My First Real Live Pattern!!

I'm still pinching myself that I have an actual pattern!  From my head, to your computer!  When Kelly asked if I would do a Christmas nightgown for my month of The Sew What Club, I was so excited.  Because.  5 girls. 

I picture in my head what I wanted: something simple (no closures!), classy, timeless, girly, but not too frilly, and, of course, comfy.

Then I found THE perfect fabric.  Polka-dotty double gauze!  If you've never been to Imagine Gnats, you are in for a treat.  She has so many amazing double gauzes.  I want them all.  They would also make great, unique swaddling blankets...but I digress.  

The reverse side is the inverse of the front.  I wanted to highlight both, so I used the reverse for the accent design element down the front, on the sleeve casings and the bottom ruffle.  I love it so much.

It's a super easy sew-up.  You can leave the front detail off, simplifying it even more. One of the testers cropped it and made matching shorts with the tunic.  The pattern comes with the option of shorts sleeves and you can leave off the ruffle for a shorter version.

The tester nightgown I made first for Clover was a HUGE hit with her.  She twirled and danced and loved it, so I knew little girls everywhere would love this mommy-made nightgown.  Since it's so simple, you still have time to sew it up before Christmas.  Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. All my girls will be getting one in their favorite colors...stay tuned for that photo op. ;)

When we were finished with our shoot, Clover wanted to take a selfie with my giant, brick-like camera, haha! I held the strap and she selfied away.  This generation. ;) And yes, the weather is really as amazing as it looks right now.  It's deceived me to think that Christmas isn't just around the corner. 

How can you get your pattern?  I'm so glad you asked!  Check out The Sew What Club.  It's a monthly subscription of digital patterns right to your inbox.  The kind that you want to sew up every one, in all the various options.  Kind of like your very own Christmas present each month.  I am consistently impressed with the patterns that the designers come up with each month.  It's like those cd clubs I used to belong to, only way better (and probably way cheaper ;)  

Idle Wild Meets the Cocoon Dress

Friends who design fabric are good friends to have, especially when you love sewing as much as I do.  Fabric is happy mail, but fabric that was cooked up by friends, that's happier mail.

I got to sample some of the Pattern Anthology girl's new line with Riley Blake: Idle Wild. I'm pretty sure that they made several in black and white just for me ;)

It is SO soft.  Even the dog agrees (I haven't introduced you to Scout here, yet, but for those who follow me on instagram, you get a great deal of documentation of our furry friend.)  Scout likes to lay on my fabric whenever I spread it on the ground to prep for cutting pattern pieces.  She thinks I lay a "red carpet" wherever I am for her. 

I spread this on the floor and she immediately circled and laid down.  I laughed and grabbed another piece of fabric.  She got up, circled it and then went back to this.  It was so hilarious.  She wouldn't move until I took another piece of Idle Wild (the ones with the birds) and she thought that was an acceptable substitute.  This is some seriously soft stuff.

I used the Cocoon dress pattern from The Sew What Club made by Groovy Baby and Mama.  It's a very easy piece to sew, with a fun round shaped, although you could always just bring it straight down.  You don't even finish the edges of the sleeve ruffles.

It has a high-low hem that looks great with or without leggings.  I think I'll need to make them for all my girls (the sizes are from 2-12!)  No buttons (read:buttonholes), zippers, or other closures.  Easy for you, easy for her.

I actually have one cut out for Azure, hers has the birds on it.  I'll be sewing it up lickety-split later on today.  You could also shorten this into a shirt.  Now I'm just thinking aloud for all to hear how my brain works. ;)

It's even comfy enough, both fabric and pattern, for Olive to still do her ballet poses, which is of great importance to an 11 year-old ballerina.

Getting ready for her first solos in the Nutcracker this year has us all excited!

Thanks for the awesome Idle Wild fabric, ladies! And check out the latest patterns on Sew What Club.  My design will debut in December!!

Sew What Club!!

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!  We got together with lots of friends and watched fireworks over the ocean.  For some reason we've made it a tradition to make Vietnamese pulled pork sandwiches (Bánh Mì).  They are a hit and leftovers are a plus.  

If you hoard fabric like I do, you most likely hoard patterns...because you never know when you'll need that perfect pattern.  I was looking at my patterns the other day, thinking I ought to go through and get rid of the ones I don't use.  But I couldn't.  I might need them one day.  That bodice, or those sleeves or the way that placket is just the right size.  But at the same time, I find myself getting bored with what I've used before and wanting something new and exciting.  My clothing tastes have changed.  My sewing tastes have changed.  My kids have gotten older and bigger (along with their opinions ;).  Enter: Sew What Club.  Kelly of Sewing In No Man's Land has put together some of my very favorite bloggers for an amazing pattern collecting opportunity.  

Sew What Club is a fun new way to get the newest patterns from your favorite designers right in your in box every month, patterns that you can't get anywhere else. It is a fantastic group of designers, some of which have been designing patterns for years and others are great bloggers who have never shared their patterns before!

There are 2 options, women's patterns or children's patterns or you can do both! First there is the super affordable low monthly price or a discounted annual price. Every month with the children's patterns option you will be sent two downloadable PDF patterns, one on the first of the month and one on the fifteenth. They will be from Kelly Crawford of Sewing In No Mans Land and from a featured guest designer (like myself or one of the fantastic women at the websites above). If you decide you want to focus on sewing for yourself this year and choose the women's subscription, each month you will be sent an exclusive women's pattern created by either Kelly or one of the guest designers (sizing information is available on the website).

Along with the monthly patterns, members will receive additional sewing project patterns in their monthly member newsletter. You will also be able to participate in the monthly social media events with really great prizes from fabric, pattern and crafting companies, all just for sewing up that months pattern and sharing your creation on your favorite media site (blog, IG, FB, Twitter etc). You can find all the detailed information on the Sew What Club website. To celebrate the launch of the club through the first week membership rates will be on special discount, whoot whoot!

A new pattern that shows up in your inbox every month?!  It's like Christmas every single month!  You'll see a 10% discount when you check out, no code needed!  I don't know about you, but I am excited to start sewing these up. You'll see one of my very own patterns up there, too, one of these months! (ps Isn't Kelly's red hair amazing!?)