Transitioning through the seasons

Here in the States, we are staring to think about Fall... cooler weather, leaves changing color on the trees, apples... and oh yeah - Back to School!!!  (Well, I don't have to worry about school yet with my three kiddos, but still ...)  If the weather conditions weren't difficult enough to navigate, many schools have dress codes that may not mix well with your child's summer fun wardrobe.

So how do we make the transition efficiently, stylishly, and without breaking the budget?  By finding a few transitional patterns and figuring out how to mix and match them, alter and tweak them, and of course LAYER them until a new wardrobe emerges.

I recently discovered one such pattern in the from of Oliver&S's Class Picnic Outfit.  The pattern is for shorts and a top with 3/4 length sleeves.  With a few tweaks, a few different accessories, and of course different fabrics; my daughter now has two outfits that will transition perfectly from the heat of summer to the cool breezes of fall ahead.

Summer Style

My Summer version is sewn exactly to pattern, while I had a little fun and took some liberties with the fall one.  A few details like faux piping at the yolk seam, bias bound sleeve hems, and of course cute pockets go a long way to giving the outfit a different feel. 

Feeling like Fall

And guess what, there will be a fun Sew Along to the Oliver&S Class Picnic Outfit starting next Monday, July 29, over at Whimsical Fabric.  You can head over HERE to find out more about and get involved - there will be some super cool prizes up for grabs to those that sew along! 

Here are a couple more adorable PDF Pattern's I've scouted that I think will be great for making the transition from summer to fall! 

Blank Slate Unisex Cardigan:  Throw it on over a sleeveless shirt or dress and instantly be ready for those dropping temperatures.

The Rachel Knit Dress by Funktional Threads:  With short and long sleeved options, hood or ringer neck, and options for upcycling; it is no wonder this pattern makes my short list.  Layer leggings under the dress and your girls can play at school with no panty showing worries.

The Charlie Tee & Hoodie by Fishsticks:  This one is for your boys or girls!  A great basic T shirt with short or long sleeve options and hood or no hood.  There are so many ways to mix up this pattern and create the perfect transitional pieces.  AND there will be a Sew Along for this pattern HERE at Pattern Revolution starting next Monday, July 29!

Cali Fae Haute Hippie Crop Jacket:  transitions are all about layering, and lightweight jackets are great for that.  Make it in a neutral color and you have something that goes with anything, make it in a POP color or pattern, and you have a statement piece that can change the look of anything underneath.

See Kate Sew Aztec Hooded Vest:  Layer over anything - add a little bit of warmth without getting too hot.   Once again, a great unisex pattern.

Girl's and Women's Study Hall Shirt: Short sleeves, long sleeve, layered sleeve, what a fun pattern for all the older girls, teens and tweens!

And don't forget the leggings for all your girls... I am going to have a great comparison post all about leggings coming up soon, you wont want to miss it!!!

PDF Patterns are Sew Class-y

Tricia Boyer from the Little Lizard King Team is stopping by to talk about the value of PDF patterns today! I know that for me, PDFs taught me how to sew. I knew the basics, but I struggled greatly with paper patterns to learn garment construction. PDFs were the answer for me! Have PDFs taught you to sew? Let us know in the comments! 

When you buy a traditional pattern, what do you do if the instructions don’t make sense to you? When you want to take a project-based class, what happens if it conflicts with your schedule?

These things kept me from sewing for a lot longer than I wish to admit. I’m a visual learner, and when I was first learning, many of the sewing terms didn't make sense to me. I wanted to take classes, but as the mom of FIVE kids, I am constantly on the go. Shuttling kids to and from school, appointments and extracurricular activities, I just don’t have the time for a class.

PDF pattern tutorials have literally taught me how to sew. It’s like a class, but on MY terms! I can shop from thousands of patterns, not just one or two offered at my local sewing shop. Each step is illustrated with diagrams and/or pictures. When I get stuck, the pattern designers are happy to walk me through and help me troubleshoot. I can learn while my kids are in bed, without having to arrange babysitting, or fight traffic, or tote my project to and from class. I can take things at my pace instead of feeling rushed or held back.

I will admit though, I like the camaraderie of sewing *with* others. Class can be a nice social connection with other sewing enthusiasts. But with many designers hosting facebook groups, complete with sew-a-longs (some with discounted pattern sales and even prizes!), photo albums and other fun events to inspire, there are now even more opportunities to interact with my favorite designers and others who love to sew.

Best of all: the price. Even the most expensive pdf pattern tutorial is cheaper than the cheapest sewing class. You just can’t beat that. So yes, I can certainly buy a pattern on sale for a buck at the local brick and mortar store. But when I buy a pdf pattern tutorial, I know I am getting so much more. I’m getting a class in digital form and at a bargain of a price!

Don't know where to start? Check out these easy patterns for beginners, just click the photos to visit the Little Lizard King shop:

Happy Sewing!