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Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Color Me Toddler Purse Tutorial

Hello There!
If you have a toddler that loves to carry purses or need a last minute present for a toddler, you'll love this tutorial. My fabric of choice was Hailey Crouse's Color Me for Michael Miller. It allows for the fabric to be colored, so if you include a set of markers in your little purse, you'll have the perfect gift!

You will need:

- 1/3 of a yard of Color Me fabric
- 1/3 of a yard of lining fabric
- 7/8" Wide Ribbon
- Rick Rack, Piping or any other trim of your choice
- 1 Button or Snap fastener
- Flap Pattern HERE

Step 1:

Cut your flap pieces, 1 main, 1 lining
Cut your main body pieces:   2   8"W x 6" L main fabric
                                               2   8"W x 6" L lining fabric

Cut 2 pieces of ribbon, Approximately 20" each (I always cut longer and trim as needed)
The Seam allowance will be 1/4" for the flap and 1/2" everywhere else. Once all your pieces are cut, you will have something like this on your table.



Step 2:

Add any embellishments or trims to the right side of your flap, or leave as is. I added rick rack and used wash away tape to keep in place.

Step 3:

With right sides together sew main fabric and  lining fabric, along the round side only, using 1/4" seam allowance. If you added a trim, it will be sandwiched between the two fabrics. You may use pinking shears to cut excess. Turn over, press and top stitch along the round edge, set aside.


Step 4:

With right sides together sew the main fabric body pieces, starting on one side and ending on the other, leaving the top part open. Repeat for lining. You will use a 1/2" Seam Allowance. Press the seams open.

Step 5:

Starting at the joint of the side and bottom seams, form a triangle. Press to secure and sew 1/2" from the tip of the triangle. cut excess. Repeat for other side and lining. Trim Excess.








Step 6:

Pin and Baste the flap to top back side of  the main body piece, right sides together and 1/2" away from each side seam. Pin and Baste the ribbon, right sides together to the sides, matching the side seams to the center of the ribbon.  Turn over.



Step 7:

Place the main fabric purse inside the lining, with right sides together. Pin and sew along the top, with a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving a 2" opening  for turning.




Step 8:

Pull main fabric through the 2" opening and press. Top Stitch along the top main body of the purse, catching the opening so it will now be closed. Make a buttonhole and stitch a button or use a snap to secure. Tie a bow at the desired length and your purse is ready! Add markers inside and it's ready for gift giving.


Step 9:

 Enjoy your creation!











Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Oh How I love Sneak Peeks!

Remember back in August when I posted about the Michael Miller fabric's Great Pattern Hack? Well, I won second place and was lucky enough to score some amazing fabric, some not even released, lucky girl right?
One of my favorite selections is the soon to be released (Early 2016) Sommer fabric collection by Sarah Jane. Like with some of her previous collections, I was more than impressed. There is something about Sarah Jane's collections, a certain nostalgia for my long gone childhood days, the graphics reflect a certain innocence, playfulness, hard to describe but easy to feel compelled to go back to the childhood days and hope to establish the same kind of memories for my children. 
I made a Brownie Goose Allie Oop top and a pair of Darby shorts for my little girl and the combination was perfect! Loved the overall look, exactly what the fabric made me feel, comfortable, innocent, playful. You will totally love this collection, keep an eye out so you don't miss it, starts shipping January 15th!
Photos of additional fabrics of this collection: Sommer Collection by Sarah Jane Studios

Much sewing love,

Paola ♥







Thursday, October 1, 2015

The Perfect Mash-Up

With the weather staring to get a little cooler (well, as cool as October gets in Texas anyways) I found the perfect mash-up on the Violette Field threads blog: The Adelaide-Clara Mash-Up . It was a perfect combination of two of the most recent and beautiful patterns: The Clara top and the Adelaide dress. This mash-up adds sleeves to the Clara top from the Adelaide dress and they fit together perfectly!
My fabrics of choice for this project: Michael Miller's Arrow Flight prints, they are gorgeous!!!!
I used the feathers print in Blue and coordinated with sleeve cuffs using midnight blue/gold arrows and a band in gold/gold arrows. I couldn't had been more pleased with both the pattern and fabric combination. The cherry on top: I used fabric that I won from Michael Miller's great pattern hack, so I kinda had early access to this great collection, set to release November 15th!







Friday, September 18, 2015

Minecraft Inspired Pillow



Hello there!
If you have a kid that's obsessed with the video game Minecraft just like mine, this post is for you.
It is already hard enough for me to sew for my boy, for some reason I enjoy sewing for my little girl more. I wanted to make him something special for his 5th birthday, so aside from making him a Minecraft themed shirt (see post here: Zee's Tee) I also made him a creeper inspired pillow, using Tie Dye Diva's Easy Pillow Cover patern as reference. I made an 18 x 18 instead of the suggested 16 x 16 and used green minky fabric, since it helped recreate a pixelated effect. I drafted a template for the creeper features, you can download it by clicking here . My fabric of choice for the applique was knit, as it doesn't fray. You can secure the applique using temporary fabric adhesive, glue or pins and then sewing around it with a 1/8" allowance. Follow the directions on the pattern and you're done!
Love how it turned out, and as an added bonus, I have my son use his pillow to store his pj's using he opening in the back. He seems to love it!








Friday, August 28, 2015

The Wonderful Zee's Tee

I must confess: I am guilty of sewing more for my little girl than my boy. I know I am not the only one out there. This time is my little boy's time! I found the perfect fabric for him, a Minecraft themed custom knit and the perfect pattern for him to wear in this hot Texas summer: The Zee's tee by Tie Dye Diva. I bought this pattern last year almost as soon as it released and been hoarding it since, waiting for the perfect fabric to make something truly special for my son. I must say I really love this pattern. I am a true beginner sewing with knit fabrics and Jen's step by step tutorial was a blessing to have, it helped me make this adventure truly enjoyable and I must say I have never seen my son so excited about my sewing. He wore this shirt on his 5th Birthday and on his very first day of kindergarten. I know I will be making more of these wonderful shirts, the fit is spot on and the look is amazing, It makes me feel good to finally make something for my son, a true one of a kind look for my Minecraft loving son.
Zee's tee can be found here: Zee's Tee







Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Pattern Hack: The Olivia Bloomers

The Olivia, created by talented Megan from Made for Mermaids, has quickly become my go-to pattern for bloomers and pantaloons. I was honored to test the pattern a few weeks ago, and since I couldn't get enough of it I decided to hack it and add straps to it, much like another pattern of Megan's that I love: The Samantha Skirt. While I used the Samantha skirt as inspiration for this pattern hack, I added techniques that I learned from other Megan's patterns such as the Molly and Alyssa. I wanted a flat front waist and elastic only in the back portion, and I also wanted the straps to cross instead of tying them on a bow. Overall I am very pleased with the result. The final touch was a pair of big buttons that truly make this outfit stand out. I chose Michael Miller's Mini Harlequin fabric in pastille for a super girly color combination.

The Olivia Bloomers and Pantaloons pattern is available here: Olivia Pattern








Monday, August 24, 2015

Pattern Hack: The Allie Oop

Ever since the Allie Oop by Brownie Goose was released earlier this summer, I was totally in love! This pattern is not only very sweet and simple but its enclosed gathering seams make it pretty inside and out. 
I had made 3 Allie Oops already and was ready for more. This time I decided to add one of my favorite details for little girls clothing: a Peter Pan Collar. I also thought it would look great with cap sleeves so I said why not? and went for it. One of the most beautiful details of the original pattern is the front neckline and ties and wanted to make sure to preserve them, so I very carefully attached the collar and made sure to stay within the seam allowance so not to alter it at all. I added cap sleeves and enclosed them in the bodice so it remained very clean on the inside. The overall result really wowed me. I chose Michael Miller's Swan Lake and coordinating bitty floral to achieve exactly the look I dreamed of. This was a fantastic experience, I am extremely pleased. 
Brownie Goose Allie Oop pattern is available here: Allie Oop by Brownie Goose
I paired this beautiful top with: Olivia Bloomers by Made for Mermaids







 


Sunday, August 23, 2015

Pattern Hack: Izzy and Ivy's Tallulah

I just recently learned about Izzy and Ivy patterns and joined their Tallulah dress sew along; I liked it so much that I had to make more! This time, I decided to change it just a bit and add details I love like buttons. I decided to also turn it into an open dress with enclosed gathering seams, replacing the waist sash with a button enclosure. The result was just what I envisioned and I couldn't have picked better fabric than Michael Miller's Packmates, and Hearts for the accent waistband. The Packmates collection reminds me just a little bit of my native PerĂº and the beautiful Alpacas that grace the mountains, just such elegant creatures.  Altering a pattern so much was a first for me but I really enjoyed the experience and my little one declared it "playground approved".

Izzy & Ivy's Tallulah Pattern Can be found here: Tallulah Top and Dress

xoxo








Saturday, July 25, 2015

The Acorn Tee, A Cool Unisex Piece

As the days of summer come to an end, back to school season in full swing, I start to panic; before I know it It'll be October and the nights will get cooler and no long sleeve shirts in sight. Thankfully, Melissa from Sew like my Mom just released her much anticipated Acorn Tee.


The Acorn tee is not only  a versatile pattern with short and long sleeve options but is unisex! 
That is awesome news for this momma that shamefully sews mostly for her little girl. I had the pleasure to test the size 3 but couldn't help making  more than my assigned quota and made a size 5 for my Minecraft loving son.

Here's some basic info on this pattern:
- It is meant for knit fabrics
- Fits sizes from 12 months to 8
- It has 11 pages of easy to tape together pattern pieces
- It offers a cutting diagram and a full picture tutorial with step by step instructions.

I will be honest, that center placket looked intimidating to me, so I sure was very appreciative of the thorough instructions on that special detail that gives this tee a unique look. I carefully followed every step for the placket, I took my time, didn't rush and the results were great. You can choose to close with either snaps or buttons, I chose snaps.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with the finished result and the ability to combine different fabrics to achieve a truly unique look. The pattern retails for $7.99 at the Sew Like my Mom Etsy shop:

Acorn Tee Pattern by Sew Like my Mom


 I used custom knit fabric from Affordable Fabrics (Minecraft) and Kiddie Prints (Doc), both custom knit groups on Facebook. Can you tell my little man was happy?