Handmade Wardrobe // Wattle and Jarrah and Penny, too

top: pattern - Megan Nielsen Patterns Jarrah sweater, fabric - Style Maker Fabrics

skirt: pattern - Megan Nielsen Patterns Wattle skirt, fabric - shop well fibre

Penny’s top: Simplicity 8754 in same fabric as mine.

Penny’s turban and leggings: Nelly Lou

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Mommy and Me fashion - it will never get old for me. I hope she lets me match with her forever.

Can we talk about this fabric for a second? DO you know Star from Well Fibre? She runs a genius Instagram shop where she sells second hand fabric. If you aren’t following her, you should! She lists some true gems. When she posted a preview of this fabric, I was in looooove. And I stalked her page when it went live and jumped on it immedietly. And then the day it came in the mail, I was already cutting out my Wattle skirt. I just couldn’t wait.

And I’m not disappointed. It goes perfect with my knotted Jarrah sweatshirt, but it will also pair so well with tees, tanks, and bodysuits when the weather warms up again this summer. I mean, it would also be perfect for another Hawaiian vacation. Soooooooo hint hint, Zach ;) .

This version is bias cut view A with a buttom waistband. I didn’t get a good shot of the waistband, but I’ll get one next time I wear it!

handmade Wardrobe // Floreat in purple

And heres Floreat number 3! This is view A - dress length with long sleeves, slit back opening, and inseam belt. I made it in a floral rayon crepe from Harts Fabric. It is so light and airy and floaty - I just want to spin and dance in it all day! This style and fabric combo is a little dressier than my every-day style, so I don’t know how much wear it will actually get. But wouldn’t it be dreamy for a fall/winter/spring wedding? Now, anybody getting married soon that wants to invite me?

Stay tuned to Design Diary for the Floreat sewalong later this month! 

Handmade Wardrobe // Floreat in Blue

pattern: Megan Nielsen Patterns Floreat dress

fabric: crinkle linen from Blackbird Fabrics

Another Floreat done! I had to squeeze in one more post before the end of the year (although i do have one more complete, I just wont get it posted until after the new year). This variation is the sleeveless dress version with center back zipper, pockets, and sliiiiightly raised hem. I also made a separate tie belt for when I want to wear it belted - love the option! But I think I really like it loose like this. I think I’ll especially like it when summer comes - the breathable linen and lose silhouette will be so airy and comfortable in the heat. And yes, I’m crazy for trying to photograph a sleeveless linen dress in the middle of a New England winter. I know.

handmade wardrobe // Floreat and Ash

Today I’m sharing the first of my four Megan Nielsen Patterns Floreat tops and dresses! This is a knit version in a cozy mustard rib knit from Fabric.com. I made this one in one nap time sewing session- such and easy sew! I chose the cropped top version, and while I probably should’ve lengthened it a taaaaaad bit in the back (long torso problems), I’m still happy with the length. I’ll just only be wearing it with high waisted bottoms (worn here with my previously made Ash jeans).

If you want to make a knit version, too (or any version of Floreat), keep an eye out at Design Diary next month for the sewalong tutorials I’m working on!

Year six

***all photos in this post by Dawn M. Gibson Photography

If you follow me on Instagram, you’re probably sick of seeing these, ha! But I cannot stop staring at these, and I always share my favorites here every year, too. So enjoy!

all photos in this post by Dawn M. Gibson Photography

P.S …..

+ this set was taken at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens in Buffalo, NY

+ My sweater is Forever21, my jeans are my handmade Megan Nielsen Patterns Dawn jeans (see post), My booties are from Target, Penny’s dress and headband is Nelly Lou, Penny’s boots are from Target too.

+ See past years family photos here.

all photos in this post by Dawn M. Gibson Photography

handmade wardrobe // Jarrah mashup

As promised, here’s a look at one of the other Jarrah sweaters I made for the sewalong. This one is a mashup of views B (curved hem) and view D (funnel neck). I really love the split sleeve on these views. It’s meant to cover half your hand is so cozy!

Pattern: Jarrah sweater by Megan Nielsen Patterns

Fabric: light weight french terry from Style Maker Fabrics (it’s been in my stash for awhile now, though, and is no longer available)

Holiday Gift Guide: Nelly Lou

Hey everyone! Just popping in to tell you about another gift idea for the little ones. I recently released my newest collection for my shop - Nelly Lou. I’m offering free domestic shipping now through December, but will also be running a special sale from black friday through cyber monday (11/23-11/26). Use the code HOLLYDAY18 for 15% off your order between those days. The free domestic shipping is automatically applied!

I have headbands, turbans, dresses, tees, and leggings for babies and toddlers in all sorts of colors and prints. And I’m open to custom orders - so if you see a print or color you like but not in the item you want, just message me!

Happy shopping :)

Holiday Gift Guide: Bookroo

Hi friends! I have a fun gift idea to share with you today. This is Penny’s third time receiving a Bookroo subscription box (you can see the other two reviews here and here), and we are just as in love with it as before. I love this idea as a gift idea for little ones! Especially if your child loves books and presents like Penny :)

So, Bookroo is a monthly subscription box for kids founded by 3 sister-in-laws. With a subscription, you get 2-3 books in the mail that come individually wrapped. That’s right - wrapped up for them to rip open. Like Christmas morning every time a box comes in the mail. That just adds to the excitement! Presents to unwrap AND new books to fall in love with. And it’s fun for so many ages - you can choose between board books (ages 0-3), picture books (2-6 years old), or chapter books (ages 7-10). The books that are chosen are hidden gems that go through an extensive review process, so don’t worry about getting duplicates of something already in your collection (but if you do, take a photo of you gifting it to someone else, and get $5 off your next box!).

Whether its for your own child or someone else, you can choose between personal or gift subscriptions at varying lengths of time (1 month, 3 months, etc, up to a year subscription). See what I mean about it being the perfect gift?

Use the code DARLINGGIFT now through 12/31/18 and get 15% at Bookroo.

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P.S - our book boxes were gifted from Bookroo. But we seriously do love this woman-run company, and all these opinions re my own.

handmade wardrobe // Jarrah and Dawn

I’m so excited to share this outfit! It turned out exactly how I was picturing it.

Sweatshirt: Megan Nielsen Patterns Jarrah sweatshirt in a sweatshirt fleece from Harts Fabric

Jeans: Megan Nielsen Patterns Dawn jeans in a denim from Style Maker Fabrics

booties: Target

Penny’s Sweatshirt: Simplicity 8754

As you may know, Megan Nielsen recently released 4 new patterns, including Jarrah and Dawn! And as usual, I’ve been busy helping create the swellings for her blog - Design Diary. You guys, these patterns are so good. I’m a tad obsessed with Jarrah. This is actually my 4th (I’m behind on posting. I’ll share the theres here soon). I chose the most soft, comfy, cozy minty sweatshirt fleece for this one. It is soon soft on the inside. And I got the ribbing from the Etsy shop FabricMade.

I’ve also been a bit sew-on patch obsessed lately. I’ve been collecting some really cute ones, and knew I really wanted to add one to this Jarrah. I put up a poll on my Instagram stories, which was no help because it was pretty much even among al four options lol. So I went with my original instinct, which was this Mother patch from Strawberry Moth. It ended up being perfect, because I was able to make Penny a matching sweatshirt out of my fabric scraps. It just worked perfectly!

Oooooh and the jeans. I love these jeans. They are my second handmade pair, the first being my Ash jeans. And while I love my pair of Ash, these are just…. perfect. Maybe it’s because I felt more comfortable being my second go at it. Or maybe these are just so my style at the moment. But I just love them. I chose the wide leg version this go-around, but want to eventually make a taped leg pair, too!

I took a chance with some white denim even though we are heading into winter here. And even though this is a rigid denim jeans patterns, this denim actually does have a tiny bit of stretch to it (shhhh). But I made a call and went for it anyway. I figured it would still work because its still a heavyweight denim and the stretch is minimal. And I was right. I think it still worked so well! I also took about 3/4” off the width at the hem and tapered it up towards the thigh. While I love the super wide leg look (I want to make another pair in something not as heavyweight. maybe linen?), I wanted something just slightly less wide for these. It’s just what I was picturing. And I couldn't be happier with the result. Other than that, I didn’t have to make any other adjustments. I cut my usual size.

So if you love these and want to make your own, head over to Megan Nielsen and snag your own patterns. The Jarrah sewalong I created is live on Design Diary this week and next. And the Dawn sewalong will follow closely after that!

handmade wardrobe // #sewfrosting

When Closet Case Patterns and True Bias first announced the #sewfrosting competition, I didn’t really plan on contributing. I have so many other projects on my to-do list right now. But I’ve been obsessively following along with the hashtag, and honestly, I couldn’t get this butterfly fabric out of my mind and how it would be perfect for the challenge.

You see, the style of this dress isn’t exactly crazy for me. I wouldn’t hesitate to make multiple versions of this dress in linen or something really light and floaty, and wear them all summer long. It’s definitely my style. It’s the fabric that makes this dress frosting. 3 Years ago, this was the type of fabric I bought all the time. Crazy, unique prints on specialty fabrics. I made fun garments that onl got worn once or twice a year. But I’ve trained myself not to jump to buy fabrics like this and instead shifted gears in the last couple years. I’m more focused on creating wearable, practical garments that can be worn any day. And it’s good. I’ve found my sewing groove and narrowed in on my style. I’ve been building my handmade wardrobe base. been building my cake. But every cake still needs a little frosting, yes? Even a sensible, wearable closet still needs some of those fun pieces to make it sparkle. That’s this dress for me.

Is a heavy, voluminous, butterfly print scuba knit trapeze dress technically a super crazy dress? No. But it’s definitely a statement piece for me. It won’t get worn a lot. Maybe once a year. Maybe less. I mean, how often will I actually have an occasion to wear something like this? you guys, I’m a stay at home mom lol.  But I like seeing it hanging in my closet. And when I do finally get another chance to wear it, I’ll be pretty excited.

pattern: Simplicty 1105 with added ruffle hem

fabric: scuba knit from Mood Fabrics