Cozy Up to Fall EYMM Blog tour

Well...I've been horrible about blogging for awhile (like a year 😟) . You know life happened. But when I saw that EYMM was having another blog tour, I knew I had to jump on it and get back to my highly neglected blog. EYMM is by far one of my favorite pattern companies when it come to selfish sewing and simple, trendy pieces. So here I am to show you some amazing fall pieces of clothing and share a sale with you.  At the end of my post is a coupon code.  

Fall is by far my favorite season - the weather gets cooler, the leaves change, I can pull out my boots and sweaters and pumpkin spice EVERYTHING!  Thank goodness for cooler weather so I can wear sweaters to hide my overindulgence in pumpkin spice lattes.  Speaking of sweaters the first item I sewed was an All Seasons Cardigan   I’ve made a few of these in both child and adult sizes in many different types of knit.  It’s an easy pattern that goes together quickly with endless possibilities.  Available in sizes XS-5X with a hood option, length and sleeve options.  This beautiful burgundy hacci sweater knit came from Purple Seamstress. The weight is perfect to layer over a shirt for the chilly fall mornings.

Under my cardigan I layered a Piko top.   Again I’ve made quite a few of these.  I’ve found that the drapier the fabric the better the results.  This particular one is made out of the most beautiful soft bamboo fabric from Knitpop.  This is my first time using bamboo knit and I have found a new obsession.

I also made one out of double brushed poly to show the difference in drape.  I like this one also but it’s not quite as flowy as my bamboo Piko top.

Both versions are 3/4  sleeve) and the side tail hem.  There are two other hem options- regular and high low.  Short and long sleeve options are available also and the pattern is written for sizes XS-5X in addition there is a matching girls pattern. I didn’t make any adjustments to the length and you can see that it just covers your back side making it perfect for leggings.

Speaking of leggings- EYMM updated their Get Moving leggings and they are comfortable!  Three different waistband options are included regular, fold over and contour; six length options and 12 sizes.  Additionally as with all EYMM patterns there is a matching girls pattern.  I chose the contoured waistband which fit comfortably without giving me any muffin top.  A gusset piece is also included if you want to make exercise leggings.  Both the black and floral pair are made out of double brushed poly which is buttery soft.  The pattern is written for compression fabric but recommends to size up if you are using a different type of knit.  I followed this recommendation and had perfectly fitting leggings.

These three pieces are definitely going to be my momiform for this fall.  Our weather fluctuates like crazy this time of the year- from 30-80 degrees within a day so these layers are perfect for staying comfortable and looking good.
They’re also easy to wear and can be used to make a mini capsule wardrobe.  A chunky necklace or scarf would look cute with the black leggings and grey shirt.  The sweater and tops can also be worn with jeans.  There are lots of options making these pieces very versatile.

Make sure to stop by all the amazing stops on the Cozy Up to Fall Tour!! (Keep in mind that the links below won�t work until their scheduled date, but feel free to click through and check out their other blog posts anytime.)

Oct. 3 - Tour Kick-off at EYMM

Oct. 4 - Capture, Craft, and Cook and Boutique Birdie

Oct. 5 - Sprouting JubeJube and EYMM

Oct. 6 - Pretty and Precious�and House of Estrela

Oct. 7 - Analog Bytes and Connected By A Thread

Oct. 8 - Adventures With Bubba and Bug and With Love in Every Stitch�and Beri Bee Designs

Oct. 9 - Five Blessings and Lulu & Celeste�and�Creative Counselor

Oct. 10- Tour Roundup on EYMM

During the tour,�all featured patterns are on sale (save even more by buying the youth/adult bundles!) ...�the Four Seasons Cardigan (both women's and girl's), the Piko Top (both women's and girl's), and the Leggings Bundle ('Get Moving' Leggings for women and Jocelyn's Leggings for girls). Use coupon code FALL17 to save 30% off these 6 patterns and/or 3 bundles in the EYMM shop, but only until 11:59pm on October 11, 2017.  

EYMM Zander Hoodie Blog tour

Phew is all I can say!  Have you ever committed to something and then have just about everything that could go wrong go wrong?  I'm sure we all have at some point, well anyway that's how this blog tour was for me.
When Kymy announced this blog tour I was like "Yes!  My son needs a new sweatshirt, I have the fabric, I'll even make one for myself and it will be sooo much fun!"  Well in the weeks leading up to the blog I've had three out of five kids sick, including high fevers and asthma attacks, high school and elementary school shenanigans to deal with,  secular work fiascoes and issues with my blended family that are so complicated I can't even begin to get into here....
BUT, I did manage to finish this just barely and my son did get an AWESOME new sweatshirt in his favorite colors with a super fun lining.  No I didn't get one done for myself but sometimes you just need to accept what you did accomplish and not dwell on what you didn't.
Enjoy the pictures and at the end there is a giveaway!

Now onto the pattern...the Zander hoodie is a lined sweatshirt or vest with a slightly over sized hood and asymmetrical zipper down the front.  I originally helped test this pattern so I've made it a few times before.  I would consider it more of an intermediate level compared to some other EYMM patterns.  This pattern is available in sizes 3 months to 18.  The directions are clear and offer lots of color photographs to help you through difficult areas.  I did the 4/5 size, which is great because it offers room for growth or layering.

I used a lightweight navy french terry for the outer and lightweight cotton jersey for the lining.  I accented with a red zipper and red ribbing for the wrist cuffs and waist.  My son's favorite part was the zipper because his favorite color is red.

I'm glad he enjoyed the zipper since it only took me four tries to get it lined up perfectly,  no joke, that's when I realized that perhaps I wasn't completely concentrating on my sewing.....
My advice for the zipper is first of all pin and check to see if the waist ribbing and pockets are lined up correctly BEFORE you sew and clear your mind before you start ;)
He was also pretty excite about the race cars on the lining fabric.  This is a great way to make something like a sweatshirt fun for a four year old boy who doesn't always want to wear a sweatshirt.

 So after  I finished I had to convince my four year old that it was time to take pictures, this is when the difference between boys and girls becomes extremely apparent.  I tell my daughter it's photo shoot time and we're going to take pretty pictures and generally she gets excited.  In contrast I had to bribe my son and even at that I only got a few good pictures before things deteriorated quickly first with the dog becoming part of the blog (haha Disney channel reference)  and then with my son attempting to give me some sort of GQ pose, then dirty looks and finally licking the tree.  Yes licking the tree, that's when I gave up.

A boy and his dog in a blog....

I'm not sure if this is I'm a serious model look or I'm plotting my next public fit to get back at you mom for making me do this....

Ummm yeah, I don't even know what to say.....

You made it to the end!  Congratulations!  Leave a comment below with your email address and your choice of Zander or his and hers and one person will be chosen randomly to recieve a free copy of EYMM's Zander hoodie or His and Hers Hoodie.

Make sure to visit the other stops on the tour to see more versions and hoodie inspiration!�Many�are giving away a copy of the pattern! (Psst ... check out the awesome savings listed after the tour links!)

*NOTE* The links below won�t show the tour posts until 7am PST on their day of the tour, BUT you are welcome to click through and check their blogs out at any time.

9/25

Blessed X Five and Capture, Craft, and Cook

9/26

The Wholesome Mama and EYMM

9/27

Rebel & Malice and Manning the Machine

9/28

Welcome to Our Crazy World and Connected by a Thread

9/29

Pretty & Precious Clothing and Boutique Birdie

Hop over to the�EYMM shop and use code FALLHOODIES2015 to save 50% on either hoodie pattern! Coupon is good for�Zander's Hoodie & Hooded Vest (newborn-18tween) or�His & Hers Hoodie & Hooded Vest (adult XS-5XL)�and�expires�11:59pm PST on Sept. 29.

*NOTE*�These two patterns are INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED sewing level, as they include zipper installation and some unique assembly techniques.

EYMM Second Anniversery Tour

  Join EYMM and 24 fellow bloggers as we celebrate the first 24 months of our pattern shop with a huge sale and giveaway!  We will be featuring 8 different patterns for women and girls, as well as having a Manic Monday sale and a huge site-wide sale.  There is also a great giveaway at the bottom of this post. Don't wait because you don't see sales like this often from EYMM and it will be over before you know it!
*NOTE* The links below won't show the tour posts until 11am PST on their day of the tour, BUT you are welcome to click through and check their blogs out at any time.

7/27 Connected by a Thread, Pattern Revolution, The Wholesome Mama

7/28 Climbing the Willow, Rebel & Malice, Hibbadoray

7/29 Pretty & Precious Clothing, Sprouting Jube Jube, Call Ajaire

7/30 Once Upon a Sewing Machine, Swoodson Says, Blessed X Five

7/31 Beri Bee Designs, Sewing the Seasons, Sew Outnumbered

8/1 Creative Counselor, Lulu & Celeste, Analog Bytes

8/2 Handcrafted by Red, Boutique Birdie, HattieLu Handmade

8/3 Capture, Craft & Cook, Welcome to Our Crazy World, Create 3.5

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This blog contains affiliate links
Sooo, it's been awhile since I blogged but I was asked to participate in the EYMM's second anniversery blog which makes me really excited and helped me get off my lazy summer booty and blog again.  It feels good to be back.

I sewed the beautiful Calla Lily skirt for myself and the Calla Lily skort for my daughter.  This is a knit skirt that is shorter in the front and longer in the back with a unique crossover look in the front.  There are three waistband options; regular, yoga fold over style, and elastic. It's available in sizes XS-5X for women and Newborn to 18 for girls.

I chose to go with the regular style waistband.  I kept the length according to the pattern for both my daughter and I.  The girls version of the pattern includes a skort option and a fishtail hem option.  For my three year old I included the shorts under her skirt since we are still working on sitting like a lady. For myself I used the Everyday Essentials pattern by EYMM to make a mid thigh slip for a little more modesty, I found the skirt to be a little sheer for my taste. The Get Moving leggings pattern can also be added to the waistband of the skirt for both women and girls for more coverage or to transition into cooler months.

The fabric I chose, OK actually my daughter chose, is a thin drapey knit.  I was really happy with her fabric choice, I was a little worried I would be trying to convince my daughter we didn't need pink kitty cat matching skirts in the middle of a fabric store while my little diva was sitting on the dirty floor bawling and my four year old was running around pulling bolts of fabric down and making forts.  I got very fortunate and she found the navy stripes, touched them and proclaimed they were very soft and she wanted them.  Phew crisis averted!  
I did a contrasting band because I wanted a fabric with more recovery and stability than the striped knit had, no fear of these skirts falling off.
I always have found EYMM patterns to be very true to size, no alterations needed at all even for my daughter who often times needs length needed.

I went for a lettuce edge for the hem of the skirt, I like the way it looks as a contrast to all of the stripes and it's so much easier than actually hemming.  Honestly I hate hemming knits so I will avoid it if at all possible. If you don't want to a lettuce edge, rolled edge, you can leave it unhemmed if you carefully trim away the seam allowance or if you do a regular hem I strongly recommend using wonder tape.

I like to style my Calla Lily skirt with a jean jacket or chambray shirt, I love the way it looks and it's a perfect layer as we transition into fall.

My daughter was thrilled at our matching skirts but then my son was feeling left out so I made him a quick t-shirt and used the Boy's Silhouette reverse applique pack to add a cool dump truck with the leftover skirt fabric.

He LOVES!

We had so much fun with this photo shoot and it's great to be able to make mommy and me matching outfits.  I'm so happy my kids think it's fun to dress alike, I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts!

They can be so sweet together sometimes, and look at how pretty the skirt is with the slight breeze!

To celebrate their second year anniversary EYMM is having a big sale! 43% off of everything, coupon code is below and don't forget to check out the other blogs on the anniversary tour and see all of the amazing things they've done with EYMM patterns.


                                        

Not only is there an AMAZING blog tour going on but 1 lucky winner that leaves a comment below between now and 8.3.15 will win a FREE EYMM pattern of their choice!!!!  Which one would you pick? Then hop on over to EYMM to check out the awesome SALE, and an even bigger celebration giveaway with over $1000 in prizes.  There will be 40 winners in all.

Until next time....

Don't you just love the way the Calla Lily skirt looks from the back as you're walking!

EYMM does it again! The off the shoulder dress/tunic

I love EYMM patterns the directions are very easy to follow and the designs are always right on trend.  Kymy, the designer of EYMM patterns, definitely did not disappoint on her latest creation, the off the shoulder cowl neck dress or tunic.  You know you have a winner when you're husband loves it and your mom, sister and brother's girlfriend all see it and ask for one.
Let's start with the basics:  the pattern is available in a broad size range  XS-5X, it's designed for knits although the skirt/ flounce portion can be made from woven.  Options, the best part, you can make this in either peplum or dress length.
Don't be scared at the thought of a peplum, I was at first.  Personally, I usually avoid peplums, love the look but hate the way they look on me.  With the beautiful cowl neckline and the length of the bodice to flounce portion this peplum works!  No longer do I look like a pear in a peplum :)
Anyway, I digress, back to options....the peplum flounce or the skirt portion can be made either as a circle skirt or a gathered skirt depending on the look you want.  In addition the bottom portion can be made from a variety of fabrics making the looks you can get from this pattern endless.
 I chose to do one in all knit and another one with a knit bodice and chiffon flounce.  I really want to do a dress version in velour and another shirt version in french terry, oh if only I had all day to sew......
A couple of the testers did the dress version and then put a pettiskirt under and oh my goodness it was amazing looking!  Perfect for holiday parties.
If I haven't convinced you yet that you need this pattern then this might help-this gorgeous pattern is part of the Sew Fab bundle available here.  You get 10 brand new, previously unreleased patterns for only $29.95, that's an amazing deal!

Flounce circle skirt in chiffon

                   

Gathered flounce

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and please follow me on my adventures in sewing

Rohan Hoodie modification

My son loves to pick out fabric.  He also loves tractors.  Hence I have yards and yards of bright big print tractor fabric.  The question is what do you do with it?  You can only make so many button down shirts and honestly some of the fabric he picks is a little garish (in my adult opinion) for button down shirts.  Yes you can add accent pockets with it but up until yesterday I hadn't found a pattern for wovens for my son that I totally loved that would work for all of this fabulous tractor fabric I have.  Then I was doing pattern research on Pinterest (ok actually wasting time and avoiding my dishes) when I stumbled upon the Rohan Hoodie by Crafty Kitty.   It was the answer!  Now my poor neglected son, neglected when it comes to mommy sewing for him, can have a fun sweatshirt.  The pattern is not originally fully lined but I went up one size and fully lined it with fleece.  In addition I added some cool yellow and grey FOE I had found on clearance to the neckline and cuffs.  This wasn't necessary just a fun touch.  He loves it!  It's cozy and covered in construction emblems what more could a three year old ask for!  I'm so pleased with the outcome!