Sewing for Me: The Seafarer Top Pattern

Recently, I've started sewing for myself! I had the chance to test out this pattern for a knit top and I am so excited to have a few new tops in my wardrobe. Since I still have baby weight to shed, I'm trying to sew from the material I have in my stash. That way I can customize the fit.

Abby, from Sew Much Ado, just released the Seafarer top pattern. And if you are in need of a new top I definitely recommend this one! I made both versions and I wear one or the other multiple times a week. They were so easy to sew, came together quickly, and are the most comfortable tops I have.

The pattern is easy to follow and she gives awesome tips about sewing with knits. Which is so wonderful to a person (like me!) who is new to the world of knit material!

By the way, how awkward is it to pose for pictures? What do you do with your hands? Why do we notice so many flaws? If my kids are in the pictures with me, I am so much more comfortable! But I had to show you just how cute to tops are so here we go.

The first version has a banded neckline, arms and waist. I used a coral and white striped, medium weight material.  I almost lined up the stripes perfectly. So close.

 

The second version has a regular hemmed neckline, arms and waist. Blue and white striped, medium weight  material. I lined up the stripes much better on this one!

I have a few ideas for dresses, and another top, for myself and hope to get started on those soon!

Oh, and this little guy is almost 7 months old!

Miette turns 3!

My baby girl turned 3 a few weeks ago.

She is such a sweet, caring, funny, silly girl.
She loves to dance, sing, have you make up songs about anything and everything.
She adores her baby brother and will do just about anything to make him laugh.
She will sit very still while you read her 5 books in a row then sit there and read through the books herself. Playing in the dirt and water are two of her very favorite outdoor activities.
Greek yogurt with honey and fruit is what she asks for each morning. And if we are out, she tells me we need to go to the store to buy more.
She loves veggies. And that makes me happy!
She tries to do everything on her own. Some things I don't mind (getting dressed) and other things I have a harder time with (pouring her own water into a cup).
She is full of life and love.
She wants to help me when I'm sewing and loves to choose the fabric for her clothes. Lately, she loves all things pink. But luckily she will wear just about anything. 

I decided to make her a special outfit for her birthday. The first three pairs of shorts I was trying to make were a terrible failure. And turns out it wasn't just me! After some research I found out the pattern was problematic for most everyone that tried it. So I switched gears and made these bubble pocket shorts. Success! The cutest shorts ever. I have another pair in the works right now!

 

Bubble pocket shorts. Blue and white seersucker. 

I decided to make the tunic version of the geranium dress and this time I went with the pleats and pockets. Pockets in the shirt and on the shorts? She was in heaven!

 Blue eyelet lined with blue and white striped shirting material.

I also made her this Madeline-inspired doll (pattern by Sew Much Ado). I love that she can braid the hair and she has a reversible skirt! My friend Rachel found some vintage handmade doll clothes and gave them to Mie for her birthday and they fit just perfect!

I love watching her grow and can't wait to see more of her personality as she gets older.

Tumble Tee for my little Mie

 My love for sewing has quickly overtaken my love for cooking. Now don't get me wrong. I still love to cook and bake (and since I'm a personal chef I better still enjoy it!), but sewing is something that I'm loving more and more.

I love seeing Miette wearing something that I made. And even better, when she gets excited to wear it that makes me so happy!

I'm slowly gathering up patterns from around the web (so much easier to follow than the big brand patterns the stores carry) and I was in search of a simple top pattern.

So when Rachael from Imagine Gnats put a call out for pattern testers, I jumped at the chance to stretch my sewing skills and learn a few new techniques. Her Tumble Tee pattern is a color block knit tee or dress. I wanted to try both a shirt and dress, using both knit and a stretch material.  This was so easy to put together and the tips that Rachael had about sewing with knits were so helpful!

I decided to go with a solid color for the top. I veered a little from the written instructions and didn't calculate properly. So the top ended up being a little large in the front. To fix my mistake I added a pleat and a cute bow. And I'm so happy with the way it turned out. The pictures don't show the detail or color very well, but it's a mint with white polka dots. It looks great on her!

The second version is a knit dress. I chose a gray solid knit jersey for the front and a pink and white stripe on the back. And of course, needed to add a little pink and white to the front.

 Miette loves this dress. She can still run, jump and play in this and that is very important to her!

I have a few more tees in mind using this pattern and I can't wait to sew some more!