Christmas Skirts!

The girls wanted skirts this winter so they could wear their stockings and boots so that has been the outfit of choice this season which made it SUPER easy for me!! I made a Christmas skirt for three of my daughters and then made two more for two of my nieces. They loved their skirts and so did I (especially because it did not take long to make all five!) The pictures above were at our home for Christmas Eve. It is tradition for my Mom, brother, sisnlaw and their children to come over. It was later in the evening this year so all was inside which made for a loud blessed time with 10 children running around! (and Zoë even cooperated and smiled which was a Christmas miracle too ;)

For Christmas presents, I did make more skirts for other nieces and Annalyce and Mia always get an outfit for Christmas. I made them each a Boutique Dress Top with matching Boutique Bottoms. As soon as the weather gets a little warmer I will take pictures of them wearing it. I know they will look so cute!!

I am looking forward to the New Year! I have all my drawings of new designs and I plan to start narrowing down to about 5-7 patterns this week and next. I am excited about 2010 and my prayer is that all of you and your family are abundantly blessed this new year! May God increase your finances through these difficult times! My hope is that some of you can make some Boutique clothing using my easy patterns to make some extra income for your family. Some great ideas are to make a few outfits and take them to your church. You will be amazed at the Moms that will want to order some outfits. The best way to simplify and not get overwhelmed is to purchase a few coordinating fabrics and offer three simple designs to start off with. You can offer the Boutique Dress Top with a matching Boutique Bottoms and/or FAITH Double Layer Dress Top with a matching Boutique Bottoms, and/or a solid tee with a cute pair of ruffled Boutique Bottoms. All of these patterns are not just easy to sew but they make adorable outfits that just do not go out of style. There are many great fabric shops and I have found that some of the fabric designers I love make the prettiest coordinating fabrics which make it so easy to choose fabric for an outfit. Some great fabric designers are Jennifer Paganelli (Sis Boom), Heather Bailey, Amy Butler, Bari J, Paula Prass, Tanya Whelan, Tina Givens, Lila Tueller, Laura Gunn, Genevieve Gail, Sandi Hendersen just to name a few. There are so many out there! I do a lot of my fabric shopping at FatQuarterShop but there are many great fabric shops that have the same fabric like fabritopia, fabfanatic fabrics, fabric attic, fabric cafe, fabric hound, fabric junkie, fabric worm, and there are so many more. If you are a fabric shop and you are not on this list, please leave a comment for these blog readers to come meet you!

Merry Christmas!

!!!!! Merry Christmas !!!!!

From our family to yours .....

Thank you for a great year and I pray many blessings on you and your family this Christmas season! (Heidi not shown)

"From the fullness of His Grace we have all received one blessing after another. " John 1:16 NIV

Scoop Neck Dress Top sewing pattern and Reversible Pleated Dress Top and Boutique Bottoms sewing patterns!

Scoop Neck Dress Top sewing pattern!

Reversible Pleated Dress Top and Boutique Bottoms sewing pattern!

I received these cute pictures in my email today! This is an awesome Aunt creation! I just love the Scoop Neck Dress Top fabric and of course I love the reversible pleated dress top paired with the Boutique Bottoms! Your niece will look adorable. Here is what this Aunt said, "Here are some Christmas gifts I made my niece! Love the patterns and they fit so well!"

Thank so much, R, for these pictures and kind words!! I pray your Christmas season is blessed!

New Downloadable Sewing Patterns Coming Soon!

Well, here is my newest project: The Virtuous Apron Collection! These will be my first women patterns. I have so enjoyed putting on an apron in the kitchen and having that magical feeling of going back in time. I even think my food tastes better when cooking with an apron and my husband has surely liked it ;) But most importantly, I want to be "that woman." I want to be virtuous, I want to feel divine and gracious. Through day to day disciplining and falling short of those titles, I still desire to be a virtuous woman that builds up and takes the awesome position of wife and Mom God has blessed me with. This apron just helps me feel a little more like her :).

I am in the process of making a few corrections the testers pointed out. And many thanks to the testers! You are a blessing and your words about the aprons were kind, sweet, and some funny! Just to let you readers know, some of us felt a little sexier in the kitchen with our apron on! A little lipstick, a great looking apron and a little jump in our step had some of us giggling for sure! This is an easy sewing project with a no-handsewing technique for making it reversible which makes for a great gift for Christmas parties and get togethers!

Check out Miss "B" in her Miss Divine apron!! Her mom was one of my testers and her daughter tried it on!! "I must say Miss "B" you look Divine!!!!! ;)"

At this time, these will be downloadable patterns. The first is Miss Divine. She is reversible and charming! (pictured above.) This design may look familiar to you. Not only is this more of a classic apron style but I took my women's dress top that I made this summer and made it into this apron. I still hope to make the dress top a pattern one day.

The second one is Miss Gracious. She has a hint of being sweetly pure and a 1950's feel! I can't wait to show her to you! She can also be a half apron.

These will be some of my newest downloadable patterns and look for several more children's boutique sewing patterns as well in 2010!

Twirl SKORT Sewing Pattern and New Sewing Patterns coming soon!

Twirl SKORT sewing pattern

"Where being modest is fun!"

I never get tired of this Christmas tree fabric!! It just makes any outfit so adorable. Here is an awesome Mommy creation using SewSensible Twirl SKORT sewing pattern (just a fun modest skort with a twirl twist!! This Mommy also made a matching applique tee to match! Here is what she said, "I made her a little matching applique shirt with an "A" on it. She absolutely LOVES this outfit, and so do I! Thanks so much!!! L" Thank you so much, L, for sending me your creation! It is beautiful and your sweet daughter is precious!

This pattern comes as a downloadable or a physical. If you are interested in purchasing the physical please see boutique shops/fabric/quilt shops on right side bar. And if you carry SewSensible patterns please let me know and I will add you to the list.

NEW SEWING PATTERN: I am excited to say that I have two women patterns coming as a downloadable very soon. This is my foot through the door with these two patterns. They are simple and versatile and I will say they make me feel so "virtuous"!! I have them at the testers and will hopefully reveal them next week. I have received two tester photos and comments back so far and hopefully will receive the others soon. I am happy about how excited the testers were and the pictures were great!!

Scoop Neck Dress Top and Boutique Bottoms Sewing Pattern

Here is an awesome customer creation using the Revised Scoop Neck Dress Top sewing pattern and Boutique Bottoms. And her little "model" is precious! Here is what this Mom said, "Here is my version of the scoop neck dress top. It turned out really cute and I paired with your boutique bottoms. My daughter loves it, and didn't want to take it off at bedtime! Thank you for your easy patterns! J"

Thank you, J, for sending this in and for your kind words! If you have an awesome creation that you would like to show off please send it to me to post. It will not only bless me but inspire others!

New (Downloadable) Sewing Pattern Coming Soon for Women! Currently I have two women's patterns with testers. This will be a collection which you can use for the holiday season coming up. I hope to have these available in the next 14 days so keep checking back for updates! I will also reveal the first two patterns from this collection as soon as I get feedback from the testers. Yay!! women patterns!! I am excited.

Sewing Patterns in 2010: I have several drawings for dresses for 2010. These will be my new physical and downloadable patterns that I will focus on in January.

I pray your Thanksgiving was a blessing and that your Christmas holidays will be abundantly blessed!

Sewing Patterns!

Busy Busy as all of us are..... right!? Currently I am working on three projects: the one you see above which is reversible, another project similar to this one, and also working on getting the Scoop Neck Dress Top physical! I will share more in detail about the first two projects soon.

We were able to take some fun family pictures last week (I think I already mentioned this but it is still in my mind)! I am a stressed out crazy Mommy when it comes to try and get everybody to be in a good mood and do their part for pictures. Well, again this year..... it is just not reality for us with small children!!!!! We encountered three meltdowns from three different children at three different times! And then our six year old son had a very loose tooth that made him have this funny weird smile FOR ALMOST ALL OUR PICTURES!! It's ok though..... my husband reminded me we will have many more years for family pictures and that made me feel a little better! The joys of Motherhood! Life is good! May your Thanksgiving holidays be abundantly blessed!

Twirl SKORT sewing pattern and Boutique Bottoms sewing pattern!

"I made my daughter a Thanksgiving outfit using the twirl skort skirt pattern. I love how it turned out and so did she! Here is a pic for you. Thank you for such an easy and wonderful pattern! C"

"I used your boutique bottoms pattern to create this adorable outfit."

Look how cute these two awesome Mommy creations are using SewSensible Twirl SKORT sewing pattern and Boutique Bottoms sewing pattern! Just the cutest Fall/Thanksgiving look! Thanks so much, C, for sending me these pictures! Your daughter is so pretty and looks like she is very happy with her Mommy creations!!

Both the Twirl SKORT and Boutique Bottoms sewing patterns are available as a download and a physical pattern. There are several places to purchase the patterns. My website has the downloadable version and You Can Make This has the downloadable version. If you would rather purchase the physical pattern please see my side bar for Boutique shops that sell the SewSensible physical patterns. If you are a fabric, quilt, or sewing shop and would like to carry SewSensible Children's Boutique Sewing Patterns then please see Distributor information in the first paragraph of this sewing blog (at the top).

And the Scoop Neck Dress Top is now available as a download only at this time. This Dress Top has long sleeve options and a removable fabric flower. If you are a beginner sewer and would love to make a Thanksgiving outfit or Christmas outfit but are intimidated by patterns then give this one a try! I have designed all my patterns with the beginner in mind and I am available via email if you have any questions while you are sewing!

Scoop Neck Dress Top Sewing Pattern with long sleeve short sleeve options!

You can make your very own ..... Scoop Neck Dress Top! Designed with the beginner in mind. It is very easy to sew while having that “boutique” look! It is a fun and dainty design with options of adding rick rack accents, ruffles, short or long sleeves with or with-out elastic hem and an optional fabric flower that is removable! No buttons and no zippers! Dainty and Fun to make! Pair it up with SewSensible’s Boutique Bottoms for one amazing outfit! Great for the beginner to the advanced sewer! Easy to follow step-by-step instructions along with lots of graphics to guide you through each step! It is simple enough to create an awesome custom gift for your niece or granddaughter and makes a great canvas for appliqué or embroidery designs!

There are two places to purchase the downloadable pattern: You Can Make This (it should be up in a couple days at YCMT) and my Etsy shop. This pattern is available for download only. I have submitted the revisions to YCMT so if you purchased from YCMT you will be able to go to your library and download the revisions. If you purchased from me then you may email me and I will send you the revisions. I will need your email and if possible the month you purchased the pattern. I believe you will love the revisions and as always the pattern is designed for beginners so if you have never tried sleeves then please know these are easy!!!!!!!!!!!! smile smile!!

The physical pattern will be ready in December but I do not know the exact date. I will update as soon as I know a closer date!

Scoop Neck Dress Top sewing pattern cover!

Well, I was able to do the cover and now I will focus on getting this available for download this week. I need to redraw the smaller size sleeves first. The physical pattern will not be ready until December. I will give you a better date as soon as I know more. On a side note: my GrandMother went to be with Jesus early this am so I may be a little delayed. Her arrangements are not known yet; however, she was a loving beautiful role model! She lived a long life (90's), had 9 children, many many grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved and served the Lord for as long as I can remember! I love you, MawMaw!!

Scoop Neck Dress Top with short/long sleeve options!

This pattern will be available with revisions for download in the coming two weeks (hopefully the coming week) and the physical pattern will be ready sometime in December. When I have a closer date I will let you know! These are some pictures that we took during our family picture morning! I'll work on the new cover tomorrow and hopefully have that up by tomorrow too!

New Sewing Pattern Coming Soon!

Ok, I have been sewing up a new pattern. I took these pictures with my phone as you can tell! It is not what you think it is!!?? ;) I am working on the sizes now. I am excited that this will be for me!!..... and you!! I am excited to finally use all the beautiful fabric on something for me!! This will be a holiday pattern and of course I will use holiday fabric but for now I loved to use this Jennifer Paganelli fabric (the top and bottom picture). I will hopefully give more details in the coming days about this pattern but until then HOW EXCITING!!!!! (smile).

Scoop Neck Dress Top with long sleeve short sleeve options and Boutique Bottoms sewing pattern!

Look at this cute cute Fall outfit!!!!! Just such a sweet and adorable applique' shirt matched with a pair of Boutique Bottoms!! Love this look! And for all you who do not have an embroidery machine then head on over to YouCanMakeThis! for some cute patterns for sewing machine applique'! And the best part of this outfit is you can do it for little money. The turtlenecks can be purchased for under $5 in some stores. I just purchased some long sleeve solid shirts from Children's Place for under $5. The Boutique Bottoms takes about a yard of fabric and a little more for size 5-6. And with the scraps from the Boutique Bottoms fabric you can make an adorable applique giving you a custom look for your loved one!! This outfit can easily be made for around $10!! Very economical and extremely rewarding!!!!! Let me know if you make any outfits this way and please send the pictures over here to get posted! They will inspire so many!! Aren't you inspired by this picture?!! I know I am!!

size 5-6 tester photo with elastic short sleeve option

size 6m-9m tester photo with elastic long sleeve option! There is also sleeve options

with no elastic hem. Too cute!!!!!

Simple Sunday Dress made by an amazing lady!!

This dress is for sale at her etsy shop Haysie Doodle!

Here are some more tester photos from the Revised Scoop Neck Dress Top sewing pattern!! I just love the long sleeve option! And if you are a new sewer and are fearful of sleeves DO NOT BE!!!!! I have made them very easy especially for the beginner!!!!! This pattern will be ready as a downloadable hopefully second week of November and as a physical pattern hopefully mid December!! I need to make a few changes to the length of the sleeves for some of the sizes and a few corrections the testers found!

Scoop Neck Dress Top sewing pattern with long sleeve and short sleeve options!

I am getting some pictures back from testers who are testing the Revision of the Scoop Neck Dress Top with long/short sleeve options!! How cute are these!!!!!!!!!! I am still waiting on several more and am hoping to have this one ready as a downloadable in the beginning of November and as a physical in beginning of December!! I will be using this pattern for my girls' dresses for our family picture we are taking next weekend! I'll be sewing them beginning of next week! So excited about the revisions!!

Sewing Pattern Giveaway!!

Are you ready for a giveaway!!!!!?? I am hosting a giveaway at The Benner Daily!! Go check out her blog for the details! This is two physical patterns that will be mailed to the winner.

Sewing Patterns for Beginners!

For the past several years I have had 100's and 100's of emails, comments, and feedback from first time Mommy sew-ers and beginner sew-ers write me with lots of excitement about sewing their daughter an outfit and loving the ease of SewSensible patterns!! It has truly been one of my greatest joys with SewSensible: to read your emails, comments, and feedback and see the pictures of your loved ones in the outfits you created! I want to thank all of you who have sent in your creations! You not only have brought me great joy but you have inspired many many other Moms to try their hands at sewing!! Please don't stop sending me your creations!! They make my sewing blog such a wonderful place to visit and if you don't mind please help me spread the word to other Moms, GrandMoms, and Aunts too about SewSensible Children's Boutique Sewing Patterns!! :) If you have a blog or website, please consider grabbing my SewSensible logo button!! And thanks to so many of you for purchasing SewSensible patterns! I am in the process of getting the revisions complete with the Scoop Neck Dress Top with long/short sleeve options. And look for more patterns to come in 2010!!!!!

And I have to thank United Notions and Fabrics, Creative Smocking, and Petersen-Arne for giving me an opportunity with them. Thank you!!

Simple Sunday Dress Sewing Pattern and Beginner Sewing Patterns!

Here is an awesome Mommy creation I had in my inbox since last May!!!!! How could I have overlooked this one!! I'll blame it on having eight children. It is an easy excuse for me but I know it can only work for so long LOL ;) This Mommy used SewSensible Simple Sunday Dress sewing pattern and here is what this Mommy said, "Hi, I wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed working from your pattern instructions. I've not been sewing long and so everything was very easy to follow. I wanted to send you a couple photo's of the finished product. I actually changed the pattern just a bit (bigger bow in back and band at bottom ) :o) God Bless! Hope you enjoy the pictures! :o), T"

Thanks so much, T!! Yes, I am enjoying these pictures!! The dresses look beautiful and your girls are just adorable!! Thanks for letting me put this on my blog and so sorry I overlooked this one!!!!! I wonder if I missed some more! I really need to clean out that inbox!

Scoop Neck Dress Top Revisions: I am finished with the revisions and will be sending them to the testers on Sunday. As soon as I get feed back from the tester I will replace the original scoop neck dress top and also send this one to become my next physical pattern! Keep watching!!

Boutique Bottoms Sewing Pattern!

Here is an awesome Mommy creation I received in my inbox last week and just a super sweet email to go along with it! She used SewSensible Boutique Bottoms sewing pattern. Thanks so much, K, for taking time to send me that email and picture. It came at a good time and your precious daughter is just too cute and I love the bottoms!!

"I am so glad I stumbled upon your website this summer when I was just getting started! Thank you for making such wonderful patterns and for writing such clear and straightforward directions to go with them! I get so many compliments from my daughter's outfits that I made! People cannot believe that I just started sewing this summer! Thank you again for your wonderful patterns and for teaching me to sew!!!! K"

PHYSICAL PATTERN: This pattern is also available as a physical pattern with the new graphics and directions! See sidebar Boutique Shops that sell SewSensible Physical Patterns.

Scoop Neck Dress Top sewing pattern!

Do you remember this cute top?!! I still have it on the drawing board and will definitely be making women tops for next year. And meet my new friend! So all you who have dress forms, do you name her? Might just have to! What friend doesn't have a name?

Here is another Scoop Neck Dress Top with short sleeve (no gathering). (Note: this is the revisions I am working on. They are not ready yet.) This dress was made for a family friend's daughter who reminded me for the past 6 months that she wanted a dress for her birthday! I was able to drop it off to her Mom and Dad yesterday and party is today! I was so excited she wanted one that much!! So here it is. She requested cheetah but I could not find a good cheetah fabric so this animal print worked fine for her! And then I got Grace to try it on and as you can tell she had the giggles! So cute!!



Right now Quilt Market is going on and I am definitely making plans to attend next year! I am such the underdog in the pattern industry but I plan to persevere and continue to swim my way through!! LOL If you want to follow the quilt market you can on twitter. Just search #quiltmarket and you will get some fun updates and the best pictures ever!!!!! Go to twitter.com and sign up for free and search #quiltmarket and you can start following all the ladies who are twittering from market in Houston. And please follow me too! You can either click on the twitter bird on the top right hand corner of this blog or search SewSensible in twitter!