Let's Have a Fiesta!!

 

 

It's a PARTY OF COLOR in the new Fiesta Collection from Michael Miller Fabrics! If you love bright and rich colors intermingled with intricate and inspired prints, this line will get your engines going!

 

 

I am really feeling this chocolate colorway! Create a rich new bedroom full of these gorgeous prints or decorate tables for a Cinco de Mayo party!

 

 

 

 

And of course these fabrics are awesome for creating bohemian handmade clothing! A tunic in one or two prints with accented with little embroidery floss made tassels would look fabulous over some skinny jeans and desert boots! Skirts and dresses will look amazing in these standout prints too.

 

 

 

 

Use these prints to make this cute and modern FREE QUILT PATTERN, Caja de Colores designed by Rob Appell. The brights against a light, neutral background really pops. But can you imagine how rich this would look with a chocolate background? Delicious!

 

 

Grab a few 1/2 yards of your favorites from the collection and create some cool, boho accessories for this Summer! You can keep your outfits simple and modern in clean neutrals and add fun pops of color with a few bold accessories! Make a cool fold over clutch with a print and a matching solid or two prints. Or create a fabric statement necklace! There are lots of fun fabric bauble diy's out there!

 

 

 

Recognize this adorable quilt design? We shared this exact design in cute Valentine's themed fabrics here and it was created by Tamara Kate! This is a really versatile quilt pattern and looks amazing in tons of different fabrics!

 

 

 

Now we have this amazing Eduardo print in all the colors and I'm SEW EXCITED about it. They are just so fresh and on trend and they can totally look modern and bohemian at the same time! I love these cool floor pillows made with burlap on the back and twine tassels!

 

 

 

What a festive table! Make a gorgeous table cloth and coordinating tablemats or cloth napkins and throw a dinner party to share a Farmer's Market haul this Summer! Or if you're a gardener, invite your neighbors over for a barbeque featuring your home grown grilled veggies and handmade décor!

Fiesta Forever is another fabulous Free Quilt Pattern designed by Heidi Pridemore! This quilt is super versatile that will look amazing in any collection you choose, but it's SO much fun in this line!

Get the party started this season with Fiesta!!

Happy Sewing!

Catch a Wave with Sea Buddies!

 

I feel like I'm on vacation just looking at these fun inspiration shots using NEW Sea Buddies fabrics from Michael Miller. Everything from the fish to the sea turtles to the umbrella stripes, these prints are cheery and happy and perfect for Summer!

 

 

 

Have you ever done this too a shirt? Its SEW easy! You can either print off the word you want to use with a thick font (in a REALLY large size) and trace them onto your fabric. Cut them out, pin them to the t-shirt and stitch around by hand or machine. Super simple and looks really cool!

 

 

 

These little patchwork shorts are just the sweetest!!! You could even work in some coordinating solids to add bigger pops of color!

 

Update your beach towels with a fun fabric stripe accent and maybe some cute pom poms! Cute new stuff can be made with very little fabric, just think outside the box!

 

 

 

 

 

But if you're wanting to go big and create an adorable sea themed quilt, there are 2 FREE PATTERNS you can download on the Michael Miller Fabrics website. Here and here.

 

Enjoy! And Happy Sewing!

New Art Gallery Fabrics for your New Look!!

It's the NEW YEAR and that means it's time for a new look! And whether you're ready to redo that wardrobe or update your boudoir, you'll find gorgeous prints and on-trend color palettes amongst our NEW ART GALLERY FABRICS COLLECTIONS!

  

 

 

 

   

   

 

One of my favorites, the stunning prints in Petal & Plume by Bari J. are bright, beautiful and perfect for new bedding or a few new wardrobe staples to start on for Spring! Make fast & flirty skirts to pair with neutral tops! 

 

 

 

   

 

Find even more of Bari's feminine florals & prints in Emmy Grace!

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

If your tastes run a little more natural, try Wild & Free Limited Edition prints by Maureen Cracknell. These repeats would be amazing for free spirited tunics, maxi skirts or breezy tops to pair with denim button ups or classic blue jeans & boots for a boho look that's all your own!

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Coral & Navy is a major color combo winner in my opinion and it's totally on trend this year! Pair an easy top made with one of these prints from RECollection by Katarina Roccella with some crisp white skinnies for a perfectly preppy outfit! Or create throw pillows and sheets to add some pop to your white linens!

 

 

Each of these beautiful & unique collections has a Look Book full of incredible inspiration available here! Take a look and get inspired to get creative in 2015!!

 

Happy Sewing!

Kiddo Leggings DIY for fun Riley Blake Knits!

 

I just found this super cute and Super Simple Leggings DIY for little one's on the MakeIt-LoveIt website! They do require a pair of ready-made leggings that fit your child already but you can find those for a few dollars at Target if you don't already have one and then you've got a pattern to make as many as you want! The rest of the tutorial is easy as cake and you only use 2 fabric pieces (click here for the full tutorial)!

 

 I think these would be SEW ADORABLE in some of our fun new Knit Fabrics from the cool kids over at Riley Blake Designs!

 

 

 

 

I AM IN LOVE with these Happy Flappers! Pretty much the cutest owl print I've seen in awhile and it's in a knit?? How did we get so lucky!! This would make some awesomely funky leggings to pair with colorful sweaters and cool boots this Fall & Winter!

 

 

 

    

 

These Elephant prints are pretty much perfect! Boys and girls will love these little creatures marching up their legs! Make a simple shirt with the same knit for a matching pair of comfy pj's!

 

 

 

 

This sweet ray dot knit would look super cute under any dress or skirt to keep your little one's legs warm! Polka dots are the perfect way to get a little interest without things getting too out there! I think I might even want some leggings out of this one! That tutorial is totally adaptable for adults, right? I've got a pair of worn leggings lying around somewhere...

 

 

 

    

 

AND if you're just wanting to create the ever-so-versatile pair of plain black (or navy) leggings, we've got the knits for that! Maybe after playing with this comfy fabric you'll be inspired to create 10 Minute Maxi Skirt for yourself?!

 

 

No matter what you want to make out of these comfy Knits, we just know you'll get addicted to sewing with them! There are a lot of tips and tricks out there for sewing with knit if you've never tried your hand at it before! Just do a quick search and add another type of fabric to your sewing repertoire!

 

Happy Sewing!!

Christmas Creating with Amy Butler!!

 

Looking for a fabulous collection of Organic Cotton's to create Christmas gifts? Try Amy Butler's new Forest Organics!! So delicious and soft! No matter what you make with these fabulous prints, friends and family will adore cuddling up next to these pretty fabrics!

 

 

 

 

Make some fancy quilted pillows for your friend's new couch or bedroom! Follow the design of a large scale print with your sewing machine for a fantastic finish!

 

 

 

 

Or maybe a simple throw quilt! You could use just a few fabrics to do a strip quilt with a fancy large scale print on the back! Or rock an easy patchwork design!

 

 

And let me just tell you, these fabrics are PERFECT for clothing! AND all of our Amy Butler patterns are on SALE!! Pick any print that you love and get cracking on a funky coat, simple skirt or a tunic!

 

So get that last minute of Christmas creating done with these perfect Organic Cottons!

 



Patterns for Life - Laurel Dress by Colette Patterns

 

I know you may not believe me when I say this...but there IS such a thing as a perfect pattern. What qualifies for such a lofty adjective you ask? Well here are my criteria for what makes a pattern, perfect!

 

1. It has well-written directions/easy to follow

2. It is fairly quick to create

3. It can be made in lots of fabrics for not a lot of fabric

4. Lots of potential customizations and easy-to-make adjustments

5. Actually fits (and FEELS GOOD to wear)

6. I want to make it again

 

 

And you guessed it...I'm here to show off a pattern that fits ALL those requirements! Incredible isn't it? Well I've learned to expect to incredible from the design mind behind Colette Patterns, Sarai Mitnick because every time this lady releases another pretty pattern, I'm just floored! It usually starts of like "How hasn't anyone designed THIS before?"...sometimes genius is found in utter simplicity and with the Laurel Dress, there's no exception. This super simple yet totally chic shift dress is THE DRESS that belongs in every woman's closet so its definitely a little shocking that it took until 2013 (believe me, CAROLINE AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YEARS) to get this perfect of a frock on the market...but I GUESS perfection can't be rushed!

 

All I'm saying is...this is the dress you can wear to any event, on any occasion, in any kind of fabric no matter what your body type!

 

 

Not only is it THE ONLY DRESS I've wanted to make in every one of my favorite fabrics (great for slashing your stash), but you can easily convert this design into a pretty and feminine blouse! 

See even more examples from their photoshoot here!

 

 

 

PLUS!! Sarai created this amazing and FREE bonus booklet with 9 different variations! The Extras Booklet is a totally free download (you don’t even need to buy the pattern), and includes a Basics sections with full instructions on making and using bias tape, plus photo-illustrated instructions for creating any of the variations you see, and even a few extra small pattern pieces to help! Here are some of my favorite variations!

 

 

 

 

As you know, if its an incredible new dress pattern, our girl Caroline will be the first to try it out! And she absolutely LOVED it!! She used a gorgeous hand painted print from Tangier Ikat by Dena Designs for Free Spirit Fabrics and my goodness, it came out totally gorgeous! Proof that you can go BIG with prints when creating Laurel, something Caroline was a little nervous about but totally got over once it was finished! I mean just look at that WOW of a dress! She had some adjustments to make for her figure (you can read about those here) but it was all super easy, looks amazing on her and its comfy to wear!

So, have I inspired you yet?? Seriously if you're not heading to the Cabbage Rose to pick out some new fabric and purchase this pattern RIGHT NOW, I don't know what you're doing with your life!! Okay that was a bit strong, but still! This dress is just dying to made a million different ways and get lots of wear in your wardrobe! Make it in a solid with a little extra detail if you can't see yourself making a dozen of them...you will get so much mileage out of a navy or black shift dress! Add a little ruffle detail to the neck and you fancy!

I'll be sharing another design that's knocking our socks off later this week so stay tuned and...
HAPPY SEWING!!