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Alright ladies!!  It's game time.  Today is the day we start sewing.  Who is excited??  I sewed my first swimsuit a few years ago, and I seem to sew at least one every year.  I can't wait to sew this adorable suit, so let's jump right in!

If you haven't already, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read Section IV in the pattern.  This section has amazing info on what stitch to use and how to make sure your sewing correctly using this sometimes finicky fabric! Now, grab your strap pieces.  This is for all suit options, regardless of if you are sewing the tankini version or full suit version.  You are going to fold these in half, right sides touching.  Sew with a zig-zag/serge/stretch stitch(whatever your preference).  Trim your Seam Allowance{SA}.

Turn your strap right side out.  Here is where these turning tools come in handy!  I am using my Dritz tool, but there are quite a few other tools out there you can purchase that are super helpful!  Once you have it turned right side out, finger press the seam so it is in the middle of the strap.

Take your elastic piece and safety pin on one end and insert into your strap until both raw edges match at either end.  Once you have your elastic inserted, take over to your machine and sew straight down the middle.  Make sure you do not stretch the elastic/fabric while you sew!!  Repeat for the other strap.

If you are adding the top ruffle, take your ruffle piece and sew 2 gathering stitches along the top edge.  You are going to pull your bobbin threads and gather your piece to 1/2 the original width.   

Take your front bodice fabric and fold in half.  Then grab your bodice pattern piece.  Lay it on top and transfer the ruffle placement markings onto your suit.  These markings are where the ends of your ruffle are going to start/stop.  

Start placing your ruffle onto your bodice, starting at one marking.  The gathered edge of your ruffle should be at your marking.  Pin all the way around the top edge of the suit, making sure you are spacing out your gathers evenly.  Once your ruffle is pinned, I like to go back to the sides and pin the straight edge of the ruffle to the raw edge of the bodice.  The edge of the ruffle will be sandwiched between the front and back main bodice fabrics in the next step.  Baste your ruffle in place.

For all bathing suit options, place the back bodice onto the front main piece and match the sides up.  Sew together along both sides with the stitch of your choice.  Do this for the suit lining also.  Trim the SA.

For the one piece option, align along the front and back crotch and pin.  Sew and trim the SA.  finger press the seam open.  Do this for the lining also.

Turn your suit RSO and leave your lining WSO.  Place the lining inside your main fabric and pin along the top edge.  YAY!  it is starting to resemble a bathing suit!  It's like magic!  This is a great time to do a fit test.  I slipped this on my daughter just to make sure no other adjustments were needed.  We had a perfect fit!!

Take a photo and upload into the {Day 3 album}.  Tomorrow we will be working on binding and straps, and finishing up our one-pieces!  See you back here tomorrow!

Good Morning, Lovelies!  It is Day 2!  Let's call today "the calm before the storm".  Today is an easy day before we get to the "meat" of the Sew-a-Long.  The weather here is PERFECT for swimwear, so I am beyond happy we are going to get to use this awesome suit right away!  How about we get started!

Let's get printing.  Did you know that you only need to print the size(s) that work for you?  Save your ink and use the layers feature.  I promise, it's very easy to use.  When you open your pattern in Adobe, click the bottom icon that look like 3 pages.  Then click the plus sign and uncheck all the sizes you do not need.  Make sure to keep the bottom option checked!  Now you will only be printing the sizes you will be using!  Awesome right?!?!

Once you are all printed, it's time to put your pattern pieces together.  There are so many different ways to do this, but my preferred method is tape.  Sometimes I will use a glue stick.  Some people like to use a paper cutter for those straight edges.  Do what is best for you!

Now that we have our pattern pieces ready to go, let's get to cutting.  Make sure to take note of grain lines and pieces that should be cut on the fold.  When using stretchy fabrics, be patient!  Pins can often pull the fabric, so you may want to use pattern weights when cutting!  I like to live on the edge, so I'm pinning, but do what you feel most comfortable doing!  Remember to cut all your fabrics, including your lining pieces.

Now that you have your fabrics cut, stand back and admire how cute your bathing suit is going to be!  Before you run off to cut more fabrics for more bathing suits, you need to snap a photo and upload it into the Day 2 album!  

While we are talking about snapping photos, this is the perfect time to talk about PRIZES!!  You all know that at the end of every Sew-a-Long we have a winner who receives a prize!  In order to qualify for the prize, you must have a photo in each daily album, showing that you participated along with us!  

This SAL is extra special since it is our {FIRST} one with Swimwear, so how about a special prize!!  2 lucky winners will each received 3YARDS of Swim Fabric from the gracious ladies at VFT!  One winner will be chosen at random, and one winner will be voted on in the VFT Gathering Place!  We can't wait to see what you all come up with!!!  Check back here tomorrow!  We will start sewing our suits! YAY!

Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming!!  It is already the 2nd week and June, so that means it's Sew-a-Long time!!!!  If you are asking yourself why we seem to be a week late, well let me explain!  Our lovely SAL friends vote every month for the amazing pattern we are going to choose.  This month, we gave our swimwear patterns as the options, and in order for everyone to feel fully prepared and have time to purchase fabric, we decided on giving you all an extra week!

So, here we are!  How about we get started!  If you've participated in our previous SAL's, you know what today is all about.  If it's your first time with us, WELCOME!!  We are so excited to have each and every one of you.  First things first, did you buy your pattern yet?  Well what are you waiting for?!?!  ALL SWIMWEAR is on sale, so take advantage and pick them all up!! You can never have too many bathing suits, right?!?!

Take a little gander at the pattern once you have purchased it.  Get yourself acquainted with the instructions, especially if you have not sewn swimwear before!  I promise, it's not as hard as you think!!  Make sure you have all your elastics, thread, clips, etc.  You don't want sewing days to start and not have everything you need, so toady is the day to head to the store for all those last minute items.

If you haven't purchased fabric yet, don't worry!  JoAnn Fabrics has a selection of swim knits that are ever changing.  They also carry lining fabric, which reminds me I should probably go pick up more today!!  It's great quality and holds up great in the pool!

I just so happened to have this adorable blue and white dot, and red and white dot swimwear fabric leftover from a suit I made my daughter a few years back!  I thought it would make an adorable Bridgette!  She saw the fabric and got very excited, so I think I picked a winner!

Gather all your supplies and take a photo!  We love to see your creativity so please share with us in the VFT Gathering Place!  As always, we will have a Sew-a-Long PRIZE!!!  More about that tomorrow, so stay tuned!!!  See you back here tomorrow with tape and scissors in hand! 

Today is Day 4, and it might be the {hardest} of all the days.  Today we are tackling the addition of sleeves and sashes.  These tasks aren't hard, per se, but in this pattern we learn how to finish our seams using a French Seam, so it's a bit more time consuming.

Since I am not adding in sleeves, I will briefly go over your steps, but make sure to read your directions over before you start sewing!  First things first, gather the bottom of your sleeves until they are the same width as your cuff.  Take your sleeve and place it on top of the cuff , right sides touching.  Sew with a 1/2in SA.  Fold 1/2in of the sleeve cuff towards the wrong side of the cuff and iron.  Then turn up the cuff another 1/2in and iron.  Your seam is now enclosed.  Topstitch in place and repeat with the other sleeve.

Now you are going to gather the top of your sleeves.  Lay your bodice wrong side up and pin your sleeve to the bodice, wrong sides touching.  Gather your sleeve so it matches your opening and sew using a 1/4in SA.  Trim off 1/2 of your SA.  Fold the sleeve toward the bodice and iron.  Pin your sleeve along the seam you ironed and sew with a 1/4in SA.  Now your seam is enclosed.  Fold your sleeve down and iron it towards the bodice.  Do this for both sleeves.

If you are creating a sash, grab your pieces.  If you would like a pointed sash, place 2 pieces together, right sides(or wrong sides if you are a rule breaker like me) together, and cut on a diagonal.  I like to line up my sash with the diagonal lines on my cutting mat!  So easy and perfect lines every time!  Repeat with the other 2 sash pieces.

Place 2 sash pieces RST and sew, leaving the short flat edge open for turning.  Trim off 1/2 of the SA clip corners and notch curves.  Or use your pinking shears!!  Repeat for other 2 sash pieces. Turn right side out and topstitch if you desire.

Place your bodice right side up, lining up the edge of your sash with the arm seam.  Make sure you have a little more than 1/2in left from the edge of the bodice to the bottom of your sash.  You will need to pleat your sash a bit to give more room.  Baste in place and repeat for the other side.

Now we are going to enclose our bodice seams, so make sure to pin your sash out of the way! Pin your front and back bodice pieces together with wrong sides touching.  If you have sleeves, do this for the sleeve portion too.  Sew with a 1/4in SA, trim your SA.

Turn your bodice wrong side out and fold the sewn seam with right sides touching and iron.  Sew along the edge you just ironed with a 1/4in SA.  You have now enclosed the seam.  Iron the seam towards the front bodice.  Repeat for the opposite side.

To help keep all the layers in place, finish the bottom edge of your bodice with a serger or zig-zag stitch.  If you created the everyday look, you are done for today!  If you are doing the sheer version, you need the encase your neckline in bias tape, just like you did your armholes.  

Since tomorrow is Saturday, and the weekend is always our catch up days, we will hop back into our SAL on Monday, with our final day!  Take the weekend to catch up and I will see you back here Monday!!

It's day 3 of the Elodie Sew-a-Long!  We are ready to hit the ground running and get to sewing!  Everyday I spend a few minutes looking through the awesome daily albums and swooning over fabric choices from you all!  I was SHOCKED to see the majority of ladies chose to sew the everyday version!!  I can't wait to see all the finished Elodie's!!!

If you are making the everyday version, you are going to scroll to step #59!  If you are making the sheer version, you need to begin with making your bias!  We've talked about this quite a bit in other patterns.  You don't need much for this pattern, so take an 18in x 18in square of your sheer fabric and fold to create a triangle.  Starting at the point, measure a 1 1/8in strip and cut, then do this for 2 more strips.  When you are done, you should have 3 strips of fabric.  This will be the bias tape for your neckline and armholes if you are doing the sleeveless version.

For both the everyday and sheer version, you are going to take your main and lining pieces of your sweetheart and place them RST.  Sew them together along the top curves.  Trim your SA and clip notches.  I am using my pinking shears here!  

Turn right side out and iron.  Now lay your sweetheart piece on top of your main bodice front, lining up the edges and topstitch in place.  

If you are creating the sheer version, here is what you need to do.  You are going to take your front bodice you just sewed and 1 back bodice lining and place behind the front bodice, with wrong sides touching.  Then place 1 back bodice main fabric piece on top of the bodice with right sides touching.  Your front bodice is now sandwiched between your back bodice pieces.  Sew along the shoulder seam.  Do this for the other side too.

If you are doing the everyday version, you are going to sew your front and back main bodice pieces together at the shoulder seams.  Do the same for your lining pieces.  Sew along the shoulder seams, iron the seams open.

Now place your lining and main bodice fabrics right sides together and pin around the neckline.  If you are doing a sleeveless version, you can pin around the armholes too.  Sew where you have pinned, trim your SA and turn right side out!

If you are doing the sheet sleeveless version,  follow the directions in the pattern for finishing your armholes with your bias tape.  Here are the photos for reference, but you are basically attaching your bias to the armholes to enclose the raw edge!  Take your time and go slow!

This is where we are ending for today!  Tomorrow we are working on sleeves, sashes, and finishing up our bodices!  Make sure you add in you Day 3 photo to the album!  See you back here tomorrow!

Today is Day 2 of our May Sew-a-long!  Are you still with me?  If you are just joining us, do not worry!  You haven't missed any sewing yet, so there's more than enough time to get caught up!  Today is another easy day, perfect for those of you who got behind already on day 1!  Let's get started!

It's time to print our patterns out.  Have you deiced what version(s) you are making?  I am making a sleeveless Baby Elodie for my littlest!  Did you know that you do not need to print out the skirt pattern pieces if you don't want to??  Did you also know that Elodie has layers?!?!  This means you don't have to print off every size, and can specify which size you want printed!  So cool!  If you want to print using layers, open your file in Adobe and click the icon on the left of your screen that looks like 3 pieces of paper.  Then click the + sign and you can specify which sizes you want shown!  So easy!

Now you can print your pattern and assemble the pieces.  Raise you hand if this is the part of sewing you dislike the most!  {RAISES HAND!!}  Seriously, I just do not like this part at all.  I wish the pattern fairy would visit my house and put all my patterns together for me while I sleep!

Ok, patterns are assembled and ready to go.  Time to cut fabric.  Pin your pattern pieces to your fabrics and cut.  Pay attention to grainlines and what needs to be cut on the fold.   I'm certain you NEVER make mistakes when cutting, I mean me either, NEVER!  haha

Lay your freshly cut pieces out all nice and pretty and snap a photo!  It's time to add it into the daily album!  We have finished day 2,  See, I told you it was an easy one!  Tomorrow we start sewing, so get a good nights sleep and I will see you back here tomorrow!

Happy May Day!  May is one of my favorite months, because to me I feel a bit of a shift in life!  The days are getting longer and warmer, school is almost out, and a new season of bbq's, pool parties and fun in the sun is coming!  And what a better way to ring in this amazing 1st of May than with Day 1 of the Elodie Sew-a-Long!

The past few sew-a-long winners have won by a landslide, and this one was no exception!  Elodie was the clear favorite this month, and I couldn't be happier, since this is a pattern I have yet to sew!  I can't wait to get started!

If you've sewn a long with us before, you know today is a fun day, full of letting your creative side run wild!  First things first, make sure to purchase your pattern!  I am excited to let you all know that we now have a Sew-a-Long section on the website!  All sew-a-long patterns for that month will be in that section!  And don't forget to use code ELODIEMAY2017 for 20% off!!!

Now that you have your pattern, figure out what version you would like to do.  I am thinking I will do the sleeveless Baby Elodie for my sweet littlest lady!  She is almost 9 months and I am just adoring her chunky thighs in little dresses, and I think Elodie is going to be the perfect dress for her to wear to her brother's First Communion last this month!

Time to pick fabrics!  YAY!!  I have only walked into a fabric store a handful of times this year, can you believe it?!?!  I mean, I do shop online pre-orders occasionally, but I am trying to be more mindful of what I am purchasing!  Because of this, I am shopping my stash!

I decided on this white and blue pin dot I have been holding onto for YEARS, and this gorgeous Bari. J floral I have been hoarding!  I adore Bari. J's designs, do you??  Goodness gracious everything she touches is lovely!  Make sure to gather your other supplies too!  And don't forget the zipper!  Mine is not pictured because that is one thing I couldn't find in my stash of notions, so off to the store I will be going!

Just like every month, we love to see your daily progress!  We'd love for you to add your daily photos into each album!  This is your entry into our fantastic giveaway next week!!  1 lucky winner will get a $50 Hawthorne Threads Gift Card and a 5 pattern VFT prize pack!!!  So make sure to get those photos into each album!!  1 photo per day please!!

Tomorrow we will be printing and prepping fabrics!  See you all back here, same time same place!

New patterns are always so much fun! But I always enjoy adding a new element to an older pattern that I already own and make it into something completely new, which makes me fall back in love with it. And to make it wearable for a completely different season? Win win! That's what I've done here with the Georgia pattern that was released last fall. It has an adorable ruffle neckline and what is more perfect for summer than adding an adorable ruffle sleeveless version? Not much ;) So I want to show you some steps so you also can create a sweet little summer ready Georgia with some added arm ruffles.



First of all you will need the Georgia Pattern. Which is available as part of our $5 Friday special. So if you didn't grab it last fall, go grab your copy now! 

Print all the pattern pieces minus the sleeves. In addition you will want to cut two ruffle strips for your arm holes. Follow this cut chart to know how long to make each piece:



Follow steps 1-4 in the pattern to prep your ruffle strips. They are finished the same way as the neckline ruffle is. 

Continue to follow the pattern how it is written until you get to step 10. Once you have sewn down the neckline, you will then lay the bodice wrong side down flip up the bodice lining so that the arm hole is easily accessible.



Grab one of your ruffle pieces, measure 1/2" from the edge and start pinning the ruffle around the curve. Make sure to leave 1/2" on each side of your ruffle for seam allowance.





baste down your ruffles with a 1/4", or even 1/8" seam allowance. Remove your pins and fold over the lining portion of your bodice to enclose the ruffles.

Pin the lining in place directly over the ruffles and sew with a 1/2" seam allowance.



Snip a couple cuts into the curves of your seam allowance so your seams will lay flat. 



Open up the front bodice and grab the arm ruffle and start pulling it towards you until you have pulled the entire back bodice half through and both bodices are right side out. 

Once it's all turned right side out, lay flat and iron. 

Next we will sew up the under arm seams. You will separate the front bodice main from the lining. Flip the lining up. You will then place the back bodice main on top of the front bodice main, and the back bodice lining on top of the front bodice lining. Right sides together.

Pin together. 



Giving special attention to where all 4 seams meet up. Make sure both seams are exactly on top of each other.


Sew along the entire pinned seam. When sewing where the ruffle comes down, get as close as you can to it, without catching any of the ruffle in the seam. If you happen to catch some of the ruffle, you will need to pick it out, and resew, ensuring the ruffle is not caught in any seams. It may help to reach inside and push the edges of the ruffles to the left as you sew to keep them away from your needle.



Once sewn, open up and press the seams flat.


Repeat all steps for the other side. Once you're done with both sides, top stitch down the neckline and armholes with a 1/4" seam allowance. You will also include the two straight edges of the back bodice middle with your neckline top stitching.


There will be a split in the ruffle under the arm, but once the garment is on, this won't be noticeable as they kind of fold one on top of each other :) 


The inside of your bodice will be fully enclosed, no seams will be visible. 



Pick back up at Step #23 in the Georgia pattern to finish your dress. 

I hope you enjoy the summer twist on this classic pattern! I can't wait to see all your creations!

Happy Sewing! xoxo,

Ashley

I've wanted to make a twirly, simple little summer dress for awhile and I saw the slip pattern included with the Rosemary and I knew that with some modification, it would be perfect. Our summers in California get so incredibly hot that you want something as airy and cool as possible and this dress fits the bill. 

The ladies of Violette Field Threads were so in love with this dress!!  They decided to take it a step further and make it super easy for all of to recreate this beautiful dress in every size!!   I am very happy to introduce you to the new London Dress Pattern!  The very best part...it is FREE!!!

London only requires about 2 yards of fabric and an hour of sewing time!  You will have closets full of these twirly summer dresses in no time!!

The Free London Tutorial has pattern pieces {and cutting charts, if preferred} for all the required pieces.  The tutorial will teach you how to make your own bias tape or if preferred you can use store bought tape for an even quicker sew!

The skirt and bodice can be dressed up by adding any fun trim, lace or pom-poms to the skirt. 

You can also add buttons or any other little embellishments to the bodice front!

London is perfect for mixing and matching fabrics. Fabric for this dress was generously provided by Threads and Stitches Fabric Group. Be sure to check out her page for awesome deals on fabric.

You will need to enter a code to receive London for free!  The code can be found in the pinned post of the Violette Field Threads Facebook Group HERE. I hope you enjoy this pattern!

xoxo,

Ashley

It's our final Sew-a-Long day!  It's been a fun ride, but alas, it's time for our April SAL to come to a close.  Let's finish strong and complete our Charlies!

Let's grab our skirt and pocket pieces.  Finish the edges your pocket pieces and on the shot ends on the skirt pieces.  

Measure down 2 1/2in from the top and place a pin.  Do this on all your skirt pieces.  Now take a pocket piece and place at the pin, making sure your pocket is pointing down.  Place the mirror image on the other side of the skirt.  Sew the pockets with a 3/8 SA.  Do this for all your pocket pieces.

Flip the pokets out and iron flat.  Place the front and back skirts RST and pin down the side, around the pockets, and down to the bottom and sew.  Do this on both sides and iron your seams open flat.

Hem the bottom, ironing up 1/4in, and another 1/4in and sew.  

Now find the middle back of your skirt.  Measure down 3in and place a pin.  Cut down the middle to the pin.  Take your placket piece and place the right side touching the wrong side of the skirt.

Sew using a 1/8in SA.  Iron the SA up.  Now fold down 1in and iron, then fold down 1 1/8in and iron.  This will cover your SA. Take over to your machine and sew.  You have now made your placket.  The left side will fold back towards your skirt.  Baste this in place.

Sew two rows of gathering stitches on your skirt.  Do not include your placket when sewing.  Gather your skirt to the same width as your bodice, and pin in place, matching your side seams, and sew in place.  Finish your SA, iron it towards the bodice and topstitch in place.

We are almost done!  It's time to add buttonholes and buttons.  Once you have this done, your Charlie is COMPLETE!!!!  YAY!!

Take a photo and admire your amazing work!  Charlie is such a gorgeous pattern!  Add your photo into the Day 5 album!  Don't forget we will be choosing the SAL winner on MONDAY, so you have all weekend to finish!  Thanks so much for sewing a long with me!  I always have so much fun with you all!