Debbie's Birthday Dress Pattern Tour

When Suz from sewpony invited me to join the Debbie's Birthday Dress Pattern Tour, how could I not?  She is a fellow admirer of vintage inspired design, so sewing her first digital pattern was a pleasure!  And this is only the first of many vintage styled pattern she will be designing for her shop: sewpony Vintage.

Here's what Suz says about her adorable dress pattern:

Debbie's birthday dress is my first vintage inspired digital pattern. It was inspired by my favourite childhood book - Debbie's birthday party, written by Gilbert Delahaye and illustrated by Marcel Marlier in Belgium, 1969.

This pattern is sized 18 months - 7 years. 
It has two views, both of which appear in the book and have a sweet vintage feel. Both views are a classic A-line style dress. View 1 has a separate bodice with trim. View 2 has a central seam with a peter-pan collar, accent buttons and pocket. Both views have a button and loop closure at the back and a lined bodice. The peter-pan collar and pocket can also be used with View 1.

For my Debbie's Birthday Dress, I made View 1, but omitted the trim and added the buttons from View B.  I also shortened the length to a tunic and look forward to a layered look for the upcoming cooler months.  Suz recently created a tunic length adjustment chart for anyone who also wants to create this variation.  The pockets were something I changed up as well....my daughter's really into pockets right now, so I wanted two with a little of the lining showing.

I made a size 2 and it fits great!  The pattern is super easy to follow and great for beginner sewists.  You definitely can't tell this is Suz's first pattern, as it's a very professionally made.  I'm so glad it's now part of my collection!

Fabric: Red Cotton Twill (Debbie's Birthday Dress), Silver Pin Dots on Charcoal Gray Cotton Lycra Knit Fabric from Girl Charlee (Recess Raglan Tee Pattern)

During this tour, the Debbie's Birthday Dress pattern is available for 20% off the regular price, so if you want to add this super cute pattern to your collection, now's the time!  Use discount code: BLOGTOUR1.

Head over to the Debbie's Birthday Dress Flickr Group to see more!  And keep following the tour to see what all the other talented ladies make. 

Fedora Hat Pattern Giveaway

Later this week, the newest E&E pattern will be released, and this one is extra special!  I absolutely love hats and have always wanted to complete a pattern for one.  After many adjustments, and lots of trial & error, it's almost ready to go!  It's fully-lined, and completely cute & classy!  My wonderful testers are working behind the scenes to help me perfect this pattern, but I always like getting the fun started a little early with a giveaway.  Three readers will be given a complimentary copy of this pattern to enjoy on the day of its launch: Thursday, August 15.

Here's the sizing information and a couple more photos:

GOOD LUCK!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Made by YOU!

I can't get over all the amazingly beautiful E&E creations made by so many wonderful readers that have been uploaded to the Flickr Group!  Here are just a few of them....aren't they gorgeous!?  Thank you so much for sharing your lovingly handmade garments!

Modern Homemade

Mekko-Tehdas

Two Many

Suburbia Soup

Carolyn Flynn

hungie mungie

Lollipop Garden Crafts

Pour Mini Girls

Blogless Anna


Rock the Stitch

Nutta!

Ravyk

The Pattern Anthology - Alphabet Collection

Just in time for your back-to-school sewing, the Alphabet Collection has recently been released!  I'm so excited to show you what I was able to make with these super stylish patterns designed by the ladies from the Pattern Anthology.  All four patterns are unisex, so there are a ton of possibilities to make each piece just right for any child.  It was definitely time to make something for my boy, and was he ever thrilled to get an entire outfit just for him!  We both LOVE how it turned out!

If you are wanting to compare sizes, my boy is 5 years old with a 21" chest, 19" waist, and 22" hip (quite a bit thinner and a little taller than average).

Study Hall Jacket - a raglan sleeved jacket that has 3 neckline options (ribbed, ruffled or hooded) and three pocket options (zippered, welts, or ruffled)

I chose to make Tobias' jacket with the ribbed neckline and waistband option, with welt front pockets, and one zippered sleeve pocket, in a size 4T.  While there are some intermediate skill level steps, when you follow Andrea's instructions and digital diagrams carefully, the result is a very stylish garment that looks like it's straight out of a boutique.  The high quality denim from Michael Levine is going to give this jacket a ton of wear, too.  You can only imagine how much Tobias loves this jacket, especially with the lining and all the fun pockets!  

Fabric & Notions: Dark Navy Denim (outer) and Little Elephants by Michael Miller (lining) from  Michael Levine, lowpricefabric.com, Zipper & Thread from Coats & Clark

Recess Raglan Tee - an indispensable raglan t-shirt with 3 sleeve lengths and 3 sleeve finishes.

There are so many cool ways to personalize this t-shirt, but I chose to keep mine simple with 3/4 length contrasting sleeves.  The front pocket was an added feature requested by my boy.  This shirt came together so quickly, and fit so perfectly, that I know I will be making many more for both my children (following Kate's size chart, I made a size 3T width and 4T length).  When Tobias put it on, he didn't want to take off, and kept commenting how comfortable was.  This is clearly due to its amazing design, and the awesome fabric!

Fabric & Notions: Texture Charcoal Heather Gray Cotton Jersey Blend Knit Fabric, Charcoal and White Mini Stripe Cotton Spandex Knit Fabric from  Girl Charlee, Thread from Coats & Clark

BBC Vest - a shawl-collared vest that has a rounded or peplum bottom, and options for either a full or racer back style.

Next up is the BBC vest.  I love how quickly this was to sew and the many possibilities of mixing up fabrics between the lining, pockets, facings, and outer vest.  I decided to go with the same denim as the Study Hall Jacket to keep the outfit cohesive and love the result.  The size 4 fit my boy just right.  And the peplum version is super cute, too, so I'm sure I'll have to make one of those for my girl as well!

Fabric & Notions- Dark Navy Denim (outer) from Michael Levine, lowpricefabric.com, Thread from Coats & Clark

W Pants - inverted yoked pants that come in 3 lengths and have many pocket options as well as either an elastic waist or a functioning zip fly.

And last, but certainly not least, is the W Pants (shorts length).  These turned out great!  For my slim boy, I went with a size 4T width, with a size 5 length and they couldn't fit better.  I chose not to sew the zip fly, because my boy prefers them that way, however, having learned how to sew one with Melissa's instructions in the past, I can highly recommend her expert guidance.  Instead of the zip back pockets, I chose to change it up a bit by adding patch pockets that match the unique line of the back yoke.  And isn't this shade of yellow awesome!?  I've always wanted to make Tobias something in this colour (yellow has been my fave shade this summer), and I couldn't be happier with how it compliments the rest of the outfit.

Fabric & Notions - 100% Organic Cotton Yellow Twill from Organic Cotton Plus, Thread from Coats & Clark

So, there you have it!  Four fantastic patterns all in one collection for boys AND girls.  What more could you ask for, right?!  Keep following the tour to see even more possibilities (and catch up on any you've missed!).

The Alphabet Collection is only available through August 12th.

The patterns, fabric, and notions used to make the garments for this collection were provided free of charge.  All links to the Pattern Anthology are affiliate links. Join us along the Alphabet Collection blog tour to see just how versatile these patterns are. Bloggers will be sewing up all 4 pieces from the collection at girl. Inspired., Shwin & Shwin, Sew a Straight Line, elsie marley, Melly Sews, Happy Together, see kate sew, Elegance & Elephants, I Still Love You, kojo designs, Petit a Petit and Family, The Train to Crazy, Delia Creates and Craftiness is Not Optional

Compagnie M Playsuit Remix with Tutorial

Have you been following Marte (from Compagnie M) as she shares her amazing adventures in Romania?  She and her family are there now, and she's been creating beautiful clothing for the Maramures locals.  The stories are heartwarming, and as always, her garments are lovely, made even better by the smiles of the precious children.  

And while Marte's been away in Romania, I've been sewing her newest complimentary pattern: the Playsuit.  This pattern was so fun to make, quick to sew, and the unique design is unlike anything I've ever made.  

Rather than attaching the shorts, I decided to remix the pattern and make it into a gathered dress.  If you'd like to make this variation, head over to Compagnie M, download the free pattern, and follow the mini-tutorial below to make you own Playsuit Dress.

Notions:

Thread

Fabric

4 - 1"/2.5cm buttons

Lightweight Fusible Interfacing

Bias Tape

Follow the instructions on your downloaded pattern to complete the bodice.