SergerPepper Everyday Tank: My 1st Pattern REVIEW

Merry Christmas! I do hope that your year has been Blessed and stuffed FULL of Laughter & Love. 2014 has been kRaZy {to say the least} for my HappyLittleFamily {HLF}. And with Ruffles’ 5th {FIFTH!} Birthday taking place in the midst of the Holiday Season -simultaneously with our trip to WDW {!•Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party•!} , a Family Christmas Party and our church's Christmas Concert -and this was all in ONE  weekend!- on top of HLF's regularly PACKED schedule, this Mommy is one busy Lady... and that brings me to the subject at hand. {GEEZ. Can you say “Longest run-on sentence EVER”?}

Recently I signed on with Denise of DIY Crush to be a pattern reviewer. I have discovered that in my busy life it is helpful to have a reason {or deadline!} to make me sit down & sew. Besides that, I love testing patterns {and sharing my results & opinion with others} so why not try something new? Granted I was supposed to have finished and turned in my review a few weeks ago...but who's counting right? I’m only joking - if you know me then you know how I despise being late. Being late makes me gRuMpY {FYI, I stay gRuMpY a LOT lately!}.

The 1st pattern I have been asked to review was the Everyday Tank: Top & Dresses by SergerPepper. I just knew we had to do it because living in NE Fla means Shorts, FlipFlops & {YES} TankTops year round!  The Everyday Tank, Top & Dress {heretofore referred to as The ET} looked like something we could have fun with & when I saw the "BEGINNER" level I was sold, HaHa! This pattern was published in PDF form {my personal -and absolute - favorite}. The ET comes in 3 lengths {Top, Dress & Maxi}, has some very cute side detailing and optional pockets {something I have recommended in almost EVERY pattern I've tested, HaHa!}.

How CUTE is this?¿?

This was my 1st 'foreign' pattern {written using the metric system} but this tutorial also includes the imperial system...& I learned that Americans use the "Imperial" system. I never knew that until I read this pattern! Irene of SergerPepper did a fantastic job using both measurements while keeping the tutorial pretty clear & concise. She also made sure to repeat important tips and crucial steps. I am a huge fan of up-cycling and  Irene gave excellent instructions on how to make your ET using an existing garment.  I did up-cycle but due to the largeness of the existing garments & the smallness of my Ruffles, was unable to use the tips. Bummer. Next time though...

The ET tutorial offers SO MANY different tips & tricks! Choosing a style, picking your fabrics, cutting your fabrics, choosing measurements, sewing with knits, using your seger or just sewing machine, binding techniques, hemming {& more!} but the tutorial was laid out in a way that isn't overwhelming. Sometimes too much is just that - TOO MUCH. In this instance it isn't excessive because all the information is helpful & easy to find. The ET is listed {classified?} as a BEGINNER level & I would agree. I recommend reading the ENTIRE tutorial at least once through before starting though!

I did not use my serger on this pattern. In fact I used my "never fails me" Brother 'Project Runway' Limited Edition BlackFriday WalMart Special! It only sews a straight or zig-zag stitch. For knits I will often loosen the tension but that is the only adjustment I made.

Had I thought ahead, I would have tried laying the striped fabric diagonally for a more feminine look. Ruffles LOVES it though, so what more can a Mommy ask for? I would love to try a tank for Robot & I have plans for at least one dress-length version for Ruffles {I'm a sucker for a cute knit dress!}. ♥

GottaRun, ByeBye Y'all! ☺️
Brandyn

P.S.
A "few" more pictures of my Lil'Sweetie {& YES this outfit was totally appropriate for the weather!}

That little belly! ♥♥♥ We had just finished dinner☺️ 

On The Hunt

As a 'budding' Seamstress, I Love Love LOVE all things Sewing related.  I enjoy reading Sewing Magazines, Sewing Blogs, Sewing Tutorials, Sewing Forums, even Sewing Patterns~my Kindle & eBook are full loaded stuffed  OVERFLOWING with them and I even have more on our desktop {I am IN LOVE with PDF's that come with LOTS of color pictures}.

Now if I could only find the TIME to use some of them!!!

Anyway, right now I am On The Hunt for an Overall/Romper pattern. Not just ANY old pattern {I have 2 or 3}.  I want THIS One:

This is NOT my picture.  I came across it on a FB Resale a year {or so} ago and just had to save it. One of the Blessings of a Sewing Forum is that you can involve other Ladies in the hunt & glean from their knowledge on other things...and I now have three other Ladies helping me hunt down a pattern for this style of Overall/Romper!  ♥

The Wonderful World of FaceBook

I love trolling FaceBook...I can stumble upon the most amusing stories or educating articles.  Quotes that uplift, inspire or even Tick Me Off {{!!!}}.  I now do a lot of shopping on FB as well.  In fact, about 90% of my kiddos wardrobes come from FB.  Many people say how 'nice it must be' to not have to shop for school clothes and such...but "HEY!" just because we homeschool doesn't mean that I don't want my children looking their best.  After all~my Mama took pride the appearance of her young daughters and I picked up on that and carried it through to my two Sweet Ones.  My Little Man {{Robot!}} is the Cool Dude with the modern flare.  He looks good in his skinny jeans and Chucks.  We love to accessorize with hats, ties, vests & sunglasses.  My Little Miss {{Ruffles}} is all Sweetness.  I love to dress her in a classic timeless fashion.  Bishop Dresses with Ruffled Diaper Covers...MaryJanes and BOWS, BOWS, BOWS.  I prefer to see Ruffles in matching sets while Robot looks cooler with mismatched patterns and pieces.  Granted, he's not PUNK...I mix his skinny jeans with a classic button down from CHAPS or GAP and a Fedora or Newsboy Cap.  


That being said, I do NOT have $$$$$ to spend on whatever suits my fancy.  Being a SAHM Mommy whose Hubby makes "not what he's worth" doesn't lend itself to shopping sprees...Enter the online world of shopping.  And more specifically FB shopping.  I can support our habit of having well dressed offspring without busting the bank.  We'll probably never have closets full of Matilda Jane or Mini Boden but with careful shopping {{and some FANTASTIC shopping friends/gurus/muses~like Milliepaige Couture}} R&R can look like a million bucks on WalMart Prices.  {{ChaCHING!}}


Of course, I do like to sew pieces for R&R myself as well.  But even that can get expensive!  I try to use Big Crumbs every time I visit a fabric site {{though I did forget the last time~DARN IT!}} and I ALWAYS hunt for coupons before checking out.  Then again FREE is {{ALWAYS}} BEST!!!  Today I have entered a GIVEAWAY for {{SIX!!}} free patterns by a designer of the MOST GORGEOUS WHIMSICAL FRILLY Concoctions...Whimsical Willows Couture.  Click HERE to enter the drawing yourself! You can enter once a day with up to {{SEVEN!}} entries!  I never win giveaways though, so I may just wait for a coupon code to her Etsy store or maybe even make a purchase form her on YouCanMakeThis.com.


Okay~Now I am TOTALLY in the mood to sew something...as soon as my newest fabric shipment comes in I will be tackling my first 'Knot Dress' in a 'Hungry Little Caterpillar' theme...for now...my sewing desk and craft desk need to be cleared before ANY magic can happen! :)


And so I leave you with a picture of what was waiting on my doorstep today when we arrived home from the grocery store...I can't wait to tear into those babies!