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.)

Fabric was sponsored by Surge Fabric Shop and the pattern is a freebie from Mimi G Style! All sewing efforts and buttons were provided by myself. ;) 

Summer is scared of the PNW. It was 85 three weeks ago and now it's in the 50's. Make up your mind, Washington. I want to wear summer dresses. 

My first summer dress of the season came to fruition this week in the form of the new Jessica Dress pattern from Mimi G Style. Can you even believe this dress is FREE? Here's a link to the dress. You will have to sign up for the Mimi G Style mailing letter and you'll get the pattern in your inbox shortly afterwards. Be fast though, the link expires just 24 hours after you receive it!

If you're not a member already, the Surge Fabric Shop Facebook group features a new free pattern each Friday! It's a really fun way to showcase all the awesome free designs you can find and see them sewn as well as have someone who's made it make.

I sewed the free pattern this week and used some new rayon challis from the Surge Fabric shop. Kayla just got 10 new wovens into the shop and they're lovely. You can find them here. 

As for the pattern itself, it was pretty straight forward. I will say that Mimi G Style patterns don't have the typical "hand holding" instructions that a lot of PDF designers have. However, there is a video to accompany the pattern which is great for beginners and more visual learners. I confess, I just followed the instructions per usual so I could stream Survivor... #guiltypleasures

The bodice has a facing instead of a lining. It works well, keeps the entire dress really light. 

Two things. 

One: Make a muslin. This dress does NOT have a lot of ease. My measurements are 34" 27" and 36" and I sewed the straight size small. I could have blended the small at the waist and the XS at the chest, but with it being a paneled top I didn't want to take the edges in on the wrong panel. Now I see I could have just done the side seams. This is why you make a muslin. The waist in size small is designed for 28" and it still fits me snug. I am swimming in the 36" size small bust, though. Make. A. Muslin. It's worth it. 

Two: My buttons are 3/4" but you should choose smaller buttons than I did. The button panel hardly accommodated my buttons on the skirt portion. You should definitely choose 1/2" or smaller buttons if you want the dress to be perfect.

I tried really hard to channel my inner Mimi G, however I still look like I belong at a picnic in the park. LOL Mimi's "Jessica" makes her look fierce and high fashion. One day I'll get there. :*D

Check out Surge Fabric Shop for their new woven collection!

Join the Surge Facebook Group to see new releases and a new free pattern featured every Friday!

Follow this link to get your own copy of the Jessica dress for free!

Hey there, lovelies! Welcome to day 3 of the Sew, What Do I Wear? Vacation Edition tour! Made for Mermaids and Patterns for Pirates have been hosting these tours for a little while now and they're so fun to read, I'm excited to finally be a part of one. :D

It's almost Summer time! Is anyone traveling anywhere fun this Summer with their family? My husband and I are headed to Alaska for a quick trip to visit my sister and her boyfriend. They work in a tiny town named Talkeetna. I've spend a couple of Summers up there over the years but this time i'm excited to do touristy things and show Devin the town and Denali. We'll spend most of our time in little local breweries, by the river, and a few short hikes. The question always comes up, "What do I wear?" So, I sewed a few pieces to help get me started! 

First, I sewed up the Mama Isabel from Made for Mermaids. 

This is a simple wrap dress that sews up so quick! I mean quick. Like two-hours-from-printing-to-modeling quick. 

I sewed a combo of sizes Pink and Purple. (No I'm not having a stroke.) M4M does body positive sizing so they're all colors! Pink is a little smaller so the bust is pink, the waist / hips are purple. Honestly, because I used such a stretchy knit, I could have used all pink and have been just fine. :)

I chose a casual and cute bohemian feel, as we're just going to be doing "outdoor" events while we're vacationing. I wanted to blend in to the boho eclectic vibe that is Talkeetna.

This is just a close up to show off my new coverstitch serger combo! When my husband heard I wanted a new toy he said "why don't we go buy it?" So, that's the story of how I adopted a brand new Babylock Evolution! I'm a lucky lady. <3

  

For my final piece I sewed the Cross My Heart Cami from Patterns for Pirates. I've had my eye on this one for awhile. It's so Kyema and it's so trendy. I own several tanks that have this style so it's awesome that I can sew my own! I love P4P for that reason, Judy makes patterns that are in the stores NOW. 

I sewed a combo of the S and XS. Same as M4M, XS on the top and S on the waist. I should have sized up because I used my knit in the wrong direction. I just couldn't pass up that boarder print! It looks too cute. My intention was to wear the "V" in the front with the low cross, but I'll have to extend the "X" straps a little if I want to do that next time. Guess the "boobs" stretch a little more than the fabric. ;)

Washington weather is nothing if not predictably freezing and cold. Hence, the goosebumps. I really just wanted to show off my coverstitch ... and my new necklace from Katy at Thread & Grain! I love this thing to pieces! I wear it almost everyday and get asked about it all the time!

Everything sews up so smooth on a coverstitch! I am so in love!

If you're wondering where I got these cute fabrics, please check out Sincerely Rylee Fabrics. She carries gorgeous florals and most recently, trendy bohemian prints.

Both of these patterns will be sewed again! I hope you enjoy and please check out the Made for Mermaids blog to keep up with all the other gorgeous ladies' blogs who are sewing their vacation wear, too. :)