Denver in Blue

I love pattern testing!  It forces me to sew on a timeline and use up fabric from my stash, you never really know how it's gonna turn out and often get a chance to use new techniques.  It also forces me to blog, ha!  As a busy summer meant I... never blogged at all.

It's all win-win really.  So I naturally jumped at a chance to test for the Denver Dress, part of the Unbiased Collection out from Pattern Anthology now!  (It's $29.95 for a limited time only too and comes with some nice bonuses!)

I love a knit dress (secret pajama's ya'll!) and this one is definitely comfy!  I'm quickly becoming a fan of princess seams too as they are easily adjusted for my teeny bust.  And it comes with instructions for large and small bust adjustments!

I had this fabulous slightly heavier weight cotton/lycra from Verhees that I picked up from one of my favorite Canadian shops Duncan and Kate and it was perfect!  I think the dress could work in any knit though!

I'm planning a number of tunics for the winter with the pattern now!

Don't forget to check out the collection before the sale ends!

8 Days a Week - Last Chance Knit Pants..... And a Zippy Top

Quick, only 12 hours left to get in on the great deal that is the 8 Days a Week collection from Pattern Anthology!  I'm finally sharing the last pattern I test for this collection, the knit pants!

This pants pattern is pretty much every pair of knit pants you'd ever need to make in one pattern!  I made up a pair of leggins, but the the lounge pants are on my list!

I live in leggings on weekends, and had not yet gotten around to making my own.  And I'm glad a did!  They are a super quick sew!  I may never buy leggings again! 

I used some luxuriously soft bamboo knit from Fabrications and it is kinda the softest stuff ever, perfectly stretchy for these!

Oh and the top?  While it's not part of the collection, it is a pattern by one of Pattern Anthology's designer See Kate Sew!

It's the super versatile Zippy Top!  I wanted a simple top pattern I could use with some of my errr crazier quilting cotton fabric peices and this pattern fitted the bill perfectly!

It says to use lightly wieghts, but the heavier quilting cotton just makes it a bit boxier which I still love!  However.... I really should remember to iron it...

I looove this fabric by the way, turquoise horses?  Yes please!  Thanks Cotton + Steel!

Oh and don't forget to check out the Pattern Anthology before the bundle is gone!

8 Days a Week - McCartney Jacket

I made an adult jacket!  This was one item of clothing I hadn't yet tackled, so when I saw it was part of the 8 Days a Week Collection,  I was super excited to test it!

After much debate I thought I'd make it pretty casual and dug out some stretch denim I had in my stash.  And for the lining I thought I'd channel my love of old buildings and used up my piece of blueprint from Caroyln Friedlander's Architextures collection (yes I realize I have no good picture of the inside, ha!), with a little splash of some Japanese import fabric for the accent.

It's constructed basically the same as the little Imagine Jacket I made M back in July.  It's way more straight forward than you'd think with a jacket! And I think I got the hang of those welt pockets now!

It's super comfy with the rib knit and easy to wear!  Now go check out the details on the patterns over on Pattern Anthology!

8 Days a Week - Neptune Tee

So excited to start sharing my tester versions of the newest Pattern Anthology collection 8 Days a Week!  This collection is basically a wardrobe in one!  A great combination of basics and special pieces.

I thought I'd start of my posts with the Neptune T-shirt!

I usually shy away from sewing basics, like a t-shirt, as I have little time to sew and tend to want to only sew things that I can't easily buy.  BUT this shirt has some awesome details that you can mix up to make a special tee you definitely can't buy!

Ideally this shirt needs a more stable knit, so I sewed mine up in some french terry.  It made for a cozy shirt! I think though, especially if you opt to put other fabric in the triangles to stabilize the bindings you could use any knit! I have my next fabric already picked out!

I hover between a XS and an XXS, and in this case made the XXS.  In hindsight, it's not my best size, given I have broad shoulders for my bust size, so I'm sizing up next time.  Regardless this version is still totally wearable regardless (just pretend you don't see those lines under my arms, ha)!  One of the reasons I love a knit, it stretches!

One thing I particularly like about this pattern is the low/high hem option, I love the look, and the length is just perfect.

So don't forget to go check out the 8 Days a Week collection.  The special bundle deal is only available for a limited time!

Tale of the Imagine Jacket and a Silly Preschooler

I'm so excited to share the photos of my version of the fourth and last pattern in the Make (Believe) Pattern Anthology bundle!  The Imagine Jacket is perfect for my a certain little boy with a very active imagination.

He's also quite creative.  And apparently he watched Zoolander behind our backs and now pulls out the most adorable poses ever when I ask him to stand STILL.

He totally works it though, and I love it.  NOW, back to the jacket.

I've not sewed many jackets.  Not normally something I'd see myself taking the time to do.  This pattern has changed my mind though!  so many great details (welt pockets!, rib cuffs!)  but still pretty simple construction.  This pattern will be my go too next time a need a jacket for my boys!

In particular this will be M's jacket for this fall.  I just hope he's ok with the zipper!  I put in a chunkier one for that exactly reason.

I finally cut into and use most of this awesome camera fabric I picked up at Fabrications back probably over a year ago for the lining, and just used some blue twill for the rest.

I think he likes it!

Now go check out the pattern and the Make (Believe) collection!  The bundle is only available until the 28th!

Did you all also know it's Kids Clothes Week??  Check out details here!  Nothing like a good excuse to sew at least once a day and gets lots of inspiration from other sewists! 

Explorer Hoodie Time!

Can you believe there is just over a week left to get your hands on the Make (Believe) Pattern bundle over at Pattern Anthology

So it's time to share my tester version of the Explorer Hoodie! 

I love sewing knits!  These days there are more and more cute prints you can get your hands on (I used some Lillestoff here) and knits are soo easy to wear and cozy!  They are such quick sews too, no need to finish seams!  I even used my regular machine, but with a good walking foot and a fake overlock or zig zag stitch it's works great!

And also?  I love hoods!  And he looks cute in hoods!

I love the angled zipper option in particular with this pattern!  Next time I plan to add the button tab as well.  My zipper is a bit wavy as I had mean to interface it, but otherwise I love it!  And he has room to grow in it too.  It'll be perfect for the cooler evenings we know are a month or two away.

So, now get ourself over here and get the pattern!  (And please excuse the drool)

And don't forget to check out my posts for the other patterns in the collection, the Bookworm Button Up and the Adventure Tee!

And check back tomorrow for my version of the last but definitely NOT least pattern, the Imagine Jacket!

Adventure in a Tee shirt

Yesterday, I shared my Bookworm button up, the first of four tester projects from the new Pattern Anthology Make (Believe) collection!

Next up is the Adventure Tee!

I love sewing with knits for my boys, so was super excited to try out some of the many, many awesome options in this pattern!  I opted to use many of them in this shirt.  The placket, tabs and zipper pocket in particular.  They are such an awesome way to fancy up a comfy tee!

The pattern calls for these to be made in knit like the rest, but I wanted to use orange, and only had woven fabric and it worked perfectly!

This was also a great opportunity to cut into some of my treasured Lillistoff Euro knit from Simplifi Fabric.  This boy loves dinosaurs, and I love putting bright colours and patterns on my boys, so it worked out perfect (and he likes it!)!

This kid is turning into a real poser.  Whenever he sees a camera come out the posing starts.  In these photos he tells me he's being a rock star.  So adorable.

Check back tomorrow for my next project!  and in the meantime, go check out the pattern collection and pick up your own!

Make Believe in The Bookworm Button up!

So excited to finally share with you all what I've been up to the last few weeks!  I got a chance to test the patterns for the new Pattern Anthology Collection Make (Believe)! 

I'll be sharing with you all the 4 projects in the next week or so.  Check out my Instagram feed or my Facebook page for some other sneak peaks!  In the meantime go snag your copy of the collection and tell me what you're going to make!

I absolutely adore button down shirts on little boys, so was super excited to see that the Bookworm Button up was in the collection and to finally actually make one for my boys!  I've made an adult sized one, but never a teeny one before.

And I have to say, it was waaaay easier then I remember the Mr's shirt being.  The instructions were clear and well laid out, which helped a ton!  I made view A, but if I had girls, I'd be all over the bow sleeves in views C and D!

I particularly love the pleated pockets.

It was also the perfect chance to use up this adorable Japanese fabric I had just picked up from Fabrications! Who doesn't like whales eh?

And well, adorable right?

So if you've been scared to try making a shirt like this before, don't be!  Just do it!  I plan to make up one for my older son next!

So now don't forget to check out the collection over at Pattern Anthology! There are three awesome ways to get the patterns.  All four together for $19.95.  Add in the super neat activity book for $24.95, OR best of them all, add in 4 pants patterns for $34.95.