The Four Seasons Dress and Top by Foo Foo Threads Three Ways
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The seasons are a changing and there are lots of fun holidays to sew for on the horizon. Try the Four Seasons dress and Top for your next project.
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MashUP: Trendy Rose
/It's that time again! I have the privilege of introducing our latest MashUP bundle to you! The Trendy Rose combines the Trendsetter Pattern from our very own Cassie, who designs for Little LIzard King, along with Gypsy Rose Dress from Foo Foo Threads Patterns. We've also thrown in the Rings of Ruffles Pants from LilyGIggle to as an add on to the bundle to make it even more versatile! There are so many options, you'll have something different to sew for every week of the year.
So what IS MashUP, you ask? MashUP is a specially curated collection that enables you to take the bodice from one dress or top pattern and add it to the skirt from another pattern. Sometimes you have to make an adjustment to the length on certain components, but we also include an exclusive tip sheet that helps you know where you can make those changes. We offer special bundle pricing in that you can get the two MashUP patterns for $10 (that's $5 each!) and add on the Rings of Ruffles pants for an additional $5! If you just want to buy one half of the MashUP, that's OK, too! You still get the tip sheet and the pattern for $7. If you were to buy these separately in the individual shops, it would cost you almost $25!
Let me give you the breakdown on the patterns. You get a span of 8 sizes with this mashup, including sizes 6M-8! There are 2 basic styles of bodice, that each have several options for sleeves or straps and other details. The skirts? There are a variety of ways you can sew those up as the patterns dictate, but then you can add or take away details or length to give you exactly what you need! The best part of this is that it's really a four season mash in that you can go from really strappy, to full length peasant sleeves.
I want to take a moment to thank our amazing sponsors for this project. The fabric is from the Cultivate line, designed by Bonnie Christine for Art Gallery Fabrics. This fabric has the most AMAZING feel and weight to it. It's soft and breezy, and really lends itself well to these tiers that can get bulky with the tuxedo ruffle and trims.
I also want to mention Renaissance Ribbons, who sent this amazing jacquard ribbon from their Winged and Sweet as Honey lines, also designed by Bonnie Christine. I love how the colors work across different collections! If you are looking for something smaller than yards of fabric to hoard....er...I mean....collect, this is the way to go. You'll thank me.
The ribbon also makes a beautiful addition to any headband!
Did I mention that Art Gallery also has KNITS?!?! They are the dreamiest and softest knits around. The white and eggplant stripes are from Bonnie's Cultivate line and the navy is from their line of solids. Just perfect for those Rings of Ruffles pants, which come in four lengths!
Serena and Kim from our review team also sewed up versions of the Trendy Rose and I know you'll love them, too!
Don't miss out on this great sale! It only lasts through May 25th, so don't wait!
BundleUP! With a Twist: The Adeline with a Fabric Panel
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So this week we are doing a series of tutorials that will show you how to get the most use out of your Bundle UP! patterns. Yesterday I showed you how to get 3 in 1 with your Rachel Dress, today we have Gloria here to share how to make the Adeline Dress by Foo Foo Threads with a fabric Panel Front. These fabric panels are soooooo popular and can be found on Etsy or through other custom fabric shops. Check out the tutorial and have fun!
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Creating Sofia the First with Foo Foo Threads
/Welcome back to our costume tutorial series. Today we have Sarah here to share her gorgeous Princess Sofia dress created with the Tasha Dress by Foo Foo Threads. It is adorable, and I can imagine many princesses from this pattern! (*Don't miss out on the pattern for the Sofia Emblem HERE.)
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Hello! This is Sarah again, and I am back today to share my tutorial for making a princess Sofia Dress. My daughter decided on Princess Sofia for her third birthday party and specifically asked for a "pink Sofia dress". So after a bit of googling to figure out what a Sofia dress was all about, I set out looking for the perfect Sofia pattern. This is what we ended up with:
No, it is not pink, but she's three and still iffy on her colors...
The first hurdle was finding a pattern that would work for the Sofia dress. I loved the look of the bodice of her dress and that was the driver for the pattern I picked. I ended up using the FooFoo Threads Tasha dress because I thought the fitted bodice and sleeves were very close to the inspiration dress and were just adorable, plus it looked like it would be easy to embellish. I also loved that the bodice was shirred in the back; I figured she would get a lot more use out of it with a little room to stretch!
I used a 100% cotton print for the dress; I wanted something that I could wash and that would last through multiple wears. And it has! This is an everyday wear item in our house (she wore it to the movies the day I took these pictures.) I chose a purple tonal dot print to mimic the pearl embellishments on the inspiration dress. The underskirt was made out of white broadcloth, chosen because it was lightweight and I did not want to add a lot of bulk and weight to the dress. I picked up ribbon, braid and pearls at the local fabric store to finish out my supplies.
A lot of the dress was made exactly according the tutorial for the pattern, so I will just be summarizing the changes I made to the dress to make it a Sofia. The bodice and sleeve portions were cut according to the directions in the pattern, but I cut a second front bodice piece to act as a lining. Prior to sewing anything, I laid out my design for the braided embellishment on one bodice piece. Once I had the braid where I wanted it, I put a dab of quick dry glue on my finger and ran my finger under the braid to quickly tack it down.
Then I sewed the braid in place using the cording foot on my machine.
Next I marked my vertical lines for the pearl trim using a disappearing ink marker and ruler. I spaced them evenly from the center of the braided trim.
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| You can barely see it, but there are lines there! |
Using the cording foot and a zigzag stitch, I sewed the pearls to the front of the bodice using the marked lines for reference.
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| Leave a bit of room at the top to allow for the seam allowance. |
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| Finished front bodice. |
Once the pearls and braid were attached, I sewed the two front bodice pieces together at the neckline using a 1/2" seam allowance (because the original pattern called for a 1/2" folded edge as the top finish). From there, I finished the bodice as directed by the tutorial, treating the bodice as one piece.
A huge part of getting the "Sofia" look is the scalloped skirt. I looked at the measurements listed for the underskirt and overskirt in the tutorial, but ended up just measuring how long I wanted the dress to be and cutting my fabric to that length. For the overskirt, I used the entire width of the fabric (to make it very full) and cut two 15" pieces. For the underskirt, I also used the entire width of the fabric and cut two 16" pieces. Mine was a size 4 for reference.
I divided and cut each overskirt piece into three equal pieces.
Once I had the six rectangles cut, I used a large plate (yep, it's time to get technical!) to trace out a curve on one.
I ended up not liking the shape, because it was too round, so I curved the sides up more sharply to look more oblong.
When I was done, I stacked the cut one on top of the other five and used it as a template to cut the rest.
Note: I had originally tried to do the front and back as only two pieces, but when I finished off the edges and added the trim, it got a weird bubble (for lack of a better word) in the corners. So I cut them into six pieces and it turned out much closer to what I had in mind.
Once all of my curved pieces were cut, I finished off the straight edges with a serger.
Then I applied single fold bias tape to finish off the curved portions.
I did this because it is a good way to maintain the curve and get a really nice finish. You could fold it over and iron it, but I have a hard time keeping my curves from getting wonky that way.
After the edges of all of the pieces are finished, I sewed the six pieces together along the straight edges.
Once the pieces were joined, I again used my cording foot and a zigzag stitch to attach pearl trim to the edges of the scalloped portion.
The last step to for getting the "Sofia" look was to place the emblems. I used my silhouette machine software to make a loose translation of the Sofia emblem. Then I cut the emblems out of iron on transfer material and applied them to my skirt.
I use Jet-Opaque II dark heat transfer paper to make mine. (I buy it on amazon.com)
Please beware, not all iron on transfer material is equal. While making t-shirts for our last Disney trip, I ran out of my Jet-Opaque and bought a different brand from my local craft store. After the first wash, it turned yellow and the design started to flake off. So, if you are new to a brand, I would encourage you to do a test run on scrap fabric and make sure it performs well!
You could also use fabric, felt, iron-on vinyl or other materials to make your emblems. And, if you don't have a silhouette machine, no worries, I am including the template for the emblem I made for you to trace and cut out.
Once you have the overskirt complete, you are almost done! For the underskirt, I simply sewed the two pieces together, made a narrow hem along the bottom and sewed purple ribbon along the bottom.
Then, I completed the dress by sewing the skirt to the bodice and shirring as directed by the tutorial.
Note: For the original dress I made, I used pearl trim attached to bias that I found at a local fabric store. It is a bit pricey and hard to find (Hancock's does carry it for $1.99 per yard) so I revised my method slightly for this tutorial. But, it is an option if you are not comfortable applying the bead trim or do not have a cording foot. (You can use a zipper foot to apply it.)
I hope you enjoy making your Sofia inspired dress as much as I did! I'll see you soon!
Sarah
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Thank you so much Sarah - that is so perfect! No Sofia is finished without the iconic emblems, and Sarah has generously created a pattern for YOU. Head over to our facebook group and download the file!
Gorgeous Pattern Mashup by Snickerdoodle Stew
/I am a child of the 80’s. I had my Cabbage Patch Preemie, my Strawberry Shortcake decorated room and, of course, copious amounts of Barbies. I did make clothes for my dolls with the sewing knowledge I learned from candlewicking embroidery with my mom, but I think the thing that prepared me most for life as a boutique owner would have to be Fashion Plates. You could mix and match tops and bottoms and fun prints to make your very own creations! Who would have thought 30 years later that you can use the same(ish) techniques to mash up PDF patterns to come up with new combinations?
Today’s post is going to be a quick breakdown of the mash up. If you’re brand new to PDFspeak, a mash up is taking two patterns (or more!) and switching the pieces around to make a new look. You can swap a halter bodice for a peasant top or a romper bottom for a skirt. It’s a great way to stretch the PDFs you have and also breathe life into your sewing if you just can’t find that perfect look you’re going for. It’s also great for adding coverage to a garment for modesty or seasonal needs. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination...or your Paypal funds and Dropbox storage!
I was given the opportunity to mash two great patterns. I have wanted to try the Happy Herringbone pattern from Jocole for some time and I was looking for just the right time to add it to my shop. While I love the design, I really wanted a bodice that would put this unique dress over the top. I went in search of a pattern with a bodice that mimicked the “V” shape of the skirt, and landed on the Allison Dress from FooFoo Threads Patterns. The best part about these two patterns is that they are from two designers with two totally different looks
Foo Foo Threads "Allison" dress bodice
Jocole's "Happy Herringbone" dress skirt
The end result is this beautiful dress.
The lines on the bodice are simple and classic, but they literally direct your eyes to the magnificent piecework featured on the skirt.
I’m here today to give you a beginner’s guide to mashing up patterns. It’s really not hard, but it does take a little time and thought. In the end, it’s definitely worth it! These are general guidelines, meant for beginners, and not set in stone rules. I’m sure there are people that would do things differently than I would, but here are my tips for you if you are just getting your toes wet!
Keep things simple and swap piece for piece. If one of your patterns has longer bodice, look for another pattern with a long bodice. Same thing with short bodices. When you get a little more comfortable with it, you can do some math, but sticking with this in the beginning will keep you from having the skirt portion too short or too long.
Use patterns you are already comfortable with sewing. This will save you time and headache and allow for a pleasant mash up experience. This will also prevent you from ruing the day you let me talk you into doing this!
Just like anything else that has to do with sewing, once you start, you WILL get addicted. You will go to bed at night planning out your next mash and look for the next moment you have to squeeze it in. Again…just a heads up!
Most of all, have fun. These are definitely a challenge, but very doable for an enthusiastic beginner. If you really want to do one and can’t choose between patterns, have a sewing friend pick them out for you!
And just in case you wondered what the dress would look like if you totally swapped the pieces and sewed up the parts that didn't get invited to the party, here’s the bodice from Happy Herringbone and the skirt from the Allison Dress.
The gorgeous fabric used in this mash up was from the Urban Mod line from Art Gallery Fabrics. Photos were taken, dodging rain, by the talented Rebecca of Prima Luce Photography in Charlestown, Indiana.
