I have gotten quite a jump start on Christmas here. I have several presents wrapped, Christmas card photos ready for printing, a little experimental baking done, and best of all, Christmas dresses DONE!!
When Lindsay, THE Cottage Mama from The Cottage Home , sent one of her new, seriously fabulous patterns to try out, I couldn’t help but jump on the chance to sew up three coordinating looks and call them Christmas dresses!! And since I knew I’d have a real juggling act to get some pictures to share, I decided to turn it into a big photo shoot party! These three girls had an absolute blast and I’m so excited to now share this pattern with YOU!!
The Janey Jumper pattern is probably the most well-written, well-executed pattern I’ve ever seen. I could probably go on for days about all the details that continued to wow me throughout the dress-making process, but I’ll include just some here:
- Variety – The pattern includes three variations and I loved them so much, I tried all three. On Grace’s dress, I changed the variation a little bit as the pattern has a flat patchwork panel running down the center of the dress. I chose to do two patchwork ruffles just so I could squeeze more ruffles in somewhere. I don’t know that the prints were different enough from one another to see the patchwork aspect, but just think of the possibilities with Lindsay’s design! There are also plenty of opportunities to add ric rac, ribbon, ruffles, buttons, all kinds of embellishments – love that! You can even get two looks out of one dress because it’s fully reversible!
- Straightforward – The progression of steps in this pattern was perfect. The instructions were clear and I loved that there were little tips included; I felt like Lindsay was there showing me what to do (someday maybe!!) The illustrations and extra details were invaluable.
- Seam Allowances – This is probably a little weird, but one of my pet peeves is when it takes me like a hundred years to identify the seam allowances on a pattern. Not so here! The seam allowances were written clear as day. It made me smile.
- Simple and Quick – The dress was simple enough to put together that I did the latter two dresses a couple steps at a time while cooking dinner or watching the kids color. After assembling the first dress, I didn’t even need to check the instructions the second and third round. Everything was just so well explained and straightforward. A quick sew ranks high in my book!
- No Seam Ripper Needed – This pattern is drawn so perfect and explained so well, I didn’t have to redo anything! Lindsay’s technique for the scallop front is genius and the scallops pressed out easily. (I trimmed all my seams with pinking shears). All three dresses came together easily with the lines matching up and everything lying flat. It was a sewing dream!
Sewing DREAM, I tell you. Of course, I expected nothing less from the Cottage Mama. These dresses just make me happy!
And now for the best part… Lindsay is giving away TWO of the Janey Jumper patterns here at
girl. Inspired!
This giveaway has concluded. Please check in for future giveaways. Thanks!
If you haven’t already, you should check out what some other awesome bloggers are doing with the Cottage Mama’s Sewing patterns by following along on the blog tour.
November 8th – The Cottage Home
November 9 th – Craftiness is not Optional
November 10th – A Lemon Squeezy Home
November 11th – No Big Dill
November 12th – Kojo Designs
November 14th – Aesthetic Nest
November 15th – Girl.Inspired
November 16th – Noodlehead
November 17th – The Cottage Home
AND if you need to get your hands on the Cottage Mama’s sewing patterns right now, they are available for purchase by clicking here. You can also read all about the release of her first two paper patterns on Lindsay’s blog by clicking here.
Good luck and happy sewing!!
***The two randomly selected winners of the Janey Jumper giveaway are:
Kristin of The Meldrin Family
and
Barb from Quilting Barbie
Ladies, please send me your address and we’ll get these patterns shipped out to you!
Thanks for entering. If you are interested in sponsoring a giveaway at girl. Inspired., please contact Stef at girlinspired@yahoo.com****
Comments & Reviews
Anonymous says
My little girls make me happy. Their smiles in the morning make my day.
Thanks,
Erin
emstone28@gmail.com
Nancy E in MN says
I’ve been reading the cottage home for quite awhile and just love the quality of her work. It’s making me so happy to see your Christmas versions, because I’ve been envisioning this pattern transformed into beautiful fabrics like these.
sharon b says
…. and follow!
sharon b says
I “love” … much more than “like” … tch on fb.
sharon b says
It is usually pretty pink ruffles for my grand baby makin’ me smile. But, today I am lovin’ your beautiful little girls in their adorable dresses!
christy@sewloveit says
I love the sound of my baby girl as she wakes up talking baby talk happily, then you look in the cot and she looks up at you and gives you a big toothy grin :-)christy@nsw1.com
Emily W. says
I ‘LIKE’ the Cottage Mama on Facebook as well. 🙂
Emily W. says
I also follow the Cottage Mama’s blog.
Emily W. says
Some extra time to actaully SEW!!!! Oh, and a bunch of extra money to buy fabric. 🙂 The Janey Jumper pattern would become a lovely gift for a friend’s little girl.
Jacqui says
On a lazy Sunday morning the smell of fresh bread baking in my oven and freshly cut grass. The sound of my children laughing and playing in the backyard. Those Sundays make me happiest of all. What a lovely giveaway, thanks for the opportunity x
Anonymous says
I follow The Cottage Home
kaitlynsuzanne (at) gmail (dot) com
Anonymous says
The Christmas season makes me happy…especially with little ones around to help celebrate!
kaitlynsuzanne (at) gmail (dot) com
fenna says
I would love to win! I am happy when I remember to rest on God for strength–to rely on Him for all that I need–as I know I cannot do life on my own! fenna_otten at yahoo dot ca
Anonymous says
I follow the cottage home.
Rhonda Smith
Anonymous says
Giggling babies makes me happy 🙂
Rhonda Smith