Tami from Love Notions. She was letting me know that they were looking to expand their brand sizing and asked if I was interested. Yes! I am all about companies who are trying to expand sizes and am typically willing to help! I also know that some of my FB friends sew tons of LN stuff and the end products look great! Now it is my turn!

First off the new size range is below. I stole the picture for you. 🙂

Did you notice there is a line there that says there is a full bust bodice piece included!! Yes!! One less adjustment I have to make myself! I added 1.5 inches to the bicep of this shirt.

If you are in the United States then you know it is officially Football season. The NFL kicked off on Thursday night, High school and college season is also going. This is the perfect time to sew up The Game Time Jersey from Love Notions! You could use this pattern to stitch up your teams colors and show your support while being the best dressed at the ball field. Take it up a notch and use vinyl to add names to your jersey. I don’t watch a ton of sports, but I do love a comfy shirt especially when it lends itself so well to color blocking.

Jersey Details:

*Very cool V neck style neckline. I love that it is not your typical V neck and it has this neat little overlap. In my opinion, it was way easier to sew that a regular one!*

• Scooped neck option and V neck options.
• Split bottom hem line. The back is slightly longer than the front
• Jersey Top and Dress lengths included.
• 2 sleeve lengths Short and 3/4 length. I am wearing the short one!
• Optional striped bands for sleeve details. I didn’t use them since I used a striped print
• sizes XS to 5X
• Included Full Bust Adjustment

I auditioned several fabrics for this top before finally settling on floral and stripes. I know this is a big shocker. I love this combo, I use it a lot. I used a scrap of the stripes, which is a DBP, that I used for sleeves on another shirt last year! This time I flipped it so the stripes ran vertical and got a new look.  Those stripes are from Sly Fox Fabrics and I believe they were called Mauve. My floral print has also been deep in my stash for awhile. I was saving it for something I loved. It was perfect for this jersey! I picked it up from Sew Blessed Fabrics.

Overall, I LOVE this style! It is something different than anything in my closet right now! I would feel comfortable wearing it to work or just out and about. It is clearly “Jersey” styled, but is perfect when paired with florals!

You can pick up The Game Day Jersey here while it is on sale for $2.00 off!

The pose you get when it starts raining in the middle of your photo shoot!

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Lucky Girl

Are you a LUCKY GIRL? Are you wearing the Lucky Girl Top? Lindsey and the tester team worked hard to get this great top ready for you. This is the first test I have been able to do for Ellie and Mac in a few months. I feel like I am back in my game!

So let’s talk about my shirt and  its options first! I made the tunic length because that is what I am most comfortable wearing. I also have made the split banded sleeve. There is an option to do a tie sleeve if you prefer. The step by step directions made it easy to make these sleeves. I used my serger to finish the edge of my sleeve opening and then my sewing machine to top stitch it. I often find the serged edge makes it easier for me to fold over and hem anything.  I graded from a 4x armscye to the 5x at the bicep then back to the 4x at the elbow. I didn’t want to work out a bicep adjustment for this type of sleeve honestly. I don’t even know where Id begin, unless I put the two pieces together, then bicep adjusted, then split again. That would probably work. Not sure, 4x to 5x worked too.

In addition to the sleeve options, you can choose from 3 length options plus you can do bands on the hem lines. So potentially you can make 6 different lengths! The top comes in PDF download form in sizes XXS to 5X.

I got this print fabric from KSews. I believe it is a rayon poly blend jersey. We think. 🙂 It has a nice two way stretch, but I think the pattern called for 4 way. I love the black and white stripes and the little red cherries that pop out everywhere.

If you love this pattern also, you can pick it up here!

Lucky Girl is on sale for $3.85 AND  When you are adding this pattern to your cart, be sure to add the Feel Frisky Panties. They are free with any purchase through tomorrow, Jan. 31. So 2 patterns for under 4 bucks!

Have you signed up to win free patterns from DIBY and Red Apple Sewing yet? The raffle link is HERE.

Also don’t forget you can save on one pattern purchase from DIBY using this code. 🙂

 

• You can follow my blog by clicking the Follow button on the right side of my blog.
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This blog post contains Affiliate Links. This means that when you make a purchase from one of my blog links, I receive a small commission. This doesn’t change the price for you, but is a little Thank You to me! It also helps me to buy more fabric to show you new and upcoming patterns. So thank you!!

HOC #Breakallthedamrules Week 2

First off, Congrats to Laurie Roberts! She was the winner of the $20 credit to Stitchin’ Pretties and has already contacted me. Thank you again, Stitchin’ Pretties for donating our first prize!

WEEK TWO

$25 Store Credit to Ellie and Mac! 

You will find the raffle at the bottom of this post, but first, enjoy my third post from the #breakallthedamrules series! Are you joining in? What have you made??

How fun is this combo? This is one of those outfits where my mom said, “It looks ok, for you.” 🙂 So first off, this shirt! This gorgeous peplum is my absolute fabric pattern when I make it in Liverpool! I love the structured look of it. This Liverpool print is from Stitchin’ Pretties! There big sale is still going on for about one more week. I have made several other Gloria Tops and you can see them here.

This is Gloria from 5oo4. You can pick up the pattern here! 

This is loaded with options!

• Regular Bodice and 1″ FBA Bodice pieces.
• Peplum, Short or Long Skater Skirt Lengths
• Peplum, Short or Long Hi Lo Skirt Lengths (with instructions on how to combine for a more dramatic Hi Lo effect)
• Traditional Sleeve with 5 Lengths: Sleeveless, Short, Elbow, 3/4 and Long
• Split Sleeve with 4 Lengths: Short, Elbow, 3/4 and Long
• 2 Neckline Options: High or Low Scoop
• Full Bust Adjustment Tutorial section
• Instructions on making the Gloria skirts without the bodice or adding a Circle Skirt to the Gloria bodice

This amazing cardigan is the Ladies Circle Cardi from Rebecca Page. Here is the link. First off, don’t let the looks of this pattern laid out on paper freak you out when you see it. It looks a little weird, but it works out. Because I sew in the largest size offered, I wasn’t able to cut my pattern on the fold. If you look super close, you can see I have a seam down the back. I worked hard to match it up! Anyhow, I love this. I actually wore it twice in the last couple days. This fabric is a Hacci from Fabric Mart. I picked it up months ago at a super discount price! I have made the short length, hemmed, and 3/4 sleeves. Here are all the pattern options:

• 2 length options (short or long),
• 3 hem options (plain, band or ruffle)
• 3 sleeve options (sleeveless, ¾ and full length).

So let’s talk about why the prints work:

They are both super fun prints. Even though the both have crazy zig-zag stripes they are just different enough to stand apart. The common color between them, Black, helps pull them together. Imagine if the blue and black remained the same color, but the cardigan changes to white and green. This would give it a totally different look and throws off the color balance. Three’s company, Four’s a crowd. 🙂

So give it a try folks!

Don’t forget to to share your makes on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #Breakallthedamnrules

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A huge thank you for those who are following my blog, Instagram, and my Facebook! If you haven’t done so yet, here are some links!

• You can follow my blog by clicking the Follow button on the right side of my blog.
• You can follow me on Instagram by clicking here.
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An even bigger thank you to those who are  supporting me by buying patterns using my affiliate links! There is a good deal of expense in fabric, paper, ink and tape for tests and time in blogging. I get so excited each time I get an email saying someone got the pattern!

This blog post contains Affiliate Links. This means that when you make a purchase from one of my  affiliate links, I receive a small commission. That helps me to buy more fabric to show you new and upcoming patterns. 🙂 So thank you!!

 

 

HOC + SP + 5oo4= Happy Momma Mia

This is the second post for the House of Curves #Breakallthedamnrules series! Are you partaking? Have you joined in the fun at the Facebook group? I started a post for everyone to share their makes!! Join us!

Today Momma Mia is up! I will admit to you guys, she doesn’t mix prints, she doesn’t do bold, and she will admit that I dress a little ‘loud.’ She will often remark, “That will look fine for you.” I don’t know if that is a good thing. I just laugh. 🙂 On the flip side, she likes when I make her clothes. I told her if she wants clothing this month, she is mixing it up. Obviously, she agreed.

AND….She is smiling!!!

So this is the Easy Tee from 5outof4. I have made 3 of them for myself! You can see them here. I also used Stitchin’ Pretties fabric for all of those tops! So this top is just slightly different than the orginal pattern. I would like to say that the striped color blocking was well planned out, but I messed up. I cut the pattern on the wrong lines, the sleeveless version lines. They are clearly marked, but I was sleep cutting, I guess. So ooops Momma Mia, you are getting some stripes. She was actually ok with it. I had already talked her into stripes in her hood anyhow.

So here she is wearing the hooded version with 3/4 sleeves. If you have never sewn a 5oo4 pattern you may not know they have loads of options. Probably more options per pattern than anyone I Have sewn up. Here is the list for this one.

Options include:

• Shirt, Tunic, Short dress, and Knee Length Dress options
• Hemmed or Band options for the shirt and tunic
• Curved hem option that is in between the shirt and tunic lengths
• Pockets for the dress options
• Maternity pattern piece
• Optional waist tie and breast pocket
• Crew neck, scoop neck, or v-neck
• Hoods for both the crew and the scoop neck versions
• Cuffs for all sleeve lengths (sleeveless, short, 3/4, long, and extra long), including thumbhole cuffs if you want them!

So why does it work? Again, scale and color here. The floral print is mid sized and has hints of blue gray in it. Imagine if I had used an orange or yellow stripe… no good! Also compare the tone of colors. Darker plum with darker gray- here that works. Grays tend to play well with a lot of colors so they are easy to use.

What if I wanted to pair a dark plum with green. I could totally use a darker green or even a mid tone, but neon be a little trickier. Look at the two shades of green here. Now swap one for poison green… eeep! Color paint palettes are awesome for matching colors!

Do you ever do this? Google color schemes? I do it when I want to paint at home, but also when I make clothing!

Next time you go to Lowe’s pick up a few paint swatches! 🙂 I dare you to use them!

 

Ok pattern and fabric time.

Stitchin’ Pretties fabric. This is Paige a Lovely Double Brushed Poly. It is on sale for only $3.49 a yard right now!! This gray and white stripe was found deep in my stash. I think it is from a destash, but its been lingering a long while!

The pattern is 5oo4 Easy Tee and it is a great closet filler! Do you remember all of the options I listed? Here is the link to it. 

Also Stitchin’ Pretties has sponsored a $20 shop credit for my HOC #Breakallthedamnrules event! Go to this post and sign up!!!!

• You can follow my blog by clicking the Follow button on the right side of my blog.
• You can follow me on Instagram by clicking here.
• You can follow me on Facebook by clicking here.

This blog post contains Affiliate Links. This means that when you make a purchase from one of my  affiliate links, I receive a small commission. That helps me to buy more fabric to show you new and upcoming patterns. So thank you!!