Selfish Sewing Week // Fancy Tiger Crafts Sailor Top Meets the Kraken

When it comes time to actually select and sew a project, it is so hard. I have so many ideas and want to sew every pattern with every fabric out there and while working at a fabric shop is amazing and I wouldn't trade it for the world, it can sometimes be overwhelming with all of the new & old amazing fabrics to pick from, and just as I settle on something and get it cut out, a new shipment comes in and I want to drop everything and play with it --> insert Tula Pink Elizabeth coming in the day I cut this top out! Over the years I have had to force myself to finish things before jumping onto something new, and I am so proud of myself for starting and finishing this top in a couple of days without cutting 100 other things out leaving everything unfinished.

Selfish Sewing Week came along and my motto was to just jump in and do something I've been dreaming about. Ever since we got this amazing Octo fabric in (part of Tokyo Train Ride by Sarah Watts for Cotton + Steel), I have been wanting to make something amazing & fun that I would actually wear! I bounced back and forth from a skirt, to a dress and then ran across the Sailor Top pattern and it was over, I knew it would be perfect. I am so happy with the way it turned out! I happen to live in a very eccentric town, Eugene OR, and while I am not brave enough to rock a lot of bold and daring things, I had so much fun wearing this around town yesterday. Everywhere I went from local wineries to local pizza joints, someone commented on how fun and awesome it was. I cannot wait to get tons of wear out of it this summer, and who knows it may even make an appearance at Quilt Market this spring and our trip to Hawaii this summer!

Straight Stitch Designs // Laurelhurst Pattern Test

Just as I thought life might slow down for a moment I blinked and it was time for selfish sewing week, and my friend Kimberly of Straight Stitch Designs posted a call for another pattern test just in time! I absolutely love her patterns and pattern testing for her, so even with a completely full plate I could not say no.

 












Her newest pattern, the Laurelhurst (available soon), is such an easy, fast & rewarding sew. While I don't mind and sometimes love intense, complex & time consuming garments/bags/quilts, sometimes it is nice to be able to sew something up in a couple of hours or less!

I went from wondering how on earth I was going to find the time to sew one up to sewing two up in no time at all.

This pattern is so comfy, I could live in these shrugs! Both of the ones I made are from knits I have been hoarding for quite some time waiting for the perfect project (they are both knits I used to sell in my online Etsy shop, and were the end-of-bolt remnant pieces), so being that this was all I had of them I wanted to make sure I used them for something amazing & I am so happy with my choice for both of them!

Laurelhurst #1:

The first one I made is out of a medium weight jersey, and I just love the drape. The pattern went together perfectly and I finished it with a rolled hem all the way around and love it.

Laurelhurst #2: 

I love the first one so much, and since it is selfish sewing week, I had to sew up another one! I used a lighter weight jersey knit and machine hemmed 1/4" all the way around, it is so cozy & comfy, and I love the color -- perfect for spring!

I will post more details on how to purchase the pattern when it is released.... stay tuned! 

Clover and Violet // The Louisa Bag Tour

It is no secret I love bags/purses & so when an opportunity came across my Instagram feed to join in on this bag tour, I couldn't resist! I am a huge sucker lately for quilted bags that use scraps and/or a mashup of lots of fabrics patch worked together. The Louisa Bag is from Clover and Violet is perfect for this. It combines a patchwork look on the main exterior with lots and lots of quilting throughout the entire bag. It is spacious and includes 2 interior pockets, but my favorite detail is the side pockets/ties -- so fun & cute and it really adds something to the bag.

This bag is great for confident beginners  to advanced sewists. It took me about a day and a half (5 movies later) from start to finish, counting in life's little distractions.... you mean we actually have to stop and cook a meal and run errands?!

I had so much fun making this bag, it really allows for your creativity to run wild with the fabric selections/placement and the quilting.

It took me a week to decide on my fabrics... there are so many amazing new (and older) collections out there right now and I am having a hard time making time for everything! I was standing at the counter one day at my fabric shop I help run and Doe just screamed out at me for this pattern. I knew the moment I saw Carolyn Friedlander's new collection, Doe, I had to make something, it was love at first sight after all, and while a quilt will happen eventually I needed something with more instant gratification. I am so happy with the way it turned out, I cannot express how much I love the Doe fabrics. I paired it with a Robert Kaufman Essex linen and feel that they were a perfect match.

I currently have the Louisa Bag patterns on order and the paper pattern will be available in both our storefront & online Etsy shop soon. We currently carry some of Carolyn Friedlander's Doe collection that I used as well as the Essex linen.

Get the Louisa Bag PDF Pattern // here. 
Shop our selection of Carolyn Friedlander's Doe fabric // here.
Buy Robert Kaufman's Essex linen // here. 

You can view the other wonderful bags that were made as for this tour on Instagram:
#louisabag
#cloverandviolet

Clover and Violet will also be going a bag tour blog post tomorrow that I will link up here!

Straight Stitch Designs // The Bellevue Top Pattern Test

I am so excited to share with you guys my first pattern test of 2015! I was so happy when my friend, Kimberly of Straight Stitch Designs announced her newest pattern, the Bellevue Top, available online in her pattern shop, here.

This is my 3rd time pattern testing for Straight Stitch Designs, I also tested the Ballard Top/Tunic and the Capitol Hill Dress/Tunic (see previous posts). I fell in love with Straight Stitch Design patterns from moment one, but the Bellevue Top has easily become my favorite. I absolutely love both the Ballard & the Capitol Hill and plan to make more, but the Bellevue has my heart! I am constantly looking for a base pattern that is a staple for my wardrobe. It has to be easy, well fast is more the goal but something I can sew up in a few hours (I am an instant gratification kind of girl when it comes to sewing for my wardrobe).

My favorite thing about this pattern is the ruffle/scooped bottom. It allows for such creativity with fabric choices/combos and it feels so girly and flirty! I have an extra pep in my step when I am wearing these tops!

Not only is this an easy and quick sew with amazing instructions, but it is extremely versatile, which for me is a huge plus. One of the girls in our test group made an alternate version, which was quickly incorporated into the pattern as an alternate option (seen in image 2 below).

One of the things I love most about testing for Kimberly is that she really goes above and beyond to make sure that the pattern is something that is not only fashionable, but functional too. She really listens to her testers when we have ideas and/or alternate versions!

The Bellevue Top is described as comfort meets elegance, and that is exactly right!

Bellevue #1:

My original Bellevue was made from one of the first versions but it was perfect for me. I was so impressed on how well the first draft came together and fit so good, and it is so comfy, yet elegant (hence the perfect description). Again with the whole sewing my stash thing I have going, I had been saving the black/gold polka dot chiffon for the perfect project, I mean it is not everyday a pattern calls for chiffon. I knew I did not have somewhere to wear an entire dress or top made out of it to, but when I saw the pattern design, I knew pairing it with a solid black jersey knit would be perfect, and I am so happy with it! It is perfect to wear with leggings and boots for work, and then dress up with heels for date night or going out (it will be going with me for sure on our next Vegas trip).

Bellevue #2:

After whipping up the first top, I knew I was hooked, er addicted! I was planning on making a second one almost identical with a few pattern edits, but then I saw an alternative version posted by a girl in our test group and while the original version with the bottom pieces is my favorite, the alternate version is an easy edit for a completely different look/feel that definitely has its place in the wardrobe too! I used a scallop edge lace from my shop and paired it with a ponte floral knit that we are now sold out of. This one challenged me creatively as I had to actually fussy cut the scallop off the original lace, and re-sew it back on to form the curves with the scallops! I will eventually get around to a blog post on that technique! :)

Bellevue #3:

Over the weekend the hubs and I decided to make it a stay at home weekend since I had sewing to do and he had house projects he wanted to finish up, so I had all the time in the world in my studio and found myself cutting yet a 3rd Bellevue, I am seriously addicted. However, this one has a whoops moment that was totally unrelated to the pattern and all my fault, but I made it happen anyway! I had been hoarding way some OOP polar bear Kokka Voile and had a white sweater knit that matched perfectly for the look I was going for... problem was I did not have enough to make the long sleeve version, which I knew I wanted for this top/fabric. I had a genius idea to cut the sleeves on the diagonal/bias even though the rest had been cut normal.... I liked the diagonal stripe look  it gave the sleeves and it seemed like a good idea at the time.... well lesson learned that doesn't work so well when trying to make the sleeves work with the neckline and the neckline was inches larger than where the sleeves ended. I took  it one step further and cut, yes CUT, off the extra neckline and yea...... I went to try it on and it wouldn't even go halfway up my arms. Sick to my stomach thinking it was done for, I made a call to my mom aka Superwoman when it comes to sewing (the owner of our fabric shop & alterations lady for 30+ years), she knows everything. She came over and helped rescue me, and in the end we made some edits and decided to add a ribbing neck back and it working amazingly, I was so relieved because I love this top! For this top I also used the alternative waistband option where you sew a piece onto the bodice to break it and the bottom piece up, it is included in the pattern as an option.

Bellevue #4:

I think it officially safe to say I am obsessed with this pattern... I really have no idea how the 4th one came about, but it seemed to have just happened late Sunday night before the work week started. Again sewing from my stash, I paired a mint rayon we just got into our shop (we got in black, white, mint and peach... they are amazing), with a tribal jersey knit I have had in the stash for awhile now. I made the most updated version, but made it more like my first top, except with the longer sleeve option, did I mention this pattern has 4 amazing sleeve lengths?! This being my 4th top in a matter of days, it kind of just went together, I really didn't even think about it and I didn't have the instructions anywhere nearby.

I really felt like this pattern/week has helped me get out of my sewing funk. I have so, so, so much fabric and so many ideas/patterns I love and much prefer handmade clothes over store bought, I am excited once again to make my closest and I know this pattern will forever be a staple of my wardrobe. 

Did I mention I have 3 more cut out?!?! I can't wait! 

Thanks Kimberly for such an amazing pattern. <3

Disclaimer: I received the Bellevue pattern as part of the pattern testing, but all opinions are my own!