{Riley Blake Designs} Adel in Spring by Sandy Gervais

I know Fall is in full swing around the northern hemisphere, but warm seasons are my favorite so any excuse to sew for that and I'm in!  (It also helps that in NC, we occasionally get blessed with a warm spell for a few days even in November -- it was 70 the day we shot these!)

Sandy Gervais has designed a gorgeous new Spring line for Riley Blake Designs, called Adel in Spring.  It's soft palette and delicate floral designs as well as a variety of coordinates have me dreaming of Spring already!
 

So many gorgeous prints, but you know I can never resist an aqua/mint colorway so I chose Adel in Spring Main Julep  along with Adel in Spring Lace Stripe Blush which I ended up using as lining and tie/bow accents.  Please note the lace designs run parallel with the selvage (I didn't think about it and only ordered a half yard which was too short to fit my flutter pieces how I wanted the lace to run.)

I knew this fabric needed a sweet silhouette so when I saw Little Lizard King releasing Iluka today, I knew it was meant to be.  Iluka has options for sleeves, neckline and skirt so it's really easy to mix and match the options for a custom dress.  We chose the sweetheart neckline with tie, flutter sleeves and simple skirt.

Sweetheart necklines are always a favorite.  It's so feminine and frames her neckline perfectly.  The tie is the cherry on top.

She can never resist a twirl!  I really love the scooped back too!  The floral design really pops against the aqua background.

My daughter's closet is filled with Riley Blake Designs creations.  I love how well the fabric washes, irons and sews up.  My daughter loves that the wovens are soft and comfortable.  I also appreciate minimal shrinkage and the colors never run.  The quality is always top notch!

Check your local quilt shop or favorite online fabric store for Adel in Spring -- which colorway is your favorite?

{Riley Blake Designs} Designer Flannel

 

Fall is finally here (and our temps are at least cooling overnight) which means comfort sewing season is here!  After spending years in toddlerhood trying to get these two to wear (and keep on) pajamas, they finally fully embrace the PJ life.  They've realized they are SOOO much comfier.  Flannel PJs are super cozy in the Fall and Winter!

Riley Blake Designs has several new Designer Flannel options by several designers.  The variety of prints is really great and I saw several that I thought my girls would love.  I enlisted my 10 year old to make the selections this time.  She immediately saw the Salt and Honey Sunny Skies by Ashley Collett and had to have them!  Then we selected two coordinates so her older sister could also coordinate.  We picked Salt and Honey Hearts and Stars in the same collection and found Baby Boy Stars in Yellow by Echo Park Pater Co matched perfectly!

Photograph credit: Riley Blake Designs

Our favorite pajama patterns come from Little Lizard King.  The bottoms are Adelaide PJs in shorts length.  I love adding a faux drawstring so they know which is the front.   The top is Laramie and while it's not intended to be a sleep shirt, it's perfect for the tween crowd.  It's simple silhouette with no closures make it super comfy, especially sewn up in a soft woven like flannel.

Even though the temps are cooling down, my girls prefer "summer" pajama styles or they get too hot at night.

In the last couple of months, she's become obsessed with becoming flexible so she practices and stretches every moment she can.  She was showing me how comfortable her new pjs are! 

I discovered the Laramie Top as a sleep top over the summer when I was sewing up the Spotted Collection.  I had actually meant to recreate the entire outfit using the Halsey Shorts, but I had cut and sewn the Adelaide shorts before I remembered. Whoops!  The Adelaide shorts are more relaxed in the fit whereas Halsey is sportier.

This flannel washes up easily and had minimal shrinkage.  I was able to mix and match two pajama sets out of 1 yard of each print.  The suns and coral print are directional, but the yellow stars made it possible to rotate my pieces to achieve two separate pieces.

I love adding little details on their outfits and turned one of the suns into a cute custom tag.

The Designer Flannels collections are releasing this month (and a few are coming next month).  Visit your favorite quilt shop for details!

{Riley Blake Designs} Whimsical Romance by Keera Job

 

Ahhh, Fall is finally here!  (Well, in 2 days technically).  After months of mid-90s, we are looking forward to the cooler, crisp air that will hit sometime next month.  It's so close though and that means sewing for new weather.

Whimsical Romance by Keera Job for Riley Blake Designs is a gorgeous new collection that gives off all the Fall vibes, but the collection also has prints that will work for Spring as well.  This collection features both moody rich hues and soft romantic florals.  The inspiration behind the collection is the classic Midsummer Night's Dream.

The above swatches are the cotton woven prints in this collection.  I discovered a rayon option though and my girls are in love with rayon!  It comes in 3 colorways -- I chose Rayon Challis Whimsical Romance Freefly Pine.  The deep rich color of the pine along with the gold, berry and cream accents is the epitome of Fall fashion to me.

My oldest has been increasingly more difficult to sew for, especially woven fabrics.  She does like the feel of rayon so she was actually begging me to sew her something!  I chose Bristol by Little Lizard King and sewed up the top length.  I envisioned it paired with skinny jeans and tall brown boots and it turned out exactly how I pictured. 

My favorite detail is the tie on the sleeve cuff.  The front bodice also gently curves upward which creates a natural high low hem.  The drape on this rayon is amazing!  

My youngest daughter's a little easier to please.  (Although if it was up to her, all the rayon would have been for her!) I chose to sew Sage by Peony Patterns.  This is a raglan-style woven dress which looks best when sewn with drapey wovens.... ahem, rayon.

I sewed up the simple skirt version and I love how it's the perfect Fall dress.  And because it's sewn in rayon, she kept this dress on all the way to bedtime because it was that comfortable!!  

The Whimsical Romance collection is now available at your favorite quilt shop and it's one you surely don't want to miss!!  

{Riley Blake Designs} Animal Kingdom

By now you know my (and my tween daughter's) affinity for animal print.  We're wild about them! HA!

We got really excited when we saw "Animal Kingdom" by the Riley Blake Design Team.  This fun collection has an assortment of animal prints -- crocs, snake, leopard, giraffe, zebra and tiger - oh my!

I had to refrain from sewing up more leopard print -- even though it's my favorite.   I selected the Animal Kingdom Crocodile in Black with intentions of maybe some cool, slim trousers.  My tween had other ideas for the fabric, however.

Recently Bruges from Little Lizard King released and it reminded me how much I love sewing purses and bags.  This time, my daughter requested the large size, vertical purse.  By adding some midweight stabilized to each piece, this Riley Blake fabric was perfect for a faux croc purse!

The large size easily fits all of her essentials.  The slip pocket inside helps keep it organized.  This purse is finished with bound edges inside which helps provide additional structure on the gusset and there's no awkward "birthing" process through the lining.

She likes that she can wear it as both a backpack and as a crossbody purse.  

This fabric is definitely tween approved!  And while it was not my original plan, this will get way more use than some slim pants.   I call it a win!  (Plus, she gave me my pineapple bag back in exchange for this... hehe)

Animal Kingdom releases this month!!  Stop in your local quilt store or shop your favorite online store to find your yardage!

{Riley Blake Designs} Lucy June by Lila Tueller

 

Last week, I was prepping for Christmas, but today, I'm soaking up the last month of summer with this gorgeous floral summer dress.  I always get excited when Lila Tueller releases a new collection because she's my favorite designer.  I love her handpainted, vibrant prints featuring large flowers.  Her color combinations are equally stunning.  

Her newest line, lucy june for riley blake designs is a gorgeous collection inspired by summer gardens.  The color palette is aqua, pink, plum and lime.  There's even a fun avocado print!

I tend to gravitate toward the main aqua print because I love the oversized floral prints.  This time, however, I sewed up lucy june flowers aqua.  I loved the added whimsy of the polka dots in the background and the size and repeat of the flowers were perfect for a twirly dress.

I've been dying to try out the emilia dress by little lizard king and it did not disappoint!  It comes with several options and I chose all the little details.  My daughter still loves her dresses and I'm going to cherish every moment she allows me to still make them for her.  At 10, I know I'm on borrowed time.

It has a gorgeous low back which is perfect for our hot summers.  

Fit tip:  If your child has a smaller waist size than chest size, it's important to blend the waistline down at the side seams to the smaller size so the back doesn't gape open.  My daughter currently has a 6 chest, 4 waist and 10 height.  

One of my favorite details is the curved hem with ruffle.  I love that Riley Blake cottons drape so well on ruffles.  And of course, I had to add the pockets!  Pockets are always a must.

These straps are SO fun and unique and easier to sew than you think!  I do wish I had ordered a pink coordinate to peek out on the bottom layer, but all one print is pretty too.

We all know my daughter's favorite part is the twirl though.  The bottom ruffle really makes the difference in the twirl.  It's totally worth the extra effort of gathering.

Gathering tip:  Run 2 lines of gathering threads (at 1/4" and 3/4").  This helps hold the gathers while you attach the skirt.

Be sure to head to your favorite quilt shop to find Lucy June this month!  You'll fall in love with all the prints.  I definitely need to grab the main print for a maxi dress I've designed in my head!

{Riley Blake Designs} Winterland by Amanda Castor

 

Happy Christmas in July!  It's hard to believe in just 5 short months (and 2 days if we're getting technical) that it will be Christmas.  I love sewing a Christmas fabric in summer because then I feel so accomplished and I'm not rushing around during Christmas season trying to squeeze in a holiday outfit.

This year, I chose winterland by amanda castor for riley blake designs.  Not only did I love the color scheme, but this dress will work all season long!  This is a gorgeous collection inspired by the wonder and beauty of fresh fallen snow.  

For my main print, I selected winterland main midnight and paired it with winterland flurries red.  I love the delicate sprigs and bright red cardinals against the teal background with tall birch trees.  (Bonus, they look like stripes until you are close enough for the details.)

When I picked out the fabrics, I had just sewn my daughter's Easter dress and knew it'd be the perfect dress for another holiday too.  This is the lily dress pattern from peony patterns.  We added all the bells and whistles (read: all those micro ruffles) to make it extra special.  

I absolutely love the pop of red along the edges and waist.  Don't forget to take the extra step to match up your print across the button placket.  It's really rather easy and is so aesthetically pleasing.

Access the tutorial here: how to match prints across a seam and placket 

This dress has a deep 3" hem which really helps the skirt hold it's shape.  I decided to use a blind hem so I wouldn't have a row of stitches running through my trees.  Can you find the hem?!  

New to blind hemming?  Follow along here: sewing a blind hem

No outfit is complete without a pretty bow, right?  The bluebell bow sews up in just minutes and comes in 4 sizes from doll all the way to large.  Super cute and free!

This fabric is perfect for pretty dresses or home decor!  Find this collection coming this month at your favorite quilt shop!  It's so stunning.

I'm curious, what is your favorite holiday tradition?

{Riley Blake Designs} Spotted: Day to Night Tween Fashion

 

If you follow me at all, you know by now that my oldest daughter and I cannot get enough animal print!  At this point, she has at least a dozen different pieces in her tween wardrobe. 

As soon as I saw Spotted by Kate Blocher for Riley Blake Designs, I couldn't resist it!  This collection has so many options but leopard prints are our absolute favorite and was thrilled to find a pink and black color combination!

I chose Spotted Leopard White and it's so vibrant in person!  I really don't think I could have choses wrong though.  Check out this spread!!

Right away, I knew I'd branch away from my normal dresses.  My tween is at the age where she much prefers comfy, lounge-y pieces or something she can throw on with jeans.  With some creative thinking, I was able to make her two pieces that could take her from day to night -- depending on how she styled them.

I started with the Halsey Shorts from Little Lizard King.  They are the cutest little woven sporty shorts.  I loved sewing them last year and then forgot all about them -- whoops!  

She's finally old enough to try out for track this year so I sized up one hip size with the hopes they fit for tryouts in the Spring.  For now, she'll use them to start training!

Next,  I sewed up Laramie by Little Lizard King -- another pattern I sewed last year and then forgot about.  It sews up lightning fast and is finished inside with facings, including the hem.  I think it looks great paired with jeans and a pair of sandals.

Then, we paired the pieces together and BAM -- the perfect tween pjs!  She had to bring her favorite stuffed panda along for the shoot.

Spotted is coming out this month to a quilt shop near you!!  Which print is your favorite? The butterflies would be fun to color in with some fabric markers!