Summer Fun with the Breeze Top Tour

Are you looking for a great summer top that is easy to make and perfect for summer in so many ways? Well the Breeze Top/Tunic just might be the one you are looking for! Shannon of Little Kids Grow has produced another solid pattern that is sure to become a staple for the summer wardrobe.

The top has a simple lined razorback yoke that was surprisingly easy to sew, as Shannon does a great job with instructions and illustrations.

Check out the end of the post for a give-a-way and discount code!

 I was lucky enough to help test this pattern (that's Sophia you see on the 'cover') and now I'm lucky to be a part of the tour. This go around I made two swimsuit cover ups for my girls. But this top is very versatile...it could be made fancy or casual, summery or will be perfect for layering in the fall/winter. Check out my other versions over at Sew Cool for the Tween Scene.

 They are doing swim team this summer and wanted something to throw on while they have to wait for the other to practice.  I used jersey knit for the tops and a light weight terry cloth like fabric (it was from my mom's stash, so who knows how old it is and what it actually is) for the bottom.

 The only thing I changed was that I lengthened the skirt portion by several inches, used the width of the fabric instead of using the suggested measurements and I didn't include the band at the bottom and I added pockets.

 While this pattern seems so basic, it leaves a lot open to add to it to fit your needs. And do you know what, this pattern cuts and goes together really fast!!! I loved that there are only printable pieces for the top portion. And then because the bodice part is lined all of the seams are hidden. I'm telling you it is a fast and efficient pattern that results in the perfect light weight summer top!

 For Clara I cut a size 8 and for Sophia a size 10. Clara's might be a little big (she was on the small size of the chart), but because it is just a cover up it works perfectly. The ruffle you see is from her swimsuit, just so you know.

 Really you should go and check out this pattern for yourself! And while you are at it, go and check out the other people participating on the tour!

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And Shannon is also having a great give-a-way! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's 'Flip' Time Again

 

 This time I flipped a pants pattern into a skirt and Sophia was the lucky recipient. If you want to read more, go check it out at Frances Suzanne!

Secret Squirrel

So Secret Squirrel has been trotting the globe giving out 5 acorns a month. It's a fun sewing challenge and you can read more about it here. The 5 acorns are just 5 things that you are supposed to tie in with the outfit you create somehow and I've been wanting to sew along, but always have a ton of other stuff going on. This month I decided was too good to pass up.

Here are the ones from this past month: 

Those would be 1. Where the Wild Things Are, 2. Blue, 3. David Bowie, 4. Pockets and 5. Great Britain.

Now here is my outfit, which you can read more about over at Sew Cool for the Tween Scene. Can you see my 5 acorns incorporated in the outfit?  I leave the key at the bottom, but here are the pictures:

Where the Wild Things Are=Fuzzy vest, reminiscent of the Hairy wild things

Blue=blue on the button of the jeans and a blue zipper (just because I only had a navy blue one:)

David Bowie=White ruffly vest (think of the movie Labyrinth)

Pockets=on the pants with

Great Britain=a flag stitched out on each back pocket

How do you think I did with the acorns? And the best thing of all is that Sophia loves the outfit and needed each of these things (ok not the vest, but she had asked for a furry vest).

Some Much Needed Pants and a Very Productive Weekend

It was a quiet weekend around here, with 2 of the 6 out of town, so I had a productive Saturday. First up, I made this jumper for Sophia...go check out my review of the pattern over at Sew Cool for the Tween Scene.

 I also managed to whip up 3 pairs of pants for Clara. I used the Oliver & s knit pants pattern that comes with the Nature Walk Pullover. It's a great pattern and these pants are really easy to make. When I say whip up, I really mean it. From start to finish I was able to get all 3 pairs cut out and sewn in 2 hours. The serger helped it go a little faster, but still...3 pairs of pants in 2 hours!!!! Can't beat that. 

 I wish I knew my types of knits better, or at least paid attention to what I was buying, but I don't. All of the fabric came from JoAnn's.

 This one is my favorite pair. I used the opposite side of the fabric to get the contrast of the band. The knit is super soft and comfy.

 This pair is Clara's favorite...purple polka dots, need I say more.

 This one is a heathery red and super soft as well.

 I do love the Oliver & s patterns and this one is no exception. Easy to follow, clearly written directions, they never fail.

 However, I found a big mistake in this pattern. I'd sewn up these pants once before and thought it kind of weird how there wasn't a front and back specified.  This time around I paid a little more attention to the pattern and there is clearly a back and front to the pants, but not labeled or even mentioned in the instructions.  The rise is different and makes a big difference in how it fits. Once you have the pieces cut out, you'll notice the difference in the length of the rise (crotch seam) for the front and the back...just make sure you piece them accordingly.  Other than that, a great pattern. 

And now my not so little gal has 3 pairs of much needed pants, just in time for the weather to turn cold here.

Linked up here:

Nature Walk Pullover--Tween Style

Remember this version of Oliver & S's Nature Walk Pullover?

 Well I decided to try and make a little more tween friendly since the pattern does go up to size 12. Here's the result, which has been a big hit.

 I posted a review over at Sew Cool for the Tween Scene, if you want to learn what I thought about the pattern and how I changed it.  Head on over there for the details!

 And here's a shot with the pullover in action.

Extra Extra Read All About It

This year Sophia decided she wanted to be a Newsie for Halloween. I made her a vest and some knickers to complete the outfit.  Go check out my review of the vest pattern I used over at Sew Cool for the Tween Scene.

Keeping Busy

You know that little dream you have when your kids are finally all in school and you will have so much time to get to all of those projects you've been putting off for years?  Call me when you send your last to school and I'll fill you in with the reality...it hasn't happened yet for me.  My day seems to fly by and if I didn't have this blog I would wonder what I've accomplished.  At least here I document some of what I do so that I have a little record of my time spent.  I have been busy and am still sewing. Lately, most of my sewing has been documented over at Sew Cool for the Tween Scene, so go check out my latest review if you want to see some sewing for my kids.

 As for other projects, they were all put on hold for these that I volunteered myself for.  You see I firmly believe in serving others through your God given talents. I think sewing is one of my talents, so I do what I can with it.  This is a bunch of dance costumes that need to be altered (and these are the easy ones...there's a whole other batch that will require some thinking and time to fix). The 2 companies, a junior and a senior one, at my daughter's dance studio perform all year round at places like nursing homes and children's hospitals (one of the things I like about this place...they don't do a Christmas/Winter recital just so that they can focus on serving the community). Anyway, that means they need their costumes now, so I'm tightening straps and taking in some bodices.

 These are going to be super hero capes. My oldest, who is high school, will be headed to Grand Nationals with his marching band in a couple of weeks up in Indiana. Instead of wandering around the mall for hours in their down time between performing, the parents thought it would be a good idea to do something service oriented. They found this project called The Hero Project and plan on having a cape for each member of the band (160+) to give to one child in the hospital up there.  The capes come to me cut out and I just add the applique and sew the inside and outside together. Someone else is adding the velcro. Pretty easy on my part and just something little I can do in my own little way.

Mad for Plaid and Color Block Cardigan

Hop on over to Sew Cool for the Tween Scene to see my how to on this skirt and color blocked cardigan.  You can also see how well you know me and my reason for loving plaid.

Some Things I've Been Up To

My husband got a cover for his Mac Book...lab issued computer, oh how I wish it were mine. Just some soft corduroy on the inside and soft wool on the outside closed with a button tab. Nothing too fancy or complicated. I really don't sew for him much so this was kind of fun. I really wanted to do the outside out of leather and even priced some leather jackets at Goodwill, but couldn't justify the $30.

 And those would be the dining room chairs that I am in the process of recovering. I'll have some before and after pictures of the whole process, but lets just say they were ugly. I waited and waited until I was able to use a 20% off on your total purchase coupon on home dec fabric that was 50% at JoAnn's. You see I wanted to use the Crypton fabric, which is kind of pricey (it also doesn't come in a huge selection of patterns or colors), but it should be worth it when it comes to durability. Do you know what the hardest part of the recovering process is? Taking out the rusty staples...and there are 2 sets of them. The chairs have 2 different fabrics on them and it seriously takes 2 hours to get all of them out.

And if you are interested, go check out the outfit that Sophia designed and I made for a tween look for the Project Run and Play Candy Inspired week.

Check out my Review

 Check out my review of Sewing Rabbit's Draped Knit Kids Cardi over at Sew Cool for the Tween Scene. In Sophia's eyes, this one was a winner and she has requested more.

My New Little Adventure

Just wanted to fill you in on my new little adventure.  I'm teaming up with Major Moma, who blogs over at Without Direction, to start a blog geared towards sewing for tweens.  We'll be reviewing patterns, hunting down tutorials and passing on ideas to make outfits more tween friendly. It's that tricky age between cutesy children's patterns and stylish more adult like teen patterns, that we feel is sometimes neglected in the pattern world.

Hopefully, you'll stop on by and pass it on to anyone who might benefit from the experience we have to offer or have advice they would like to pass on.  Really, it's all about the sharing of ideas about sewing for the age group.

So stop on by and let us know what you think. We have some fun guest posts lined up to kick off our new blog and then we have some great ideas for pattern reviews and tween styling.