Sewing Storm

I don't often accomplish all the sewing I set out to do - but for once I did accomplish my three sewing goals.  Here is a brief overview of each project:

Raglan T-Shirt
Laura at Titchy Threads/Craftstorming gave me the chance to pattern test this shirt and I really enjoyed sewing it.  The full pattern with additional features and options will be released early next year - I highly recommend that you keep an eye out for it!  The instructions were clear and I really appreciated the little details, suggestions, tips, and skills that she incorporated that took this from a simple T-shirt to a really well-made shirt.  I tested the size 8 for my smaller 9 year old and the fit was great.  I like that it has a slimmer cut to it - it's not too tight but also isn't sloppy looking.  I chose these fabrics because red is one of his favorite colors and his dad has a raglan shirt made with these same colors.

I made this also as part of Kids Clothes Week.  The theme is Storybook and I don't know that this shirt is really storybook inspired, but my son is an avid reader and I'm certain he'll read plenty of books wearing this shirt.  He also thought Benny from The Boxcar Children Series probably wore shirts like this!

Peppermint Swirl - a good start
I am making a Peppermint Swirl Dress (pattern from Candy Castle Patterns) for my daughter's 2nd birthday this week and my goal was to get all the flounces sewn together.  With my new serger it was a breeze, although you don't need a serger to do it.  I'd been planning to make just a skirt, but I've now decided to go ahead with the full dress version, so stay tuned!  I'll finish it up during Kid's Clothes Week this week.

New Boppy Cover 
I've had the same Boppy and cover since my first child's baby shower - over nine years ago.  I've wanted to buy a new one but could never bring myself to pay the money for one of the kind I like, and often I didn't love the fabric patterns that much anyway.  So, I decided to do my own DIY Boppy cover - creating my pattern from my old Boppy cover and a seam gauge - and I am so happy with the result.  It has a medallion print flannel on one side and pink minky dot fabric on the other - complete with zipper for easy removal for washing (or changing).  With minky fabric and flannels on sale at JoAnn's this week, I think I might even make another!  I've debated posting a Boppy cover tutorial with my pattern, and maybe I will.  There are quite a few out there in Pinterest/Google world, but in the meantime if anyone is curious about my pattern just use the contact form or leave a comment and I'm glad to share!

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This post is part of my participation in:
    

Treasure Island Inspired Hawthorn Zip-Up Jacket - Sew Many Books Sew Along

*Voting is open and I'd appreciate your vote - click the heart in the corner of the picture you'd like to vote for - that's it!  Click this link and scroll to the bottom to vote.

I am re-blogging this jacket today.   When I first made it and published my post about it, the inspiration behind it was not so relevant.  But now that Nap Time Creations is hosting the Sew Many Books series, giveaway, and sew along, it's time to bring it back so I can participate!  You can see my original post on this jacket here.

As I've mentioned before, I need to sew practical things.  A special occasion item surely pops up now and then, but I don't have time, money or need to sew things someone won't love and won't be able to wear or use often (and then passed down to younger siblings!).  Even when I make a Halloween costume, it needs to be something that can be worn over multiple years by multiple children.  So, a book inspired outfit from me is going to be practical and not very costume-y (although I love the sweet costumes others create from book characters).  Here I am presenting a bigger-kid version of a book-inspired look.

My oldest son was practically born a reader.  He would sit and listen to books for over an hour and learned to read quite early.  One of my his favorite books is Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.  He has read a couple versions of it and we own both the Disney and Muppet Treasure Island movie versions.  I have sweet memories of sitting with him as he practiced his reading out loud as a five year old using the brown version shown in the picture above.  It also has not been uncommon to find a "black spot" left for a sibling or parent to find on his or her pillow at night.

So, when it came time to test the Hawthorn Zip-Up Sweatshirt by Titchy Threads for Willow & Co., I took inspiration from Treasure Island to create not only a practical jacket, but one that would be stylish and something my son would love.  The Treasure Island pirate theme was perfect!

The jacket really came together with the skull and cross-bone patch and the striped knit fabric that I used for the lining and pockets - a symbol and a fabric pattern you often see in pirate books and on pirate ships.  The Hawthorn pattern is fantastic, and I've been meaning to show pictures of the inside of the jacket as evidence of how well the pattern is written.  It was my first zipper ever and I was so happy with how the whole jacket came together (but you can read all those details at the previous post).

My son absolutely loves this jacket.  He has worn it many times, and it has been through the wash, on the bedroom floor, in the back of the van, etc on multiple occasions.  The pictures of the inside of the jacket not only show the great design of the pattern, but how well it has held up!

I also love the Hawthorn Zip-Up pattern, but I especially love how the inspiration from Treasure Island helps to create an age-appropriate, stylish, and still practical jacket that my son wears every chance he gets.  No black spots handed out for this one!

Please consider taking a minute to Like Sew Not Perfect on Facebook using the icon at the top of the right hand column.  Be sure to stop by and check out the Sew Many Books series at Nap-Time Creations.

Hawthorn Zip-Up Sweatshirt by Titchy Threads for Willow & Co.

It's time to start saving your pdf pattern pennies! (if you have a budget for your pdf pattern purchases)


Willow & Co, a pattern collective, is releasing their Spring and Summer line, Wanderlust: a glamping collection, on Tuesday, April 22.  Here is a peek at one piece from the collection, the Hawthorn Zip-Up Sweatshirt by Laura at Titchy Threads and Craftstorming.  I was so excited to be in the tester group for this pattern and I am thrilled with the result!










Pattern Options and Features
The Hawthorn Zip-Up Sweatshirt can be made for boys or girls in a variety of fabrics from medium interlock, to sweatshirt, to fleece, with a contrast knit fabric for collar and zip facings, and a rib knit for sleeve cuffs.  Options include full- or half-zip, regular or split side seam, with or without pockets.  Sizing ranges from 6-12 months to 12 years.


Further details: 

• Pattern pieces vary for each age by color AND line style, so they can be printed in color or black and white. 
• Option to turn off all except one size using pdf layers.  This means you can print only the size or sizes you plan to use.
• Detailed pattern pieces including notches for lining up pieces, adding pockets, etc.  This is often not found on pdf patterns. 
• Pattern pieces are well laid out, and assembly does not result in one giant mass of paper to cut, but rather nicely sized, well-portioned pieces.
• PDF document featuring very detailed tutorial with color pictures of every step. 
• Size chart, finished measurements chart, fabric requirements and supplies list.
• Cheat Sheet at the end for when you need a basic reminder of what comes next instead of following the whole tutorial (for those who are very experienced sewists or have made the garment multiple times).
• Prints on both Letter and A4 paper
• Metric and imperial measurements included throughout

Personal Review
This pattern took thought, time, and attention - and I think the final product reflects the effort put forth.  It wasn't difficult.  I consider myself an advanced beginner, maybe?  It was my FIRST TIME EVER putting in a zipper.  I think it looks fantastic.  It was also my first time doing these kinds of facings, first time putting in pockets, and first time using twill tape.  I won't pretend I didn't use my seam ripper a time or two, but Laura's instructions walked me right through and taking the time and attention to do it right resulted in an awesome finished sweatshirt/jacket.  It looks so well made and it has everything to do with Laura's well-drafted pattern, her detailed instructions, and her involvement and responsiveness to the testers during the testing process.  She quickly responded to feedback, suggestions, and questions and made excellent adjustments to the pattern to make it just right.

My version is the half-zip, split side seam with pockets.  I do not have a huge stash of fabric to choose from (especially knit), so I had to go to my local JoAnn's to look for fabric.  I really wasn't excited about what they had for boys and actually went looking two or three times before settling on the grey/red double layer fleece.  I was inspired by the pirate skull iron-on decal I found, and went from there, using a zipper and thread that matched the red under layer of fleece and the red in the decal.  The contrast fabric that lines the collar, the zipper facing, and pockets is repurposed from a shirt.  I thought the black and grey stripes not only coordinated nicely, but echoed the pirate theme.  I did learn that the fabric had too much stretch for pockets, and they stretched below the hemline.  I fixed this later by sewing the pockets into the seam on the hem.  Laura also recommend in the tutorial now using a fabric with no more than 30% stretch for the pockets. Twill tape options are pretty limited at JoAnns.  Its cheap and only comes in black or white.  When you buy this pattern, check out the etsy shop Laura recommended for twill tape for a great selection on twill tape.

I have two other boys asking when I will make them their own sweatshirt.  Heading in to summer, this will probably wait until fall, unless I can find some lighter sweatshirt knit that I like for boys.  But I know that this pattern is one I will go back to for my own family and for gifts.  It's one of those excellent, well-drafted patterns with clear instructions and beautiful results that I am so glad to have in my collection!

This is my little man's favorite shot, so he wanted me to include it!

Thanks for reading the whole post!  I'd love your comments, new likes for Sew-Not-Prefect on Facebook, and new followers on bloglovin'.  Please stop back again soon!