My Next Sewing Patterns!

Here is the fabric of my next young girls sewing pattern dress top! I have the pattern drawn out on paper and now I just need to test it! I have not enlarged it yet but that is my plans with each new pattern.

I have also enlarged my Boutique Dress Top Sewing Pattern for Tweens and Teens. I will be using the Bell Bottoms line of fabric to compliment the Boutique Bottoms for Tween and Teens I already made. I hope to have the Boutique Dress Top tested and finished by mid-August!

Boutique Bottoms sewing pattern and applique!

Ok, how adorable is this outfit!! Melanie, this is beautiful and your little girl is so cute! Melanie used SewSensible's Boutique Bottoms sewing pattern as a great canvas for her machine applique designs! What a terrific outfit! Melanie has a new custom clothing business called Sprinkles Boutique! She is already busy filling customer orders! Check it out!

Boutique Bottoms for Tweens and Teens sewing pattern!

COMING SOON!!

Boutique Bottoms for Tweens and Teens!

I have been working on the instructions and patterns for the Boutique Bottoms for Tweens and Teens. The testers have sent me their photos and comments and I need to make a small adjustment to the height of the waist and the length but other than that I am very happy with them. There will be three options for the bottoms: regular hem, ruffles, or a band at the bottom of the pants! The awesome part about these pants is that they are so simple that your tween/teen daughter/granddaughter can sew her own pair of Boutique Bottoms! What an awesome project for those late night slumber parties!! Or a perfect opportunity to have some Mom/Daughter or GrandMother/Granddaughter time together!! And they will look super cute with SewSensible's Boutique Dress Top and FAITH Double layer Dress Top sewing patterns when I enlarge those!! And thank you Emily and Elizabeth for running over so quickly to model these pants for me! And thank you testers for pictures and comments!! See testers' photos below:

I think I see the future look of the enlarged Boutique Dress Top and HOPE JOY Bubble Top!! :)

And remember these Boutique Bottoms? I sent these off last week. They are being highlighted on You Can Make This! Thanks, YCMT!!

SewSensible's Boutique Bottoms size 6m - 6 yrs

FAITH Double Layer Dress Top Sewing Pattern, Boutique Bottoms Sewing Pattern

Ok, how cute are these pictures! These are close to my heart because this is an awesome Mommy creation using SewSensible's FAITH Double Layer Dress Top sewing pattern from a Mom who has adopted her daughters and they look like my daughters that we adopted from Peru!! Just so cute! Here is what this Mommy said,

"Dear Aimee', I purchased your Faith pattern last week and began sewing this past Thursday afternoon. I never thought I would enjoy sewing like I did! I had only made one other dress for my daughters so I didn't have much experience. Thank you so very much for creating something so easy to understand and such a pleasure to make! My mother and grandmother had always made me lots of clothes, but I was never interested in learning when I was younger. I finally decided I wanted to try, but the commercial patterns made no sense to me. Your instructions and photos were perfect! I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart from one adoptive homeschooling Mom to another!"

Thanks so much, M, for blessing me with these very kind words and beautiful pictures! How awesome!!

And then here is an awesome Mommy creation using SewSensible's Boutique Bottoms sewing pattern where this Mommy got creative and added an elastic band around the bottom to coordinate with her daughter's pillowcase dress! Well, she is actually using her daughter as a model. She made this as a gift to give a lady in their church! Too cute, J! The family will be blessed to receive this gift! Thanks for blessing me today!

Boutique Dress Top Sewing Pattern and Applique Embroidery Design

Last night I checked my email before I went to bed and found these precious pictures in my inbox!! Wow! Just look how adorable this little girl is and how beautiful the whole family looks! And the outfit is spectacular! The top of this custom Mommy creation was made by SewSensible's Boutique Dress Top sewing pattern. Here is what this Mommy said, "I had to take a quick moment to write to you and thank you for the WONDERFUL "Boutique Top" ebook that I purchased from YCMT. What an amazing pattern!!!!!!! It was so well written, concise (which saves me ink and paper) and really, really simple to modify to fit my needs. I appreciate that the pattern can be easily tailored to suit many different "boutique" styles! I found it to be a great canvas for machine embroidery, but I'm sure that it would be stunning on it's own with a beautiful patterned fabric."

C, thanks so much for blessing me with these pictures! It is always so exciting to see what you Mommies and GrandMommies are creating using SewSensible patterns! And thank you for your kind words!

If any of you are interested in personalizing your custom outfit with an embroidery applique or a sewing machine applique then you can visit SWAKembroidery or YouCanMakeThis! for some cute designs. If you have an embroidery machine then check out SWAKembroidery. However, you do not need an embroidery machine to do applique. So for those who like the look of applique but have not made the financial investment in an embroidery machine, then you will be happy with the ease and fun of making applique with your sewing machine. Check those out at YCMT, link above or the How to Applique the Easy Way ebook.

FAITH Double Layer Dress Top, Boutique Bottoms, and Betsy/Joey Shorts sewing patterns!

Ok, is this not the cutest pictures! Thank you so much, Leigh Ann, for blessing me! Leigh Ann is another one of those amazing Mommies I have met through SewSensible. I could make a long list of all of you who have blessed me with these kind of pictures! I never get tired of them! And Leigh Ann, LOVE the star stitch!! And your children are beautiful! I know you are a proud Mommy!! :)

The other blessing in this picture is that my friend Nanette from Nanoo Designs and I never would have imagined two years ago that we would be a part of your child's wardrobe! :) Nanette and I and several other friends sewed together on a regular basis for some time. We started this sewing venture together as excited friends encouraging each other to do this and look at all of this now!! You see, in this picture is my SewSensible's FAITH Double Layer Dress Top sewing pattern and SewSensible's Boutique Bottoms sewing pattern and Nanoo's Children's Design reversible shorts!! Just another example in my life where God has truly blessed me and I know Nanette mirrors that feeling! It is a Wonderful Life!

Here is what Leigh Ann said :)

"I am, again, in love with your patterns. They are so easy to follow and they turn out so beautifully. I think this outfit is simply darling - thanks again!! I even took your suggestion from the pattern and used a star stitch in the maroon thread to create a contrast at the bottom of the top! I'm attaching a 4th picture to show my boys in their matching shorts (Nanoo Design's Betsey/Joey shorts)."

At Home Business for Moms!

With gas prices so high and the food prices going up, we all can use some extra money! This is a post to encourage someone out there that YOU CAN DO IT!! I started SewSensible as a hobby not knowing the future gas and food prices and now SewSensible has become a blessing, my at home business, during these times. I know you can use some extra money to help curb the upward prices so I thought that maybe some Mommy or GrandMommy needs a little push today..... start your own at home custom clothing business! You just start slow and you really don't have to invest a whole lot of money. You just need a sewing machine, thread, scissors, fabric, and a "I can do this!" attitude! You can use my patterns or go to You Can Make This! and shop for some there. My patterns are very easy to sew, no buttons or zippers, and with the right fabric choices and eye for detail, you can start making that extra money for your family! :) And if you choose a pattern with a zipper or buttons, YCMT has some great ebooks for this and the button ebook is free!

So I want to do this but how? Well, if you are a beginning sewer, you will want to sew some outfits and gain your confidence. Sew some clothes for your children or friend's children. Make sure you keep your eye on details. If you don't have a serger, the zig zag stitch will be your best friend! After straight stitching side seams, cut your raw edge straight, cut all loose threads, and then zig zag over raw edge to finish. Look at serged edges from store bought clothes and determine your zig zag length and width based on that. You will get a great finished edge if you focus on the details. Also, iron, iron, iron! One trick I use when sewing is to spray with starch. I use spray starch when ironing all my pattern pieces, hems, straps, and ruffles. I have also found that if you wait (which usually I have to because I work in between taking care of children) the starch dries and slightly stiffens the fabric and it just makes for a great clean stitch when sewing!

My advice is to start slow and start with one or two patterns to sew. Don't get overwhelmed about fabric choices. There are so many great fabric designers who design fabric with coordinating color options which make it so easy to pick different fabrics for an outfit and get that "boutique" look!

Where to sell my creaions? Ebay and Etsy are great avenues for this! Etsy has been a wonderful experience.

I will probably post more about this but in the meantime, I just know there is so many talented Mommy's and GrandMommy's out there that believe they can do more for their family but just don't know how..... this is one suggestion! :) Be Blessed!

FAITH Double Layer Dress Top and Boutique Bottoms and Boutique Dress Top Sewing Patterns!

Here are some more awesome custom creations from my sewing friend, H! H, I love them! It's amazing the people I have met through the common interest of sewing! I have met some extraordinary women! A violinist for one! All kinds of awesome loving Mommies! Wonderfully sweet GrandMommies! A woman firefighter! Seasoned business owners and newbie business owners! It's a Wonderful Life!

Women's Dress Top Sewing Pattern!

Oh yeah! I can see a line of women's sewing patterns coming from SewSensible in the future! How far in the future..... I don't know! Here is a dress top that I made me this morning. It was my tester and it came out fine but there are some changes to make. I have several patterns I am working on right now. My Boutique Bottoms for Tweens and Teens is being tested right now. I have a Boys pant pattern in progress and another toddler/girls Dress pattern I drew up and need to test. And then there is a desire for women's patterns.

Yesterday, Tommy and I were blessed to go on a movie date thanks to my Mom! After the Indiana Jones movie I went into a women's boutique store. I loved all the colors and tops! The only problem was the prices were outrageous! I looked at one top that I just loved and thought, "I can make this!" And that's what I did. This morning, I cut the pattern and this is what I got. We'll see where this goes!! :)

Boutique Bottoms Sewing Pattern!

My Boutique Bottoms Sewing Pattern will be highlighted on You Can Make This! along with another author's dress top! Thank you, Kim! Here are my bottoms that I mailed yesterday morning. The outfit will coordinate with the Bell Bottoms line of fabric. I can't wait to see it on the model! Grace was my little helper on this project. She is my youngest daughter, 3 years old. She loves to press the reverse button! She is a seamstress in training!!

Swimsuit Cover Up!

One of my sewing friends made this swimsuit cover up using SewSensible's FAITH Double Layer Dress Top Sewing Pattern! It was so cute that I started designing a swimsuit cover sewing pattern but when I got through with it, it just looked way too similar to the FAITH dress so I never completed the pattern. Maybe next summer!! This one came out adorable!

Sunny Wrap Dress Pattern!

Nanoo Children's Designs has a new sewing pattern, Sunny Wrap Dress! Just a very cute and simple dress to sew!

Sunny Wrap Dress pattern is now available on Etsy and soon to be available on YCMT. Sunny is a wrap dress pattern in girls sizes 1 through 4 that is fast and easy to make. It is an a-line style with extended shoulders to form a hint of a sleeve. Included are instructions for a reversible and non reversible style. This dress is a great canvas for embroidery or applique.

I actually think the back would be super cute as the front and it is reversible! Go and check it out here. There are some very cute tester creations!

FAITH Double Layer Dress Top Sewing Pattern!

Today I received an email that really touched me! Here is a custom Mommy creation using SewSensible's FAITH Double Layer Dress Top sewing pattern. Here is what this Mommy said,

"Aimee', Well, I did it! I really thought I'd wasted my money on the pattern and fabric because I figured it would turn out like the other things I'd made....looking like I made them! But this top turned out beautiful! My daughter wore it to the movies today and we got tons of compliments on it from strangers. Since I haven't sewn in 15 years I was afraid I wouldn't be able to remember what to do but the directions and the pictures made is super simple. Thanks so much!"

Well, that was just the best email today! I just love to hear this Mommy had not sewn in 15 years and sewed her daughter an outfit all while she was scared it would not look good! And look at it!! Beautiful! And your daughter is too cute! She reminds me of when my little Rose was that age. Thanks, L, for blesssing me with these pictures and your kind words.

FAITH Double Layer Dress Top Sewing Pattern!

Here is an awesome Mommy creation using SewSensible's FAITH Double Layer Dress Top sewing pattern! This Mommy made her 6 1/2 year old this outfit and cut some extra fabric to add to the bottom of her jeans! What a great outfit and your daughter is beautiful!

One thing I love about the FAITH dress, other than the ease of sewing it, is the back. I just love the combination of the criss cross straps with a bow! Thanks, Rene', for blessing me with these pictures! Also, if anybody is interested, check out Rene's Etsy shop, the Personalized Touch, for some cute personalized and custom purses, totes, key fobs, personalized applique towels and pillowcases! And then she has some great pictures on her blog of her latest creations!

Also, I saw on the I Made This! section of You Can Make This! a FAITH customer creation where they added ruffles to the layers. It really looked adorable. I had thought about ruffles when I was making the pattern but I decided I wanted a fast and simple dress to make without sewing up some ruffles. But after seeing that picture, I want to make my girls' next FAITH Dress with ruffles!

Sewing Patterns for Girls size 7-16 and New Boys Pants Pattern!

Ok, I have finally started on enlarging my patterns!! WoooHoo! I have drawn out a girls size 7-16 Boutique Bottoms. I have test sewn two, made some adjustments and will sew another one soon. I have to say smaller girls are so much easier! As you know, as the girls get older they start having more curves and different heights and weights! Alot tougher to design for than smaller girls! I will definitely be looking for some testers for this pattern. I would like to test each size so if you have a daughter or Grand daughter that is a size 7/8, 10/12, or 14/16, please let me know if you would like to test the pattern! They are very similar to my Boutique Bottoms but for these older sizes I have eliminated the ruffle. I did make one with the ruffle but it did look a little too young on a 12 year old. However, I think when I enlarge my Dress Top that a ruffle pant would look cute coupled with the Dress Top. The pattern will be a capri length.

And I am also making a Boys Pant Pattern thanks to my friend, Melanie! She is definitely the inspiration to these pants! Thanks, Melanie! This pattern will be for Boys size 6m-6 years.

Embroidery Designs: I will also be adding a new item to SewSensible: Embroidery Designs! I am excited about this. I have several designs ready but they are not for sale yet. However, if you have one of my patterns and an embroidery machine and you would like to add one of my designs to an outfit you made from one of SewSensible patterns, please let me know and I will send them to you. Right now, I have several that have been tested and look cute: the Boy and Girl Pocket Pal Frog and Lizard. The Girl Pocket Pal Frog has a bow on the Frog's head and a small bracelet on one arm. The Girl Pocket Pal Lizard has a bow on her tail and a bracelet on her arm as well. The idea came from my children who love frogs and lizards. I really can't believe we actually have them still around the house because they always are catching them..... our boys and our girls as well! The pictures are above but I have taken off the highlights. Let me know if you would like to put them on an outfit! Below are the tested designs.

Embroidery Designs

Ok, I have a question for you embroidery machine enthusiasts!! Do you prefer filled embroidery designs or applique embroidery designs? I have drawn up several boy and girl designs and am currently getting them digitized and tested. They are all filled designs so my question to you is which do you prefer..... filled or applique?

Here is a sneak peak of my Boy Collection! This will be the Pocket Peek-a-Boo Pals Collection! These are my original designs and I am just so excited about the possibilities!

Sewing for a Cause!

Last night me and Nanette from Nanoo Designs, got together with another friend, Stephanie, and sewed for a cause! For the past two years we have been building a relationship with our state's foster care system. We always ask them their needs. We received an email last week that they needed bean bags for a group therapy session for some of the girls in foster care! We met at Nanette's home and brought three of our daughters and sewed for a cause while planting the seed of service in some of our children!! What a great way to serve the orphans of our community: the foster care system! Click here to read more and see the bean stuffers in action!