Adding a Ruffled Bib Front to the Simply Sweet

Hi! So, today is a tutorial for how to add a ruffled bib front to the Simply Sweet pattern. The simply Sweet is one of my favourite patterns because of how versatile it is already, but I just HAD to try making it with a ruffled bib front and thought you might like to add it to your Simply Sweet's as well! 

First print off your pattern piece/s. To make the ruffles you will want to have them be 2x the height of the front piece (I did empire waist by the way) and I found 3 inches wide to be perfect width

Now for the bib piece itself measure a rectangle that is the height of the front bodice and do about 3.5-4 inches wide

I like to get as much of my ironing done at a time as possible. So iron the edges of the bib front over on the two long sides and fold the ruffle pieces in half and very lightly iron them. Also take your front bodice piece and fold in half and iron to get a good crease down the center.

Set your machine to the longest stitch length for gathering the ruffle strips

Sew down the raw edge of the ruffle strips (folded in half as shown). Do NOT backstitch!!

Make sure to remember to set your machine back to it's normal setting 

Pull at your bobbin threads to get your ruffle strip the same width as your bib piece.

Pin on  the ruffles! I tried to get a close up picture - It turned out a bit blurry - sorry. But what you are looking at here is that I aligned the raw edge of the ruffle strip with the edge of the folded and ironed over bit of the bib piece. (top right cormer shows it best)

Stitch the ruffle strip to the bib front. repeat this for both sides of the bib piece.

Fold your bib piece in half and mark with a pin at the top and bottom.

Now line up the pinned center of the bib with the crease - top and bottom.

Pin your bib front on.

Stitch it on! I did over the line of stitching I used for the ruffled piece and a line very close beside on each side of the bib front.

Here it is all finished! I also added three buttons on  My husband doesn't care for how many colours this dress has - but I love it !

A Sew-a-Long Round Up

Here is a quick round up of a few of the lovely Dana's and Maddie's sewn by you!

First up is April from The Sewing Novice

I just love that fabric!

Next is the lovely Jen from Sincerely, Jen 

Perfect fit!

Also in the sew a long were some lovely Maddie's, First up from Prinkley Baby

Princesses and soft chevron - and those little girls - so cute!

And finally we have another maddie from Baby Sweetness

Isn't this little baby just a doll! and with little bloomers too!

A BIG thank you to all who participated! 

Sew a longs are hosted in the facebook group on a fairly regular basis - and there are prizes!!! (Jen, pictured above, won 2yards or circa and a pattern!) 

For more pictures and fun please join us in our facebook group and check out our photo album !

PS. a tutorial for the Simply Sweet will be coming to you soon! so remember to check in on the blog!

Who likes to coordinate?!

Did you know so SO many of our lovely patterns have an adult version and kids version? !!
Can someone say perfect for the family photos? or how about that wedding you have this summer? or Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner?... or even to make outfits to sell in your shop!

All our women's patterns go from xs up to 3xl and the kids versions mostly range from 6/12m up to 12 and even 13/14 in many cases! GREAT value for you pattern buck!

Whatever your event or non event we all know coordinating is fun!  So without further delay here is a list of our coordinating patterns!

First off we have the Patricia and Sophie:

Next is the Meghan and Molly:

Then there are the Shana and Emily:

The Marlo and Cathy are also a perfect pairing:

How about a match for the whole family! The Tommy and Louey boxers:

The Dana and Maddie are next up - these look wonderful as a dress or top!

Need something a little dressier? Well then, the Jamie and Marissa are perfect for you!

How about the perfect shift dress? I'd recommend the Rebecca and Shannon:

Here is another coordinating set that triples! A great shirt, tunic, and/or dress! The Devon and Leighanna:

Next we have the Vanessa and Bettyann:

Looking to sew for the men in your life? The Marco and Ethan are a classic set:

 

And finally another sew for the entire family! In chambray as cute pants, cottons, or in flannel as jammies the Easy fits are great and fast to make, shorts- full length; cuffed, plain hem, or ruffled! Kids and tween-adult:

We also have the Sisboom Katies and Judy's! (and don't be fooled by the name, those Katies are cute on boys too!)

NEW in our coordinating patterns for 2015 is the Sisboom Carolina Mae and Gabriella Fae 

Oh and Just in case you are wondering, the Lucy's matching kids version is in the book "A Girl's World" by the one and only Jennifer Paganelli!

Here is the document version for you to download if you want it ! 

Here is a link to our pinboards! Pinterest is a great source of inspiration and you can see the patterns made many different ways in all sizes and lengths !

Also if you are not already - PLEASE do join us in our facebook group and like our fan page! 

The Dana/Maddie Sew-a-Long Day 4

Now let us pick up where we left of for our final day of the sew a long!

We had just done the gathering lines along the flutter sleeves. so pin the sleeve down - right sides together to the main piece one pin and each end and one in the middle and lightly gather and spread your gathers evenly.

Make sure your stitch length is back to normal :) 

Sew a long to attach sleeve to arm bands, I should note it might be a good idea to remove pins as you come up to them... go ahead - ask me how I know ! 

Now set your machine to zigzag (or serge if you are lucky enough to have a serger) and finish the edge where you just attached the sleeve to arm bands

NOTE: I do not follow the written directions for the rest - and this is because I prefer to finish my edges after I have tried on and adjusted for the fit I want.

Next you will put the sides together - and sew right up from bottom edge to flutter sleeve top edge.

Back to zig zag to finish off the inside edge

Now remember how we overcast/or zigzaged and ironed that flutter sleeve outside edge? Well now it is time to sew that fold over down. 

Now I overcast foot the bottom hem edge but I do not hem it yet! 

After I have done this I try it one to see how much I should do my bottom hem by and if I want to adjust the fit. For this pattern I wanted it to be a bit more fitted, So I got out my disappearing fabric pen and made the marks to sew as shown below. Then I tried it on again and realized I have minimal hips - I really should have sewn straight down (drawn on white marks) so I went back and sewed straight down. The inner most point is 1.5inches, just so you know how much I took it in. I did this one both sides of the shirt.

I re tried it on and loved the closer fit so then I turned up my hem and sewed it up (I did a one inch hem since I cut it a bit extra long just to be safe - I'm weird like that) I also attached my label to the inside on the side I chose to be the back of the shirt. I chose which side to be front and back based on the fabric pattern being arranged more pleasing to me on one side vs. the other. 

And You have now completed the Dana/Maddie pattern!!! YAY you!!!! Go try it on - get a picture of yourself  and post it in the facebook lab group album titled "Dana/Maddie Sew-a-Long" (or just hang it on a hanger for a picture if you really don't want to post a picture of yourself online)

bonus points that add up to nothing but a cool factor if you put on a funny hat for your picture!