Animal All-in-One Hooded Scarf

Cats and foxes and dinos - oh my!  Christine at Heidi & Finn has released the new Animal All-in-One Hooded Scarf - another of her versatile pdf patterns that is easy to sew, has tons of options, doesn't require much fabric, and is great for keeping or gifting.  This pattern is so much fun!  Each of my kids wanted (at least) one right away.  The pattern is a great springboard for your own creativity.  With options and pattern pieces for cat, mouse, fox, bunny, pig, bear, and monkey ears - as well as spikes for a dinosaur and fins and teeth for a shark, you can also combine or modify pieces to come up with your
own versions as well.  I created a wolf using the fox ears and shark teeth, and I made a puppy by modifying the bunny ears.  I also learned a new word this past week - I'd never heard of a scoodie - have you?  Now I've not only heard of them, I've sewn four!

Overview:

• Forty-five page pdf pattern and tutorial with photos.  Pattern is sixteen pages for the full pattern with both options (button closure and full scarf) and nine pages for just the button closure and all ear options.
• Fits sizes 6-12m to most adults.
• Option for button/snap closure or full-length scarf.
• Includes interfacing at closure
• Easy sew.  Nothing complicated or unclear.  A serger is optional for this pattern - you can sew the entire pattern on a regular sewing machine.

Review:

• Clear and easy.  Following the instructions given should give you everything you need to sew this up.  No difficult parts.
• I am so glad this pattern includes instructions to add interfacing at the closure.  Its seems many pdf pattern makers sadly skip this step.
• Great way to use up scraps from other projects, and inexpensive project.  You only need 1/2 of the main and 1/2 yard lining fabric even for larger sizes, so you can hit the remnant bin at your local shop and really make this an economical project.
• Works well with a variety of fabrics.  My favorite version that I did used an upcycled sweatshirt for the main fabric and nice fleece for the inside (the Dino).  Its cozy and the thick fabrics give it a good shape and weight.  But I also used a variety of flannels and different fleece and all worked well.
• Sizing seems good.  My 2 year old is in the XS, 5 year old is in the S, and 7 and 9 year olds are in M.  You can easily size down and/or adjust the closure if you want a more or less snug fit.  The hoods will fit them for a long time.
• I do not apply for every pattern test out there.  Even from my favorite designers, I often skip a testing call if its not a good time, or the pattern isn't something I think I'll love.  In this case, I had a two-week old at the time of the testing call and had intended not to apply for any testing until after the new year.  But when I saw this one come though, I had to apply - and I'm so glad I did!  It was easy and fun to sew - and I was able to sew several in one day (which is not common).

Thanks for coming by and checking out my post.  I'd love to hear from you in the comments - which version of this scarf are you going to sew up first?!

You can pick up your own copy of this pattern in the Heidi & Finn etsy shop here.  

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You can see more pictures below!

Fall & Winter Sister Set - Flutterby Playsuit Blog Tour

I used the Flutterby Playsuit pattern by Little Kiwi's Closet to make this cozy, cold-weather appropriate sister set.  Today I am part of the Pimp That Pattern Blog Tour with Little Kiwi's Closet and I'm excited to share this pattern with you and the changes I made to create this set!  Be sure to check out the other participants in the blog tour for more great ideas and inspiration, purchase the pattern in Little Kiwi's Craftsy store for 30% off, sew your own playsuit or romper, and enter the link-up for the opportunity to win two free patterns of your choice.

The Pattern
This is my first time sewing a pattern by Lydia at Little Kiwi's Closet.  As soon as I saw the playsuit tester photos start popping up on the PDF Patterns Facebook Group, I knew it was a pattern I was excited to try.  With several options for the sleeve length (flutter to long sleeve), an optional neck ruffle, a sewn or snap closure between the legs, and a size range from newborn to 4T, the pattern is quite versatile.  I found the pattern pieces very easy to layout and cut, and the instructions were clear.  Plus, it's not a difficult pattern and great for beginners.  No zippers or buttons or plackets.  And if you don't want to insert snaps, you can do the sewn version.  The neck easily stretches enough to get the garment over an infant's or child's feet, hips, and body.  I was able to sew both version in about 4 hours.  If you were making just one, I bet you could get it done in an hour and a half, even if you aren't the speediest sewist.


My Versions

• Traditional Playsuit (a,k.a bodysuit) in newborn size for new baby using rolled hem for edge of longer sleeves, snaps for the closure between the legs, and adding pockets and embellishments.  Designed for cold weather months using longer sleeves and corduroy fabric.
• Playsuit-Turned-Dress using modified size 2T for big sister using a rolled hem finish on edge of sleeves and hem of dress.  Also added pockets and embellishments.  Designed for cold weather months using longer sleeves and corduroy fabric.

Being just about two weeks away from the arrival of baby number five,  I knew I wanted to sew a traditional playsuit (a.k.a. bodysuit) for her and also a matching version for big sister.  And, since here in the Midwest of the USA we are fully into the fall (and soon winter) season, I decided to design my garments to be suitable for the colder months.  Big sister is entering the potty training stages and tends to complain about clothing that snaps between her legs, so I wanted to make her version a top/dress.  To do that, I skipped cutting out the leg whole curves on the pattern, and instead drew a horizontal line from the bottom of the Front Playsuit piece (the part of the pattern that would snap between the legs).  This makes for a cute shorter dress that can also transition to a longer top as she grows.  Additionally, I chose the longer sleeve option for our cold weather months, and skipped the elastic option.  In order to pick up on the golden mustard color of the polka dots in my corduroy fabric, I used a rolled hem on my serger to finish the edges of the the sleeves and the hem of the dress, as well as for the tops of the pockets that I added to both the playsuit and dress.  Hand-sewing the embellishments took the most time - after the ease of following the pattern, sewing the embellishments seemed tedious!  If you are wondering about snaps, I went in with a friend of mine several months ago and we each bought Kam Snap Press Pliers and a large set of snaps which we split up between the two of us.  I've been really pretty happy with it.

  

Next Time I Sew This
I am pretty confident this pattern will be a staple over the next several months and years - its easy to follow, versatile, and I like the results and flexibility.  I don't see a lot of changes I would make next time, besides customization.  I might shorten the neck and leg elastic some next time.  Not a big deal, but I'd like to see how I like it with smaller openings.  I also did shorten the long sleeves a decent amount for the size 2.

I can't wait to post pictures of the girls wearing their coordinating outfits once little sister arrives and settles in to life.  I also can't wait to see what others make during the blog tour and Linky.  Plus, I haven't tried the romper version yet, so I'll have to add that to my list one new baby brain is gone!

Blog Tour Schedule - be sure to check out all of them!

3rd November

2girls1orca1pukeko.blogspot.com

www.gingerbear.wordpress.com

4th November

Www.petitgigihandmade.blogspot.pt

http://dribblepotsandtots.wordpress.com

5th November

www.calmandcarrion.blogspot.com

Sew-not-perfect.blogspot.com

www.sewoutofcontrol.wordpress.com

6th November

www.conversasdehermanas.com

fairykissesboutique.blogspot.com

7th November

http://anapprenticehousewife.blogspot.com/?m=1

www.mendandmakenew.co.nz

8th November

Www.rebekahsews.com

https://www.diy-crush.com/blog/

Don't forget the Linky!  Create your own Playsuit or Romper during the blog tour, link it, and have the opportunity to win two free patterns!  

An InLinkz Link-up

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Peppermint Swirl Birthday Dress - Kids Clothes Week

I've been waiting for nearly a year to make the Peppermint Swirl Dress from Candy Castle Patterns.  I wanted my daughter to be old enough to actually fit it for a while and be able to twirl in it. Today, I gave her this dress to wear for her second birthday.  It was so much fun to make and I'm so glad its been Kid's Clothes Week to give me the extra incentive and sewing time to make sure I got it done!

The theme this time for Kid's Clothes Week is Storybook.  This dress in partly inspired by one of our favorite storybooks: Mary Englebreit's Mother Goose book.  It was given to my oldest son by his Nana and it has been read nearly to shreds these last nine years.  The spirit of the Peppermint Swirl Dress, the whimsy of the fabric, as well as the color palette all connect well with Mary Englebreit's illustrations in Mother Goose.

In case you've been thinking about making your own Peppermint Swirl Dress, here are a few of my thoughts (but remember I already said this is my first one, so these are just my thoughts.  I am by no

Photo from Amazon.com

means an expert.  If you are looking for an expert, join the Candy Castle Patterns Group on Facebook - several women there have made many of these dresses and are very helpful!)  One other note - my dress is the size 2 bodice with a size 18 month skirt.

1).  It was not that difficult.  I've sewn other patterns by Rebecca at CCP and I find them very clear and thorough.  This one was no exception.

2).  Cutting the flounces wasn't that bad.  I cut three layers at a time using my rotary cutter and using canned food to hold the pattern piece in place.  I think it helped that the day I cut flounces, that was the only goal I had.  I wasn't trying to get everything cut and sew in the same day.  In fact, I did cutting of the skirt one day, serged the skirt flounces another day, and then decided to go ahead and make the dress version instead of just the skirt - so I did the cutting and sewing of the bodice on a third day.  It was manageable and kept it enjoyable.  I only get short pockets of sewing time, so for someone who has extended hours to sew, this wouldn't be necessary.

3).  Yes, I used a serger, and I'm glad I did.  You don't need one, but it sure was nice.  I also used the rolled hem option and I will confess I did it twice.  The first round I missed the skirt in a couple places, so I went back and did a whole new rolled hem and cut the first one off with the serger blade as I went.  I do like the appearance of the bias tape hem (especially the really beautiful lace edged bias tape), but the rolled hem was a quick option.

4).  I am still planning to put on a sash/belt.  I got it in my mind that I wanted a particular fabric for the sash and when I went to the fabric shop, they had sold the last of the bolt the day before.  So now I am back to square one.  Maybe I'll find a ribbon or make a toddler sized belt from from trim.

If you've been thinking of making a Peppermint Swirl Dress, but are afraid to try, you should do it.  It was fun,  I enjoyed it and look forward to making more.  And did you know there is a pattern for a matching doll dress?   Or a tutorial for a skirt only version?  And a women's version?   I've been considering making the doll sized version as a skirt for our new baby girl due in a few weeks... we'll see what I have time (and enough fabric) for!

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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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Cowl Neck Dress and Sweater from Heidi & Finn

I absolutely love the new Cowl Neck Dress and Sweater pattern from Heidi & Finn! Easy to cut and sew; adorable, cozy, warm, and practical for my daughter. What is not to love?!


I had the opportunity to be part of the testing team for this pattern and the results were great from the start.  The dress and top pictured in this post are from the original pattern run.  Changes made during testing include a slightly slimmer cut on the bodice, the option of a band at the bottom hem, shorter sleeve length in smaller sizes, and a larger cowl in larger sizes.  I used the optional ties in both the dress and top I sewed, which can be tied to the front or back.  The dress also looks great without the ties, or with a belt.  Butterfly appliques are an option included in the tutorial, and several other testers added adorable appliques of their own.  Your choice of knit fabric can be used for this dress ranging from a thinner knit to fleece.  The cowl
will take a different shape and hold depending on the fabric.  I could make these over and over again, and I'm sure I'll make several each year for my own daughters and as gifts!


Another bonus: the pattern does not require a lot of fabric (especially in smaller sizes).  I made both my versions out of a sweater weight knit - the dress is from the Doodles collection at JoAnn's and the purple top I made from a 1/2 yard remnant I purchased at a local specialty fabric shop.  It is buttery soft and warm, and the remnant only cost $4.00 (which is WAY less than I paid for the first two yards of that fabric I bought for myself a few months prior!).

I really appreciated the way the tutorial has you hem the sleeves and bottom (if you do not use the optional band at the bottom).  By finishing the edge of the fabric (with serger or zig-zag stitch - I used serger for one and faux serger for the other) and then hemming, you are able to avoid having the bulky hem that a double-folded knit edge often leaves.  It's little things like this, her method of measuring the cowl neck to make sure it fits correctly (it varies with types of fabric) and similar touches that make this a pattern that is satisfying to make and looks great when finished.

This is a great pattern for someone who is thinking about sewing her first knit pattern.  You do not need a serger, so if you don't have one, don't let that stop you from sewing this dress!  The tutorial includes directions for using a serger as well as doing it without.  The serger I was using fritzed out after the first dress, so for the top I used a stretch stitch and then the faux serger stitch on my Janome to finish the seams and it turned out just as nice inside and out.


Features:

• Easy to follow pattern, quick sew
• Slim cut body
• Option for long/short sleeves
• Super comfy large cowl neck
• Optional long ties sewn into each side can be tied in the front or the back for a different look. 
• Dress pulls right over the head for easy dressing.
• Optional sweater length, bottom band, long or short sleeves makes this a really versatile pattern
• Can be made in any type of stretch or knit fabric (interlock,jersey sweatshirt material or fleece etc.). 
• BONUS- butterfly applique patterns are included to embellish your dress
• No serger needed - instructions for both serger and sewing machine are included in tutorial