Twinkle Toes and Company

                                                                                                   {Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It costs you nothing, but helps support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.} We don't live in the coldest climate, and while it doesn't snow all that much it does get pretty chilly here.  So, winter brings out the hoodie loving side of our natures. The Be Creative Hoodie by Ellie and Mac fulfills everything Miss. Thang could desire in a hoodie.   The ability to use one of her beloved Unicorn panels, long sleeves and wait...not a hood?! I'm currently in a cowl mood.  So, when the option to make a cowl was presented I was a happy mama.  These pictures don't have a drawstring in them for compliance.  However, I'll add a

                                                                                                    {Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It costs you nothing, but helps support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.} Ever since my daughter was teeny tiny, she has had a love for purses.  I like to joke that it's her hoarding tendencies.  She says it's her way of gathering her belongings. Either way, she adores them.  So, this Reindeer purse made her heart flutter.   Originally she wanted to Unicorn purse.  However, as I was the one sewing we ended up with the Reindeer. The pattern comes with a piece for the nose.  However, I opted to buy a huge button for the nose and snowflake buttons for the eyes.   So. Stinking. Cute! I ended up having to put a little bit of f

{Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It costs you nothing, but helps support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.} So I aparently lied just a little, it's not day 2, the schedule was changed slightly.  So, we're just going to go with it.           The weather outside is... frightful. Yeah, no.  It's just boring and rainy.  So, I'm going to satisfy my longing for Christmas Festivities with the Patterns for Pirates Holiday Freebies! Today is the first day of freebies and it's sooooooo good! Looks like a regular infinity scarf.  But, it has a surprise built in.... Zipper Pocket!!  I've seen these floating around, and debated figuring it out myself.  Those amazing Pirates though, they did the work for us! I may have had *a

{Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It costs you nothing, but helps support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.} When you're plus sized there's A LOT of rules that are supposed to be followed so you can look thinner. Last month I joined other House of Curves bloggers to telling our stories of why we test patterns and how we got started.  As we discussed what we wanted to see from House of Curves and the plus size pattern testing community, we really wanted to see us blow the "fashion rules" out of the water.   Plus sized women don't have to be put in a box just to try to look thinner.   It's taken a long time for me to be proud of my body.   According to Medical News Today , the average American Woman is 5'4".  That shocked me a little. 

{Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It helps me support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.} George and Ginger has a way of getting a gal to step out of her comfort zone! Clothing that sits at my natural waist isn't what I am naturally drawn to, nor are looser fitting clothes because I am very self conscious about my size.   Kristi (the amazing genius behind George and Ginger) is the reason I tend to step out of the box I have stayed in most of my life; so I'll sew just about anything she puts in front of me. I love the baby doll look to the Lively,  and the ruching at the shoulders.   Just a word to the wise...if your waist is anyway smaller than your hips or bust, don't forget to grade in for your waist so that you have less fabric which will give you a be

{Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It helps me support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.} I could live in long tunic length tops and leggings.  Somehow though without some serious lengthening of a pattern I rarely get the length I love.  Don't get me wrong, I can lengthen a pattern with the best of them because I have come to face the reality that I'm half giant.  Go ahead and laugh, I'm either half giant or my parents fed me miracle grow when I was little.   Regardless of which is true, I have a REALLY long side waist and even longer legs.   So when I had the opportunity to make the Autumn Sweater by Halla, I jumped on it!   I'm a big fan of comfort and this absolutely falls into the comfort wear category! I have several versions of Autumn, I've

{Please note that some of these links are affiliate links.  If you purchase something I have recommended, sewn etc. through those links I will receive a small percentage of compensation.  It helps me support my sewing "therapy" and the ability to review and test more patterns.} It's Fall ya'll, and it's about time!  I am beside myself with excitement!  I love a good sweater or sweatshirt, blankets, cups of tea and cuddling with my loved ones.  And because it's fall, that means it's absolutely time to wear sweaters! So. FREAKING. EXCITED! Well, I am today because the high is 65.  Before today, it was a tad hot..but I suffered in silence because the brand new Essie Cardigan  by Halla is 100% worth every drop of sweat! As always, the options are outstanding!  Typically I add a cardigan when I'm feeling like staying home or not feeling well.   The Essie though makes me feel cute and dressed up! The different peplum options are fantastic

I'm beyond excited to be partnering with such a great group of women to do this series of personal stories about Pattern Testing! Two years ago before I started testing patterns, if someone had asked me for the size of my clothing, my measurements or even hinted at the fact I was plus sized I would have been mortified.  Truthfully, most of my life my body hasn't fit into the "regular sized" pattern mold.  I was always one of the tallest, if not the tallest kid in my class while in school which meant finding clothes that fit right was difficult.  Skirts were too short, pants made me look like I was waiting desperately for a flood and even shirts were never long enough!  My mom sewed quite a few of my clothes, which meant at least some of my clothes fit me. Back to the beginning of time...or rather my sewing journey because I'm only 29 *wink*: The First time I remember sitting down and actually sewing is when I was in middle school and was participating i