Blue Dot Pattern Challenge - Giveaway Winners

Well we've been announcing winners left and right around here and today I'm excited to announce two more.  But before I do I'd like to thank Melissa of Mahlicadesigns for hosting the challenge (AND participating!) and all of the talented sewists that made garments from Blue Dot Patterns:

• Michelle of thatblackchic
• Ashley of sewnbyashley
• Sara of musingsofaseamstress
• Cindy of Cindyparrett.com
• Shanni from Shanniloves
• Kyla of LifebyKy
• Amy of thatssewamy
• Melissa of mahlicadesigns

The two winners from the challenge giveaway are:

Kathy E.

and

Alana

Yay!  We will be sending the Blue Dot

pattern of your choice soon!  Congratulations!

Thanks to all of you for your participation!

Blue Dot Pattern Challenge Week #3 - And a Giveaway!

It's the final week of the Blue Dot Patterns Creative Sewing Challenge hosted by Melissa at mahlicadesigns.  This week Melissa of Mahlicadesigns, Cindy of Cindyparrett, and a second entry from Amy of Thatssewamy.

I want to thank all of the talented bloggers that participated in the challenge.  It's fun to see what all of these creative sewers can do. 

And don't forget....all patterns are 40% off at the Blue Dot website and also in the Etsy store during the challenge  AND for even better news.... you can enter to win a pattern in our giveaway!

Answer the question below to enter the giveaway and for a second chance to win, answer the question on the mahlicadesigns blog too.  The winner will be announced December 19th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Head on over to mahlicadesigns for more pics and to see all the good stuff!

Did You Win??? SewMamaSew Giveaway Winners

This is the first year I participated in the SewMamaSew Giveaway Day and it's been a hoot.  I've had so many comments and I loved hearing about which patterns sewers would like to make.

Three winners have been chosen at random and will receive the Blue Dot PDF pattern of their choice.  Without further delay the winners are:

Alexis Borsboom - Dover Jacket

Mary Hoagland - Georgia Top

Katie - Margo Blouse

Congratulations!!!

I will be contacting all of you and sending you your pattern.

Thanks to all of you for entering!

Happy Sewing!

Sew Mama Sew - Giveaway Day!!!!

Good news!  It's Giveaway Day with Sew Mama Sew.  It happens only twice a year and lasts for a few days.  You can enter to win handmade goods and supplies from designers all over the world.

I'm giving away a Blue Dot PDF pattern of your choice.  All you have to do is leave a comment and let me know which one you would like: The Georgia Top, The Dover Jacket or The Margo Blouse.

I'm choosing 3 winners!  Yes, that's right....3 chances to win!

The giveaway closes Sunday December 13 at midnight PST so leave your comment before then.  I will draw the winners at random on Monday December 14.  The winners will be contacted via email so be sure to leave your email if you're a no reply commenter.

And don't forget to visit SewMamaSew for a chance to win gorgeous goods from other designers.

Good Luck!!!!

Blue Dot Pattern Challenge Week #2 - And a Giveaway!

It's week #2 of the Blue Dot Patterns Creative Sewing Challenge hosted by Melissa at mahlicadesigns.  Kyla of LifebyKy, Sarah of Musingsofaseamstress and Ashley of Sewnbyashley are up this week with a Georgia top, Georgia dress and a creative refashion using the Margo pattern.

All patterns are 40% off at the Blue Dot website and also in the Etsy store during the challenge  AND for even better news.... you can enter to win a pattern in our giveaway!

Answer the question below to enter the giveaway and for a second chance to win, answer the question on the mahlicadesigns blog too.  The winner will be announced December 19th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Head on over to mahlicadesigns for more pics and to see all the good stuff!

The Dover Car Coat

With the Creative Pattern Challenge well underway (did you enter the giveaway yet?), I decided to do my own modifications to a Blue Dot Pattern.  With inspiration from the bloggers in the challenge and Melissa's ideas for Dover, I set out to make a Dover for the cooler weather.

I've always been a fan of the car coats from the sixties, with their aline styling and 3/4 length sleeves, and Dover is the perfect starting point for a retro coat. I used a mystery boucle I found in NYC that was similar to a jacket I had pinned on my "I Wanna Make This" Pinterest board some time ago.

I modified the pattern by lengthening it 9", adding two single welt pockets and lining.  It pieced together rather quickly, so quickly in fact I hadn't yet purchased lining.  I dug around my stash and found this lightweight silk/cotton blend in a peachy pink (can you believe I forgot about this gorgeous stuff?) What girl doesn't need a coat with a pink lining?  I continued busting away at my stash by using a trim I've had for I don't know how long.  It was the perfect color.  

I made the welt pockets large enough to hold my iPhone and keys and added 1" covered buttons for a little more retro.

I showed the coat to my mom and she told me about a green coat she had received as a gift from her mom many years ago.  She said it was almost the same and she used to wear it with gloves.  I wish she had saved it!  It makes me wonder what I should save.  I, like so many other sewers, get attached to the pieces I work so hard on and the fabrics I use to make them.  For practicality sake, I can't save everything especially when I no longer wear them, but I have to admit it's silly how hard it is for me to place some things in the "giveaway" pile.

I'd love to know....what do you save?  Do you keep the things you worked the hardest on or the pieces you wore to shreds or the tiny garments you made for your little one?  

Blue Dot Pattern Challenge - Week #1 and a GIVEAWAY!

It's finally here!  The weekly Blue Dot Patterns Creative Sewing Challenge hosted by Melissa at mahlicadesigns has officially begun.  Every week for the next 3 weeks, she will be posting the unbelievable makes from a selection of our creative participants.  And to celebrate, all patterns are 40% off at the Blue Dot website and also in the Etsy store.  AND for even better news.... you can enter to win a pattern in our giveaway!

You cannot imagine how exciting it is as the designer to see what these bloggers have done with the patterns.  This week Michelle from Thatblackchic and Shannon from Shanniloves.com both sewed up The Margo Blouse and Amy from Thatssewamy made The Georgia Top.

Answer the question below to enter the giveaway and for a second chance to win, answer the question on the mahlicadesigns blog too.  The winner will be announced December 19th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Head on over to mahlicadesigns for more pics and to see all the good stuff!

Come Take a Class With Me....

I'm happy to announce I'm teaching sewing classes at Fabric Land in Orange!  Classes are for kids and adults and for sewers of all skill levels.  So if you've been sewing for a while or you don't know how to turn on a sewing machine, come by and take a class....I'd love to see you.  You can visit the store website or contact me for more info.

Happy Announcement: The Blue Dot Creative Sewing Challenge

I'm excited to announce the Creative Sewing Challenge with Blue Dot Patterns.   Melissa, of Mahlicadesigns, is hosting the challenge and we've asked some amazing sewists to let their creativity flow with any Blue Dot Pattern of their choosing.  Melissa will be featuring these creative projects on her blog over the next few weeks. 

Please visit our creative sewists to learn more about them and maybe get a sneak peek of their projects.  I've taken a look at a few of the projects and they are brilliant!  Check them out:

• Michelle of thatblackchic
• Ashley of sewnbyashley
• Sara of musingsofaseamstress
• Cindy of Cindyparrett.com
• Shanni from Shanniloves
• Kyla of LifebyKy
• Amy of thatssewamy
• Melissa of mahlicadesigns

Stay tuned to see the Creative Sewing Challenge projects posted here on the mahlicadesigns blog beginning next week AND enter the Blue Dot Patterns giveaways (who doesn't want free stuff, right?)

Have a happy day!

On Marriage and Tripods

I would imagine there are many of you out there that feel the same way I do about taking blog photos, it's tough.  There are plenty of blog articles out there about how to make your photos better but the truth for me is it's still the toughest part of blogging.  There's nothing worse than trying to pose for photos (I have exactly two "go to" poses) except maybe looking at photos of myself.  But all that self consciousness aside, it has to be done because sewers need to see how garments look on a real person whether or not it's a good hair day, right?

Typically, I pick on whoever is near and has time to get a picture of the newest thing I've made.  The usual victim, I'm sorry for him, is my husband.  Patiently he'll follow me around while I look for the "best light" and then on cue he'll snap away.  In between shots I'll ask him if my shirt is wrinkled or if he "can see the detail" and usually I get a glazed over look that reads "I don't know what she's saying and I hope we'll be done before the hockey game starts."  Truthfully though, no matter what the photographer does and no matter how good the pictures are, I'm not happy with any pictures of myself.  And when you're the photographer, you can take it personally (sorry honey).

iPhone mount on my tripod.

But I'm hear to share with you some sewing blogger marital advice that's taken me quite a while to figure out.  Forget expensive counseling or self help books, the key to a better and more loving marriage is a iPhone tripod adapter, shutter release and a tripod.  

Chopped off head photo (I'm learning)

Last week I ordered this iPhone tripod adapter with a bluetooth shutter release (about $20 on Amazon) and started using it.  I attached the iPhone to my husband's tripod, synced the shutter to my phone (it took all of 30 seconds, no app needed), headed out to my favorite spot and took my own pictures.  It felt like freedom.  Honestly, the photos weren't great (chopped off head and low light) and I've got a lot to learn but I feel like it could be the start of something good.  I can take my time and not feel bad for taking someone's time or being picky.  

I like this one.  Little bit better light and head in tact.

Anyone else out there take their own photos?  Any good pointers?

I Have Nothing To Wear.....It With

If I had a dime for every time I went in my closet, pulled out something cute and said to myself "I love this but I have nothing to wear it with" I'd be a wealthy woman.  Okay, well maybe not wealthy but I sure would have more money to buy more fabric.  So I've decided to pair up one of these "lonely" items with a handmade one and bring it out of the closet.

Typically I go for the same practical handbag in a neutral color (and yes, usually it desperately needs to be cleaned out) but a colorful bag that's a little impractical can sure make me feel like a girl.  This modified "hobo" bag made from super soft mauve leather and silver hardware is one such bag.  As lovely as it is, it's been sitting on my closet shelf for quite some time.

When I found this beautiful Liberty of London silk at Fabricland, my local fabric store, I heard angels sing.  I decided to splurge and as it turns out, this fabric is perfect for my bag.  That's a win, win.

I used View B of the Margo Blouse pattern in a size medium.  I made the pattern with no changes (shocking, I know) and finished it with 3 vintage buttons that I had in my stash.  This blouse has turned out to be really versatile for me.  It looks casual with jeans but I also wear it tucked into a navy skirt and it looks very "business-y" for work.  Throw on my mauve bag and I look like I know what I'm doing.

I have a few other "nothing to wear it with" pieces in my closet.  Which one should I tackle next?

The Healdsburg Skirt

A couple of months back, my husband and I went with our dear friends to Healdsburg to cheer our friend on as he competed in the annual "Vineman", an Ironman race set in the beauty of the California wine country.  Now I realize this trip wasn't about me since we went to offer race support to our friend during his long day of swimming, cycling and running but, I was able to eat some amazing food, enjoy the sun in the wine country and...hit a fabric store. Oh yeah!

Healdsburg winery with a croquet field

I visited Fabrications in darling downtown Healdsburg and picked up a couple of woven stripes including this blue one.  I want to say it's a Kaffe Fassett (but I could be lying) uneven stripe that's dreamy soft.  They only had 1 1/4 yards but I picked it up anyway.  I decided to sew it up this week in a skirt for my daughter.  Shhhh....it's a surprise.

I couldn't find a pattern so I decided to make a skirt similar to one she had on the last time she came home from college.  It's a slight aline skirt with pockets and wide waistband with elastic, belt loops and a self tie.

The skirt looked a little boxy when I finished it so I added a shirttail hem using my Sewaholic Granville shirt pattern as a loose guide.  The pattern was still sitting on my cutting table from using it last week.  It worked out great!

I hope she likes it!

A couple of pics from an early morning breakfast in Healdsburg with my favorite guy!  Healdsburg is  a beautiful place and I didn't even know it was there.  Have any of you been there?  Try not to miss it!

My New Granville

I finished my new Sewaholic Granville!  But what is it with me and red Granville's you ask? I've made two and they both are red, what gives?  Who knows, but I love them!

I made this version in a red and white micro stripe stretch shirting I purchased in NY.  I trimmed the placket with a red, navy and cream twill tape I picked up at M and J Trimmings.  It's one of those trims that's so precious I almost didn't want to use it....but I'm glad I did.

I made this Granville just like I did the first one and this time the "modified burrito" collar construction was so much easier.  Have you tried it yet?  I'm pretty sure I'll never put a collar band on the old way again.  Sewaholic has a good tutorial here.

The made the cuff about 1" narrower than the pattern to make the sleeve roll up better and I straightened the side seam a little bit to take out some of the curve I didn't need.

And now for the buttons.  I have so many white vintage buttons it's almost scary.  It took me more time to sort through the buttons for a set that matched (or close enough) than it did to make the buttonholes.  Seriously, I need to give some of these away!

When I have a project with buttons, I only use the pattern to mark where the buttonholes go, not the buttons.  After I put the buttonholes in, I then line up the fronts and mark the button placement.  This insures the buttons are perfectly lined up.  Here's how I do it:

I lay the right front over the left front and pin them together.

I mark the button placement with a fabric marker.  Now, everything's all lined up!

I'm sure I'll make this pattern again....just not another red one....probably.

It turns out, red is really tough to photograph.  The shirt is more of a cherry red but some of the photos look neon and some look tomato (and my nose really looks tomato red since I'm getting a cold!)  Does anyone out there use a timer to take blog photos?  If so, what do you use?  I have the most patient husband ever but I really don't want to put him through snapping photos anymore.  Help!

Margo Blouse - New Pattern Release!

I'm happy to introduce my new pattern, the Margo Blouse!

The Margo Blouse is a women's set in sleeve blouse in two views. View A has short sleeves and a straight hem and View B has 3/4 length sleeves with elastic and a curved hem.  This pattern is versatile enough to be a cool summer top to wear with shorts or an elegant evening tunic.

Margo is designed for the beginning/intermediate sewist and comes with easy to follow instructions complete with detailed drawings.

Modern quilting cottons, chambray, lace, silk crepe and flannel would all be good choices for this top.   You can even change it up by using different fabrics on the yoke, placket and body of the blouse.

Here's what you'll need:

Fabric Requirements:

View A:  44"/45" Fabric - 2 yards          58"/60" Fabric - 1 1/3 yards

View B:  44"/45" Fabric - 2 1/2 yards    58"/60" Fabric - 1 1/2 yards

For all views: thread, three 3/4" buttons.  

For view B: 3/4 yard of 3/8" elastic.

Visit the Blue Dot Etsy Shop or Website.

I hope you enjoy sewing this pattern as much as I've enjoyed making it.  I'd love to see your finished projects!

Happy Sewing my friends!