Sew What Club: City Tee

Another month, another pattern tested for Sew What Club.  I have been hoping a top would show up soon and it did and it is a great one.  It is the City Tee and it has a bunch of options with three different sleeves and three ways to finish the neckline.

I made the cuffed sleeve with the neck tie.  This pattern is so fast and easy to make as well as comfy.  I really like how it turned out.

Here is a fun photo.  Laurel took a picture of Eleanor taking a picture of me. 

You do what you have to do to get pictures when pattern testing. Picture by Laurel. #sewwhatclub #citytee

A photo posted by Tonia Jeffery (@littleellalu) on Feb 22, 2016 at 4:46pm PST

Sew What Club: Taylor Dress

Sew What Club has another amazing pattern coming out.  It is the Taylor Dress, featuring a high-low hem with layers of tulle and the option for an overlay or a less fuss fitted pencil skirt dress.

Other than the layers of tulle, this a fairly simple dress to make and turns out fantastic.

The only change I made was shortening the tulle by 6 inches (I'm rather short) and shortening the main skirt a little, but left the lace length.  Now I want to make a version with more tulle and tea length.

Sew What Club: Sanibel Dress

The next pattern from Sew What Club is the Sanibel Dress/Romper.  There are lots of details and it can be made with long sleeves or short.  I made the dress version with long sleeves.

It is very comfortable, though I think next time I would lengthen the skirt.

Sew What Club: Trouville

Sew What Club just released another women's pattern; the Trouville cover up.  It can be used on the beach as a cover up or wear it to town or even in the Fall throw on a cardigan and you are ready to go.

The fit on this dress feels wonderful and comfortable.  Other than all of those buttons and button holes, it is a fairly quick sew.  It has front and back yolks and you can add fun trims to the front yolk to jazz it up.

Sew What Club: Lille

I recently made me a new dress using the Lille dress pattern from Sew What Club during testing for them.  It is a really versatile pattern in that it can be made casual or dressy so easily, just with fabric selection and accessories.

My version isn't 100% accurate of the pattern released since quite a bit of tweaking to the pattern was done after I made this one, but I still like it.  The contrast pockets are a fun addition; for them I luckily found the same green as the leafage on the bird fabric.  I had also planned to take nicer pictures, but the temperature outside was way too hot to brave it.

Sewing in No Man's Land: Taking Notes Skirt

This first blog that I ever started following was Sewing in No Man's Land.  Her oldest daughter is just about the same age as Eleanor so finding her tutorials for the cutest outfits in the size I needed was perfect, plus her photography is just amazing.  When I saw that she was looking for pattern testers for her Taking Notes Skirt, I jumped at the opportunity.

 I tested both the girls' and women's.  The pattern is lovely and so quick and easy.  Eleanor's has a curved waistband, ties and is simply gathered.  Mine has the straight waistband and box pleats.  

The Taking Notes Skirt is available to everyone who signs up for her amazing new project, Sew What Club, which is a monthly subscription to amazing patterns at a great price.

Also, my blouse was made from Ottobre 5/2013 #8 Girly Touch with the sleeves from #12 Peplum Blouse.  I really like it and the fit is lovely.  The placket was a horror to figure out.

Pattern Testing - Love Notions: Lotus Blossom Blouse

Another pattern testing!  This time I tested a really quick sew for Love Notions.  The Lotus Blossom Blouse looks complicated with the twist in the front, but actually is fairly simple and it comes in a full range of sizes; from little girls' 2T all the way up to ladies XXXL (though girls and ladies are sold separately there is a discount for buying the bundle).

I love that there is also the option to have a lace inset at the back neckline.  I would have loved to do that, but I didn't have any stretch lace and I'm not allowed to buy more fabric.

I also made my jeans.  They were full length, but my fabric seems to keep shrinking even though I prewashed it, so I just rolled them up into capris.  I made them using #9 Lady Fit Jeans from the 5/2012 issue of Ottobre Design.  They turned out really well, though I have to keep pulling them up all the time and my zipper gave me issues.  I love that I used a floral fabric for the pocket bags and waistband lining for a little bit of fun.

Sewing for Me: Ottobre 2/2011 #1 Trento

I've been a bit frustrated with my lack of options for shirts, so I've been making an effort to make more time to sew for me.  This is one that I really only like in this outfit.  The shirt turned out way too short, even after adding to the pattern length.  I used a clearance nightgown for the fabric so it is nice and soft.  The pattern is Ottobre 2/2011 #1 Trento.  I have a favorite t-shirt pattern, but thought I'd give this one a try for more variation.

This Year's Family Photo Shoot

This post is going to take care of a few birds with one stone; I get to show off our family photo shoot and I made all three of the dresses.  These pictures were taken by L'amore Photography and once again we love what she did!

I made both of the girls' dresses last summer for a wedding and can't believe they still fit!  Eleanor's is a pattern by Me Sew Crazy called Julie's Dress.  Super cute!  I love the two layers making it extra puffy and giving it a vintage feel.  I'm just sad the pockets turned out too small.

Laurel's dress is a peasant dress from the pattern I mentioned here.  I keep thinking I really should make her more peasant dresses.  They are just so darling!

My dress is Crepe from Colette Patterns.  It was one of those patterns I knew I had to have from the moment I first saw it.  I really loved it.  The pattern was beautiful and wonderful to follow.  Though next time I make it I'm going to do the bodice fully lined rather than use the facing pieces they suggest and make it a size smaller (still looking for my size since I've lost weight, so probably nothing to do with the actual pattern sizing).

I sewed something for me!

You may have noticed it has been awhile since the last Sugar Baby post.  Well, that is because I've been trying really hard to get back to my pre-baby body and maybe closer to pre-marriage body.  So there goes super yummy sugary date night.  But thanks to losing weight and a lot of my clothing getting worn out, I got to go shopping and I also made me a shirt (along with buying a lot of fabric to make more). 

I used a pattern from the latest women's issue (2/2013) of Ottobre Design, called Lemon Juice (#13).  I was a bit nervous about making it.  It seems like everything I made for me turns out weird, plus I was working with knit (still scares me a little) and it was a very strange shaped pattern due to the side drape.  In the picture, it is the one on the far right.

Source 

I am so happy with how it turned out!  My only complaint is that it is a little big, due to apparently going down a size from the time I had Michael measure me to when I finished the shirt.  But thanks to the drape it is hard to tell.  So my complaint is also a good thing too. (Yay for losing weight!)