Easter Verona Dress by Jennuine Design

I wasn't going to sew Easter dresses this year, but I'm so glad I ended up making matching dresses for both my daughters using the Verona Dress pattern from Jennuine Design and this Amy Butler fabric I purchased last spring (Amy Butler's Belle Collection - Chrysanthemum in blue),  I love the way they turned out!  (Sadly, my 4 month old is too sick to pose for pictures in her dress - so I'll have to share it after Easter!)  Walking around the shopping center the other day I was excited to think that my two girls will have original dresses this Easter and all summer long.
*this post contains my affiliate links to the Jennuine Design shop.

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Moto Jacket Upcycle for Jennuine Design Blog Tour

Jennuine Design has an incredible Moto Jacket pdf sewing pattern for kids and today I'm showing how I used the pattern and a couple thrifted items to upcycle a really sharp-looking moto jacket for my almost-eight year old son.

Disclosure: The links to Jennuine Design in this post are affiliate links.  I received this pattern for free, but there were no strings attached.  (I didn't even have to do this tour - I just wanted to.)  The opinions here are my own.  If they are interesting or helpful to you and you decide to buy the pattern (or any of her others), I'd be so grateful if you'd use my link/s. 

This unisex pattern is perfect for those looking for pdf sewing patterns for tweens, patterns with a wide size range, and sewing patterns for boys.  At the end of this post you can watch a video of my favorite tool for marking fabric (especially for the quilted lining) and read about a couple other tools that were helpful for this project.

If you are stopping by from the Moto Jacket Blog Tour - welcome - please take a look around.  I've blogged about other Jennuine Design patterns: Verona Dress Verona Dress here and Haven Acres Collection here.  If you are a regular here at Sew Not Perfect, be sure to visit the Jennuine Design blog, A Jennuine Life, to see the other blog tour participants and enter the fantastic giveaway Jenn is hosting during the tour!  Imagine Gnats, The Leather Hyde store, Urban Sew, Livie & Luca and more are all part of the giveaway.  Also, Jennuine Design patterns are on sale for 25% off during this tour with code MotoTour - so go shopping!

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Satya Romper from Jennuine Design Disguised for Fall {Kids Clothes Week}

The theme for this season's Kids Clothes Week is Disguise, so while I work on some actual disguises for my kids, I thought it would also be a perfect time to disguise one of my favorite summery patterns for the fall season.  I sewed a pair of baby leg warmers and modified this Satya romper from Jennuine Design* that I made during testing.  I originally made them as regular hemmed shorts, but this week I decided to add the elastic just because I love that look on baby legs!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links indicated with *.  I was a tester for this pattern and I am a Pattern Brand Representative this year for Jennuine Design.  Being a design rep has no requirements, but means I get a free copy of each pattern she releases in 2015.  But I'm still glad to test when I can because I really enjoy working with Jenn and think her patterns are really well written and designed.  Her pdf patterns are available on her site, but will also be available as paper patterns and in stores soon!  During Kids Clothes Week you can use code DISGUISE in her shop* to save 20% on your purchase.

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Jennuine Design Haven Acres Mini Collection - Pattern Review

If you haven't yet purchased a pattern from Jennuine Design, and you sew at all for a girl, this is the time to make your first purchase!  The equestrian-inspired Haven Acres Mini Collection will not only be a delight to sew, it will probably convince you to buy her other patterns as well.  I hope you'll find my review helpful.  Be sure to check out the Things You Might Like To Know at the end of the post for a few extra thoughts and suggestions for when you make your own version.

  

The Haven Acres Mini Collection is a three-piece collection featuring Dressage Leggings, Haven Acres Blouse, and Sweet Pea Cap.  All three patterns are on sale in her shop for 20% off - no code needed.  The sale runs through Sunday, February 15, 2015.  

*Disclosure Statement: The Jennuine Design links in the post are my affiliate links.  I received these patterns at no cost in exchange for my testing and feedback.  The opinions are my own and not influenced. 

(Disclaimer:  I am not a newborn photographer! It was tough to get the baby and the clothes to stay in the right place long enough to get a picture in good lighting.)

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2015 Hits & Misses at Sew Not Perfect

How can it already be the final day of 2015?  I'll be enjoying the day with my family and my husband's family, and probably going to bed early.  But I took time to think over the best and worst (in my own view) of 2015.  Soon I'll be sharing some of what I hope to focus on in 2016.

A photo posted by Bethany (@sewnotperfectbethany) on Dec 26, 2015 at 9:26am PST

My favorite hit from the year - personally - was jumping in with Periscope broadcasts and especially the #honestcraftroomies scope hop.  It's been a lot of fun to broadcast, and I have ideas to scope more regularly and hopefully helpfully in 2016.  I've also loved making so many new social media friends through Periscope.  ((You can follow me on Periscope at this link))

This year I had some great opportunities.  I produced my best tutorial (Bow Headband Tutorial with knit fabric) in July and it is by far the most popular post on my blog.  Sew Can She and Fabricworm both featured it and I had the opportunity to sew several headbands in the Homestead line by Emily Isabella for Birch Fabrics.

I don't know how I was so fortunate to be selected as a Jennuine Design Pattern Brand representative, but I was, and I absolutely love every pattern she has designed and put out.  I can't wait to see what else Jenn designs and puts out.  The Jennuine Design Moto Jacket is my favorite thing I made for my boys this year - maybe my favorite of all.

I also loved this Fawn Lily Tunic & Dress pattern that I sewed for my daughter using Carolyn Hulse's Happy Home line.  The pattern is by Rock the Stitch for Willow & Co and can be found on both Upcraft Club and Craftsy.  I entered it at the State Fair and received second place.  I haven't blogged about it yet, but I love the construction.  I added a lining underneath since the fabric was so light.  Next time, I'd take the time to handstitch the lining closed instead of top stitching around the sleeves.  I think if I'd done that, I may have earned that blue ribbon, too.  So, I guess this was mostly a "hit" but a bit of a miss.

A photo posted by Bethany (@sewnotperfectbethany) on Sep 1, 2015 at 4:23am PDT

A photo posted by Bethany (@sewnotperfectbethany) on Sep 1, 2015 at 4:18am PDT

I also sewed several hand bags that I am really pleased with.  The Jenna Tote by SOTAK Handmade and working with leather or the first time were probably my favorites.  You can see more of my bags on my Instagram account.

A photo posted by Bethany (@sewnotperfectbethany) on Dec 26, 2015 at 9:47am PST

I also loved sewing for myself more this year.  I still pull out my M is for Moto Jogger Pants whenever they are clean, and look forward to making a capri version soon.

As far as Misses - besides the one I mentioned above about not hand sewing the Fawn Lily Tunic sleeves - the biggest would be the Sew Your Pattern Stash venture.  I started out great and was lots of fun.  The link up participation was fair, but not great.  There were several of you who were active in the Facebook group and link party.  I loved doing the interviews to go along with each topic.  But that only last two months.  Then my laptop was destroyed, I got derailed, and it never really recovered.  A few of my interviews didn't get returned.  Not to mention that I realized I didn't like a lot of the patterns I owned and that my pattern buying and sewing preferences has really evolved since I started sewing and bought many of my pdf patterns.  I'm not sure if it can be revived for 2016 - but I'd be willing to have feedback if people are interested in giving it another go.

My other big miss is time management in general.  That doesn't show on my blog so obviously, but it shows up more in what doesn't get to my blog (things I sew but don't get around to posting about) and probably my house (in that things fall apart because I binge sew and don't clean until I get it done).  I'd really like to work on that this year.  Regular sewing, regular blogging and regular cleaning!

Giveaway Day at Sew Mama Sew from Sew Not Perfect

It's Giveaway Day at Sew Mama Sew!  Thank you for stopping by (if you aren't familiar with Giveaway Day - follow this link!)  I've got an easy giveaway entry process in the Rafflecopter below for the items pictures above.  No hoops to jump through.  I know it's a frantic time rushing to enter all the giveaways, but I'd be so grateful if you took a couple minutes to read my post.  We could be new blogging or social media besties - you never know (especially if you enjoy tutorials, garment and handbag sewing, or are considering starting a bit of quilting, like me)!

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Photography Tips & Tricks for Sewing and Testing

Honestly, there have probably only been two or three photo shoots that have gone as I had envisioned, hoped, or planned.  I've certainly learned a lot and still have lots of room to learn and improve, but I don't let it take the fun and enjoyment out of sewing anymore.  I used to.

The #honestcraftroomies scope hop on Periscope last night addressed photography tips and tricks for sewing and quilting, which we had planned several weeks in advance.  During the scope hop, each scope-er covered topics ranging from lighting, background, equipment, what and how to photograph, to why to photography even if you don't have a blog and aren't a professional.  For my part, I discussed what to photograph when testing a pattern for a designer, and also what to photograph when sharing a garment or handbag (or other project) to help others understand what features a pattern has. You can watch the replay of my broadcast below, and I've gone in to more detail in this post.  You can also always find links and details from my Periscope broadcasts by visiting the Periscope tab at the top of my site.  Also, I included links at the end of the post to watch the broadcast replays for the others in the scope hop - they really shared a lot of valuable tips and examples!

(It also happens that Art Gallery Fabrics recently shared a post with tips for presenting your handmade products on Instagram with excellent suggestions for great photography, and Pattern Revolution just started a series on photography tips for testers. It must be time for everyone in the online sewing world to talk photography!)

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1Pattern:3Ways Tour - How to Find a Versatile Sewing Pattern

As we continue the 1Pattern:3Ways Tour looking at ways to use one pattern multiple ways, I wanted to take a day to suggest patterns or types of patterns that can really be easily stretched for multiple sewing projects.  Surely you can sew any pattern more than one time, but some patterns really lend themselves naturally to extra mileage.

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A Few of My Favorite {Sewing} Things

I have a wishlist coming up, but first I took time to sit down and think about some of my favorite sewing related items from the last year.  We did a Periscope tour showing them in person this week, and you can katch the replay below if you want to watch on video (not one of my best!).  But I forgot a few things, so be sure to read the whole list, too - and let me know in the comment what your favorite sewing things are.  I've also opened a link party if you'd like to link up to your own post about your favorite sewing things.  This is genuinely a list of some of my favorite sewing (and sewing blogging) items - affiliate links are marked with an*, and the amazon images (but not the text links for those items) are also affiliate.  I appreciate you using my affiliate links if you find them helpful.  I do not use affiliate links for items I do not endorse and benefit from.

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