Thursday, October 8, 2020

Three Bonfire Hoodies // Sofiona Designs

 Happy October! It is my favorite time of the year for many reasons, including the cooler weather and changing fall colors! It also means I can wear all my favorite cozy cardigans and hoodies. I have a new favorite hoodie to share - the Bonfire Hoodie by Sofiona Designs. I might be wearing this all of the fall season because it is so comfortable!


Sofiona Designs actually has two separate patterns, the original girls Bonfire Hoodie and the women's Miss Bonfire Hoodie. It only made sense to sew both versions so my sisters could have a new hoodie too! I think they look so cute in their Bonfires!



One of my favorite things about this pattern is all the details! Yes, it does make it a fairly involved project and it is not a quick sew (especially if you decide to make three at once like me!) but the end result is so worth it. My 17 year old sister and I chose to have thumbhole cuffs on our hoodies, but my littlest sister wanted normal cuffs. I love how you can totally customize the details to make the hoodie of your dreams. 


Other options this pattern includes are an accent strip on the front and back bodice, a hidden front pocket, and drawstrings. The hood and bodice are lined as well. 


This pattern was released about a year ago and I knew it was a pattern I had to have right away. I even bought fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics right away too. The fabric and patterns sat untouched in my sewing room until these last few weeks when I decided the hoodies must be made immediately! 




I think all the little details really add to the quality of the Bonfire Hoodie. The eyelets/drawstrings took more time, but I am so happy with what they add to the overall finished look. I just used strips of leftover fabric to make the drawstrings because that way they matched the hoodies and I didn't have to buy anything else. 

Funny story, I was upset when I was cutting these out because it took all afternoon and I almost didn't have enough fabric. I had to play some serious pattern cutting jenga and even then it was close! I didn't quite have fabric long enough for the drawstrings and hood facings but I had enough smaller pieces. My husband is a welder and he suggested I "weld" smaller pieces together to make a piece big enough. I was being stubborn and didn't want to do that, but in the end that is what I did and it worked out just fine! 



We love the huge hidden pockets! 

The fabric is all from my favorite fabric shop, Raspberry Creek Fabrics. I thought I had ordered all French Terry but I ordered the floral in cotton lyrca by mistake. The pattern calls for heavier weight fabrics, which is why I wanted to use French Terry, but the cotton lyrca works just fine too. I love the pop of floral with the darker solid colors. 


I made the girls Bonfire for my littlest sister and the Miss Bonfire for my other sister and I. The Miss Bonfire Hoodie comes with cup sizes for the bodice and there is the option to print the pattern in layers, which makes blending sizes super easy. The size chart said I should have made a size 8, A cup bodice but I ended up using the size 8, B cup bodice because I felt the finished measurements were closer to what would work for me. I also blended out at the waist and hips for both my sister and I. For my littlest sister I used one size for the width and another size for the length because she is so tall. I love being able to sew my own clothes so I can make them fit how I want. 



Here's a detail shot of the thumbhole cuffs. I love how the thumbholes are hidden when not putting your thumb through. The construction is really unique compared to other patterns I've made but I think I prefer it this way! 

And now for some outtakes! My sisters are so silly and we had so much fun taking these pictures at our local apple orchard!






~Elizabeth

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Uptown Downtown Dress


I've been in the sewing mood lately, and I decided I needed wanted a new dress! I've had this navy blue and white polka dot French Terry from my favorite fabric company for a long time intending to make a dress and I'm glad I finally made it happen!


I usually never skip pockets in dresses, and this dress was going to have pockets. However, when it was finished, the pockets weren't laying flat so I removed them. I think a thinner, more flowy fabric would be better suited for pockets. 


This is the Uptown Downtown Dress by Stay + Stitch Patterns. The company recently updated the women's pattern, which I only realized after I had cut and sewn my dress. The sizes and variations were updated. The version I have comes with knee length or maxi length options. I wanted a dress past my knees so I added length where the pattern indicated at the waist. However, next time I would probably add length at the hem. 


The only change I had to make to the pattern was having to cut the back in two pieces instead of on the fold. I didn't have quite enough fabric to cut the back on the fold, but it still worked out!


This is my first time making a dress for myself in French Terry fabric. It is so comfortable and cozy to wear! Perfect for these not quite yet spring weather days. It may look like spring in these photos, but the wind was so cold!


I'm also wearing my own HANDMADE shoes! I used a kit from A Happy Stitch to make my own Espadrilles. I made them almost a year ago and they are the perfect shoes for spring and summer. They are comfortable too and it is so fun to say that I made my shoes!  


The pattern has instructions for a knit binding around the neckline, but I prefer a neckband. It was an easy change to make! I just measure the neckline and multiplied by 0.8 to get my neckband length and it worked out great. 


Knit dresses are one of my favorite things to wear because you can look so put together with minimal effort! It's like secret pajamas! 

 ~Elizabeth


Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Closet Case Pouf Pattern



Today I have a new project to share! This is the free floor pouf pattern from Closet Case Patterns. I have been wanting to make it ever since it came out because it is the perfect scrap busting project. Not only can you use scraps for the pouf itself, but the pouf is stuffed with scraps! I have been saving bags of unusable scraps for at least the past few years. 



The denim fabric is left over from jeans I made for my brother. The cottons are all fabric I won from being on Project Run and Play a few years ago. Now I will have memories of that time in my living room! The tutorial recommends using piping around the top and bottom. I didn't have any in my stash, so I made a sort of faux piping, or binding. I only did the top and I like how it turned out. 



The pouf was a quick sew once I had all the pieces cut out! The most fun part was stuffing it full of scraps!


The bottom is two half circles with an invisible zipper. I made a drawstring bag to hold all the scraps. That way the outside is washable if needed. 


The pouf is perfect for putting my feet up after a long day, or sitting on (as I am doing right now)!


How many scraps are in my pouf? I don't know, but it was ten plastic bags worth that I have saved over the last three or four years. It's surprising how much you can stuff in there!


An in progress photo of stuffing the pouf. 


Some of the bags of scraps that went into my pouf. There were ten bags of those sizes total!


Getting the layout perfected. 


Layout part two. 


Isn't the pouf a great addition to my living room?

 ~Elizabeth

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Happy New Year // 2020

Happy New Year! I cannot believe it is the start of a new decade! I am so excited for the year to come! If anyone is still reading my blog, I am happy you are still here. I took a long and much needed break from blogging (but not from sewing). I decided I would come back and write a post highlighting some things from the last ten years.

2010 

I was at the end of my high school career. I became a big sister to my youngest brother. I started running due to sibling competition when my "little" brother challenged me to run our town's summer fun run. I liked it so much I joined the local high school cross country team my Senior year.


2011 

This was a great year! I graduated high school and started my Freshman year of college as a nursing major.



2012 

Sophomore year of college. Traveled to New York City for a mission trip over spring break. My youngest (and second) sister was born! I sewed my very first dress!




2013 

Officially started the nursing program! Spent the summer working at a German immersion camp in the health center. Kept sewing in my free time!





2014 

Second summer working as a health assistant at the same German immersion camp. More nursing school. Lots of caffeine. More sewing.


2015 

Senior year of college!!! Ran my first half marathon with a wonderful group of college friends! Lived with the best girls! Graduation!! Passed my RN license test! Started working as a nurse! Lots of family time! This was an amazing year!




2016 

Met my penpal of 15 years for the first time in real life! Started a new job at the hospital working 12 hour night shifts. Moved into my own apartment.


2017 

Took a road trip with my brother to St. Joseph, MO to see the eclipse! Road trip with my sister to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead in De Smet, SD. Trained for and finished my first full marathon!



2018 

Road trip and five day camping trip in Nebraska with my sister. Road trip with my friend from Minnesota to Texas! Ran a trail half marathon. Met my boyfriend at a barn dance.



2019 

Traveled by plane for the first time. Signed up for a trip to Italy and traveled there over my 26th birthday! Took many road trips to Kansas to visit my boyfriend. Got engaged to him on December 21st!!!





I had so much fun looking back over the last decade. I hope you enjoyed reading too! Even through the ups and downs these have been some pretty amazing years of my life. I have to say that 2019 was the best one so far and I'm excited to see what 2020 brings. Happy New Year!!

 ~Elizabeth