THE ELEENA DRESS BY COFFE AND THREAD

Today I’ve got a beautiful dress to show you: The Eleena Dress!

This is actually the first dress I’ve sewn for Teresa for quite some time as she isn’t much into dresses anymore. And you know what? She is in love with it. She might even go back to liking dresses again just because of her new Eleena…

PATTERN: The Eleena Dress by Coffee and Thread. This is such a cute little vintage dress! I love it! This kind of dresses were very popular in the sixties and I even got an old pattern – sent all the way from New Zealand by my friend Constança - for a very similar design. But vintage patterns come in one size only, so I am glad Olga decided to launch the Eleena Dress so I can make it in every single size I need! Plus, the Eleena has some really nice sleeve options – flutter sleeves, short sleeves and long sleeves – and that makes it perfect for every season. There is also an option for a pretty collar and a contrasting central panel that will allow you to play with fabric. The dress is quite a-line shaped so it swings beautifully. I think that little detail was actually the one that made me want to sew it for my kids…

 

 

 

Since I had already seen so many amazing versions of the “original” dress (check #eleenadress on IG to be amazed), I’ve decided to play a little bit with the pattern and make something slightly different… I started with the collarless long sleeved version with continuous front panel and then hacked it a little bit: I’ve cut the skirt into two pieces and used a bright yellow contrasting piece of fabric for the bottom part, replaced the back invisible zipper for a big and long exposed zipper and the lining for a little neck facing (because my chambray is quite stiff and I thought the lining might make the top part of the dress too bulky), I’ve lengthen the sleeve a couple of inches (about 5cm) to properly accommodate Teresa’s very long arms and shorted the overall length again about a couple of inches as I like my kids dresses to be quite short.

FABRIC: Denim chambray and solid yellow cotton, both from my local shops (chambray from Feira dos Tecidos and Solid Yellow from Park dos Tecidos). I´ve got this thing for color blocking… I just love these simple designs in nice bright contrasting colors! But in Portugal, especially in winter time, kids wear mostly dark colors and sometimes – especially when I look at school or birthday photos – I feel like my daughters look  a little bit like aliens… I just hope they will not be traumatized adults because I make their clothes! But I am almost sure they will only wear black in their teens!

Don't forget to check out the other creations on the tour:

February, 22 

Bonnie & Lottie, As it Seams, Sew Happy, Call Ajaire

February, 24

In a Manner of Sewing, Skirt Fixation, Stitched Together, 

Made by Sara, The Life of Compulsive Crafter

February, 26

A Jennuine Life, Fairies, Bubble & Co, Hungie Gungie, Doguincho

February, 29

Rebel & Malice, Sew Shelly Sew, Creative Needle and Threads, 

Welcome to the Mouse House

March, 2

Candice Ayala, LBG Studio, Crafty Biggers, Sewing Like Mad

March, 4

Greendoodle, Rita Pirolita, Boevenbende, Kristine Hansen 

March, 7

Les Reloux, Just Add Fabric, Lokakid, While She was Sleeping

 

The Eleena dress is on sale for only $7 until March 7th and you can get it here! 

 

Olga has also put together a great giveaway were you can win Coffee and Thread two patterns and one yard of Sara Jane fabric.Try your luck on the Rafflecopter!

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

PARIS SEW SOCIAL (AND A GIVEAWAY!)

I still can’t believe I actually went to Paris in April to meet some amazing sewing bloggers I only knew before through their blogs or emails. It was the most incredible weekend and I already miss all the chatting about sewing, fabric, patterns and blogging....

But that’s not all! We also had the support of many wonderful sponsors how were kind enough to give us the most amazing pack of sewing supplies: from fabric to thread, from patterns to books and magazines, from pins (great pins from Snaply!) to zippers. I was truly amazed with their generosity and the quality of the products we got.

 So today I am sharing an outfit for Teresa I made (almost) exclusively with my Paris Sew Social goodies... These are the kind of clothes she likes to wear now and though she was not in the mood for photos she really did like her new tee and shorts and has been wearing them non stop.

PATTERN: Dear Prudence by Sew Pony and City Gym Sorts by The Purl Bee.


Dear Prudence is the newest pattern by Sew Pony and it is actually a pattern for a woven dress. Since I had already made the dress for next month’s pattern tour and I though the design would be great for a tee (and actually Teresa was in need of new tees), I modified slightly the bodice pattern and turned it into a tee. I must admit am kind of obsessed with the design of the collar. I love every single detail in it: the fact that it is an open collar, the piping, the little buttons… Love it!

The City Gym Shorts is a free pattern from the NY shop Purl Soho. Not only it is a free pattern but it is also a great pattern! And it comes in children and women sizes. Perfect for matching mother and daughter outfits, if you are into it! These shorts are a must have for summer time. The fitting is great and the design is simple but cool. I must admit I have changed slightly the shorts construction because I didn’t have enough bias tape… But I think the overall result is still pretty nice and I am sure I will make many more City Gym Shorts in the near future. Actually I have already made a couple more using a wonderful cotton chambray from Merchant and Mills and some Liberty bias tape. There is a sneak peek on those shorts on my Instagram. Check it out!

FABRIC: Solid dark blue organic cotton knit from Lillestoff and plaid woven cotton from MonDepot.

These too fabrics are such good quality! And I think they go together so nicely… The dark blue knit from Lilletsoff has the perfect weight for tees and, since it has a little bit of spandex, it is super stretchy and comfortable. Plus it is organic. Great fabric!

The plaid fabric from MonDepot is super soft and it was a pleasure to work with. I was kind of scared about making bias tape and piping with it but the fabric was so easy to sew… I really like the contrasting bias plaid on the shorts and I am so proud of the plaid piping and buttons on the tee. I think Teresa will not wear this two pieces of clothing together very often as they are kind of too matchy-matchy for her taste but I am sure she will wear them separately all the time as she thinks the plaid is really cool.

 

So, are you ready for the giveaway now? Well, I’ve got a pattern from Sew Pony to give in the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

But that’s not all… Actually all sewing bloggers that went to Paris have a different pattern from one of our sponsors to give on their blogs. Here they are! Do check them out!

NINA CULOTTES AND SKIRT BY COMPAGNIE M. PATTERN TOUR

I still can't believe I am on a women's clothes pattern tour! I am really excited about it though I am a little bit scared too. Will you like the clothes I make for myself? Will the photos be good enough? Will you actually feel like buying the pattern after seeing what I have sewn? Well, let's hope so...
When we were together in Paris, Marte from Compagnie M. asked me if I wanted to try her new pattern, the Nina Culottes and Skirt. She was wearing a Nina skirt and the design and fitting seemed perfect but I was not sure if culottes were my style so I told her I would think about it. I gave it some thought and I am so glad I said yes! I actually made a skirt and a pair of culottes and I love them both!

Let's start with the skirt. Since, according to the size chart, I am a XXS at the hip and a S (almost a M!) at the waist I decided to make a muslin and I am glad I did! I don't like to make muslins but I am learning they are very, very important! Well, my muslin "told me" I should make a size XS and so I did!
Then I had to choose one of (so many) different options for the pockets and enclosure this pattern offers... But that was easy! I knew right from the start I wanted the diagonal side pockets and side invisible zipper (next time I hope I have the courage to add the double welt pockets!)

I made only a couple of changes to the original pattern: I added interfacing to the waistband and shortened a bit the hem (I'm sorry but I don't know how much...). The fabric is Simply Color, Metro Dots Dotty Ombre Grey by V and Co., a quilting cotton I had on my stash for ages! I am not a great fan of women's clothes made with quilting cotton but I think it works quite nicely for this pattern. Plus I love the design! These dots are so much fun but it is still quite a discreet print. Finally, I was lucky enough to have the perfect matching color piping on my stash too so I finished the hem with it and I am glad I added this little detail to my skirt.

While I was sure I was going to love the skirt, I was not that sure about the culottes... I thought culottes were for tall women and I am kind of short. Guess what? I was wrong! The Nina Culottes really have a nice and flattering fit.

My pair of culottes are not made of woven fabric though... I made them with french terry! They were super fast to sew (no side zipper needed as the fabric stretches) and they are so comfy! Plus I think they fit quite nicely and look much fancier then a pair of yoga pants. What have I changed from the original pattern? Not much! Of course I didn't add the side zipper and since I was making the culottes with stretchy fabric I cut a size 14 and used slightly shorter waistbands in order to get a better fit. Once again the hem is slightly shorter then the original, maybe about 5cm, I think.

The fabric is, once again, from my stash and I think I got it on my local shop. The qualities is quite nice and I hope the black will not fade when washed... Because I want to wear these culottes for a long, long time!

Well, do you feel like sewing a Nina skirt or a pair of Nina culottes? You can win a copy of the pattern here! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

So today I am really happy to announce my giveaway winners!
I was so excited when I was at the rafflecopter page picking the winners that I got carried away and picked four winners instead of only two!

So the winners are:
1. Meg
2. Diana Pais
3. Isabel A.
4. Patrícia

Congratulations!
I have already sent you a copy of the Bubble Shorts Pattern so check out your email, if you haven't done it yet.
And thank you so much to everyone that has participated!

GIVEAWAY DAY!

Yesterday Sew Mama Sew started her annual Giveaway Day.

I know I am a little bit late but I decided to join hundreds of bloggers, designers and shops and organize a little giveaway on my blog. Better late then never, right?!

So I am giving away 2 copies of my PDF pattern, the Bubble Shorts. The giveaway is opened to everyone in the world until  next Friday, December 12th, 12am GMT and winners will be announced on Monday, December 15th.
Good luck!

 Winter bubble shorts...

...or summer bubble shorts!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oh! And don't forget to head over Sew Mama Sew to check out all giveaways (here and here). Maybe you get really lucky and score some fabric to make the shorts...

BESS TOP . IMAGINE GNATS PATTERN TOUR AND A GIVEAWAY

Quando a Rachel me contactou para fazer parte da Imagine Gnats Pattern Tour, dizendo que eu poderia escolher qualquer um dos seus moldes de costura, soube imediatamente qual iria ser.
Embora goste de todos os moldes da Imagine Gnats, há muito tempo que andava a namorar o BessTop. E esta foi a desculpa perfeita para o experimentar e começar a costurar para mim.
Costurar para “crescidos” é completamente diferente de costurar para as miúdas. A elas tudo lhes fica bem. O meu corpo é tridimensional e caprichoso! Mas fiquei agradavelmente surpreendida com a minha primeira túnica “homemade”. Não só ficou gira, como assenta lindamente e é super confortável.

When I received Rachel’s email asking me if I wanted to be part of her Imagine Gnats Pattern Tour and telling me I could choose any of her great sewing patterns, I immediately knew which pattern I was going to sew. 
Although I like all Imagine Gnats Patterns, I have to admit I was in love with Bess Top for quite some time. And this was just the perfect excuse to try it and start some “selfish sewing” sessions.
Sewing for me is so different from sewing for the girls… While everything looks great on them, my body is a lot more three-dimensional and difficult to please! But, you know what? I was pleasantly surprised with my first homemade tunic. Not only it looks cool, but the fitting is perfect and it is actually super comfortable.

Claro que ter um molde impecável ajudou muito! Tirando aquele (maldito!) ângulo junto ao ombro na junção dos dois tecidos, toda a construção é fácil e rápida de costurar. A realidade é que, depois de ter cortado o tecido, não demorei mais de uma hora a ter tudo pronto.
Em altura, o molde tem 3 opções: camisa, túnica e vestido. Tem ainda duas opções de gola, uma mais chegada ao pescoço e outra mais aberta. Mais, a túnica e o vestido podem ter bolsos inseridos nas costuras latearias. E as opções de tamanho são imensas (à americana!).
Eu optei pela versão túnica (embora tenha feito a linha da bainha do molde de vestido) com gola menos pronunciada. O tecido foi aproveitado de um lençol de linho antigo e tingido com pigmento preto. Para dar tons distintos às peças da frente e das costas usei níveis de diluição diferentes. A peça da frente ficou quase preta e bastante homogénea, enquanto a peça das costas ficou mais cinzenta e um pouco manchada.Adorei o resultado!

Of course having an impeccable pattern helped a lot! Besides that tricky angle near the shoulder where front and back panels meet, the top is really fast and easy to sew. It only took me about one hour to make it and, believe me, I am a very, very slow seamstress.
The Bess Top Pattern has lots and lots of sizes (over 20!) but it has also several options. You can choose from shirt, tunic or dress length and you can go for two different necklines. The tunic and dress also have optional side seam pockets.
I choose the tunic version but made it with the dress hem, instead of the original subtitle hi-lo hem. The fabric is a vintage linen from an old sheet my mother gave me. Since I didn’t want this shirt to be plain white I dyed it with black pigment. To give different shades of gray to the back and front panels, I used different levels of dilution. The front panel is almost black and it is quite homogeneous, while the back panel is grayer and slightly stained.
I love my new tunic!

Mas agora percebo porque as minhas filhas nem sempre estão com vontade de posar para mim. Muito obrigada Rita pela paciência e pelas óptimas fotografias, apesar da péssima modelo!

But now I understand why my daughters are not always willing to pose for me. Thank you so much Rita for your patience and for these nice photos, despite the terrible model!

 

Para ganhar um molde destes basta participar no sorteio que a Rachel organizou para as minhas leitoras. Boa sorte!
Ou então aproveitar o mês de Janeiro para comprar aqui qualquer um dos seus moldes com 20% de desconto (use o código "januarytour"). Aproveitem!

Do you feel like winning a Bess Top Pattern? Just participate in the giveaway Rachel has put together for you... Good luck!
Or head over Imagine Gnats shop and buy any pattern with 20% discount with code "januarytour" throughout the month of January.
a Rafflecopter giveaway