Riley Pattern Now Available

Oh, I forgot to tell you all that the Riley Pattern you saw Kaitlyn model in this post is now available on You Can Make This. So if you would like this lovely top with three pockets along the bottom and these fun pants then pick up the Riley Pattern today. This top has four buttons up the back; don't fret you could us snaps or Velcro. The pockets are the different colored fabric with the ric-rac at the top of it. It's a fun top that I'm considering making Kaitlyn another of in a bigger size so she can wear it over her cast. Oh, the best part about buying this pattern... You can print it out in any of the offered sizes at any time. I know some of you are scratching your heads, but stay with me here. Have you ever bought a paper pattern and cut it out in a size... whatever, and then your child grew and you needed a size larger? Well, you can get a size larger are smaller here (if it's offered) and not have to buy a new pattern. How great is that!!! When I started buying ebooks Kaitlyn was a size 1, but now she is a size 2 and I can keep using them. Also, now that she is in a cast I could make the pattern in a 3 or 4 and it will fit her great.

Riley Top And Bottoms Pattern

Tell me what you think of Kaitlyn's new outfit?
I know you have seen the top before, but now you can see the whole package. I never would have guessed the flowers would have been so easy to put on. I'm now inspired to try appliqueing again. My last go at it was maybe a year ago and it was rough. I've heard several people say how to cheat by using coffee filters and other such random items behind the applique'; I say don't be cheap. Buy yourself some sturdy stabilizer! I used the sew in kind, but I didn't actually sew it on. I put it behind my applique' and held it in place. It made the fabric turn so smoothly. When I was done I tore the stabilizer off the back.


Here's the back. If you don't want to try your hand at button holes you can use snaps or Velcro. If you aren't brave enough to sew in Velcro you can use the iron on kind; I'm not sure how sturdy it would be long term, but you can give it a go.

If you would like to try this fun pattern it will be available soon on You Can Make This and Etsy. Because Christmas is right on top of us the pattern may not be available until after the holidays. I'll let you know when it's published.

Stash Diving

How often do you dive into your notions stash when making an outfit? Or even try out some the special stitches on your sewing machine? Yesterday I poked through everything, cut out the pattern, then I couldn't find my Wonder Under so I decided that meant I was done for the night. After church I got back on my project.

I used some ric-rac for the stem of my flower and used Wonder Under to put the flower and leaf on the top. I was impressed how well the zig-zag stitch went around the flower. I used tear away stabilizer for the first time and it worked like a dream.

Here's what it looks like with the finished bottom portion (pockets). Crude as it may be the four buttons on the bottom right is a butterfly. I sewed the dark blue ric-rac onto the pocket. I actually used a double seam on the top of the pocket so the ric-rac would be more stable.

I layered a second flower onto the top. After ironing it on I measured out my ric-rac again and heat sealed the ends. Did you know you could heat seal the ends of ric-rac? It really helped with the fraying.

And here I was finally finished with all my additions so I could sew it all together. Please excuse the blue lines on the pocket. I wanted to make sure I sewed them straight so I drew lines on with a washable pen.

Here's my first set of button holes and buttons on a garment. I love how easy it is to make button holes with my new machine. I put the special foot on, line it up, and press the petal. Before long I have button hole. I also used the sewing machine to put the buttons on.

My last picture is the completely finished top. Tomorrow I will make pants out of the same blue fabric in the flowers. I'm wanting to put pink flowers on the pants too. I just have to decide how I want them to look.

Dee Dee Pleated Dress

The Dee Dee Pleated Dress ebook just became available on You Can Make This (YCMT). You can check out other patterns by Nanoo Designs on YCMT too or visit the author's blog for more links on where to buy her patterns.

I would just like to apologize in advance to all the authors I have patterns from. Kaitlyn never seems to photo well in your designs, but trust me it's all her. She used to be wonderful at having a quick smile when I put a camera before her, but now... well, it's all a game. Let's see how much I can run around and be "cute" before mom loses her patients and puts the camera away. Tonight I gave up. With that disclaimer please know these pictures do not show how nice the dress is, but what a stinker the one wearing it can be.

By the way, the dress looks big on her because I made it in a size 2 yet she is still in 18 months. Seeing how she has plenty of clothes for right now I'm trying to plan for when she outgrows them in a couple months. Seeing how we are firmly moving into fall around here she will mostly be wearing this dress with a long sleeve shirt and knit tights.

Nanoo Designs

I'm thinking about getting this pattern from Nanoo Designs. I'm not a big fan of the new trend of adding aprons to every dress, but it looks really good on this dress. The sunflower dress is super cute.
I also like this dress from Nanoo Designs and have considered getting this pattern for a Christmas dress.
Okay that's the end of my random pattern plug. I actually don't own any ebooks from this author, but I see potential in many of her designs. I like seeing what people add to personalize them and she gives you the perfect pallet to do so.