Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Burda Style 02/2016 #105+106

So it's the week of Thanksgiving here in the US and I don't know if anyone has time for blog posts but I've had these photos hanging out on my computer for over a month and it felt like time to send them out in cyperspace.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Three Versions of the Kastrup Top.

 Today I'm very excited to show you the three versions of the Kastrup Top from the Danish pattern maker How To Do Fashion. It's not me who has been pattern hacking. You actually get all three versions when you buy the pattern.

Nanna is the ÜBER stylish lady behind these patterns and she has the most amazing vintage style. Seriously follow her on IG if you don't already do that!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

The Everyday Blouse + Mini Side Slit Hem Tutorial

Today I'm giving you another post that includes a mini tutorial. I kind of enjoy making those....more than a big twenty photos full garment type of tutorial at least.
So when I'm sewing a little detail that I think you might be interested in, I simply snap a few photos with my phone which I usually have at hand and get the best out of it.


This is the Everyday Blouse by House of Pinheiro/UpCraft Club. And the mini tutorial is for a side slit hem.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Burda Style 09/2016#125

Those of you who follow me on social media already knows the my head practically exploded when I saw this new pattern in the Burda Style shop. Long Sleeve Scuba Dress 09/2016 #125 is the full title. It screamed my name and I immediately made two. Plus I have fabric piles on my sewing room floor waiting to be cut into more. This is my second one. The first one is in the very end of this post since I only managed to get one usable photo of it, ha.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Inari Tee and Pleated Pencil Skirt.

I have made a deal with myself to sew more of my favorite patterns in my stash. I think we can all agree that it is very easy to be caught up in the next new pattern and even though we say to ourselves "I'm definitely making ten more of these because I loved the fit/style/whatever so much" it doesn't always happen. Or at least I don't always get around to it - I should only speak for myself, right! But I'm determined to change that. Because when sewing for myself I always take the time to get the fitting right to my body, and I always make the changes to the paper pattern too, so that next time is SO much easier to sew...although a new type of fabric of course can throw things off.

Friday, September 23, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 10

Ah man, this is the last day of Sewing for Kindergarten. I can't believe it. What a fun two weeks it has been. But before I welcome the last two guests, I want to make sure you didn't miss Farrah's and Chelise's amazing posts from yesterday.


My first guest is Carin from ArtBella Creates.
I have been trying to remember how I got to know Carin or for how long I have known her but I simply can't remember. All I know is that I have known her for a while and that I absolutely love her style!

She has been sewing up a storm for this series and you definitely do NOT want to miss it. WOW!

See Carin's full post HERE.


My second and very very last 2016 guest is Jess aka The Sewing Rabbit. She needs no introduction. She is constantly a few steps ahead of the rest of us. I think she was the first sewing blogger to have a blog team (I was on it and I made many of the tutorials on my blog for that gig). I have been so lucky to have met her two times (one on the very west coast and the other time on the very east coast). Both times were an absolute pleasure. 

Jess gave me a ton of photos to choose from for this intro post and I had to choose this one where her son is reading the Piggie & Elephant books because they were my youngest daughter's favorite in kindergarten too.

See Jess' full post HERE.


Thank you so so SO much to everyone that participated and followed along. 
See you with a new bunch of kindergartners in 2017!

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 9

Welcome to the second last day of the second and last week of Sewing for Kindergarten 2016. Gulp!
But we are not in any way finished yet. First make sure you did not miss Courtney's and Ajaire's posts from yesterday.


Today is going to be REALLY fun! My first guest is not only a returning guest, she is also the indirect founder of this series. It was when I saw Chelise (from Chelise Patterson) sewing the cutest tops for her oldest daughter starting in kindergarten in 2013 that I got the idea for this series. She did the very first post together with myself and my oldest daughter. Fun memories!

Chelise does not blog very often but when she does, it's always incredible. 
Today's looks are no exception. See Chelise's full post HERE.


My second guest is also a quality over quantity blogger, ha. It's the always uber cool Farrah from Mingo & Grace. Farrah asked me to tell you that she had some photo problems yesterday. She has made 5 outfits but only the photos of one of them worked out. She will try to retake the photos and share the rest of the outfits during the next week on Instagram.

Lately Farrah has decided to spend her precious free time on her patterns instead of blogging, so I'm very happy that she decided to join in today.

See Farrah's full post HERE.


Thank you!

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 8

How much fun was our International day yesterday with Annika's and Bettina's phenomenal posts!


Today we are back in the US and my first guest is Courtney from Sweeter Than Cupcakes. Courtney participated in the very first Sewing for Kindergarten in 2013 with her oldest daughter and I'm so very happy to welcome her back for her second daughter.

I'm very eager to check out her post because I can see she has used some of my very favorite fabric. That floral up there to the left. Gorgeous!

See Courtney's full post HERE.


My second guest is Ajaire from Call Ajaire
This is Ajaire's first time in this series and I'm so happy to have her.

Ajaire has been blogging for quite a while, has participated in Project Run & Play and has recently ventured into the world of pdf pattern design and sale.
I think I recognize one of her patterns in this photo.

See Ajaire's full post HERE.


Thank you!

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 7

Day 7 of Sewing for Kindergarten is the German edition (In English, don't worry, ha) but first....make sure you don't miss yesterday's posts. It was the amazing overachiever edition and together Audrey and Dorothea made 9 full outfits, wow!


My first guest is the amazing Annika from Näh-Connection. She blogs like a pro in two languages and has recently launched a new webshop where she sells popular pdf patterns translated to German. Very clever idea!

Annika told me she will focus more on the German school traditions in today's post than the sewing. Sounds good to me! I'm very curious to hear what is inside that cone her daughter is holding in the photo.

See Annika's full post HERE.


My second guest is the wonderful Bettina from Stahlarbeit. Every year I manage to forget someone amazing for this series (or in this case....the blogger wasn't even blogging yet, ha). In those situations I make an exception and invite them along for the next year. Bettina is the one who fits into that category this year. Bettina is German but lives in Switzerland. She is a journalist, absolutely hilarious and she doesn't know this but she is on my meet-one-day-wish list, ha.

I'm excited to have a closer look at the amazing clothes that she made!
See Bettina's full post HERE.


Danke Schön!

Monday, September 19, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 6

Well, hello hello again. Are you ready for another week of Sewing for Kindergarten?! Of course you are!
Last week finished with a bang. Make sure you don't miss Sara's and Bethany's posts.


My first guest is Dorothea from Bonnie & Lottie.

Dorothea was recommended to me from my dear friend Emi. The thing is, finding awesome bloggers who also have a kindergartner starting that year can be tricky. BUT it is also super cool because I get to have great bloggers that I didn't initially know (and therefore wouldn't have been able to invite) on this series.
Dorothea both sews for herself and her darling girls and I love her style.

See Dorothea's full post HERE.


Awww, man I just can't help smiling back to that little dude up there! My second guest is Audrey from Skirtfixation.
Audrey told me she used this series to create a mini wardrobe for her son. She has made 9 (nine!) things and today's post will be sort of a presentation post and then over the next couple of weeks, it will all be blogged in more detail on different pattern tours etc. What a great idea! I love that this series actually made her do something she otherwise might not have come around to. Audrey has 7 kids so I bet she is a busy busy lady and I'm honored that she took the time to participate here.

See Audrey's full post HERE.


Thank you!

Friday, September 16, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 5

We made it to the last day of week one of Sewing for Kindergarten 2016. I have seriously loved all the school clothes modeled by all those darn cute kindergartners we have seen so far. Make sure you don't miss Holli's and Jenya's fabulous posts from yesterday.


My first guest is Bethany from I Married Superman. She participated last year with her oldest child out of 4 kids. This year she is participating with her second child out of 6. Yup, added a pair of twins to mix things up. Bethany is seriously funny and I love her style but mostly I love her ability to keep a positive outlook on things and at the same time she is being honest about the fact that life with 6 kids (where the oldest just turned 7) is not just rainbows and unicorns. Respect!

Bethany have had her own little private Sewing for Kindergarten series this week and I know she will link to all the posts in today's post. Please do check them all out - they are amazing!

See Bethany's full post HERE.


My second guest is Sara from Portugal. She blogs at Made by Sara.
Sara and I share a love for color blocking, Japanese Sewing Patterns plus using traditional sewing techniques and making clothes beautiful both on the outside as well as the inside. So it is no surprise that I pretty much love everything she makes and today's make is no exception!

See Sara's full post HERE.


Thank you!


Thursday, September 15, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 4

Before I get to introduce Thursday's edition of Sewing for Kindergarten I want to make sure you didn't miss Suz's and Holli's posts from yesterday. They were both fabulous!


And lookie lookie who we get the pleasure of visiting again...Holli from hello holli, YAY!
Today is her official tour date and I'm so happy to have her on board. I first met her when we were invited to do a spread for the latest STYLO and now we are also both on the Petit a Petit FAMILY team. Holli is such a friendly person and she's got impeccable style!
Which is why I think I should stop babbling and we should head over and see what she made for us. 

See Holli's full post HERE.


My second guest is sweet Jenya from While she was sleeping. Jenya is, like one of yesterday's participants, also living in Australia. They are heading towards spring right now, so what could be more fitting than a raincoat!? I absolutely LOVE that she made that and I can't wait to check out the details.....

See Jenya's full post HERE.


Thank you!

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 3

Welcome, welcome to day 3 of Sewing for Kindergarten. The first two days were all about the boys and today is going to be all about the girls.

But before I introduce them, make sure you didn't miss Coffee + Thread's and UpCraft Club's posts from yesterday.


My first guest today is a returning guest. Suz from sewpony participated two years ago with an adorable (uniform) dress for her oldest daughter and today it's time for cutie pie miss middle daughter. Suz and her family live in Australia, where the school year also starts in summer - which means January. So it is an experienced kindergartner we are dealing with today.

Suz has designed some seriously cute dress patterns that she is selling in her Etsy shop. My kids have loved everyone of hers that I have sewn. In fact one of them is wearing the same dress (pattern) as above to school today.

See Suz's full post HERE


Now my second guest is officially only on the schedule for tomorrow but since I ended up with only one participant today and Holli from hello holli had made two outfits, she generously offered to split up her two outfits in two posts. So we will see the other tomorrow for her official tour date. 

Holli is sending her first child to kindergarten and I know there was lots of butterflies in the stomach that day. Awwww!

See Holli's full post HERE.


Thank you!

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 2

I can't believe it....day 2 of Sewing for Kindergarten is going to be an all boys sewing too. So awesome!

But before I introduce today's guests, make sure you don't miss yesterday's guests Sew Shelly Sew and Sew Thrifty. Did they make a good start to the series or what!


My first guest is returning coat champion and my very good friend Olga from Coffee + Thread. We starting blogging almost at the same time and we have been through blogging burnout, despair and then finally the realization of what works for us to keep blogging being fun (most of the time, ahem). It's nice to have friend to go through blogging ups and downs with, haha.
So if you wonder what 'returning coat champion' means, take a look at two years ago, when Olga participated in SFK 2014 and made THIS incredible coat for her daughter Ania. Wow wow wow. 
I can't wait to check out her new post...the whole outfit is handmade!

See Olga's full post HERE.


My second guest is also a returning blogger. Elisa participated in the very first year (2013) and if I'm not mistaken we have now made it to the last (but not least of course) of her 4 kids.
Since her first participation she has started UpCraft Club, an amazing business that sells pdf patterns (and has even developed a way to sell them in brick and mortar stores too), offers membership with benefits and also offers different options of pdf pattern drafting services. She is an amazing business woman and I'm completely in awe with what she has accomplished so far. Only the sky is the limit for this cool lady!

See Elisa's post HERE.


Thank you!


SaveSaveSaveSave

Monday, September 12, 2016

Sewing for Kindergarten 2016 - Day 1

I can't believe that this is the fourth year I'm saying a big welcome to Sewing for Kindergarten.
The series where cool everyday and school appropriate handmade clothes is the focus, all made by proud Mommies who have a child standing on the verge of a brand new chapter in their life, also known as kindergarten.*
*which in my homemade definition means the first year of mandatory school.

This year I have eight bloggers who are returning because their younger children have now reached kindergarten, five bloggers are here with their first child (and in one case children - yes, we are having our first case of twins in this series - YAY), we have two homeschooling mamas, two from Australia, where the school year starts in January, one that really should have participated last year but I didn't realize and seven who is sending their last child to kindergarten.
But most importantly I have twenty-one amazing bloggers and their cute kindergartners and I can't wait to see what they have made for us this year. So let's get started!

Today is an all boys sewing day which is rare in an amazing way!


First participant this year is Shelly from Sew Shelly Sew.
To me, she is some kind of tester unicorn...the magical way. Whenever I have been in pattern testing groups with her, she is usually the first one finished, the result is more than perfect and super cool on top. And she usually ends up making a couple more items before you even have the pattern printed. Magical and highly impressive. Oh, and she is funny and kind too.

See Shelly's post HERE.


Our second guest today is Dana from Sew Thrifty.
I didn't know Dana before this series but I realized that was a mistake when I went to her blog. Lots of great little projects over there. And I mean, just look at that photo above. I just want to plump down next to him and flick though that atlas.
Dana is also one of those ultra cool women who is a few weeks from giving birth to her fourth child and at the same time even considered to homeschool. Wow! But she ended up with the university model, which I'm very excited to hear more about.

See Dana's post HERE.

Here is a look at the schedule for the next two weeks.
It's going to be amazing.


Thank you!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Pleated Pinafore

I made a few items for my big girl before school started, all from Japanese sewing patterns (the style is just perfect for our school's dress code) and two of the items I guest blogged on Petit a Petit and Family as part of my year long series Sew Japan with Mie. See those posts HERE (scroll down when you get over there).

Sunday, August 28, 2016

The Emerson Crop Pants by True Bias

Hello, I am back in real time with photos taken in the last week as opposed to last year (see my previous post if you don't know what I'm taking about).

I have been blogging for over 4 years and this is the first time I'm showing women pants. About time! Let's just say that the Emerson Crop Pants pattern by True Bias made me do it!

Friday, August 12, 2016

Skirt with Exposed Elastic Waist - Tutorial.

Okay, this is almost ridiculous! These photos are like a year old but luckily sewing techniques don't expire overnight and a skirt with (exposed) elastic waist will probably never run out of fashion. And Mo Willems Pigeon is certainly a classic soooo I think we are good.



Thursday, June 30, 2016

Top Knot Tour

Uh, have I been looking forward to show you this dress.

I'm participating in a fun three day tour for Chalk and Notch Patterns' newest pattern the amazing Top Knot (romber, dress and tunic). Every day has a new theme. Day 1: Print Mix, day 2: Sister Style and day 3: Pattern Hack. As you can see, I could both have participated in day 1 and 3. 

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Wild and Free Lounge Pants by Coffee + Thread Patterns

You should think my daughter read the pattern description of these pants because it says they are 'designed with an active child in mind' and I do not have a single shot with a still pose in this post, ha perfect.

It's the Wild and Free Lounge Pants from Coffee + Thread Patterns I'm talking about.