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I’m excited to participate in the Safari Party Blog tour today with a little sneak peek of my next pattern! This fabric by Melissa of the Polka Dot Chair is adorable! I had a tough time deciding between these green zebras or giraffes but I ultimately went with giraffes! Probably because they are GOLD!

This pattern is almost done, just adding a few last minute things and then it will be out! You can see a few details from the photos but I will share more soon!

I had fun styling this outfit with a sort of safari theme – leopard boots and a brown faux leather Fawn Design Bag. And ripped jeans to dress it down a bit.  You can’t tell from the photos but the background of the fabric is a soft herringbone pattern!

 

This fabric collection is super fun, zebras, giraffes, elephants, spots, and some cute floral coordinates!

See the whole collection here!

 

Stripes make me so happy! And so does brushed poly spandex! And fall weather! Happy happy happy! I love this fabric so much and knew it would be the perfect circle dress. I love how playful a stripe becomes with you cut out a circle skirt. For this one I added a bell wrist accent to make the sleeves longer and cozier and to give me another chance to play with the stripe a little!

This is the outfit you can make with a new *KIT* that just hit the shop! If you’re shopping US, you can purchase from my shop or international shipping on Etsy (they calculate shipping for me!). If you purchase on Etsy but want the flare wrist pattern, send me a quick etsy convo and I’ll get it to you!

The kit has a few options in case you already have the pattern! But every kit comes with the Wrist Flare Sleeve Pattern as a PDF download! It’s available in every Penelope Peplum size (XS-3XL).

***The Penelope Peplum Add-on now includes pieces for the circle skirts in sizes 2X and 3X!***

Materials//

–Penelope Peplum KIT with free wrist flare sleeve pattern

–Long Sleeve Download (free)

-white thread

Cut two donut shaped circles with the pattern download. This is a seamless sleeve accent, which makes it fast to sew on! It also means you have to sorta dig your scissors into the middle to get the center circle out, so you’ll want to make sure you are using sharp scissors.   

First, sew a loose basting stitch (about 4mm wide) around the outside of the circle, 1/4″ from the edge. This will just be stitching to help you ease the hem over. Tug on the threads just a little bit. This will help you ease the hem over. Circular hems can be a bit tricky to press without ease stitching. Press all the way around using the stitching as your guide. Then topstitch around the sleeve hem.

Match the inner circle to the raw edge of the sleeve’s wrist with right sides together. You’ll be putting a circle over a circle and then sewing all around. use lots of pins to keep everything in check! Sew it up and you’re done!

Outfit details:

Vegan leather booties //

Art Deco tights 

 

Here’s a little breakdown of what comes in each kit:

 

Just fabric!

• 3-4 yards fabric
• flare wrist pattern

This kit assumes you already have the Penelope Peplum and the Add-on pattern! You’ll get 3 or 4 yards of fabric (depending on your size) and an instant download for the wrist flare in sizes XS-3XL.

Fabric + Add-on!

• 3-4 yards fabric
• flare wrist pattern
• Add-on for the Penelope Peplum XS-3XL

This kit is for those with the Penelope Peplum pattern but without the Add-on! The Add-on now includes circle pieces for the 2XL and 3XL size range. You’ll get fabric, the add-on and the wrist flare pattern!

The Whole Shebang!

• 3-4 yards fabric
• flare wrist pattern
• Add-on for the Penelope Peplum XS-3XL
• The Penelope Peplum Original Pattern

This kit includes EVERYTHING to make the dress shown including all the pattern pieces and fabric!

 

Happy sewing!

I’m over at Gugu Guru today sharing a DIY crib sheet PLUS enter to win your own Colgate Infant/Toddler Mattress ($349 value) right here! 

Hi cute baby on a cute mattress! Mae has hit toddler stage (wahh!) and she’s really interactive and cute lately. And it helps that she’s sleeping better, so we’re all getting almost enough sleep these days!

Colgate sent their cute Monarch II to test out and we love it!   The coolest thing about this mattress is that it has 2 sides – one firmer for infants and one softer for toddlers – so it will keep your baby safe and comfy for years! It is a bit thicker than most crib mattresses and also fits into the crib snugly, which makes me feel better about crib safety. It’s a high quality mattress and you can tell from the moment you open the box!

It has a waterproof exterior that is also soft! Our old mattress had a plastic cover, which sounds nice but I was never sure about putting a baby straight on plastic. So the Monarch II keeps baby close to a soft exterior that is also waterproof!

I also love that the mattress is free from chemicals and made with natural ingredients. Only the best for sweet babies!

I love switching up the nursery decor and I always think of the crib as the center of the nursery. With this quick tutorial you can make a whole stack of sheets from your favorite fabrics and mix it up any time you want! And the best part is you only need 2 yards and 30 minutes!

Head over to learn how to make your own crib sheets! 

This post is sponsored by Fabric.com. 

PAPER BAG WAIST BABY BLOOMERS

Cue the ruffles! Baby bloomers just never get old! I love them in the summertime with a simple onesie and I love them in the winter with tights underneath! Classic and essential for any baby girl. I partnered with Fabric.com for this post because I love their selection of cottons. They have every single solid, every single floral and everything in between!

This pattern has a ruffle waist, like a paper bag waist and sweet little ruffles at the leg openings. They are balloony shorts that are easy to get on and off and perfect in colorful cottons. They are fast to sew, also, which makes them extra fun! You’ll be sewing them up assembly line style for baby gifts or your own baby! I included a modification to take out the ruffles and make simple shorts suitable for a little guy, too!

The onesie she’s wearing is a Ruffle Sleeve Onesie! I’m thrilled that she is finally growing out of it! Don’t you love her little belly chub?

 

Okay, okay, enough baby pics! Let’s get sewing!

Materials //

–paper bag bloomers PDF

• or PAPER BAG BABY BLOOMERS.svg (for cutting with the Cricut Maker)

–1/2″ elastic for waistband

–1/4″ elastic for leg openings

-1/2 yard Liberty Cotton Lawn or Riley Blake Dot + Swiss

• Tana Lawn Wild Flowers 
• Classic Tana Lana Mortimer Blue 
• Swiss & Dots Black
• Swiss & Dots White/Navy

 

Cut your elastic //

Waist: 14″-16″

Leg openings (2): 7″-9″

Your elastic length will depend on how chubby the baby! My little girl is little so I chose the lower end of each range.

Instructions //

Print the pattern pieces out at 100% (DO NOT SCALE!). They will print out on 3 pages. Trim the borders and tape together along the dotted lines. They will go together like this:

 

Cut 4 layers of cotton using pattern piece. If you’re using the Cricut Maker to cut the fabric, cut 2 layers as is and 2 layers “mirror image”.

 

Sew fronts together and sew backs together with right sides together.

 

Finish seam and press open.

Place the two pieces right sides together and sew the side and crotch seams. (3/8″ seam allowance) Finish seam allowance.

Fold over 2″ at the top of the bloomers. Press well.

Sew 1/2″ from the top of the bloomers, all the way around. Make a second stitch around 3/4″ from the first stitching line to create a casing for elastic. Leave a 1-2″ opening to thread the elastic through.

For a non-ruffle modification, create the casing using only 1 line of stitching 3/4″ from the top of the bloomers. This will take out the ruffle and make it a simple pair of gathered bloomers. Do the same for the leg openings.

Sew the ends of the elastic together, making sure it lays flat and isn’t twisted. Tuck the elastic into the casing and finish sewing the casing closed. Backstitch at each end.

Repeat to create casings at the leg openings. Fold under 1″ on each leg opening and press. Sew at 1/4″ and 3/4″ from the folded edge for the 1/4″ elastic casing. Sew elastic together and finish casing.

Repeat for second leg opening. Trim threads and you’re done!

 

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Fall sewing and fall fabric are giving me all the feels lately. I love layers and accessories and as much fabric as possible! Fall was made for new wardrobes! I made this crepey floral dress from the Zippy Top pattern. It’s super fast and easy and you can make it with either wovens or knits!

I made this a little shorter than a knee-length dress and a little longer than a tunic, intending to wear it with tights and boots all season. So here’s an easy gathered dress tutorial that starts with the Zippy crop top.

Outfit details:

-shoes: Rocket Dog Sayla

-shoulder bag: Nine West

I added an armband to this top, just like I did in this Tie Front Zippy hack.

Materials:
-2 yards crepe
-lightweight fusible interfacing
–the Zippy Top Pattern

I skipped the zipper for this one. The Zippy top‘s neckline is wide enough that you won’t need a closure to slip it over your head. The zipper is a fun decoration if you want one!

Instructions:

-Sew the Zippy Top crop top version and add arm bands (tutorial here) but do not sew the side seam or hem.

-Add skirt pieces! Measure the bottom of your crop top and multiply by 1.5. Measure from your waist to your knee (or wherever you want the dress to hit). Add seam allowance and hem to the number and that will be your length!

Cut two skirt pieces from those measurements. Baste along the top by sewing 2 lines of stitching at the longest stitch length. Sew 1/4″ from the top and 1/2″ from the top.

Pull the baste threads and gather the fabric until it matches the bottom of the top hem. Pin to the top hem with right sides together and sew.

Fold the dress over with right sides together and sew the side seams.

Hem your dress and you’re done!

More Zippy Hacks:

zippy top hack: front zipper tutorial

zippy top hack: gathered loose blouse

zippy top hack // decorative pocket tutorial

LITTLE ZIPPY pattern hack with gleeful fabrics

pattern fusion // the Zenelope Top

 

DIY Tie Front Top