The Grace Top and Dress by Made for Mermaids

Let me tell you about the Grace! If you haven't tried this pattern, you need to!!! Sized from 1/2 to girls 14, it fits nearly every girl in your sewing field of vision (unless you're like me and your friend just had a newborn... then you'll have to wait just a little bit.).

The best part about this dress is those sleeves. Sigh. They're just so... so... elegant... wistful... dreamy... I love them! Now this comes in both dress and top lengths, but I made the top length. I also used this beautiful Glow Voile by Amy Butler for Freespirit Fabrics that I got from Bee Quilted Beauties.

 This sash can be tied in the front or back depending on how your little one likes to wear it. Now let's talk about those sleeves. They truly are what make this pattern gorgeous. They do take time! I spent a good chunk of time folding and pressing and folding and pressing to get that beautiful hem. 

This dress can be truly wonderful with all those finishing touches included in the Grace pattern. Choose understitching instead of topstitching to secure those seams but keep a clean neckline. You can even fully enclose the bodice with a handstitched seam if you're up to it! I decided I was up to it! Done in voile, this top is so soft and comfy, even on the inside, that she wears it all the time! 

Now run, don't walk, over to Made for Mermaids and check out the Grace along with all those other wonderful summer patterns! Jenna happens to be wearing a pair of Lucy Ruffle Shorts in these photos! 

Swizzle Sticks Sleeve Add-on

Candy Castle Patterns has done it again! First, let's look at the Princess Dress, which is one of my favorites.

Look at that gorgeous, slim-fitted sleeve. While it is beautiful, it doesn't really fit every body type. Candy Castle Patterns just released a new version of sleeves, yes, multiple sleeves! This new Swizzle Sticks Sleeves pattern will work on both the Candy Castle Princess and the Peppermint Swirl dresses.

I was lucky enough to test one of the options for the new sleeve pattern. I added the short sleeve option without elastic to the Princess dress without the top skirt. This is my daughter's Easter dress!

The sleeve options include a long sleeve with or without a ruffle and with or without shirring (and faux shirring) and then short sleeves with or without elastic. You can mix and match to your heart's content.

I know what you're thinking, $4 for a sleeve add-on? The dress patterns are priced very reasonable at $8 and each of those already has quite a few variations included. The new sleeve pattern adds MANY more options to that! It has it's own drafted, nested pattern pieces. The instructions for each option are so detailed that it would add far too many pages to each pattern to update them both. Candy Castle Patterns put many hours into drafting, designing, photographing, and revising these sleeve options that it's only natural that she would want a small compensation for it. I mean, when we sew an item to sale, we do want to get paid for our time and supplies both, right? Pattern designers only ask the same. So head on over and get your Swizzle Sticks sleeve option!

Frozen Part Two {The Elsa Dress}

My little girl is ALL over the newest Disney princess movie, Frozen. I tested the Anna dress pattern back in December. You can read about it here. Last week, I was honored with the chance to test Elsa in the Everyday Princess line. My little girl was ecstatic! {HAPPY DANCE!}

This pattern is sized for 2-8 years. You can make it with MANY fabrics. I chose cotton wovens for the bodice and skirt then added a glittery tulle overlay for that very Elsa look. You can also use chiffon, satin, silk, sheers and even knit to make this dress!

The dress does have a zipper in the back, but don't let that scare you! She's got a great tip for zippers and it's really very simple to sew. I'd rate this dress as an advanced beginner. You use single fold bias tape for the sleeve casings and he neckline but it's a very simple method.

I was afraid of using a sheer for top bodice. I've sewn with chiffon before and that's a fabric that's I've learned to leave alone. Chiffon and my machines do not get along. However, I did branch out of my little comfort zone and use TULLE for the first time. Yep... my first time. Nope, I've never made a tutu! GASP!

The skirt portion is a circle skirt. If you can get your little girl to twirl (mine would not in the cold temps when we took pics on Sunday), this is a fun dress for it! The overlay comes just short of the bottom of the dress, but you could also cut your dress and your overlay longer if you prefer. You could leave off the overlay if you're afraid it would get in the way!

The dress does have quite a few steps to it but the love and excitement in my little girl's face when she saw the dress makes all those little steps worth it! Cut to finish, I'd say this dress took me no more than three hours. It's currently $7 over at Made for Mermaids on Etsy. Be sure to pick up this pattern so your little princess can add the wonderful Elsa dress to her dress-up trunk! And if you haven't already done so, add Anna to your cart! And if you make doll size dresses... add the dolly version for $2! If you prefer to order one custom made, check out my listing.

Calling all Knights! {Testing for Charming Doodle}

I was so lucky to see Elisa Clark's post announcing a Call for Testers last week. I saw the preview and was in awe! I knew immediately that my son would FLIP and love me to the moon and back if I made him that hoodie! (Okay, he loves me to the moon and back anyway... but I love making him happy!) Here was the pic from the Call for Testers on Charming Doodle's blog. (Keep reading... there's a coupon code buried in here...)

Imagine my surprise when I got the e-mail saying I was selected!!! I was THRILLED! Yay! My son wanted orange for his hoodie... then we settled on maybe a golden orange. I went to the store and found neon colors or team in stock... no orange or gold. So I grabbed the bright blue and went with it. I knew I had a stash of ribbed knit at home, so I decided to go with blue and grey. 

 

The construction took me several hours, but the end result is SO worth it! My son was so happy! He immediately declared it his favorite jacket and asked if he could wear it to school! 

The Knight Hoodie features two large front pockets to keep those hands warm! It's sized from 2T to 10 year but I heard a rumor that the designer is planning on sizing it up to adults!!! The zipper goes all the way and is very easy to attach! Do not let the zipper scare you away! 

The 'armor plating' is added throughout the construction. The pattern includes very good pics for the visual seamstress (like me!) and makes putting this jacket together very easy. 

The elbow and helmet armor plating really MAKE this look. It's unique and full of fun! Oh, and take a look at how it looks with the hood DOWN! Just unzip and the hood lays perfectly out of the way! I LOVE it! Be sure to go subscribe to her blog. She's got some great patterns planned for spring 2014! 

So if you're little Knight loves to dress the part, you will want to pick this pattern up from Charming Doodle! Use code DECEMBERKNIGHT at her store HERE  between now and Christmas to save $3 off the pattern! YAY!!! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and all those other greetings and salutations! 

It's ANNA! {New Pattern Release}

Once again, Megan of Made for Mermaids has out done herself! This time, she's tackled Disney's new movie, Frozen. The first of her Frozen patterns is Anna. I was LUCKY to get chosen to test this weekend! (Okay, I was little more than lucky, I was super excited and wanted to jump up and down when she said I was in! YAHOO!!!!!) A little birdy tells me Elsa is next on the list... Shh!!! Don't tell anyone!

One problem... I don't have an embroidery machine. IF you do, she gives you links to an awesome bodice design and the floral design for the skirt. She also provides some amazing templates if you want to paint your bodice. I suck at painting fabric. Really, it's bad. We're not even going to go there... I left my bodice blank. I still love it!

The dress has a zipper closure in the back. The bodice can be done in a variety of fabrics. I did mine in corduroy for the cooler weather we have right now. I trimmed my bodice in an iridescent ric rac for contrast, but many of the more true Anna dresses had gold trim.

The bodice is fully lined and directions for the zipper are very clear! If you've never done a zipper on a dress (writer raises her hand), don't let that stop you! I've done zippers on bags time and time again... but this was my first on a garment! (My second came the next day! But that's a post for later this week...)

The blouse underneath is a separate piece! This is great because you can use it for other outfits or change out multiple colors! The long sleeves are perfect for that winter theme! I love the elastic for easier dressing with little wriggly princesses.

I also made cotton velour leggings to keep her warm during this photo shoot... then you can barely see them in the pics! But it helped to keep her warm! I love the length of the dress! It's perfect for the Anna look!

So head on over to Made for Mermaids (on Facebook, Etsy, and Craftsy!) and grab your pattern! There's still time to get one of these sewn up and under the tree for your little Frozen fan! Hurry! Get $2 off if you buy before Monday! If you buy on Craftsy, use code ANNAFROZEN. If you buy from Etsy, the price is already adjusted! HURRY!

The Candy Waltz Pattern Collection

Once again, Candy Castle Patterns got me all excited with her new patterns. Yes, that's right, patterns with an S!!!! This newest release is a 3 pack! It's ballet themed set with the names of the patterns all inspired by The Nutcracker play. The collection is The Candy Waltz Collection.

You're going to love these! I used chiffon (my first experience with this stuff) for my skirt. I should have practiced more and read up on it more. I ruined the first cut of fabric and had to re-cut... It's a good thing I buy more than I need! But you can make this skirt with voile, satin, silk, and even knit! I love that there is 2 styles of the waistband, using a separate knit or the doubled-over skirt fabric. This skirt is called the Sugar Plum Fairy Skirt and comes in sizes 3 months through 16yr PLUS Ladies (X)XS and SM/M!!!

The Candy Wrapper Vest is probably my favorite of the collection! This is a cropped sweater that wraps around the front and can tie in the back or around again and in the front. There are 3 options for the ties and you can use MANY types of fabric, including knit, stretch suede, faux fur, stretchy lace, or anything else you can dream up! This pattern includes the same children's sizes through 16yr but also adds ladies up to size large! I think I need one of these! I'm already planning a matching vest to go over Christmas dresses! This pattern is perfect for that!

Lastly is the Licorice Bits Legwarmers! Are these names fun or what!?!?! If you sew, you're going to LOVE these! They sew up so quickly!!! I did the regular version for Jenna. She loves them! She did not want to take them off! She spilled juice on the skirt but still wanted to wear the vest and legwarmers (she calls them warm leggers!) to big Sissy's concert band performance later that night! We got quite a few compliments are her ensemble! (And if you're wondering... the leggings she's wearing are LilyGiggle Petunia Petal Pants without the petals! I NEEDED black leggings and didn't have any!) Other options for the legwarmers include ruched and instructions for adding ribbon ties. I used regular polar fleece and then a lycra/cotton knit (for the bands) for mine. The legwarmers are perfect for babies! Think about those little legs this coming winter... you can't keep a blanket on the infant seat and those little legs just kick, kick, kick it off! Or if you're like me, you use a sling or wrap and their legs are usually out in most of the positions. These legwarmers are great for keeping those legs warm! These would be perfect stocking stuffers or quick gifts this holiday season! These have the same sizing as the Candy Wrapper Vest, so ladies get a size too!

Whether you buy the full collection or just one of the patterns, this one is sure to be a staple in your winter wardrobe! Head on over to Craftsy and check it out!

Rapunzel: The Everyday Princess Dress

Halloween is JUST around the corner... yes, despite all the Christmas stuff you see in stores,  we still have Halloween up first! My friend Megan, owner of Made for Mermaids, is coming out with her Everyday Princess Dress Collection. Minnie, Cinderella, and now Rapunzel are out in time for quick dresses before Halloween!

I had the pleasure of testing Rapunzel for my baby girl. She LOVES Rapunzel! Her bedding is Rapunzel! So I jumped when when I saw the testing call for this dress!

I attempted to sew it up late one night and totally screwed up the center bodice piece placement. I'm still scratching my head over why I thought it looked right before I serged and top stitched... but it was finished before I figured it out! So the bodice insert piece SHOULD be wider at the top and narrower at the bottom to give the illusion of a narrow waist, like the princess. ;)

I plan on making another dress, but I've got to finish up some orders first. It could be the 30th by the time I make her another dress...

This dress pattern prints out very easily! It went together easily and includes pattern pieces for several fabric flowers! The tutorial is full of pictures illustrating every step of the way! She even added extra wording to ensure that you won't make my mistake as easily as I did (meaning it's even more difficult to NOT recognize that you're putting a piece in upside down!).

The tutorial shows you exactly how to do those pretty little sleeve and bodice details. It also discusses elastic and how to judge what you're using and if you should make adjustments to the suggested lengths based on the type of elastic you're using.

Let's talk headbands... This one comes with tutorials for 2 types of flowers AND the measurements for headbands! SWEET! I add my flowers to a clip and add a loop to the headband so you can clip any hair bow to it.

This dress is constructed from 100% cotton fabrics so will last far longer than those store-bought costumes that are really only meant for a few hours of use on Halloween night before they fall apart. MY plan is to sew up all the Everyday Princess Dresses, add them to a trunk, and give it to her as a Christmas present. She LOVES to dress up! This way she can play dress up all year long and I don't have to continue replacing or repairing flimsy store-bought dresses!

So run over and grab the Rapunzel pattern before Tuesday while it's on sale for only $4!! Then favorite Made for Mermaids so you catch all her future Everyday Princess dresses as well! 

The Lacy Slope Hooded Shirt Pattern Add-on

I rarely get to sew for my oldest daughter. She's 14 and wears women's size XS/SM. When GreenStyle Creations started calling for testers for a hood and sleeve add-on to the Lacy Slope Tank, I jumped! This was exactly the style my oldest loves. She was very excited when I got selected to test!

This shirt can be sewn in many fabrics, but my daughter dove into my stash and came with this stripe from Riley Blake. Then I hit print on the pattern and started cutting out pieces. Everything but the cuff extensions is included in the printed pieces. There's a chart for the cuffs early in the pattern. These pieces went together very well. The hood can be constructed with a french seam or a regular seam. I chose a french seam. Confession: It was my first time! The directions are very easy to follow. This shirt was very quickly to assemble! I used a stretch stitch and my serger for everything except the top stitching. However, if using a knit with some spandex in it, you could construct this top without a serger! What a bonus for those without one (I didn't have one for years!).

Without further adieu...

Notice the wide neckline. My daughter LOVES that feature. The hood is very generous and works perfectly with her very thick hair. She even tried it on last night with a sock bun hair style and it still fit!

Now check out those thumb holes! My daughter LOVES her fingerless gloves but doesn't wear them until much later, like deep into winter! This style is perfect! Since the cuff is just two layers of knit, it's not too hot but still keeps palms warm for these cooler fall mornings when she's waiting to catch the bus. 

Check out that slope! This top, just like the tank since it is an add-on to the tank pattern, is higher in the front and lower in the back. Again, my daughter LOVES this feature! And yes, you can see her cami  peeking out underneath. She wears camis with everything. Everything. So that's why I made this just a little big. She could probably wear an XS in this pattern, but she wanted to layer it and she prefers looser fitting clothes. This pattern comes in 3 lengths. This is the shortest. 

So hood up or down, it's a cute top! I want one! Oh, and she had SO much fun with this photo shoot... she gives this top a thumbs up!

Now that you LOVE this top on my gorgeous little Morgan, go get yourself one! If you already have the tank pattern, grab the add-on to make this shirt. If you don't have the tank, this shirt is available by itself! Click HERE! There's no need to buy 2 patterns! YAY! 

The Lacy Slope Hooded T-Shirt is now Available on GreenStyle Creations's website. It's available in sizes XS through 3XL! The full pattern includes the Hooded T-Shirt and the original Tank Top. The Add-On Pack is just the Pattern pieces for the sleeve and hood and the instructions for the the T-Shirt. Get them now while they are on sale! HURRY! This just listed sale won't last long!

Candy Castle Princess Dress

I've been admiring Candy Castle Patterns for a while now. I love the looks with her Bubblegum Dress and Jelly Bean Skirt. So when I saw that she was looking for testers for her new PRINCESS dress, I jumped. Actually, I squealed with delight and then filled out the applicant form. I was extremely excited when I opened my e-mail and I was chosen as a tester. YIPPEE!!!

This dress has so many options. You could make it 4 different ways are still have a new look with each one. Sized 6 months through 10 years, this dress works for a long time! With the scalloped top skirt, you can easily replicate Sofia the First for Halloween! I decided to go with these holiday inspired fabrics instead...

The front bodice doesn't dip too low even for this little size 18mo princess. The back bodice mimics the front and has options for both button or snap closures.

The back has a large loose bow that tops off 2 layers of skirts. Now I was ahead of the game for once and my under skirt is longer than the finished pattern, but I think it looks great on this dress with a pettiskirt underneath.

The pattern comes with FOUR sleeve options!!! I chose elbow length for this dress. The other sleeve options include long, short puffed, and sleeveless.

The skirts also allow for multiple options. I chose to go all out with ruffles. You could use lace and do a hemmed under skirt with this pattern as well. I will be honest, there are a LOT of ruffles on even this size 18mo dress!

Here's the best part... $8! This pattern is now available for purchase! Go get it here.  

I very much enjoyed this pattern and would like to say a special thanks to Candy Castle Patterns for allowing me to test. I'd also like to send a special thanks to Amber Sycz Photography.