Tobago gets a ruffled skirt!

I just HAD to try it out and see how the Tobago (it goes up to size 13/14!) would look as a hi-lo and as a dress and layered. Cute? I think so! ... but Cheeks does tend to make everything look adorable haha.

To start with you are going to need to draw a pretty steep curve on your bodice front piece. A few inches up on the fold line meeting the corner for the side seam

on the back piece you want to even out that hemline to a gentle curve

When you put your front and back pieces together you will have this - now, you could sew it up like this for an adorable baby crop(ish) looking top) or you can keep going for the skirt. 

Either way - sew the shirt as directed in the pattern before moving on to the ruffled skirt option.

(Cut your skirt strips according to the length you want the dress/top to be...  ) 

Sew the strips together at each short end.

 Now set your stitch length to the longest you have and sew two lines leaving nice long tails (see what I'm holding) for gathering the skirt portion.

Grab those long strings by the bobin threads and pull to gather. Gather until your skirt is the same width as the shirt and then put the right sides together of the shirt top and the skirt piece and pin in place.

Make sure your stitch length is back at normal and sew the skirt to the top! Finish te seams via the zigzag stitch or serger and then topstitch on the good side!

All done and oh so cute for fall! 

Katie/Judy Pants Get the Short End. A Tutorial for Shorts on the Line

I really do adore the fit and construction of the Katie Fancy Pants, but for summer the kiddo needed some shorts! I really do like 'play' length shorts for everyday. 

When we were invited to join Shorts on the Line I knew the exact tutorial I wanted to do for you all! (Since I have heard many requests for turning the Katie's and Judy's into shorts) 

This tutorial has 2 pictures! Can I even call it a tutorial with only 2 pictures? Anyways, tutorial or not, this is EASY to do! (and I don't know about you but come summertime I like easy sews a lot!)

Step one, line up your front and back pattern pieces and then put a ruler across the narrowest part - that is the knee(ish) length. If you want longer or shorter - raise or lower the placement of the ruler.

Step 2 compare the new "bottom hem" width with the facings and take an even amount off both sides of the facing so it matches up with the width of your new Bottom.

Then you sew the pants (now shorts) up exactly as described in the pattern! There are no changes to construction at all!

My daughter's hips are a little bit narrow so I am hoping it means she should be able to wear these next summer too! WAHOO!

Happy sewing!!!!! Come and join us on facebook in our LAB group for even more fun!

Here is the Shorts on the Line schedule so you can check out all the awesome! :

• 7/28 - Inder Loves Folk Art & Fake It While You Make It
• 7/29 - Made & Sew Chibi
• 7/30 - Delia Creates & Casa Crafty & A Happy Stitch
• 7/31 - Noodlehead & Things for Boys & Sew Delicious
• 8/01 - Clever Charlotte & Thread Theory & Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky!
• 8/04 - Girl Like The Sea & Buzzmills & Make It Perfect
• 8/05 - Ada Spragg & You and Mie & Siestas and Sewing
• 8/06 - Groovy Baby and Mama & Caila Made & Cali Faye Collection
• 8/07 - Skirt as Top & Katy and Laney & The Scientific Seamstress 
• 8/08 - Petit a Petit and Family & Max California & Melly Sews

Rebecca dress with a gathered skirt - tutorial!

I don't know about you, but straight skirts never really feel like my friend, and especially not after the second baby. However, I LOVE the neckline and details of the Rebecca pattern! So, I decided to do a gathered skirt on the Rebecca! 

ps. do NOT forget to muslin, muslins are indeed your friends and worth the extra work!

This is really so simple folks! I took the Angie skirt dimensions - and cut them down by a few inches for each pieces (less gathering) and the Angie pocket pieces as well. 

If you don't have the Angie and still want to do this for the Rebecca you will need a measuring tape. Measure your front bodice and then cut a rectangle of fabric that is: bodice width x 1.5 or 2 by the desired length. and then measure side pieces and cut two (2) rectangle pieces that are  bodice width x 1.5 or 2 by the desired length. 

If you are using the Angie measures you can simple cut the second rectangle in half to give you the 2 pieces for the back skirt.

 So you should have 3 skirt pieces. one large rectangle and then 2 smaller ones plus 4 pocket pieces if you are adding on pockets.

Sew your pockets a couple inches from the tops of each skirt piece as seen above and then you put the sids together and sew - like the Angie pattern. and you will have a long skirt piece with the middle in the center and a back skirt piece on either side. Now you gather it up and then attach as per the directed in the Rebecca pattern!

Nice and easy right? 

Now another thing I want to touch on is that the Rebecca is NOT meant to be a skin tight ultra fitted bodice. of course you can size down to get it how close fitting you want it, and should practice getting the fit you want via a muslin.. I want to show you this pic - as you can see I can pinch an inch in front and back.   

but that extra bit makes this dress sooo comfy, and it still looks fitted.

Do you see my zipper?

I LOVE this dress, I love the fit, I love the colours and fabric (the new Jenny Eliza found in Joann's fabric stores btw) and I LOVE the gathered skirt. I feel ready to go have tea with the queen! 

ROAD TRIP TIME! with Liesl Gibson of Straight Stitch Society and Oliver +S!

Today is the release of the 4th pattern in the Road Trip Pattern Club!  Introducing the In a Clutch Cosmetic Case by Liesl Gibson of Straight Stitch Society and Oliver +S! !!

This cute little bag/clutch is so pretty and has options as seen in the picture to jazz it up! No need to walk to that campground potty feeling blah! Does anyone here camp? Well, even if you are staying at a hotel - keep your cosmetics pretty and tidy in your suitcase! or throw your keys and card in it for the beach! 

Do you love it? I love the simple ruffled details! 

Of course, you can buy into the road trip at anytime during the tour and get all 5 patterns as they release (only 1 to go - how this summer has flown by!) for only $35 !!!! GREAT deal ! These patterns will not be up for individual sale until October, but at this price that is only $6 a pattern! 

Here are some pictures of the already released patterns in the tour and if you want more details about the pattern club you can Click here to view more details. 

of if you are already sold you can just click below :) 

Want to know who is designing the next pattern and a hint? 

Carolyn Friedlander in Florida is the final destination! Carolyn, a quilt and fabric designer, travels frequently to teach quilting and sewing classes. Her pattern design for the club is sure to help you sew on the go.