Fussy cutting paid off.
Moving on to my faux suit- I went with one of my tried and true favorites the Petite Stitchery & Co Norah sleep shorts/undies. This pattern was calling for the purple solid as I used the ruched option and it really
allowed that ruching to shine! I also ended up with a bonus PSCo make I wasn’t planning on- the new release Colby bralette. Holy moly it's a KEEPER just like Norah. Also made in the regal purple DBP.
For my faux suit part deux I went with two different designers. I mashed the Rad designs Ororo bralette front with their (free.99) 25k bralette back. I prefer a straight back and this was a fairly simple hack. An
adventurous beginner could tackle this mash. For the bottoms I used the Rebecca Page two piece swim set bottoms. I was able to get these two pieces PLUS the Joanne wrap from above out of the luxe DBP. Can I just reiterate how stoked I am to have a 3 piece coordinating set?
I promise I’m getting to the end. I knocked out 2 Greenstyle items. The Venice shorts out of that bomb french terry and another scrapbuster piece the Corset bra/top. Both are super comfortable and could be worn SO many ways.
Last but certainly not least I made the Rain City Bodycon dress & I took quite a few liberties with this design. I wanted something that could take me all the way to date night but it needed some FLAIR. The pink and white geometric pattern was the perfect choice for this. My spouse was really into the fabric
because it reminded him of tire tracks. I added to the seam allowance for the Bodycon dress and added a channel for a drawstring. My Bodycon now has an adjustable hem with ruching in whatever place I decide! I also added a few gathers around the bust area (because I just can’t help myself).
A channel + drawstring = easy, elevated element.
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to sew and show off for all of you. I truly LOVED working with Ash & Elm. These fabrics are more beautiful than I could ever articulate to you and were a dream to sew with. I hope that anyone reading this takes at least one nugget of inspiration with them. I can’t wait to see
what everyone creates with their own boxes of Ash & Elm magic!
Sew on friends,
LC
Another great thing about the floral french terry is the part of the fabric with out the flowers. The blue in the fabric has little fine details, almost giving it a denim appearance. I wanted a pants pattern that would show the details of the blue on one side, as well as the floral design on the other side. The Portlander Pants from Pattern Niche are my go to pattern for relaxed fit, flare pants. I chose the quickest, easiest option. The fabric worked great for the pants and waistband, even without a drawstring. This is a quick 30 minute, cut to finish pattern.
To pick a favorite fabric out of the capsule, would be very difficult. I love each fabric for the patterns I used. They are all beautiful, easy to sew fabrics. But I did get excited about one fabric in particular. The worn denim style Luxe DBP. If you have not tried this base from Ash and Elm, order it now! It sews like butter. But what really excited me was the look. I have wanted to try workout leggings for quite some time but am totally intimidated. This fabric screams WORKOUT LEGGINGS! I thought what better way to test my skills at workout leggings than try some out for my daughter first. The Boulder leggings from Little Lizard King
are amazing. I cannot wait to try this pattern for myself. Surprisingly, a very quick sew. I completed the leggings and matching shirt during my son's afternoon nap. The fit looks great on my daughter and she loves them.
To match the leggings, I went with another Little Lizard King pattern, the Glastonbury. The Glastonbury is a top and skirt pattern! I can't wait to make the skirt. The top has a crop and regular length option, a simple front or faux placket. When I saw this pattern I thought, bonus a skirt but also what a great shirt to compliment the leggings. Thank you so much for reading my blog entry about the amazing Ash and Elm Spring Capsule and the wonderful patterns I used to complete it. I had a blast sewing everything up and making
videos with my daughter.
There are just SO MANY different styles you can achieve with this many pattern options, I love it! Another thing I adore about Sinclair Patterns is the separate pattern files for petite, regular, and tall. It takes so much of the work out of altering a pattern to fit your body! This pattern will be taking over my closet more and more as time goes on, can’t wait to see what you think of it!
Rachael
*This blog contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links you will not pay a penny more, but the author may get a small commission to help them continue to share their love and passion for sewing 😍
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When I got my hands on the fabrics, I immediately knew I wanted to make the Sofiona Limestone jacket using the stretch corduroy and the border portion of French terry. This became the cornerstone of my capsule. The stretch velvet is so soft and smooth. It feels amazing! The border print FT speaks for itself... GORGEOUS!
I knew I wanted to wear the Limestone with my jeans and boots, but then I needed a top to wear as well. I used the pink chevron to create two tops that I would be able to mix and match with the rest of my capsule. I chose the Sofiona Clover using the basic dolman top option. I used the wrong sides of the fabric facing out for a little contrast on the bands. I used the rest of that fabric to create a hacked tank. I can't ever have enough tanks!
That brings me to the denim luxe! Wow, this fabric is awesome! It's soft, stretchy and thick! An obvious use for a denim print would be pants or leggings, but since I decided to use my boots for this capsule, I thought a hi-lo ruffle skirt would be just the ticket! I chose the hi-lo skirt from Sinclair's Valley skirt add-on pack. Instead of a flounce,I added ruffles for a little bit of extra twirly fun!
I feel like making this capsule had a total domino effect. One thing led to another. After choosing the skirt, I wanted a wrap top to pair with it. I knew I could layer my tank or a fun bralette underneath and it would also pair with my jeans. As it may become apparent, I love dolman style tops, so only a dolman wrap would do! I chose the Dolman Wrap from Socialite and used the purple DBP.
Well, now that I scavenged nearly all of the border off the FT, I had a good bit of solid navy left. I also had a smidge of the border left and didn't want that to go to waste. I decided on the Sinclair Rio dress since it was perfect to use that little bit of border at the top of the color block portion of the dress.
I also want to drop a little note in here that the belt I made for my Limestone jacket came in very handy as a sash for my dress and skirt! That's the beauty of a coordinating capsule!
Now, that leaves scraps! What is a capsule without accessories? I decided that scrunchies would be the perfect use of my scraps, because I'm always using and misplacing my scrunchies! I was able to make a scrunchie out of each of the fabrics included in the capsule and I am so excited about it!
Now let's recap! Here is what I made:
Sofiona Limestone jacket- Navy stretch corduroy and border print FT
Sofiona Clover and hacked tank- Pink chevron
Sinclair Valley Hi-Lo skirt- Denim luxe
Sinclair Rio Tank Dress- Border print FT
Socialite Dolman Wrap- Purple DBP
Scrunchies- Fabric scraps
I hope you have just as much fun with your capsule box as I did! I can’t wait to see what you make!
Best!
Anna
]]>@brittsews @ashandelmlimitedtextiles new base Poplin used for @littlelizardking Bruges #sewing #handmadehandbag #purse #glitter #shiny #handmade #pink ♬ Material Girl - Madonna
That’s why when I saw that Ash and Elm was going to offer capsule boxes I JUMPED at the opportunity to sew one up!! It took a big portion of the decision making out of my hands. Now instead of trying to pick just the right fabrics to go with just the right patterns, all I had to do was wait for the fabric to speak to me and let me know what it needed to be made into.
When I got the shipping notification for my box I STALKED our UPS delivery driver until it showed up. When I opened the box I was SHOCKED at how stuffed it was with FABULOUS fabrics!!! Double Brushed Poly, Stretch Corduroy, Luxe Double Brushed Poly, and French Terry…. It was AN AWESOME variety and allowed me to try a few new bases! While I LOVED the bases, the thing that really struck me were the GORGEOUS designs. I was INSTANTLY drawn to the Peony Double Border Print on Navy Linen!!!
@mcumings Eekkk I’m LOVING the fabrics I’m the NEW @ashandelmlimitedtextiles Spring Capsule boxes 😍😍 Link on my profile!! #sew #sewing #sewingtiktok #fabric ♬ Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
So now that I had the fabrics I needed to wait for inspiration to hit…. I had SO MANY IDEAS for this capsule. First I was thinking maybe some leggings and mom wardrobe type items, you know things that are comfy for wearing around the house, but you don’t feel uncomfortable wearing them out to the park or grocery store either. After stewing on that idea for a few days though I just was not loving it and decided I needed to go looking for inspiration.
Inspo Dress from Zutita www.zutita.com/denim-ruffle-sleeveless-dress
I jumped into the rabbit hole that is pinterest, and surprisingly found something pretty quick!!! I spied this jean dress with ruffles and KNEW it needed to try my hand at it. I had grabbed the FREE Rain City Patterns Tight Tank Top when I was planning my first wardrobe out and thought it would be PERFECT for this make.
I lengthened the tank by 4” and then made a ruffle to go on the bottom. While I was working on perfecting the pattern to get it as close to my Pinspiration as possible I decided that I needed to draft some CUTE butterfly sleeves to get that ruffled sleeve look from the pic. Once I did that all of a sudden the rest of my capsule came flooding to my brain and I got SUPER EXCITED!!!
I still didn’t have a name for my capsule, or know exactly what pieces I wanted to sew up, but I FINALLY had a vision…. Ruffles, Flowy, CUTE!
Now that I had a general vision in mind I was flooded with ideas. I had a general picture of what I wanted my next piece to look like, the only problem was that I wasn’t sure which pattern I could use to make my vision come true. I knew I wanted something that would make a STATEMENT, something that made me feel and look AMAZING…. Ohh and it had to have ruffles of course.
After doing a bit of searching around I found Rebecca Page patterns and ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE with the Frill Dress!! It was going to take some finagling to get it to work as it needed a tad bit more yardage then I had, those frills are fabric MONSTERS, but I remembered I had just gotten in some FABULOUS Heathered Red in French Terry and it complimented the Pink Chevron so PERFECTLY!
Now my next problem…. The pattern is drafted for wovens. I was using Double Brushed Poly and French Terry. I decided to throw all the “sewing rules” out the door and give it a go anyways. Because I was using knit fabric that had stretch to it I knew I wouldn’t need to add in the zipper which allowed me to cut some of the pieces on the fold rather than in mirror image meaning less seams YAY!!! I will say though this pattern was a tough one to sew up. After two full days sewing and MANY hours seam ripping I FINALLY got it though and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE how it turned out!!!!
By the time my Frill Dress was completed I had already started envisioning my next piece. I decided it was time to tackle the GORGEOUS Stretch Corduroy that had been SCREAMING at me for DAYS to become a peplum. I was a bit nervous though because I’ve never actually worn a peplum! I wasn’t sure if it would accentuate my mum tum and make me look pregnant or if it would actually help hide the lumps and bumps having 4 babies has given me. I figured there is no time like the present to find out and grabbed the FREE Sinclair Valley Knit Skater Dress Pattern and got to work!
I finished up my peplum and while I LOVED how it fit, and the drape it seemed like it was missing a little something. I went hunting around my sewing studio in the hopes that I would spy something that would work. After digging around in one of my drawers filled with miscellaneous trims I grabbed some black lace trim and decided I would give it a go! At first I just added it to the bottom hem…. It solved 2 problems for me that way, it zhuzhed up the top, and it made it so I didn’t have to hem it! Win win in my book!!
After adding the trim to the bottom though I thought it was still missing a little something. I headed inside to ask the hubbys opinion and the response I got when I walked in was EXACTLY the inspiration I needed to know what to call this capsule wardrobe I was making…. Flirty Date Night was officially born! Now that my capsule had a name I needed to put the finishing touches onto my third piece and move on to pieces 4 and 5. Hunny suggested I add some of the lace I used on the bottom of the peplum to the waistband portion except have it facing up instead of down. I went with it and while I do really like the look, I kind of wish I would have just put it going down like I had it on the hem…. Ohh well I still LOVE it and feel AMAZING in it. It is SUPER comfortable, and yet because the fabric is a little shimmery and textured it feels LUXURIOUS and the PERFECT top for a date night!
With piece 3 done it was time to move onto the fabric I’ve been drooling over for DAYS…. The Double Border Peony!!!! I’ve never worked with a double bordered fabric before so I was SUPER EXCITED to cut into this, but at the same time I had SO MANY IDEAS for it that I struggled to just pick one. After looking at my other three pieces though I thought it might be nice to add something not so…. hmmm how to say this…. Attention grabbing. I wanted a comfy piece that I could wear out on a more casual date night, something that I could put on with a pair of leggings and tennis shoes and go to the pub and eat a burger in. I went searching for the perfect pattern and stumbled across Simple Life Pattern Company's Womens Sapphire V-Neck Sweater and knew it would be PERFECT!! I would still have the flirty bit with a lower cut neckline, but be more comfy and relaxed.
I struggled a bit with the V-Neck on this one and had to redo it 3 times. I usually am not so picky with them, if it’s on and doesn’t look awful I call it a day and move to the next step, but I wanted this to be 100% perfect so plugged away until it was just right. I originally wasn’t going to band it and chose the mid thigh length, but when I tried it on before hemming I realized it wasn’t going to cover my booty, and since I want to wear it with leggings that’s a MUST, so instead of hemming it got a band and I must say my pattern matching with it came out AWESOME!!!
I was in the homestretch…. Just ONE MORE PIECE TO GO!!!! Of course I had no clue again what I wanted to do with the GORGEOUS purple Lux that had been staring at me the entire process. Leggings…. Not really I’ve made 4 pairs already this year with at least two more scheduled in Sew-Alongs. While brainstorming ideas my eyes landed on the black lace I had used for my peplum and an idea was starting to form. I jumped on Pinterest to see if I could find inspiration that would help me fulfill the vision I was starting to form, and again I scored big time! I found 2 different pieces I LOVED, but thinking back to my theme of Flirty Date Night, I decided to go with a cross over front piece with some lace added in.
I had sewn the Blake from Petite Stitchery & Co during testing and LOVED how it looked so much! It was the PERFECT pattern to help me complete my capsule. I started to cut everything out, but remembered how the flutter sleeve was a little shorter than I preferred. I had JUST enough fabric to cut out the regular flutter sleeve, so had to go back to the drawing board again.
Since I had everything already cut out I either had to come up with a plan that would work with what I had, or I would just have to say it will be okay and move forward. That’s when I noticed a lilac double brushed poly scrap that I have had FOREVER and never knew what to do with it. It paired PERFECTLY with the purple Luxe and so I decided to cut another flutter 3” longer than the first to create a layered sleeve look. OH.MY.WORD I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!! It BLEW my original vision away!!!
All that was left now was to add the lace and I’d be done! At first I added it to the hem of the top the same way I did the Peplum I made, but I wasn't completely LOVING the look, plus I had already used it that way in one other piece and I didn’t really want them to be quite so matchy. So instead of having it hanging down I flipped it up making sure to hem towards the top of the lace points (I should of been more precise and stitched the lace by following the design but I really didn’t feel like spending 12382472384197 hours working on all those little points) and tried it on.
FINALLY it had all come together!!! The pieces all complimented each other so well, but were statements in their own right! Now is it a “true” capsule…. Probably not as I can’t really mix and match everything to create a dozen different outfits from just a few makes, but it is a capsule I needed in my life and didn’t know and THAT is worth every single minute I spent working on this project!!! After having 4 kids in 5 years my date wardrobe was non-existent…. Everytime the hubby would want to go to a restaurant I would try and find some excuse as to why we should just stay home, but NOW I am BEGGING to go out and show off these new pieces!! I have to say the CONFIDENCE creating this capsule has filled me with is so empowering!!! I feel FABULOUS, I feel GORGEOUS, I feel FLIRTY and I’m ready for a night out on the town with my man!!!!
@mcumings Have you seen @ashandelmlimitedtextiles ♬ Walking On Sunshine - Countdown Singers
Xoxo- Melissa 😘
]]>So we decided it was time to put out a blog explaining exactly how to order some of our AMAZING custom fabric and panels as well as share why the site is set up the way it is. 💕
First things first.... When we went to custom printing our fabric there was a bit of a learning curve on how exactly to share that we can print all the FABULOUS designs and panels on a bunch of different bases. Do we create a listing for each design on a seperate base? Well that could get confusing and would be a HUGE selection to scroll through to find exactly what you are looking for. Do we only offer panels printed on white? That would definitely make the process a bit less confusing, but then you wouldn't be able to get the AWESOME unique designs you want to make that PERFECT piece you have been dreaming of.
The AMAZING Brandi spent a LOT of time trying to figure out the exact right way to set everything up to make it so we have the ability to not only get the designs we want printed on the bases we want, but we can go a bit further and customize them to be exactly what we envisioned. While it can be a bit confusing the first time you see the site and start to order we promise that once you get the hang of it you are going to LOVE how FABULOUS it is!! 😍😍😍😍
Now that you know a little bit about the why the website is set up the way it is lets dive into how to order!
Panels:
When ordering panels you will first click on the design you LOVE. By clicking on the design it's going to take you to the screen where the magic happens!
Now that we're on the panel screen we need to decide the panel size we want to get. The sizes are:
Adult- 29" x 36" (10x14)
Big Kid- 19" x 24" (8x12)
Little Kid- 14" x 18" (6x10)
Doll- 10"x10" (3x5)
I'm going to get an Big Kid Sized Panel to make my niece a CUTE sassy horse shirt! So I will click on the drop down box where it says Adult, and changed that to Big Kid:
Next I need to decide which base I want my panel printed on. Since I'm going to be making a hooded sweatshirt I'm going to choose French Terry. Click on the box underneath the base lable and switch that to your desired fabric base.
Now that we have our panel size and the correct base we want it printed on we now need to decide what kind of background we want it on. This is where things can get a bit confusing.... You can choose a plain base color, or a printed background, but not both. So if I want the panel printed on Sage French Terry I will click the French Terry Base color Sage:
While I do ADORE our regular base colors I actually want to mix this one up a bit so instead I will be ordering it on a printed background. To do that I need to make sure that my base color is set to white (this is the default selection so if you haven't changed anything with the base colors don't worry about this part):
Now I am going to scroll down to the printed background selection and pick the background I would like my panel to be printed on. My niece LOVES everything Unicorn right now so I'm going to get this printed on the Unicorn background 😍😍😍
Alright so we have our size, our base, and the background we want our panel printed on, all that's left is deciding if we would like a back panel to go with it. I ALWAYS recommend getting a back panel.... There have been a few times where I think I won't use it, and regret snagging one EVERY.SINGLE.TIME!!! I tend to get the size back panel that coordinates with the size front panel I am ordering, but if you are thinking you are going to want a bigger or smaller panel you definitely can mix that up. For example if you are wanting to make a short sleeve shirt for a little one out of all the same fabric, but don't want to purchase a half yard of the design, grab an adult back panel.... There are NO RULES on what size you can order. Just know that the back panel you order will have the same background as the front panel so be sure to click the corresponding one (if ordering a printed background click the printed background back panel selection underneath the background choices etc).
Now all we have to do is click that add to cart button! After you click that and head over to your cart you might be a bit confused by what you see so I wanted to take a second and talk over why your cart has a few extra things added to it:
First you will notice the panel listed with the base (French Terry), the base color (Natural White), the Printed Baground (Unicorn) and that I want a back panel. Note: If you didn't get a printed background you will only see the base color showing. This item is only charging us $7.99 which is the cost of the front panel, but I ordered a back panel how come it's not included? We will get to that in just a second.
Next you will see an item that says White French Terry Panel.... If you look the price is set to $0. This tells Brandi what base you want her to print your panel on, but it is also taking that panel out of our inventory so we don't accidentally oversell them. Please DO NOT remove this as it will thorw the inventory off and could cause things to oversell 😬
Last you will see the Add Printed Back Panel this is where the charge for the back panel comes in and again helps us to keep track of inventory and not oversell. Why doesn't the back panel say what design it needs to be printed on? Well remember on our front panel read out, it states we are getting it printed on the Unicorn background and we want a back panel.... The back panel listed later in the cart is connected to the front panel so now when Brandi goes to print this order she will see that it also needs to be printed with the Unicorn background 😍😍
Fabric:
Now that we know how to order a panel lets order some coordinating fabric to go with it! Since I am getting my panel printed on the Unicorn background I thought it would be CUTE to add in this Irridescent Yardage to add some sparkle to my nieces hoodie!
Ordering yardage isn't quite as complicated as ordering panels can be, but it can still get a bit tricky so thought I would share the process 💕 First we need to decide how much of the fabric we are going to need. I know for my hoodie I am going to want at least 1 yard so I will switch out that 1/2 yard option for 1 yard:
Since I got my panel in French Terry I need to change the base of this yardage to French Terry as well:
Now all that's left is to decide how many yards I need and add it to the cart.... I am just going to get 1 yard this time, but if you need more just change the quantity to the correct number of yards you want. Now that my fabric is loaded into my cart let's chat about what that looks like!
Just like when we ordered our panel we see the item listed with the options we selected: Iridescence Yardage is describing the design we selected and the infinite_options_1: Natural White French Terry is describing the base we selected to get it printed on. If you notice below that there is another item that says FT printing base $0. This again is just for inventory purposes.... If we don't keep track of how much of each base we are selling we could accidentally oversell it and not have enough to complete orders. Please DO NOT delete this from your cart as it helps us and the computer keep track of how much of each base we have sold and what we have left. 💕
The next thing I wanted to share is the notes section....
Say you ABSOLUTELY LOVE a design, but would like something to be a little different.... well Brandi is FANTASTIC and will try and make all your fabric dreams come true, so by putting your request in the notes section she can work on getting you the fabric of your dreams! 😍😍😍 For my order I think I would like the red on the horse to be changed to something that would coordinate a bit better with the Unicorn background I selected so I am going to ask if she can turn it navy!
I like to throw a little love in there to let her know that I really appreciate the fact that she is going above and beyond to help make my order PERFECT!!! If you don't want to switch anything up, but would like to share a little encouragement or silly joke.... drop it in the notes! It always feels AMAZING to make someone smile 😍😍
Last, but certainly not least I want to share about redeeming coupon codes! This part got me a bit at first as you see the discount code section on the main checkout screen. If you put your code in there, but it doesn't seem to be working, then what you are going to want to do is go ahead and click the checkout button.... I promise it's not going to charge you right away, and there is another place we can enter your coupon code before actually checking out!
Now that we are taken to the information screen do you see that little box underneath our order details that says Gift card or discount code? We are going to want to enter our code in there and then click apply. Once you do that your coupon code should be loaded in and you will notice the total change to reflect the new price!! Finish filling in your shipping and billing info, enter in your payment deets, complete your order and all that's left is to stalk your delivery person until it shows up 🥳🥳🥳
Ohh and don't forget to load your cart up, because if you didn't notice at the top of your screen is an AMAZING NEW feature that will tell you how much to add to get FREE SHIPPING!!!! I'm ALL about not paying for shipping so you know I'm going to go back in and add a few more things for a different project 😍😍
I hope this helped clear up any confusion on ordering and explains a bit more clearly why everything is set up the way it is. 💕
xoxo- Melissa 😘
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I have been sewing since I was child, making my first Barbie clothes, doll clothes, and doilies before I was 10! I run a small sewing business from our home, sewing full time! Our hope is for only handmade or gifted clothing by end of this year-socks and undies included!
Sewing for Ash and Elm is a blast! I try all kinds of new patterns, and find fun ways to use panels! I love kid and doll panels to make matching sets, and the fun ones for my husband and myself! I enjoy the variety of bases and designs-and some of my customers do too!
My main sewing goal is to tackle socks, fun athletic wear, and possibly a cloth diaper or two!
If you know me then you know I LOVE a good color block pattern, and a pattern that has a TON of options PLUS color blocking is just IRRESISTABLE!!! 😍😍 Why am I obsessed with colorblocking you might ask? Well it's because it allows me to use up some of my beloved scraps that I've been hoarding saving. Plus having 4 boys that tend to get jealous if mom makes something for one of them and not the others I LOVE getting to mix things up to customize their makes based on their intrests and yet they are still "matchy". Ohh and it makes laundry WAY EASIER 🤣🤣
EVERY SINGLE Petite Stitchery & Co pattern I've gotten has completely BLOWN ME AWAY with all the options they contain. I mean what kind of magic do they put into their patterns? You buy one pattern and end up with at least 3?!?!? 🤯🤯🤯 That's why when I saw they were releasing a sweatpant pattern I knew it was going to be EPIC!!!
I snagged a copy of the pattern in kids size and shopped my stash looking for the PERFECT fabric.... My eyes instantly landed on this AMAZING Burnout Sweater Knit I snagged a while back and a vision started to form! I was hoping that I would have enough of this fabric to make each of my guys a pair of sweats from it each with a different color block option. I had some Navy*, Mustard*, and Heathered Olive* French Terry scraps and got to work!
Right as I was about to cut into my fabric I realized I haven't made pants for the boys in a few months so it might be good to check their inseam lengths to be sure I was making the correct size. I am SO GLAD I did too, because not only did they ALL go up a size, but my younger middle guy went up TWO!!!! 😲😲 Because of that I came up a little shy on the burnout, but decided since I was just making little man a basic non color blocked one that I would use some of the Ash Grey French Terry I snagged before it went out of stock, and since it was the same fabric I used for the other guys' waistbands and cuffs it would still kind of coordinate 🤷♀️
The pattern comes with both zipper pockets, and inseam pockets, or you can choose to do no pockets (but I NEVER recommend to forgo pockets because who doesn't LOVE pockets?). You can also choose to finish off the legs of your sweats with a cuff or elastic If that isn't enough for you, there is also the option to add a drawstring to the waistband!! 🤯 Ohh and did I mention not only can you do plain sweats, but you can choose to do single color block, symmetrical color blocking, asymmetrical color blocking, and you can even color block the bottom.... With all those options there is an ENDLESS variety of versions you could make with this pattern!!!
Look how PERFECT they paired with the Yoda One for Me* Ragtag Raglans* I made for them a few weeks back 😍😍😍😍
So what are you waiting for??? Go grab your copy of this AMAZING pattern and make some of the coziest, comfiest, most awesome sweats EVER!! 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Ohh and did I mention that it comes in Adult* and Kids* sizes?? Why should the kiddos get all this comfy amazingness? Hubby has already requested a pair, and you best believe I am going to be living in these.... best part I would totally rock these to a playdate or grocery pickup and not even bat an eye 😍😍
What option of the Sunny's will you make first?
xoxo- Melissa 😘
*This blog contains some affilate links. If you have been inspired by my makes and would like to create one of your own, using my links don't cost anything extra. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I might recieve a small commission to help support my sewing/fabric addiction 💕
]]>I’m a stay at home mom to three lovely children Brennan, Ava, and Reed and my wonderful husband Blake. I use to work as a pharmaceutical sales representative until after Ava was born. We live in the small town of Mountainburg, Arkansas where we get to have chickens, cows, goats, dogs, and a cat. My daughter really wants a horse next!
I learned to sew some in home ec at school. After Ava was born I wanted to buy her all the super cute dresses, but couldn’t justify paying what it cost for her to wear them for such a short term. That’s when I got my sewing machine out and started making clothes for her. I learned so many sewing techniques following the tutorials that came with PDF patterns. A little after that I started making clothes for me. We are both very petite and have a hard time finding ready to wear clothes that fit properly. Now I sew for my whole family except my husband. I love looking and feeling the fabric and making beautiful outfits. I also love taking pictures of my little ones. One thing I love about sewing is getting to use my creativity, and learning different ways to make things. This year I’d like to improve on making swimsuits and leotards. My favorite thing about Ash & Elm is they offer unique prints and can make them on multiple bases. Depending on the pattern sometimes I need a certain type of knit or woven and now I’m not stuck only using that print for a very specific pattern.
We’ll, that’s enough about me. I can’t wait to show you my makes for 2022 and hope they inspire you.
I HATE that I've had to reject two challenges so far, but in all honesty the fact that I've sewn something up every week for this challenge is better than I have EVER done! And I do need to cut myself some slack because I have accepted 3/4ths of the challenges so far 💕
My original plan was to make these Fabric Boxes from Make It Love It to help me better organize my scrap stash, but again life got in the way. Remember all those deadlines I mentioned last week? Well I did a VERY poor job of scheduling and needed to sew up 2 sew-alongs, 6 tester patterns, and 2 strike fabrics this week on top of finishing up my Spring mini capsule 😰 So instead of sewing up these CUTE storage boxes to help organize my space better I decided to sew up the Stitch Upon a Time Ursula Leggings and the Calista Bra, Top, Tunic and Dress!
While the makes didn't meet the challenge requirements they did challenge me so I still count it as a WIN! Now when I say they challenged me, I don't mean they were tricky patterns to sew, but rather the forced me to step outside of my comfort zone a bit. The Ursula Leggings made me step outside of my comfort zone when it came to fabric.... I usually only wear black or gray leggings because well they go with EVERYTHING! So when it came time to decide what fabric to use when making my Ursula's I of course gravitated to darker colors. My legs are WHITE so using pale colors isn't usually flattering, but when I laid eyes on this GORGEOUS Faux Glitter Tie Dye* I had printed on our FABULOUS Luxe DBP I KNEW I NEEDED leggings from it!! 😍😍 I decided to just go with the shorts version and added in the tulip skirt for a cute detail. Will it pair with everything in my closet? NOPE, BUT I have a bunch of tops I can wear it with, and it is going to be absolutely PERFECT for summer time!! After making these and trying them on I have also decided that this is my DREAM swim suit bottom!! 👙
The Calista though made me step WAY outside of my comfort zone.... To put it simply I HATE straps!!!! It seems like EVERY time I sew something with straps it's a catastrophic failure, but when I saw the strappy back version of the Calista I fell in LOVE and knew I had to try it. 😬 I am SO GLAD I did too because this pattern was SUPER easy to sew up, and the straps were by far the easiest I've ever made!! 😍😍
I did, however, run into a few problems with this make because the pattern calls for 1" fold over elastic and I only had 1/2" on hand so when it came to binding everything I had a heck of a time. I really DO NOT recommend using 1/2" FOE for this pattern. 😥 I was able to get it all finished though and WOW do I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!! I added the tunic length bottom piece to turn it into something I could show off while wearing because this Stripped Bird Splatter* NEEDS to be seen 😍😍😍 This top isn't just GORGEOUS though.... it's COMFY!!! I had this printed on our Luxe Double Brushed Poly Base and WOW is it SOFT, and the recovery definitely holds it's own when faced up against gravity 😜
Are you wanting to sew up a FABULOUS pair of Ursula Leggings or an GORGEOUS Calista Bra, Top, Tunic, and Dress of your own? Well snag the patterns here:
Ursula Leggings
Calista Bra, Top, Tunic, and Dress
Then head on over to our Sew-Along Facebook Group or our YouTube Channel to sew these AMAZING patterns up with me 💕💕
What did you sew up for your 52 Week Sewing Challenge entry this week?
xoxo- Melissa 😘
*This blog contains some affilate links. If you have been inspired by my makes and would like to create one of your own, using my links don't cost anything extra. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I might recieve a small commission to help support my sewing/fabric addiction 💕
]]>I’m so excited to share with you a little more about myself as part of the Ash & Elm Strike Team. I live in Southeast Wisconsin which means right now we’re in the middle of winter and it is COLD here. So you won’t see many outside pictures of me unless there is a day where the snow is too pretty to resist. I’m a mom of two, and I’m sure you’ve seen me sew for my littles a time or two. In addition to sewing I’m currently finishing school to become a Medical Coder, and I work in the cafeteria at my kids’ school which I love. Yes, I’m really a lunch lady! LOL In the colder months I am on a bowling team every other Friday, and in the summer I play on a bags (cornhole) league with my bestie and sometimes join in on some sand volleyball leagues.
I started sewing when I was pretty young. I don’t remember exactly when, but I know it was grade school age. I do remember making my first wearable garment in 7th grade with just a little bit of my mom’s help. But other than the small home economics classes, I didn’t sew again until I decided I needed to make my own homecoming dress sophomore year of high school. Later on in high school I took sewing as an elective my junior and senior years. This is where I learned how to use a serger and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Then after high school I only sewed on and off until I had my daughter in 2014. At that time I was really into baby wearing so I started a business selling diaper clutches that attached to the waistband of your soft structured carriers. I didn’t venture into knit fabrics until late 2016 when I wanted to make some sleep gowns for my cousin who was having twins. After that, I went down the rabbit hole of sewing clothing and have never looked back.
2021 was a very busy year for me so my goal for 2022 is to sew more once I finish school in May. I have so many inspiration ideas that I just haven’t had the time to bring to life. I also want to add more items to my website (www.clothesbylo.net) because I love making unique pieces for other people to enjoy too.
I fell in love with A&E as soon as I saw the original Emi Stripe fabric back when they were Aurora Designs. In my mind, it was absolutely PERFECT. Then I realized that Brandi sold panels too. My first one I purchased was “I’m Feelin’ Willie Friggin’ Patriotic” and since then I’ve purchased and sewn so many more! I especially love that there are so many fabric bases to choose from now. Next on my list is to have some printed on the rib knit. I joined the strike team when Ash & Elm released the Better Together collection and to this day it’s an outfit I’m most proud of. I can’t wait to see what new prints and panels Brandi will be bringing us next, but hopefully the team and I can give you some inspiration for them.
Happy Sewing!
]]>Originally I was planning on sewing up the first pattern I ever made.... The Jolly Roger Raglan from Patterns for Pirates*. I made this pattern for my oldests 5th birthday using a Paw Patrol Quilted Cotton mixed with a cheap mystery knit I had grabbed from Joannes. I thought it would make such an AWESOME look how much I've grown on my sewing journey piece! 😍😍
One I sat down to start planning out my make though I realized I had a BUNCH of deadlines all due the next week and if I didn't get started on them I was going to be in BIG TROUBLE!! So instead of adding another make to my already huge to-do list I decided to just use this weeks Sew-Along make as my challenge piece. 💕
I set to work making the Sinclair Patterns Valley Knit Skater Dress and as I was finishing up I realized that while my original plan wasn't going to work out, this make actually still qualified as a challenge accepted because I had just made this pattern the day before for my Spring Capsule!!!
There were some differences in the two makes, but I think it still counts as it's the same pattern! For my capsule make I used some LUXURIOUS Stretch Corduroy* and made a short sleeve peplum length skater dress with added lace detail, and for my Challenge/Sew-Along make I used some of our GLORIOUS French Terry* and Double Brushed Poly* and made my valley knit skater dress length with long sleeves and POCKETS! 😍😍
It turns out that while I wasn't able to do a "Hey look how I've grown" comparrison that instead I am able to show how AMAZING this pattern is!! It is super versatile and the BEST part is that it's FREE!!! 😲😲😲
If you are interested in sewing up your own Sinclair Patterns Valley Knit Skater Dress you can snag a copy of the pattern HERE and then head on over to our Sew-Along group or our YouTube Channel to watch the sew-along videos and sew this AMAZING pattern up with me!!
What did you sew up for this weeks 52 Week Sewing Challenge?
xoxo- Melissa 😘
*This blog contains some affilate links. If you have been inspired by my makes and would like to create one of your own, using my links don't cost anything extra. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I might recieve a small commission to help support my sewing/fabric addiction 💕
]]>This week we were challenged to sew something with a heart and I decided to take it one step further and instead of just sewing something with heart fabric I would sew something with a heart CUT-OUT!!!
I've seen a ton of ADORABLE pics of the Simple Life Isla Infinity Tunic and Dress and fell head over heels in LOVE with how CUTE it is!!! Only problem.... I don't have anyone to sew it for 😫 Having 4 boys is absolultely AMAZING, but it makes it difficult to sew up all the frilly sweet dresses. That's why when I saw this weeks challenge I knew IMMEDIATELY what I was going to sew up. I don't care that I don't have anyone in mind for it right now, I know that eventually the rightful owner of this dress will make themselves know 💕 So, I grabbed some PHENOMENAL Silver Faux Glitter* printed on Crushed Velvet and some FANTASTIC Buffalo Plaid Snowflakes* printed on French Terry and got to work!!! 💪
While the heart cut-out on this pattern really takes this dress to the next level. I was super nervous about it at first, but the instructions were FABULOUS and made the whole process super easy and stress free! I did make one mistake with this dress though. When attaching the top to the skirt I over second guessed myself and instead of attaching it right sides together like I KNOW I'm supposed to, I attached the bodice wrong side to the right side of the skirt. 🤦♀️
Because of that mistake the dress is ALMOST perfect.... When I seam ripped the bodice to reattach it I was kind of frustrated and didn't quarter it like I should of and so theres a bit of extra fabric on the back bodice causing some wrinkling, but all in all I LOVE this project!!! Not only was the crushed velvet AMAZING to sew with, but because it has a shimmer to it it really made the faux glitter look MIND BLOWINGLY real 😍😍😍😍
Did you make something for this weeks challenge? I'd LOVE to see your creation! If you are wanting to sew up the Simple Life Isla Infinity Tunic and Dress with me, then head on over to the Sew Along with Ash and Elm Facebook Group or our YouTube Channel to find all the videos 💕
xoxo- Melissa 😘
*This blog contains some affilate links. If you have been inspired by my make and would like to create one of your own, using my links don't cost anything extra and they just help show a little love and support to my sewing/fabric addiction 💕
]]>I grew up watching my Mom sew. To this day, the sound of sewing scissors cutting on a wooden table immediately takes me back to my childhood and brings to memory my Mom cutting out her next sewing project on the kitchen table. She taught me to sew when I was young, and I fell in love with sewing from my very first project.
Nearly 3 years ago, I got my first serger, started pattern testing, started strike-off sewing, and got my first DSLR camera to photograph my makes. It has been an amazing journey, and I have discovered that I love contributing to the sewing community, finding a creative outlet, and sewing the wardrobes of my five children.
This year my sewing goal is to make those things that I hate shopping for. Jeans and a swimsuit are at the top of that list! Here’s hoping I like what I make and don’t have to go shopping!
]]>I've recently come to the conclusion that red might be my color, so when I saw this weeks challenge I was super excited to make something special. When I sat down to try and come up with a plan for this week though my brain went COMPLETELY BLANK 😱 Now in my defense I am still SUPER SICK and just getting out of bed was a challenge for me this week, so trying to plan out and sew up a project was a bit more of a struggle than I would of liked.
Laying in bed trying to get up the motivation to go out and sew something for this week I was scrolling Facebook and came across the AMAZING Tristyn Leggings from Petite Stitchery & Co* I INSTANTLY knew what I NEEDED to make this week!!! I fell in LOVE with the moto and colorblock options included in this pattern, and when I saw that it doesn't have a front seam I finally was struck with the motivation I had been lacking!!
Now comes the tricky part.... I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to make these using the Mountain Design on Shadow Grey Camo* printed on some FABULOUS Luxe DBP, but this weeks challenge said to sew something red 😫 Thanks to being sick my creativity wasn't running at full capacity and after about an hour of staring at my fabrics I was about to give up and admit defeat. Thankfully right before I threw in the towel hubby came in to check on me and was able to help guide me to the PERFECT combination that allowed me to use the fabric I wanted to AND still be able to accept this weeks challenge!! 💕💕
So I went to work using some Merlot dbp (it's in the red family so it totally counts 🤣) to create the moto patches for my new AMAZING leggings!!! My brain felt like it was stuffed with cotton so I made PLENTY of mistakes on this make, but even so they are the COMFIEST pair of leggings EVER!!! The fit is AMAZING.... I didn't even have to add elastic to the waistband and am able to wear them all day without worrying about them slipping down at all 😍😍😍
Ohh before I go I just need to add one more thing.... I LOVE LUXE DBP!!!! I know I've shared my admiration for this GLORIOUS base before, but I just can't help myself. If you LOVE how soft DBP is, but HATE sewing it as much as I do than you definitely need to get your hands on some Luxe! My machines ADORE it, and I ADORE how buttery soft it is. 🥰🥰
So what do you think does this make count as a Challenge Accepted? 🤔
xoxo- Melissa 😘
*This blog contains some affilate links. If you have been inspired by my make and would like to create one of your own, using my links don't cost anything extra and they just help show a little love and support to my sewing/fabric addiction 💕
]]>I had every intention of making an AWESOME cushion using this pattern from Dhurata Davies, but sadly between being INCREDIBLY sick and having no extra energy I just couldn't bring myself to add another project to my list. 😫 I DEFINITELY plan on making one soon though because it looks like an AMAZING pattern, but for my week 4 challenge I decided that I was going to stick with my Sew-Along make for the week.... The Agility Tank from 5 out of 4 Patterns 😍😍😍
I have been wanting to sew this pattern up for a VERY long time, but between the built in sports bra, and the binding it was a bit intimidating. I've always LOVED the look, but just wasn't confident with my skills or to be honest that it would be able to support me the way I prefer. Like I've been saying for a while now, though, I am NOT letting fear hold me back this year and decided what better time than now to give it a go.
Not only was this pattern WAY EASIER than I had expected it to be, but it is SO CUTE and fits PERFECTLY!! I felt confident wearing this without any extra support, and after adding 3" to the length absolutley LOVE everything about it. In fact I plan on making about a dozen more because I will be LIVING in this top All.Summer.Long!! 😎🌞😎
I mean how GORGEOUS is this???? I used some of our PHENOMENAL Luxe Double Brushed Poly in the Boho Queen Watercolor Butterflies* and can I just say not only is it one of the COMFIEST shirts I've ever owned, but sewing it up was an absolute DREAM 😍😍😍 Because it's a thicker base my machine LOVED it and even on the binding didn't even put up a struggle!!! If you love the feel of DBP, but HATE sewing it then you NEED to try this Luxe.... I warn you though, once you get your hands on it you will never want to go back to regular DBP!!
So I guess all things considered to say that I was dissapointed in not completing this weeks challenge would be inaccurate. I am EXTREMELY happy with my new tank and that I FINALLY sewed up this AMAZING pattern. I have absolutely NO REGRETS with this weeks challenge and am looking forward to seeing where the rest of the year takes me now that I have my first rejected challenge out of the way 😅
xoxo- Melissa 😘
*This blog contains some affilate links. If you have been inspired by my make and would like to create one of your own, using my links don't cost anything extra and they just help show a little love and support to my sewing/fabric addiction 💕
]]>I’m Angel. A stay at home mom of 3. Sewing, gardening and crafting are my favorite hobbies.
I’ve been a part of Ash and Elm’s strike team for about a year. When I discovered Ash and Elm their unique designs and awesome panels drew me in. I love that they do in house printing and are family ran. Ash and Elm really has it all, custom fabric, panels, non-custom fabric and sewing notions. It’s a company I really take pride in being a part of.
I learned how to sew after I was gifted a singer sewing machine as an early Christmas present. I was a new mom and had just moved 2500 miles away from WA state to TX state. I grew up in Washington and left my family and friends behind so to say I was bored and antsy living in a rural town is an understatement. My husbands grandma taught me the basics like how to thread the machine, wind the bobbins and I took off from there.
I started out sewing bows and then moved on to baby shoes and knit fabrics. I opened up an online boutique selling my handmade baby leather shoes, clothing items and accessories. That was fun for about 3ish years and then when I got pregnant with my 2nd child I closed shop to focus on my son and new arrival.
After having my daughter I joined the testing world and then a short time after the strike world and never looked back. Sewing for me is relaxing. It’s so satisfying to be able to create something from nothing. I sewed for probably 6 years before I ever attempted to sew anything for myself. I’m not sure why but the thought of sewing adult patterns scared me. I love that I can grade patterns to fit my short 5’1 height and always have a great fit.
I’m super excited to be apart of the Ash and Elm team this year and can’t wait to see what 2022 has to bring!
]]>The Ellie & Mac Duchess Jacket* has been on my dream sewing list for a VERY long time, but I was SUPER INTIMIDATED by it.... It's a GORGEOUS pattern and every single make I've seen someone share of it made my jaw drop. I always thought they must have some special sewing magic I don't know about to make something THAT AMAZING!!!
In 2022 though my new mantra is to not let fear hold me back, so I decided to put on my big girl panties and I was going to sew this jacket up if it was the last thing I did!!!!
I grabbed some of our GORGEOUS Emi Stripes* sat down at my machine and was prepared for a standoff.... 🤯WOW 🤯I can not tell you how glad I am that I finally took the leap to make this FABULOUS pattern!!!! Not only was it WAY EASIER than I ever expected it to be, but the fit is beyond PERFECT!!!!!! Is it a SUPER fancy coat that I have no where to wear it too.... YUP! Am I going to rock this jacket every single time I leave the house no matter if I'm going out to eat or to the grocery store.... YUP!
It not only looks BEYOND AMAZING, but knowing that I made it fills me with so much confidence and joy that I don't ever want to take it off!! 😍😍😍 Once piece of advice.... STOP LETTING FEAR HOLD YOU BACK!!! Take the leap and try sewing up that pattern you've been drooling over for years.... chances are you will blow your mind at the AWESOME things you can accomplish.
Did you accept this weeks sewing challenge? I'd LOVE to hear what you made!
xoxo- Melissa 😘
*This blog conatins affiliate links. Using them doesn't cost you anything extra, but if my make inspired you to make a purchase I might get a small kickback! Thank you so much for your support 💕
]]>This weeks challenge was to sew something with a button or a zipper. While I have sewn items with buttons and zippers I decided to take it one step further and sew a zip-up hoodie with a seperating zipper 😲
A few months ago someone in our Ash and Elm Facebook Group asked if I could do a tutorial on the zipper portion of the Greenstyle Creations Lumia Zip-Up Hoodie and I thought why just do a tutorial on the zipper, lets do a sew-along for the whole thing!! So all week over in the Sew-Along with Ash and Elm Facebook Group we've been working on creating our Lumias and I LOVE how it turned out so much!!!
There was a LOT of sewing around the zipper, but it makes sense because you don't want your seams to rip and the zipper to start falling out 😱 Other than that though the instructions are AMAZING and I was shocked at how easy it all went together! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the higher neck, and the colorblocking pieces with piping really make this pattern stand out!! Umm and the pockets 😍😍😍😍 not only are they SUPER EASY to sew, but they are PERFECT!!! Perfect height, perfect width, perfect snack storage I mean I don't think pockets can get much better than these! 💕💕
For future makes on this one I probably wouldn't do the thumbhole cuffs, or I would at least make sure I used a fabric with better recovery, and I would personally add a couple of inches in length. I'm 5'7 and wear A LOT of leggings, so having tops that cover my bum is pretty important 🤣 This fit perfectly at the hips like it should I just would prefer a little extra.
If you are interested in making your own Greenstyle Creations Lumia Zip-Up Hoodie you can find all the step by step sew-along videos on our new YouTube Channel!!!
Did you sew-along accept this weeks sewing challenge? I'd LOVE to hear what you made!
xoxo-Melissa 😘
One of the biggest steps to make in starting a new hobby is to.... well START! When first getting into sewing it can be overwhelming to see all the different options for machines out there.... Sewing, Embroidery, Overlock, Coverstitch, Lockstitch, Chain Stitch, Industrial, Longarm 🤯 It can all get overwhelming, and that's not even factoring in all the different types of fabrics and notions out there.
@mcumings Let’s be FRIENDS!! 💕💕 #sew #sewing #sewingtiktok #sewingforyoupage #sewingblogger #sewingmachine #friends ♬ Original sound mattmellish - Jocelyn
That's why for the next few weeks we want to help everyone, whether you are just getting started or are a seasoned pro, learn more about some of the most common machines we use when making garments.
The VERY first step I recommend is to take it out of the box!!!! I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say they have a serger but they are too scared to take it out of the box. 😔 Just remember that it is a machine that will help you with your sewing techniques and that it might take a bit of prep to make sure it runs smoothly, but if you treat your serger with kindness making sure it stays clean and listening to it when it starts to tell you something is wrong, than you will find it will become one of your most loved machines in your collection!!
Because there are so many different brands of machines out there and they each have different methods for threading etc we really recommend making sure you read through your manual before starting your relationship with your new machine. It is especially important to read the manual for your serger/overlocker because you need to thread them in a very particular order. If you miss a step or do something out of order your machine will not stitch. When I was first starting on my serger I could never remember what went when, so I actually wrote on my machine using a sharpie the number order each spool needed to be threaded in!
Your serger/overlocker will have a space for 4 threads, a lower looper, and upper looper, and a left and right needle. It is very important that each of these are balanced correctly or you will have issues with skipped stitches, bunched stitches, or even worse no stitches at all. 😫
That's why the next thing I would really recomend doing is to find the perfect tension for the fabric you will use most often on your serger. This is a great step to do with every new machine you get as each machine (even if they are the same brand and same model number) has it's own preference. I use a LOT of French Terry, so I went through and found my ideal tension using a scrap of French Terry, but this method will work no matter what fabric base you prefer.
Now that you have your ideal tension, the next thing I am going to recommend today is that you find and mark the different seam allowances on your machine. Starting at the needle place a ruler underneath. Make sure the end of the ruler is positioned underneath the left needle and then mark seam lengths from that position. I find that most patterns use either 1/4, 3/8 or 1/2 seam allowances so those are the ones that I have marked on my machine! I definitely recommend this step because not only does it make for a handy guide while sewing, but I find that it helps me keep my stitches straighter.
The last thing I want to mention with your serger is to make sure you give it a good cleaning! In between each project open up the cover where the looper threads go and just give it a bit of a dusting and brush it out with your machine brush or a makeup brush. I would also recommend opening the back of the machine and giving that a good cleaning at least once every couple of months. If you sew quite a bit, or you made a project using especially fluffy or linty fabrics (think minky, fleece, velvet etc) than you are going to want to do this at least once a month or after sewing with those messier fabrics.
@mcumings Those scissors were missing for WEEKS!! 😵 Duet and show your machine 💕 #sew #sewing #sewingtiktok #sewingforyoupage #sewingmachine #ashandelmlimited ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
Well that's the basics to get started with your serger!! Starting next week we will delve a little deeper into a few different techniques you can use your serger for so stay tuned!!
xoxo- Melissa 😘
]]>Hi Im Kendel im a married Mom of 3 beautiful girls and I work full-time outside the home.
If you haven't heard of it yet, it's an AWESOME group where every week sewists are given a challenge that helps to encourage and inspire us to try something new that maybe we wouldn't of thought of doing! You can either accept or reject each weeks challenge and then share your makes with the group to help inspire other sewists and be entered to win an AWESOME monthly prize package!! This year the Ash and Elm team has decided to accept the challenge and will be sharing our journey each week! 😄
This weeks challenge was to sew your oldest or newest fabric, and I decided to take it one step further by sewing up BOTH my NEWEST and OLDEST Ash & Elm fabrics!
I've been wanting to sew up the newest versions of the Peg Legs from Patterns for Pirates* since they were released, but to be completely honest I was VERY HESITANT about it. The Peg Legs were one of the first patterns I sewed up when I was starting my garment sewing journey, and they just weren't love 😭 I had used some clearance fabric I found at a craft store, and it didn't have the kind of recovery that leggings need so instead of being a comfortable fit that I could wear throughout the day, by lunchtime they were saggy around the knees and the waistband would be down to my ankles if I even thought about walking anywhere 😱 I have to say though I am VERY pleasantly surprised at how AMAZING the updated pattern is!!!
Not only did these stay up, but they felt FABULOUS ALL.DAY.LONG!!!! No sagging, no falling, just bliss 😍😍😍 I think fabric choice plays a HUGE role in the fit and quality of leggings, so I decided to try using some Luxe DBP and let me just say not only does it feel like I'm walking around in a fluffy cloud all day, but the recovery of the fabric is so FANTASTIC that it gave a bit of the compression that I prefer in my leggings, without feeling tight!! It was GLORIOUS to work with too!!! Because it's a bit thicker it doesn't stretch out when sewing like typical DBP does so my seams didn't get wavy and my machine absolutely LOVES it! 💕💕 I used the GORGEOUS Gray Geo Watercolor* to give this pair a pop of character and I am head over heels with how AMAZING they turned out!!!
@mcumings I’m LOVING these colorblocked Peg Legs from @patternsforpirates 😍😍😍 #sew #sewing #sewalong #sewingtiktok #sewingforyoupage #leggings #sewingblog ♬ Who Is She - Qveen Herby
What do you think? Have you tried sewing up the newest versions of the Peg Legs from Patterns for Pirates?
If you are interested in sewing through the 52 Week Sewing Challenge with us, you can find the group with all the challenges and info HERE. If you are looking for a little extra motivation and inspiration on what to sew up each week, come join us in our Sew-Along Facebook group. Each week we are sewing up a different pattern inspired by the challenge and will be offering prizes and discount codes throughout the year as well!! 😍
xoxo- Melissa 😘
*There are some affiliate links in this blog. Using them doesn't cost you anything extra, and I might recieve a small comission if you decide to make a purchase 💕
]]>One of the biggest steps to make in starting a new hobby is to.... well START! When first getting into sewing it can be overwhelming to see all the different options for machines out there.... Sewing, Embroidery, Overlock, Coverstitch, Lockstitch, Chain Stitch, Industrial, Longarm 🤯 It can all get overwhelming, and that's not even factoring in all the different types of fabrics and notions out there!!!
@mcumings Let’s be FRIENDS!! 💕💕 ##sew ##sewing ##sewingtiktok ##sewingforyoupage ##sewingblogger ##sewingmachine ##friends
♬ Original sound mattmellish - Jocelyn
That's why for the next few weeks we want to help everyone, whether you are just getting started or are a seasoned pro, learn more about some of the most common machines we use when making garments. Because there are so many different brands of machines out there and they each have different methods for threading etc we really recommend making sure you read through your manual before starting your relationship with your new machine.
Now that you've read through your manual and learned how to thread your machine and some of the basics I'm sure you are eager to start your first project. Before you do though I really recommend that you learn more about the different stitches your machine can do and which ones will be appropriate for what projects.
Basic Straight Stitch: A basic straight stitch is going to be your go to stitch for quilting and working with non-stretch fabrics. Most machines give a few different options for a straight stitch that allows you change the needle position to accomidate different seam allowances.
Stretch Stitch: Otherwise known as a Triple Straight Stitch, this is going to be your go to stitch when working with knits and fabrics that have stretch and need the thread to move with them without popping. Best for using on fabrics that are more heavy weight as you are puncturing the fabric 3 times in the same area which can cause holes on lighterweight fabrics.
Zigzag Stitch: If your machine doesn't have stretch stitches built into in have no fear you can still sew with knits and stretch fabric, you are just going to want to use a zigzag stitch to make sure your threads can move with the garments without popping.
Lightning Stitch: This stitch is very similar to a zigzag stitch, but it is more narrow and straighter so it prevents the pucker that you tend to see when using a zigzag stitch.
We will get more into different types of stitches and what they are good for later this year, but for now these are the main stitches you need to know what starting your sewing journey!
Next we need to talk about different sewing feet. You will need to use different feet based on the project and fabric you are working with. Your sewing machine should of come with a few different basic feet that we will discuss in this blog, but over your sewing journey you are sure to collect a ton more and we will get into those at a later date.
All Purpose Sewing Foot: This is the foot you will use most of the time, and the one that was already installed on your machine when you took it out of the box. This foot helps guide your fabric over the feed dogs. It will be the foot you use when constructing or hemming a project.
Buttonhole Foot: There are a couple of different kinds of buttonhole feet, automatic and manual. With an automatic buttonhole foot you simply place the button in the back of the foot select a buttonhole stitch and your machine will take care of the rest of the work. With a manual buttonhole foot you need to place precise marks of where your buttonhole needs to begin and end and then use your stitch to create the buttonhole, remembering to leave a small space between the two sides of stitching to cut for the actual buttonhole.
Button Foot: This is a handy little foot if you are wanting to attach your buttons by machine. Line the button holes up so that the space between holes is in the middle of the foot, there's usually an indicator mark to help guide you, select a button stitch, adjust the width of your stitch to match the width of the distance between the holes on your buttons, and then give it a couple of hand cranks to make sure it is accurate before letting your machine take over.
Zipper Foot: This foot is a life saver when it comes to adding zippers to a project. Attach it to your machine to allow your needle to get as close to the zipper edge as possible. If attaching a zipper is intimidating to you keep an eye out later for an awesome blog with some zipper tips and techniques to help you out! The biggest advice I have with zippers though is take your time.... go slow and pin as much as possible to help keep everything in place.
My last bit of advice when it comes to starting your sewing journey is to just have fun, be patient, and give yourself lots of grace! Sewing isn't something you are going to be perfect at.... EVER!! You will ALWAYS be learning new techniques, finding new projects, and experimenting with things you have perfected to see if you can make them better. EVERY project is an experience and you will learn more from your mistakes every single time. Just because a project didn't turn out the way you expected it to doesn't mean that it was a waste of fabric or time, just remember you can always repurpose mistakes into something new! 💕
xoxo- Melissa 😘
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Do you have any New Years reSEWlutions??
Mine are:
With the new year, there are some big changes coming this next year and we are VERY EXCITED to share them with you all! Keep an eye out 👀 in the coming weeks for more details, but one thing I wanted to let you know about is that we will be going from a daily blog to posting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.It was an AWESOME experience sharing my sewing journey with you the past couple of weeks, but I think I might of been a bit overly ambitious.😬 Between homeschooling, running weekly sew-alongs, helping out on our homestead, and well life in general, it was all getting a bit overwhelming so after thinking about it for a bit I decided that maybe reining it in a bit would be a good idea. 🤣
I have an AWESOME line up of blogs I want to cover, next year will be filled with all kinds of Tips, Tricks, and sewing galore! I am especially EXCITED because this year we are going to try and follow along with the 52 week sewing challenge!! If you haven't heard about it yet check out the Facebook Group HERE. This years list is filled with things I have on my sewing bucket list so I can not wait to start tackling it with you! 💕We will also be sewing them up in our sew-along group, so if you haven't joined us in there yet you are definitely going to want to! You can find the group HERE.
xoxo- Melissa 😘
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