Who is ready for another Aspiring Designer from the Aspiring Designer Challenge on Pattern Revolution? Let me introduce you to Chelsea of Get Your Crap Together. I only recently discovered her patterns when she released the Love Me Knot Shorts. I just fell in love with the look of that pattern and just had to get it! When she put the tester call out for her newest pattern, well I just jumped right on the chance to test it. The uniqueness and cute factor just sold me on it!

Introducing the Firecracker Dress and Tunic! I think you can just look at the photos and just see the beauty of this. It ranges in sizes 3mo to 12yrs and is made using woven material. As you can see there are two straps on either side of the bodice that go over the shoulder and through a button hole in back which can then be tied in a bow. The pattern also shows a couple other unique ways of tying the straps!  And the tunic length paired with the Love Me Knot Shorts was just perfect. I already have several mamas wanting this same outfit for their little firecrackers!

This was the perfect pattern for my little one’s First Memorial Day outfit so she could sport her red, white, and blue in honor of all the brave men and women that fell to fight for our freedom.

Now I couldn’t just make one. When I first saw this pattern I just knew it was time to cut into my Wee Wander fabric. I think you all know how hard it is to cut into a beautiful fabric such as that. I may have even said a little prayer and rechecked my measurements about a million times right before making the first cut! But once the right pattern comes for it, well it is really a pleasure to finally put a beautiful fabric to use. For this dress I also used vintage lace for the straps. AMAZING!! I just couldn’t be happier with the end result!

Right now till tomorrow this pattern is on sale for $5.95 on Etsy and Craftsy. No coupon needed! You don’t want to miss this one and with the range of sizes, you can so justify picking up another amazing pattern. Don’t forget you can enter the giveaway on the GYCT blog for your chance to win a copy too!

Who doesn’t love it when you can do a little less work and still create something beautiful? How perhaps use something that you have a million of to repurpose into something great? I had the pleasure of testing the Maddie Dress by {Sig}nature Creations which lets you do just that! This pattern lets you use an existing shirt or tank to create a beautiful dress. It goes step by step to make the skirt part and then shows you how to attach it to the shirt or tank to create the perfect empire waist dress in size 0-6mo to 14! Now I took this one step further and attached it to a onsie. I don’t know about you but I love onsie dresses as it keeps my girl a little more modest as she is crawling or being passed around.

Are you ready to find out how to do this yourself? Here is my first tutorial on my blog! Are you as excited as I am? A few things first.  There are many different ways to attach the skirt to the onsie. You may find that another method works better for you.  One method is to cut the onsie and then sew back together.  I don’t like this method as it shortens the onsie.  I don’t want to lose any length!   I find that this method explained here is the best for me! Also the Maddie pattern is so versatile that you can embellish your skirt anyway you choose! You can even embellish the shirt if you wanted. For this Maddie I decided to attach another ruffle to the top of the skirt. I was trying something new and I think it turned out cute! It does make it a tad more difficult to attach it, but with a little patience it worked out great. I would not recommend it for your first one though! Now on with the tutorial!!

First follow the pattern on how to make your skirt. After you do that you should have two garments: the skirt and the onsie:

1. Find your cutting measurement on the chart. I am doing the 6-12mo so my measurement is 2″. Measure down from the arm pit seam on your onsie and mark. Repeat for the other side.

2. Draw a line across the onsie connecting both marks you just made. I use a water soluble marker. Repeat for the back too!

3. Make sure the top raw edge of your skirt is finished. I use my serger to do this.

4. Gather your skirt to the width of your onsie.

5. Keep your onsie right side out and turn your skirt wrong side out. Slip the skirt over the top of the onsie so that the right sides should be together and the bottom of your onsie is sticking out like the photo.

6. Pin your gathered serged edge to the line you marked on the onsie. Make sure you line up the side seams of the skirt to the side seams of the onsie!

7. Check your stitch on your machine. I use the “lightening bolt” stitch seen in this photo. If you don’t have this stitch just use another stretch stitch or a zig zag stitch.

8. Sew the skirt to the onsie. You will want to sew right above your serged edge that way when you flip the skirt down you don’t see if from the right side. Also when I sew the skirt to the onsie I like to very gently stretch the onsie as I sew to give it a little extra give! Makes it a little easier to dress a squirming baby!

9. Flip the skirt down and you should have a little dress!! Now if you aren’t doing a sash you are done! If you are doing a sash continue on.

10. Follow the directions on the pattern for making the sash. I like to topstitch my sash. Find the center of your sash and the center on the front of your onsie. Place the sash on top of the onsie/skirt seam lining up the center points. Simply just stitch a couple stitches right over the topstitching on the top and bottom of the sash as indicated by the circles. Alternately you can sew all along the front on top of the topstitching but you might loose some stretch when doing so.

You are done! Now just put your darling dress on your beautiful girl and admire both your amazing creations!!

The Aspiring Designer Challenge is currently running! Have you been keeping up with the posts on Pattern Revolution? You should because there are some really talented new designers!! I got the pleasure of testing for a couple of them too! Today Annemeike of Sofilantjes releases her first pattern. Kind of first anyways, because she does have a free pattern listed on Craftsy! But this is her first official pattern release and it is very exciting to be apart of it! Anyways, she is a Dutch designer that is just bursting with talent. I know I can’t wait to see what her next pattern will be as I loved this one so much!

Here is the Summer Surprise dress and tunic! Wonder what the surprise is? Just look at the back! Isn’t it just darling? This tank style dress is made using knits, and comes in sizes 6mo-7yrs. It also includes pattern pieces for slim sizing too! It features a pleat in the front and a lower back with a bow. It is just so cute and not to mention a quick sew! I want one for myself!

Now you can purchase the pattern HERE (on sale for $6.30 right now!) or head over to her blog to try to win your own copy. Make sure you LIKE Sofilantjes on Facebook so you can continue to see the wonderful new things she has in store for us!

Time for a little selfish…em, I mean self care sewing!! Yes, these photos are really of me. Now I don’t usually sew for myself. Why? Well more fabric needed, more time cutting, more of everything really. However on occasion I see a pattern that I just have to sew for myself. So when this testing opportunity popped up I just crossed my fingers that I would be picked as I really wanted this one for me!! Now this pattern was released in a girl’s version a bit ago. I will pretend to hide my sadness that it didn’t come in baby sizes. I fell in love with it then as it was just amazing and look sooo comfy! Are you dying to know what it is yet?  Can you guess by the photo? Alright, alright, I will tell you!

The Ladies Trendy Tunic by Love Notions is releasing Monday! I just love the styling on this top. It is made using knits and comes in sizes XS-XXL. It features cute cap sleeves and even pockets!!! I just love the contrasting front and back. Very flattering I must say. You can even add a little flutter ruffle to your pockets. Of course I had to because, well, why not?!! After I sewed this up (pretty quickly too) I showed it off to my mom. She immediately tried it on and tried to steal it on me, before I even took photos!! Good thing we aren’t exactly the same size otherwise I would have been out a shirt! Oh, did I mention Tami also includes instructions if you want to make this a dress. I think I will be trying that soon!

Just as an aside my 6yr old took these photos for me! I think I have a budding little photographer on my hands!