One Thimble Magazine Issue #10 Enid, Willow and Jolie Reviews

It's here! The NEW issue #10 from Australia's One Thimble Magazine.  It's filled with 11 PDF sewing patterns and 26 sewing-related articles. I was lucky enough to preview it and I choose these three fun PDF patterns to try out at home on my soon-to-be 6-year-old Hobbes. 

Jolie Skirt

Enid Slouch Beanie & Willow Dress

I want to start with the Enid Slouch Beanie by Rosie Petal. If you have 5 minutes, then you have enough time to sew one of these cute slouchy hats (hmmmm....like the 5 minutes before you head out to a party you thought you didn't need a present for) especially if you make the simple version like I did without the tab. It is the funkiest slouch hat design I have ever sewn, with only 2 main body pieces--and the assembly is genius. The pattern fits a range of heads, from 12 months to an Adult Large. I can't wait to sew a bunch of these in matching knits for the two men in my life

And I am sure you are wondering about the beautiful flutter dress made to match with the indie romantic Heart Melodies prints by Art Gallery Fabrics. It's the long sleeved-version of The Willow Dress (size 2T-10) by Bubby and Me Creations. As soon as I saw this Two-in-One Look of The Willow Dress, I knew I had to try it. I just love sewing dress patterns that are a mix of woven and knit fabrics. With this knit bodice, you can skip the lining or the need to add a closure, which makes the dress construction a breeze. And speaking of a breeze, look at how those flutters keep their shape! I would like to mention that I chose to make my flutters using the woven skirt print to tie in the look, and adding woven flutters didn't change the fit. I love how The Willow looks like it's a shirt and skirt, but it's all sewn together as a dress. Very clever!

Last, but definitely not least is the sweetest little Jolie Skirt by Filles a Maman. I'll be honest, I kept giggling as I was cutting out the pattern (3-pattern pieces) about how little fabric I needed to create a size 4 skirt. I am used to cutting almost salvage width and gathering all of Hobbes skirts-that this design truly made me rethink her spring wardrobe. This season, I am all about subtle design elements and I adore the inverted pleat in the front of the skirt. I chose Art Gallery Fabrics Chalk & Paint by Caroline Hulse in Angular String Coated because I really wanted to create a moment when the pleat opens up and you see the hidden print. You can also skip the pleat and sew two of the back pieces to create a simple A-line skirt. The Jolie skirt starts at 12 Months and goes all the way up to size 14.

I really enjoyed looking through all the options of the New One Thimble issue #10. Come back daily and check out my fellow designers' reviews on the blog tour and enter below for your chance to win your own copy (or refund) of One Thimble Issue #10, or purchase it here.

Thank you Art Gallery Fabrics for sponsoring my One Thimble Magazine Issue #10 Blog Tour Post.

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Tour Schedule
2/12 Pattern Revolution, Rebel and Malice, Happy Okapi, Sew Happily Ever After  
2/13 Beri Bee Designs, Stitches by Laura 
2/14 Bee Quilted, Pearberry Lane 
2/15 LuLu and Celeste, Once Upon a Sewing Machine 
2/16 Horris and Deedle, Baby Hobbes Design 
2/17 Call Ajaire, Made by Sara, Sprouting Jube Jube
2/18 Snickerdoodle Stew,  Made by Meli, Create 3.5

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Exposed Zippers! How to embellish the Melody dress by CKC

Do you love zippers and embellishments? Follow the link here and read all about how I modified Create Kids Couture's Melody dress.

http://createkidscouture.blogspot.com/2015/04/embellishment-tutorials-exposed-lace.html

Happy Sewing!
xoxo
Merav @Baby Hobbes Design

Jocole Criss-Cross Dress NEW LOOK! Reviewed for Pattern Revolution.

Hello lovely sewist! Here is another wonderful blog I wrote for Pattern Revolution. This time I stretched your pattern bucks turning this cap sleeve dress into a long sleeve beauty with this tutorial.
http://patternrevolution.com/blog/2015/12/23/make-it-a-crossover-christmas

Happy Sewing!
xoxo
-Merav @babyhobbesdesign

Skip Skirt by Sew Pattern Pieces. Reviewed for Pattern Revolution.

Back in December, 2015-Pattern Revolution asked me to review the Skip Skirt by SEW Pattern Pieces. It's such a wonderful pattern for knits that combines a few different skirt styling with leggings and shorts. Read all about it here:
patternrevolution.com/pattern-reviews/2015/12/21/skip-skirt-by-sew-by-pattern-pieces

Happy Sewing!
xoxo
Merav @Baby Hobbes Design

Who wants a Boxy Tee? Up-cycle project with CKC

This past summer (2015) Hobbes had to wear her camp-shirts whenever they went on field trips. with Hobbes being petite and a little round in her tummy, I decided to up-cycle her boxy looking child small and medium shirts into a more stylish fitted A-line top with flutters sleeves. 100% shirt only! 

Here is the blog I wrote for Create Kids Couture: http://createkidscouture.blogspot.com/2015/07/turning-boxy-tee-into-flutter-sleeve-top.html

Let me know what you think!

Happy Sewing!

xoxo

-Merav

Sally Part II, Long Sleeves for the Win

Sally for the WIN!!! 

I am so happy to be back with part II of the Sally Dress tour, and this time I am here to share with you an easy trick for a year-round dress. I am always in the market for new and easy beginner patterns-and, as we discussed in last week's post, Sally is just that! But how about Sally with sleeves? 

I adore the tank style, pull-over Sally dress! Here in the Windy City, we are still in LONG sleeves for a few more months. And a versatile pattern means 'A Win' for me-to sew year round. 

This week I let Hobbes play around with my beautiful Sis Boom fabric collection, and I was in heaven when she pulled out Caravelle Arcade's Jessica in Blue and Beauty Queen's Katie stripe in Pink. My head (and heart) went straight into Valentines mode, and we decided this will be her dress for our big Valentines fundraiser next month. 

You are going to love how easy it is to take Sally and change her up to meet the demand of the weather. To achieve this look, you will need the Gabriella Fae pattern for its bodice and sleeves. Also, if you are a sucker for lace like me, check out my November Blog here for adding these pretty darling details. 

Once you have both the Sally and Gabriella Fae bodice pieces cut out to size, go ahead and follow the steps here in order to change the arm cycle of Sally to adjust for the sleeves. 

Looking at the pictures above, from left to right. First, cut your pattern size in both dress bodice to size. Next, lay the Gabriella Fae front bodice on top of the Sally front bodice. Match the shoulders at the arm cycle edge. For this quick transformation, I am not changing anything else in the pattern--just the curve of the arm. As you can see, I shaded/colored in the difference in arm curve directly on the Sally for easy cutting. Once you have your markings on the front (repeat with the back bodice), go ahead and cut off the markings so your Sally can accept Gabriella Fae sleeves. 
***Please note that you can do this trick with most of your patterns. Always remember to change the arm-cycles and note the difference in the shoulder alignment. 

Next, sew your sleeves. You may choose to follow the Gabriella Fae directions to add your sleeves. Because I have experience sewing that pattern, I decided to change it up a bit and add a pleat at the top shoulder instead of a gathered puff. I'll be honest, it was an experiment, but I had nothing to lose--it's all in the pinning. 

It's so easy to add this small detail. First, fold your sleeve in half and stick a pin in the top middle. Then, starting from the edge, pin your sleeve to the bodice until you are at the halfway point/reached your shoulder seam on the bodice. Then move to the other side of the sleeve, starting from that end, pinning till you reach the middle of the bodice.

Looking at the pictures above, from left to right: grab your excess sleeve material in the center (bout 3-3,5 inches) and make sure that the sleeve is pinned perfectly up to the shoulder seams. Next, you will want to flatten the access sleeve and perfectly align it with the center seam on the shoulder. Pin in down and check it on both sides to make sure the pleat center is aligned with shoulder seam. Once you are happy, sew it up to the bodice. 

Once you have added on your sleeve, continue with the Sally directions. Just remember when you are sewing your front and back bodice closed, you are starting at the sleeves and sewing down.

And that's how I got Hobbes this new Sally. It's an easy beginner, pullover darling dress pattern.
Now show me how you transform your Sally dress. Get your copy of Sally and Gabriella Fae here.  

Special thanks to my talented friend Julie over at the Little Sparrow Bows for her perfectly made to match hair halo. 

Like my backdrop? Temperatures have been in the teens here and I just didn't have the heart to ask Hobbes to pose outside. Loving my new Big Time Prints (formally Bubblegum Backdrops) for a quick and warm photo-shoot.

Till next time, happy sewing!
~Merav @ Baby Hobbes Design

Make room for the SisBoom Sally...a beginner venture to creating a beautiful dress.

Make room for Sally! SHE is AMAZING! 

I must say that as much as I like challenging myself with new sewing complexity; I am always in the market for an easy beginner sewing pattern without buttons or zippers to whip up with a moment's notice. Like when Hobbes comes home from school and tells me "Mom, my friend Olivia asked for a My Little Pony dress, can that be her birthday present?...and the party is tomorrow!!!!" Or when I have a new sewing student who is eager to sew her first dress--but is uncomfortable with embellishments like buttons and zippers. The Sally is going to be my new go-to pattern; and I can't wait to introduce her to you!

The Sis Boom Sally sports a simple, yet modest tank bodice with two neck option that your child can pull on and off herself without any closures. The bodice is relaxed and the (optional) side sash and elastic sewn directly to the seams (no casing) can assist for a more fitted look. You can create two skirt looks. I chose to create the dress with a top skirt, but you can keep it simple and conserve fabric by sewing the bottom skirt only. 

In true Sis Boom style, you'll learn sewing techniques - Sis  Boom Sally focuses on bias tape placement for an unlined bodice (woohoo, less fabric) and you can get creative making your own bias to match. Store-bought bias is welcomed too--and you can place the bias flushed over the head and arm opening or use it to line the inside edges only. 

Take a look at some of the different Sally's made during testing. It's a such a great layering dress too!

The best part of the soon-to-be-released Sally is that you are getting ONE wonderfully written (congrats Jeanine Thomlinson for her first pattern with the Sis Boom and Sciencetific Seamstress team) Beginner pattern sized from 3-Months to 14 years. That's babies, kids and tweens all in ONE loaded  pattern. The actual pattern pieces can be printed in your child size-so for Hobbes dress, I printed 2 pages only for a size 3T high neck-bodice. The skirt measurements are found on page 6-and you can adjust the length based on the child height-in my case, a 4T.

Oh, and did you catch how I like to conserve fabric? My beautiful Jennifer Paganelli fabrics, in Good Company Jessie in garnet and Nostalgia Tilly in gold are too dear to me to just stay hidden under my top skirt. What do you think of this little trick?

It's so simple to do this to your bottom skirt, let's call it underskirt and conserve your designer fabrics. First, I added an extra 0.5 to the bottom skirt length to account for the seam allowance when sewing the two fabrics together. Next, for the fabric (yellow) portion, I looked at the difference between the top and bottom layer-I call it the "seen underskirt" and added 2 inches plus a 0.5 inch for the hem. Total all that and that's the measurement for the yellow bottom portion of my bottom skirt. To get the top portion of my (white) underskirt, just subtract the previous total from your original underskirt measurement + 0.5 we originally added to the skirt length to account for seam allowance. Easy right?

I am loving the simplicity of the SisBoom Sally and I can't wait to make many more Sally's for Hobbes to wear year-round. Join me next week for a modified look at the Sally-because you know how I like to stretch my pattern bucks!

Till then, happy sewing!

~Merav @ Baby Hobbes Design

Stop by my Facebook page Baby Hobbes Design and say Hi; or drop me a line @babyhobbesdesign on Instagram. 

Shout out to the wonderful Jeanine Thoslinson and all the wonderful Sally testers; it was a pleasure testing with you.