Tuesday, June 23, 2015

June Tutorial Tuesday - Red, White, & Blue Shorties and Tunic

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Hi everyone! I'm excited to be here doing this blog post for Whimsical Fabric. Let me introduce myself: I'm Linda Rose and I blog at Sew Happily Ever After. I have been sewing for about 8 years and love to sew pretty things for my four kids. 


For this tutorial, I have taken the Oliver + S pattern, the Playtime Dress, Tunic, and Leggings, and turned it into a fun summer outfit. This was my first experience with an Oliver + S pattern, and I was super impressed with how quickly and easily it went together. 

All of the fabrics and notions that I used to make this outfit are available to purchase at Whimsical Fabric. I used Riley Blake polka dot knit in navy for the tunic, solid red knit fabric for contrast on the neckline facings and pocket linings. Red Stitched buttons add the perfect pop of color in the back. The shorties were made using Riley Blake chevron knit also in navy.

All of the instructions and measurements listed for this outfit are for a size 7. You may need to make minor adjustments based on which size you are making for your child. 

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!

Instructions to Make the Shorties: 

• First decide how long you want the inseam of the shorties to be. For my daughter, I wanted the inseam to be 4" long before I added the ruffles, so I measured down from the crotch point on each side 4" and chopped off the bottom part of the leggings. I measured this on the pattern piece and cut it off before cutting it out of fabric.

 
You now need to cut some fabric for the ruffles. I cut 4 strips of fabric (2 for each leg) for the ruffles. Each one measured 2.5" tall by 28" long (the stretch should go along the 28" length).

• I also cut 2 spacer pieces. These should be as long as the bottom of the shorties that you have cut out, and about 1.5" tall. These spacer pieces allow your ruffles to lay nicely on top of each other in a layered manner.

• It will be much easier to hem your ruffles before gathering them. I used a rolled hem, but you can also make a narrow hem or even leave them un-hemmed. Since we are using knit fabric, it will not fray.

• Take one of the ruffle strips and gather it to match the width of one of the spacer strips. Stitch the gathered piece to the spacer strip right sides together and press the seam allowance towards the spacer strip.

• Now gather a second ruffle strip to match the width of the bottom of your shorties. Pin it in place for now, right sides together.
• Take the first piece that you sewed together (the spacer strip + the ruffle piece attached to it) and lay it on top of the ruffle that you just pinned in place. The wrong side of the first ruffle will be facing the right side of the spacer and ruffle piece that you have previously sewn together. 

• Stitch all of the pieces together. You will be sewing through all 3 layers: the shorties, the first ruffle, and the second ruffle/spacer piece. 
Press the seam allowance toward the shorties. 

• You will need to repeat the above steps to make the second leg of the shorties.

• Follow the instructions in the pattern to finish sewing the leggings/shorties.

Instructions for Adjusting the Tunic:
 • Since it's summer, I wanted a short sleeve tunic. I measured my daughter from her shoulder down to the point on her arm that I wanted the sleeve to end. I added 1.5" to this measurement to allow for the seam allowance and hem. So for her size I cut 7.75" off the bottom of the sleeve.

• I also wanted the tunic length to be a bit shorter, so I cut 4.5" off the bottom of the tunic.

• Then I followed the instructions in the pattern to make the rest of the tunic.

• I used solid red knit fabric for the pocket linings and the neckline facings to add some contrast.

A perfect combo for a July 4th outfit!  
I'd love it if you would visit me at Sew Happily Ever After! 
 Follow on Bloglovin
and while you're at it, you could hop on over and like my Facebook page:
Sew Happily Ever After.

The Challenge: 
1. Make a pair of ruffled shorties and tunic top from the Oliver+S Playtime Pattern.

2. Post a pic of your outfit in the Whimsical Fabric & Me Facebook group with the hashtags #oliverands , #whimsicalfabricdotcom , #playtimetutorialtuesday .  Please consider posting it to other Facebook sewing groups, and Instagram too, if you have an account. :)

** Complete #1 and #2 by Sunday, July 26th, and you'll be entered to win a $10 gift certificate to our shop!  Winner
will be drawn on Monday, July 27th, 2015.


And a Coupon Code:
Save and additional 20% the regular price of the Oliver+S Playtime Pattern, all Knit Fabric, and all Riley Blake Buttons on our site with the coupon code TutorialTuesday now through Monday, July 20th.

Happy Creating!
Danielle Storm 
www.whimsicalfabric.com

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Mystery Bundles, PDF Sale, New Patterns & A Sew-Along - Check This Out!


Mystery Fat Quarter Bundles
• 100pc Bundle (Get 20 extra FREE, 120 total!) - $163.50 shipping included
• 40pc Bundle (Get 8 extra FREE, that's 48 total!) - $87.00 shipping included
• 20pc Bundle (Get 3 extra FREE, that's 23 total!) - $52.00 shipping included
• 8pc Bundle (Get 1 extra FREE, that's 9 total!) - $25.50 shipping included
If you would like to order a bundle please join our Facebook Group, Whimsical Fabric & Me.  If you are not a Facebook user and would still like to order a bundle, just message me though the website and include your PayPal email address so I may invoice you.  The bundle sale ends tonight at 11:59pm MST.

 20% Off All PDF Patterns
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71_324 
All of our PDF patterns on sale through the end of the day today.  

New Petitboo Patterns
We have some brand new baby shoe PDF patterns from Petitboo.  
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71_324_520
So cute!  Grab them while they are on sale.
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71_324_520

New Modkid Paper Patterns
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71_325_53
And a few new Modkid paper patterns are on the site. 
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=71_325_53
Those are also 20% off through tonight at 11:59pm MST.

Sun & Surf Tote Sew-Along
 http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=367_515 
And finally, we wanted to send one last reminder about our Modkid Sun & Surf Sew-Along that is starting Wednesday of this week.  
We have lots of kits available still and the coupon code SewAlongSavings will save you 15% on your purchase of the pattern and kits.
 
Hope you will join us.  Lots and lots of awesome prizes to win and you'll end up with an adorable tote when you are all done.

Happy Creating!
Danielle Storm 
www.whimsicalfabric.com

Monday, June 15, 2015

Don't Miss Out On This Great Sale!


Our Art Gallery Fabric sale ends tonight.
Save 20% off beautiful quilting cottons, super soft knits, and gorgeous voile fabrics.  

Hurry and take advantage of this great deal.
 Sale ends at 11:59pm MST tonight, Monday, 6/15. 
Shop here. 

Happy Creating!
Danielle Storm 
www.whimsicalfabric.com

Saturday, June 13, 2015

20% Off Art Gallery Fabrics + 15% Off the Sun & Surf Tote Sew-Along Kits


All Art Gallery Fabrics are on sale for 20% off. 
 Stock up of their silky quilting cottons, super soft knits, and gorgeous voile fabrics. 
Hurry though because the sale ends at 11:59pm MST Monday. 
Shop here. 



Join us for our next Sew-Along as we stitch up the Modkid Sun & Surf Tote.
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=367_515

  We have lots of kits to pick from and lots of prizes we will be giving away.
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=367_515

Use the coupon code SewAlongSavings to save 15% off your kit.
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=367_515

We even have laminate offerings which will make a wonderful wet bag for those wet swimsuits and towels you lug home from the pool.
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=367_515
 The sew-along runs June 24th - 26th.  Join the Facebook Event now and purchase your kit today.

Happy Creating!
Danielle Storm 
www.whimsicalfabric.com

Saturday, June 6, 2015

20% Off All Knit Fabric and A Preorder


All Knits are 20% off for the next 48 hours!
http://www.whimsicaldesignsclothing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3_338
Sale ends at 11:59pm MST, Monday, 6/8.

Join our Preorder Group on Facebook and save big on these two great Riley Blake fabric lines.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/757258017628088/
Hurry though because the preorder closes tonight, Sunday, 6/7, at 11:59pm MST.

Happy Creating!
Danielle Storm 
www.whimsicalfabric.com