Peek a boo patterns winner!

Well you may have noticed a lack of our Tuesday Link party... yep I am slacking, for a pretty good reason I guess. This last week was a night in the ER 14 family members coming in from out of town for a wedding, which meant 2 parties at our house, a wedding, sick kids, sick husband and flooded basement. All the family left today, and I am ready to go sleep for about a week :) Or at least get the house put back together, literally. 

So I am late in posting the winner of the Peek-a-boo patterns giveaway... but I do have a winner!

Congratulations:

Sparklingmomma!

You will have an email from me shortly. 

Go To Patterns {blog tour}

Have you all heard of The Train To Crazy? I am sure most of you have felt like you have been on that train to crazy town. (I know I have especially this week) Well, Andrea from The Train To Crazy started her own pattern line! The first pattern? The Go To Dress. This is no light weight pattern. This pattern is fully loaded with sizes 12m-12years, and so many options you can make over 500 different style options! Yes 500! Not many patterns allow that!

 So naturally when Andrea asked me if I wanted to participate in the blog tour and test the pattern I said YES! And then she was kind enough to bump me to the end since the month was way crazier than I ever thought it would be. She is awesome like that but I was so excited about the pattern I refused to pass :) She makes everything so clear and easy with tons of tips, ideas, and she even defines all the different knit fabrics so you can choose the perfect knit. Even if you are scared to sew with knits she walks you through how to sew with knits even with just a regular sewing machine nothing fancy.

 I was terrified of shirring before this pattern, like avoided shirring at all cost. I am honestly not sure why but The Go To Dress Pattern makes everything seem so easy and possible I decided I would just bite the bullet and go for it. I am so glad I did! I now LOVE shirring, it really is as easy as it looks. But if you are afraid or struggle with shirring don't you worry there are plenty of other options.

 I made the tunic style for Abbey (with a little added length so she can wear it longer) I also did the ribbing at the neck and the cap sleeve with ribbing option. I was going to add inset pockets but I decided to keep it a little more simple this go around. And even though the pattern comes with a few different applique options Abbey is really into butterflies these days so I added a few felt butterflies simply sewn down the middle to secure. It was quick and simple and she gets the effect of butterflies flying up the shirt.

 Abbey was thrilled with a comfy knit shirt, and I love the outcome! I can see many more of these in the future!

You can find the Go To Dress Pattern and other patterns in the Go To Patterns shop.

And if you want to see some of the other creations check out the other stops of the tour!

Instagram Friday! {It's a girl!}

 Well we found out this week that we are having a girl! (which is a surprise since at my last ultrasound they said it was a boy) I couldn't be happier really, I am glad that Abbey will have a little sister and that there will be one more little Shwin in the world. :) After we found out we purchased girl items and wrapped them up for the kids to open so they would know what we were having. Abbey was excited! Jude was sick so he didn't care.

 My parents are now both in town which is the worlds greatest timing but it is so nice to have their help in my current state. We took them out to a ball game at the local minor league team, beautiful night beautiful stadium, and great seats. (even though they totally lost)

 Jude started off the week sick, then he got worse and worse until we landed in the ER late one night. What we feared to be appendicitis, was thankfully just a horrible virus infection. They were able to get fluids in the poor kid, and some morphine for his pain and he is already doing better now, hopefully back to 100% soon.

 I conquered a sewing fear this week. It was silly really but I had never shirred before. However I tried it, I love it, and I will be doing more of it, it is so easy. (more on that project tomorrow)

This week could have been conquering fear week, Jude got over his fear of Dr.s and IV's, I got over my fear of shirring, and well Abbey got over the fear of swimming solo. I took the fish and met up with some family that came in town for a wedding this weekend and we went swimming at the hotel. Abbey decided she was ready for the vest and free swimming. She did great keeping herself above water, she was sad when it was time to leave, not that I blame her fish belong in the water.

The Molly Skirt {New Pattern}

The Molly Skirt Pattern is here! 

I decided to do things a little differently for the Fall/Winter release of patterns. Instead of being bogged down with a dozen different patterns and then trying to get them all tested and tweaked at the same time I am doing one at a time. This particular pattern I knew had to be the first one. It was a design that came to me in a dream and I woke up and just HAD to make it right then. Granted it took oh 4 different skirts to get things just right, and a few more tweaks after my fabulous testers got their hands on it. However the outcome of the skirt is everything I dreamt it to be.

 Wide over the top modern ribbon and bow, gathered paper bag effect at the waist.

 Inseam pockets for all the pocket lovers. And an adorable bubble hem.

 The skirt is fully lined and finished really nicely with all seams neatly on the inside.

The pattern is easy to sew since there are not any zippers of fasteners just straight lines and sewing some gathers, with some tips along the way to make it easier.

The pattern includes sizes 12 months - 12 years (although sizing the pattern up even to adult sizes would not be difficult) 

You can find the Molly Skirt Pattern now in the shop!

Looking to stock up? We just added Pattern Bundle prices!

Buy 2 patterns for $12  Use the code: BUY2

Buy 3 patterns for $15  Use the code: BUY3

Buy 4 Patterns for $20  Use the code: BUY4

Buy 5 Patterns for $25  Use the code: BUY5

Codes can be used in BigCartel shop only

Also my awesome testers did a great job sewing up some skirts that were going to be included in a round-up, but we have been having tons of power outages and so  I never got my act together to put them all together. Still a big thanks to my testers who always help make a better pattern!
If you sew up a skirt share it in the Flickr group!

Link Party #24

It's time for another Link Party!

Whoop Whoop! (I may or may not whoop too much :)

Last weeks was AMAZING! Seriously some adorable crafting going on. It was actually hard for me to narrow it down to my three most favorites... Like really hard I almost just did 15 instead ha! But that would be overwhelming, so here are just a few of my favorites from last week. 

 Elegance and Elephants knocked it out of the park with these adorable shorts. Those pockets are to die for! Abbey needs these... like yesterday :)

 Straight Grain shared this balloon dress a combination of all the the things she loves and wow is it gourgeous. I especially love the back!

The life of Jennifer Dawn shared some truly adorable and creative ways to make your own push pins. Simple, cute and I love all the ideas although naturally the buttons stole my heart :)

I can't wait to see what you guys share this week!

New to link parties? That's totally fine here's what you have to do:

Find a entry on your blog that you want to link up.

It can be ANYTHING (unless it's an ad or something let's keep it spam free)

Say it is a great new project you just made and have been dying to share it with the crafting world. 

the link should look something like this:

http://(your blog adress/website)/(the post you want to link).html

Linking to the post is the easiest way for people to get back to that post.

Then click where it says "click here to enter" 

follow the steps to link your post and create a title, and select your picture.

Keep in mind the picture will be small thumbnail so pick a picture that shows it off the best. 

Lastly if you were so kind to add our button to your page or post, or where every you store your link party things that would be super cool. You don't have to use the button to link up, it's just there for you if you can't live without it. 

cool? cool. Let's get the party started!

<br /><br /><a border="0" href="http://www.shwinandshwin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x393/theshwins/tuesdayparty.jpg" /></a><br /><br />

Peek-a-boo patterns Review and Giveaway!

 We have a little treat for you today! Peek-a-boo pattern shop, an adorable shop loaded with super cute patterns is taking a tour around blog land.

Choosing a pattern to make was the hardest part since there are SO many awesome patterns to choose from. However my little brother is getting married this weekend, so I knew I needed to make Abbey a dress for the wedding, I wanted something that was casual in style but that would have that "fancy" pop just by using fancy fabric. So the Natalie Dress Pattern was perfect. The tee shirt top kept it from getting so fancy she would never wear it again but I used silk for the bottom and added some length so it was longer and more elegant.

The pattern is great and walks you through making your own tee shirt top even, however I had to match the black from my dress for Abbey and matching black in knits was harder than I thought, however Abbey had the perfect tee that even had the bling at the neck so I simply chopped it off and used the tee instead. It made an already easy pattern so much easier. I also added pockets for my pocket loving girl, by simply adding an inseam pocket.

I love the pleated skirt which I did as box pleats instead of pleats that all go the same way, just because to me box pleats make it a little more fancy. I also added a ribbon belt instead of the sash which for the wedding will be made with a purple flower but I haven't made that yet so I used the belt from this top.

Now Abbey is all dressed and ready to impress at the wedding. Plus the dress is purple... her favorite.

And the best news! Not only can you get the Natalie Dress Pattern is on sale today only for $5! (a great deal) but...

There is also a giveaway for one lucky winner to pick any 3 patterns of their choice from Peek-a-boo patterns!

Want to enter to win? Visit Peek-a-boo pattern shop and leave a comment here with the three patterns you would choose if you won.

That's it. Simple and easy (except the picking of the patterns you will want them all :)

Giveaway will end Sunday July 29th 11:59 P.M (MST)
Winner will be announced Monday July 30th
Good luck!

Also check out the other stops along the pattern tour

Instagram Friday on Saturday!

So my mom came into town... so we have been busy doing things and that means Instagram Friday is a day late. 

 We had a very rainy week, this did not keep us housebound all week (just most of it ha!) We did get out shopping, stopping at the kids favorite toy store. Abbey was clearly born to shop, rain and all and she kept her bag up off the wet ground and covered her hand from the sprinkles or rain.

 House bound we had some fun in the playroom days racing cars down the slide. Lighting McQueen was the clear winner every time.

 We also got our next Kiwi Crate! Seriously it was a day saver since we were running a little low on rainy day entertainment. This box was creating a safari, the kids loved it and, well I loved all the smiley faces Jude added to his animals.

We went out to dinner one night and Abbey was dead set on getting the pizza, when it came it was HUGE! I thought man the kids should have shared, then Abbey shocked us all and ate the whole thing. Except the crust she does't eat crust...ever. she made a neat little pile of the discarded crust and would move on to the next piece. She out ate her brother even and this is a girl who usually eats... we nothing, I can't remember the last time she finished even half a meal.

My Husband and I also took advantage of my mom in town to watch the kids and did something I never thought I would do...ever. We went to the midnight showing of the new Batman movie. I was worried we were too old for something like that, or that I was just too pregnant ha! But the movie was fantastic, and it was fun to get out and do something different.

How was your week?

The Robin Tunic {or another blackbird}

 So last year I played along in Me Sew Crazy's pattern remix series. It was a lot of fun and if you have been around that long you may remember that I re-mixed one of my own patterns, and I shared a free pattern for my remix The Black Bird Tunic. Sadly Abbey out grew the tunic from last year... you know how that happens. So I though it was time to make a new one, since it is my favorite top. So I did. I wish I could say I will share the new larger sized pattern... but I didn't really make one... I followed the tutorial from the original to make a pattern for the neck piece even though I made the neck a little more oblong than circular this time... Since I wanted it to be a nice and thick neckline but not hanging over her shoulders it comes to a little more of a rounded point in front and back.

 The other thing I did, was I just kind of winged the skirt part. I knew I wanted it wider than the last so there would be a nice tight gather and the top would be full. So I cut it several inches over from the edge instead of just an inch or two like the first tutorial.

 Last things I did different this time, was I finished the arm opening with bias tape sandwiched around the fabric instead of the piping. And I decided to simply serge the bottom edge and leave it at that instead of hemming, I liked the contrast.

 That's really all there was to it and now she has another top that she can out grow :) And since it is another black bird tunic but with a nice red belly I thought Robin was a suitable name.

And a happy girl, who I happen to love in red. Shorts by the way are from this pattern. 

Link Party #27

Welcome to this weeks link party! 

You guys rocked it out of the park last week with some delightfully sewn garments, yummy recipes and jaw dropping crafts! 

Here are a few of my favorites from last week:

 The Plum Verbena (who I have a feeling is a new blog to watch out for) Shared this adorable sleep sack. I have seen a lot of sleep sacks in the DIY world but this one looks so soft and cozy what baby wouldn't love sleeping in it?

 2nd Story Sewing shared this amazing outdoor sectional she made. Yes MADE, amazing right? Looks like a page from a magazine. If you are thinking about making your own she lays it out really well from where she got tutorials and what advice she has.

Sew country chick shared this cute outfit she made her daughter from a Japanese sewing book. I love the fabrics she put together and I love the lines of the top. So chic.

I can't wait to see what you guys share this week!

New to link parties? That's totally fine here's what you have to do:

Find a entry on your blog that you want to link up.

It can be ANYTHING (unless it's an ad or something let's keep it spam free)

Say it is a great new project you just made and have been dying to share it with the crafting world. 

the link should look something like this:

http://(your blog adress/website)/(the post you want to link).html

Linking to the post is the easiest way for people to get back to that post.

Then click where it says "click here to enter" 

follow the steps to link your post and create a title, and select your picture.

Keep in mind the picture will be small thumbnail so pick a picture that shows it off the best. 

Lastly if you were so kind to add our button to your page or post, or where every you store your link party things that would be super cool. You don't have to use the button to link up, it's just there for you if you can't live without it. 

cool? cool. Let's get the party started!

<br /><br /><a border="0" href="http://www.shwinandshwin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x393/theshwins/tuesdayparty.jpg" /></a><br /><br />

Lazy Linen Shorts

So summer is well underway (yes it is July) and Abbey was in desperate need of shorts. So I decided to whip up a few pairs. Literally whip some up, less than an hour and in whatever scraps I had laying around. I kind of made up my own little "pattern" for these ones because I loved the linen and really wanted to use it but all I had were some large scraps. What's a girl to do? Make it work. Then I kind of liked the drop waist huge waistband look, so I may make a few more. Anyway these are styled after basically a pair of boxers... only linen and pockets make them a little "fancier" right? 

 Well either way, they are easy to make, you can hardly go wrong, and they offer a different look for shorts for summer. Abbey was happy.

 So I took a pair of pants, they were skinny jeans and I wanted the shorts to be looser so I added some space to both sides. I also cut them out on a fold so the front and back leg will be one piece. (like pajamas) Now with my scrap in order to get the "point" I had to be pretty low on the waist. Which is fine since I will just add I nice big waist band.

 So I cut out two legs (both on the fold) and I cut my big waistband in one piece. How wide? Measure the hip and add 2 inches. Then make it tall enough to make up for what you cut off and tall enough for an elastic casing at the top.

 Next for the pockets I just cut out two squares.

 Press all the edges under and then press the top edge under twice and sew in place. I added a little applique that my husband picked up in London because I liked the little crown, and it made them a little girlier. (not a real word)

 Then sew the pocket to the front of the shorts along the sides and bottom. In hindsight I would have place the pocket a little higher... but live and learn. Repeat with both legs

 Fold the leg in half so right sides are together and sew from the crotch down the leg. Repeat with both legs.

 Then with one leg inside out and one right side out put the right side out into the inside out so that they are right sides together. Sew the "U" shape to sew both legs together.

 Turn the shorts right side out and you have shorts, minus the waistband.

 Sew the waistband together at the ends so you have a tube for the waistband. Then sew the waistband right sides together to the top of the shorts.

 You will see I added two small pleats to the front of the shorts since my waist band was just a touch too wide. No big deal, the pleats add a little something something and like I said, you really can't go wrong with shorts. Then press the waistband up and fold the top edge down.

 I am seriously lacking in pictures for this but fold the top edge down again and sew in place to create a casing for the elastic. Slip in the elastic and you are done. Just hem the bottom, which, for mine were hemmed more than I thought I would but the longer shorts (which I usually like) looked a little to masculine for this look.

 So that's all there is to it. Lazy Linen Shorts, easy and relaxing for summer, and they take seriously no time and no major thinking to make.

Which is how I like things these days. Simple and fast.