Twinkle Toes and Company

The Be Inspired Skirt by Ellie and Mac  is every little girl's dream of the perfect mermaid tail. This skirt and shirt was made as a present for one of her best friends.  Thankfully she's the same size!   The Be Inspired is a great pedal skirt.  And, while it gives the illusion of a mermaid, the actual pencil skirt isn't so long that she can't move in it.  In fact, we had a hard time getting her to stop moving and dancing in it so we could take pictures! She kept dancing and twirling and loves it so much that she has asked for one for herself.  It's a good thing it's already started!  The pedals were really easy to cut out, and the fact that you don't have to hem them makes them perfect!  The tutorial on how to gather them is great and easy to follow.  Then, when it comes time to attaching everything else together, including the shorties under the skirt the sewing goes really smooth! Did I mention those shorties?!?!   F

Emerson and Maya...a match made in sewing heaven! Jennifer Jeremiah with Petite Stitchery did a beautiful job drafting both of these patterns.  As a tester, sometimes I get the opportunity to see glimpses of the process a designer takes in drafting a pattern.  The Emerson is one of those patterns.   Jennifer had a vision for the pattern, and it looked beautiful on her.  However, it wasn't coming across the same way when sewn by the testers.  So she performed some amazing "CPR" and out came a beautiful top!  She worked tirelessly to create the best pattern she could and I truly believe she did an excellent job! I adore the sleeves on this Emerson!  The sleeves can be made with a bell sleeve, a plain sleeve or up to three flounces.  While I really like all of the sleeves, my favorite is the bell sleeve! The fit of the Emerson is spot on and looks fantastic with the "V" in the front and the back of the shirt.  The V lends an elegant look to the Emers

Swim season is right around the corner.   In our case, we're headed faster than most because we hit warm weather pretty early. So the excitement about the Bahama Mama is real in my house! A swimsuit and rashguard all in one?!?!  Count us in! The Bahama Mama comes in three sleeve lengths, cap, short and long sleeve.  All of which are perfect for playing at the river or beach...or just outside in the sun! The Raglan style sleeve makes assembly quick and easy.   There are two zipper lengths that can be used.  I used a 9" zipper here.  However, a 12" zipper can also be used for ease of access or for nursing moms. At first Miss. Opinionated Teen was a tad worried about the rear end coverage.  (The "opinionated" was a bit understated in this conversation.)  When I was fitting the muslin, I didn't put in the elastic so the fit wasn't quite the same.  However, the coverage is perfect, just make sure to measure your elastic and yo

I’ve always loved a sweater or cardigan.  Truthfully, anything that is comfortable.  I currently have what I can my “bear” sweaters.  I got them at Costco and they are SO ugly, but they are incredibly comfortable.  They make me feel like I’ve been wrapped in goodness when I’m not feeling the best. Like eating comfort food! I know, this is quite a way to start a post about Ellie and Mac’s newest pattern the Good Luck Cardigan.  In all reality though, it’s about the same of goodness.  The difference is that when you slip into the Good Luck Cardigan you find yourself not just comfortable but also looking really stylish! Until I started sewing for myself, I was stuck buying whatever the fashion world deemed appropriate for men.  I’m taller than what they think women wear.  It sounds crazy, but I never got the cute “hit me where they are supposed to sweaters, shirts, cardigans maxi dresses etc.  So, the fact that I can add length easily to the Good Luck Cardigan is a HUGE p

We live in Washington State. When most people think of Washington State, they think rainy and chilly. That's not the reality we live in though, we're on the other side of the state.   You know, where sunny, dry weather is the standard. While my kids have winter coats because we do get good gusts of wind through here that makes it cold, we just don't get the terribly cold weather.  In fact, I don't own a winter coat.  So, I (and most of my household) prefers to wear sweatshirts and hoodies during the winter rather than their coats.   They provide just enough warmth to keep me/us from being cold when I'm outside. So, I almost feel like an expert on judging hoodies/jackets.   Don't get me wrong though.   I'm only semi-pro, and that's because I've sewn 8 of them in the past three to four weeks! The Go To Jacket s by Patterns for Pirates fits the bill of being comfortable, warm enough to keep us from getting a chill but not too

I have adored Kristi at George & Ginger patterns for a long time.  She is an incredibly talented designer. Come to find out she’s not only talented but has a really big heart as well.   This weekend Kristi is celebrating her birthday and in lieu of birthday presents she is doing a fundraiser for Sandy Hook Promise.  Their mission is to "Prevent gun-related deaths due to crime, suicide and accidental discharge so that no other parent experiences the senseless, horrific loss of their child." https://www.sandyhookpromise.org   All proceeds from the sale of the pattern will be donated to Sandy Hook Promise.   I remember vividly the panic of not knowing where my mom or sister were during the Columbine School Shootings.   At the time no one knew what school it was at and while my mom worked at a neighboring school we didn’t know which school the shootings happened at.   The utter fear of not knowing should never happen to anyone, nor should the loss of a child.