Little Kiwi's Closet Bow Back Beauty

So this new pattern is awesome... like totally and completely awesome.  I know I'm a sucker for Little Kiwi's patterns in general... but this one is just amazing... Yes, I tested it, but even bigger YES you need it.

The Bow Back Beauty From Little Kiwi's Closet is fantastic!

This pattern has a ton of options.. let me try to lay them out for you...
Sizes: NB - 12
Bodice options: natural waist, hip length, or onesie (NB-4)
Back options: Bow or plain (AND bow can be layered over plain for modesty or cold weather!)

Skirt options: Peplum, Dresss, High-low
Sleeve options: Sleeveless, Short Sleeve (with or without cuff) and long

This one is the hip length, with peplum and long sleeves.  For the fabric I used a reversible double knit from Joann's.

The binding was done in a nice ribbing that my local sewing shop carries...  Seriously, this store carries like 100 colors of ribbing and I have no idea why, but I love it.

Anyways.. I finished the peplum with a rolled hem and added a pretty crochet flower that I got from  Whimsical Fabric.

I love how elegant this combination looks.  I think the pink and black paired together makes a really darling combination, AND its perfect for cool spring weather in Washington when paired with our favorite Skinny Legs legging pattern.









In fact, she already wore it to school and got tons of compliments!

Next up I made my more "casual" version.  This is the short sleeved, natural waist, with a peplum and longer skirt underneath.  The skirt is the size 4 dress length, because I wanted a less dressy length than the dress version, and I think it worked out perfectly.

For this one I used a shirt to upcycle for the bodice, and did the skirt, peplum and binding in solid cotton lycras from PurpleSeamstress Fabric.  

The pattern specifically says to use good quality knits with nice stretch and recovery, like cotton-lycras.  I'd like to offer an apology for failing to listen to Lydia here... and here is why..  the t-shirt knit doesn't stretch nice like a cotton-lycra blend would, so it ended up a bit more fitted than the other two versions.  It still fits her, but if you're going to go with a less stretchy knit.. I suggest sizing up a little so you get more wear out of it.

And last is my favorite.  It's elegant, dressy, and still comfortable enough that she's picked it out to wear to school tomorrow... (granted its cold and rainy, so she's wearing a Bella Bolero over it, and leggings under).

This is the sleeveless, natural waist, dress version, with an overlay.  I cut the dress at the length written in the pattern and cut the overlay three inches shorter.

The main dress fabric is a stretch panne, and the overlay is in a stretch mesh with glitter embellished hearts.  The binding is a really nice poly-cotton-lycra ribbing.  I think she looks like a princess in this one.

What I love: If you couldn't tell, I really love all of the options this pattern gives, and the various ways to dress it up or down depending on options and fabric combinations.

What I'd change: So far as the pattern goes, the fit is fantastic, and the options are all clearly explained and easy to follow.  As for me, I need to write a note on my pieces to size up when using fabrics that aren't the pattern recommended ones!

So, hopefully you're still reading.. and if you haven't bought the pattern yet... here's the link again: Click Here!  Grab it while it's still on sale - its worth every cent for all of the awesome combinations you can make!

Extraordinary Girl Blog Tour Day 2

Hi and welcome to Day Two of the Extraordinary Girl Blog tour (hosted by the awesome Deb of Sprouting Jube Jube)

Let's start with stating that I love these patterns... Both the women's and girl's version of the Filles a Maman Extraordinary Girl are fantastic, and I am happy to be part of the tour to show you ours!

Connor on the other hand is mad that I didn't make him one as well...

For this round I left the pockets off, at the decision of the boss (Inara).  She also chose the fabrics.. The main print is a rayon blend knit.  The red is a really soft modal, and the green is an interlock - which works out well for a collar that doesn't stretch too much when putting the shirt on and off.

This is what happens when Inara chooses the poses

The women's version runs from sizes XS - XXL and the fit is spot on with the size chart.
The girl's version runs from 12mo - 14.

Both are made for knits, have a light high-low hemline, boat neck, optional pocket, and 3/4 or long sleeves.

It was such a gorgeous day for pictures too!

I made the 3/4 sleeves for myself and the long sleeves for Miss. It's 50 degrees and won't wear her coat on the playground and complains that it's cold... (aka Inara).  I love how the neckline lets my tattoo peak out, without being so wide that my bra straps would show.

And the un-cropped version... Connor is not amused!  

Now, the fabric I used was a bit too floral for Connor... BUT I have actually made this pattern for him too.  To make it slightly more boyish in style, I made the bottom hemline straight across instead of high-low.  

And don't mind her mis-matching here... but Connor took this one, so I had to show it!  He did great!

 **affiliate note**
Over at Filles a Maman the girl's pattern is on sale for $7.00 through the tour and the bundle is on sale for $13.00!  The bundle is an AWESOME deal, and I highly recommend grabbing it while its on sale!!

And make sure you enter the giveaway for a chance to win an awesome pattern bundle:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And then follow along with the rest of the awesome bloggers on the tour:

Monday Feb. 16th

   Call Ajaire -  The Crazy Tailor - From a Box - Sew Out of Control

Tuesday Feb. 17th

Lulu & Celeste - Keep Calm and Carrion - Sprouting JubeJube - Sofilantjes

Wednesday Feb. 18th

Sew Starly - Rebekah Sews - Rebel & Malice - Isn't That Sew

Thursday Feb. 19th

Thread Riding Hood - House of Estrela - Project Destash

Friday Feb, 20th

Sew Cool for the Tween Scene - Phat Quarters - Pienkel 

 Shaffer Sisters - La Casa Cactus - Mabey She Made It

Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Day & Boho Beauty Pattern Review and Giveaway

Okay, so let me start with I AM SO HAPPY TODAY!  <yup, totally yelled that>  Last month my darling little Angel...

(Don't let the sweet smile fool you) had an epic tantrum during which he pushed my laptop onto the floor and shattered the screen.  After staring in confusion at what had just happened, I swore under my breath and sighed loudly.  For the last month Justin has been graciously letting me use his as laptop to print patterns/edit pictures/send in feedback/etc.  BUT the *man cave* is not very conducive for blogging success.  So I've been going through a bit of withdrawal.. get ready for lots of posts... and I'll try to work some giveaways in there as well!

So I saw the tester call for the Boho Beauty Swing Top from Monkeysbug Patterns.  I had never tested for them, but Inara has a stack of underwear I made her from their hipster/bikini pattern, so I showed the tester to Inara.  I wasn't sure how she would react, since she wears a lot of knits lately, but she saw it and loved it, and ran off to pick fabric.  Then I sat here for a day anxiously hoping to hear from Kate, and I was very excited when she emailed.

Why is she always turning her head like that lately???

The details:
Sizes 2-14
2 Sleeve lengths
2 sleeve hemline widths
2 shirt hemlines
Made for woven fabrics
Tutorial for making your own bias tape included!

After a bit of discussion about these fabrics being kind of dark, here is what Inara picked for her first top.
This one is the long sleeves, hi-low hem and gathered long sleeves.

I also took the few minutes to make my own bias tape for this one... here's why.... store bought bias tape always seems so scratchy, and this pattern calls for three pieces of bias tape... In Inara's size they are all under 20", so there was no sewing together of strips required.  I just cut my three bias strips, and ironed them and I was ready to go.

Seriously, I brushed her hair RIGHT before we walked out the door.  After this first one, we discussed some minor changes... I'm pointing this out, because when I show you the second one, you will notice the neckline isn't quite as wide.  Either way, this one stayed on for the rest of the day while she declared herself to be a flower fairy.  (weird kid)

When I told her we were going to make another one, I sent her off to pick fabric again, and I think she is getting really good at this.  This print was a red tag from Joann's a few months ago that has sat on the shelf waiting for a project... this one was perfect...

This one also has the long gathered sleeves, but I did the traditional curved hemline on the shirt.  I was a little iffy on the button choice, but It really pulled in the colors in the bias I think.

The pattern itself is a very straightforward sew.  It took me about 90 minutes, including making the bias and cutting out the fabric.

If you are new to bias tape, this one shouldn't worry you! The bias tape is attached sort of differently than normal so as long as you are good with pins it will have a very nicely finished look at the end!  For us, this is great, as less small seams to itch means she is super happy to wear it!

Can we not discuss that my pretty fence needs to be painted?  It's rainy season here and if I could just get 48 hours of dry, I would do it, but its like a lost cause in the PNW until May or June!

I totally love how the fade out looks on this top.  AND she is currently wearing it in school as I sit here typing, which is a definite sign of how much she likes it, as she dresses herself for school... I would show you pictures to prove it, but some of them are a bit embarrassing (last week she wore a Minecraft shirt, Powerpuff Girls skirt and cheetah leggings...). 

This entire testing experience was really a great one.  Kate was receptive and friendly.  She asked opinions and was fun to work with!

So this top is out today, AND you should run off and grab it now from the Monkeysbug Patterns Shop while it is ON SALE!!

AND, after you've bought it, please enter my giveaway for your own copy of the pattern!  If you purchase the pattern now (because, well its ON SALE and you should get it now), and then win the pattern, I will send you the cost of your pattern OR purchase a different Monkeysbug pattern for you!  So entering is worth it!

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