Eldenberry Blossoms Free Sew Cozy Tunic

I recently was a tester for Eldenberry Blossoms for the Sew Cozy Tunic. The designer ran into some minor issues and decided to end the test and release the pattern for free. The pattern has potential, but definitely needs a bit of work. The sizing is very generous. Some modifications were made to the pattern since I tested it - so I do not know what changes were made.  You can grab the pattern in the Eldenberry Blossoms facebook page in the files section.

Here is the version I made. I decided to make a more of a poncho version. I did snaps up the side and added a large cowl. This fabric is a double knit from my Grandmother's stash.

The look and fit of the tunic changes dramatically depending on what fabric you use and what option - like sleeves. I'd definitely recommend downloading the free pattern and looking at the other testers photos.

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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.

Itch to Stitch Bellavista Top

I think this may be my favorite pattern ever from Kennis Wong at Itch to Stitch. This is the Bellavista Top and it's amazing!

There are 2 sleeve options and 2 neckline options. I made the 3/4 flared sleeves and the cowl neck. The other options are long sleeves and a banded neckline.

The Bellavista Top is perfect for sweater knit. I picked up this sweater knit from the remnant bin at Wherehouse Fabric Outlet for $2.50/yard. This was a HUGE remnant and I had plenty left over to pass on to my friend Sharon and she made a top with it too.

I love all my sewing friends and happen to test this pattern with Sneha - so we had to do some photos together. You can find Sneha at Sewing Curves. She will have a blog post on the Bellavista Top too.

I loved the Bellavista Top so much that I made 3 during testing. I made this one with a gorgeous scallop design sweater knit from Super Textiles. This was $4/yard and is a fabric that I have loved since I bought a small remnant there last year. I was thrilled when I went recently and Steve has an entire bolt of this fabric. If you know me IRL - you've probably seen me wear a top with this print for the sleeves.

The relaxed fit of the Bellavista Top is so nice and comfortable. I did not remove any length from the pattern bodice for my height and love this length. I did remove 1.5" from the sleeve length.

My third Bellavista Top is another sweater knit from the Dallas Fabric District. I bought this fabric about 2 years ago from Golden D'or during an inventory sale for $1/yard.

I absolutely love the big drapey cowl on the Bellavista. It's perfect for fall and winter. Maybe when it warms up, I'll make a few with a banded neckline.

I'm hoping to play around with the Bellavista Top pattern soon and make a tunic version. I think it would be super cute with some leggings. This top is so flattering and versatile, I definitely recommend buying it during the release sale. I think you'll love it as much as I do.

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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.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope 2018 is a fantastic year for all. I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, but I am one to give myself a challenge for the New Year. This year, I have joined the 2018 Ready to Wear Fast!

For the next 365 days, I will not be purchasing any ready to wear (RTW) clothing for myself. This does not include shoes, socks, bras, and underwear. I will be making any and all clothes that I need this year. My husband doesn't see this as very challenging for me as I probably bought less than 10 RTW items this past year.

You can read more about the 2018 RTW Fast HERE. And maybe you will want to join too. There are many big sponsors and many monthly prizes up for grabs.

I've also joined the 52 Week Sewing Challenge. This shows all the sponsors.



I'm hoping that the 52 Week Sewing Challenge forces me to sew different things or to think outside the box a bit. Each week has a theme for what you are to sew. This first week is something soft or warm. The them is for fun, and even if you make something for the week that wasn't to the theme, you are still entered for a weekly prize! Join the Facebook Group HERE!

This past year I did the 2017 100 item challenge. This group was to encourage you to make 100 items in a year. It broke the 100 items down to 8 per month. As you made your items, you added them to your personal album. Then at the end of the month, you would make a collage or do a screenshot of your album and add the photo to that month's entry post. The rules are pretty much the same this year. Join the 2018 ~ 100 Items Sewing Challenge on Facebook HERE!

Here's a look at 10 items I made this year. These were just easy to grab photos at random.

I made so many things with strike offs this year that while I loved the item, it really wasn't me or maybe it was the pattern wasn't a good fit for me. I will be doing a lot less strike offs this year and hopefully do more pattern testing or just focusing on sewing many of the patterns I have aquired over time. I plant to have a big sale of all my items that I've cleaned out of my closet that as Marie Kondo would say - just don't bring me joy. So be sure to look out for my sale album going up on my Facebook page. Everything will be priced at $15 or less. Many items will be $5 and I even have some that will be free.

I have a big list of items that I want to make this year. I want to make myself a coat/jacket, real jeans with a zippered fly, more dress slacks/pants for work, and more solid colored pieces that coordinate with some of my crazy print tops & bottoms I made this past year. What's on your sewing list this year?


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New Horizons Tawsha Dress

New Horizons has a great new pattern out - the Tawsha Dress. There's a women's and kid's version. You can buy them individually or as a bundle. All are on sale through December 31st.

This dress has some really great options you give you many different looks. I did the simplest version. There are options for a contrasting shoulder and a faux button back with a ruffle.

First of all - My husband took the following photos with my phone and, well - he's truly horrible at taking photos.

The Tawsha Dress is an above the knee dress. It's drafted for 5' 5" tall. I'm 5' tall and removed 2" from the length. I made this version with a brushed poly I bought off the remnant table at Wherehouse Fabrics.

It was literally freezing the day these photos were taken and jeggings and boots were necessary. Which, I personally think this style of dress looks great over jeggings and leggings.

I have a testing fail to share with you - only because I really loved how it turned out. You see, I was in a hurry to finish this test on the timeline given. The Tawsha pattern was posted promptly, but without the instructions. I printed the pattern, taped it together, and checked to see if instructions has been posted. They were not. If I had any chance of meeting the deadline for fit photos, I had to start ASAP. I saw that there were two different lines for the hem. I incorrectly assumed that the pattern had 2 different lengths, and proceeded to cut my pattern on that shorter line - since I'm short.

I was so wrong! So, I ended up with a cute top/tunic. I got my fit photos posted by the timeline and NO ONE commented on how short my dress was. I did these photos as my "final" pics, and when I posted them, the designer asked me if I shortened the dress. By this time, the instructions had been posted and I realized my big mistake.

The neckline on this is a bit wider than the final pattern. The hemline on this initial version was also a bit more curved.  But I really love it and think I'll make a few more "mistakes".I also did the contrast shoulder on this version and used some faux stretch leather.

I really like that the shoulder contrast is all one piece that goes over the shoulder. It looks so sleek. You can get away with using a non stretch fabric, like a pretty woven, for the shoulder accent.  The brown & black stripe I used for this version is a poly knit that I found in my grandmother's enormous fabric stash that she left behind when she passed.

So after my huge mistake, I had to quickly make a new Tawsha Dress and have my husband grab photos first thing when we arrived at my mom's house for Christmas. Hence the crappy photos at the beginning of my post. Grab the Tawsha Dress while it's on sale, and if you are adventurous, try my mistake.


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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.

Halla Felicity Dress

Halla Patterns are amazing. They are so easy to get the perfect fit with the rule guides at all the important places (bust, waist, and hips). They also come out with so many options, that it's always hard for me to pick which to try first. The new Felicity Dress is fabulous! Since we are going into winter, I opted to make a peplum version with the plain bodice and long sleeves. I can't wait for Summer to make a few maxi skirt versions.

The Felicity Dress has 2 bodice options, plain and gathered. You can also finish the neckline be lining the bodice, using a facing, or a band. I did a band since I used a scuba knit and thought a band would give me the sleekest finish.

There are also two options for the waist band, a foldover waist band, or a double layered gathered band. I went with the foldover waistband. I'm 5' tall and found the foldover waistband to be too tall for me as I had to fiddle with it to get it to look right. If I do the foldover band again, I'll definitely make it shorter.

I also took 4" out of the sleeve length. I added the cuffs at the height in the pattern and it gave me a perfect length for my sleeves. In addition to "regular" sleeves, there is also a Bishop sleeve. I cannot wait to try the Bishop sleeves!

The peplum skirt is gathered a the waist and the gathers are hidden by the foldover waistband. In addition to the peplum, there is a pencil skirt, and a full length gathered skirt, and a knee length gathered skirt.

I also love the back. The lower neckline in back is an interesting detail. In addition, you can mix and match the bodice and skirt with the Carefree and Bliss Dresses for even more options! All digital patterns are on sale for 20% off with the code FELICITY. Halla Patterns now has the option to purchase printed patterns, but these are not included in the sale.

UPDATE! Halla Patterns is having a Christmas Sale and all patterns are 40% off with the code Jolly through December 25th at midnight PST!

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Zenith & Quasar Florida Charity Fabric!

Lilly, owner of Zenith & Quasar is from Florida. So after Hurricane Irma struck Florida, she knew she wanted to run some fabric celebrating all the wonderful wildlife and nature that Florida has to offer. It so happens that a loyal customer, Shelly - who is a graphic designer, is also from Florida! So with the help of member of the Zenith & Quasar Facebook group - they developed a print, 2 panels, and some fun stripes as coordinates.

10% of all sales from this round will be donated to Fishing for Families in Need (F4FN), a South Florida charity. F4FN teaches marine conservation and fishing skills to socioeconomically disadvantaged children, as well as providing fish to local soup kitchens. Originally, Lilly intended to donate to relief efforts, but at this point decided to donate to their general fund so they can use the funds as needed.

This preorder is open through December 31st. As usual, all prints are on the most amazing and soft athletic brushed poly. It's breathable, moisture wicking, colorfast, and has way better stretch and recovery than cotton lycra. It has a bit of drape so it's perfect for making just about anything. If you have never tried it - you should. 

Lilly sent me the large scale post cards. I knew as soon as I saw the print that I wanted to make leggings with it! 

I made the 5 out of 4 Ninja Pants. These are a great leggings pattern when you want very little negative ease. Which for lighter colored prints is the best. Best part is they are FREE with a code from the Facebook Group.

I had to do a few close ups of my legs to show you the amazing detail and gorgeous colors in this print!

I think the mangrove trees and anole lizard are my favorite images. The manatee is pretty cute too.

I also got the Adult panel of the Manatee. I love the panels - they are a full yard! The panel comes as a fat half of the design and a fat half of the background. I love that it makes it so easy to make a top that has a back that perfectly matches the front.

For my top, I used another free pattern. This is the Uvita top from Itch to Stitch. It's a great relaxed fit drop shoulder top with two sleeve options. I did the 3/4 sleeves. My sleeves happen to be a yarn dyed stripe cotton lycra I picked up at Fabrictopia. Also - Itch to Stitch has all patterns on sale for 20% off through December 19th with the code bye2017!

I'll be making a trip to Florida in April this coming year and can't wait to wear this outfit there. But I'll be wearing this a lot no matter where I am. I have a few other tunics in my wardrobe that will go great with these legging too since it has a wide array of colors. Preorder closes on December 31st!

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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.

Itch to Stitch Uvita Top

Kennis Wong of Itch to Stitch has a Christmas/Hanukkah gift for everyone! It's a free pattern that is quick and easy. It's also a great scrap buster! It's simple design is a versatile staple for your wardrobe.

Check out the Uvita top! Named after Uvita Beach in Costa Rica. Kennis often names her patterns after locations in Costa Rica where she resides. They always make me long for a tropical vacation.

Since this pattern is named after a beach, it has a bit of a nautical design with a boat neck, dropped shoulders, and loose fit. This top would be perfect for a day at the beach or for working in an office.

I really love this version that I made using a poly rayon jersey I picked up at Wherehouse fabric. I loved the color and the pattern, but it was designed in large squares (like scarves). I'd been stumped on what I could make with it. Many patterns I had tried laying out on it, would have be end up with lines from the square boards in weird places. The Uvita fit into those squares perfectly and I think it makes for an interesting top.

The first Uvita I made was with some scraps I had. My sewing room has a closet that I use to store all my "scraps". For me, anything less than a yard is a scrap. All my 1 yard and bigger pieces are neatly folded and stored within the shelving units of my sewing room. I often end up with 3/4 yard and 1/2 yard pieces when I finish a project. The Uvita is perfect for these pieces. The body easily fits onto a 3/4 yard piece. I am short with short arms, so I shortened the sleeves by 1.5". This allows them to fit onto a 22" wide piece of fabric.

My stripes are from the Dallas fabric district and apparently were flawed in the knitting process as the stripes are really wavy. No amount of ironing could get them to be perfectly smooth. I used a scrap of athletic brushed poly from Zenith & Quasar for the sleeves. I love this print and color combination and will wear this top with pride - despite the wonky stripes.

This is a wonderful top that is surely to be a favorite in any wardrobe. You will love the ease of wear and ease to make. Grab the Uvita - for free, and all other patterns are on sale for 20% off with the code "bye2017". Check out all the other tester's photos  HERE.