All Season Jumper Dress -update

For the longest time my "All Season Jumper Dress" post has been the most popular. I always figure people land there when searching for a free pattern.

Now, I just realized that the download link for my Jumper Dress pattern was broken. And NOBODY told me!!!!

Anyway, I have fixed it now. So, if there are still people out there looking for the pattern and tutorial, it's available for download again!

Crochettop Dress Tutorial

I just remembered that I never got around to posting again about the crochet-top dresses I made earlier this season. Reason being, I have no model shots.... ;-).

Anyway, I have put together a little pattern for you to use, if you wish to make a dress just like it. Simply click on this link and download via the free version.

Enjoy.

Winner of the "Anika" skirt pdf pattern

Thank you so  much for all your nice comments and thanks for still checking in after these few months of almost non-posting.
But, I am afraid summer is not going to become any more interesting around here. I will be spending lots and lots of time outside. However, I am sure I will have some sewing going on here and there. Like this past weekend: I had three projects going at the same time: 2 more summer dresses for the girls, a sleep sack for a soon-to-be-baby and a baby blanket for the same baby.

The baby items are done and one dress as well. The other dress will get done tomorrow (maybe...).

But, now our winner of the "Anika Twirl Skirt with attached Zippered Purse": It's numero 3!!!!

Congratulations, Mama Lusco!!!! I will be mailing you the pattern soon.

For everyone else, who would like to try the pattern; it will be available in the shop tomorrow morning.

Have a great start of the week. It will be our first week of Summer Break!

1,000 DONE AND FINISHED

I DID IT!!!
ALL ONE THOUSAND NAMETAGS ARE FINISHED!!!! (Sorry, for screaming, but I am so excited and relieved.) Here is a picture of the last 70 tags, I just finished.
Thank you Kristin at BBD Supplies for the felt flowers and circles. Couldn't have done it without you and all of YOU my friends who have cheered me on. Thank you!

So, let's celebrate by having a little GIVE AWAY!. Yeah! Remember, the little sneak peak I gave you in my last post?!

I think, this little pocket belongs to one of the cutest things I have made so far. I know, I say that quite often, but I really like it and I have received more inquiries on it and the girls have received more compliments on this design, than on any others before.

It's my new "Anika Twirl Skirt with attached zippered Purse". You like???

If you do, you can win a copy of the pattern before it goes on sale in my Etsy store. The pattern is for sizes 2T - 5T and includes a very detailled pictured tutorial and pattern pieces for the purse. The Purse is the highlight of the pattern. My girls LOVE it! It holds their Chap sticks, sun glasses, hair clips and typically numeruous trinkets. It's even big enough to carry a Beanie-Baby-size stuffed animal.
The pattern is a real playground for mixing and matching different fabric prints. Everything goes. The only limit is your imagination.

So, if you like to win a copy of the pattern, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me how much you love the skirt ;-) Just kidding, just tell me what you are working on right now, or what your next project will be, or maybe you have a link to a new tutorial that you really like. Or, just tell me where you will go on vacation this year!
Good luck. I will be picking a winner sometime at the end of the week.

BTW, the pink skirt in above picture is for sale right here.

Pants

About a year ago you would have never found me considering to make a pair of pants for my girls or even draw a pattern for pants. I was always afraid that they would never fit right. But, practice makes better. And with having sewn so many skirts, jackets, PJs and dresses over the past year I felt confident that now it could possibly work out okay if I made some pants; simple pants.

So, I drew up two different patterns: one that uses one piece of fabric for each leg (= no side seams on the legs) and one with side seams and cuffs. Because I wanted something really fun for the girls to wear I chose loud and bright fabrics for both.

Cute brown and purple owl flannel paired with bright pink and more owls for the pockets.

Big fun pockets on the side and in back.

For the second set I used different prints from the Monkey's Bizness and Chick A Dee, Chick A Doo fabric lines.

Nice big pockets on this one, too.

And nice cuffs with a slight flare on the bottom.

When planning and making these pants I discovered how easy, quick and awesome French Seams are! Look!

Doesn't it look so clean and professional?! If you have never tried using this type of seam it's definetly worth trying. There are quite a few easy to follow tutorials available on sewing blogs.

Quite a few birthdays are coming up next month: Uroma, Nephew, Nieces AND Anika und Kordula. I have lots of plans for handmade gifts for almost all of them. But first, I need to sit down and finish Anika's pink cardigan.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Bright Summer Dress

As of late I have been in this crazy summer-clothing-for-the-girls-sewing-mood. And it's not over. Bad part about it is that I have about three or four "one-of-two-done" projects laying around.
Obviously, I have every intention of finishing them and luckily at 13 degrees (-10 C) there will be no need for any of the clothes I am making just yet.
Like this one (one of the few that I have two to show already):

I have been stashing tons of different pinkish fabrics: new prints, thrifted pillow cases, linens, you name it. I picked a few Amy Butler and Michael Miller prints and paired them with a couple of bright flowery pillow cases. I love the result: so bright and fresh. Just like summer.

These dresses do not have a zipper or buttons in the back. They are cut wide enough to slide over the hips. So: step in, pull up, insert arms, done!

I have drawn a little pattern and written some instructions, if you like to try this kind of dress. The pattern is made to fit a child with a 22 inch chest (56 cm) or 4T dress size. The instructions are not very detailled and don't have step by step pics. But, that's all I can manage for right now. If you do have any questions just comment here or send me an email. I will get back to you.

Hope everybody has a great week!

Meet the Testers' Elise Dolls - and receive a Discount

First of, thank you again for the great response to my first pattern. You are all such nice bloggy friends.
All the testers' dolls are in. I love how each one of you put your personal spin on the pattern.

So, first meet Suzanne's Elise:

Don't you just love how comfy she looks in her flannel dress. And it even has sleeves!

Now, here is my dear friend Lauranie's cowgirl:

I don't know how she found the time to test my pattern with all the things she had going on. But, I think she is super cute with her patchy dress and accessories.

And, here is Freda's Suzie Q:

Love her cherry dress. Makes me think of summer....

And, one more! This is Lisa's Elise, all dressed in a Amy Butler designer frock ;-)

Thank you so much everybody for helping me finalize the pattern.

I took everybody's comments into consideration and made a few updates to the pattern files. The pattern is now for sale in my Etsy store. Yippie!
Please go! Get one! You know there are a few girls in your life that would love to get one for Christmas :-)
I know, I will be making more!
I am offering 2$ off the pattern (Sorry, electronic files only. Not for a printed version) for all my blog friends from now until Christmas Eve, December 24th. So, you only pay 4.95$! All you have to do is mention code "2OFF" in the message to seller box. I will send your refund through PayPal right away.