Guesting Post at Gracious Threads

Guess what! I am doing my first guest post ever at Gracious Threads!

I was so lucky to be able to join Jess with her Embellish is for BOYS series!

Want to know what I made?

Here is a little hint.

 

Yes, that IS glitter on a boy's shirt! Want to see what I made and how you can do it yourself?

Head over to Gracious Threads and check it out!

While you are over there don't forget to link up what YOU have appliqued for the boy in your life for the chance to win 1 yard of fabric from the Purple Seamstress. And on day one of this week, you can find a chance to win the Banyan Tee from Figgy's.

So much awesomeness going on!

Get creating for those boys in your lives and share what you made at Gracious Threads!!

Buccaneer BBall Shorts Review

I promise I haven't abondoned this whole blog project thing. Things are just so crazy right now. But that's good because that means I have been working on a TON of stuff to share with you!

A few weeks ago, I was asked to help test out the recently release Buccaneer BBall Shorts.

 If you aren't familiar with Patterns for Pirates you need to go run and check out their stuff!

It's all patterns for BOYS! And cute and cool and FUN stuff too! Boys deserve fun ,cool clothes and Patterns for Pirates are making sure you have the patterns

available to sew them up for your little pirate!

This pattern is great! First up the size range is HUGE! It starts little bitty at 3 months and goes all the way up to a big boy size 16! How awesome is that! You can also use both wovens and knits for this pattern. I LOVE the knit pair I made my son. (not pictured, sorry!)

All the shorts shown here are made of ponte.

The directions were super clear and easy to follow. And the shorts are a really quick sew.

We really like the fit. The are a bit longer and baggier than a lot of shorts. That makes them super comfy and I am sure they will be nice and cool on the hot summer days.

 

There are several ways to embellish the sides of the shorts. Above is the wide panel piping option. My fabric wasn't the best choice for this and the seams are a bit bulky, but my son doesn't seem to mind them at all and he is really sensitive to seams, so I think it's just me that finds them bulky. 

And my serger. I broke a needle. :P

There are two different hem lines to the pattern as well. I did the straight hem for all of my pairs. But there is a fun curved hem line that is bias finished. It's pretty cool!!

Above here is the no panel piping option. I am much happier with this pair. 

There are also a few different options for doing the elastic waistband.

There is even an option for a working draw string waistband!

My son is also sporting Patterns for Pirates Matey Muscle Tank in the picture above. Again, great pattern and super fast to sew up! And guess what! It also has a huge size range going from 3 months to a size 14! You can sew a tank for every boy you know with one pattern!!

I have it on pretty good info that Patterns for Pirates has a some awesome new stuff in the works.

You definitely need to go like their facebook page to keep up with all the super cool things they are coming up with.

Willow & Co Tester Tour Ash Jumpsuit

The final pattern I tested for the brand spanking new company Willow & Co was the Ash Jumpsuit designed by petit à petit and family.

 This is a great pattern that is full of options! You can choose to make your jumpsuit one piece or separate top and bottoms. My daughter isn't a fan of one pieces, so I went with two.

 Other options are a contrasting facing around the neck, arms and back or plain, a band at the bottom of the shirt, elastic at the bottom of the shirt, and............

Pockets! We had to go with pockets!

 

 Like usual, I made two versions during testing. This version has some fun decorative stitching

along the bottom of the shirt above the band. I wish I would have taken a better shot of it, but oh well.

The baltik pink outfit is a size 8 and it JUST fits. I failed to measure before sewing, big NO NO, and my little model had made a HUGE growth spurt in the two months since her last measurements were taken. So the second set, the white and floral is a size 10 and fits much better. Of course she has worn both sets, and mixed and matched to my horror, several times already. They washed up beautifully and I am happy to report that the neckline didn't need any ironing after washing. My luck!!

 

The pattern was really easy to follow, despite all the different options. And I am thrilled with the results. I want to make her a few more because she has worn these so much already. Must be a hit!

That wraps up all the pattern testing I was so lucky to help Willow & Co with for the upcoming release of their debute line Wanderlust. The release date is tomorrow, Tuesday April 22nd.

You won't want to miss this amazing glamping theme collection that is full of fun inspiring pieces for both boys and girls!

Willow & Co. Tester Tour The Mulberry Tunic

Are you ready to hear about another one of the fabulous patterns being offered
by the amazing new company Willow & Co?

It's the Mulberry Tunic designed by Kid Approved. And guess what, it can be made for BOYS! This pattern is really beautiful with lots of great detailing.

 I made two different tunics for my son. A color blocked version.

 

And a linen one with a hood.

 

The details are so nice! Beautiful topstitching and a fun little tab with a cuff sleeve.

The sleeve cuff is done in a really cool way that I hadn't done before. I really like how it turned out!

And it has inseam pockets! Boys can't get enough pockets! I have already found rocks in them. ;)

He is fishing M&Ms out of his pocket. Little bribes for good posing. ;)

The tabs are a great place to throw a fun little accent button. It's so hard to use cute buttons without making something look cheesy and babyish for little boys. I think this is just the right touch.

The new Wanderlust line comes out April 22nd so make sure you watch out for it! Patterns will be available to purchase individually or as an entire collection. You won't be disappointed at all! It has a glamping theme that has the perfect balance of style and comfort! How fun!!

Be on the look out for the other pattern I tested, the Ash Jumpsuit by petit à petit and family later in the week.

Willow & Co Tester Tour Clover Shorts & Persimmon Dress and Top

I was so incredibly lucky to be chosen to test not one, but four different patterns for the rocking new pattern company Willow & Co. You guys will be soooo happy with what this company has to offer! Their intro collection is called Wanderlust and it is so cool. It is a collection with patterns for both boys and girls with a glamping theme. How cool is that! Total style and comfort in one!!

I tested three girl patterns and one boy pattern. I am going to do my

first review with two of the girl patterns I tested,

the Clover Shorts and the Persimmon Dress and Top designed by Mouse House Creations.

First up, the Clover Shorts. These super cute shorts have a pleated front and button tab belt loops to hold a super cute wide sash. Front pockets are perfect for all the little treasures that little girls collect during the day. Because come on, girls shove everything they find in their pockets, too! I once dug crab apples out of this girl's coat pockets, yuck!

There is plenty of room in the booty for playing on the playground, or going for a hike, or that random cartwheel. Anybody else have a daughter who will just cartwheel in the cereal isle of the grocery store?

This pattern is super versitile and can be made classic and clean or trendy and funky depending on the fabric you choose!

I paired it with the Persimmon Dress and Top. Obviously I made the top length, but I have plans for a dress also! With ruffles! There is a fun option to have side ruffles that I can't wait to sew for her. While my fabric choice is kinda poor to show the details, there are inverted pleats in the bodice and a center accent panel. This was really easy to sew up, don't be intimidated by the pleats!

The arm holes are finished off with bias tape. I made mine, but you are certainly welcome to use store bought. I highly recommend making your own though! It is much softer and lays so much nicer. It's really easy to do! Here is a great tutorial on how by Dana at Dana Made It.

Because of the pleating at the top, the tunic fans out nicely making it nice and comfy and cool. Some day summer will be here and I can imaging this top getting lots of wear. It would be adorable now with a cardigan. And the shorts are darling with tights underneath!

There is also an option to have cute pockets on the front that I opted out of because they would be lost in this print. Next dress however will have pockets! Again, poor fabric choice allows it to be seen, but there is also an accent panel that goes down the front of the shirt. Loads of opportunity for some fun funky styles with that feature!

Oh, did I mention that you can choose to do a small facing or fully line the dress? Because you can!

This pattern would be great for some sheer fabric that needs a lining layer.

These are both pretty easy and quick sews that yield clean, professional results! The release date for the Clover Shorts and the Persimmon Dress and Top and the other seven patterns are scheduled for April 22nd and will be available for purchase at the Willow & Co website. They will be available to purchase individually or as a bundle. Horray! Who doesn't love a bundle!!??

The other patterns I tested were the Mulberry Tunic by Kid Approved.

And the Ash Jumpsuit by petit à petit and family.

I will be doing a separate post for each of those patterns, so stay tuned!!