Girls Shirt and Dress Pattern No 6 by E+M Patterns and Giveaway!

This was my second summer as a stay-at-home-mom and I was  really nervous about having enough activities to keep B out of trouble.  Turns out I forgot to take into account that her friends would be out of school for the summer.  We have been wonderfully busy with play dates and fun adventures.  Can you believe that the summer is almost over?!  Now we are planning for the new school year.

As a nerdy kid my favorite part of getting ready for the new school year was getting all the supplies.  Ah the smell of newly sharpened pencils.  A close second was getting new clothes.  This brings me to the main topic of this post, a beautifully versatile pattern by E + M that I was fortunate to test.  This is a quick sew for knit shirts and dresses sized 2 to 10.  The pattern is perfect for school since it is comfy and cute.  There are so many options for you to personalize as well.  This pattern is now a staple at our house and I made 3 in a week.

1.  This shirt has a pleated front, flutter sleeves, and a high low hem.

Look at the fun keyhole design!

 2.  This shirt has a pin tuck bodice, flutter sleeves and a tie back.

A cute bow at the neck line :)

3. Finally, there is the dress.  I chose flutter sleeves, gathered bodice, and a banded waist.

The pattern is on sale until midnight this Friday PST.  You can purchase HERE at the etsy shop.  Be sure to go to E + M Pattern's FB page for inspiration and her other fantastic patterns.

Now for my first giveaway provided by E + M Patterns! You could win the Girls Shirt and Dress Pattern No6.  (If you don't sew you should still enter, I'll make a shirt for your kiddo.)  To enter you simply have to post a comment answering one of 2 questions below.  I'll pick a commenter at random on Monday morning July 28th 10am PST.  Make sure you come back to check for the winner announcement.

If you won the pattern, would you make a shirt or a dress first?  I made the dress first because my girly girl likes to wear dresses.

What was your favorite part of getting ready for the new school year?  As I mentioned before, I love the smell of sharpened pencils.

Good luck!

Update: be sure to check the FB E+M Patterns page as other blogging testers are also hosting giveaways!

Elle-Belle Romper by Bebelambs

As promised here is a pattern by Bebelambs that I tested for the baby.  C has such a sunny personality I wanted to make an outfit that matched her sweetness.  Usually I don't go for the frilly stuff on baby clothes like bows and shirring.  In this case, I am so glad that I did.  I chose a soft gingham for the bodice and a small patterned print for the bottoms.

The bodice ties on with an adorable bow through a button hole in the back.  When she goes in the car seat I undo the bow, wrap it around her waist and tie the bow in the front.

It is difficult to get photos of her cute baby legs.  This beach photo is the best I could get.  The legs of the romper are shirred and creates this cute ballooning.  It also fits over cloth diapers!

I will definitely be making more of these to last us through the summer.  The next time I will try out some snaps for easier diaper changing.  For a limited time the pattern is on sale.  Go check it out HERE!

Have you made it to the beach this summer?  We live rather close to the beach but I'm so daunted by all the packing, carrying, and chasing I have to do there.  We hardly get down there as much as I should.

The Lovely Lily Rose by Sunday Girl Design

Do you remember The Odette designed by Sunday Girl Designs?  Well, Georgianna has created another beautiful pattern again that I was lucky enough to test.  Her pattern releases at the end of this week!  Keep up to date with the pattern at her Facebook page, SundayGirlDesigns.

Quick Collage

There are many things to love about this pattern:

1. It is full of beautiful details like the turned corners on the bodice,  bias tape details on the pockets, high low hem with ruffles, etc

2. The pattern pieces come together perfectly

3. There is a clever tutorial for turning spaghetti straps

4. Includes options to simplify the dress.  You can make a simple bodice, omit the high-low hem, or forego the pockets.  But really, why would you?

5. The dress is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.  The only place you see hems are the side seams of the skirt, and where the ruffle joins the skirt.  If you lined the skirt and the ruffle you could easily make a reversible dress!  

Pockets for my treasures!

When making this dress be prepared to set aside some time.  Let me tell you though, the dress is so worth it.  Bring out some of the fabrics you love to pet as you walk by your sewing stash.  Admit it, we all have those fabrics we just can't bring ourselves to cut.  This pattern is worth it and you can use small cuts of your treasured fabrics for the details.

One more thing before I bombard you with photos of the dress.  I was able to sew this dress hopped up on pain killers because of a gnarly gum infection.  I don't know how it happened.  I do remember getting some food stuck between my teeth and aggressively flossing.  Maybe my flossing cut something?  This is probably the first time a dentist will tell me that flossing was not a great idea!  Flossing aside, the dress looks complex but if you follow Georgianna's instructions you won't believe how simple it is.

Of course I have not forgotten about baby C!  She's coming up in another pattern I tested.  For now you can see her with her favorite toy.

Why yes, that is a Roomba.  Yes she has a panic attack when she turns it on.   And yes, she continues to turn it on anyway.