Patterns 4 Pirates {Me Hearties Dress} A Review

This dress really excited me when I saw the tester call for it. It was something right up Miss 12 year olds alley, or as she would say.. "this is totally my style!" and it was.

I recently got some Ponte online, that I was going to use for some pants for me but thought it would be perfect for this dress! 

The Dress is very simple to put together, I was surprised at how quickly it went together of course the use of my coverstitch for the binding made it even quicker. There is an option to use Fold Over Elastic (FOE) for the binding, but i'm not a fan of elastic or how it looks/feels.

Instructions are pretty straight forward, and go together how I would do it if I wasn't following  any instructions.

The version I went with was a size 12 with the the sweetheart bodice, short sleeves and I used stretch lace for the upper bodice and sleeves, Ponte for the bottom bodice and circle skirt, and bound the neck and sleeve hems with a black cotton/lycra. I also did a rolled hem on the skirt, you can leave it un-hemmed because, knits to fray!

The skirt is a full circle skirt, so it gives a lot of twirl factor and we all know how little girls love this!

Its very easy to dress this dress pattern up or down, all depends on your fabric choices and the combination you select.

The pattern features
- trimless pages (how much do I love those!)

- Letter and A4 printing
- Layers (a must have for patterns!)

- 3 sleeve lengths (short, 3/4 and long)
- 2 Skirt lengths (peplum, and dress length)

The dress also has a mummies version! I'll be adding that one to my collection so I can make some really sweet mummy and me dresses. Christmas Ideas already?

The Me Hearties Dress is $9.00 but currently on sale for $7.50. Head over to the P4P website and purchase your copy here: Me Hearties Dress

Love Notions {Pemberley Tunic & Dress} A Review

Ladies size small, 3/4 length sleeves, average bust, cotton/lycra fabric (95/5)

I love me some selfish sewing! Being able to make something for me, that fits me. Nothing beats that.

Recently I was involved in the testing of another Love Notions pattern, the Pemberley Tunic. At first I wasn't so sure on the style. I was worried that it would make my lower half larger and I am already self conscious about that aspect of me as it is. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised with how it actually flattered my figure rather then accentuate. I think the curved hem helps with that!

The Elastic is also free under the bust so you can move the gathers to where it is more flattering on your figure. I found moving them to the front and back and keeping the sides smooth really slimmed my waist down.

Once again, Tami is definitely the queen of options when it comes to her patterns! This pattern started out exclusively as a tunic, with 3 different sleeve lengths.. and due to tester feedback (she really listens to us!) this is what we have ended up with

4 Sleeve options
- Short
- 3/4
- long
- Bishop

2 Different top lengths
- Tunic
- Dress

2 Bodice options
- Average Bust

- Full Bust

Other options
- Tabs for the sleeves

- Maternity add on

And following on from other patterns, we also trimless patterns, a4 and letter guidelines, and layers with hyperlinks in the tutorial.

The pattern is really easy to follow, Tami's instructions are very easy to follow and you end up with a beautiful garment that is just for you.

It is definitely suited to drappy fabrics, but I used a cotton/lycra blend (art gallery fabric.. swooon) and it still turned out beautiful <3

Highly recommend this pattern, it will make a great addition to your wardrobe for any season! and any occasion.

Sofliantjes {Amare To and Dress} A review

size 4 dress, with sash option

Its no secret that I am more of a sewer of knits.. I love the quickness of sewing with knits. Woven takes time, and I am a bit of a perfectionist sometimes (not that it always shows :P) so it takes a little longer, and well when you have 4 kids.. sometimes its the quick and dirty sew you need.

When I do sew something with woven, I need a pattern that is easy to follow, and produces a beautiful result, and Sofliantjes is definitely one of my go to designers.

I was involved in testing the Amare Dress and Top. I loooooooove the finished product. It is super cute, classy and modest.. and what little girl would not look gorgeous in this?

You have the option of a top or a knee length dress, you can have a bow, or a sash.. or as some testers did a bow and a sash! The options with colour blocking this one is what makes it! I'm adding this pattern to the Christmas photo options for my girls this year.

It also has a great size range 12 months to 12 years, but isn't recommended for those with a developing chest and is an advanced beginner to intermediate pattern. It has a few tricky parts but honestly, if I can do it you can do it!

There is no pattern piece for the skirt portion of the dress and top, only the bodice so it helps save on ink as well. You also have the options of using Buttons or snaps on the back closure... I used snaps, because well.. button holes are not my most favourite thing to do.

If you haven't tried any Sofliantjes patterns you really should, and for its release the pattern is on sale for $5USD at the Sofliantjes website. It really is a beautiful design and I can't wait to make more of them.

E+M Patterns {Dress Pattern No.21} A review

My first time testing for Allison from E+M Patterns, and it was a pleasure to do so. I have a few E+M patterns in my pdf stash, and this new dress makes a nice additions to my girls wardrobe.

It has a few options that make this one very versatile, that will allow me to get the most out of this pattern for my three girls, and it very well may an appearance in my soon to open FB shop!

We have these Options

Three different sleeve lengths
- Short Sleeve
- 1/2 Sleeve
- Long sleeve

Three different Hem options
- Regular straight
- Shirt Hem (curved)
- Hi-Lo

Three waist options
- Shirred
- Hidden Elastic casing
- Belt Casing

It also has a very nice size range for 2-10 years old.

Plus is has my favourite feature of Trimless pages! they make my life easier!

The only thing really missing is layers.

The Dress goes together really easily and really quickly and the end result is beautiful. The gathering around the front neck is such a simple little addition and really adds a nice touch to the finished dress.

All up including the shirring, printing and taping together it took me an hour, next time will be quicker as when I am testing a pattern I take things a little slower and read things step by step.

Miss A was very pleased with the end result and her Pony dress, I had been hoarding this fabric for awhile, it was one of my very first knit purchases!

I can see using some sweat knit to make some really nice winter dresses using this pattern. Oh the ideas are spinning now!

Definitely recommend adding Dress No.21 to your PDF collection, and you can grab it on sale until Tuesday midnight (eastern time) for $4 USD (regular price is $8) no coupon code needed!

Size 5 long sleeve with shirring waist

If you want to see other tester photos just click this link  lots of inspiration! 

Jocole {Ladies Shift Dress} a review

Once again, I was lucky enough to be involved in testing a new Jocole pattern one for the new Bundle up package! This one took me way out of my comfort zone, I have spent the past few month sewing mainly Knits and have become very comfortable with them. This pattern called for a woven type fabric, not only that but it also requires a zipper and darts! two things I have not yet tackled in my sewing adventures.

Thankfully like I expected Jocole's instructions on both the zipper installment and darts was a breeze and easy for any first timer to do (neither are at all as scary as I thought they were, go figure). This pattern has a few options.

Length
- Tunic or Knee

Neckline
- Scoop or Boat neck

I decided to go with a cotton drill fabric for this one. I am really happy with my choice of fabric its going to be amazing for summer time (too bad winter is on the way here in Australia!) and I am super impressed with how I lined up the seams too!

size Small, Tunic length with scoop neck

This is really very comfortably, and was surprised at how quickly it came together as well.

Like usual the Shift Dress pattern, like the other Jocole patterns are very easy to tape together (especially if you use the trick of taping together on a large glass window/door), and the instructions flow well and make each step a breeze.

Next time I will try the knee length option, it would look amazing with some knee high boots this winter!

Sofliantjes {Brueram Dress} A review

One of the best things about testing patterns for me, is that it forces me to step out of my comfort zone and try things that I put off because they look intimidating. For example shirring! I have seen many many patterns over the past year that use that technique but have avoided them because well, it looks pretty darn intimidating! especially as a beginner sewer. Not that I can probably call myself a beginner anymore? Advanced beginner? Intermediate? some where in between I think!

Normally I lean towards patterns that call for knit, this one was a woven one it was nice to get back to the wovens, even if for a short time ;)

I have tested for Sofilantjes before, so I knew that when she did a tester call for the Brueram dress, and that even though it called for shirring, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try! knowing the end result would be worth over coming my fear of it.

The pattern doesn't explain how to shirr it assumes that you know how to. After asking around, I was pointed in the direction of the Make it Love it blog post about it, which was great and well made it sound really simple, even though  I have a brother machine with a drop in bobbin!

So I jumped right in! I was testing the maxi dress version, sadly as I was cutting out the material I realised that I didn't have enough fabric for the maxi dress length! so it ends up hitting calf level... which I will admit I love just a little bit!

There are three different skirt options; A peplum top, Petal skirt and Maxi skirt. There are also two options for the bodice; Elastic casing and Shirring.

It also uses under stitching, enclosed seams, hand stitched hemming and the bodice is fully lined!

The size range is great too size 12 months to size 14, however due to the bodice its not recommended for developing figures.

There is also the awesome feature of layers, you can only print the size you want, and with the printing chart it really cuts down the amount of pages you need to print! and for those wondering the maxi dress skirt part is just measurements for the rectangle, so no wasted paper printing off the skirt pattern!

I used quilting cotton for my bodice which meant I had to really steam the shirring to get the right look, its recommended to use lighter fabrics for the bodice so next time I think I will use some poplin ect.. an excuse to pick some poplin up next shopping trip... I'm down with that!

Size 5 Maxidress (shortened) and Shirred bodice

Miss A, love it, throughout the fitting process she kept getting angry at me for taking it off her, and she wore it out to dinner that night.

The instruction to make the dress are well written and easy to follow, great for a confident beginner that wants to jump out side their comfort zone. The end result is timeless and any little girl will love this dress!

I will be making this one again, so why don't you? Miss A gives it her smile of approval! Get your copy of the Brueram Dress pattern while it is on sale for $5 for two days only!

Love Notions {Ladies Bluezette Pattern} A review

After being lucky enough to test the girls Bluezette by Love Notions, I instantly jumped at the chance to test out the Ladies version. This one has even MORE options then the girls one... just what us women want! something we can customise to suit our needs.

This one is part of Bundle up May sale! lots of amazing patterns in that bundle that I can't wait to get my hands on. Nothing like a bit of selfish sewing!

Now to the Pattern details...

Two bodice options, Slim fit and Blousey

Three sleeve lengths; Tank, Short and elbow 

Five skirt options; Tulip, Hi-low, Maxi, Gathered short and circle skirt.

The bodice can be fully lined, as is the skirt! which means you can use those pretty sheer fabrics like lace, chiffon ect.

This pattern has it all, Layers so you only have to print your size, no trim! for both US paper and AU, a lot of effort went into making sure that it worked for everyone! It makes the putting together this large pattern a breeze and its something I wish all designers would do!

This pattern taught me a few things I didn't know how to do before.. elastic casings and the buritto method for having that classy finish on the bodice, along with the understitching. It looks like something you buy right off the rack.. except it fits perfectly.

I especially love the option for the blousey bodice, perfect for hiding that not so perfect mummy tummy as a result of 4 kids, but at the same time doesn't look like your wearing a sack, The elastic waist really shows some definition and accentuates the figure that most clothes hide. You can adjust where it sits which is a bonus! either natural waist, up higher under the bust or down lower which really lets you get different looks out of just the one dress!

I loved the Tulip version I made so much that I had to made a second one and try the Maxi version, sadly I ran out of fabric for the bodice so I added the contrast panel at the back,, and I love it! It really ties the top and bottom in and I get compliments every time I wear it!

Size Small Blousey Bodice with Tulip Skirt

Size Small Blousey Bodice with Maxi Skirt

Love Notions {The Girls Bluezette Dress} A review.

Its been a while since I have blogged any sewing things. Life gets so busy these days... ok lets face it since starting sewing any free time has been taking up either sewing, stalking pattern designers, reading posts in facebook groups about sewing, watching tutorials.. and well, buying fabric.

I have come a long way in the past few months, and have even been lucky enough to test patterns now for some designers. Most recently I was lucky enough to test some Love Notions patterns.

The Girls Bluezette Dress, This dress is perfect for all ages, I tested it on my gorgeous 11 year old doesn't she just look stunning?

Size 10 elbow length sleeves with hi-lo skirt

This pattern has so many options! I think Tami, the love notions designer is officially the queen of options. You have the choice of 3 sleeves lengths; tank, cap and elbow, and 3 skirt lengths; Tulip, Hi Low and knee length gathered. The bodice is fully lined if you choose as is the skirt! so you can use gorgeous lace overlays and sheer fabric, the is no limit to what you can do with this Pattern.

This was my first time sewing with Chiffon, with all the tips and hints along the way it made attempting is a breeze. There are detailed photos, and detailed steps for all methods and all options, even down to how to hem with fabric like Chiffon.

All in all I highly recommend this pattern for anyone with girls! Tweens will especially love this pattern so will mums, with it being modest yet still fashionable!