Super Sale on Cadie's Dress!

Carolina Fair Designs is offering a super-special on her Cadie's Dress.  This is a cute, wrap dress in sizes 2T- 7/8.  Find it in her online shop here and use this tutorial from her blog to add ruffles up the back. 

Here's how you can get the pdf pattern for Cadie's Wrap Around Dress for just $1!  Just Caroline's website www.carolinafairdesigns.com and after you put Cadie's Wrap Around Dress & Top in your cart you can use coupon code 'cadieforadollar' to get the price reduced to $1. This coupon code will only work until Saturday, September 10, 2011, so don't wait! If you want to buy it in the etsy shop instead, put the coupon code in the notes to seller section so I can refund you $4.95 (etsy won't let me make the right kind of coupon code for this).

Thanks, Caroline, for the awesome special and April, for the cute tutorial!

County Fair 2011

Where did summer go? While I miss the carefree days at home with the whole family, I'm a little relieved to have Andy back to work and the older kids in school.  I love a predictable routine! 

The County Fair marks the last week of summer vacation here.  We've made a tradition of taking a day to enjoy the food, rides & exhibits at Fair.  Abby entered her drawstring bag and won Best of Show and a blue ribbon.  She was so proud!  Just like that, I'm considering sending her to a cosmetology school.

Mama won High Point Award, 6 blue ribbons and 2 red ribbons. We won almost enough money to pay for all of the junk food we ate! 

Back To School Pattern Sales!

Looking to add to your pattern collection?  Two of my favorite resources for e-patterns are having back to school sales!

You Can Make This.com is offering 20% off using code: SCHOOL20 through Sept. 7.

Aug 26-Aug 28  save 15% storewide at Fairytale Frocks & Lollipops using code:  BACKTOSCHOOL15

I'm trying to resist buying more patterns, but there are some that I want so badly!!!  Hopefully you can take advantage of the sales to snag some of those patterns you've been wanting :)

Pattern Review ~ Kate's Dress by Lily Bird Studios

I was so thrilled to finally sew a Lily Bird Studios pattern!  I've been a fan of Cecilia's designs since I first found her as So Tei-Tei.  This newest pattern is called Kate's Dress, a sweet A-line with two different yoke options and ruffle sleeves.  This design is for sizes 12 mo- 8yrs.  This dress could be worn in the fall and winter with a long-sleeved tee underneath or in lighter fabrics it's perfect for spring & summer! 

I made a size 6 and size 7 for my littlest Nugget.  She normally wears a size 6 and LBS's 6yrs fit perfectly!  The fit was just right around her chest, arms & the length hits just below the knee...darling!  You would never believe that English is a 2nd language for Cecilia - her instructions are excellent.  Helpful photos will guide you through each step of the sewing.

LBS offers a wide range of PDF sewing patterns for girls and boys. Check out all Lily Bird's fun dresses, shirts and shorts in the Etsy shop and visit the blog for special deals.  I recommend trying a Lily Bird Studios pattern!

Pattern Review ~ Olivia Shirt Dress by My Taylor Made

My Taylor Made photo

I was excited to sew the latest pattern from My Taylor Made, the Olivia Shirt Dress.  This sweet dress buttons up the fron and has both long and short sleeved options.  It has a circle yoke neck and comes in sizes 2-7.   Shannon's instructions & pictures are easy to follow, so don't be intimidated!

This was my first time sewing a shirt dress...I've never even sewn a button-up shirt!  Thankfully, I'm comfortable with my button-hole feature and this dress came together quickly - a 3-4 hour project.  As long as you can sew a button hole, you can make this dress!

The only change I needed was to enlarge the sleeve cuff.  Make sure you test the piece on your model before sewing it on the dress.  My buff little one has big arms! 

Find the Olivia Shirt Dress in My Taylor Made's Etsy shop and stop by Shannon's blog to say hello.  Thanks for letting me test this darling dress, Shannon!

Easy Ruffle Shrug ~ Pattern Review

Easy Ruffle Shrug

Caroline has done it again!  She just released the Easy Ruffle Shrug, a simple, comfy, adorable pattern for girls.  Like most of Caroline's patterns, this pattern has only one pattern piece, making it a quick, easy project - 2 hours or less!  This pattern is made for knits so it is very comfortable to wear and forgiving to sew.  It includes sizes 12mo - 12.  I love the sizing for big girls!

I tested this pattern using a t-shirt knit with no closure. Abby love, love, loves her shrug!  It makes me wonder if I could pull-off this look, too?!

Another pattern of Caroline's that I have reviewed is her Chloe knit skirt.  This is one of my favorite skirts this summer!  I sewed it using a brown light-weight slub knit.  It is so comfortable that I love wearing it.  This pattern shows you how to draft a pattern to fit your body perfectly. She also give tips for getting a perfectly-even hemline.  Caroline's instructions are excellent and I love the professional design of her tutorial & pattern pieces.  Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of my skirt, but here's a few from the pattern listing.

I found that my slub knit was very stretchy, so I decreased the width of my pattern pieces to make up for the extra stretch...a quick & simple alteration to make it work.  I made mine knee-length with matching bloomers to wear underneath :)  I'm not a fan of wearing slips in the summer, so long bloomers underneath work great to cover my unmentionables and prevent chafing.  I really should have been born 100 years ago :) 

Head over to Carolina Fair Designs Etsy shop and try a new pattern.  Her prices are excellent at only $4.95 a pattern!  Thank you, Caroline, for allowing me to test your patterns.  You are one of the best!

Another FREE Hot Pattern!

I'm really excited about the latest FREE Hot Pattern from fabric.com.  It's the Cabriolet Wrap-over Skirt / Dress.  This looks like an easy project and is sized  in size 6 - 26.  Find the free PDF pattern here and the complete collection of free Hot Patterns here.  These patterns are over $15 retail!

 Also check out the Clearance Fabrics while you're there.  Use code CLEAR811 for an additional 30% off clearance fabrics.  Sale ends 8/15/11.

Pattern Review ~ Forever Maxi Dress by Hailey Bugs Closet

Looking for a sweet, customizable, grow-with-her dress?  This is it!

I was able to sew the new Forever Maxi Dress as a pattern tester for Hailey Bugs Closet.  This was a fairly quick sew at about 4 hours from printing to finished dress.  It has a good size range from 12mo - 10.  It's a versatile pattern which includes instructions on how to make a halter version, simple ties or ruffle sleeves. Also included are 3 different hem options as well as tips on wearing this dress as a maxi skirt.  I love projects that the girls can wear for years! 

Abby really likes this dress as much as I do.  Lots of pictures and instructions make this a pattern suitable for beginners.  Head over to Hailey Bugs Closet for the new Forever Maxi Dress pattern!

Abby's First Sewing Project

It feels so good to be home!  The boys are at football camp this week, so the girls and I had some fun playing in our pool today.  While Nugget was nappying, Abby & I decided it was a good time to sew!

We decided on a simple drawstring backpack.  She used a Joel Dewberry charm pack to piece together the outer bag and added a pocket to the lining.  She learned how to use a seam ripper to straighten out a few crazy seams :)  She is already planning her next bag and did great!

We made this bag without a pattern but here are a few free tutorials if you or your kids would like to sew one.  Noodlehead's Boy's Drawstring Backpack from Khaki Pants (a lined bag),  Always Expect Moore's Drawstring Backpack (lined), Prudent Baby's Drawstring Backpack (unlined), Chica & Jo's Drawstring Backpack (unlined). 

On Vacation

We are having a great summer vacation camping, fishing, swimming and visiting family.  Mama heads back to work next week, so look for some new posts then.  Hope you are also having a fantastic summer!