Paraplu: Bartowski Slim Tie {Pattern Test}

I am so honored that I got to test the first pattern for the new pdf designer over at Paraplu!

I set out to sew a tie last Christmas season but the husband wasn't too happy that the sewing patterns that I had found weren't real ties but those ones that clasp together under the collar. So I skipped it and just bought a slack and shirt set from Walmart.

I saw this pattern test call and had to jump on it! The pattern designer blogs over at Mae & K and was one of the co-starters for the awesome CraftingCon! She is seriously, just awesome!

The Bartowski Slim Tie... Awesome!

Usually we tie the Pratt Knot on husband's ties, but for this one I had fun with the Full Windsor.

I had fun with the Holiday Fabric and cannot wait to make him at least one more. ;) Here is the back too!

And now, I'm thinking my poor shaggy boy needs a haircut... But he is so darn cute with his hair and button-up and tie!

Ah, I made a tie!

Check out the Swhetty Bettie's blog for a discount too! 15% off!

Happy Sewing!

Polka Dot Peplum: Pattern Release and Sale {GYCT Designs}

This post contains affiliate links, all views expressed are my own.

A while back I tested this super cute Polka Dot Peplum top for GYCT Designs. It was originally released for DIY Crush and I waiting until it was over at the GYCT Designs website to share with you. Stay tuned, there is some more info (discount!!!) to share about the shop! :D

Why did I wait? It is a gift for a little girl who was born 2 days ago and I didn't want to give it away before it was gifted. It'll probably be a while until the current owner can wear it as she is super tiny (and super duper adorable!!!) Paired with some cute leggings? How will I stand the cuteness!!!

The size is 6 months (on my super tiny 2 year old) and it is super cute! She is growing like a weed right now, so I am waiting a bit before I sew her up some more! It was a little short, but don't worry. my child is just long and skinny and it needs to be perfect for my friends daughter! (pictured with the Love Me Knot Shorts) Too bad this little thing has to be so long and skinny! It makes things difficult... I am guessing no more pattern testing for me. :( Not until she evens out a little bit. The boy is the same way though!

I love the button down in the back and the sleeves. My little girly girl loves it too. I had to hide the shirt before getting it into the gift bag for my friend!

I love the binding and the little puff on the sleeves!

I cannot wait for this little thing to finish her growth spurt (though I wont mind if it keeps up at least a little longer)! I can make her another one!

An extra bonus? The patterns over at GYCT Designs is having a sale for back to school! Use code "BACK2SCHOOL" at checkout to receive 25% discount from now until August 15th! How awesome! Head over there and check it out!

Happy Sewing!

Tally Skirt AND GYCT Design's 1 Year Anniversary! {Pattern Test, Review and Grand Opening Sale!}

I've been super busy with sewing projects lately! But my favorites have been the Tally Skirt that I tested for GYCT Designs (affiliate)! Guess What, GYCT Designs is celebrating their 1 Year anniversary for selling patterns! Hard to believe! Opening up a shop on their website (with a fantastic sale) is a pretty cool way to celebrate!

But first, I must share with you the absolute cuteness of the Tally skirt! I tested the skirt (it also has a short option!) in the 6 month size because Baby Girl is so skinny!

Here was the first one I sewed up!

The side features knife pleats and a button tab for aesthetics. Love it!

Check out that reverse applique matching Tinley Tee shirt I made! I am super stoked at how awesome it turned out! I love it! Want to do some reverse applique on your own Tinley Tee (or pattern of choice) this was the tutorial I used as reference for my own, check them out here.

The pattern features options for skirts and shorts. Side knife (accordian) pleats and the button tab. The waistband has an overlap in the front with simple, easy to follow direction and buttons for aesthetics. 

I did not sew up the shorts, but I did sew up the skirt twice. The cool thing with the skirt is that you can adjust the length as you see necessary. The second skirt had 6 mos waist with 18 month length. My skinny little baby girl looks cute no matter what though (in my biased opinion)! :)

Here is the second skirt:

Want to see more skirts, and also take a look at the shorts option, Check out the release post over at GYCT Designs!

You can head straight to pick up your own copy for the skirt on Craftsy, Etsy, or on her own shop (affiliate)

Speaking of her own shop, she is having a sale! Every thing on the GYCT Designs website is discounted in celebration for these next few days! Head on over to GYCT Designs to check out what there is. That isn't a bad sale, it's awesome! (I am an affiliate, so by clicking on my link to her website shop and making a purchase I do receive a small amount in return)

How To Train Your Dragon Toothless Inspired: Thumbs Up Tee by OUSM Designs {pattern test and review}

Little man loves his Thumbs Up Tee by OUSM Designs! I did not expect him to be so enthused and enamored with having the thumb hole in the cuff of his sleeve, but something is almost ninja about having the thumb through the cuff.... Add to it this awesome Toothless inspired outline, and it is a win for any 4 year old boy!

I will admit. The cuffs were so confusing to accomplish, at first. I may have had to rip seams from them once or twice. But that is only because I got my right and wrong sides confused. OUSM Designs created this incredible helpful video, and I have to say that I wish I watched it first!

Once you have the construction down with the cuff, it is so easy! And, it is surprisingly quick! Not as fast as a standard cuff, but still quick considering all seams are hidden within the cuff! Yay for clean lines!

Speaking of being almost ninja like, this shirt requires showing off some ninja moves while taking pictures... With sound effects and all!

I have been meaning to create a toothless inspired shirt for little man since I started planning his birthday. I couldn't bring myself to create the freezer paper stencil for just any standard shirt. It needed to be awesome. When I signed up for this pattern test, I knew this was it. The sleeves on this shirt just fit in perfectly, the thumb hole just happens to be 'Astrid like' adding to the element of "How to Train Your Dragon" inspiration!

The white and black fabrics are all re-purposed from my old clothing! Turning something old into something new is so much fun! The red was an interlock fabric that I already had on hand. Hurrah for not having to run to the store!

I love the customize-ability with freezer paper. These free printables from Confetti Sunshine worked out perfectly for this shirt!

The diagrams for the pattern are easy to follow and clear. Printing is one of my favorite features as you can print only the size you want! It's amazing to be able to print only one size at a time. No cutting, taping, tracing and cutting some more. just trim, tape and cut! 

GYCT Designs: Rival Raglan Tee, Tunic, and Dress {Pattern Test}

I had the pleasure of testing the Rival Raglan Tee for GYCT Designs (affiliate) and it is so fast and easy to sew! I love it!

Nikolai was excited to have a camo shirt! :)

You can get the pattern discounted for 5.95 until the end of today (8/29).
Find it here:
Etsy: Rival Raglan by GYCT Designs
Craftsy: Rival Raglan by GYCT Designs
Shop: GYCT (affiliate)

There are so many options for this shirt!

Sleeves: Long sleeve, short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve. Plus directions on layering the sleeves.

Shirt: Regular length, tunic length, dress option for a girl

I have a couple that I want to do. I cannot wait to layer the sleeves! Perfect for the upcoming fall and winter!

Check out some of the tester photos and the range of options available with the pattern Rival Raglan Tee for GYCT Designs (affiliate)!

Happy Sewing!

GYCT Design: Lazy Day Crossover Bag {Pattern Test}

GYCT Designs (affiliate) came out with another awesome pattern, the Lazy Day Crossover. It is a great bag with lots of space! You can pick up this awesome pattern on craftsy or on Etsy. She has this awesome purse organizer, and you can get them both bundled for only 7.95 or (4.95 separately) until end of day tomorrow! Hurry! 

It is had the option for three different lengths of the strap so you can customize to your fitting.

I love the pleat in the center.

It is worn crossbody, but if you wanted to customize the length you totally could!

Check out all that space!

I have worn this bag to the library. Seriously awesome for books. I have stored some sewing projects for traveling and working. I've used it for my stuff and the baby stuff. Seriously love the bag!

Love this bag! I even made my niece the small version for her birthday; yes there is even a mini version!! :) You can make them reversible, or put a closing. It comes with directions for a zipper... So many options! :)

This bag reminds me of the 4th of July!

It is such an easy sew! So fast to put together!

Happy Sewing,

GYCT Designs: Tinley Tee {Pattern Test and Release} and discount!

I have had the honor of yet another pattern test for GYCT Designs. Love this pattern! It is so cute an so many options/looks! I did the gathered cap sleeve with a banded hem. I love the look of banded hems! And it looks great on my niece!

You can find the pattern release on her blog GYCT Designs Tinley Tee Pattern Release
You can find the pattern on Etsy
or you can get it on Craftsy

It also has cutting lines so you don't have to use them, and so many sleeve options! The is a flutter sleeve, a normal sleeve, the cap sleeve, and a long sleeve! Ooh, the possibilities! She even gives a brief direction on how to layer the sleeves! Oooh the potential! It's simple, girlie, cute... I adore this pattern!

They look so great with the Love Me Knot Shorts!

I even repurposed a tee that my mom had given me and some left over knit fabric from some other sewing projects for the sleeves, hem and neck binding! 

excited she gets to keep the shirt!

I already have one cut for Samara!

You can find the pattern on Etsy
or you can get it on Craftsy

Super excited, cause guess what?!? The pattern is on sale today and tomorrow only for 5.95! That is $2 off normal price, then it goes back up!

Check out some of the other testers that are doing blog posts/pages and their photos for inspiration and cuteness!

Two Novembers

Sew Shelly Sew

The Berry Bunch (that's me)!

Three Penguins

Growing Everyday

Sewing 4 Sophia

Sprouting Jube Jube

Jaime Sews

Dresses By Sheila

Savannah Grace

Amanda Rose

Rebel and Malice

Daker Girls Designs

Inspired by Ava Boutique

3 em linha

Costura con Ternura

Feathered Ruffles

Little House on the Dairy

Angel Kissed Kids Boutique

Sarai Joy Photography

I think I am gonna go sew one up for baby girl. It's a fast sew!

Happy sewing from our desert home to your home! :)

Get Your Crap Together: Fox Coin Pouch: Testing a FREE Pattern {GYCT Designs}

Have I said how much I love testing patterns? Yes?!? Well, I am going to say it yell it, again... I LOVE TESTING PATTERNS!!! Check out this adorable fox coin purse from GYCT Designs. Nikolai has claimed one already!

Meet Bax the Fox

The cutting of the pieces takes the longest. But, the way that it is suggested in the directions makes the process go much faster! And, you can do multiples at a time this way too... Super easy! And the pieces sew together quickly too. Yes, it is a little coin pouch. But, don't let the applique of the fox facial pieces scare you!! It is so easy, and the result is awesome!!

How cute are they? The paisley one Nikolai says is mine and keeps bugging me what his name is... I think I will call him paisley (not very original, I know).

Check out the back... 

The best part about this pattern? GYCT Designs has decided that this pattern is going to be available for free, for now! Just think of all the possibilities with this little fox..... 

Have you checked out the talents of Get Your Crap Together yet? No?! You should, because she is awesome! Her blog is full of cute clothes on her adorable kids, nifty organization ideas (I seriously wish I was that cool with the organizational things), and ... Awesome patterns!!!  (psst, guess what? She used to live in Arizona too!)

I am so lucky that I have had the honor to test for her! Check out my post on the Love Me Knot Shorts that my niece adores! They are so cute.

The Seaside Summer Top, or as Nikolai has so dubbed, his airplane and his shapes shirts. These are easy sews as well. Samara has been wearing her Shorty Nightgown a whole lot more lately because of our heat and it is so much cooler than footie pjs! 

So fun! :) Bonus, I used the zipper from a vinyl pouch, the kind that you get at the store that has bath lotions and soaps in... It was the perfect size for this! You would be amazed where you can find notions like this, as long as you look! I used scrap fabric and a repurposed zipper (for both the foxes)! How awesome is that?