Christmas Outfit Inspiration

November 26, 2015 by girlinspired 6 Comments

These girls of mine take my breath away. I know I’ve said it before, but it brings me so much joy to see their excitement as I design, sew, and photograph homemade garments specifically for each of them. They wait patiently as their sisters take turns and know that they will be in the spotlight in due time. As part of my work with Jo-Ann, I was given the task to create something around a “Winter Chill” theme and as I perused the store, Christmas outfits came to life in my mind. Warm, furry coats and sparkly dresses in pink and gold. Something different and so beautiful. I’ve finished this first outfit and I don’t know if it was her beaming smile or the way the morning light hit my camera as I rushed to take pictures before a busy day, but these pictures are positively glowing.
I saw this amazing fabric in my store and quickly stitched up a simple dress. I must sound like a broken record, but the 5&10 Volume 1 pattern came in oh-so-handy once again. The simple bodice with big gold buttons up the back and pretty little cap sleeves give a reliable, well-fitting result. I did a simple gathered skirt. After I had sewn it together, the skirt was looking really too puffy – this fabric is thick and very structured – probably a bit much for a gathered skirt. I pressed the gathers really well and that did the trick. I love the result. With a slim gold belt, the dress has great structure to complement the fancy jacquard print. You can also find the fabric online – it’s David Tutera Metallic Jacquard Fabric in Rose.

The dress is gorgeous under this furry coat. She looks like a winter wonderland dream, does she not? I hope she never stops crinkling her cute little nose when she giggles.

Fall Photo Dresses with Four Corners Fabric

October 24, 2015 by girlinspired 4 Comments

The project that I get to share with you today has me high in the clouds for so many reasons. First of all, moving has put a cramp in my sewing time and not only did I sew up one new dress, I went all wild and crazy and sewed up three dresses in less than 24 hours. It felt so good to have all my machines fired up and spurting out gorgeous little dresses for my girls. Second, all my girls simultaneously cooperated for picture time and I now have a neat, little stack of beautiful Fall photos. THIRD, and most exciting, I got to sew with the most fabulous fabric designed by some of my very bestest sewing friends, the girls from Simple Simon & Co. Their new fabric line, Four Corners for Riley Blake Designs, is beyond perfection. Now, I could gush all day about what amazing people Liz and Elizabeth are, because “amazing” doesn’t even scratch the surface, but I actually think they would like me to gush about the fabric and I could do that all day as well.

I had a really hard time making my fabric choices. Friends, as if it wasn’t hard enough to choose which fabric patterns, I had to choose between woven or knit, and then decide what to sew. I find the colors and patterns on this fabric line so versatile, my head was spinning with ideas. Good thing the Home Dec fabric isn’t available until December or I’d have really never decided. In the end, I picked the gold/black/white color ways and grabbed some knit AND some wovens!

This “Main Black” pattern is just spectacular. It’s so vibrant, but neutral, and I think it works perfectly for my older daughter. Her dress is the basic 5&10 Volume 1 dress (no longer available). So quick to sew and, in this fabric, it works great even for a tween! We paired it with a little gold belt to show off the sparkle in the metallic gold on the fabric. I flipped the grain of the fabric for the skirt and I think it makes for a nice contrast.

I also used the same pattern for this knit dress in the “Circles Black” fabric. If you’ve never sewn with Riley Blake knits, you’re in for a real treat! Their knit is thick and vibrant – perfect for leggings or a nice Fall dress like this one. Since the 5&10 dress pattern is for wovens, I sized the bodice down one size, added 3/4 length sleeves and a circle skirt. It is absolutely perfect for play, school, even church. I’d like to sew about twenty more of this style dress – it turned out so well!

Another dress from the same pattern with two wovens from the fabric line. I just added cap sleeves and pockets for this dress and it looks so much different than the others, but still so simple to sew. I love how the black and white prints pair so well with the color prints. It’s such a bold, trendy statement and my girls are IN to it!! There are also aqua prints and coral prints available in the fabric line – so many good combinations to make!

So, needless to say (again), we are loving the Four Corners fabric line! Simple Simon ladies, you’ve outdone yourselves!! Let’s have a few more pictures since my girlies were having such a good time.

I think that’ll do it! Be sure to follow along on the Four Corners Fabric Tour at Simple Simon & Co. for so much amazing inspiration. Holy moly, you’ve got to see the quilts and teepees being sewn up!!!

A-Line Girl Dresses – a Pattern Book by 5&10 Designs

June 8, 2015 by girlinspired Leave a Comment

One of the main reasons that I sew and make and blog is to instill a love for art and creativity in my children. I want to inspire others to do the same and I treasure the opportunity to make beautiful things and document how my family uses them in our everyday lives. As I worked on our third pattern book with my fellow designers at Five & Ten Designs, I was once again reminded about how important this journey is to me personally and, likely, to all of you who sew for your children, grandchildren, and friends. To see the light spring into my girls’ eyes when I make something special for them, to dote on them and encourage them as they model these dresses, it fills me with pride and joy.
Today, our team is releasing our THIRD pattern book and it is spectacular! If you’re not already familiar with Five and Ten Designs, the basic premise is this. Five designers have come together with one basic pattern block to show YOU how to alter the pattern and create 10 completely unique and darling looks! Volume Three is a pattern book full of A-line girl dresses. There are add-on pattern pieces such as collars and sleeves, along with instructions for zippers, pockets, buttons, and trims!

The basic A-line girls dress is one of the simplest garments to sew. If you’ve been thinking about learning to sew, this dress is a great place to start. Once you have the beginning techniques mastered, or if you’re already a sewist, you have nine additional designs to learn and practice many other techniques!

I will be talking more specifically (and by that, I mean I have too many fun pictures to cram into this one post) about my two designs over the next week, but we can see a couple pictures now. I call this the Big Bow dress – it comes with a crazy pretty bow and inverted box pleat – it also seems to elicit Big Personality.

If pin tucks and peter pan collars are your thing, you’ll love this second design. I can always get behind the charm of such classic design elements. Keep them classic or mix them in with modern fabrics, you just can’t go wrong.

There are so many great, great designs in this book. I hope you have as much fun with it as we did! Hop over to Five and Ten Designs for more details, pictures, and purchasing information! THANKS, Friends!!

5&10 Designs Coat Sewing Inspiration

November 28, 2014 by girlinspired Leave a Comment

I previously showed you the Bow Collar Coat pattern that I contributed to the Volume 2 Outerwear pattern book and today I’m sharing a few more pictures of the Ruffled Details Jacket, my other design.

This jacket is just so sweet – I think it would be darling in a shiny red, royal blue, or black for the holidays! It’s perfect for the girly girls, am I right?

Addie is so cute modeling this jacket, I could just eat her up! The hands on her hips and cocked hip are all her – what a pro!

So, this jacket pattern takes the basic design block and shows you how to add a Peter Pan style collar, ruffled hem “skirt”, and ruffled sleeves with the whole thing completely lined. I made it in this pretty satiny brocade, but I think it would be so pretty in a lightweight velvet or satin, too.

I used some super sparkly gemstone buttons, which are always a (girly girl) crowd pleaser.

Don’t forget you can also use the same pattern (Volume 2) to make rainjackets…

or any of the other Volume 2 looks – so many I haven’t even gotten to yet!

Looking at these pictures from last year reminds me that I need to get sewing Christmas dresses for this year!!

Bow Collar Coat

October 3, 2014 by girlinspired 4 Comments

As you know, the girls and I at 5&10 Designs just released our second pattern eBook and it’s all about Jackets!! Today, I’m sharing some more detailed pictures of my first pattern included in the book, which is this classy Bow Collar Coat.

I have a jacket similar to this one that I’ve been wanting to turn into a girls’ coat for quite some time. I used a lovely thick cream wool for Olivia’s coat and it gives it such a nice dressy finish.

The coat has inseam pockets, which are a must with winter jackets! Plus, they thrill kids – have you ever noticed that? My kids squeal when I sew them something with pockets. Random, I know.

I picture this little coat headed off to church or doing some holiday window shoppping. Less ideal for 95 degree heat, which is what the weather was when we were taking pictures. Olivia is such an agreeable model, I’m so fortunate.

This coat snaps up on the inside for easy on and off, but I adore the decorative buttons down the whole front. The pattern will show you how to add the overlap for the front of the jacket and transform the collar into the cute bow version. I think it’s kind of eye-catching and unique!

You can read more about the 5&10 Volume Two eBook here.

Children’s Outerwear Pattern – 10 Amazing Designs!

September 29, 2014 by girlinspired 3 Comments

I am so thrilled that today is finally here! The team at Five & Ten Designs is releasing a brand new eBook and it’s all about children’s JACKETS!! We have 10 totally amazing designs that you can sew, all from our basic pattern blocks and detailed, step-by-step sewing/alteration instructions.

It has been so much fun working on this pattern book and I’m just thrilled to finally be able to share it! There are looks for both girls AND boys, which is super cool. There’s dressy and casual, long and short, zippered, buttoned, collars, and hoods, knits and wovens. So many variations to love!

I’ll be sharing my contributions to the book in more detail throughout the week, but I’ll give you a quick look now! I had been envisioning this classy, bow cowl collar coat for ages and just love how it turned out.

And we had to add something with a few ruffles for the girly girls! I love it that Addie wanted to wear the basic dress from 5&10 Volume One for her photo shoot. Bringing things full circle here.

CLICK HERE for all the details and purchasing info for 5&10 Designs Volume Two pattern eBook!

You can see all of the pattern alterations available in the ebook by browsing this online magazine. Every time I flip through it, I seriously can’t believe how much variety you can sew with just the basic set of pattern blocks!

Can’t wait to hear what you think! Happy Sewing, friends!

You can visit my fellow designers’ sites and see what they’re saying about Volume Two:
Delia Creates
Craftiness is Not Optional
The Sewing Rabbit
Elegance & Elephants