Kainara Stitches

As a tradition at Christmas time, we always go as a family to a Christmas symphony.  I enjoy going, as it helps to have my kids embrace the arts.  I love sitting and watching them play, and listening to the classic Christmas songs.  I try and make a dress for my daughter to wear every time we go.  It’s one of the things that I love doing for her.  I’ve had the Evening Primrose pattern from New Horizons for a while.  I’ve wanted to make it, but just haven’t had the time.  Luckily I had some time this week to knock out getting her dress done.  I was so excited to finally use this pattern that has been in my stash for longer than I’d like to admit. 

I knew that I wanted a fancy, special occasion type dress.  I went to Joann and looked through their special occasion fabrics.  Nothing was really jumping out at me.  I wanted something plain, but still special.  I found this polyester/rayon fabric that had a different look depending on the angle that you looked at it.  Sometimes it looks black, and other angles it looks blue.  It had gorgeous drape too.  Since I knew I wanted a full dress, I grabbed some tulle along with this blue and a lining as well.  

I saw Julie’s post on the New Horizons blog about lengthening the Evening Primrose pattern to make it a maxi dress.  I decided to hack the pattern and do it in a maxi length.  The hack didn’t require the lining to be done with the maxi length, but since I wanted to add tulle I wanted to have a lining so that she wasn’t getting itchy from the tulle.  Since the skirt isn’t gathered, I gathered the tulle and sewed it to the lining and from then on considered it one piece.  

The pattern went together easily.  I added a sash out of ribbon to break up the waist.  She and I both absolutely loved the final product.  She twirled so much in!  Who doesn’t love having a princess dress to wear?  I can’t wait for her to wear this gorgeous dress to the Christmas symphony this year.  

It’s my turn on the Love Notions Blog Tour today.  The Origami tunic from Love Notions I think goes overlooked sometimes.  It’s a great tunic pattern that has the option of being a cardigan too.  It has a handkerchief hem as an option, or it can be a regular straight hem.  The handkerchief hem has mitered corners for a nice clean finish.  There’s also an option of having a cowl neck or a regular banded neckline. 

I love wearing tunics and leggings with boots for the cooler months.  I live in Salt Lake City, and we get snow a few times during the winter.  To be able to throw on a tunic and leggings with two little kids is a quick way for me to get ready.  The cowl is such an added bonus as it helps to keep my neck warm without having to wear an extra scarf.  I was in dire need of a black one last year, so when the tour came up I knew that I needed to make a black one to pair with everything.  The only thing that I noticed about the pattern pieces that I didn’t really care for was the fact that the bodice piece for front and back was the same piece.  I think next time I make it, I will print an extra for the bodice so that I have two separate pieces.  I think it’s nice to be able to save paper, but I prefer to have them separate.  Both the women’s and the girl’s versions are on sale during the tour $8 for the women’s and $6 for the girl’s. 

Tours LOVE to have a sale!

Stop by and say hi to all the fantastic bloggers joining in!

RAFFLECOPTER

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The TAMI hoodie from New Horizons Designs was updated just recently.  Extended sizes were added, there’s a long and standard cut line for the length, a lower neckline, and a slimmer fit.  I was lucky enough to test both the original and the new revised version.  I have several (5!!) different TAMI hoodies in my closet.  I wanted to do a comparison post of both the original and the revised side by side.  In the photos, you can tell, as well as when I wear them, that the neckline is lower.  The left is the original and the right is the revised.

Another thing that changed during testing was the size of the hood.  Several testers found the hood to be a little too big.  On the left is the original, then the first draft of the revised, and then the final draft.  You can also see the lower neckline in the photos below too.

And finally, the slimmer fit.  I personally haven’t noticed a huge difference in the fit from the original to the revised version.  There was 2″ removed from the width on the size Medium, with less being removed from the smaller sizes and more removed from the bigger sizes.  I’ve actually been wearing all of my TAMI hoodies this week.  Fall has started here and it’s been rainy and cold all week.

I hope that this helps give some perspective on the difference in fit from the original to the new updated version of the pattern.  If you bought the original, you can download the new revised version from your account.  If you haven’t gotten the pattern yet, it’s still on sale until tomorrow 9/25 for $7.

The new Bitty Brunch and Brunch Blouse from Patterns for pirates is rounding out the summer of wovens.  It’s a dolman style sleeve, with also a tank cutline too.  Judy didn’t disappoint with options on this pattern.  There’s a henley placket neckline, dress lengths, waist ties, sleeve cuffs with button tabs, and so much more.  

I made our matching versions in the cap sleeve length.  Her dress was done in the dolman sleeve length with the waist ties.  The pattern is best with a woven that has drape.  I used a woven that I found at Hobby Lobby for our matching shirts.  Her dress is in a Tencel denim that I got from Cali Fabrics earlier this summer.  

The girl’s version does have a top button closure, whereas the women’s doesn’t.  Both patterns have two back pieces that give the back a more fitted look.  Both patterns are on sale individually or bundled through Sunday, 9/17/17.  

This dress is everything! I just love this cute look! The Ainsley dress has tons of options and can pair easily with a few of the other Made for Mermaids dresses (Brooklyn, Riley, and Cassie).

The top of the dress requires a knit fabric.  I used a cotton lycra. The skirt is made using a woven fabric.  I used a chambray fabric.  Both of the fabrics I purchased from Raspberry Creek Fabrics.  

The Ainsley features a gathered sleeve, with flutter, short, elbow, and long lengths.  The skirt has and elastic waist back.  It can have waist sash ties, pockets, and as shown a faux button placket front.  I’m absolutely in love with the cute look of this dress!  It’s so adorable, and I love that it can mash with other bodices or skirts. The Ainsley is on sale until through Sunday, 9/17/17.  You can bundle it with the baby pattern for $10, or get the girls or baby for $7 each. 

My mom used to make dresses and clothes for me all the time, up until I didn’t want clothes made for me anymore.  I can see now why she loved doing it so much.  I love seeing my vision come together and see how adorable all of these patterns come out looking on my kids.  I love the look of the sweet bow dress from Patterns for Pirates.  The sweetheart neckline is such a cute look.  The back straps can either be crossover or easy on off (the bow is required to keep them together).  

There’s the option of making it into a top, dress, or maxi lengths.  It can either have a small bow, mega bow (pictured above), or no bow at all.  It’s such a cute and simple sew!

The good news is if you already own the pattern, you can re download the new pattern and get the update from your P4P account.  The Sweet Bow pattern is on sale right now fro $7.50 through Sunday 9/10/17! 

The curve and unique look of this top is just so cute!  And with the most appropriate name, Tulipa top and dress.  Color blocking and dolmans go together so well.  When Melissa from Sew Like My Mom posted this top for testing, it was too cute to pass up on.  The front and back curve near the neck just gives a really cute finished look.  I also love that most, if not all, of her patterns are great for all my Cotton Lycra that I’ve got from Raspberry Creek Fabrics.  

The pattern has short, and long sleeve options.  There’s also a gathered front option.  With 3 different lengths, top, tunic, and dress, it’s sure to have whatever length that you might need.  The size range goes from 12m to girls 16.  I made a top length, because she’s starting to grow out of all of her tops and the girl has so many dresses already.  The pattern is on sale for $6 for sizes 12m-8 or 6-16, or bundled for $10 for all sizes through Thursday, August 31.  

I’m on the Sewing by Ti blog today showing a few of my favorite sewing things.  I love a simple wardrobe.  I don’t have to dress professionally for anything in my life right now.  I  mostly wear jeans or shorts, and a t-shirt.  I’m very plain and simple, since I stay at home with my kids mostly.  I’m usually running around feeding people and cleaning up after others.  Although I make dresses and skirts for some pattern tests that I do, I don’t wear them on a daily basis.

A loose fitting t-shirt is my go-to.  I recently started sewing some of Hey June Handmade’s patterns.  They are the most comfortable t-shirt patterns!  I love the loose fit in the waist and hips, but more fitted bust.  They are a fitted pattern, but they aren’t tight in the lower areas which is perfect for my not-so-perfect body.

I love the Lane Raglan is a great fitting raglan.  I usually have extra bulk under my arms, which is usually where raglan patterns have issues.  This sleeve is not the typical boxy pattern piece and is more fitted.  It fits snuggly under my arm instead of hanging down. (vinyl cut file can be found here too Peek-a-boo digital designs) 

I used a grey jersey fabric that I had in my stash from LDG Textiles and the floral was from the Raspberry Creek Fabrics spring CLUB line.

The Union St Tee is another one of Hey June’s patterns that is a set in sleeve pattern, but is also a nice loose around the hips and waist pattern.  

This is another fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics, and is part of their current fall CLUB line.  There is one thing that I noticed about both patterns, and that is the neckbands on both tended to be a little tall for my taste.  I made a shorter neckband on my Union St Tee and plan to do the same on any of the Lane Raglans that I make in the future.

One of my favorite sewing gadgets has to be my Purple Thang.  I use it a lot!  It’s perfect to help turn corners, push fabrics that are being stubborn under the presser foot (so I don’t get my finger), and anything else that I can think of.  It’s a fairly cheap tool, but it’s come in handy way more that I thought. 

(Image taken from google).

Tuesday, August 1st: Intro ***You are here. 😀, Tenille’s Thread
2nd: Stitching At Night
3rd: Sewing By Ti
4th: Needles To Say
5th: Very Blissful

Sunday, August 6th: The Fairy Dust Bin
7th: Anne-Mari Sews
8th: Sewing With Sarah
9th: Thats Sew Lily
10th: Stitching at Night
11th: EYMM
12th: Sew Sew Ilse

Sunday, August 13th: Lulu & Celeste
14th: Seams Sew Lo
15th: Tales From a Southern Stitching Mom
16th: Stitching and Making
17th: Creative Counselor
18th: Ma Moose
19th: Kainara Stitches

Sunday, August 20th: Embrace Everyday
21st: She Who Sews
22nd: Idle Sunshine
23rd: My Heart Will Sew On
24th: Lovely For Life
25th: Margarita On the Ross
26th: Anne-Mari Sews

Sunday, August 27th: Made By Melli
28th: Adventures with Bubba and Bug
29th: Auschick Sews
30th: Me Made
31st: Living in Twinado Alley

I was so honored to be asked to sew up some of the new RCF fall 2017 prints.  I thought I would write up a quick post showing the ones that I sewed up all in one place.  Her CLUB jersey fabric is really nice.  She has her CLUB fabric milled exclusively for her.  It’s a nice weight and I’ve never had any issues with it being see through.  I would easily use it for a dress without worry of my undergarments showing through.  

This print is the moody triangles designed by Kim Henrie.  I made a Jolly Roger Raglan by Patterns for Pirates with this fabric.  I paired it with the solid mustard from RCF. 

I made some Movie Night PJs from Sew a Little Seam (which is a free pattern if you join her Facebook group and use the code in the pinned post) with this arrow fabric.  I paired this with the solid salmon from the shop.  This was another design by Kim Henrie. 

The Peony leggings from Sew Like My Mom work great for my tall and skinny kid.  This abstract stripe is so cute for leggings.  I paired in with the solid teal from the shop.  Kim Henrie also designed this print.

Many of these cute fabrics come in several color ways.  Check out all of the new and lovely fall fabrics that Raspberry Creek Fabrics has to offer.  They’re on sale for $1 off per yard until Sunday, August 20 making them some of the cheapest custom prints that I know of.

I think I’ve sewn more with woven fabrics this summer than I have with knit.  It seems like a lot of patterns lately have been for woven fabrics.  I do love the feel of the wovens that have lots of drape.  I’ve mostly sewn with rayon challis, georgette, and chiffon.    

The new Arabella skirt from Rebecca Page looks so lovely in the rayon challis that I used. The pattern has 4 different lengths (above knee, knee, midi, and maxi lengths), and two different height waistbands (regular and tall).  I made her skirt a knee length with regular waistband.  There’s also an optional sash and optional side seam pockets.  A women’s pattern is available too, and also a bundle to grab both of them.  The patterns are on sale until Thursday, August 17.