Sewing: Streamers and Confetti Dresses (Fiesta Fun Fabric Tour)

Here we are with more of the Fiesta Fun fabric. And it really is so much fun. I underestimated the amount I would need to sew with because my girls both wanted it all.

Thanks to Dana for designing this great line of woven, knit and canvas fabric, and for inviting me to try it out for her tour. It was just what I needed to switch gears and sew something for my girls again. I've missed it!

These dresses were both sewn with the Simplicity pattern #8101 by Dottie Angel. I used Fiesta Fun woven fabrics Happy Streamers and Pinata Confetti for the main fabrics with some Mexican Dress Morning for the pocket. I used some fabric from my stash for the borders and then of course some colorful seam binding.

These cute fabrics just demand a party, don't they?

If Dana had designed this line a few years ago I undoubtedly would have purchased bolts of it for my Fiesta birthday party.

Maybe we'll have to plan another.

Sewing: Citrus Sunrise Knits (Fiesta Fun Fabric Tour)

I was so excited when Dana asked me to participate in her Fiesta Fun Fabric tour, because, firstly, I love this fabric! And secondly, I was happy to have a deadline to force a sewing project or two into my schedule.

Who doesn't love this new line? It's really difficult to pick a favorite print. And then there's the whole "knit" or "woven" dilemma.  I decided to use some of each. These prints are so perfectly reminiscent of one of my other favorite fabrics: Mexican oilcloth.

I decided to combine some solid orange knit with these lemon and orange prints and make Scarlett a simple dress. The pattern is the Lyon  Sewing in No Man's Land.  I added the panel on the bottom because I didn't realize both girls would want something from this Citrus knit and I was short on fabric. I love the color blocking.

Tess's top is a riff on a dress pattern from Craftiness is Not Optional, one of my favorites: The Lulu Dress.  I created a high-low hemline because Tess has a few favorite shirts like that.

The tiered skirt was self-drafted. It was so easy and fun I'm wondering why I haven't yet made one for myself! I love this Papel Picado Naranja fabric.

Stay tuned because I couldn't stop sewing with this darling fabric.

Sewing: Game Day Jersey Sleeveless Dresses

I don't know about you, but we are still occasionally faking summer. The temperatures warm up for a few days to justify sleeveless dresses so I took the opportunity to snap some photos of these.

I sewed a pair of Game Day Jersey Dresses for two of my girls in this reversible striped fabric from Jo-Ann.  (It's got polka dots on the other side.)  It's extremely soft and stretchy and I love playing with the direction of the stripes on this pattern.

These dresses remind me how much I love this pattern and all it's possibilities. I need to pull out some Fall knits from my stash and sew some long-sleeved Game Day Jerseys and dresses!

You can find this pattern in my Etsy shop.

Sewing: Linen Midi Skirt with Patch Pockets for WeAllSew.com

Hello! Meet my new puppy, and my new midi skirt. Everyone loves puppies, right? So I thought she'd make the perfect prop for photographing this linen skirt I made for BERNINA's We All Sew blog. (I'm an ambassador for the BERNINA brand. I sew with a BERNINA 580, which I love.)

I love the midi skirt trend in all its incarnations: pencil, pleated, full, wrap.... This full gathered skirt with patch pockets gives me the chance to revisit the skirts my friends and I wore (gasp!) a couple decades ago. Linen makes it lightweight and breezy so it's really easy to wear.

The pockets make it practical. And I think a high waistband is flattering on everyone.

I've been wearing this skirt with t-shirts and flip flops too. 

I've got a complete tutorial for making this skirt to fit your measurements at We All Sew. It's really quick to sew. It's not too late to jump on the trend!

To check out the other tutorials I've created for BERNINA view my We All Sew profile.

Sewing: Maxi Lady Skater Dress in Black and White

It's another Lady Skater Dress. This time in a colorblocked black and white. Always a good choice I think. And maxi length again.

I have made this dress twice before, one that is camouflage, elbow length sleeves and a modified maxi skirt and another with short sleeves and the same modified maxi skirt. This time I used the skirt pattern provided with the pattern but just lengthened it to the maxi. I can't decide which I love more, but the twirl factor with this skirt is really fun. 

These dresses are so wearable! I'm going to keep making them. I love being able to throw one on and add shoes. And maybe a necklace. I made this black tassel necklace in about five minute. But then after taking these photos I remade it and like it even more. I'll share a tutorial soon in case you're not already making these.

This dress should take me nicely through the end of summer and then I'm picking out some fabrics for Fall because the Lady Skater would be so comfortable with boots. Maybe I'll try one in the original skirt length too. Who knows.

Sewing: Beach Robes 2015

It's become a tradition to go to the beach each summer. And it's becoming a tradition to sew beach robes for the trip. At least every other year. So here are the Beach Robes 2015. (...and 2013 and 2011)

This time I selected some very comfy towels from Target and made the robes extra large so the girls can use them for a couple years.

Maybe a bit too large? Their arms are going to have to grow....

If you've sewn with Dana's Beach Robe pattern you may be wondering how if these are her largest size, 3/4. No. I've sized up a few times so that Audrey's would probably fit a teenager.

The girls love them! And not just for the beach. These are our swimming robes all year round.

Hope you are enjoying the last days of summer!