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A Vision To Remember Stocking Blog tour!

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If you follow this blog at all, you probably noticed I share a monthly post from A Vision to Remember. I had never sewn a rag quilt before, and once I made one of her patterns, I was hooked! I randomly asked her one day about doing a rag quilt type stocking…she already had a pattern! and she did a step by step blog sew a long!

So of course, I rounded up some sewing friends and now we have a little blog tour for you!

Dec 14: Connected by a thread

Dec 15: crazy crafty haute mama

Dec16: adventures with bubba and bug

Dec 17: merri poppins

Dec 18: all things katy

This is really a quick sew! If you have a rotary cutter and mat, this is a nap time sew (with time to spare, I bet!)

I haven’t washed mine yet, mainly becasue I like to wait until I have a couple towels and at least 2 rag items to wash. I can’t wait to see how fluffy it gets!

I ended up using some mustache flannel that my teen picked out, and she has already claimed this  one! I think I will make one for the toddler with some grinch flannel I have.

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 This would be so cute fussy cut with a fun print!  I just used my rotary cutter and cut strips, had to get it cut before the toddler woke up!

I can’t wait for you to see what the other ladies have sewn up! Be sure to visit them all and let them now what a fabulous job they did!

Happy Sewing!

~~Larissa

 

 

 

 

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Holiday Debut Blog Tour

 

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I am so excited to share this collection with you! Today, I have 3 new designers- Saskia Smith of The Wolf and the Tree, Gabriela Longfish of Chalk and Notch, and Holli Coats of Hello Holli.

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Lets jump right in! My sewing days for girls items are limited, and this collection offered me it’s own challenges, as I worked to accommodate her changing shape! When I was approached, I had an idea in my head with the vibrant red and a sophisticated holiday print. When I asked Jody about it, she saw this Matryshoka fabric, she fell in love! It was back to the drawing board!

Let’s start with the tights! These are Abby’s Footed tights from Wolf and Tree. Saskia has created a wonderful pattern! The directions were easy to follow. The Pattern comes in sizes: 0 – 14! It includes layers,  regular and extra wide yoga waistband, elastic waistband, easy sew option, side accents, french seams option, cloth diaper fit, and a quick instructions sheet. She also includes a glossary, which is helpful if you are still learning knits!

These fit wonderfully, and the option to use a thicker 4 knit (I used a Riley Blake Knit) for tights makes  it all the more appealing for the cooler months here in California!

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Next, Lets check out the Blue Ridge Dress from Hello Holli! Holli’s debut pattern is adorable!

The Blue Ridge Dress is a sleeveless dress with a fitted curved bodice, single button back closure, full gathered skirt, two length options, french seams, and uses bias binding and trim. Her unique bodice construction results in a beautifully finished garment inside and out, with no unfinished seams!

The pattern includes sizes 12m-14

I loved the design, but found that with my developing daughter it was not as flattering as I’d hoped; however, I’m excited to experiment with some mods to make it work for her but I definitely had to modify this one for Jody. I modified how I sewed the bodice to avoid using bias for binding it. This was a simple modification:

1. Sew the bodice together at the shoulders and repeated for the lining.

2. Place bodice and lining right sides together and pin along the armscye and neck.

3. Sew along armscye and neck. trim the seam allowance and/or notch along the curves.

4. Place side seams right sides together and sew

5. Turn bodice right side out, pulling bodice through one of the shoulders. Press well and topstitch.

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I gathered the skirt and attached, then tried it on for fit…and we hit a snag…with the shape of her body, the long dress looked very ill fitted and frumpy!  after a few moments of initial panic and brainstorming, I pinned the skirt up to look like a bubble and success! so I measured how far up for an acceptable length and off to the ironing board to measure and pin! I ended up pulling it up 10″ rather than a 2″ hem that the pattern calls for, which gave us the  bubble look and a cute retro length that she loves!

I loved the design, but found that with my developing daughter it was not as flattering as I’d hoped; however, I’m excited to experiment with some mods to make it work for her

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Finally, we have the Fishtail Kimono by Chalk & Notch. Gabriela’s design for this is so fun! The Fishtail Kimono is loose-fitting with a gathered back yoke and dropped hem detail. Sizes included are 18-24 months to 12. I of course had to play with it, and decided to put a pleat in the back rather than gathering, and I love the end result! I also used a rolled hem rather than a traditional hem just for some visual detail on the red. I played with lace, and it just wasn’t what I was looking for!

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We tried it on with the dress, and it didn’t flow as well as we had hoped with the shorter length, but she loves it for over a tee and her jeans! She has requested a couple more of these, and I am excited to play with the pattern some more- a longer length, narrow sleeves, a shorter sleeve with a cuff…I will be sure to share these when they are finally sewn!

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Whimsical Fabric and SIGCreations

Today, I have a fun little outfit, great fabric deal, and a coupon code! Be sure to read all the way down!

If you follow the blog, you will remember these cute skirts from a couple weeks ago. Well, I am back with another fun bundle from Whimsical Fabrics!

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I sewed up a Delaney and the Birdie Ruffle Pants from SIGnature Creations. I used this weeks Wacky Wednesday bundle from Whimsical Fabric. They have these deals a couple times a month. They are usually 3-4 fabrics from a cute line, at a steep discount for 24 hours or until it sells out! These are available in her group page.

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I have had the Delaney pattern forever! I fell in love with it, but my super modest kiddo refused to wear it with the open back, of course, now at 13, she is saying “I could put a cami under it!”, which is a valid point, it is super cute layered as well!

When I saw these fabrics, I fell in love with this outfit immediately!

Just look at that cute bow in the back! If you like options, she also has an add on pack with options to close the back, add a corset, and a few other choices.

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These fabrics are just such a cute set! I love the little mice and birds on the main navy fabric!

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For the birdie pants, I altered the construction and how I did the ruffles and the waistband. Rather than sewing the bottom ruffle on, then sewing the second ruffle on top, I opted to layer them together and sew them on at the same time. it is a little trickier to ruffle the 2 fabrics at the same time, but I just went slow and it worked out in the end.

For the waistband, I used my favorite tutorial by Jocole for a truly no roll waistband. This is the only way I will sew an elastic waistband these days!

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The fabrics are just perfect together! I used a 1 yard bundle for this outfit (a size 3T), and I have 24″ of the pink, and 18″ of the other 3 fabrics left over.

These will be available in the Whimsical Fabric group today! Here are the details for the Wacky Wednesday deal:

WACKY WEDNESDAY BUNDLE DEAL – Riley Blake Quilting Cotton

You will receive 4 (FOUR) fabrics in your bundle; the three fabric pictured together along with a 4th fabric of your choice from the numbered images.
If you would like multiple bundles the fabric is still on the bolt and will be cut in continuous yardage.

 

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Patterns are available from SIGnature Creations and use the code FABRIC30 for a 30% discount on her Etsy page!

Look how cute this bow is!

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Happy Sewing!

Larissa