Tag: spring sewing

The Romper Repeat – Bayside Leopard

After my daughter saw my SeaChange playsuit (you can read about it here), she asked if I could make her one. She loved how it looked like a dress but was really shorts, and of course, the pockets. Unfortunately the fabric she wanted was a knit, and Pattern Emporium doesn’t have a kids version of the pattern. So I asked her about using the same pattern we did a few years ago for her, the Bayside romper from Pattern Niche.

As soon as I reminded her which it was, she was very excited and asked to see the available options. The pockets sold it for her.

Since the fabric she picked was Bulgaree ITY from So Sew English, it has very nice drape and gives the romper a dress feel, all while feeling relaxed and cool. She has grown quite a bit since the last time, so we had to do several fit check try ons during sewing, and each time she said, “Ohhh, this feels so nice!”

The Bayside has shorts, pants, or dress lengths in mini, knee with a straight or curved hem, mid length or maxi. You can choose short sleeves, flutter sleeve, or tank, and of course, pockets. Something that sets the Bayside apart from other rompers is its fun cross back bodice design. It really makes it easy for my daughter get it on and off and adds such a fun detail.

My daughter picked the tank, shorts cutline, with pockets. She doesn’t like elastic in the cross over back pieces, so I omitted that. It does give the back a slightly more drapy look, but she really likes it. If you have a child prone to things slipping off the shoulders, I wouldn’t recommend that omission, as it can help hold the shape.

When I was making the romper, she asked if we could do some fun stitching so she picked her two topstitch thread colors for the pocket and we did a rolled hem on the shorts, to give it a slight wave look.

Tip: I can not recommend enough. Use your Child’s waist measurement to determine elastic length, and try it on before securing it all. It helps to get a much better fit and allows you to make sure you have enough support to keep the waist where it belongs. It makes such a difference in comfort for my kids and myself.

The Bayside is available in both women and kid sizing.

The fabric is Bulgaree ITY from So Sew English Fabrics.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I may get a % back, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my sewing 💕

Trying a new pattern company – SeaChange

Have you sewn any patterns from Pattern Emporium?? I have almost purchased a few in the past, but always forget to go back and miss the sale, and since I try to only purchase when on sale, I have yet to make a PE pattern.

Side note, I love watching Kate’s preview videos. Even if the pattern isn’t my style, I just love to listen to her talk and see all the different ways she styles her own pattern. All the fabrics she uses, and her personal thoughts on why she likes which ones. I just love them and her passion for sewing her own clothing.

The video for the SeaChange was no different, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Except this time, I was determined to catch the release sale and make one for myself.

When I was shopping for fabric at Fabmere, for my Siena ( you can read about it here), I saw a gorgeous red floral, with an almost paisley look to the flowers. It made it into my cart and was earmarked for my SeaChange. I have said it before and I will probably say it a million more times, I LOVE RAYON CHALLIS, especially for our spring and summer.

The SeaChange is a jumpsuit (3/4 or full length) & playsuit ( short or mid length) romper. It has short, regular, or tall cutting lengths, wide or narrow straps that can be fixed, adjustable, or tied. Plus optional side ties, sash, and pockets.

I chose the short length playsuit, with narrow fixed straps, and pockets. For fun I did a narrow rolled hem for the legs.

I know the mantra of making a muslin first, I also knew that I only had a couple yards to make this pattern, and this was my very first time making a PE pattern, all very good reasons for making a muslin first. BUT, I have heard great things about Kate’s drafting, I read her tutorial ( the amount of tips and fit help and steps on how to check fit, were amazing!!) and felt really comfortable with just going for it. With not having much time to sew this past month, it was a good call and I had absolutely no fit issues.

I really appreciated the attention to fit that was provided. I know I usually need to make certain adjustments to patterns for my body, and I can’t even begin to explain how nice it was to know if I actually needed to make those adjustments. For an example, the straps. I almost always have to adjust the straps on cami type tops, and usually longer, which means I need to recut. Kate actually made the straps longer, included a note about it, and I was able to do one fit check and use the original straps, vs multiple fit checks and having to recut new longer straps.

I chose to wear my SeaChange loose with no tie or sash. It really feels very springy, breezy, and super comfy (especially with my current health flare). I love how it almost looks like a dress, but I have no worries of things blowing up and being exposed.

Since our weather is currently fluctuating from the 70’s in the morning and evening, and the 90’s during the day, I decided to try it on with some white tennis shoes and my jean jacket.

I love how this looks!!

I am definitely making more of this pattern, and I’m determined to not miss another PE sale 😂

Fabmere Fabrics has this Rayon Challis still in stock, plus a few other solids and prints.

Bridging the clothing gap – Olympia

My daughter is all about the crop tops right now, and while her Dad doesn’t like her looking so grown up, he understands her desire and so we are working on outfit compromises. Who knew that sewing would provide a way to bridge the inevitable clothing gap.

Part of the crop top pull, is how much cooler she is. It is hard living in our heat, being active, and trying to stay cool, so we have been exploring new garments and fabric bases. This recent sew really hit the ball out of the park for her.

The Olympia from Pattern Niche (Formerly New Horizons Designs) has several options, but the most notable design feature, is the open/overlap sides. For her first, she picked a pretty floral double brushed poly fabric, from So Sew English, that I had saved for a while. For the Olympia options, she chose the shirt length, scoop neckline, with kangaroo pocket. The Olympia also has a tunic length option as well as a hood and a scoop hood neckline.

She is a straight size 12 for the first time ever and that made this a crazy fast sew for me. You can see my timelapse of it here.

The scoop necklines are done with a facing and pattern has you use optional interfacing.

Interfacing tip: I like to cut the interfacing 1/8-1/4″ smaller than the pattern piece it is being attached to. I have found that it cuts down on bulk in the seam allowance, and avoids the risk of getting the interfacing on my iron or ironing board.

I cut out the interfacing but ended up not using it, and for the next one, I plan to skip the facing completely, add a little to the neckline, and just turn and topstitch it.

She really loves how breathable this is, and her Dad really likes how non crop it is, and that makes it a sewing win in my book.

She is requesting more for the summer, in swim, in athletic mesh, and since it has a loose fit, I kind of want to try it in a woven.

The Olympia from Pattern Niche is not only available in girls sizing, but women as well.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I may get a % back, at no additional cost to you.