Sewing: The Game Day Jersey Tee and Dress (New Pattern!)

Hello, friends! I am so excited to announce the release of a new sewing pattern. Hooray!

Introducing The Game Day Jersey. It's a new Wee Muses sewing pattern.

It's a tee. It's a dress. Something for boys and girls.

The jersey is a classic look for boys of course, but we all love it on girls too, right? Whether your girl prefers to be part of the cheer squad or jump in the game, the Game Day Jersey pattern has a look for her. 

This pattern includes a unisex football-inspired tee with yoked top and a variety of sleeve lengths: sleeveless, short, three-quarter and full-length. It's got a slick rounded hem and sporty straight sleeves. The fit is far from boxy but there's plenty of room to move.

To score extra points, there’s a dress too! 

With a higher waist and an a-line skirted bottom that hits at the knee, and the option of a full skirt or a skirt with sporty stripes down the side. 

Designed for stretch knits, this could comfortably become your child's year-round uniform!

The Game Day Jersey is a premium quality children's sewing pattern and includes:

• a digitally graded and drafted pattern for sizes 2 to 10 years
• markings, instructions and an assembly guide for easily printing and assembling the 24 page pattern
• digitally drafted, clear illustrations for sewing each step
• tips for sewing with knits
• detailed yardage/meters charts
• detailed body measurements (in inches and cm) and finished garment measurements 

This pattern was tested by nearly two dozen sewists in the US, Europe, Australia, and Mexico--it's suitable to print and use! (Looking for a testing roundup soon.)

The Game Day Jersey sewing pattern includes the following variations:

    The Game Day Jersey Tee includes sleeveless, short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve or long sleeve variations.

The Game Day Jersey Dress includes sleeveless, short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve or long sleeve variations and options for a full skirt or a skirt with a sport stripe down the side.

While The Game Day Jersey is a simple sewing project the possibilities truly never end. Play around with contrasting fabric for the yoke or sleeves or skirt or side stripes to keep things fun. No matter your pick, I’m sure your child will be a big fan of The Game Day Jersey!

This pattern is suitable for sewing with light (but not too light--nothing near tissue) and medium weight knit fabrics such as jersey, interlock, lighter weight French terry and double knits such as ponte and scuba knit. A high quality knit with good recovery will yield the best results. 

Speaking of knits, here are all the details on the combinations my girls are wearing here. Audrey's dress was sewn with a teal knit from Jo-Ann and Little Bloomy Dream organic cotton jersey from Lillestoff. Scarlett's tee is sewn with some of the Little Bloomy Dream as well as some Fawn Silhouette jersey from Girl Charlee. Her skirt (which is self-drafted, and potentially a future pattern) is sewn with the fabrics I used for Audrey's dress. Tess's dress is sewn with "Variete" from Liandlo and yellow interlock from Jo-Ann.

You can find The Game Day Jersey pattern in my Etsy shop!

Crochet: Triple-Strand Earflap Hats for the Family (New Pattern)

Aren't the seasons the perfect length? Each one lasts just long enough for us to savor it while not taking it for granted and then the next one is peeking around the corner. I love the changes. Especially the transition to Fall. 

I'm ready to start thinking about getting cozy with rich colors and textures and some extra layers. Which is why I'm releasing this crochet hat pattern now. So there is plenty of time to make some comfy earflap hats for cooler weather. 

This Triple-Strand Earflap Hat was designed to be an instant gratification project. It's worked with three strands of yarn at once and a big fat crochet hook (Q 15.75mm!) so it goes really quickly. And I've designed it to be worked as one continual piece--no annoying (to me anyway) fastening off and re-attaching your yarn for the earflaps. No seaming in the end! In a few evenings you could have hats for your whole family! Or all of your friends.

These crochet earflap hats are great for siblings. There are so many ways to make them unique: different yarn combinations, contrast edging, embellishments. The possibilities are endless.

They work for babies too. Everybody's ears will stay warm from Fall to Spring.

The Triple-Strand Earflap Hat Crochet Pattern includes nine different sizes for heads measuring 14" to 24":

• Baby sizes small, medium and large
• Child sizes small, medium and large
• Adult sizes small, medium and large

Of course heads come in all shapes and sizes so while it's best to start with head circumference, the height of the head will affect the fit too. I've provided circumference measurements for every size as well as hat height to help you find the best fit. This hat will certainly stretch too, especially if you have a little one like mine who enjoys tugging on the earflaps. I think it's cute fitted as well as a bit oversized. 

I've also included several options for embellishing these hats. You can make a basic earflap hat or add:

• contrasting edging
• tassels
• pom-poms
• braids
• a flower embellishment such as a felted crochet flower or a Ruffled Rose (pictured above), which is included in the pattern.

Pair it with an Arm Knit Infinity Cowl, or a matching crochet scarf. You could gift it as a set with an Easy Baby Afghan too. (The afghan calls for a bulky yarn but you could substitute the yarn you used for the hat and follow the same instructions.)

To make an earflap hat you'll need:

• 3 skeins of worsted weight (category 4/medium) yarn. (I like to use a mix of different fibers because I love the texture it creates and the mix of hues.)
• A size "Q" 15.74 mm crochet hook
• An evening!

The pattern has concise instructions to print for each size as well as full-color photo tutorials for the construction techniques and embellishments.

Lots of gift ideas coming your way. This could be the year you and I are ahead of schedule. For once!

You can purchase the Triple-Strand Earflap Hat Pattern in my Etsy Shop.

Crochet: Easy Baby Afghan Again

Crochet? I can hardly believe it. It seems like forever since I've managed to finish a yarn project and post about. But it's been on the brain. I've been working on this blanket for some time. That's the nice thing about crochet for me--I can roll up the project and drop it into a bag and pull it out again when I have a few minutes. It's forgiving that way.

I started this blanket when I heard a new nephew was on his way and finished it for him to practice sitting on. I guess that's not too late. This Easy Baby Afghan is too heavy for swaddling. It's exaggerated stitches make it perfect as a stroller blanket, play mat, or nap blanket. Not to mention nursery accessory!

I made a couple blankets for this boy's older brother when he was born (this one and this one) and I wanted little brother to have a handmade one of his own. Since the weather is now chilly I decided to add a little something extra to this gift: a coordinating ear flap hat.

I made some of these in adult sizes for my entire family a few years ago for Christmas but can't find my notes. Hmpf. But I'm starting with an infant size with plans to go all the way up. A family of ear flap hats. Pattern soon. Hopefully in time for the holidays. Fingers crossed.

This blanket and hat were made with Berroco Comfort Chunky (Cadet, Dusk and Barley), just like the original. I love this yarn. I just stocked up on some for two more blankets for my girls. It's a bit of an investment, but hopefully these blankets will be around a long time.

You can find the tutorial for this Easy Baby Afghan here.