Love Notions Origami

Today I am blogging as part of the Love Notions Origami blog tour. 

Included in the tour is great inspiration for both the women's and girl's patterns, a pattern sale, and even a giveaway! Details for all three are at the end of the post, you don't want to miss it!

(Affiliate links are present in this post, indicated by *. Should you use the link to purchase a pattern, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and I don't promote a pattern I don't love.)

I have still been hanging on to fleeting summer dreams of sewing more sundresses, shorts, and tank tops. I am not one happy to see colder weather approaching. Participating in this tour was the push to motivate me to start sewing fall and winter clothing. 

It also helped that I had recently received this gorgeous plaid sweater knit in a mystery box from Pretty Posh Prints. With plans for an origami tunic and a soft and cozy sweater knit in hand, I was ready to embrace fall sewing.

The Origami doesn't have to be a cold weather only pattern, there are several sleeve lengths which make this a pattern you can use year round. But with the optional handkerchief hemline, tunic length, and cardigan included in the pattern, it just screams fall and winter to me. 

I made the tunic with the regular hem, adding one inch in length. I am 5'7" and the pattern is drafted for a height of 5'5". I also added the hood from the La Bella Donna pattern*. The neckline was adjusted to match the neckline of the LBD, which is much higher than the scoop neck from the Origami. Please note however, that the back of the LBD is a little bit lower, and you will want to adjust that as well if you are copying this look. 

I seriously love this! When I tried it on, I instantly thought "I could go for a pumpkin spice latte right about now."

And I don't even like pumpkin spice! That's how much the fall vibes were rubbing off on me. Origami Tunic by Love Notions for the win! 

I think I'll stick with my normal caramel cappuccino though.

The handkerchief option of this pattern is what makes the origami really stand out. But I also love the version I made, the standard hem, as a great basic. This is the perfect tunic for me. Not too fitted, not too loose, and an overall flattering shape. 

The cardigan can either be made with the handkerchief or standard hem, making this a versatile pattern.

I might have picked the most boring options, but it was exactly what I wanted when I first saw this fabric. I'll be using this pattern to make a few more basic tunics to fill my closet. 

High hood due to using the hood and neckline of the La Bella Donna. I love it, but if high necklines aren't your thing, this would also look great using any other pattern with a hood. 

There also great inspiration for the girls version as well in the blog tour! I have used that pattern as well, but I didn't for this tour. I actually tested both the women's and girl's Origami patterns several years ago and have made the girls' version several times since then. 

I couldn't resist sharing this sweet photo of my Eve from when I originally tested this pattern. She was so little!

 

Picture from the original girls' pattern test. My little baby!

I hope you enjoyed my take on this pattern! The fun isn't over yet... I know I also promised you a sale, a giveaway, and even more inspiration...

First up, the giveaway...

Up for grabs: $50 Love Notions* shop credit, Mystery box of fabric from Sly Fox (value $62.40), and $25 store credit to Simply by Ti. You can enter through the rafflecopter link below. A big thank you to the tour sponsors!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tours LOVE to have a sale!

So this week only, grab your copy of the women's Origami for $8* or the girl's version for just $6*. Sale ends Saturday September 30 at 11:59pm cst.

For more inspiration, stop by and say hi to all the fantastic bloggers joining in!

Monday September 25: Sew Shelly Sew Sewing Curves Ruby Rue Creations

Tuesday September 26: All Things Kat

 Kainara Stitches Pear Berry Lane

Wednesday September 27: Ma Moose Back40Life 

Thursday September 28: Sprouting JubeJube Mermaid Mama Designs Third Shift Creations 

Friday September 29: Ronda B. Handmade Stitches by Laura Tales of a Tester

11th Hour Gear

I made the cutest outfit for my son Emmett recently. And the best part is, he loves it too!

He kept saying this was his "Team Lightning" shirt and he pranced around making fighting moves with special sound effects that only three year olds can truly master. I'll call that a win!

He and I both love how soft the shirt is. Both the fabrics for the shirt and the pants are from So Sew English, in fact they were sold as a bundle together. The lightning fabric is a double brushed poly, hence the softness. The pants are a denim look knit. I'm not sure what the content of the pant fabric is but it's heavy, sturdy yet drapey, and very stretchy, the best of everything! I want more of this magical fabric. 

I used the 11th Hour Gear pattern from New Horizons for both the shirt and the pants. Although this is technically a pattern for pajamas, it makes great basics that can be used for regular wear as well. The shirt is a muscle tee, short sleeved tee, or long sleeved tee, with or without a unique pocket. And there are actually two separate pant patterns also included: a straight leg pair of pants and joggers. There is a lot you can do with this pattern set!

I made a long sleeve top without the pocket, just to make a super basic piece. The lightning fabric speaks for itself. I love how the cuffs are nice and tight because this boy loves chewing on his sleeves and he hasn't tried it with this shirt. 

I also made the joggers, and I love the fit! They are the perfect balance of slouchy and fitted. This might be my go to pattern for quick knit pants for him. He just started preschool and these will be great as he looks put together but can easily move around and play. Emmett loves them too. I know because when I tried to get them back after trying them on for the fit, he said: "No these are my pants now!" I had to wait a whole day before he reluctantly gave them back.

The pants are 3T lengthened to 4T. For the shirt, Emmett measured in between the 3T and 4T. I made the lightning shirt in a 3T (lengthened to a 4) because I didn't want it to be too baggy. I know, I know... I should always make the next size so he can grow into it. But I knew what kind of fit I wanted and was too impatient for him to grow. A quick shirt like this is fast to make and I have more of this fabric so I can always make a 4T later.

He needs a lot of clothes for this coming up winter. I don't think I have any winter clothes that will fit him except for what I just made. So I also made a quick sweater using the same shirt pattern. This time I made a size 4T since this sweater knit doesn't have as much stretch as the brushed poly. 

Isn't he so cute? He did such a great job taking pictures. Look at the baby model:

This sweater knit was from a mystery box from Sincerely Rylee. I had a hard time parting with this gorgeous olive green fabric, but I knew Emmett needed winter clothes more than I did, so I happily made him this sweater. This should be a great basic for him!

Seriously, with the exception of him licking a rock, which I didn't even notice until I was looking through pictures on the computer, this boy did so well at pictures. He earned himself a sucker:

Happy kid

And because I can't disappoint you like that, here is the picture of him licking the rock, that I didn't even notice at the time:

And some more pictures, because I can't get enough of this kid!

P4P Bitty Brunch Blouse

Patterns for Pirates just released two new patterns: the Brunch Blouse* and the Bitty Brunch Blouse*. (Affiliate links*) 

I tested the Bitty Brunch Blouse, which is the girls version, sizes 3 months to 14.

This is a really sweet pattern drafted for woven fabrics. I used a linen blend from Robert Kaufman. The listing says this is a lightweight fabric,  but I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived and discovered it's a nice decent weight. It's pretty sturdy for a linen, and would also make great shorts or pants. I was actually going to use this fabric for shorts for myself, but now summer came and left without me making them. I figured I could afford to use it for another project instead. Maybe I'll make those shorts next summer. Don't hold your breath. 😄

Even though the dress I made is perfect for summer itself, I think it will carry over well into fall and winter. Think of all the cardigans this basic piece will pair with!

There are a lot of options included in the pattern and I went with the tank, chest pocket, dress length,  and back closure with button loop. That made for a super simple, but classic dress. 

Check out the rest of the options in the listing, there are so many! 

My daughter, Kylie, loves it and has asked me to make her more dresses. But she has also requested that I make her some dresses without the requirement that she has to take pictures of them. So the next few dresses I make for her might not ever make it to the blog. She has been into dresses lately, but not into pictures. Thankfully, she liked this dress enough that she agreed to be let me play photographer for a minute. 

And I'm glad she did, isn't she sweet? And looking so grown up lately?

Speaking of growing, this girl only grows up and that makes sewing for her all the more worthwhile. This dress for my nine year old was a size 7/8 blend for width, lowered to a size 10 armscye (I probably should have lowered a touch more for her height) with a size 12 length. And it's perfect! 

*Affiliate links are present in this post. Should you choose to purchase the pattern from the link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and I do not promote a pattern I do not love.