SisBoom Blog Tour: Sew For the Holidays

It was during a tumultuous time in my life that I first found Sisboom Patterns on Etsy. I was desperately seeking a solution to my own wardrobe woes and I also found one of the most supportive sewing communities on facebook that I have ever known. Over time, again and again I reach for my Sis boom patterns to make my daughter clothes and even occasionally I make something for myself!

 I love the Advent and Christmas seasons, which is when I sew the most clothes. In our religious practice, we have a lot of feast days during Christmastide and our daughter loves to dress up! My goal this year was to make as many versatile new outfits that could be worn on into the rest of winter or into Spring.

Advent 3-Rose Sunday: Sophie (size 7/8)

My daughter Ziona asked for some tunics to wear this year. I hate to admit, but though I have owned this pattern for a couple years and have printed/assembled this pattern in several sizes now, this is the first time I have sewn it up! Oh what time I've wasted not making this, Sophie was such a quick and easy tunic to make and the details really make me happy!

Advent 4: Sophie Dress (Size 7/8)

This augmented Sophie was made with one of my favorite fabrics that Ziona picked out from the Sewing Center on the day after Thanksgiving (commonly called Black Friday in the US). She took longer to make her choice than a newly engaged person shopping for rings!

Christmas Eve Nightgown: Leighanna (Size 7/8)

Our family tradition is to open a gift on Christmas Eve before our midnight Mass services which is usually new sleepwear. This nightgown is perfect from the Leighanna pattern but it won't be such a surprise for Ziona as she caught me sewing a couple weeks ago when I thought her napping!

The Feast of St. Stephen (December 26th): Sophie (Size 7/8)

This time, I made the facing on the front with matching cuffs!

The Feast of the Circumcision (8th Day of Christmastide): Gabriella Fae (Size 8)

This is my most beloved Sisboom Pattern which I have easily made over 20 times! It is a versatile pattern with different bodice, neckline and sleeve options! Here I have made the long sleeves with the runched bodice and the skirt is a bit longer than the pattern originally called for. I have another one of these in the works with loops at the waist for sashing that can be changed out.

Would you like to win a Sisboom pattern of your own? Click on the rafflecopter and follow the prompts to enter! Thank you for taking the time to visit and be sure to catch up with the other blogs on this tour featuring Sisboom Patterns for the Holidays!

*\0/*cheers

Shanna

a Rafflecopter giveaway

November 15: Mrs Podge

November 17:  Anna's Heirloom Boutique

November 22:  Handmade Boy

November 29:  Seam of my Pants

December 1:  here!

December 6: Sunflower Seams

December 8:  A Crazy Craft Lady

December 13: Glitter in My Coffee

December 15:  Troops To Tots

December 17:  Cookies N Bees

Pattern Testing: The Sally Dress

From the very beginning, this promised to be a great pattern testing!  I have done alot of pattern testing over the years, but my favorite is always Scientific Seamstress/Sisboom by far!  I own a great deal of their established patterns in Women's, Girl's, Boy's and even their Men's patterns--that is how much I love this designer!

One of the things you should know from the very start is that the Scientific Seamstress company is serious about pattern testing! They don't just pattern test to get people to make fancy dresses for the launch of the pattern.  They do rigorous testing; one women's pattern tested for several months and I went through 4 muslins for the one month I tested alone!  I love the group process of testing in that you ask questions, you point out issues, and you take pictures to share what works and what doesn't!

When I started this process, my daughter ended up being on the very edge of the 6/beginning of the size 7 girls.  I decided to make the size 7 knowing she would be going through a growth spurt (I think I hear her legs creaking longer as I type even)!  Ironically, her current growth spurt leaned out her torsal about 1/2" in just a few weeks which made the first tester dress above swim on her without a sash. She dropped down into the Size 6 realm but no fear I know she will return to this size 7 before long!  I simply LOVE the full double-skirt of options 2 & 3 on the pattern.  The way it swishes around her was simply a delight for her!

When you add the sash from Options 1 & 2, you can fudge a little on the sizes because you gather in the fabric.  The picture above is the Option 1 with one Skirt (with decorative band added for fun) and a wonderful sash! The best part about the sash is the Big bow you can make in the back.  I sincerely love this pattern and I am already working on 2 more dresses for my daughter and two more in larger sizes for the daughters of my friends (This pattern goes all the way up to size 14 girls!)!  I would highly recommend this pattern and I don't say that lightly, I have not always recommended patterns that I have tested.  You can find the pattern HERE!  If you are going to sew up the Sally or any of the other Sisboom or Scientific Seamstress patterns, also check out the Scientific Seamstress lab which is a fantastic group for working through any questions!

Until Next time!

*\0/* Cheers
Shanna

More Gabriella Fae

This was Project #30 on my First Quarter list HERE for the Finish-a-long.

I wanted to share with you another Gabriella Fae dress that I finished a few weeks ago.  I really wanted to get a great outside shot with my daughter wearing the garment, the wind gently swaying the skirt about. However, with the ice storms sweeping thru the area in the past couple of weeks or so, it just was not possible!

Once again, the variety one can do with this pattern is fantastic!  With this project I have incorporated the gathered bodice with the long sleeves and a longer skirt in a size 5 for growth.  The back sports a pink zipper.  If you are interested in checking out this dress for yourself, you can pick it up from the Scientific Seamstress Etsy shop HERE.  I cannot help how much I love how this dress turned out!

Honestly, I want to share that the best part of using a Scientific Seamstress pattern is their private facebook group! I have never met such an encouraging group of sewers!  I took part in a couple pattern testings for Gabriella Fae as well as the Carolina Mae, the adult version.  It was weeks of testing, I did 5 muslins on the Carolina Mae alone as Carla was that concerned that she wanted to make sure that the dress would fit as many women and their body types as possible.  They opened a private group for each testing and it felt like a group collaboration.  There were people chiming in from Australia (I often sew in the middle of the night; they were awake having lunch) when I had a problem with understanding a part of the pattern that was new to me.

I am linking up this week to:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Fridays @TGIFF
WHOOP, WHOOP Fridays @Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Link A Finish Friday @ Richard & Tanya Quilt

Fabric Tuesdays @ Quilt Story
Needle & Thread Thursday @My Quilt Infatuation

*\o/* Cheers

Shanna

PS-I wanted to share with you what SS is doing for March.  They like to have themes for their contests.  I have about 3 projects in the works myself that I cannot wait to share! Blogpost HERE