Summer is almost here and I have been spending my non work days basking in the sunshine with my Zoes. Sister Zoe and Baby Zoe! Washington is getting hotter and this is the perfect summer top to wear out and about to keep cool. 

This is the newest release from Striped Swallow Designs - The Women's Daybreak Top. It comes with a few fun options to mix up your summer attire and keep things fun. Below I have sewed the V-Neck, High Hip, Front Tie Option. 

I tested this pattern before it's release and it was really quick and easy. I really liked that I was able to use my sewing machine while making this. I end up feeling guilty when I only use my serger. Lol my sewing machine is so nice and hardly gets used!

The Daybreak features

-Faux Button Placket

-V-Neck or Scoop Neck

-Halter or Tank Options

-High Hip or Crop Top

-Tie or No Tie

All Striped Swallow Designs patterns have layers, A0 printing options, and no trim pages. <3

I was ecstatic to test this top because I recently fell just below my pre pregnancy weight and I am so ready and excited to be wearing normal fashion again. I especially love that this top has a faux button placket. My buttons blend in *too* well but it's a really fun detail. This faux placket matches a RTW top I have had for awhile now and kept saying "I need to recreate that." Mandalynn is in my head. :P

One quick pro tip: Pay attention to the fold lines on the pattern while making this garment. I made the mistake of ASSuming that it was on the center fold, (which looking back makes 0 sense!) and I had to pick a whole row of stitches. Boo. Mark your pattern pieces, people!

I hope you are going to join me in getting ready for summer by sewing up some cute warm weather clothing. The Daybreak is on sale through Friday 5/10/19 with code DAYBREAK. Here's a link to the (Not an affiliate link.)

Hey friends, I made a second outfit for my Fit Capsule as part of Greenstyles challenge. I went old school and picked the Inspire Tights because this fabric is rad and I didn't want to break it up or block it.

Both my top and my tights are part of the capsule. My tank is Striped Swallow Designs Harbor Knot Tank (simple version.) and I pieced it together from some scraps, hence the seam at the shoulders. I told myself it just looks sporty. :P It's made from the 125gsm ABP from Surge Fabric. I bought 2 yards and made my husband a workout tee and a pair of Comox unders to match for Valentine's. I had just under 3/4 of a yard so I picked up my modified HKT and pieced together the shoulder part and now I have an awesome, perfectly my style tank to throw on with all the tights I've been sewing. 

This is the third time I've made the Inspire tights. The last time was in 2015 when I tested the pattern! I completely forgot that I could eliminate the side seam, so naturally I cut it wrong and had to sew the side seam anyway. The only modification that I made was to use the gusset piece from the stride tights which is a little bigger than the one in the inspire tights. I cut the crotch area with the stride pattern and then cut the rest with the inspire pattern. 

This rad fabric is also from Surge. It is the premium athletic. With one yard I was able to get enough fabric for these tights and the power bra! I haven't sewn that one up yet, but it's stacked up in my "to sew" pile. For anyone wondering, the premium athletic is a great, thick material. It is less compressive than circular knit, but it has plenty of compression for workout tights. It would be nice for late winter or spring running, or obviously just dorking around the house. :)

For anyone who is feeling the basics more, Surge has quite a few solid colors of the premium athletic fabric, too! If you are on the fence, I definitely recommend trying this!

Side note: I reversed cover stitched all the seams to add style and strength. I DO NOT RECOMMEND trying to cover stitch the inner leg seam. It literally almost killed me. Hahaha

Details:

Top: Harbor Knot Tee, Simple (modified, blogged about here.)

Fabric: 125gsm ABP in Charcoal

Size: XS

Bottoms: Inspire Tights

Fabric: Premium Athletic 

Size: Small

Hey crafters. This new baby takes an incredible amount of time. I know, "Obviously!" right? Yeah, we'll she sleeps for her Dad. "Oh, Dad's around? Let me be perfect and sleep for a five hour stretch!" When it's just me, she won't let me put her down for a second! Ok, that's not true all the time. I did get to edit a few pics, hem a robe, do some laundy, and finish dinner. I'll call that a win for today.

Thank goodness she's cute. :P

I've been making this cutie a few outfits and I had to try out the Striped Swallow Designs Emerie Romper. It comes with a long sleeve add on option for winter. Now if only I could find tights to fit fat piggy tummies and stick legs. lol

I made size NB for Zoe Lou. She's still squeezing into newborn stuff for a few more days! The construction is just as you'd expect from SSD! Everything came together in an afternoon, even with a baby constantly crying to nurse. :P On of my favorite features of SSD is the SA is on EVERY PAGE. Sometimes I feel like a goldfish. I will look at the pattern, get up to cut something, have to look at the pattern, get back up to cut, and then on my worst days, look at the pattern again. Memory isn't my strong point, guys. The SA on every page is great when you sew from many designers.

We had a wiggly mess with the photos, but I still managed to grab a few good ones! We love how soft the knit rompers are! Many cute rompers are made from woven materials and can be harsh on delicate baby skin. This one is so cozy, it's just like her other non mom-made-clothing.

 I cannot wait for summertime, the Emerie only get cuter from here! There is a ruffle option for the chest, spagetti straps, a take top, a crop top, and so many people use pompom trim. I cannot wait until she can wear a "big girl" vision!

Details

Pattern: Baby Emerie from Striped Swallow Designs with Long Sleeve Add-on

Size: Newborn

Fabric: Joanns 2+ years ago. Thin poly rayon blend I believe

Remember when you were little and waiting for Christmas or your birthday and it seems like a year was a lifetime. Adults would always say "Enjoy it while you're young, time flies when you get old." I'd roll my eyes. Every day was an eternity! How could time "speed up"? Well, ask me now. 26. More than half way through this pregnancy, more than a third through 2018, and just TWO weeks away from traveling for a month to Texas for work. Time, please slow down! I missed Summer, don't take Autumn, too. 

Whether I like it or not, it's September and that means Washington is already cold so I made a sweater! Except I couldn't JUST make a sweater, obviously I had to do something different. This is my modified Après Ski from Striped Swallow Designs. Don't get me wrong, the pattern is excellent as designed, I've  just wanted a 60's shift dress for as long as I can remember.

Hello 60's! I only missed you by 30 years. 

The Après Ski was the perfect base pattern for this dress and I really didn't change a lot. I NEEDED those bishop sleeves. Be. Still. My. Heart.

 I added length and then I had to modify the neckline because of ... reasons that you will read below.

I encountered several mishaps while creating this garment but perseverance was key! The fabric I chose was something I got from Cali Fabrics for their Black Friday sale in 2017. I had actually intended this fabric to be a Hideaway sweater, but the shift dress won. The stretch and recovery was my biggest issue. I knew that the fabric wasn't ideal for this pattern, but I wanted it anyway. :)

I sewed size small with no mods except lengthening it until I got to the neckline. The damn neckline. It didn't matter how many times I measured and resewed that derned neckline! I ended up making it too big in the end from cutting and resewing it and finally had to compromise and add pleats at the neckline to prevent gaping. Overall I'd call it a win. :D

My husband gives it a huge thumbs up, I give it a "good try, can't wait to make another." and my mom gives it a "why are you wearing plaid when no one is making you?" Don't ask a former Catholic who grew up in the 60's what they think of your plaid dress. HAHA

If you want to see more versions of the Après Ski in it's traditional form, check out the Striped Swallow Designs Facebook Group! You can purchase the pattern here. It sews up quickly and comes in sizes XS-XXXL.

I blogged about my leggings here. 

No affiliate links are used in this post. I did receive the pattern for free from Striped Swallow Designs for being part of their promotional team. All opinion are my own. :)

I love combining my favorite things. Sunshine and swimming. Ice cream and root beer. Friends and coffee. Surge Fabric and Striped Swallow Designs. I swear, his chambray was created specifically for being sewn into Coachella Shorts. /Swoon

Did you know that today is the LAST day to take 40% off of all Striped Swallow Designs Patterns? Check her Facebook Group here for all the details. It is SSD's fourth anniversary of her first pattern. (The girl's Coachella Shorts!) I'm happy to be sewing the Women's Coachella Shorts during Striped Swallow Designs Anniversary!

I aslo took full advantage of the awesome bundle deal that Surge Fabric offered for woven and trim to this past month. They have deals every week so make sure you follow along in their Facebook Group! 

Honestly, this is a "looser" outfit than I'm used to, but I love the combo of the shorts and tank. This is a RTW tank but could easily be recreated with your favorite loose fitting tee. Maybe the Moon Dance Tank?

The Coachella Shorts are a pretty easy sew. Like all Striped Swallow Designs Patterns, just follow the directions and you'll have an amazing piece! These are the second Coachella Shorts I've sewn, the last ones were in 2014!) and please DO follow all the instructions. You may think "Hmm, I could probably skip that basting step." DON'T. It makes turning the trim to the front SO much easier. I know from ... experience. Haha

I sewed size small, relaxed fit, low rise coachella shorts. My Waist is 27" and my Hips are 37".

Make sure you check out Striped Swallow Designs to take advantage of their biggest sale of the year!

Here are the links to the Black Chambray and Trim I used to create these shorts. You can join Surge Fabric Shop Facebook group to see all the deals and wonderful fabric creations using their fabric. :)

April is here! And obviously, as one does, I start celebrating my birthday at the beginning of my birth month. Thank god I get 17 days to pretend to be a princess. :) 

Every year since I've been sewing I've planned to make a "birthday dress" not that I'm going anywhere and not that I'm doing anything, but I want a dress to feel fabulous in regardless. This is the first year in six that I have set out to make a birthday dress and TADAH! I actually finished it. A mashup none the less. 

I combined the Striped Swallow Designs Harbor Knot Dress bottom(a favorite of mine and my husbands ;) ) and the Desert Breeze top. I was excited to sew another Harbor Knot dress. I've only made the one during testing but it has gotten a ton of wear and I needed another for the summer. Actually, the day I finished this one, a pictures collage popped up on my time hop from the night I finished the last one last year! How cute. One year later and sewing the same thing.

I did modify the back to be straight across and used lace and binding to connect to the halter strap around my neck. I actually was inspired by a a dress from lulu's boutique. I'll post the picture at the end! The process to make this is trial and error and a whole lotta "make it work." If I make this combo again I'll shorten the torso by about an inch and lower the neckline by making the halter longer. Over all, I absolutely LOVE it. I think it's just the spice that my last Harbor Knot needed!

I bought this fabric from Surge Fabric Shop. Kayla is the shop owner and she's amazing! She carries cool fabrics like lots of stretch lace, stretch mesh, underwear elastic, and obviously VELVET! She often runs deals on her facebook group, too! Shipping is fast, and customer service is excellent. 

Pay no attention to the goosebumps. It's still 45 degrees in Washington, even though I'm pretending that it's already summer. 

 This fabric is perfect. It makes me feel somewhere in between a baby french bulldog and a classy escort. That's really all I want in life. It was perfect for our cirque du soleil show last night! I actually had multiple compliments from strangers on the dress. Who doesn't love that?!

Inspiration from Lulus.com

Details

Patterns: Harbor Knot Dress and Desert Breeze Fitted Tank

Fabric: Surge Fabric Shop Black Velvet

If you haven't tried Striped Swallow Designs some awesome things about her patterns are

1. LAYERSSSSS

2. Clickable PDF (Go directly where you need to go!)

3. Video tutorials to assist with difficult things (The knot)

4. No trim pages!

Go check them out! Also, me and Mandalynn share a birthday and if history repeats isself, she may be having a sale soon so keep and eye out!

Something strange happened yesterday in Washington. The sun came out. I don't know whether to squint or hide or curl up like a cat under the rays indoors... so naturally, I did the last option. I also managed to snag some pictures of my new favorite tank top, too. This perfectally mimics my absolute favorite RTW tank that I wore all Summer for about the last 9 years. It's plain, simple, and solid black and now it unfortunately has a hold near the bottom. Thank god I sew. <3

 

This is the Harbor Knot Tank Add On pattern from Striped Swallow Designs. It comes with the "knot version and a simple tank version.

 

 

I sewed the simple tank version and took off about 4 inches from the waist. (1" on each front and back side) Next time I'll only take off only about 3" or 3.5" to give me some breathing room. :)

 

 

If you can't already tell, it's certainly the fabric that makes this top special. This is the strike off print from Bare Necessities Fabric elephant print. This is a great weight, super stretchy cotton lycra that is perfect for all of you boho babes.

 

Bare Necessities Fabric is run by a great girl, Michelle McLeay. She's very active in her Facebook group, keeps customers updated and churns out amazing design ideas all the time. I really like that she has a nice mix of adult and child prints, too. Bare Necessities Fabric is run out of BC so all the prices are in CAD. You can snag a yard of this gorgeous elephant print for just over $20.

 I blended this with a lace back because I only had a FH to work with. I was able to squeeze out the front and some binding to match and paired it with this lace in bought in 2014! Scraps are amazing things.  

 

This is the second Harbor Knot Tank I've made in about 3 weeks. The last one actually had the knot on it and if you read my post, I said how the next one I was going to use binding. Here it is! I really love it with the binding the best. I cut the width of the neckline and armbands the same but attached RST without folding the bands in half. Once they were attached I just pressed the band under and sewed it down. So no modifications really, just a standard binding.

 

I pair it with my favorite RTW lacey bralette and I'm good to go. :)

 

Details

Pattern: Striped Swallow Designs Harbor Knot Tank Add On Simple Version Size XS

Fabric: Bare Necessities Fabric Preorder Elephants on CL

 

Preorder for this fabric ends Feb 26th so don't wait! She also has a TON of panels so be sure to check out the entire preorder here.

Hey friends! It's that a time again where I show off some more awesome Striped Swallow Designs! For my promo this month I chose the Harbor Knot Tank. The Harbor Knot Dress is already a favorite of mine. (And my husbands!) So I knew the Harbor Knot Tank would be a staple this coming Spring and Summer. Also, I've been dying to find a great racer back pattern since I found my favorite little black tank is developing a hole in it. I've owned it since I was 15 though... so I guess 10 years is a good life. Haha

I picked a really fun and floral double brushed poly from Simply By Ti Fabrics for this project. (If you like this floral, it also comes in navy! I'm sewing up a pair of jammies with it soon!) I only bought 1 yard but it was plenty for this quick tank. I sewed the low knot, slim fit, racer back tank in size XS according to my bust measurement and the sizing chart.

The Harbor Knot Tank is an add-on pattern for the Harbor Knot Tee. The best part about the tank is you can do a high knot/loose fit,

a low knot/slim fit,

a full tank back,

a racer tank back,

or a "simple tank" without the knot.

I was so excited to see that there was a racer back option because I've been searching left and right for a great pattern to recreate my favorite racer back but I didn't want to spend  $10 on a simple tank pattern yet still didn't feel comfortable enough creating it myself. I love the Harbor Knot Tank add-on because it has multiple options so you're not just paying for a simple racer back, you can make 5 different styles!

Spoiler alert. I'm only going to make one style though. Because that's how I roll. Racer back slim fit Harbor Knot is my entire life.

I made this tank like ten days ago and have worn it about 4 times already. Two of those times was to work! Nothing makes me feel better going to work than sporting a little me-made garment. In the middle of the sale I can always think to myself, 'If I can make this, I can do anything!' Helps boost the confidence. :) That's the other thing I love about this tank, it's pretty simple and quick! Add a cardigan and it becomes completely work appropriate. The knot is what makes it special, though, don't you think? It takes this otherwise casual tank to something special that can really be dressed up.

Although the weather is freezing here, I can't help but to plan some summer clothing, too. Thankful that layering is a thing! I can already tell I'll have 3 or 4 of these for 2018 and cycle out some of my less used RTW clothing.

I think for my next top I will create a binding rather than a 't-shirt' style neck and armholes. I like the binding look a little better. Feels like it dresses it up even more to me. Also, my favorite black racer back has bound armholes and neckline so I'll try to keep it as close to that as possible. :)

(Can you tell I'm freezing? It's like 35 degrees. It actually hailed right after this picture!)

I sewed this up in a quick 2 hours before work one morning. Once you get the knot part down it's a  really simple sew. Thankful to Mandalynn who created a video tutorial in the instructions so you don't have to guess!

Details

Pattern is Striped Swallow Designs Harbor Knot Tank

Fabric is DPB from Simply By Ti Fabrics

Size sewed XS

Make sure you check out the Striped Swallow Designs sewing group on Facebook where you can always receive 10% off your purchase and also check out Simply By Ti Fabrics for great deals and lightening fast shipping. :)

No affiliate links were used but I did receive the pattern and fabric for free both from separate ambassador programs with Striped Swallow Designs and Simply By Ti Fabrics.

 

Fabric and pattern for this post purchased by me. Though, this blog post does contain affiliate links so I can sew warm clothes. ;)

It's November already, and it's freezing already in Washington and obviously I decide to make a summer dress. Obviously. 

For this month as part of the Striped Swallow Designs promotional team I bring to you the Summer Dawn Wrap Dress. This one was a favorite of mine since it's release. I actually planned to sew this dress for the wedding I attended in August but Jupiter and Mars didn't align with the sacrificial goat ceremony on the full moon. (The fabric shipment and sew time didn't want to cooperate with my work schedule.) So I put it off until now! Anyhow, the pattern + my doting husband makes me feel like a total fox.

The wrap dress comes in sizes XS to XXXL and is a really flattering shape on many body types. It sure makes me look shapelier than I feel... Ahhemmm... boobs...  

In fact, the Summer Dawn has been gorgeous in every picture I've seen!

Best of all, the PDF has layers so you can print only your size. God send.

We went to a local college campus for pictures and it was approximately freezing. Does anyone else feel super awkward posing for pictures in front of people? I want to make my husband a shirt that says, "It's okay, she sews." Or "This is a work project." ... maybe those would be too weird. Haha
Being on a college campus reminded me how bad parking sucks. Stop encouraging people to go to college, there are no parking spaces left! I'm so glad I have already graduated. My feet were falling off after all the walking we had to do to get to different locations. Totally worth it though.

Here is a slightly blurry pic of the flutter sleeve. This just so happens to be my favorite sleeve type. Delicate, feminine, and so cute. 

This wrap dress is a  little different in two ways. 1. the wrap at the bottom is angled and 2. the front of the skirt actually attaches to part of the tie. This is important to me because it creates a smoother cross over on the bust. Each bodice piece doesn't have to stretch all the way to the waist seam and it creates a more flattering fit than other wrap dresses I've sewn. It also comes with mini and maxi lengths so you can create a formal dress, too!

FYI, when a pattern says they draft for 5'5" and you happen to be 5'7" don't try to squeeze a mini dress into the same length. I didn't hem the bottom because it would be far too short for my comfort if I did! Had I added the extra two inches like I was supposed to, I'd have plenty of room to hem. 

I sewed the XS for the bodice and the S for the hips and I think from printing the pattern to ... not hemming ... was about 4 hours with breaks. Probably two hours of actually sewing time not counting the cutting out. I cut so slow, it's absolutely my least favorite sewing job.

The fabric I used is from CaliFabrics and it's the ever popular DBP. I loved the fabric on the website, I ordered it and it arrived and I suddenly didn't love it and then I sewed it into this gorgeous dress and now I can't think of a better print to have used. It absolutely screams, "TAKE ME ON A DATE!" I love using DPB for wrap dresses because you'll know if you've ever used this type of material that the brushing kind of acts like a gentle Velcro which is really nice when you're worried about the wind blowing your dress flap open. Haha

My husband actually did take me on an impromptu date after the photo. Grabbed some delicious calzones, had some awesome Moscow Mules. (Omg, are those to die for, or what?) and then he kicked my ass in ping pong after which we went to go see Thor. Now that I think about it, who was this date really for? Haha

This dress is perfect for all the holiday parties we have coming up. I'm planning on wearing mine to the friends-giving that we host every year as well as the surprise date I have planned for my husband coming up in December. The long version would be great for family photos for Christmas or family gatherings and the short version would be perfect paired with tights and boots for your holiDates coming up, or even Valentine's!

Details
Pattern: Summer Dawn Wrap Dress $9
Fabric: CaliFabrics Roses on Wine $6.74/y for 2y = $13.48
Thread: $.50

Aproximate Cost $24

This post contains affiliate links to help me heat the new house in this freezing winter. :)

Winter. It's coming. For me that means freezing from about September until May and for some reason I've never taken warm clothes into consideration. It's just not cohesive to my lifestyle... whatever tf that is. Being cold is as much a part of me as putting on chapstick for excessive amounts of time, complaining about not feeling well only to remember I haven't eaten in 48 hours, or awkward dancing. (Ask my friends, it's not pretty.) It's a part of my blood. However, I'm tired of it! So, this year I've set out to sew clothing that will be stylish AND keep me warm. What a novel idea, huh?

So I present to you my first sew as part of the Striped Swallow Designs Promotional Team! (Super excited about being part of the team, too! I love Mandalynn's trendy and free spirited designs. So you can look forward to a monthly SSD sew from me. :) ) *Drum Roll* I present the Women's Rhapsody Joggers!

Oh, side note. My husband and I just bought a home. So these are all taken in our living room. The lifestyle pictures will get better as we actually get the space decorated!

On to the Rhapsody Joggers! This is easily the most comfortable thing I've ever sewn for myself. The Joggers are a loose harem style around the hips and thighs and tapered into ankle cuffs and they have the most fun and sizable pockets ever. I actually can carry my phone around the house with me while not in my hand.

The pattern fits hips sizes from 34.5" to 47" so lots of options for different body types.  

The process to sew the Rhapsody Joggers is easy as I have always found with Striped Swallow Designs patterns. The instructions are clear and there are only 3 printed pattern pieces. Front, back, and pockets! Then a cut chart helps you cut the waistband and ankle cuffs. I sewed the XS based on my measurements though I guess I could have added about 2 inches to the legs to get a more scrunched look. 

I used the most comfy fabric, too. I picked up some of Darcey's Heathered DBP while she was having a $5/yd sale on solids and it's light, drapy, and cozy af. Can all my clothes be DBP? I pretty sure you already know, but if you don't, Darcey runs a fabric shop Sincerely Rylee that carries a ton of florals and bohemian prints.... and lovely solids, too. 

The waistband features 3 sets of elastic, 3/8", 1/2", and 3/8" again. I do really love how it makes the waist a little more flexible and comfy instead of one stiff piece of elastic trying to flex around my curved waist. I also like the way the waist looks, it adds to the bohemian feel. I had pants like this as a child and they were plaid and hideous and I absolutely loved them. I chose not to use plaid for these so they are MUCH cuter, however, they'll definitely be indoor pants. :P

 I love the overall feel of this style, it's extremely relaxed and fun and just perfect for snuggling up on the couch to watch The Office reruns. My husband is a huge fan... he definitely keeps petting my leg. We need a dog, stat.  

Details

Pattern: Striped Swallow Designs Women's Rhapsody Joggers $9

Fabric: DBP from Sincerely Rylee Fabrics $5/yard

Notions: 3/8" and 1/2" elastic, thread

Size: XS

Yardage: 1 5/8th yard