My Favorite Things of 2014

It's New Year's Eve. It's time to reflect on the past year and make your plans for the year ahead.  I was digging through photos on my laptop this morning and thought that I should blog about some of my favorite sewing related things from this past year. 

I'll start with one of the biggest-- In the first few months of 2014 I begin a great friendship and work partnership with a sweet lady named Beth, who is the creative lady behind LilyGiggle pattern company. Beth hired me to be her assistant/social media coordinator. I have enjoyed this job so much! Beth's patterns are so fun and creative. 

This may be one of my very favorite patterns she has done this year-- the Fiddlehead Flutter top. The sleeves on this top just make me smile every time I look at them.  

Here are a few more she has done this year that I have had fun with. 

The Jujube , The Secret Garden Dress, and The Zinnia

I've changed up a few of these for some different looks. The Jujube is an eye catcher with those beautiful ruffles down the front, but this dress is also just darling without them. When you leave the ruffles off you can make this dress is under an hour. Seriously. Super fast and super cute! 

 

I make the Zinnia a LOT. I mean a whole lot. I can't even tell you how many I've made.  I LOVE the petal sleeves on the original pattern, but I switched this one up and little and added some cuffs and a ruffle for something different-- and so all of my daughter's dresses didn't look exactly alike. ;)

   

This dress brings me to another favorite thing from 2014-- Art Gallery Fabrics. I've used their fabrics on and off for a while now, but this year they have really come out with some KILLER fabrics. My addiction has almost gotten out of control. The photo above is from their line "Utopia". Below is "Indelible".  I have to say that there has been very little that has come out of my sewing room this year that hasn't been Art Gallery.

Their cottons are so soft. The Art Gallery motto "feel the difference" is totally true. You can feel it and tell that their quality is exceptional. And then the knits-- wow. Should I tell you
 that I have a shelving until full of BOLTS of their fabric?
Yeah, I told you it was an addiction. I really can't help it. 

Two more great patterns came out this year that I really fell in love with. The Bay Dress-- 

 

And the Lennon-- Both from Brownie-Goose

Both are unique and really cute! If you are a fan of Brownie-Goose you know that's the norm for her! 

Some of my customer's favorite items this year have been the Princess Dresses from Made for Mermaids. There were several times this year that I never wanted to see anything princess again after making so many dresses. But they sure are cute!

Another big seller for my shop was the Tilly Top

 

And lastly, a new favorite for me and my customers-- the Elise.

Now to talk about a few sewing items that I have found helpful lately. The first one is knit interfacing. I've sewn more with knit this year than with woven so this product has really proved itself to be invaluable. I use it all the time. It's great for stabilizing the bodice of a dress to add a woven skirt. It also works great for hemlines if you don't have a cover stitch machine. 

The next product I have just started using is wonder tape. This was a lifesaver with all those ruffles on the Jujube dress! Also great for holding hems in place without 9 million pins. 

So there is a mini review of 2014 from my sewing room. What about 2015? I'm really hoping to sew more things for myself. I made a few things I really loved this year, but I need to try more.  If you are looking for some great women's patterns, so far I can recommend The Pumpkin Spice Dolman, the Julia Cardigan, and The Ladies Caroline Dress. 

Here is a recent picture of me in the Julia Cardigan.

Hopefully my favorite thing of 2015 will be my new Bernina Coverstitch that my husband just got me for Christmas. I'm having fun learning, although I kinda feel like a space ship landed in my sewing room. :)

 Happy New Year!! I hope 2015 is better than you can even imagine! 

Elizabeth

Brigitte

The newest pattern in the LilyGiggle collection released today!

Meet the Brigitte Bow Top and Dress. 

The dress option for this pattern features a knit bodice with a darling bow accent at the neck and a woven hi-lo gathered skirt. There are three sleeve options to choose from- short, 3/4 length, and long sleeve to make this dress perfect for any season. Sizing for this pattern is 2-12.

The hi-low skirt is subtle, yet adds a twist unlike any other dress pattern from LilyGiggle. 

I added some extra details to mine with the addition of a band around the bottom and some 

cluney lace trim.

 

This beautiful fabric is from the Indelible line by Art Gallery Fabrics.  If you read my blog much, you know I have a love affair with Art Gallery. :) 

 The second option from this pattern is the peplum top. I haven't had the chance to make this, but my sweet friends Alexis from My Sweet Sunhine, and Natalie from The Sassy Pumpkin both did a great job with it! Alexis made the size 7 peplum top from some more beautiful fabric from 

Art Gallery Fabrics.

I choose to do my bow in the same color as my bodice since my skirt had a lot going on, but I love the accent of the bow here in this photo. So many options and ideas!! 

Natalie made a size 2 peplum top for her sweet girl in this beautiful fabric from--- you guessed it-- Art Gallery Fabrics! We all have an addiction. Please send help. Or money to buy more fabric. ;) 

Natalie paired her top with one of the patterns from the earlier days of LilyGiggle- The Beehive Bloomers. Aren't they such a cute pair together?

 

I hope these beautiful photos have convinced you that you really need this pattern. Great dress and super cute top to pair over-- well, anything! We even had one tester put it over a gathered skirt and it was SO adorable!  You can find more cute tester photos in the

  LilyGiggle Pattern Group on facebook. 

I saved the best new for last. This pattern is on sale right now for only $7! A dress AND a top pattern for one low, great price! Run and get your copy before the sale is over! :) 

 

Fiddlehead Flutter Top

Do you know what at Fiddlehead is?  I had never heard of it until this pattern testing. Apparently Beth is much more rounded in her horticulture life than I am because I had to google it. Go ahead, I won't look. You can goggle it too. :) 

Today a Fiddlehead is going to be a pattern! Introducing the new Fiddlehead Flutter top from LilyGiggle.

.

Do you see that gorgeous lettuce edge on the flutter? Now you know where Fiddlehead came from! I have to tell you I was a little nervous about that lettuce edging.  I made three of these tops for testing. The first one did well, but by the time I got to this third one I was very pleased with the results. Don't be intimidated by a new technique! This one is super easy to learn and there are great instructions in the pattern. 

I have a bernina sewing machine that I used to do this lettuce edging.  You can also use a serger if you prefer, but I think the sewing machine does it best. 

Since fall is finally in the air here in Georgia, I made my top long sleeve for the cool weather that is hopefully coming soon. This pattern also includes a sleeveless version as well as a 3/4 length. Perfect for every season! 

Leggings seemed to be a great pair with this top so I used the Petunia Petal Pants (lengthened a tad and minus the petals) for my boot-loving girl.  

Now for the good part----  This pattern is releasing on Friday!!!!! If you aren't already a member of the LilyGiggle sewing group, join here so you don't miss it! 

And last, but certainly not least, the fabric. I know you are dying to know where this fabric came from. I'm always on the hunt for great knit, especially if it's printed. Art Gallery Fabrics apparently got the memo that the seamstresses need some beautiful printed knits and they have been killing it lately! For the Fiddlehead top I used Tree Fleur Knit in Blanc. This knit is the perfect weight for lettuce edge, and it's so soft!  My leggings are made from Les Points Knit in Rose. Both fabrics are from the Cherie line by the very talented Frances Newcombe. Gorgeous aren't they?  

To win a copy of the Fiddlehead Flutter top pattern enter here until Friday at 12am EST:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be announced Friday morning!

LilyGiggle Jujube Sew Along- Day 5

Anyone else excited that it is Friday? :)

Today is our final day and we are going to attach our skirts. Before we start sewing, you need to stabilize the bottom of your bodice. If you look on page 22 of your pattern, step #21, you will see clear directions for this process. I personally love knit interfacing. I cut a strip 1 inch x the width of my bodice. Make sure the stretch in your interfacing is going the right direction before you iron it on! (This girl I know *ahem* did her's wrong one time and had to rip it all off and start over.)  Now that your bodice hem is stabilized, lets talk about the skirt.

Today I'm going to show you a double tiered skirt. I saw a dress on pinterest with a skirt like this and I sent a screen shot to Beth and told her we had to do this for the sew along.  The pattern calls for the skirt to be 2 SW pieces. Because we are doing two tiers, I went with only 1 SW per fabric. If you are using voile or a very lightweight fabric, you might be able to still do the 2 SW pieces. I was worried that with this regular cotton fabric it would be too heavy for the knit bodice and possibly pull some.

Cut your bottom tier as according to the length directions on the pattern, but only cut 1 piece instead of 2. For my size 4, that was 10.5 x the width of the fabric. Then take your other fabric, (this will be your top tier) and cut it half the length of your first piece. My first one was 10.5 so I cut this one 5.25.

 Now hem the bottom of each piece and run a gathering stitch across the top.

Gather your top tier and pin right sides together to your bodice. 

Sew the top layer on. Be very careful not to pull the fabric as you sew. Repeat with the bottom tier. Finish seams with your serger.  Top stitching is optional.

YOU ARE DONE!!!!!  WOOHOO!! 

Thanks for participating in the first ever Lilygiggle Sew Along! When your dress is completed, please load your photo into the Jujube Sew Along Album on our LilyGiggle group. Voting will begin Sunday and run through Tuesday. Winners will be announced Tuesday night.

LilyGiggle Jujube Sew Along Day 4

I just have to say how much I'm loving all the photos of the things you are all creating this week.  I love to see all the different creative styles.  

Today we are going to talk about sleeves. The Jujube pattern comes with three sleeve lengths- short, 3/4, and long sleeve. I know some of you already have your sleeve length chosen and even cut, so feel free to proceed as planned.  If you are undecided, here is a variation you might want to try out.

First we are going to start with the flutter pattern piece from the Secret Garden dress. My dress was a size 5 so I used the flutter that was for the size 2-6. We need this to be just a bit fuller than it is for the Secret Garden dress so I placed my pattern piece 2 inches from the fold and then cut.

Here is what you should have now. 

This next step you can do two different ways. You can use your serger or your sewing machine to do a lettuce edge along the curved side of your flutter. I did mine on my regular machine. I set my stitch width to a 4 which is the widest it will go, and my length to 1/2. (I have a Bernina if that helps any.) As I sewed along the edge, I stretched the fabric and it makes a beautiful "ripple" for a

 great lettuce edge. 

Now take your flutter to your machine and run a basting/gathering stitch along the straight edge.  Gather it to fit your arm whole opening and pin in place. 

Now, if you would like to just have the flutter you can stop here. Serge your edge and then sew your side seams up and you are ready to move on to the skirt.  

Super cute!!  BUT......you can also add a sleeve! 

Pin your sleeve on right over the flutter.

Sew in place. 

And there you have a sleeve AND a flutter! :) 

Sew your side seam up and hem your sleeve and you are all ready to put your skirt on tomorrow!

LilyGiggle Jujube Dress Sew Along- DAY 3

I've seen a lot of great looking necklines on the LG group, thanks to our post from Kristi yesterday. I hope you all learned some helpful techniques! 

Today we are visiting another one of the LilyGiggle testers, Kim Wilmes. I'm guessing some of you probably know her from other testing groups, as she does quite a bit of pattern testing.  We fell in love with her twist on the Jujube Dress and thought you might want to try it too.

If you have read through your pattern, you see that today we will be using Wonder Tape. I had never used this product prior to the Jujube dress, and I actually made my first one without it.  Let me give you a tiny piece of advice. If you don't have it, pack up the kids and run to the fabric store and by it! It's worth the trip. I promise. My first jujube had approximately 9,000 pins in the ruffle and took about 20 mins to get it all pinned perfectly! With Wonder Tape you can cut that down to about 2 mins and NO pins. Go get some. For real. 

Who's ready for ruffles???!!  :)

DAY 3

THANK YOU KIM!!!

LilyGiggle Jujube Dress Sew Along- DAY 2

Good Morning girls! I've enjoyed scrolling through the sewing group page this morning and looking at all of your fabric selections for your dress.  I see some of you are very ambitious and are making several!  I'm excited to see all your finished products. 

I have a few small changes from my blog post yesterday.  Our grand prize winner is going to actually be chosen by Random.org.  I'm afraid this competition is going to be intense with all the gorgeous photos I've already seen and I want this to be fair, so we will let the grand prize be a random winner. The other two winners will be selected by our host/admin team and then a final one by "fan favorite". 

Our other slight change is that today we AREN'T doing the sleeves. I had that wrong on my notes so that will actually be on Thursday. :)  

Today I have the pleasure of introducing Kristi Elston to you.  She is a talented seamstress and designer. She has been a tester with us for a while and does great blogging.  I hope you enjoy Kristi's blog today and learn some great tips! Thank you Kristi for hosting today!!

DAY 2 HERE