Alley Cat Romper by Lil Luxe

Have I got something spectacular to share with you!  I was honored to test for Jessica Bustos for her Lil Luxe Collection (affiliate link).  Presenting the fabulous Alley Cat Romper.  If you have followed my sewing projects, you probably saw that I usually go for the elegant traditional look or functional play wear.  But when I saw this romper, I could not resist the modern fashion forward look of the Alley Cat.  I'm confident that you will not be able to resist it either.  Check out my Alley Cat strutting out on the cat walk!

Breath taking scoop back

Next Top Model Style

The pattern is professionally written with clear diagrams for each step.  The instructions are concise, in fact the actual steps are just 2 pages without leaving anything out!  I used my serger for everything except the gathering of the bottoms.  However, you do not have to use a serger as the instructions are written for both a sewing machine or a serger.  The first Alley Cat took me 3 hours to make including cutting out the pattern, reading the instructions, and sewing.  The next took 2 hours tops.

If it's that easy, I want more!

I can honestly say I have not seen anything remotely close to this design and I wish I could make one for myself!  The design is extremely comfortable: B played soccer for an hour in her romper.

Working on her dribbling

When I was shopping for knit for the pattern, my eye was drawn to this amazing rayon blend.  It's a beautiful mixture of black, white, and grey, with flashes of royal blue.  It is super stretchy (75%), lightweight, and silky cool.  Although the recommended fabric is around 50% stretch and medium weight, as you can see, the pattern can still be quite versatile with other fabrics as well.  You just might get a slightly different but still fabulous look.  Another tester used a woven for the body of the romper and it looked amazing.

The blue flashes make me faster!

We loved it so much, I had to make another.  This Alley Cat is a medium weight, organic cotton knit.  I just love the print and it is so soft.

Check out the fabulous cut of the bodice

I just love how the bodice goes high low.  So chic!  We have gotten many compliments on both the rompers.  In fact, I got my first commission!  I will be going with a nautical theme and can't wait to show it off here when the fabric arrives.  This weekend Jessica will be posting a tutorial on how to turn the romper into a dress.  I'm excited to try that too.  :)

Now for some fun stuff for you!  Jessica is hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway where you can win some fun prizes and fabric to make your very own Alley Cat Romper.  To purchase this pattern, you can go to my Affiliate link and buy it on the Lil Luxe Collection website where she is having a 30% discount on her first 3 patterns this week!

Don't forget to peek at the other fabulous Alley Cat Rompers on the blog tour!

The Secret Garden Dress

I am so excited to finally share this dress!  This dress is the brain child of 2 amazing women, Deb from Sprouting Jube Jube, and Allison from E + M Patterns.  You can get the pattern on etsy on sale for a limited time.  There is also a Rafflecopter giveaway!

Feast your eyes on this beauty!

This dress will bring you back to that first sewing project you made that you were so proud of.  That wonderful moment when you sew the last stitch, hold up your work and think, "wow, did I just make that?!?"  This dress brings that power in spades.  You'll need quite of bit of fabric but I promise that it is so very worth it.

Things I love about this dress;

1. elegant design

2. unique, seriously I don't think I've ever seen a flounce like this

3. comfortable with a simple bodice

4. amazing twirly skirt 

5. perfect for all seasons (don't you think this would look adorable under a pea coat and boots)

After our more "serious" photo session, B loved this dress so much she wanted to run around and "fly".  She insisted that in this dress she could take off if she could just get enough speed.

She was convinced that she left the ground for a few seconds and ran to tell baby C that she flew.

This is a dress that you just have to make!  You won't regret having this in your daughter's wardrobe.  Check out Deb's blog for the blog links of other testers, there are so many beautiful versions of this pattern.

E+M Pattern Giveaway Winner!

It is time to announce the results of the giveaway!  I assigned each commenter (who wasn't the designer or a tester) a number in the order that the comment was posted.  Then I entered the number of contestants to a random number generator and the winner is entry #10, Nathalie Dene!  Nathalie, I don't have your email address.  PLEASE EMAIL ME YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION!!  Congrats!

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my little model and work!  I shared the comments with my daughter and she is very happy.