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
miranda says
When my kids don’t think I am listening and I hear them singing songs about Jesus. I try my best to help them fill their little hearts with the love of our great God. So when I hear that my cup runneth over!
Lis says
I am a follower of Cottage Home!
lisamcgriff@hotmail.com
Lis says
I follow Cottage Home on facebook!
lisamcgriff@hotmail.com
Lis says
My family makes me happy, my husband whom I love so much, my daughters who are such a blessing, and my two dachshunds who complete my little family! I would love to win this pattern..
lisamcgriff@hotmail.com
Anonymous says
What makes me really happy is seeing my kids giggle their heads off over something so silly. It’s pure music to my ears and makes my heart swell with love for them.
Rocio H. thisbe31atyahoodotcom
Amber says
Already a FB fan 🙂
Amber says
Already a blog follower 🙂
Amber says
Sewing makes me oh so happy 🙂
cre8tivecrys says
What makes me so happy right now is watching my sweet 14month old daughter play with her “baby” and pretend to be mama. Seeing her be sweet and nuturing lets me know we are doing a good job making her feel loved.
cre8tivecrys says
I also follow The Cottage Home on facebook
cre8tivecrys says
I follow the Cottage Home blog
Jessica says
I like the cottage home on fb.
Jessica Steppig Balderson
jessica.balderson@gmail.com
Jessica says
I follow The cottage Home blog.
jessica.balderson@gmail.com
Sarah says
Watching my 4 year-old show her baby brother (14 mos) how to do something just makes me smile like nothing else. She is such a little teacher.
Jessica says
The sound of my son (who is almost 3) playing with his 5 month old sister without mommy and daddy encouraging him to is something that makes me happy.
jessica.balderson@gmail.com