Coastline Blog Tour - Sharon Holland Designs for Art Gallery Fabrics

Sharon Holland's new line for Art Gallery Fabrics is Coastline - and I get to share the knit skirt and canvas tote bag I made with fabric from this line.  This is the second day of the Coastline Blog Tour - so be sure to visit Sharon Holland to get all the information and full schedule for the tour which continues through February 19.  Heidi at FabricMutt kicked off the tour yesterday with a Brass Ring Pillow quilted with Coastline fabric and tomorrow you can see the mermaid maxi tutorial and Sugar Pop top from Lisa at Mabey She Made It.

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March Link Party - Sew Your (Pattern) Stash

March is here already and with it comes a new theme and new link party for Sew Your (Pattern) Stash 2015!

You can read more about Sew Your (Pattern) Stash here and join the Facebook group here if you haven't already.  I hope you link up!  I've set up this link party to accept photos with or without a url to give opportunity to those of you who do not blog or have a url for your project.   The February link party was great and I loved seeing everyone's accessories and pajamas.  Personally, I still didn't hit my goal of sewing Stella from Swoon Patterns (affiliate link) and a few other small accessories like burp cloths and lip balm holders.  However, I did sew a knit bow headband for my youngest daughter and I cut four Ethel totes from Swoon (instead of the Stella).  I just haven't sewn them all yet.  I am really excited about this month, though, and planning to finish my Ethels as well as sew Easter dress(es?) for at least my oldest daughter and I'd like to make Betty Ann from Sis Boom Patterns.  I actually have quite a few dresses I'd like to make but I'm trying not to over shoot it!  The Link Party is at the bottom, but first:

Congratulations to our February winners!  Ren M., Janai A., and Nydia C. each won one of the Swoon Patterns that Alicia generously provided.  Ren M. from The Inspired Wren was the random winner for the February Link Party and she created this cozy newborn layette using the Lullaby Layette pattern from Oliver + S.  Please visit her blog for all the details!

Link-Up Guidelines:

You may link to any sewing project you complete during the month of March that meets our three requirements:

1. From Your Pattern Stash  -  sewn using a pdf (or paper) pattern you already owned by the end of 2014.
2. Fits the Monthly Theme - this month's theme is Dresses & Skirts, so you may link to any sewing project that is along these lines (for girls or women - either is fine).
3. Includes the Sew Your (Pattern) Stash button - either in your blog post or on your blog sidebar.  (grab the HTML code for the button below)

Link to as many projects you sew during the month that fit the guidelines.  You are welcome to enter more than one project during the month.  If you do not blog, you may link a photo of your project (I set up this link party so that you can upload a photo with or without a URL), or you may share your photo in our March Show-Off Album in the Facebook group. 

Can't wait to see what everyone makes this month!

<center> <a href="http://sew-not-perfect.blogspot.com/2014/12/sew-your-pattern-stash-2015.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Sew Your (Pattern) Stash 2015" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Z0u8zIVjqJ8lP2evejuQlxclse34Bf_Rmv4MRVCcUvyU=s207-p-no"/></a></center>

An InLinkz Link-up

Tie Dye Diva Potato Chip Skirt for Girls and Doll for Pattern Revolution's Girls' BundleUP Tour

The versatility and ease of sewing a Potato Chip Skirt will keep you sewing another and another just like the salty, crispy goodness of potato chips keeps you coming back for more and more!  (Of course, in my case it might be called the Double Stuffed Oreo Skirt, but that's not the point.)  Today is one of my days on the Pattern Revolution Girls' BundleUP blog tour showing off the designs available in the current Girls' BundleUP pattern bundle.  BundleUP is your opportunity to get great new patterns (not previously released) at a low bundle price ($4.00-$4.50 each depending on how many patterns you purchase).  I'm glad you came by!  My goal is to provide a helpful review, so besides pictures and a general review,  I've included Things You Might Like to Know and a few For What It's Worth Tips that I hope you'll find helpful.

I made two skirts in a size 2 using the Potato Chip Skirt pattern by Tie Dye Diva - both using the unlined version.  This pattern is suitable for a wide variety of fabrics.  I wanted to use fabric that would not easily wrinkle and could be worn during the cold winter here in the midwest.  One skirt features a stretch denim fabric with piping at the pockets.  The second skirt uses a fun vintage poly-acrylic suiting fabric with a that was handed down from my grandma.  (That one is my favorite.)  My two-year old daughter fit right in line with the size 2 for height, although she was closer to the 18-24m size for waist, so I followed the instructions and used the size for her height and adjusted the elastic for a good fit at the waist.

Options

• Reversible, lined, or unlined skirt with differentiated instructions and hem cut lines
• Add piping or other decorative trim to pocket

Sizes

• 12-18m through 13/14

Features

• Fully-enclosed waistband (no raw edges even if not using a serger) (picture below)
• Instruction to use interfacing in waistband (yeah! thank you, Jen!)
• Piping tutorial
• Pockets on front skirt (not on reverse front of skirt if choosing reversible option)
• Great beginner pattern
• Back elastic (picture below)
• Sizing based on wearer's height, adjust elastic to fit waist
• Wide variety of suitable fabrics
• Pink Pin tips from the designer with helpful reminder or tips.
• One file for both pattern and tutorial.  Separate file for 18" doll skirt, top, and tutorial.

PDF File Information
I had no problem with the pattern pieces or instructions.  Pattern pieces include the pattern name and designer as well as grainline indications on most pieces, but do not include notches for matching (not a problem on a basic pattern like this).  The layout of the tutorial is basic (I would consider it typical of many pdf patterns) with photographs (instead of illustrations) and instructions in an outline/paragraph style with the appearance and format of a Word document.  It includes relevant measurement charts.  I found it easy to follow.

Things You Might Like to Know

I like that the back elastic allows my daughter to easily dress and undress.  At first I thought I would have preferred a zipper, but then I realized that almost all her skirts have elastic waists and that it's far more practical for dressing (and potty training) and general fit.

I love that the waistband is enclosed and does not leave raw edges.  It isn't difficult, and the finished result is so much better. (picture below)  I also appreciate including instructions for interfacing the waistband.

This was my first TDD pattern!

This was also my first doll pattern.  In fact, we don't even own an 18' doll, so a special thanks goes to my friend Linda at Sew Happily Ever After and her daughters for loaning us the model.

This was the first time I used piping and it went well.  The tutorial walks you through it, and it's a small area so it's a great way to try something new if you haven't done it before.  I like the piping detail so much, I think I might always do it that way - or with lace or some other trim.  After making the plaid skirt, I wish I'd had a leather piping or maybe a navy for that skirt.  Wouldn't that look great?

For What It's Worth - Tips
For threading the elastic - If you don't already own a bodkin - can I urge you to invest in one?  I had no idea how much easier a bodkin would be over the old safety pin technique.  They are easy to find online and in stores and they are cheap.  You have every reason to own one.  (Here is the one I have.  not an affiliate link)  For the doll skirt, my bodkin wouldn't fit through, so I did use a safety pin.

For hemming your skirt - Two words: blind hem.  I sewed a blind hem with my sewing machine for both skirts and in my opinion, the hem is so much nicer and less bulky.  If you've never sewn one before, or you are like me and you've tried it an failed miserably, let me know and I'll walk you though it (until I get my own tutorial put up).  You can also google it, but I will warn you that some of the tutorials out there make it look more difficult than it actually is!

So You Want to Draft Your Own?

I've read that some women want to draft their own pattern for this skirt.  That's fine and all, but I'm not someone who has time for that - let alone to do it over and over for each size I want to make.  Jen of Tie Dye Diva has already done all that work - and it's less than $5 in the Girls' Bundle Up deal. The time it would take me to draft the pattern just once is well worth $5 - not to mention I have two daughters in two different sizes and you get a free matching doll skirt and peasant top! 

I love the enclosed waistband with no exposed raw edges.  So neat and tidy!

Back elastic waistband.  Would be easy to convert to adjustable with buttons.

Be sure to follow along with the rest of the blog tour
for Pattern Revolution's Girls' BundleUP: