Ellie & Mac Autumn Spice Top

It's Wacky Wednesday at Ellie & Mac and one of my favorite patterns is on sale for $1! The Autumn Spice top has a great fit with two different style options and is a great scrap buster. I'm thinking forward to October and my next cruise to New England and Canada. I decided to dig into my scrap bin and make both versions of the Autumn Spice with long sleeves.

This is the below bust version. I used Moss Dreamy Solid from Made Whimsy, Medallion Double Brushed Poly from Sly Fox Fabrics, and a teal rayon spandex - unsure where it came from.

So yes - you can mix and match fabric types. I would suggest putting the fabric with lease drape on the top.

I love how my Autumn Spice turned out with these scraps. One confession though - I ended up not having enough of the moss cotton lycra. I had cut the top and back pieces, and one sleeve and did not have enough for the second sleeve. So I bought a yard so I could finish my top.

Next I made an above the bust version of the Autumn Spice. This is the version I have made previously.

I made this one with a navy/white stripe mystery knit that had some vertical stretch (this will be important later), Moonstruck floral brushed poly from Sly Fox Fabrics, and white distressed reverse french terry from Mily Mae Fabrics.

I really love how these fabrics look together. I was a bit concerned putting the white on the bottom. You know they say lighter colors add weight. But in  this case, I think it works and doesn't make me look any bigger.

On a previous post I made of the Autumn Spice Top someone posted that they didn't like the way the seam went through the middle of my boobs. Yes - someone said that. What I have determined is that you really should use a fabric with no vertical stretch for the above the bust piece. This navy/white stripe did have some vertical stretch, but not a lot. It does come down lower than the pattern piece when I hold it up to my chest.

Now this post has me thinking. Which version is more flattering on my figure? Should I make more below the bust in the future, or stick with the above the bust version? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Check out all the Wacky Wednesday Sales at https://www.ellieandmac.com/collections/wacky-free-patterns?aff=675

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Made Whimsy Gators & Dachs

The newest preorder at Made Whimsy is Dachs & Gators. I asked Mandy to send me some small pieces so  could make my friend Rissa a towel for her crocodile. Yes, you read that correctly. My friend Rissa is a bad ass paleontologist that teaches high school kids, and they raise a crocodile or alligator each year for the Houston Zoo!

Mandy sent me way more than just a few small pieces of fabric. She sent me an adult panel set, a large piece of the Baby Gator coordinate, and some moss green dreamy solid.

I obviously had to make Rissa something cool to wear at school. Her students love that she wears a ton of dinosaur themed clothing items and they challenged her to wear only dinosaurs for 30 days. She had no problem meeting their challenge.

It's about time she added some Crocodilia to her wardrobe.

The Gator panel set is designed to have the halves of the body match up at the side seam. This can be a bit tricky. Mine are pretty close. I also accidentally put the birds head too close to the seam allowance.

I don't think anyone is going to be looking that closely at my work.

If you are wondering - I used the Halla Patterns Essie Cardigan for Rissa. This was my first time making the Essie and I'm dying to make one for myself.

Look at how cute this print is. I love the baby gators. They have so much personality.

I think Rissa looks great in the Essie Cardigan.

And here is the baby crocodile! This is Juniper and she is a Nile Crocodile. You can follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/claridencrocs

Since she lives in an aquarium with water, Rissa uses some lightweight towels to wrap her in to dry her off when they take her out. Rissa came over to my house and while I finished her cardigan, she made the towel.

Juniper is weighed and measured on a regular basis and the students track her growth.

Juniper is a bit feisty. Take a look at the green section of towel below. She bit the towel when Rissa tried to move it. I'll take that as a sign that she likes it.

Below you can see Juniper all wrapped up with a little bit of the gator skin print peeking out.

Juniper will be going back to the Houston Zoo soon. The Dachs and Gators round closes on May 27th! Preorder at https://www.madewhimsy.com/dachs-and-gators/


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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

George + Ginger Mix It Up Dress

Kristi at George + Ginger is always coming up with designs that are so different and fun. They often make me step out of my comfort zone, and I really need that push sometimes. The Mix It Up Dress is no different. The options are-

Front Bodice--yoke, horseshoe, leaf, keyhole and asymmetric

Back Bodice--yoke, square, diamond, keyhole and full closure

Sleeves--sleeveless, cap, short, elbow, 3/4 and long

Skirts--full circle (peplum, mini, dress), half circle (peplum, mini, dress), handkerchief (peplum, mini, dress), hi-lo tunic (short and long) AND fitted skirt to add to peplum, hi-lo or stand alone

I was assigned the asymmetrical front bodice with a full back, short sleeves, and the handkerchief peplum.

I really love how this combination looks. I love peplums and I have never done an asymmetrical front neckline before.

 I used a cotton lycra from Made Whimsy. This is the Spiced Splatter which is currently at preorder.

 This print has a beautiful texture and the weight is perfect for the Mix It Up Dress.

I didn't make just one Mix It Up Dress. Here is the first one I made. This one has the same options and was also made in a cotton lycra.

I've had this fabric so long, that I'm not sure where I bought it.
The print is a bunch of water color-esque dots in a million colors.

For my 5' height I removed 1.5" from the length of the bodice. I really love the length of the peplum.

 These were not the only Mix It Up Dress that I made, but all I will share with you - for now. Here's a look at a few other combinations possible with this pattern.

Not every option is for every person, but everyone is sure to find a few that they love. The options are truly endless. Grab the Mix It Up Dress pattern for 25% off through April 21st!

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Made Whimsy Spring 2019 Preorder

Made Whimsy has so many beautiful prints at preroder right now. I already blogged about the Steampunk Floral HERE.  Now I want to show you the gorgeous Orange and Blossoms print.

I really love this golden yellow color. It's what made me ask Mandy for this print, And yes, it does have a lot of pink - which I normally don't like. But this combination is too beautiful to not not love.

I made the George + Ginger SoTa with my fabric. I used the Plum Dream Solid for the godets. I just love the godets on the SoTa!

I have to admit, when I ordered the Plum Dream Solid, I was not looking at the listing. I was expecting a very purply plum color. I was quite surprised when I got this, what I would call Magenta color. I wondered what the heck I was going to do with it. I think it was perfect for this Orange and Blossoms print.

I told myself earlier this year to stop making things that had pink in them, as they rarely get worn. But I'm thinking this SoTa will get worn a lot this spring.

Saturday I woke up to a stye in my right eye and some nasty drizzly and cold weather. So what do I do, I spend all morning in my sewing room looking to see what I could make with my scraps. Made Whimsy prints are now printed on 66" wide fabric and the dream solids are 68" wide, I had enough to make another top!

I made the Love Notions Tidal Top. I love that I was able to get the front center panel and sleeves from my Orange and Blossoms print scrap.

I also still have a good sized scrap left of the Plum Dream Solid. I'm passing on the remainder to Sharon. I have a feeling she can find a use for it.

Here's a look at all the prints at preorder. Preorder closes on March 11th! Order HERE.



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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

5 out of 4 Jessie Top & Dress

Ever since I made the Rosanna (Tank, Tankini, Dress, and Swim Dress) from 5 out of 4, I've been wanting to make the Jessie (Top, Tunic & Dress). The Rosanna has a low back with the option to add fun straps, but it's a tank only with a peplum. The Jessie also has a low back with the option for fun straps, but it has sleeve options.

Here's a look at my strappy back.

I'm lucky that my friend Sharon (Sweet Mama Life) tested the Jessie and was able to tell me how much I needed to move the back scoop up to hide my bra. She told me she moved hers up 1.5" and since I'm shorter than her at 5', that I should move mine up 2".  She was right - it came out perfect.

I made a size large bust graded to size large hips. I also wanted a looser fit and cut at the dress width cut line to give a little extra ease. I love how my Jessie turned out.

I used cotton lycra from Made Whimsy for my Jessie. This Steampunk Floral needed to be made into an edgy top. The Jessie was perfect for it.

Here's a closer look at the Steampunk Floral print.

I'm not usually into real girly florals and loved the colors of this print and the fun steampunk elements in it.

I paired the Steampunk Floral with the Dark Turquoise Dream Solid Cotton Lycra. I love the dream solids. They are so soft and smooth, and the weight is 220 - 230 gsm like the custom prints.

Made Whimsy has many fun & beautiful designs currently at preorder through March 5th. Check it out HERE.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

New Horizons Designs Dublin Dolman & Lisse Cowl Mash-up

Mandy Pickle at Made Whimsy sent me some of her new Dreamy Collection solids to sew up. This beautiful Tangerine was first on my list to sew. I love to wear dolman tops in the fall and winter and decided a New Horizons Dublin Dolman would be perfect, but I wanted the cowl from the Lisse Cowl.

I cut this HTV design out a little over a year ago. I weeded 40 designs while on a cruise last year in September and I'm still working through using them all!

This "Well Behaved Women" cut file is from Thread & Grain. You can buy the cut file or even ready made items with this on it. It's a quote by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.

I immediately saw that this Navy print from Wanderlust went with the tangerine beautifully. I've always loved Blue & Orange colors together.

I wanted maximize my print as much as possible, so I used the tall bottom band on the Dublin Dolman, and went with long sleeves with tangerine cuffs.

When I was cutting the fabric for the front of the Dublin Dolman, I cut the neckline higher than the pattern as I knew the neckline on the Lisse Cowl was higher. I decided to eyeball my cut instead of getting the Lisse Cowl pattern out to copy the neckline.

Luckily, my eyeball was spot on. I measured the cowl pattern piece to my neckline and they were a perfect match. I love the drawstring detail on the Lisse Cowl. I did not add the drawstring on the first Lisse Cowl that I made and I know think I need to go back to it and add it.

The Dublin Dolman is a great pattern with a ton of options. One option I hope to try soon is the gathered v-neck. The Dublin Dolman is great for a variety of knits. I do size up the Dublin Dolman from the bust down to give it a looser, more relaxed fit. The pattern is intended to be more fitted with the revision that released back in May. You can read my blog post about it HERE.

The Lisse Cowl is super cute with a tulip hemline with pleats below the bust. It is also good with most knits, but you do want a knit with some drape, otherwise the tulip bottom can look a bit boxy. You can read my blog post on the first Lisse Cowl that I made HERE. That original blog post was over two years ago when New Horizons went by Terra's Treasures!

I really love how my mashup of the two patterns turned out. I will likely do it again.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.