TEA HOUSE TOP AND DRESS TOUR

Welcome to the Tea House Top and Dress Tour! The Tea House Top and Dress is a pattern by Sew House Seven that was realeased a few months ago.

The Tea House features: a V-neckline with front and back neck yokes, front seaming, in-seam angled pockets (for the dress versions), a back neck box pleat, cuffed dolman short sleeves and two different tie options.

I chose to make a top with inseam ties (View A) and I made size 8 without any modifications. I think the fit is spot on.

   

I love that there are no closures to the top/dress and the ties make it flattering and easy to wear. The pattern instructions are very clear and I had no issues. The sewing went smoothly.

The fabric is a cotton lawn from Robert Kaufman's collection London Calling available here.

I really love the fabric and I love how the top turned out, but next time I would like to try to use a different fabric for the front yoke. I think the pattern has really nice and original details that are not enhanced by the floral fabric. Also, I really want to try the dress version!

Overall, I absolutely love the pattern and I will definitely use it again!
 
Thank you so much Emi for inviting me to be a part of the tour and thank you Nelleke for hosting it!!

And now about the giveaway! If you want to win a pattern of your choice from Sew House Seven, just write a comment on Gaafmachine's first blog post and we will pick two lucky winners next Monday 15th of August using a random generator.
 
Now, go check other amazing tops and dresses versions of the Tea House Top and Dress Pattern. Here is the line up.

Tuesday August 9th

                                     Rebel and Malice   || Stahlarbeit   || Gaafmachine                               
                                                                            

Wednesday August 10th

In a manner of sewing  ||  Sew Happy  ||  Mottenfrosch           

 

Thursday August 11th 

Sew Mariefleur  ||  Kreamino  ||  Fairies, bubbles & co  ||  Frölein Tilia

 

Friday August 12th 

Made by Sara  ||  Just add fabric  ||  Little cumquat

 

THE ELEENA DRESS

I was so thrilled to be able to test Coffee and Thread’s new pattern: the Eleena Dress. I love Olga’s designs! I made the Mulberry tunic a zillion times (you can see some versions here, here and here) and it is still one of my favorite patterns ever. So, when Olga invited the testers to join the tour, I couldn't say no. 

Olga’s patterns are very clever and beautifully made. It is such a pleasure to use a pattern where everything matches perfectly.

The Eleena dress is a 1960’s inspired dress that features an inverted pleat in the front...

... and an invisible zipper in the back.

There are three sleeve options to choose from: short sleeve, long sleeves with cuffs and flutter sleeves. The dress also comes with a very original collar. 

In this version I went with a sleeveless version and no collar, which I also find adorable. I wanted to make a summer dress and I am really happy with the result.

The floral fabric is a cotton lawn (Kaufman London Calling Lawn Tight Floral Garden) bought here. The red fabric used for the front pleat and the lining is from Joann's.

The pattern is available in sizes 2 to 12. I made size 8 for my tall 6 and 1/2 year-old and I think the fit is perfect.

The Eleena Dress pattern tour starts today and will go on until March 7. Here is the list of amazing bloggers that will be joining the tour. Be sure to check their versions.

February, 22 

Bonnie & Lottie, As it Seams, Sew Happy, Call Ajaire

February, 24

In a Manner of Sewing, Skirt Fixation, Stitched Together, 

Made by Sara, The Life of Compulsive Crafter

February, 26

A Jennuine Life, Fairies, Bubble & Co, Hungie Gungie, Doguincho

February, 29

Rebel & Malice, Sew Shelly Sew, Creative Needle and Threads, 

Welcome to the Mouse House

March, 2

Candice Ayala, LBG Studio, Crafty Biggers, Sewing Like Mad

March, 4

Greendoodle, Rita Pirolita, Boevenbende, Kristine Hansen 

March, 7

Les Reloux, Just Add Fabric, Lokakid, While she was sleeping

The Eleena dress will be on sale for US $7.00 (regular price US$ 9.00) through March 7th, 11:59 EST. 

There is also a giveaway!! Please be sure to use the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win two patterns of choice and one yard of Sara Jane fabric (photo below).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

The Holly Dress by Audrey & Tiffany

I was very lucky to get the chance to sew the new Audrey & Tiffany's digital pattern: The Holly Dress. (Thank you Allison and Deb!) The Holly Dress was designed by Allison from E+M Patterns and Deb Zalesky from Sprouting Jube Jube. Actually, this is not the first time that these very talented ladies get together to create a beautiful design. Last year, they made the Secret Garden Dress, which is so adorable. Check it out here.

The Holly Dress has a squared neck and an empire waist. It comes with 2 options for the bodice: pintucks or gathers; and it joins the 1/4 circle skirt with a contrasting band (I skipped that part though). The back closes with buttons and loops.

 

I chose the pintucks and I think they look adorable. I love the neckline and the little buttons on the back.

For the fabric I used Darlene Zimmerman's Lazy Daisy Basket (Robert Kaufman) in pink and red, that I purchased at my local store. This fabric is really soft. :-) 

If you are thinking of buying this pattern, please note that there is a 25% discount ending tomorrow, February 14! To get the discount, make sure to use the code ""HOLLY". You can also use the same discount to buy the gorgeous Secret Garden! Aren't these great news?   

Also, make sure to check other beautiful versions of the same dress here, here and here.

CHRISTMAS OUTFITS

Christmas calls for special outfits! Although I have been sewing for some years for my children, this year was the first time that I made them their Christmas outfits. I always bought them traditional outfits from Portuguese brands, but, though I may be a little (a lot) biased, I think they have never been so well dressed! ;-)

Teresa wore a red corduroy dress with a white shirt, blue tights and blue velvet shoes. I used Straight-Grains' Hanami dress pattern. I made this dress a couple of months ago for the I heart Marcel Marlier series (when I made the dress, I already knew this was the one she was going to wear on Christmas Eve). The fabric is a lightweight red corduroy from Robert Kaufman. I wanted to add a belt also in red corduroy with a white ribbbig, but was unable to finish it on time...

For Manel I made shorts with the same red Robert Kaufman corduroy I used for Teresa's dress. I used the Two Haute Shorts pattern. Although this pattern is intended for girls, it is perfect for boys also! This is my second version so far! (you can see my first version here) I love it!

Here they are with their outfits. Cute right?



I (HEART) MARCEL MARLIER

Well, I have a confession to make. I have been discussing with my husband for well over a year whether or not I should create a blog to record the thinks I sew for my children. Somehow, I never had the urge to do it... that was until I read about the I (heart) Marcel Marlier sew along! So, basically, what motivated me to create a blog was the opportunity to participate in this sew along! And why, you may ask? Well, I believe I read all books ever written by Marcel Marlier for the "Anita" collection. I still have all those books at my parents' house in Portugal and this book collection was probably the first collection I have ever made. So, for me, this sew along, was the kick that I needed to make this blog!

So, my idea was to try to recreate, as close as possible, an outfit wore by Anita in one of those books. I don't have any book at home here in the US, so, I had to stick with what I was able to find online. One of the first images that I found was one of Anita with a boy. I thought it would be perfect: I would get to sew not only for Teresa but also for Manuel! Here is the picture that I used as an inspiration:

Due to the weather conditions around here, I have not been able to take pictures of Teresa and Manuel outside. I wanted to go to a park to try to recreate the picture above, but it is too cold for that now, meaning that I had to improvise an indoor photo-shoot. Teresa is always ready for a photo, but Manuel hates it, so getting a picture of two together was really hard.

For Teresa's dress, I used red corduroy (Kaufman 21 Wale Corduroy) and seersucker in plaid for the lining (Kaufman plaid seersucker). The pattern is Straight-grain's Hanami top or dress. This pattern is great. I have already sewed the Hanami top (you can check it here) and this time I made the dress version with the invisible zipper. It was the first time that I included a zipper in clothes and, surprisingly, I found it very easy to do (maybe it was just beginners luck...). I really like the way it turned out, it is very elegant and fits beautifully. I made it in size 7 (though Teresa is a size 6), so that she can use it during the winter with a blouse or a sweater underneath.  

 

For Manuel I decided for a tunic and pants. For the tunic I used Willow and Co's Mulberry Tunic in white linen (I already showed this tunic here).

For the pants I decided to try Citronille's Ursule pants, also in linen, bought here. I love these pants, they are very easy and quick to sew and are super comfortable and cool for both a boy or a girl. I love the way they fit Manuel. 

I am really happy with the two outfits! :-) Hope you like it too!

PUMPKIN PICKING

Since we arrived to Texas (it will be a year soon) we have been determined to get to know the traditions around here. Halloween is no big deal in Portugal. In fact, while I was growing up, there was no such think as Halloween. Recently (I would say 15 years ago), stores started selling Halloween stuff and the kids went along with it, but it is really noting like here. Anyway, last weekend we went to pick up a pumpkin to decorate our house for Halloween.

A couple of months ago I made a dress for Teresa and a matching shirt for Manel in a red/orange polka dots fabric and I though that these would be the perfect outfits for pumpkin picking.

The fabric is Amy Butler and the patterns are once again the A Dress from Yoshiko Tsukiori's Girls Style Book and the Balthasar shirt from Citronille. I made some modifications to Manel's shirt: took off the collar and used bias tape instead and made short sleeves.

It was super fun, they really enjoyed their day and so did we!

EASY AND VERY SATISFACTORY PROJECTS!

I really like those projects that though easy to put together provide great satisfaction. This is the case of the A dress from Yoshiko Tsukiori's Girls Style Book.

I really love the design of Japanese patterns and kids look so cool on them. The A dress is a project that can be made really quickly and looks so great! Check it out:

In the first version I made (so far I made 3!), I used an aqua plaid print, which was also a perfect fabric for boys... so I made Manel another Balthasar shirt. This time instead of using the classic version, I included a hoodie and a front pocket.

This is how the two pieces look together!