Sew Fab e-Pattern Sale

Coming next week!

From February 4th- February 11th...

the first ever

  For one week only, ten pattern designers will be joining together to combine 18 of their best PDF sewing patterns (valued together at over $139.00) and selling them to you for the incredible price of $24.95! That's over 80% off of the combined retail value!

  That wasn't a typo! For less than $25.00 you will have the chance to purchase a library of resources to get you started on several great projects that you can sew over and over again. The designers that are joining this sale are experts at their craft. They have been sewing for a very long time and are well known in blog land as well as in children's and women's sewing pattern design circles. Each designer has contributed one or two of their favorite sewing patterns to create a bundle that is sure to please! Whether you are sewing for your own family or making gifts for others, these are patterns that you will love to use.

  Figgy's Patterns, Go To Patterns, peek-a-boo pattern shop, Seamingly Smitten, One Girl Circus, Sew Much Ado, luvinthemommyhood, Gingercake, Sew Fearless, Me Sew Crazy... this is the lineup! But you have to wait until Monday to find out exactly which sewing patterns are included in the pattern bundle. I can tell you that you won't be disappointed!

  We are offering an affiliate program for this amazing sale too! If you think your blog readers, Facebook friends, or Twitter pals would be interested in buying this bundle of sewing patterns, why not sign up as an affiliate? As a Sew Fab Sale affiliate you can sell the pattern bundle on your blog and earn 40% of all of your sales! Contact Jenny at thesoutherninstitute@gmail.com for more details.

Oh! And there will be a giveaway! The Sew Fab Giveaway is amazing! One lucky winner will win a bunch of amazing prizes from some of your favorite companies and online shops! I can't wait to reveal the giveaway package next week!

Don't miss the Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle Sale

starting Monday, February 4th!

Sponsored by

The Southern Institute and Fat Quarter Shop

We'll see you there!

The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle is only available from 8 am EST February 4th through 8 am EST February 11th. Due to the nature of the sale there will be no late sales or refunds.

Colour Crushes & Trends: Orange

 Anne Kurris

Although more prominent last summer, orange is still a really popular colour this year for childrenswear.  I especially like seeing it paired with pastels for girls and blue for boys.  

 Calvin Klein Jeans

Paul Smith 

Simonetta

 Guess Kids

 Silvian Heach Kids

Be Lucky

What do you think of the orange trend?

Heidi & Finn Pattern Test - Ballet Sweater

Recently, I had the opportunity to test the newest pattern by Heidi & Finn.  It is an adorable ballet sweater that is so easy to make, you would be surprised.  I love it when the finished product looks more complicated than it actually is.  That is exactly what this pattern is, in fact, I would say it is a great project for someone very new to knits.  I used the recommended walking foot and ballpoint needle, which really helps when working with knits and gives a more professional looking finished garment.  The front is a mock wrap that slips on easily, and has two optional ties that wrap around the torso.  I decided to make my ties in contrasting black jersey, but go to the Heidi & Finn blog to see more photos of this shrug in a more classic ballet style in pink, and with ribbon ties.  I chose to show you what it looks like with jeans.  Cute, right?  And what a quick sew this pattern is...no joke!  You could have this done in an hour or two.  And I love how polished it looks inside and out when you're done.  I'm not sure exactly when the pattern will be released, but when it does, I recommend you pick one up!  Click below to check out more modern, stylish Heidi & Finn patterns in the shop.  You'll be impressed, I'm sure!  

Out to Sea Quilt

Happy Local Quilt Shop Day!  How fitting is it that this is the day I've completed my very first real quilt?  I'm so excited to show it to you!  Yes, I've made layered baby blankets before, but never one with all three layers and actual stitching throughout.  I have to say this was such a rewarding experience and I have luvinthemommyhood's Bella Quilt Collage Tutorial to thank for it.  Shannon's tutorial goes through all the details necessary with digitally drafted diagrams and super clear instructions.  Whether you're a seasoned quilter or a complete beginner like me, I highly recommend you give it a try!

The beautiful fabric is from Sarah Jane's latest collection: Out to Sea.  I was fortunate enough to receive it as part of my prize package from Project Run & Play (THANK YOU, Sarah Jane Studios!).  I can't say enough about how much I love this fabric (and all of her designs).  There is so much attention to detail and everything coordinates so well.  The bias tape edging is two Puppy Park fat quarters from Riley Blake Designs which is part of a bundle that will later become Anja's quilt.  (a big THANK YOU to them as well for sending me this bundle as a prize for the same competition).

Now...more shots of the quilt:

 I decided to use some coordinating blue 100% cotton quilting broadcloth for the back (rather than two pieces suggested in the tutorial).  I also changed the design from the original since I was using fat quarters.  Nine fat quarters total were cut to equal the same size as the pieces used for the front Bella Collage Quilt.

The batting is also 100% cotton and of medium thickness.

Tobias loved designing his quilt!  From this point on, it was a constant "Is my quilt done, yet??" multiple times a day.  Of course, this motivation helped me get it done much quicker than I probably would have otherwise!!  :)   The map is his favourite...he loves finding the X's where the treasure is hidden!!

As recommended by some of my experienced quilter blog friends...don't wash the fabric before.  After you're finished and then wash your quilt, it will have that nice 'vintage-y' look.

DO get a walking foot...it makes the process of quilting so much easier!  I did one line of quilting without it and knew that there was no way I could finish without puckering all over the place.  Once I got the walking foot, there wasn't a single pucker in the entire quilt.

Mitered corners were something that was new to me.  I appreciated finding this Prudent Baby tutorial to help me learn this technique.  I still have a ways to go to make them perfect, but I'm sure it will get easier with practice.

Thanks again, luvinthemommyhood, Sarah Jane Studios, and Riley Blake Designs!

Colour Crushes & Trends - Yellow

Little Marc Jacobs

Sunshine, Lemon, Saffron, Mustard, Goldenrod, Butter...can you really go wrong when it comes to these fun shades and kids clothes?

Finger in the Nose (dress & jeans), Bobo Choses

 GRO, Little Norway, Flora and Henri

H&M, Finger in the Nose

 Elsy (at Pitti Bimbo), Hucklebones,   Il Gufo (at Pitti Bimbo)

GRO, Finger in the Nose, Elegance & Elephants

(just had to throw in one of my own creations...just love that shade of yellow!)

These are some of my personal favourite yellow colour palettes:

What are some of your favourite shades of yellow?

DIY Mitten Clips

Tired of losing mittens and gloves?  I sure am!  Today I decided it was time to sew some clips so I would no longer spend way too much time searching for mitts.  This project is so easy, it doesn't even need instructions...just check out the photos and you'll have some clips in a few minutes!  

Colour Crushes & Trends: Emerald

Pantone's Color of the Year 2013 is emerald, not one of my favourites.  I guess it was the visions of early 90s decor of green paired with burgundy that came to my mind that was influencing my thoughts.  I do have to admit, though, that as I'm seeing it crop up all over the place, it's definitely growing on me.  It may not have been around much in recent years, but it's making a strong resurgence in the fashion world, and childrenswear is no exception:

Marmalade and Mash

Mayoral

 Finger in the Nose

 J Crew

Fendi and Calvin Klein at Pitti Bimbo

I'm loving emerald accented with navy and white.  Who knows...it may even make an appearance in my own upcoming Spring Collection!

So, thoughts?  Loving the green, or no?