Breaking Ground with the Tracey Bee Top

I’m Breaking Ground with the Tracey Bee Top from new to me Seen & Sewn Patterns. I’m also hoping to break out of my ongoing sewing funk by using some energizing colors for spring in the midst of our ice and snow. (Oh hey, keep reading for tour details and to enter the giveaway)

 

What I like most about the Tracey Bee are the insert details. These create interesting design lines if you sew it up in a solid fabric and opportunities to mix fabrics if you like colorblocking.

I made my Tracey Bee with a rayon challis type of fabric. The drape is wonderful, but it did get a little clingey with static around my waist. Instead of a double fold hem, I decided to use a cotton bias binding and that seems to have helped the fabric stand away from my skin enough to resolve the problem.

 

The Pattern: Tracey Bee Top** in size L, cropped view. Due to the challenge of sewing inserts, I’d recommend this top for an advanced beginner or above. Other than the challenge inserts can offer, the pattern goes together easily. There was a small mismatch at the side seam when the dart was folded, so I sewed the dart at half the width and that resolved the mismatch and didn’t affect the fit for me in the least. (the designer is checking the pattern to correct).

The Fabric: Rayon woven paired with scraps of teal eyelet from the ole stash.

 

I’m still having a hard time getting excited about a next sewing project, but starting with fabrics in my stash that do give me some energy is a good strategy. I do wish it was warm enough to wear my spring projects instead of just looking at them.

The Braking Ground Blog Tour includes all these creatives… we hope you’ll visit us each day:

Monday March 11That’s Sew Lily, Sewing A La Carte, Mijn 11jes & ik

Tuesday March 12mahlicadesigns, Embrace Everyday, Jot Designs, auschick sews, Raising Stripling Warriors

Wednesday March 13Musings of A Seamstress, Very Blissful, Sew4Five, Just Sew Something, Hazelnut Handmade, Crafting Through Time, Tales From A Southern Mom

Thursday March 14Make It Sew with the Bear and Pea Atelier, Ronda B Handmade, SequioaLynn Sews, Sewing with D, The Sewing Goatherd, OOYAmade, My Golden Thimble, Custom Made by Laura

Friday March 15–  Sew Cute Couture by Kathy, Sewing Novice, Ronda B Handmade, Momma Bear Sews, MeMade, My Golden Thimble, Lulu & Celeste

Breaking News: our tour sponsor Phat Quarters is offering 2 patterns of choice from her pattern shop to one lucky winner.

Enter Here!

***

We’d love to see how you’re Breaking Ground this month. Share with us what you’re working on by using the hashtag #BreakingGround2019 across social media.

As always, thanks for reading today.

**This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I get a small commission to help fund for my sewing hobby.

Breaking Ground Tour for Friday.

Thanks for following along with the Breaking Ground Blog tour. I always find so much inspiration in the tour…I hope you did too.

Please read to the end- I don’t want you to miss your chance to enter the giveaway.

Today’s bloggers are:

 Lulu & Celeste, Tenille’s Thread, Sewing A La CarteThe Bear and Pea Atelier, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sprouting Jube JubeKathy’s Kwilts and More

I see some Breaking Ground for all ages!

Friday collage

The Full Tour includes all these creatives… we hope you’ll visit us each day:

Monday March 12- mahlicadesigns, Sewing VortexSewing A La CarteLittle Heart Threads, The Sewing Scientist

Tuesday March 13- Musings of A Seamstress, A Custom Clothier, Octaves of Color, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sew Altered Style

Wednesday March 14- Flaxfield Sewing, Chook n Duck, Tales of a TesterSewing By Ti, Sewing Vortex

Thursday March 15- Very Blissful, Manning the MachineSew and Tell Project, Musings of a Seamstress, Stitches by Laura

Friday March 16- Lulu & Celeste, Tenille’s Thread, Sewing A La CarteThe Bear and Pea Atelier, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sprouting Jube JubeKathy’s Kwilts and More

To make the tour even more fun, our Breaking Ground blog team member, Gail is offering 2 patterns of choice from her pattern shop Flosstyle to one lucky winner.

Enter Here!

***

We’d love to see how you’re Breaking Ground this month. Share with us what you’re working on by using the hashtag #BreakingGround2018 across social media.

Better yet, join the Sew Alongs & Sewing Contests facebook group to sew along with the Breaking Ground theme for the entire month of March. In the group you’ll find support and encouragement for your projects and fun themed challenges.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Breaking Ground Tour Sneak Peeks for Thursday

Thanks for following along with the Breaking Ground Blog tour.

Thursday’s bloggers are:

 Very Blissful, Manning the MachineSew and Tell Project, Musings of a Seamstress, Stitches by Laura

Take a look at these colors, zig zags, and criss crosses.

Thursday collage

The Full Tour includes all these creatives… we hope you’ll visit us each day:

Monday March 12- mahlicadesigns, Sewing VortexSewing A La CarteLittle Heart Threads, The Sewing Scientist

Tuesday March 13- Musings of A Seamstress, A Custom Clothier, Octaves of Color, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sew Altered Style

Wednesday March 14- Flaxfield Sewing, Chook n Duck, Tales of a TesterSewing By Ti, Sewing Vortex

Thursday March 15- Very Blissful, Manning the MachineSew and Tell Project, Musings of a Seamstress, Stitches by Laura

Friday March 16- Lulu & Celeste, Tenille’s Thread, Sewing A La CarteThe Bear and Pea Atelier, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sprouting Jube JubeKathy’s Kwilts and More

To make the tour even more fun, our Breaking Ground blog team member, Gail is offering 2 patterns of choice from her pattern shop Flosstyle to one lucky winner.

Enter Here!

***

We’d love to see how you’re Breaking Ground this month. Share with us what you’re working on by using the hashtag #BreakingGround2018 across social media.

Better yet, join the Sew Alongs & Sewing Contests facebook group to sew along with the Breaking Ground theme for the entire month of March. In the group you’ll find support and encouragement for your projects and fun themed challenges.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Breaking Ground Tour Sneak Peeks for Wednesday

Thanks for following along with the Breaking Ground Blog tour.

Wednesday’s bloggers are:

 Flaxfield Sewing, Chook n Duck, Tales of a TesterSewing By Ti, Sewing Vortex, Kathy’s Kwilts and More

Take a look at these pocket details!

Wednesday collage 2

The Full Tour includes all these creatives… we hope you’ll visit us each day:

Monday March 12- mahlicadesigns, Sewing VortexSewing A La CarteLittle Heart Threads, The Sewing Scientist

Tuesday March 13- Musings of A Seamstress, A Custom Clothier, Octaves of Color, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sew Altered Style

Wednesday March 14- Flaxfield Sewing, Chook n Duck, Tales of a TesterSewing By Ti, Sewing Vortex, Kathy’s Kwilts and More

Thursday March 15- Very Blissful, Manning the MachineSew and Tell Project, Musings of a Seamstress, Stitches by Laura

Friday March 16- Lulu & Celeste, Tenille’s Thread, Sewing A La CarteThe Bear and Pea Atelier, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sprouting Jube JubeKathy’s Kwilts and More

To make the tour even more fun, our Breaking Ground blog team member, Gail is offering 2 patterns of choice from her pattern shop Flosstyle to one lucky winner.

Enter Here!

***

We’d love to see how you’re Breaking Ground this month. Share with us what you’re working on by using the hashtag #BreakingGround2018 across social media.

Better yet, join the Sew Alongs & Sewing Contests facebook group to sew along with the Breaking Ground theme for the entire month of March. In the group you’ll find support and encouragement for your projects and fun themed challenges.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Breaking Ground Tour Sneak Peeks for Tuesday

Thanks for following along with the Breaking Ground Blog tour.

Today’s bloggers are:

 Musings of A Seamstress, A Custom Clothier, Octaves of Color, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sew Altered Style

Today’s sneak peeks are tantalizing. Look at those colors and prints.

Tuesday collage updated

The Full Tour includes all these creatives… we hope you’ll visit us each day:

Monday March 12- mahlicadesigns, Sewing VortexSewing A La CarteLittle Heart Threads, The Sewing Scientist

Tuesday March 13- Musings of A Seamstress, A Custom Clothier, Octaves of Color, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sew Altered Style

Wednesday March 14- Flaxfield Sewing, Chook n Duck, Tales of a TesterSewing By Ti, Sewing Vortex, Kathy’s Kwilts and More

Thursday March 15- Very Blissful, Manning the MachineSew and Tell Project, Musings of a Seamstress, Stitches by Laura

Friday March 16- Lulu & Celeste, Tenille’s Thread, Sewing A La CarteThe Bear and Pea Atelier, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sprouting Jube JubeKathy’s Kwilts and More

To make the tour even more fun, our Breaking Ground blog team member, Gail is offering 2 patterns of choice from her pattern shop Flosstyle to one lucky winner.

Enter Here!

***

We’d love to see how you’re Breaking Ground this month. Share with us what you’re working on by using the hashtag #BreakingGround2018 across social media.

Better yet, join the Sew Alongs & Sewing Contests facebook group to sew along with the Breaking Ground theme for the entire month of March. In the group you’ll find support and encouragement for your projects and fun themed challenges.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Breaking Ground with True Bias Lander Pants

Some patterns just stand out as instant must haves. The Lander Pants were that for me and by all the Landers I see on Instagram, for many others too.

After making my Coffee House Pants from Blue Dot Patterns, I was all-in on the idea that I could pull off a wide leg pant, so why the heck not try the Landers. Plus that button fly and slightly higher waist looks so stylish.

I don’t have a lot of experience sewing pants and those that I have made have been pretty time intensive due to details like topstitching, welt pockets, or my pattern hacking. Sewing the Landers really helped put into perspective that sewing pants could be a pretty quick project.

I’m Breaking Ground on these also by sewing my first button fly. Seriously, it’s not difficult, but I’m always apprehensive about screwing up button holes.

The Pattern: Lander Pants & Shorts from True Bias. I made a straight size 10 shortened by 2in and did not need to do my typical full seat adjustment. I did sew a muslin, but you might not need to do one. The pattern includes a 1in seam allowance on the outseam to allow for fitting. You be the judge.

I found the drafting and pattern instructions are on par with the better indie designers. My only criticism is the order of construction has you sew the legs together front and back before working on the fly. That’s a lot of bulk to be maneuvering while working on the fly.

The Fabric: It’s a mystery! Pulled deep from my stash, inherited years ago, origins unknown. Some sort of natural fiber slub woven. It was perfect in my mind for the Landers.

 

Thanks for reading about my Breaking Ground project today.

Please visit today’s other bloggers in the Breaking Ground Blog Tour:

Sewing Vortex, Sewing A La Carte, Little Heart Threads, The Sewing Scientist

You can read more about the Breaking Ground Blog Tour, see all the bloggers in the tour, learn how to participate, and enter the giveaway Here.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Breaking Ground Blog Tour 2018

 

Welcome to the Breaking Ground Blog Tour 2018. This week over 20 bloggers have joined me to break new ground by trying a pattern designer that is new to them, try new techniques, new styles, or whatever way they wanted to push themselves.

I’ll be posting here daily with teasers and links to each day’s bloggers and showing my Breaking Ground make too.  Be sure to read on to see all the fun stuff and how you can participate.

Today’s teaser is for:

mahlicadesigns, Sewing VortexSewing A La CarteLittle Heart Threads, The Sewing Scientist

Monday collage

The Full Tour:

Monday March 12- mahlicadesigns, Sewing VortexSewing A La CarteLittle Heart Threads, The Sewing Scientist

Tuesday March 13- Musings of A Seamstress, A Custom Clothier, Octaves of Color, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sew Altered Style

Wednesday March 14- Flaxfield Sewing, Chook n Duck, Tales of a TesterSewing By Ti, Sewing Vortex, Kathy’s Kwilts and More

Thursday March 15- Very Blissful, Manning the MachineSew and Tell Project, Musings of a Seamstress, Stitches by Laura

Friday March 16- Lulu & Celeste, Tenille’s Thread, Sewing A La CarteThe Bear and Pea Atelier, Aurora Design Fabrics, Sprouting Jube JubeKathy’s Kwilts and More

To make the tour even more fun, our Breaking Ground blog team member, Gail is offering 2 patterns of choice from her pattern shop Flosstyle to one lucky winner.

Enter Here!

***

We’d love to see how you’re Breaking Ground this month. Share with us what you’re working on by using the hashtag #BreakingGround2018 across social media.

Better yet, join the Sew Alongs & Sewing Contests facebook group to sew along with the Breaking Ground theme for the entire month of March. In the group you’ll find support and encouragement for your projects and fun themed challenges.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Breaking Ground Tour Wrap Up & Sneak Peeks

Thanks for following along this week with the Breaking Ground Blog tour.

There has been a lot of firsts and taking on challenges by the bloggers. The full list of tour participants is below. I hope you’ll take a look at today’s bloggers and go back and catch any that you’ve missed.

Today’s bloggers are:

 Anne-Mari Sews, Tales of a TesterSewing By Ti, Musings of A Seamstress, Harper + Lu,  Sewing A La Carte, Sprouting Jube Jube, Lulu & Celeste

How about a few teasers.

Friday collage

The Full Tour:

Monday March 20- Anne-Mari Sews, Sewing By Ti, Musings of A Seamstress, Tenille’s Thread, Couturious, Embrace Everyday, Sewing A La Carte

Tuesday March 21- mahlicadesigns,  Kaleidothought,  Ronda B Handmade, Elizabeth Made This

Wednesday March 22- Rainy Day SewingAnne-Mari Sews, Sprouting Jube JubeSewing A La CarteTales of a Tester

Thursday March 23- mahlicadesigns, Lulu & Celeste, Very BlissfulSprouting Jube Jube, Ronda B Handmade, Adventures with Bubba and Bug

Friday March 24- Anne-Mari Sews, Tales of a TesterSewing By Ti, Musings of A Seamstress, Harper + Lu,  Sewing A La Carte

If all these posts have you inspired, I’ve recently added an Indie Pattern List to my blog as a resource to help you find more designers.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Breaking Ground with Designer Stitch

The Gypsy Tunic Dress from Designer Stitch was an easy choice for the Breaking Ground Tour. I loved the kimono sleeve style and the maxi length option the first time I saw it. The tester photo gallery is full of great examples and the patterns in her shop show some skillful drafting, so I knew this was a designer I needed to try.

I look at the Gypsy as the perfect summer dress for me. The kimono sleeve and loose fit are good for letting the body breath in warm weather, the elastic waistband gives the dress shape while still being comfortable, and the maxi length is ideal for when I want to cover my legs.

The Gypsy also comes with a crossover front, hi-lo hem, and tunic options.

It seems like I’m constantly learning about new indie pattern designers and it can seem overwhelming to keep track of it all. I’ve recently added an Indie Pattern List to my blog to catalogue them all. I hope this will be a helpful resource for you.

As always, thanks for joining me today. Please visit my fellow bloggers on today’s Breaking Ground blog tour:

Very Blissful, Ronda B Handmade, Adventures with Bubba and Bugmahlicadesigns

Here’s a little sneak peek.

Thursday new collage

Breaking Ground Tour Sneak Peeks for Wednesday

Thanks for following along with the Breaking Ground Blog tour.

Today’s bloggers are:

Rainy Day Sewing,   Anne-Mari Sews,   Sprouting Jube Jube,

Sewing A La Carte,    Tales of a Tester

Wednesday collage 2

Today’s sneak peaks are some beautiful inside finishes and oh that darling face!

If all these posts have you inspired, I’ve recently added an Indie Pattern List to my blog to catalogue them all. I hope this will be a helpful resource for you.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Breaking Ground with Laela Jeyne

I put new pajamas on my sewing wishlist for 2017, because my current pj situation is composed of mismatched super stretched out pieces with a long list of other problems. The Breaking Ground challenge was just the kick in the pants I needed to get this wardrobe hole taken care of.

I chose the Laela Jeyne Comfy Cozy Pjs for its classic style and its many options. With this pattern I can sew with knits or wovens, I can make long sleeves and long pants for winter, short sleeves and shorts for summer, and I can choose a low or regular rise. Bases covered.

Since I’m all about stashbusting this year and I had over 5 yards of plaid and some matching check print to use up, I decided to go big and make myself a summer and winter set of the Comfy Cozy PJs. I’ve never sewn with plaid so, that was going to be Breaking Ground too. I thought this was a great idea until about hour three of plaid matching and cutting pattern pieces. Ugh!

Plaid matching aside, the construction of the pjs went together very smoothly. The step by step instructions with photos made it super easy. I’m also thankful for the sleeve and pant cuffs that saved me from a ton of hemming.

Now I’d like to find some nice double knit to make another set for next winter.

Thanks for reading about my Breaking Ground project today.

Please visit todays other bloggers in the Breaking Ground Blog Tour:

mahlicadesigns,  Kaleidothought,  Ronda B Handmade, Elizabeth Made This

Tuesday Teaser collage

 

As always, thanks for stopping by today.

Breaking Ground Blog Tour from mahlicadesigns

Welcome to the Breaking Ground Blog Tour. This week almost 20 bloggers have joined me to break new ground by trying a pattern designer that is new to them, with a focus on smaller indie designers. I also threw out an extra challenge to see who would break ground with new tecniques, styles, or whatever way they wanted to push themselves.

I’ll be posting here daily with teasers and links to each days bloggers and showing some of my Breaking Ground makes too.

Today we have:

Anne-Mari Sews,  Sewing By Ti,  Musings of A Seamstress,  Tenille’s Thread,  Couturious, Embrace Everyday,  Sewing A La Carte

BG Monday Teaser collage

 

The Full Tour:

Monday March 20- Anne-Mari Sews, Sewing By Ti, Musings of A Seamstress, Tenille’s Thread, Couturious, Embrace Everyday, Sewing A La Carte

Tuesday March 21- mahlicadesigns,  Kaleidothought,  Ronda B Handmade, Elizabeth Made This

Wednesday March 22- Rainy Day SewingAnne-Mari Sews, Sprouting Jube JubeSewing A La CarteTales of a Tester

Thursday March 23- mahlicadesigns, Lulu & Celeste, Very BlissfulSprouting Jube Jube, Ronda B Handmade, Adventures with Bubba and Bug

Friday March 24- Anne-Mari Sews, Tales of a TesterSewing By Ti, Musings of A Seamstress, Harper + Lu,  Sewing A La Carte

It seems like I’m constantly learning about new indie pattern designers and it can seem overwhelming to keep track of it all. I’ve recently added an Indie Pattern List to my blog to catalogue them all. I hope this will be a helpful resource for you.

As always, thanks for stopping by today.