Welcome back, I can't tell you how hard it has been for me to not share this one early!!! This summer I received an e-mail from Bonnie of
Fishsticks Designs, I read said e-mail and my jaw was on the ground. I was being invited to participate in the
Jersey Love blog tour - which meant not only would I get to try out some of Bonnie's great new patterns-
Jersey Love, but I would get to sew them up in
Riley Blake's brand new line of knits - ummmmm, HECK YEAH!!! I think maybe Bonnie sent it to me by mistake... but shhhhh, don't tell her!
I was ecstatic - I love working with knits and love seeing new pattern that work with knits. I also loved looking through the
Jersey Love patterns are realizing that there were patterns for BOYS!!! A few people may have mentioned to me recently that I have not been showing my boys enough sewing love of late, partially that is because they have clothes that still fit and baby girl has had more need, but part of it is that it is also just so dang easy to find new things to sew for girls... and a little harder for boys. I quick e-mail later, and Bonnie gave me the go ahead to sew up both the
Downtown V Neck shirt and the
Run Around pants.
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| 'Mom, stop taking pictures and let me try them on!!!' |
These are both such great sews - the pattern pieces print and go together easily with no tricky jigsaw confusion. And in no time at all, you are at your sewing machine stitching along. The sewing is just as easy - the instructions give clear guidance each step of the way and include tons of tips if you are new to sewing with knits. There are plenty of pictures to provide visual confirmation that you indeed are understanding what the instructions state. Now I have to say that having the right knit makes all the difference. Riley Blake has hit the nail on the head with a great combination of softness, memory, and weight. This fabric is the perfect weight for this collection! I used the
1 inch grey and white stripe, the
solid aqua, the
1/2 inch aqua and white stripe, the
solid grey, and the
1/2 inch grey and white stripe.
Ok, back to the patterns: You know I can't just stick with a pattern as written - I know, I know, it is a problem. But let's start with the Downtown V-neck.
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| *excuse the wrinkles in the bottom one, I literally grabbed it out of the dryer and snapped this picture |
After cutting my pants and shirt I realized I had enough fabric for a second shirt - and since I have twin boys, we just need to keep things fair! Well, I should say I had 'almost' enough fabric. I quickly remembered that the Charlie T by Fishsticks has cutting lines for color blocking... I simply transferred the lines to the downtown V and next thing you know I have a a color blocked V Neck - I LURVRE IT!!! The color blocked version has standard hems on both the sleeve and the bottom hem - the great thing is that the instructions tell you exactly how to choose and create either the banded hem or a standard hem.
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| my husband just can't understand why I am so proud of these matched stripes |
OK - on to the second shirt. I planned on doing this exactly as written... really I did. I decided that based on how rough my boys are on clothes I would attach the bands to the shirt right sides together and then top stitch with my twin needle - extra strength for those messy, rugged men of mine. I really love the bands on this pattern - you can have fun with a pop of color, and can we just talk about how nice that V looks - seriously the instructions are great. These were my first two V necks and I was a little nervous that it wouldn't be 'perfect'...I am so happy with the end results!
On to the pants!
The Run Around Pants are so perfectly names - they make my boy just want to run around, and around, and run... and run... Hahahah - he loves these pants. They aren't constrictive at all and he just seemed so comfortable!
I went with the top pocket and one of the side pockets. Each pocket is two layers, I chose to sew mine right sides together on the sides and bottom and turned. For the side pockets I then top stitched the top edge leaving it raw to give that raw edge that boys love and makes this collection so fun and modern. I also left the Side Stripes with raw edges like the pattern tells you to do - I love how they curl a bit. By making enclosed seams on the side pockets, I was able to keep the flow of the blue stripe going all the way down - it looks so snazzy. Seriously, he was the best dressed at church, and a tween on the playground said that his outfit was 'so cool'! WOHOOO!!!
I can't say enough about how fun these patterns are to make and to watch your child wear. If you have boys, you need to add both of these to your collection!
Thank you Bonnie for letting me be a part of this Tour, it has been a blast. And don't miss out on all the other stops on the tour:
You can enter below to win your own copy of the Run Around Pants or the Downtown V-Neck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
