Triangle Tortola/Tobago

To start with when you make a tortola or tobago out of knit you will NOT cut on the bias and you WILL use woven facing.  

To get the triangle hemline you will redraw your pattern piece as shown by the red lines below - do this for the front and back pieces. You do not need to do the dart since it is knit and loosened on the fit. Then simply sew as per the directions! 

The back view:

Simple, flowy, and comfy for summer!

EDITED: Someone asked in the LAB how to get the more down the sides handkerchief hemline look so I thought I'd let you know how here too:

Let's Open Up About Angie!

The Angie is one of my favourite patterns to have fun playing with and modifying! it is a perfect easy fitting dress of blank slate goodness! Here is my most recent creation! 

Another great tutorial for a different open back look is here on the Free Notion blog

Is anyone else loving maxi dresses for this summer?

girls wearing Sisboom Gabriella Fae's. All fabric used is a mix of sisboom fabric lines.

and of course don't forget to LINK UP! You could win a pattern of choice from the Etsy shop!

one piece the shannon shift

Guys, This is sooooooo easy it is almost embarrassing to call this a tutorial.... If you want the Shannon as a one piece pattern - just tape the pieces together as seen below. 

yep. it is that easy .... 

 I also did a half lining though since I was out of bias tape and didn't feel like making any... 

Sew around the armholes, right sides together. clip the curves.

Then bring up the sides - lining to lining and outer to outer as shown below for both sides of the shift:

3 Step by step pics of bringing the sides together if you need more detail:

Back to the tutorial:

once your sides are sewn up bast stitch the neckline lining and main together - wrong sides together and then add the collar as per the pattern and finish up the zipper as per the pattern. 

If you make one this June (015) don't forget to link up for a chance to win!

Matching May: The Funky Pineapple

Matching May:

May 24-30

Match a favourite tv character/movie character. Be creative and have fun! If the yhave been on a screen let's see your look! ps. Ms. Frizzle anyone???? 

For my matching may I chose to do a pineapple. If you are How I Met Your Mother fans then I have no doubt the pineapple thing drove you nuts too. and since Ted's hair is always a mess like the pineapple This is what I created! 

For this version of the Tortola (or Tobago) you will make as directed for the top half. but when you cut measure where you want the faux peplum to be and cut straight across and then cut the peplum part w (1.5x the total bottom of the shirt)) x length (however long you need)

If you want to do the Funky Pineapple free motion applique I have made a bare bones instructions PDF for you (FREE) . Do the free motion applique before you begin sewing the garment.

Once you have the top part of the peplum completed you will gather your bottom rectangle and attach it to the top part. right sides together.

Finish the edges of the seam. Then on the sides I marked on both sides 4.5 inches do to an elastic casing to cinch it in a bit (you can change this length)

Add a piece of bias tape to the seam to help make a casing (ps, this is exactly how I do the elastic on the angie - just along the whole back)

Fold the now attached bias tape up and sew along the top edge

see - nice and pretty. then you will add your elastic. I always do the elastic so at full stretch it is JUST a bit longer than my casing. sew the elastic down at both ends of the casing.

Then if you want you can add little faux tabs to cover the elastic casing like I did, or leave plain :) 

IF I was doing Ms. Frizzle this would have been my dress btw ;)

What's your favourite TV show? Do you know how the pineapple on HIMYM came to be??? 

Tortola (and tobago) get the cap sleeve treatment!

To get cap sleeves you :

1. Redraw the shoulder lines for the front and back pieces.
2. Make a new facing set by tracing around the neckline-armpit and a few inches down the sides.
3. Sew as per the pattern directions

Isn't that a nice and easy tutorial? Gotta love an easy change up!

and if you reeeeeeaaaaaaalllllllyyyyy want to see it on.... here is my we just spent 4hrs in a car with a toddler screaming the last 20mins home because we PASSED grandma/grampa's house and didn't go get a motorcycle ride pic. You can see she is still fit throwing in the pic.... Oh the fun of 2!

Side Tie Devon, Matching May week 1

I had to wait until AFTER mother's day to post this so my mom would be surprised :) 

This week's challenge is : to match someone who is a mother/mentor figure in your life. You can by wearing something in their favourite style (ish) print, or make the same pattern for you and them if you are lucky enough to still have them in your life. or to make them something

My mom's favourite colour is orange, and she looks just great in the Sisboom Devon, so I made my mom a side tie Devon for Mother's day. The Devon is one of my favourite patterns too - wears so perfectly. I always feel good in it, even on bloated days!

The simple tutorial for doing the side tie is here: CLICK this link 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Sunday. Mom or not :)

Shelling Shorties Tutorial!

Have you pinned a pair of these little shorties lately? I know I did, and Judy did because we chatted our love ... and then talked about how to get the look without a new pattern and this is what happened! 

The Perfectly Preppy Skort pattern is PERFECT and perfectly easy to modify into these shelling shorties!  and how perfectly adorable don't they look with a nice flowing short shirt! 

The shirt is the top of the Carly bubble romper with a gathered skirt added to it btw :) 

Guys, this is how easy it is.... Take the bloomers pattern, do not overlap shaded bits - it needs the little extra width for these and then tape the yoke to the bloomer bottoms. 

You'll sew them up as described for sewing the shorts. then decide where you want the elastic front gathering to be. I ironed a crease so it would be easy to see and mark. 

Then I grabbed a ruler and marked how high I wanted the elastic to go. Cheeks is in 2T size and I went up 4.5inches. or just under half way.

Then cut a piece of elastic the at max stretch is the length of your line. and pin at the top and at the bottom. Then you simply sew on the line and keep the elastic stretched as you go.

Here you can see it sewed. 

I added little bows to the front at the top of the gathering. you don;t have to, I just thought it was cute.

Now, bring on the summer!!!!

Will you be making some shelling shorties this summer?

Keyholes are Keepers! Tutorial.

If you are in the LAB group on Facebook you already saw this look, BUT, this time it comes with a tutorial!!!!! Enjoy!

ps. Yes, this really is how Cheek's hair looks when she wakes up. Anyone else jealous of my 2yr old's hair? (I am .... )

Lace it UP! Elbow patches!

Can you believe #LaceitUp March is almost over??!!! CRAZY!!!!! But you have until the end of the 31st to enter your pics into the challenge album in the Facebook Group!

I grabbed my inspiration for this look from some of my roots and from a real life friend of mine! (yes, I do have a couple of those! Can you believe that is still a thing? lol)

I used the Sisboom Leighanna dress as I wanted a simple dress with a nice width of sleeve for adding on those hexagon elbow patches! I did the neckline a little tighter than the pattern, to try and make it warmer and I skipped the drawstring.

There are so many great hexi tutorials out there so I won't bother explaining them as I'm sure my directions would make true quilters and hexi makers cringe. 

BUT for the lace I grabbed a bit of fabric and put lace over it and basted it on around the edges (black thread), then I cut the lace to shape. After that I followed a tutorial for making the shape. I did my hexagons a bit larger. I just used the shape tool on a computer program to make one and hit print :)  

Find where the elbow will be (ish) I ironed a crease down the center of the sleeve to help me get the patches on straight and sew around the edges and then complete the dress!

A nice and easy way to add a little fun to a basic dress !

Happy sewing! I'd love to hear where you are grabbing inspiration from lately!

Lace it UP March! All Over Lace Tutorial

Ready for another lace it up tutorial? This one is so fast and easy too! and sooo cute! I honestly think I need to make myself this dress! I am in love with the all over lace and the side ties!

I used the Portrait peasant. but you could also use the Leighanna, or Devon (adult version). If you use the Leighanna or Devon skip this collage for lengthening the pattern and just use your desired cutting length.

Next cut your pieces out of fabric and again out of lace. I used a lace tablecloth I found at the thrift shop for this dress.  Once your pieces are cut put your lace on top of your fabric everything right sides looking at you and baste stitch around all the edges. 

Next to get the drawstring waist do 2 lines of stitching across the bodice. I did 2.5 inches down from the arm pits.  

Sew the dress as per the pattern now! and when done the holes in the lace are perfect for threading some small ribbon through. Cut 2 lengths of ribbon - one for the back and one for the front and then tie on each side and distribute the gathers. You could as an alternative do a casing on the inside with bias tape and use elastic.

All done and oh so cute!

What do you think? Would you were this look as an adult? or make this for a child?