Summer Breeze Doll Pattern and AGF Voile Reviews - Save 20%!

Today's review is the 

Summer Breeze Tunic & Dress Doll PDF Pattern

made with Art Gallery Voile fabric!

 

I know we are in the middle of  the bitterly cold winter, but that doesn't keep me from dreaming and planning for the warmer months that will soon be here! So for today's review I am sharing a brand new summery PDF pattern made with beautiful voile fabrics. I hope you are keeping warm by enjoying a cup of hot coffee or tea as you are reading this review.

Summer Breeze Tunic and Dress pattern is a brand new release by Sweet Pea and Pumkin. This pattern is designed for the 18" doll and features two lengths, tunic and dress. I chose two different voile fabrics for my two outfits in my review. Voile fabric is a great choice for a light summery pattern such as this. 

The Summer Breeze tunic or dress can be made from one fat quarter of fabric making it a great pattern for using up all those fabric scraps. Pattern pieces were clearly labeled and marked with grainlines making it straightforward during cutting and assembly.

My Summer Breeze Dress I made with the Art Gallery Paperie Eponine Voile. This voile is a beautiful pastel shade of aqua blue for the background and sprinkled with multi colored flower bouquets. The print is the perfect size for the 18" doll. This fabric is so incredibly light and buttery feeling to the touch. It's difficult to believe it is 100% cotton because it really feels smooth as silk. You can clearly see how sheer the voile is by the sun filtering through the high-low skirt on the dress. 

The skirt on the dress version hits slightly above the doll's knees in the front and angles elegantly towards the back to calf level. One aspect I love about this pattern is the generous arm holes and thin spaghetti straps which helps children to get on and off their doll.  The directions for constructing and adding the spaghetti straps to the dress was a very simple method. No frustrations trying to turn tiny tubes of fabric with this pattern.

The back bodice has a gorgeous scoop back, and it closes with hook and loop tape for dressing the doll easier. The bodice is fully lined and I chose to use the same voile fabric for the lining of both outfits. There is also a small placket in the skirt which you can't tell from the printed fabric used here. The placket allows for slipping the garment over the head or pulling up over the feet.

The second outfit I made was the tunic length which gives it a more casual look. I chose the new Curiosities Jar Firefly Tang Voile and a white linen for the shorts. It is such a beautiful color and reminds me of creamy orange sherbet. The white fireflies floating all over the fabric are just adorable and definitely says summer to me. The voile gives nice body to the shorter length of the tunic as well.

Overall, these outfits were a joy to make. The pattern instructions were thorough and gave instructions how to properly finish the inside of the garments nicely. They are very kid-friendly designs so my 3 year old daughter can dress her own doll without my help. The voile fabrics were a dream to sew with and I am already thinking about what other garments I can make for my daughter with them this summer.

Links to products:

Summer Breeze Dress and Tunic Pattern by Sweet Pea & Pumkin 

 Paperie Eponine Voile

 Curiosities, Jar Firefly Tang Voile

We also have a coupon for you!  Use the code: SummerBreeze to save 20% off the Summer Breeze PDF Pattern AND any of our AGF Voile Fabrics.  The code is good through 11:59pm MT Monday, February 8th.
  
Happy Sewing!

Chari 

www.whimsicalfabric.com

Sew-Along #31 - Playtime Outfit - Lesson #4

The Playtime Dress/Tunic & Leggings by Oliver+S

** If you would like to see an image on our blog in a larger format, just click on it to enlarge.

Note: Links to products within this post are either links to our website or affiliate links.

If you do not have your pattern yet you can purchase it from the shop. It is a PDF so you can print today and be ready to start. You can also purchase a Sew Along Kit from the shop. It has everything you need, other than thread, to make a beautiful tunic or dress and leggings set!

Playtime PDF Pattern

Playtime Kits

Before we begin with today's lesson be sure to read all of the patterns instructions. Today, and throughout the entire sew along, you will need your pattern in hand to go along with each lesson. 

Welcome to Day 4

*Note: the leggings are sewn with a 1/4" seam allowance*

 

1. Take one of your leg pieces and fold it in half with the right sides together, pin the leg portion only. Serge or sew with a stretch stitch.  Remember that the leggings seam allowance is only  1/4".  Repeat with second leg. 

2. Press your seam to one side.

3. Turn one of your legs right side out and leave one wrong side out.

4. Place the one legging that is right side facing out into the legging that is wrong side facing out. Match the leg seams and pin in place.  Finish matching up the marks you transferred from the pattern and pin the raw edges all the way around the rise.

5. Serge or sew the seam.

6. Press the seam to one side then serge the top edge of the pants.  If you do not have a serger you can sew a zig zag stitch here instead.  

7. Press the top finished edge down 1" pin place.

8. Next, use a fabric marker to draw a line around the leggings 7/8" down from the top edge on the right side.  This will be your stitch guild line to make the casing with. 

9.  Using your twin needle, sew on your line all the way around and leave a 1 1/2" opening on the center back, for installing  the elastic.

10. Take your elastic and cut it 1" shorter than the child's waist measurement.  Insert it into the casing through the opening you left on the top of the pants.  I like to use a big safety pin for mine.  I also pin the one end of the elastic to the pants near the opening.  This will keep the elastic end from being pulled into the pants while we are feeding the elastic through the casing. 

11. Pull the elastic all the way through the casing and back out the opening and give yourself some slack to work with.  Overlap the elastic 1", then sew the elastic together. Pull the elastic back through the opening and stitch the opening closed from the right side of the leggings.

12. Finish the bottom edges of leggings legs on both sides, with your serger or a zig zag stitch.

13. Press the bottom up 3/4".  Just as we marked a stitching line on the right side of the pants at the waist we will also mark each bottom leg.  The legs we will mark 5/8" from the folded edge. Mark both legs and sew on the right side with you twin needle on top of the marking you just made on each leg.

We are all done!! Now time to try our outfits on our little girls and admire our work!!

Be sure to share you outfit in our Facebook group and thank you for sew along with us!!!

Happy sewing,

Sharon 

www.whimsicalfabric.com 

*If you would like to earn entries into the prize drawing, please make sure to submit a photo of your completed Lesson Four to this Facebook Album by 12:00 noon CT, Thursday, January 28th. If you have any questions the Facebook Group is a great place to ask.

Sew-Along #31 - Playtime Outfit - Lesson #3

The Playtime Dress/Tunic & Leggings by Oliver+S

** If you would like to see an image on our blog in a larger format, just click on it to enlarge.

Note: Links to products within this post are either links to our website or affiliate links.

If you do not have your pattern yet you can purchase it from the shop. It is a PDF so you can print today and be ready to start. You can also purchase a Sew Along Kit from the shop. It has everything you need, other than thread, to make a beautiful tunic or dress and leggings set!

Playtime PDF Pattern

Playtime Kits

Before we begin with today's lesson be sure to read all of the patterns instructions. Today, and throughout the entire sew along, you will need your pattern in hand to go along with each lesson. 

Welcome to Day 3

 Today we will be finishing up the tunic/dress. 

 

*Note: The tunic/dress is sewn with a 1/2" seam allowance*

1. Take one set of your pockets and add the interfacing that we cut from day #1 and fuse it to the straight edge of the both pockets on the wrong side. These will be our front pockets.

2. Now with the right sides together, we will match the dots on our pockets to the dots on one of the skirt sides and pin in place.

3. Stitch in place using a 3/8" seam. I used my serger to sew my pockets on; if you do, be careful as not to trim any of the skirt or pocket. Press your pocket outward from the skirt with the seam facing outward. Repeat with the other front skirt pocket and then for the two pocket pieces on the back skirt.

4.  Place your skirt back and front with right sides facing and lining up the pockets.  Pin all the raw edges together, including the pockets raw edges.

5. Now we will stitch the skirt side together. I used my sewing machine for this portion. Stitch down the skirt sides starting at the top, then around the pockets edge, then down the remainder of the skirt, pivoting at the dots you made on the pockets.

6. After you stitch with your sewing machine, finish your edges.  I used my serger to finish the edges up neatly, but a zig-zag stitch would work as well. Do not trim your seam here.  Repeat on the second side of the skirt. 

Press the seam and pocket towards the front skirt.

7. Take your front skirt and lay it on your table with the front skirt facing up, smooth the pocket and skirt over together. Next take your pocket top stitch template and trace it onto the skirt with a fabric marker, right over where the pocket is. The pocket template is smaller than the pocket itself so be sure to place it right over the center of the pocket. This ensure that  when we top stitch it will catch all the layers.

8. Pin your pocket onto the front skirt through both pocket layers and the front skirt only.

9. Stitch along the template line you drew, through all the layers you just pinned in place. Repeat with second pocket. 

10. Next, I like to hem my skirt before I sew it onto the bodice.  I find it easier to do so at this point. Press your skirt bottom up a 1/2" then again another 1". (Hemming is the same for both tunic and dress skirts). Stitch at the inner most fold.

11. Now sew two rows of gathering stitches on top of the skirt's raw edges. Turn skirt inside out and bodice right side out.

12. Place the bodice inside the skirt, being sure to place your bodice front to your skirt front. Next, match up your side seams and center notches, and pin them together. Now gather your skirts evenly and pin in place. Stitch the skirt in place with your sewing machine first, then finish your edges. Press your seam up towards the bodice.

13. We are almost done with our tunics/dresses!! It is time to cut open our buttonholes, I like to put a straight pin at the end of my buttonhole, right before the end bar tack. This way, when I cut my buttonhole open, I do not go through my stitches. Repeat with the remaining two buttonholes.

Then mark where your buttons go on the opposite side of the back bodice and sew them in place.

Tomorrow we will sew up our leggings. This is my favorite legging pattern so I am sure, after tomorrow, if you have never sewn these up before, that you will want to sew up many more!

Happy sewing,

Sharon 
www.whimsicalfabric.com 

*If you would like to earn entries into the prize drawing, please make sure to submit a photo of your completed Lesson Three to this Facebook Album by 12:00 noon CT, Wednesday, January 27th. If you have any questions the Facebook Group is a great place to ask.

January Quilt Along - You Still Have Time

There are just a few days left in our January Quilt Along Challenge. If you haven't made your quilt blocks yet you still have a bit of time. Quilt blocks are due this Monday, January 25, at 12:00 pm CT. The quilt block tutorial for January can be found here. 

This month's prizes! 

Riley Blake's "The Sweetest Thing" Charm Packs
You can enter both prize drawings.

 

Facebook Group 

After you have sewn all your blocks together for this month please go over to our Facebook group and share in our January Quilt Along Album each of your blocks for a chance to be entered into our monthly drawing!

Link Up Block Party

In addition, if you blog, write up a short blog post about your quilt-along block(s) and link up your post in our Link Up Party.

Please don't forget to:

1. Grab the January graphic, share it in your blog post, and link it back to this post here to let all of your followers know you are partying with us.

2. Share about your blog post on all your favorite social media outlets.

Note: We will be sure to visit and comment on your blog. We love interacting with our followers!

Click Here to Go to the Link Up Party

Happy Creating!
Danielle Storm
www.whimsicalfabric.com 

Don't Miss Out!

Only a few hours left to save 10% off Hello Bear, Curiosities, Anna Elise, Happy Home, and the Littlest lines from Art Gallery Fabric.

Use the coupon code: NEW 

Hurry and Save because the coupon code expires at 11:59pm MT, tonight !

Happy Creating!
Danielle Storm
www.whimsicalfabric.com 

Sew-Along #31 - Playtime Outfit - Lesson #2

The Playtime Dress/Tunic & Leggings by Oliver+S

** If you would like to see an image on our blog in a larger format, just click on it to enlarge.

Note: Links to products within this post are either links to our website or affiliate links.

If you do not have your pattern yet you can purchase it from the shop. It is a PDF so you can print today and be ready to start. You can also purchase a Sew Along Kit from the shop. It has everything you need, other than thread, to make a beautiful tunic or dress and leggings set!

Playtime PDF Pattern

Playtime Kits

Before we begin with today's lesson be sure to read all of the patterns instructions. Today, and throughout the entire sew along, you will need your pattern in hand to go along with each lesson. 

Welcome to Day 2

Today we will be sewing up the bodice and top stitching the mock collar. 

 

*Note: The tunic/dress is sewn with a 1/2" seam allowance*

1. First, we will take our front facing piece and fuse on the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric. Make sure that the rough side of the interfacing is facing the wrong side of the fabric. Press with warm hot dry iron to adhere the interfacing to the fabric. 

2. In the same manner as the front facing piece, fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the back two facing pieces.

3. Pin the facing back to the facing front with the right sides together at the shoulders. Sew with a 1/2" seam. I sewed mine with my serger only, and not my sewing machine first. If you do not have a serger, you can certainly can sew it with your sewing machine only. Be sure to sew it with a stretch stitch if you do. If you do sew it with your sewing machine be sure to also trim your seam to a 1/4" as well. 

4. Press your seams towards the back.  Unless you use your sewing machine, then press the seams open.

5. Now we need to finish the outer raw edges of the facing piece. I used my serger for this part as well. If you do use your serger, be sure not to trim any of the facing on this step. If you use your sewing machine, you can just do a narrow zig-zag stitch around the outer edge.

6. With both front and back bodice pieces, sew a basting stitch around the neck line with a 3/8" seam allowance to help the neck line from being stretched out. With the knit I like to use a long stitch length and take my time as not to stretch the knit out on this step. 

7. Take your back bodice pieces and fuse a 3/4" wide piece of interfacing at the shoulders. This will add some stability to the shoulder seams for stitching and wear.

8. Pin your front and back bodices together at the shoulders with right sides facing. Sew in place then press the seams towards the back bodice. Unless you use your sewing machine here, then press the seams open.

9. Place your bodice laying on the table with the right facing up, place the facing onto the bodice with the right sides together, matching up the shoulder seams, pin in place. 

10. Now we will sew our facing into the bodice.  If your using your sewing machine just stitch as usual then trim your seam to a 1/4".  If you are using your serger, like I did, here is a little different way of sewing it without worry about making a neat corner for turning.  First serge the back straight edges only.

11. Next, serge the curved neckline. I then like to take a tapestry needle and tuck the serge thread tail into the top of the stitching on both back seam edges.  Turn and press the bodice along the sewn edges.

12. Stitching the mock collar. This section is optional, so you can skip it if you would like to. For the back side there is only one template for the top stitching but on the front there are two. There is a peter pan style collar and a rounded collar. Pick which one you would like to use and trace both back and front template out onto your bodice with a fabric marker. 

13. Carefully smooth out your bodice and facing underneath the bodice and pin to hold the facing in place as you stitch the collar.  

14. Using a coordinating thread color, following the lines you just made. Slowly stitch your collar all the way around starting at one back bodice bottom and finishing at the other back bodice bottom. 

This is what your mock collar stitching will look like when complete.

15. Take both sleeves and press the hem on each one. Press up a 1/2" then again 1". Do not stitch the sleeve hem in place just yet though. 

16. If you are using knits for your tunic/dress you can skip the gathering stitch on the top of both sleeves. Take one sleeve (each sleeve is the same and it does not matter which one you sew to either side) and pin the center notch to the shoulder seam. Next pin the raw edge of the sleeve all the way around the arm opening. Stitch or serge in place. Remember if you are using your sewing machine be sure to trim your seam allowance.

17. Press the seam towards the sleeve, repeat with second sleeve. 

18. Take your bodice and fold it with the right sides together and pin the sleeve and bodice together, matching the sleeve seam. Stitch or serge together, then press your seam. Repeat with second side. 

19. We are now going to stitch our sleeve hem. I like to first repress the hem before I stitch it. 

20. I then turn the sleeve right side out and stitch the hem from the right side with the wrong side under my presser foot.

21. Repeat with the second sleeve. 

22. It's time to add the buttonholes to your back bodice. After you stitch the buttonholes, fold the back bodice pieces so that they over lap and the center notches are matched up together. Baste in place using a 3/8" seam. 

This is where we will leave off for today. See you tomorrow where we will finish sewing our tunic/dress. 

Happy sewing,
Sharon 
www.whimsicalfabric.com 

*If you would like to earn entries into the prize drawing, please make sure to submit a photo of your completed Lesson Two to this Facebook Album by 12:00 noon CT, Tuesday, January 26th. If you have any questions the Facebook Group is a great place to ask.