Month: February 2015

Full of Joy- Violette Field Threads

Hello!

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It’s FRIDAY! Last day of the school and work week (unless you are like me and work 24/7). I know many of you are looking forward to Spring and hopefully thawing out from all the snow that has come down this Winter season. Last week I had the privilege of testing Violette Field Threads new pattern, JOY.  The name is perfect for this dress, it radiates joy and Spring!

It is due to release – Monday 2/23/15

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Quick Look at Joy:

The Joy pattern will come in size 12mnth-10yr

Panel Skirt

Side Ties

Back is 2 Rows of Elastic

Curved Bodice that is perfect for embroidery or applique or vintage fabric design

Button Closure in back

Features Finished Size Chart

*****ALSO- You can now skip the printer!!! VFT Joy Pattern features a Measurement Chart for cutting all rectangle pieces. Only piece you will need to print is the Front Bodice

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The Fabric is a combination of Riley Blake (Aqua/White Stripe) and Square Dance in Sweet Voile by Anna Maria Horner. I have been waiting to use this out of print fabric for just the right project. The Voile Fabric swings in the breeze.

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My daughter will be wearing it to Church for Easter and My Grandmother’s 90 Birthday Party (or maybe she will be wearing the Annabelle Dress? Hmmmm)

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One of my favorite features of this dress are the panels. You can mix and match fabric to create a unique one of a kind MASTERPIECE! It is so much fun to play around with fabric and this is the perfect dress to do so!!

Outtakes…

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Thank you Violette Field Threads for allowing me to test the Joy pattern, It was a Joy (ok-had to say it-LOL) to work with you.

Thank you for reading My Sweet Sunshine Blog today!!!

-Alexis

Little Lizard King Sewalong- Day 5- Last Day

Hello and Welcome to Day 5. The LAST DAY!

So we finished the Top and Skirt and now we are going to bring them together  (love bird-it is Valentines after all).

So grab your favorite beverage and snack and lets go and finish up

Attaching Bodice to Skirt:

34)Mark the skirt into quarters with pins as shown below-This will help for the next few steps

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35)Take your bodice and flip upside down and match raw edge (or the edge you serged) of bodice and raw edge of the skirt making sure you have right side to right side. **Bodice will be on the outside of the skirt***

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36) Start Pinning by Matching Side seam of Bodice with one side seam of skirt. Continue Pinning all the way around the skirt. My bodice side seam matched the other side seam of the skirt. Your bodice back will overlap- Make sure the back bodice side that has the ELASTIC LOOP is ON TOP after it is flipped up. The back bodice side with the elastic will be closest to the skirt

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37)Start sewing at side seam and sew all the way around.

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38)Flip it up, love it and now flip it back and serge or pinking shears

39)Now you can flip it up , Iron and Top Stitch-    eeek!!!!! Almost time for the Happy Dance!

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40)Last Step decide where you want the button- sew it and DONE! **I like to use  Wonder Tape to hold button.

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Please please please share what you made with use on LLK Cafe Facebook Page. Congratulations!!!

41) HAPPY DANCE!!!

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Thank you Little Lizard King for allowing me to host your Peggy Sue Sewalong! Also Thank you to RJR Fabrics , your fabric was a dream to sew with and I look forward to many more projects with your fabric!!
Don’t forget #PSSAL on Facebook.

Little Lizard King- Sewalong -Day 4

Hello Ladies!! I hope you have been sharing on LLK Cafe Facebook page. I know I am loving what everyone is doing. Ok day 4 – we are going to Work on the Skirt

(Sorry for the quality of pics- working late at night with  no good lighting)

Skirt: Option: adding a ruffle- see pattern instructions.

27) Grab the 2 skirt pieces  you cut on day 1 and fold each in half widthwise. Right sides together.

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28)You will now need to use either a measuring tape or ruler and a fabric pen to cut the circle skirt from the fabric you just folded in half. Use the Skirt Length measurement found on the Measurement Chart (page 3). For example I am making a size 7/8- my skirt length needs to be 22″. Using a fabric pen and ruler or tape measure start at the top corner of the folded fabric and mark the required skirt length. Make several marks and then connect them to make a curved line.

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29)Cut Curved line

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30) Now Grab your pattern piece . place on top corner and cut. ***Important to be exact cuts so that it will align with your beautiful top properly.

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31)Bring the two half circle skirt and place then right side together and sew along both raw edges. 1/2″ SA. Serge edges or zig zag or pinking shears if you do not have a serger.

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32)Serge bottom of skirt and hem. If you do not have a serger fold over a 1/4″ and fold over again 1/4″ to enclose raw edge. option: rolled hem, ruffled edge – see pattern instructions

**Now is the chance to add options like Ric Rac or Ruffle – See instruction for more details,

Alright ladies that is it for day 4!

I will see you back for tomorrow for day 5 and we will attach the skirt to the bodice. -Alexis

Sewalong – Little Lizard King- Day 3

Hello,

It is Day 3 of the Little Lizard King Sewalong Hope everyone is excited to be back and finish the Bodice. So grab your beverage and snack of choice and here we go…

Finish joining the main bodice fabric and liner:

13)Grab your Main fabric and Lining and place them on top of each other (Right Sides Together), Pin well and sew around neckline and BOTH arm holes with 1/2″ SA. **Do not Pin and Sew the back bodice .

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14)Trim down excess fabric- I like to use Pinking Shears

 

Back Bodice:

15) You will need 1/8″ elastic cut into a 3″ piece. A little trick is tie the elastic in a knot at the end to help hold it in place (Thanks Amy)

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16) Decide what side you want the elastic and Place the Elastic 1″ from the top of the back edge. Pin and close the bodice and sew down both sides.

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17) Flip that baby out, Iron well and enjoy the view!!!!!

Sash:

18) Grab your 2 sash pieces and fold in half right sides together and Iron. Cut a diagonal line off one end of each sash piece. Sew along long edge with 1/2″ SA and trim excess fabric.

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19) Turn right side out and top stitch (great time for edger foot)

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20)Open your bodice like this:

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21)Take both sash pieces and match raw edges with raw edges of front bodice side seams and sew

***You need to make sure your sash is at least 1/2″ from the bottom edge. Otherwise it will get stuck in the skirt when you try to attach it. Silly me I did not and got to the end and had to pick out my serged thread and Cinch (ruffle) up the sash. I would blame it on the wine but I was not drinking any!! To double check measure 1/2″ from the bottom edge and end your sash there. (Don’t let the serged edges confuse you, that part will come later)

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Bodice:

22) Now we need to attach the front bodice and back bodice at the side seams. Flip open the layers like this:

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23) Now match Right Sides together along side seams. You will match main fabric with main fabric and lining with lining.  It will look like this:

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24) Pin and Sew with 1/2″ SA

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25) Iron Seams open or trim down bulk. The seam is enclosed so there is no need to serge plus that can add bulk

26) Top stitch- neckline, armhole and down the back seams (another great time for the edging foot)

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27)Serge (or zig zag stitch if you do not have a serger) the bottom raw edge

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All right ladies you are DONE with the top (we will put a button on at the end)!!!! Wow!! Looks great, right ??!!

See you Tomorrow for Day 4!!! Eek we are getting so close . We will work on the skirt next.

-Alexis

Sewalong – Little Lizard King- Day 2

Welcome back for Day 2 of the Little Lizard King Sewalong – Peggy Sue Dress/Tunic

Plan for Day 2: Cutting and Starting your Bodice

*So if you are ready with your Beverage and snack of choice, lets get STARTED!!!

Cutting:

Grab your pattern and cut that baby out!:  Front Bodice (liner and main), Back bodice (2 main and 2 liner), bib, ruffle for the bib, sash and rectangles for skirt (don’t cut them into circles yet-that is left for day 4)

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Bodice:

1) Grab your center sash piece and fold the top over 1/4″

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2)Place Wrong side of Sash on top of Right side of Front Bodice- Top Stitch

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My Favorite Foot to use is the #10 edging foot. I have a Berninia Sewing machine (Love it!) So if you don’t have one go check out if your machine has a similar foot. I don’t know how I sew without it!

Bib:

3)Grab your Ruffle piece take it to the Ironing Board fold in half lengthwise and iron it.

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4) Ruffling the Ruffle Piece:

There are several ways you can ruffle: Ruffle Foot, 2 rows of basting stitch, Serger or Zig Zag/thread method. I have used every method and for me personally I like the ruffle foot.  For small areas of ruffling I like to use the basting stitch method. I will me using my ruffle foot on this Sewalong. You can adjust the depth of the ruffle and how many ruffles on your fabric piece. You could do a test piece but I don’t typically do that.  I usually just cut the piece longer then asked to assure I have enough fabric.

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5) Take your ruffled fabric and place on top of the right side of bib matching raw edges. Pin in place and sew using 1/2″ Seam Allowance (SA).

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Option: Ric Rack material

6)Flip ruffle out and iron

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Bodice:

7) Next let take the bib and center it directly on top of the front bodice, Wrong side of Bib to Right side of bodice

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8)Pin and Top stitch the bib to the bodice (great time to use your edging foot)

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9) take a minute, grab your drink or cupcake and look at your beautiful top coming together. 🙂 🙂 🙂

**Options: This would be the time you can add embroidery, buttons, trim, etc to the front. Just don’t forget the 1/2″ SA at the neckline (mine does NOT show that- shame on me!)

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Ok, moving on… Put the wine down Ladies!

10) Grab the front bodice and both back bodice pieces. With right sides together match the shoulder at sew using 1/2″ SA.

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11) Repeat with Front and Back lining

12)Iron the seams open

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That is it for Day 2! Please Share and use #PSSAL

-Alexis

SewaLong -Little Liz King- Day 1

Hello,

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I am Alexis of My Sweet Sunshine and I am very excited to host the February Sewalong  for Little Lizard King. For this Sewalong we will be sewing The Peggy Sue Dress. I am also excited to be sewing using RJR Fabrics’ Solids in My Valentine and Pink Sapphire. Aren’t those perfect fabric for my Valentines themed dress! Thank you RJR Fabrics for sending me some of your gorgeous fabric. And guess what ladies… they are giving away the same fabric I am using in the Sewalong to one lucky lady!!! How exciting!

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If you have not grabbed your Peggy Sue Dress Pattern you can grab it HERE also make sure you sign up for LLK Cafe Facebook page for a GREAT discount!

Here is the plan for Day 1:

1) First and Most, it’s important for everyday of our Sewalong to grab your favorite beverage and snack (today mine is a cupcake and tea).

2) Sign up on LLK Facebook Group to ask questions, share pictures and grab that discount code

3) Buy The Peggy Sue Pattern

4) Choose your fabric- You can pick a Valentines theme like me for anything else that inspires you

5) Find the right size by using the size chart in the pattern

6) Print and Cut your paper pattern

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Tomorrow we will Cut our fabric. Try and Play with your fabric you don’t have to be matchy matchy unless you want to be 🙂 . Think outside the box and you may surprise yourself. Please share your fabric of choice on LLK Cafe’s Facebook page or ask questions if you need help.

See you all Tomorrow for Day 2 for cutting and sewing

Here is a run down of the Sewalong:

Day 1- Buy Pattern, Pick Fabric and Cut Paper Pattern

Day 2 Cutting and Starting your Bodice

Day 3 Finish the Bodice

Day 4 Skirt

Day 5 Attach Skirt to Bodice- Finish

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-Alexis

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