The Constance Cape by Jilly Atlanta

Among the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the upcoming Christmas season, I managed to squeeze in one more pattern test for my sweet friend Jill of Jilly Atlanta. The Constance Cape is available now in her Etsy shop and will be only $5 for the first 24 hours! The perfect winter accessory for any little lady.

I chose to sew this one up in a plaid brushed cotton just perfect for the holidays. I went with the ruffled collar option, because let's face it I have a thing for ruffled collars! I also chose to do the straight hem, but I can't wait to try out the scalloped hem version of this cape as well!

The inside of the cape is fully lined and can easily be made reversible. My little princess was sick, so I wasn't able to get out to pick up any new materials for this one. So I went with a solid red cotton for the lining. 

The pattern includes instructions for cutting your ties on the bias, but I wanted to add a fun pop of red to our cape. These ties are just a red velvet ribbon that I had on hand. Love how sweet this one turned out.

The pattern ranges from size 2t up to a size 14. Pieces are nested and layered to save on what you print! There are so many fun combinations you can make with this pattern with the two collar options, two hem line options, and two closure options!

Suggested woven fabrics for the cape include- wool, lightweight denim, lightweight corduroy, linen, and cotton. You can really have fun with this one! 

The PDF file includes:

Size chart in imperial and metric

Fabric requirements in imperial or metric

Notions list

Sewing tips

Computer drawn patterns

Tutorial with pictures detailing each step

YouTube videos for extra help

Glossary of terms

And for those of you that don't have a serger, great news, this pattern has a professional finish with no serger required!

So hurry on over to the Jilly Atlanta Etsy shop to pick up your copy on sale for just $5 the first 24 hours only! And then make sure to join the Jilly Atlanta Pattern Group to show off your creations! <3

The Duchess by Jilly Atlanta

The Duchess- it just sounds like the perfect prim and proper name for this sweet little dress. The latest pattern by Jilly Atlanta does not disappoint! This simple A-line dress with gorgeous side pleats is the perfect pattern for showcasing fabrics or fun little details. 

I chose to use a simple ivory with black dot for the bodice (mostly to match these sweet little Joyfolie shoes to be completely honest) and then paired with a solid soft pink for the ultimate girly combo. 

The side pleats are accented with sweet side bows and I also chose to add a bow to the bodice. The V-shape of the bodice is very unique and a fun change from the patterns I normally sew.

Jill's patterns are very well laid out. From nested pattern pieces with easy to align pages, to the clear concise step by step instructions. Jill has even included links within the pattern to video tutorials for extra help! How amazing is that? 

The pattern ranges from size 2t up to 12 years. It includes a size chart to aid in choosing the correct size for the perfect fit. If you have a little one like mine, I often find myself mashing sizes to get the fit spot on! The interior finish on this one is gorgeous as well. The bodice seams are enclosed for a clean and finished look.

The back has a sweet button and loop closure. I found this gorgeous little button in my stash of vintage buttons and it was just the perfect touch for the back.

You can have so much fun with this pattern. Mix your fabrics up or use a sweet flannel or corduroy to make a jumper for cooler weather. The possibilities are endless!

The pattern will release this Thursday (Oct 27th) beginning at 8am (EST) and will be on sale for $5 for the first 24 hours! Run over to the Jilly Atlanta shop to purchase your copy and then head over to join the Jilly Atlanta Facebook Group to share your creations! <3

Loving the Lea by Made for Mermaids

Does your little girl love the comfort of knits? I know mine certainly prefers them most days, so I was thrilled to test out that latest Made for Mermaids pattern- the Lea tunic, dress & romper!

This sweet little pattern is loaded down with options. Lea can be a tunic or dress in all knit or with a knit bodice and woven bottom OR she can be a romper with either long or short legs in knit! This is the dress version in all knit with rolled cuff sleeves. The sleeves can also be hemmed if you prefer the look of no cuff.

The neckline has a gorgeous scoop in the back making it super easy to pull on and off. I love the look of the elastic casing at the waist, it makes for such an adorable silhouette.

For this test I used this sweet Art Gallery knit by Bonnie Christine from the Hello Bear Collection. This particular knit is the Firefly Knit in Sigh. I made the Size 1 width with Size 4 length for my little one, but really should have done the Size 5 length based on her height for a little added length. We plan to pair with little shorts underneath for easy play.

We LOVE pockets in our house, so the in-seam pocket option on this one was a must for us! There are also instructions for an optional bodice pocket.

This pattern covers sizes 1/2 to 14 years, but guess what, there is a mama version too! Both are a great staple to add to your pattern collection. And both have all of the features we love about Made for Mermaids PDFs- layered sizing so you can print just the sizes you want and those fabulous no-trim pages!

The Lea and Mama Lea are on sale through Saturday, 8/27 midnight CST. Grab them for the sale price while you can and save even more if you buy the bundle!

Made for Mermaids- Back to School Tour

It's hard for me to believe that school has already begun for us this year! We kicked off on Monday and for the first time ever all three of my "babies" (don't tell them I said that)- headed off to school all day! I was tickled to be invited to the Made for Mermaids Back to School blog tour. I wanted to make something special for the first day of Kindergarten anyways- so what better excuse to make something sweet and take loads of pictures.

I chose to use the Sophie pattern. It's one of those I have had in my collection for a long time because I just love the classic style, but just haven't taken the time to make. So, I was tickled at the opportunity to sew one up for the tour! 

I changed the construction up a tad as I wanted to add piping just to the center contrast panel. I picked up this gorgeous pink piping from one of my favorite online retailers who just so happens to be within driving distance for me- Farmhouse Fabrics. 

Farmhouse Fabrics also has a fabulous selection of fabrics like this lime green pima cotton I snagged for this Sophie dress. At 60" wide I was able to just use one full width for my skirt and make sewing even faster!

I fell in love with these little apple shaped mother of pearl buttons that I purchased for the back of the dress. Such a sweet little touch for the back. I also modified the back just a smidge by cutting down the back pattern pieces to make more of a square (well it technically turned out to be more of a trapezoid- ha!) neckline.

The Sophie pattern comes in size 1/2 - 14 years and it is loaded down with options. The regular pattern comes with mid-length and long sleeves and there is a pattern add on for cap, short, and flutter sleeves! There is so much you can do with that center panel- from buttons to embroidery or even showcasing special fabrics. The back can have buttons or a zipper- traditional or exposed. 

I love that this pattern is dress code friendly and can also take you through the seasons with so many options. It's just waaaay too hot down here in the south for anything but sleeveless right now! Ha!

And some GREAT News- Made for Mermaids Patterns are all 20% OFF with the code "M4MB2S" for the duration of the blog tour! (Does not include fabrics) 

A big thank you to the Made for Mermaids team for including me in this tour. Make sure you don't miss out on the rest of this week's Back to School fun!

Aug 8 - Lily Shine Boutique   Wild & Wanderful   Paisley Roots

Aug 9 - Handmade boy   Coles Corner & Creations   Pattern Revolution

Aug 10 - Pear Berry Lane   Snickerdoodle Stew   Squishy Face Collection

Aug 11 - Not Sew Plain Jane   Three Penguins   Sweet Red Poppy

Aug 12 - Better Dressed Child   Sew Sophie Lynn   Sew & Tell Project

P.S. You can always shop Three Penguins at www.threepenguinsclothing.com

Quirky little Quinn- a new pattern by Made for Mermaids

There are a few pattern companies that I test for on a regular basis that never disappoint. Made for Mermaids is one of those- they always nail the perfect patterns and the newest pattern- Quinn, is no exception!

A precious v-neck front and elastic or shirred back can be paired to make a multitude of combinations. There is a top, a dress with or without ruffles, an A-line tunic, and even a Maxi dress length! I just had to make two the first day and really want to make the others now too! Here's a peak at our top version paired with Made for Mermaids Lucy shorts in chambray.

The pattern has directions for making your own straps from fabric or dimensions if you choose to use pre-made bias or trim. I opted for this gorgeous vintage braided trim that I picked up locally for my dress version. I had no clue what I would use it for when I bought it, but I just knew I "needed" all that they had of it! The beads I found in my stash of vintage buttons inherited from my grandmothers and thought they added a fun touch.

For the top version I used a sweet mint twill tape for the straps- I love some mint! I also used a gorgeous woven jacquard ribbon with one of the most beautiful color combinations. It just makes me swoon!

The pattern ranges from a size 1/2 up to a 14, so you can sew these up for many years! This pattern looks great on any age and the fit with the elastic back and sweet shoulder ties is very forgiving. The pattern includes a detailed size chart and fabric requirements.

Detailed step by step instructions with photos will guide you through the construction process from cutting to finishing. And as always, the pattern includes layers so you can choose any or all sizes to print out and save yourself a little ink. 

We had so much fun sewing these up and taking pics- I leave you with just a "few" of our favorites before you head over to the Made for Mermaids page to shop for your Quinn- available starting Thursday 5/26 and on sale for a limited time!