A Gift: Mix It Up Jammies

My best friend's little boy is has turned 3. 3! Why do children grow up so fast?!?

I love giving them clothes for their birthdays and making them is so special. I love them so dearly! Last year I made him some super hero shirts and some dressier shorts. 

This year my dear friend said he needed pajamas for the summer. Perfect opportunity to sew up the awesome Jean and Jamey Jammies by GYCT Designs (affiliate)! You can see my last post on them for my own kids here.

I also wanted to try my hand at the Alex and Anna Summer Pjs by Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop (affiliate). With our summers, I thought some sleeveless options would be nice too. I made the sleeveless shirt to mix and match.

The first set of GYCT Design's Jean and Jamey Jammies (affiliate) I did just normal. No modifications or embellishments. Seriously, these are just super cute as the pattern pieces call for.

The fabric is super soft and the shorts were fun with the spaceship on it.

I couldn't decide what fabric to use for the shorts, blue or spaceship... The second GYCT Designs J&J shorts (affiliate) I added a band to the hem finished about an inch in length...

I think it added a great touch to the applique fussy cut space ship on the sleeveless Alex and Anna Summer Pjs by Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop (affiliate) and the binding made with the space fabric.

So, I decided to do some mix and match jammies for him. You know the kind you buy at the store that has 3 or 4 pieces? Granted she wanted only short sleeve and shorts. So I used this opportunity to use my fabric and create a mix and match set using my favorite pj pattern Jean and Jamey Jammies and the Alex and Anna Summer Pjs.

A couple more of the shirt.

What is your 'go to' summer pajama pattern for your kids or yourself?

Modified Coraline: Swoon Sewing Patterns

*This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission only if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. All reviews expressed are my own.*

I made another bag! Yes, its another Swoon Coraline (affiliate) and it is modified! I used the small coraline and she looks so cute! Perfect for a little one!

It almost doesn't look like a Coraline. It has a strap like these ones I made and the same length. I cut the strap at 29" x 4". I folded it like bias tape (but not cut on the bias) and added batting. 

The front flap is just a shortened and narrowed the main piece with a snap.

I also used the main pattern piece (taken in about an inch and a half) for the outer shell and the lining omitting the recessed zipper and thus, the need for the two interior pieces. It made the topstitching a little bit easier actually! And easier for little hands to get in and out of!

It is a cute little bag and I am proud of how it turned out. It was for a 5-year-old's birthday party on Saturday! We added some crayons to go with it! 

The back. I tried fussy cutting the fabric the best that I could to have both Anna and Elsa decently displayed. What little girl doesn't love Elsa and Anna?

Honestly, though, I am so excited about how it turned out! I got to use a new snap applicator that I have picked up. 

The Coraline clutch is a part of the Favorites Collection (affiliate) too!

Swoon Sewing Patterns: Ethel Tote

This post contains affiliate links.  It was not requested of me to write this post. 

All opinions expressed are my own.

I needed a new purse. For the last year I have been carrying the large Coraline pattern by Swoon Sewing Patterns. You can see my Coraline here. I over stuffed her and pushed her past her limits. It's sad, but she needs to retire. Worked harder than most my other purses (it didn't help that I learned the hard way how to do those handles, interfacing is not the same thing as facing! Ha!)...

I decided to make an Ethel. She is a great pattern. For one, she is free. A great one to get your feet wet with the way their patterns are written. I still think that Coraline is a great beginner Swoon pattern as she is easier to sew together aside from the handles, read carefully. :) But the Ethel tote is lovely!

I used some fabric that was given to me by a mentor mom in MOPS. It was one in a box of beauties. I new, once I looked at it that it needed to be made into a bag.

I lined the pocket up perfectly. I love how the pattern just continues. Simple solid lining. I just used muslin, as the color matched the blues in the outer lining.

She makes me want to make more bags!

You know what's exciting?

12 of the popular bags are bundled together, the Swoon Favorites Collection for 38.95! Now, I am a math person. I like to know what I am saving if I am saving anything. The bags, if bought separately, cost about 71.40. That is a little bit less than half off! Awesome!

There is also another subscription option, Swoon Vintage Collection where you can get the next 12 patterns as they are released! How exciting is that? It's the same as the Swoon Favorites Collection cost. It was supposed to be the patterns she was going to release with a book, but the book fell through so she is doing it this way instead! The first one is already released! Swoon Vintage Collection

I love her subscription, I did the last one and loved it! I think I might be asking for this one for my birthday and mother's day! ;)

Happy Sewing!

GYCT Design's Monthly Monday Madness: Jean and Jamey Jammies {Sale}

Little man has been needing some new jamanas (as we call jammies, pajamas or pjs) for a while. He has steadily outgrown his 3t ones that he has had for about a year now and I can see 4ts not lasting too much longer! Of course the hubby said, "why not make him some new pairs?!?" Like really, Jessi! You do all this sewing, you can do this too... Of course! GYCT Designs Jean and Jamey Jammies (affiliate) are perfect!

I meant to sew his up for Christmas, but that didn't happen. Footie jamanas were supposed to be new years but those were closer to February.... This GYCT Designs (affiliate link) Monthly Monday Madness sale has given me the perfect opportunity (and the swift kick I needed) to sew up at least one pair for the little guy!

The GYCT Designs Jean and Jamey Jammies (affiliate link) are the perfect jamanas pattern. Both the kids love their jamanas and so far, have refused to take them off the next morning. Though it's a bit difficult getting them ready to go out the door, there is no better feeling than the happiness that instills in my heart. My babies love mommy made jammies!

I cut out little man's initials and appliqued them on the sleeves, and broke down the color blocking a little bit further to include the red line. The letters are flannel (so I sized up) and extended the flannel length so I could hide the raw edge in the hem. He kept pulling on the neck binding (arg!) and so it needs a good spin in the dryer...

And there is a free add on for those that have bought the pattern for the little ladies! A cute nightgown option! Just join the GYCT Deisngs Facebook group for the add on! It's super cute too! I love the gathers, subtly girly it up!

Little girl loves it! Something about girls in nightgowns is so precious!

For Baby Girl's I added the cuffs on the sleeves to salvage them! I was hemming and my machine decided to eat a hole in the fabric! It made me so sad! So, I cut the ends and just placed on a cuff to make the sleeves back to the original length...

These two kiddos were not cooperating much for the pictures, but I can't get over their cuteness in the pajamas!

Check out the pattern! Today, 3/16, it is on sale for 4.00 (normally 7.95)! GYCT Designs Jean and Jamey Jammies (affiliate link)

And for a few more pictures...

Bella Sunshine Design Holiday Cutout Dress: Blog Tour

Bella Sunshine Design (affiliate) has a new dress that is coming out! The Holiday Cutout dress is wonderful! Perfect for my St. Patrick's Day shirt for my little girl for this year! I usually buy St. Patrick's day shirts for the kids to celebrate hubby and my wedding anniversary, but how much sense does that make when I usually make the kids clothes? This little tunic and dress was perfect!

The cut-out dress comes in two different length options (tunic or dress). I picked half way between the two lengths for baby girl since she tends to be a bit longer than what her width size matches! My babies are such little skinny minnies! The dress has some ease to allow for layering too! Great for those of you who live in the cooler climates! It's in the 80's here so it's fantastic as it is!

There are several different options for the cut-out in the back for the different holidays, and you can applique the images on the front as well! I decided to just go with the cutout in the back. I loved the look of the dress from the front as it was.

At first Baby girl did not want to have anything to do with the ties on the side. I had to tie it in the back like a halter to keep it from falling off her. It was the only way she would not fuss over the ties! I bribed her with cookies to be able to tie them around the shoulders.

Check out Bella Sunshine Designs (affiliate) and take a look at the Cutout Holiday Dress and the other patterns she has out (the banded skirt is super cute too!). Right now the dress is on sale for 20% off using the code BLOGTOUR.

I have to say I am super excited about the dress! All the seams are closed. The neck and shoulder are enclosed in the bias tape, the waist is enclosed in the lining and the skirt pieces are sewn with a french seam! I love it when it comes together so simple and wonderfully! 

Of course I had to go with the hardest shape, the curves and points, for the cut out. LOL! But what would it be without the challenge? I am going to keep practicing with the turning and the topstitching! But as I look at these pictures I just can't help but love it!

These are the other ladies sewing up some awesome cut out dresses in a range of sizes!

Happy St. Patrick's Day: Shamrock Cut Out Mug Rug Tutorial

If it wasn't for Baby Girl's St Patrick's Day Outfit and the mini quilt theme for the Tucson Modern Quilt Guild's show and tell for this month, I probably would not have created this incredibly fun mug rug! And then, would never have thought how fun it would be to have a tutorial for you all to create one yourselves!

It's a great scrap buster too, just like most mug rugs. Though you still need bits big enough for the whole piece. You can use whatever printable shapes you want!

What you need:
2 (9"x7") pieces of main fabric for front and back
2 square pieces big enough for your shape facing
1 printed shape your desired size
1-2 pieces for the inside of the shape (I used one piece about the same size as my main)
about 1/8th yard for the binding
batting

Trace your shapes on the facing pieces (here are some outlined shamrocks on google). Place them on your main front piece and arrange however you like. Pin Make sure you have the right sides together. I just used muslin for the facing.
Sew along your drawn line.

cut out the shape, making sure not to clip your seam, trimming points and snipping curves.

Turn the facing to the wrong side of the main piece. I used a super dull lead pencil, I imagine it would be much easier with a turning tool.

pin. Top stitch down. (you can assemble your sandwich before you topstitch so you are going over it less)

Sandwich your mug rug. First lay the backing right side down, place the batting on top, the top right side up with the cutout over your shape inside fabric (don't want any batting showing through those cut outs!

baste around the outer edge to help hold it in place. Quilt however you feel. I just doubled over my top stitching.

Admire the back and trim off the excess.

bind.

Enjoy with your favorite coffee or tea! Don't worry, mine is just regular coffee! ;)

What shape would use use to create a cut-out mug rug?