As the garden grows...

I've been hard at work on the Patricia Tunic this week. As I grade each size, I sew one up, tweak the pattern, then sew another one just to make sure all is perfect. Luckily, I have lots of friends and family members who are more than happy to share measurements and feedback in exchange for a tunic made from gorgeous SisBoom Fabrics . My vintage dressform Bessie has been helping me out tremendously. She is just like me - goes up and down in size and spends most of her time in the sewing room :P . Anyway, I thought I'd get the both of us out in the garden for some fresh air and some pictures.

Please ignore the weeds. I had big plans for weeding and mulching this spring, but I just didn't get around to it. I kind of dropped the ball with the veggie garden, too. The executive chef of the household had to take over as head gardener. I can't very well have dirty fingernails when I'm taking step-by-step sewing pictures, right?

The little guy is lending a hand as well. Right now his favorite job is holding the bowl while I pick strawberries. I think he consumes about 50% of what I harvest, but I'll take all the help I can get! Hopefully we will have enough for strawberry shortcake tonight :) .

Very exciting news!!!

I'm very happy to present the Sophie Tunic, the first of many SisBoom Patterns co-authored by me and the fabulous textile designer Jennifer Paganelli!

Yes - I'm working with THE Jennifer Paganelli!!! It is a dream come true! I've been a fan of Jennifer's gorgeous fabric lines for years. Her bold designs and vintage flair really speak to me and are perfect for the styles I love to create. If you've never met her, check out her blog and you will quickly see what a sweet, talented spirit she is. When I found out she was hosting a workshop just a few states away, I just had to go! My wonderful husband drove me up there early on a Saturday morning (through NYC in driving rain no less), and entertained Lou while I basked in Jennifer's creativity. She was so wonderful and easy to talk to, I felt like I had known her forever! At that point, I had no idea what my next pattern was going to be, but she sent me away with a gazillion new ideas. Now I have the huge honor of bringing her stylish clothing designs to life in pattern form, using her incredible fabrics and creative direction.

The Sophie Tunic was so fun to work on! We made it in a wide range of sizes - 6/12 months to 11/12 years. This style works for so many different ages. The little girl sizes are of course as darling as can be, and the tweens really love them too! The tunic can be made from a single fabric, or with contrasting facings and/or cuffs. A dainty loop/button fastener or ribbon ties can be added to the keyhole neckline.

There are lots of sleeve options, too! Three separate sleeve patterns are provided for each size: a short sleeve, a long sleeve, and a cuffed sleeve. The short sleeve has an additional cutting line for cap length. The long and cuffed sleeves have multiple cutting lines to make a range of lengths from ¾ to full.

Like the sleeves, the bodice can be made in a range of lengths. Shorter tunics are great with jeans and shorts, while longer tunics are perfect over leggings. Tunics make great beach or pool coverups, too!

Recognize the little blond standing between the models??? We were lucky enough to go "on location" with EmilyKorff, the outstanding woman behind the lens at Veralana Photography. She and her adorable girls did such a beautiful job showing off the design possibilities for the Sophie Tunic. Jennifer and I just couldn't be more thrilled with the pictures!

Finally, I have to send a HUGE thank you to my team of testers!!! This great group of women (and one man) gave me so much encouragement and input to make this pattern the absolute best it could be. Not only did they test out the patterns to check for accuracy, they proofread and helped me to clarify the instructions where needed. Their hard work is so greatly appreciated! Of course, the best part of it all is seeing the pictures of their beautiful daughters beaming in their tunics!

The Sophie Tunic is available for download at YouCanMakeThis.com . If you've never worked with an eBook before, get ready for a treat! The instructions are very detailed - every step is illustrated with a diagram or a photograph. The pattern pieces are printed and taped together to make durable, full-sized patterns. Plus, you can print out the sizes you need when you need them. You can make gorgeous tunics for all the little girls in your life (and pretty soon you be able to make them for big girls too :) )!