small + friendly

Required Reading

Google reader is days from it's death and I don't want you to miss a single post.  There are a few simple was to stay in touch with small + friendly in the post reader world.  

Follow on bloglovin'.  This is my new favorite way to read blogs.  You can organize them into groups and explore lots of great new finds with the related blogs tab.  No time to comment? You can send a little love with a touch of the heart button. 

Subscribe via email.  Every time I hit publish you get an email.  Easy peasy.

Follow on feedly.  Feedly is a beautiful little app that makes switching over your google feed super simple.  I love that you can save items to read later in the pocket app.  

Can't get enough small + friendly?  You can also find me on pinterest, facebook, and instagram. 

Now, I am using this reader thing as an excuse to refresh my own subscriptions.  I'd love to know what I should be reading.  

Pretty please leave your favorite (and your own) blogs in the comments.

Shorts on the Line: Judges and Prizes

It is my pleasure to introduce our esteemed panel of judges for the shorts on the line sewalong.  These seventeen lovely ladies will be choosing the winners.  And just wait until you see the prizes!  

  

From right to left: 1. Shannon Cook of luvinthemommyhood // 2. Laura Titchener of Craftstorming // 3. Celina Bailey of Petit a Petit and Family // 4. Roslyn Russell of Sew Delicious // 5. Stacy Teet of Kids Stuff World // 6. Kate Blocher of see kate sew // 7. Jeni Baker of In Color Order // 8. Susan Yates and 9. Adrianna Appl of crafterhours // 10. Delia Randall of delia creates // 11. Karen LePage of One Girl Circus // 12. Erin Sampson of Pellon® // 13. Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness // 14. Lindsay Prezzano of Hawthorne Threads // 15. Bari J. Ackerman of bari j. designs // 16. Kristin Link of Sew, Mama, Sew! // 17. Shelly Figueroa of Figgy's

 

A huge thank you to all the judges in advance, they have their work cut out for them!

And now for the exciting part - the prizes!  Just look at what you have a chance to win:

Shorts on the Line: imagine gnats and small + friendly

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  Mine was chalk full of sewing (and seam ripping) and sewing some more.  But more on that later in the post.  

First, I like to introduce my dear friend and shorts on the line co-host Rachael of imagine gnats.  Rachael is fun and funny and wildly talented.  She creates amazing garments, tutorials, and patterns at break neck speed.  I can't wait to try my hand at her latest embroidery pattern.  And if sewing isn't your thing, head over to her shop for a great selection of handmade goodies.  Today she is sharing a tutorial for knit knot shorts that are positively adorable.  Head on over to imagine gnats for all the details and then head back here to see what I whipped up.

For my shorts on the line post I sewed up a pair of Sweet Scalloped Shorts by Pattern Runway.  If imitation is the sincerest form for flattery than these shorts are a love letter to two of my favorite sewists: Sophie and Carolyn.  

I really love how they turned out.  They are super comfy yet I feel very ohh-lala in them, as you may have noticed by my very best pin-up impression in these photos.  (Thank God I don't have to model for a living, I'd be in big trouble!)  Another bonus: these shorts gave me an excuse to go to Forever 21 and buy a half top, not something I ever expected to do at Almost 31.

As for the pattern and construction, here are my notes:

Size:  I measured very close to size large so I cut out that size with one adjustment.  I am very short waisted and wanted them to be very high waisted so I ended up lengthening the rise per the instructions.  Once they were put together I ended up taking in about 2" from the back center seam and they fit just like I wanted.  I also noticed that if I had wanted them to sit lower the large with on adjustments would have been just right.     

Instructions:  This pattern has really clear instructions and the end result is very professional.  Get ready for a lot of facings!  I learned a lot of nice tricks and I will definitely be making more sweet scallops soon.

Fabric:  I used navy lace I got at Beverly's for next to nothing and navy bottom weight cotton from Jo-Ann for the lining and all facings.  Before sewing, I used spray basting to hold the lace to the lining and it made my life so much easier.

Bloopers:  I had one hell of a time with the invisible zip.  I thought I would be fancy and actually use an invisible zipper foot.  It did not go well.  I ended up ripping it out and stealing the zip from this skirt to complete my shorts, with my good old standard zipper foot (this tutorial is great).  Also, the inside of these babies are a hot mess.  With no serger and a strong desire to be finished, I just trimmed all the seams with pinking shears and called it good enough.   

Now, Jude keeps asking where his shorts are so I guess I'd better get off the computer and back to the sewing machine.  Hey, you probably should too!  There is still plenty of time to enter for your chance to win some awesome prizes.  More on those tomorrow!

Happy Shorts Sewing!

Full Disclosure:  I was given the Sweet Scalloped Shorts by Pattern Runway to review.  As always, all opions are my own. 

This post is part of shorts on the line sewalong hosted by imagine gnats and small + friendly, sponsored by Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.

Shorts on the Line: Another Awesome Giveaway!

Another week of fabulous guest posters and another chance for you to win some really awesome patterns!  Before I get to the giveaway I want to remind you that Rachael introduced a whole slew of amazing sewists this week, head over to imagine gnats to make sure you didn't miss anything!  

Also, we picked 12 lovely readers for our first giveaway so check your email, it might be you!

Check out the spectacular patterns that are up for grabs:

• Prefontaine Shorts by Made with Moxie
• KID Shorts by MADE
• Hosh Pants by LouBee Clothing
• Roly-Poly Pinafore by imagine gnats
• Tumble Tee by imagine gnats

Did you catch that?  You have a chance to win the brand spanking new KID shorts pattern by Dana of MADE!  I've got to admit, I'm kinda jealous I can't enter.  Just look at the shorttasical possibilities:

 

Enter the rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This sewalong has been such a blast!  The shorts in the flickr pool at amazing!  There is still plenty of time to enter, so please join me this weekend and sew up shorts!  

This post is part of shorts on the line sewalong hosted by imagine gnats and small + friendly, sponsored by Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.

Sparkle Magic Time

I am the first of my friends to become a mother.  I always knew I wanted to be a mom, I never even considered any alternatives.  But what about all of the lovely gals that aren't so sure?  I fear our modern age paints only two very deceiving pictures: that parenting is brutally hard, never ending, often thankless work, or that it is the most satisfying, rewarding, joyful endeavour ever.  What if you're not sure and reading one more thing about how hard it is makes you miss out on such a special experience?  And how are new parents supposed to feel if they bought into the second version and are still waiting for their bliss?

Of course, the simple and honest answer is that parenthood is often a mix of both stories.  In my limited experience as a mother, I feel as though the tough times and the joyful times seem to move in cycles.  Just when I think it's all just too hard, something gives (sometimes it's my patience); but often overnight, and seemingly out of nowhere, the tide changes.  And just like that, we enter into what I like to refer to as sparkle magic time.  

This is the bit I wish to share with anyone considering parenthood.  It will be tough, boring, irritating, and disappointing; but then, as if enduring said struggles are the only way to truly understand joy, it will be magic.  You know the feeling of first falling in love?  The cycles of parenting allow you to experience that over and over again.  

I am not suggesting that you don't love your toddler when they are saying no on repeat and crying constantly.  I am suggesting that when they try yes on for size, and they make that leap to where crying and screaming aren't default responses, you fall wildly, madly, head over heels IN love with them.  Sometimes the sparkle magic is fleeting, other times you can't help but acknowledge how long it has lasted.  (Although, we all know this can lead to the dreaded jinx; i.e. Jude has been so sparkly lately I'm pretty sure he will drop his nap and start spitting venom at any moment.)  

Oh, those sparkle magic times; those times when they are fun and funny and easy going and happy.  No matter how brief those moments are, they make the whole thing worth while.  

I'd love to know your thoughts.  If you don't have kids yet, does this make any sense?  If you are a parent do you agree?  

Shorts on the Line: No Big Dill, Max California, Designs by Sessa PLUS Giveaway

 

Today we have not two, but three fabulous guest posters for shorts on the line:  Katy of No Big Dill, Ari of Max California, and Vanessa of Designs by Sessa.  PLUS, we have an awesome giveaway!  

Can you see the stars in my eyes?  I get to introduce Katy of No Big Dill, which is one BIG deal!  This lady is a seamstress extraordinaire.  And the amount she gets done with six little ones?  I am not worthy!  On top of sewing the most amazing garments, she is one heck of a cook, and she and her husband are renovating a fabulous home!  Visit No Big Dill today to see not one, but two, adorable shorts.  

Next up is Max California.  It doesn't get any cooler than Max.  Seriously, this is one rad chick.  She makes amazing things for herself, her son, and her daughter.  And she is super sweet to boot!  Check out Max California today to see her steampunk shorts. 

Vanessa of Designs by Sessa knows her way around a machine.  If you've got shorts to sew, this post is not to be missed.  And then she always makes super cute things for herself as well.  Today she's going to teach us how to refashion sad shorts into adorable knot shorts.      

But wait, it gets better!  You, my dear reader have a chance to win one of 12 fabulous prizes!  

Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chane to win one of these fabulous patterns:

• Honey Pie Bloomers by Shwin Designs
• Roly-Poly Pinafore by imagine gnats
• Tumble Tee by imagine gnats
• Fancy Pants Leggings by Titchy Threads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shorts on the Line: Fake It While You Make It and elsie marley

Woohoo!  Day four of the sewalong and I get to introduce two of my favorite people: Carolyn of Fake It While You Make It and Meg of elsie marley.

Carolyn has one of those blogs where you never want to miss a post (I read every single one).  She has mad sewing skills and a wicked sense of humor.  She makes incredible things for herself, her daughters (1 & 2), and her husband!  Just wait until you see her version of Grainline's Maritime Shorts, so cute!  

Meg of elsie marley fame needs no introduction.  She is an A-list sewing celebrity.  Without her and KCW Jude would not have half as cool a wardrobe, she has inspired countless mama-made outfits.  This outfit is one of my very favorites.  As if that wasn't cool enough, I love how she has decorated her home.  Plus, she has inspired wonderful conversations about homemaking.  Head over to elsie marley today to see her fabulous shorts.

I hope everyone is having fun stitching along!  I am personally WAY behind!      

This post is part of shorts on the line sewalong hosted by imagine gnats and small + friendly, sponsored by Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.

Shorts on the Line: Cirque du Bebe and Sanae Ishida

It's day three of shorts on line!  I am thrilled to introduce Sophie of Cirque du Bebe and Sanae of Sanae Ishida.  

  

  

Nobody rocks a self-sewn wardrobe like Sophie; with mad sewing skills, awesome styling, and adorable photos, it's no surprise she just won Project Sewn.  Oh, and I'm sure you've already seen these shorts, love!  She also whips up amazing outfits for her two very lucky sons.  Today she is sharing an amazing pair of Megan Nielsen Culottes.    

  

  

Sanae is am extremely talented sewist, illustrator, and haiku writer.  Her daughter has the most amazing mama-made wardrobe I've ever seen.  Head over to Sanae Ishida today and check out not one but two stunning pairs of shorts.

  

The flickr group is already filling up with fabulous shorts!  It's so exciting!  

    

This post is part of shorts on the line sewalong hosted by imagine gnats and small + friendly, sponsored by Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.