Anita has had such a growth spurt this summer that almost all her knit dresses are now too small. So what’s a sewing mom to do? I think you can guess the answer, wink-wink!
Tag: Shwin Designs
My wardrobe made by me.
( This post includes affiliate links)
I’m bringing home a guest post I wrote for Wardrobe by me. I’m so glad that Christina stumbled across my little blog last year and so so so thankful for everything I have learned from being on her pattern testing team!
I have only been sewing for myself for about a year now and that was never even my intension when I dug my sewing machine out from the attic four years ago. My big plan was to sew something simple like circle skirts for my daughter. I had no idea that this great online sewing community existed let alone all these talented indie pattern designers. It is totally awesome!
My little lady in her London Dress
Anita has declared that she needs new summer dresses and she has grown so much this winter that I totally agree with her. She has also been going through my fabric stash and claiming what she wants, which is pretty much everything that has flowers on it or a hint of pink or purple. So I better get this party started!
Like that’s not enough she also wants a long dress. I’ve been on the fence about that cause I’m not a huge fan of maxi dresses on little girls. Then Shwin Designs launched the London Dress so I thought one maxi length dress wouldn’t hurt.
… and she is VERY HAPPY! Continue reading “My little lady in her London Dress”
My Nina
Alright, since it’s almost summer I guess it’s fitting that I share my new wool coat with faux fur collar. On a side note, first day of summer is actually a national holiday in Iceland and was on April 21. So at least it would be fitting if I was planning on spending my summer in Iceland because you never no what kind of weather you’ll be getting and need to be prepared for it all. But I’m not, so maybe we could all just pretend that I am extremely great at planning ahead and that I now have a new coat all ready for fall! But my friends and family know that’s just one big lie. So I guess my reason is that I have had this wool fabric for some time now and then the Nina Coat pattern from Shwin Designs came along and I saw a match and wanted to give it try.
Kicking off the summer sewing with a McKenzie Dress
It seems Anita is getting taller by the day. Almost all her dresses from last year are now tunics. So either I need to make her a bunch of shorts to wear with them this summer or I can just make new dresses. Knowing my girl it’s not even a question – new dresses coming right up!
First in the series of summer dresses for Anita 2016 is a Mckenzie from Shwin Designs.
Continue reading “Kicking off the summer sewing with a McKenzie Dress”
Eleanor and Stella
I’m still here!
This month has been crazy busy. I started working at a new place so now
I’m not making glasses anymore but assisting an ophthalmologist. It’s a mix of a new and
old practice, we just opened at a new location and setting everything up and
learning new routines has been challenging but very fun.
I did manage to get some sewing in this month as well.
I tested a new pattern that was just released, I’ll show you in a couple of days.
I tested a new pattern that was just released, I’ll show you in a couple of days.
Today I’ll show you my January project for Shwin Designs – just in the nick of time!
Believe me its not because the patterns were so difficult it took me a whole month to
get them done. It’s more of a find time to take photos problem!
Here is the Eleanor Dress/Top.
I obviously made the top version because I didn’t have enough
of this cute sweater fabric from miss matatabi for a dress.
At first I wasn’t sure if I should add the collar but I’m so glad I did cause otherwise
it would just have been another regular sweater.
Because you need a bottom piece as well to go with a sweater and Anita
isn’t a big fan of pants I used the leggings pattern from the Stella to make her a
pair of leggings from a nice soft jersey with brushed back.
I made her a size 5 and I was afraid it would be to big on her but she has
been going through a growth spurt these past weeks so the sizing was perfect.
The photo bomber is Noi our dear old Whippet who is turning 12 this spring.
Both of these came together so fast, the pattern and the instructions are spot on.
I love the dress version as well, it has kind of that cocoon shape that is so popular now and
I love the pleats.
Anita is happy with her new clothes and that makes sewing so satisfying.
I’ll be back before you know it with some more sewing stuff.
Love
Dagbjört
A Christmas dress fit for a princess!
I finally have Anitas Christmas dress ready!
It only happens like every 5 years or so that I have everything ready for the holidays some
time in advance. Who am I kidding I thing it has only happened once and that
was last year, so lets say every 39 years!
Thankfully Anitas dress was a very quick project.
I used the Georgia Twirl Top/Dress from Shwin Designs.
This is the perfect dress if you are in a hurry and need a dress fit for a princess ASAP.
The pattern is only 12 pages so it’s super fast to print – tape – trace and cut out your pieces.
It has two circle skirts. So it is PERFECT for a twirling fanatic. I added one more layer of some kind of silvery soft tulle for more sparkling effect.
I made Anita a size 4 with the size 5 length.
To make this an even faster project to finish I hemmed with biastape as I wasn’t in
the mood to fold down the long hem of two circle skirts.
The fabric is heavy metal fabric by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabric from Glam Fabrics.
I don’t know the name of the fabric I used for the lining and the inner skirt, but it is gray and it
also has some silver sparkles in it.
This is the perfect dress for a little princess, pink, sparkly and twirly!
The snowman family in the background was made by my grandmother.
Almost all my Christmas decorations were made by her and putting them up fills me
with all the great memories I have of my grandparents. They were really
extraordinary fantastic people.
It was dark all day so it was difficult to get good pictures so these will have
to do. We did the best we could with what we had, isn’t that in a way
what Christmas should be about anyway?
I wish you all a very happy holiday and thank you so much for following
me on my sewing journey!
Lots of Love
Dagbjört
PS: This pattern was given to me in exchange for my honest opinion.
Warm jackets for the kids!
Winter is slowly but surely creeping up on us whether I like it or not,
and it doesn’t look like we will be getting a summer house somewhere in the
southern hemisphere this year (or any other year for that matter).
I guess I had a feeling this would be the case and I’m glad I bought some lovely
wool fabric at Mood Fabrics when I was in N.Y. with my besties celebrating
our big Four Zero this fall.
I used those beautiful fabrics to make jackets for my two youngest ones.
It was the loveliest day when we took our photos so be ready for picture overload in this post!
I was going to blog about the jackets in separate posts but there are some discount codes
going on that I didn’t want you to miss out on.
I’ll start with the young dude.
For him I used The Jude Jacket pattern from Shwin Designs.
I made him a size 7 since this jacket is quite fitted and I wanted to make sure he
could wear a thick sweater underneath and I didn’t want to make a jacket that would
only last for a short time.
I need to fix the three lowest buttons, I had to hurry up and finish before we
lost the lighting for our photoshoot. I usually don’t like to go back to my projects
after I finish them but this time I will because we absolutely love this jacket!
So for the rest of this post please ignore my sloppy button sewing.
The pattern comes with an optional chest pocket. I knew my boy would like pockets
to carry all the treasures he finds along the way so I made the pocket piece a little
bigger, I think about an inch, and added lining to make it a bit sturdier. And as you can see
placed them lower.
I bought some leather elbow patches at Stoff og Stil and used for the crest on the sleeve and
for some contrast on one the pockets. The buttons are from Stoff og Stil as well.
AAAATSJU!!
I fully lined his jacket. I used Heavy Metal by Whistler Studios from Windham fabrics
I bought from Glam Fabrics.
Oh and his hat is knitted by my mom!
This pattern is great and if you only sew it with the facings and not fully lined
it would be a very fast project.
You should definitely sign up for Shwin Designs newsletter NOW!
She has some amazing black Friday deals going on for subscribers this weak.
Lets check out the little Lady of the house now!
For her I made the Michelle Jacket also a Shwin Designs pattern.
I made hers in size 5 and it is a bit roomy but as with Viktors
that’s what I was going for.
I know the back pleat is going in the wrong direction, you can’t win them all!
I love the effect of the piping and those side pockets are so cute!
I used the same buttons as for Viktors jacket.
Anita was so happy finally getting some new mommy made clothes, it has been
a while since I made her something so it was long overdue.
Her jacket is fully lined as well. I used some cotton + steel fabrics bought
from Miss Matatabi for the lining.
Her dress is the Maggie Mae also from Shwin Designs, blogged about here.
She is also wearing a grandma made hat.
Check out the photobomber!
I’m so glad I finally tackled making jackets for the kids and even though it was a bit challenging
it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. The only thing is that it is a bit time consuming,
since each jacket is basically two jackets because of the lining.
But it was a fun challenge and well worth the time. I love that there are no
exposed seams.
Cutest kids ever – if I say so myself!
Now don’t forget to sign up the the Shwin Designs newsletter for the
discount codes. There is something special for girl patterns on Wednesday,
for boy patterns on Thursday and then storewide Friday through Monday.
The jacket patterns were given to me for my honest opinion and I love them!
Love
Dagbjört.
The perfect sweater!
I have discovered the most comfortable pattern – fabric combination ever!
You can just thank me in the comment section here below!
Keep reading and you will find a coupon at the end of this post, and believe me you
will want to use it!
This one is for me too, I’m getting comments from the kids now that I have made
enough clothes for me and it’s time to start making something for them again.
Here is the perfect sweater:
The pattern is the Day Tripper from Shwin Designs.
The pattern comes with an option of long or short sleeves, in seam pockets,
shoulder taps, high-low hem and three length options 24″, 26″ and 28″.
I made this one in small with the 26″ length. I love the way it fits and paired with
this great quilted jersey from the Imagine Gnats store it is the most comfortable sweater
I have the raspberry one as well and I will probably make something for Anita out of that one.
Maybe I should make her the Apple Loungewear from Shwin Designs, which is the kids
version of the Day Tripper.
This was such a fun and fast sew that I made one more.
I was going to make this one in the 24″ length but I guess I had a blond moment and
cut it out more like 22″ but hey it works and I love this one as well.
This is sweater knit from stoff og stil. I love this fabric too, it has stripes with
small golden spots, makes this sweater a bit fancier.
I promised you a coupon and here it is hop on over to Shwin Designs
and get the Day Tripper for $7 using the code DAYTRIPPER.
Please hurry because this is only valid today October 28th.
Love
Dagbjört.
PS: This pattern was given to me as pattern ambassador for Shwin Design in exchange for my honest opinion.
Pattern Anthology: Unbiased
There is a new collection out from the amazing designers of Pattern Anthology called Unbiased.
It’s a bundle of four patterns for women using knit fabrics. Actually it is much more than four patterns since all of them can be made as either a dress or a top, with different sleeve options and
different kind of finishing touches.
Totally worth every penny!
I had big plans to sew them all up and share them with you but you guys know how it is,
life usually gets in the way of those grand plans! So I am pretty happy to share with you
two out of the four.
Lets start with the Diamond – girls best friend, right?
This pattern is designed by Shauna of Shwin Designs.
As you can see I made the peplum version with flared skirt and short sleeves.
First I made a muslin in size small to check the fit, because my measurements are like all over the place. I found it a little big so for my final version I cut out extra small and flared the skirt piece out to a small. For once I have made a top for myself that fits perfectly!
I accidentally cut the skirt piece on the fold, actually I cut two pieces on the fold and didn’t realize it until I had sewn the side seams together and thought it looked a little big as I was about to sew it to the bodice – hehe. Instead of cutting it in two I decided to just have one seam and place it on the back and I am very happy with how it turned out with the print of the fabric.
This fabric I got as part of the August Knit Fix from Girl Charlee. I love the print, it is thinner
than the knits I’m used to so it would probably not hold up very long if I had used it for something for the kids but it was great for this top.
Next up is my other friend, Gwen!
This one is designed by Kate of See Kate Sew.
A top again! With elbow sleeves and shoulder contrast.
I didn’t make a muslin this time, just cut a size extra small blended to a medium at the hips.
The sleeves I blended from extra small to small, it wouldn’t have hurt if I had gone up to medium.
But it works, I’ll just take it easy on the biceps workouts for a while – wink wink!
I love how well I was able to match up the stripes – high five to myself!
The stripy fabric I bought at my local fabric store and the pink contrast fabric is laguna cotton jersey in cherry from the imagine gnats store.
I am one happy mama with two new tops that totally match my style and fit perfectly.
Both of these sew up pretty darn fast, matching up the fabric took the longest time. The instructions are great as is to be expected from these sewing superstars. I will for sure use these patterns again, who knows maybe I will make dresses next time around. You guys will be the first to find out!
Now I just need to figure out fabric combos for the other two patterns in the bundle,
the Adora by Andrea Pannell and the Denver by Melissa Mora.
You can get the collection at 40 % discount until October 2 plus you will receive over $ 250 in coupons and a wardrobe planner. All of the patterns come in a size range from XXS – XXXL!
So something for every body!
I was lucky enough to be given these patterns in exchange for sharing my creations
with you and giving my honest opinion.
Love
Dagbjört
by dagbjort 