Sew Spoiled

For me the highlight of 2015 was the Sew Mama Sew sewing competition over the summer. Thank you again Sew Mama Sew for hosting the competition and thank you Janome and all of the fabric and indie pattern designers for sponsoring it. I loved receiving fabric and patterns to make each week. Then to share the process with you was a complete joy. I learned so much about sew garments for myself. What an adventure! Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 My Best Tutorial for 2015 was the Kenna Tote. Best comment of 2015 Girl, you knocked this phase of the challenge out of the park. You OWNED this. Your PJ's look absolutely fabulous and totally like you picked them up in a New York boutique! And the idea of Ice Cream Jammies? MONEY! If you have the time, you'd have steady orders in an Etsy shop. I have the Carolyn pattern and I hope mine turn out as well as yours. Love the bows. :) Too cute! on  Mint Chocolate Chip Carolyn Pajamas, Round Four Challenge From Powerto

Did you just get a new sewing machine? Now you are looking through site after site just to find the perfect starter projects. Here is a collection of easy and great projects for anyone who wants to start a quick project with your wonderful new sewing machine. Pickled Apron Tutorial TUTORIAL - Easter Pot Holder | Miss Mary Sewing Classes Sleep-In-Late Pillowcase Tutorial Key Fob Video Tutorial Beginner Skirt Sewing Tutorial - Shrimp Salad Circus Chiffon Sheer Scarf Tutorial Happy Sewing!

After receiving so many wonderful gifts, I wanted to have my kids write thank you notes to our family and friends. It means so much to receive a nice thank you note in the mail. To some it is proper etiquette to say Thank you. I decided to make it a little easier and I placed a few prompts to help them along. We used color pencils and drew around the borders. Please feel free to print some of these out using the link below. It will allow you to download it to your computer. Give Thanks!

We are getting a new puppy!! Yah! We have found a Shetland Sheepdog. He is super cute and lovable. Can't wait to take him home, he is only 3.5 weeks. I am trying to learn everything I need to know before he arrives January 14, 2016. If you have any tips please let me know. Can't believe I will be a fur-mommy soon!  So cute! He loves snuggles.  This is a picture of a full grown Shetland Sheepdog. Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

If you are wondering how to make your own wardrobe, you need to start by selecting sewing patterns that are staples already in your current ready wear wardrobe. Think about what you wear most. For me it is skirts, knit dresses, pants/jeans and t-shirts. I am a mom, teacher and casual dresser. I wear dresses occasionally in the spring and summer. After seeing what the majority of my wardrobe looked like, I was able to find sewing patterns in the style of garments that I loved to wear. Making your own wardrobe allows you to create your own look. You can also adapt patterns for your size and build. I am 5'1" so I am classified as a petite. In the department stores if I buy petite clothes the pants are actually too short but in the regular section, all of the pants are too long. Being able to adapt the sewing patterns I buy to fit me makes me super happy!!!  1.) What are the clothes I wear the most? (Current Staples) 2.) What look do I want to have? (Classic, Casual, Preppy)

I hope you will join me and shop with small businesses this Saturday and throughout the holiday season. I like to give gifts that are from the heart and handmade or small business gifts are really a wonderful way to show you care. In our shop all epatterns are only $5 !!! Stock up, these patterns make amazing gifts that you can make over and over for family and friends. Below is a list of skills for each pattern. Thank you!

I love my new Antrorse Sweater . It feels soft and warm. It is also washable!!!! I think next time I wear it, I will wear my skinny jeans and boots. Each time I knit, I can see how much better I am getting because the fabric is more consistent. I have also learned how to fix mistakes. Mistakes are going to happen but if you know how to fix them, then you are better off. I still have a lot to learn but this sweater is so much better than the first time I knit this pattern. Knitting takes a lot longer for me to complete a project but I love that I can take my craftiness anywhere. I adore sewing but being able to do both knitting and sewing is wonderful. These buttons are all that I could find in my stash. I might have to look for different buttons. Yarn: Vanna's Choice, Lion's Brand, color charcoal grey. Needles: US 10.5 to get the right gauge. Buttons: Vintage metal buttons with eagles.   

I love a great deal and this is a great deal! $5 Sew Spoiled ePatterns are available in my Sew Spoiled Etsy Shop this week! You do not need a coupon!  The Tailgate Teammate Tote is a wonderful tote inspired to be at your favorite game, cheering for your favorite team! It is available in 3 sizes; small, medium and large. You can make them for yourself, a fan or an entire team! These totes make great Mommy and me bags too. Make one for yourself and little ones.  

I have finished my    Everyday Cardigan by Lisa Clarke . It has actually been done for a while because it is such a fast knitting project. I can see how you could easily make a few of these in different colors. I know I have told you that there is no button band on this cardigan but I can't tell you how wonderful it felt when I did not have to go back and make one. The buttons are actually leather! I fell in love with the color and left the store thinking they were dark wood. However, when I got into my car I realized they were leather. Instead of returning them I decided to go with it and kept them for the project.  It is a close-fitting sweater and since I hardly ever button up my cardigans it works great! I think if I made this for a friend or someone else I might go up a size, just to make sure the size would be comfortable. I like my sweaters to be close fitting and I tend to wear t-shirts under my sweaters. If you wear a lot of button-up shirts again you might want to

There is something about the cold chill in the air that makes me want to knit a new sweater for fall. This is the Everyday Cardigan by Lisa Clarke . I love that the button holes are made as you knit the body of the sweater top to bottom. That means I don't have to go back and knit a button band!!! Yeah!  I am using  Cascade Yarns Cascade 220®  in natural and   Deborah Norville 32" Circular Knitting Needles  I found both at Craftsy! My gauge is a little off, I am getting 20 stitches per 4 inches for the width but 7 rows per inch instead of 6 rows.  I love the feel of the wool yarn and the birchwood knitting needles together. It is a match made in heaven.

I just received  Kimberly Kight, Lucky Strikes  Dime Store , from Cotton and Steel in Navy from the Fabric Worm . Thank you Fabric Worm for this gorgeous fabric!!  It is a beautiful navy cotton with little tan, coral and pink polka dots all over it. I made a Bettine Dress from Tilly and the Buttons . This was the first time I used a Tilly and Buttons pattern. I love how crystal clear all of the instructions are. If you are new to sewing this would be a great first dress to make. It does not have any zippers or difficult notions to install.  I am constantly looking for dresses I can make and wear to work. One requirement is pockets!!! I love the pockets on the Bettine Dress because they are so large and deep!! It is extremely comfy to wear and move around in. I love to look professional but I want to feel comfortable at the same time. This dress hits on all the requirements for a wonderful work dress.  I think I will be able to extend the wear of this Bettine Dress through fal

I did not win however I wanted to thank everyone for following me and giving me words of encouragement along the way.  Thank you Beth and Kristin for hosting this competition on Sew Mama Sew .  Thank you to the judge's Jenny from Cashmerette , Rachel from House of Pinheiro , Amber and Jaime from Fancy Tiger Crafts , Rochelle New of Lucky Lucille , Novita Estiti of Very Purple Person , and Michelle from ThatBlackChic.com .  Thank you Grainline Studio , Closet Case Files , Noodlehead , Christine Haynes , and True Bias for all of the amazing patterns. Thank you Harts Fabric, Fabric Worm , Fat Quarter Shop , Sew Modern , and Fabric Depot . Thank you all so much!!! I have learned more in the past 2 months than I thought possible. New sewing techniques like customizing a pattern for my size, new zipper installation on a pouch, piping pajamas, and color blocking a dress. I have also learned a lot about taking pictures, modeling my handmade garments, updating my blog, and ne

Last Monday, August 10th, I found out that I made it into Round 5 of the Super Online Sewing Match!!!    I felt excited and thankful to have moved forward into the last challenge. In Round 5 we were asked to create the Cascade Duffle Coat by Grainline Studio . We were also given $100 to spend at Fabric Depot . Teresa Coates at Fabric Depot was wonderful and offered to help all three of us in this round. She and I texted back and fourth until I found what I was looking for. Teresa took pictures of fabric and zippers. It felt like I was in the store with her shopping.  I have to say Fabric Depot  surprised me by sending the fabric next day air!! They are awesome! While I waited for my fabric to arrive, I printed out all of the templates and cut out a size 4. Being vertical challenged, I used the lengthen/shorten line and moved everything up 1.5" on all of the bodice templates.  I decided to make View B which is a longer coat with a hood. I loved the style and look.