Buttons and Bibs Coastal Crossover

Hi everyone! I made another twinning set! This time round, I made the Coastal Crossover from Buttons and Bibs!

My version is the V neck with faux lace (printed) CL and black modal handkerchief skirt in top length. Her version is black CL with the faux lace CL as a skirt in dress length. I didn't bother hemming mine and hers was rolled hemmed with a serger so both dresses were really fast to sew! 

I really do love twinning with this cutie pie! 

Here's some photos of how beautiful this dress looks worn! 

We hope you liked our versions of the Buttons and Bibs Coastal Crossover!

Pattern Showcase: Toteally Awesome Tote Bag by Winter Wear Designs

Me again for Winter Wear Design's 12 day of Christmas Blog tour! Did you know that Winter Wear Designs have bag patterns too? 

There's the Collect-all Drawstring Bag, the hipster bag, the about town clutch and my favorite bag pattern of hers: The Toteally Awesome Tote Bag. (There's still more free patterns to discover if u click ard the site!)

Many of these patterns are freebies from her very popular 12 days of Christmas giveaways and codes can be found in her fb group under the announcement! 

Why did I say it's my favorite bag pattern? Cos ever since I made mine, I haven't stopped using it.

Here's me with the bag:

and here i am again!

And again...

I could go on since it is relatively easy to find pics of me with this bag but u get my point! 

The pattern comes with 2 sizes of bags. The bag I showed is the bigger version.

Look at all the pockets! It's perfect for everything. 

When I go to work with this bag (I'm a teacher), I fill the pockets with markers, and my comp mouse, cables for the projector, pens, glasses and water bottle then the main compartment has my laptop (I padded this bag really well so it's safe to put a laptop in here!) and worksheets. 

I love it so much that now that it is school holidays at my part of the world, I emptied it out and use it when I go out with kids, so now these pockets are filled with their water bottles, change of clothes, diapers, wipes, snacks, packet milk while the main section contains books, toys etc. So roomy! 

When I go out shopping sans kids (seldom these days but I do!) I bring out the bag mostly empty so that I can fill it up with SHOPPING! WOO HOO. Save the environment yes! 

It's really just a perfect tote bag for working folks/ busy mothers/ shopaholics etc etc 😂

In fact, my non-sewing friend saw me with this bag and was so convinced of its usefulness and versatility (and also that it was an easy sew), that she came over to my place and we spent 2 lovely afternoons, very leisurely sewing her very own tote bag while we chat away about life and kids. 

I think the bag pattern must have been really good cos she is now hooked on sewing and she wants a sewing machine for herself! 

Here's her bag next to mine:

I just LOVE that pink. In fact, I love it so much... 

Here's MY Pink bag. 

This time in the small size without the inner pockets. So cute. It may be 'small', but it is still a good size! I'm using it as a yoga bag for my yoga mat towel and a waterbottle. There's even space for a spare set of clothes and towel (not shown in pic) if i intend to shower at the yoga studio. 

 

Never made a bag before? No worries, this is a simple project. With no special notions needed, no zippers, no buttons/closures etc... 

I did the pocket version in 1 afternoon, my friend, who never sewn before, did hers in 2 afternoons, and that includes cutting and us chatting. The smaller bag without pockets was done in 2 hrs including cutting with a projector*. So it's definitely a do-able project and did I mention free? 

Big bag vs small bag ❤

Get it here and get sewing! 

*regarding projector sewing: if u are like me and love projector sewing, u should totally download the free inkscape software. The side panels and bottom panels are rectangles while the front and back panel already has A0 files that u can use directly with your projector. What i did was i drew a digital rectangles of the correct sizes of side and bottom panels using inkscape then project that file directly to my fabric to cut out the side panels. This saved me loads of time since i only needed to do it once. Projector cutting all the pattern pieces for the small bag without pockets only took me 10-15mins! 

Blog Tour: WWD 12 Days of Christmas: Free Split Hem Tee and Leggings

It's that time of the year again! The well-loved and long awaited Winter Wear Design's 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways and I am so happy to be her WWD blogging "elf" 😆😆😆

Today's blog tour post is all about the Split Hem Tee for Kids and 12 Days Girl's leggings. Sounds familiar? That's because these were freebies from 2019 and 2018 respectively! This year, we are getting projector updates on both files! 💙💚💛💜💗

Projector users REJOICE! 

When I got the projector file, I was so excited, I got to work on a coordinating outfit straight away and this was done in no time at all! And of course, in the tradition of WWD blog tours, I have included a few little hacks of my own I hope you will enjoy reading about!

Perhaps, the first hack you will notice is the short sleeves on the split hem tee. I cut it short because we live in tropical Singapore and it's hot all year round but I wanted a lot of use of out of this tee hence the cap sleeves. There's not much to this - I just use her current short sleeves as a reference then hem the sleeves with pretty lace elastic. To tie in the look, I hemmed the leggings with the same lace elastic too! 

Guess what she spotted? 

POCKETS!! Yes! That's right! I used the side panel as a guide to cut a shorter piece of the same width to use as a side pocket! And again, the tie in the whole look, I hemmed the top of the pocket with the same lace elastic! 

I think she likes her pockets alot! I constantly find hidden "treasures" in those pockets before I do laundry. I guess she's just really happy that her leggings actually have pockets! 

The split hem tee is really a great pattern to pair with the leggings. I like how the back is nice and long and covers the bum for a lovely modest look while the front is also long enough without being too long that it hinders movement. 

Here's more photos of her in at home enjoying some quiet play time in her new coordinating split-hem + leggings combo. This is definitely a winning combo. And the patterns are both free! Head on over to the Winter Wear FB group to get the free download code and make your own versions today~ 

Rain City Pattern Co Port Orchard Paperbag Pants, Capri and Shorts

Rain City Pattern has some really lovely patterns for kids and the Port Orchard Paperbag Pants is just one of them. 

I was looking for a quick and simple shorts pattern to sew up for my girl. Something really fast. And this was the pattern that caught my eye. 

The paperbag shorts I made had no side seams, no pockets. The waistband uses a facing and the way the elastic was sewn was really easy. I made a little belt with belt loops (instructions included) and I think that really elevated the cuteness of this pattern! 

The belt and belt loops are optional but because it really doesn't take that much longer to make, I really suggest you try doing it cos it is so cute! Here's the back view:

The Port Orchard pants pattern size chart goes to 14 yr old and that might just mean that some of us smaller sized people might just be able to fit into the biggest size! hehe. My bum is slightly too big - though I am tempted to hack it cos it really looks adorable! 

More photos? Yes please!

Goober Pea Design Mabel Top

I had the chance to test for Mabel. This is a basic bodice + circle skirt / handkerchief skirt dress with the option of normal sleeves or puff sleeves. A staple pattern in any little girl's wardrobe I must say! 

I really like handkerchief skirts recently so I took no time at all to come up with this cute little outfit for my girl. Projector sewing for the win! hehe. 

Not sure if you can see the hemming in the photo, but the hemming is very pretty both inside and outside because the pattern came with instructions on how to hem a square skirt such that it looks good inside! 

The top length looks super cute with her shorts. And I think it will go well with leggings too. 

I was thinking of trying a double handkerchief skirt next. I think that would look really sweet too! 

Oh, I used custom knit for this. And I realised that custom knits tend to be really tight. I think moving on, I will probably need to size up every time I use custom knits otherwise, she will outgrow her new clothes in no time. 

Thank you for reading! If this inspires you, do consider using my aff link to purchase the pattern! =)