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Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Pattern Testing // Sewing For Women

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

Hello everyone! 

If you've been reading this blog or following me on Instagram for the past year or so, you'll know that I'm a big, big fan of Straight Stitch Design patterns. In fact, it just showed up in my Timehop that a year ago, I was showing off the Wedgwood skirt I tested for Kimberly!

Today, I'm showing yet another awesome pattern (well, really 3 of her patterns if you want to get technical, but keep reading for that! ;)) that was just released yesterday, and I had the chance to test for her again!

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

This is the Phinney Ridge Cardigan pattern, you can grab a copy here for a fantastic discounted price through Friday, in celebration of the release.

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

I am such a big cardigan wearer, in fact, I'm wearing a RTW one right now that has seen better days, because, constant wear. This pattern is such a great alternative to my fave RTW style that I'm wearing at the moment, I am SO excited about this, because now I can fill my closet with all the me-made versions!!

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

This pattern features a v-neck, with button closure (or you can of course use snaps, or even leave off the closures all together if you want!), long or 3/4 sleeve options, and elbow patches if you want to add more detail! There are also instructions included for shortening or lengthening the pattern to your desired length if you need them. To get this length for my tester version, I used a french terry fabric and shortened 1.5" to hit at mid hip. I think this would be a fun cardi to wear with the Wedgwood Skirt and could be shortened even further to flatter the natural waist fit of the skirt. I'm definitely going to need to do just that! And also make one in every color under the sun and with all the sweater knits... Basically I need at least a dozen of these, amiright?

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

For this version, I used a lightweight rayon french terry from LA Finch Fabrics (also used here). It is the most comfortable fabric to wear!! I didn't have quite enough for the button band, but that worked in my favor, because I got to use my favorite thing ever, stripes! The stripe fabric is 4-way stretch jersey in Club Stripes from Raspberry Creek Fabrics.

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

Because I'm just that kind of crazy, I had to make a perfectly coordinating tank to wear under the cardigan. I decided to go all SSD and made a mash-up of the Greenwood tank and the Montlake tee. All I did was cut out the top portion of the Greenwood and laid my modified Montlake pattern over top of the Greenwood pattern and cut out the bodice with it. I used an absolutely scrumptious J.Crew knit from Imagine Gnats. I've had this fabric in my stash for a while, waiting for the perfect project, and now I think I need this tank in all of the colors to go with all of my future Phinney Ridge cardis. Lol. If only I had as much sewing time in reality as I do in my head.

Does anyone else like to put together outfits with patterns from the same designer? Just me? I think they always just mesh so well. :)

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

If I haven't convinced you yet that you need this pattern in your life, be sure to check out the tester roundup posts Kimberly has on her blog today! There are so many great versions in a variety of different fabrics!

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

Phinney Ridge Cardigan // Sewing For Women

*My modeling vibe was way off on this day... The ground was apparently super interesting. Ha.*

Summary of Links & Details:

Patterns used:
Fabrics used:

Make It Mine // Waterfall Tour // Sewing For Women

Wednesday, February 8, 2017


Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

Hi everyone! Welcome to Day 1 of the Make It Mine Women's Waterfall Tour!


  1. There is a seriously awesome prize to be won for following the tour, so be sure to scroll to the bottom to enter the rafflecopter!
  2. There is also a link up with a great fabric & sewing kit prize. All you have to do is sew up a Women's or Girl's Waterfall and link up to THIS post. Who doesn't want free fabric & notions!?
Today's Tour Theme is "Day Look". Being a mom to 3 littles, my day looks require loads of comfort and hopefully a little style. Enter soft, drapey, french terry & lightweight sweater knit. Swoon. Add a fedora, jeans + tennies and I'm ready to head to the zoo, the museum, anywhere really, with my crew.

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

To achieve this somewhat different look to the Women's Waterfall, I ended up with a bit of a pattern hack. But a very simple one! 

Oh, I also need to note that I sized down one size in the bodice for this version. I kept the sleeves my regular size, because, chubby arms. But for me personally, this fit is fantastic and I'll be repeating this size combo in the future!

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

To start off, I lengthened the bodice by 2 inches. For reference I am 5'3". Then I shortened the ruffle by 6 (yes, six) inches and took out the ruffle part. To do this, I walked the ruffle pattern piece along the bottom edge of the bodice pattern piece to determine how much to take off. Then, using my clear ruler, measured up from the bottom of the ruffle, 6 inches, making marks every so often and then redrawing the curve. I then cut this out and had my new pattern piece. Next, I cut out 4 (instead of 2 as per pattern) of the new band pieces, sewed the bottom edges together with a 1/4" SA, flipped them right sides out and sewed with raw edges aligned to the bottom of the bodice pieces. Easy peasy!

Here is a look at what my new pattern piece looks like:

I am seriously, maybe just a little ridiculously, in love with my new top.

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

I absolutely love how the hem curves with this top and I love the clean lines it creates without the ruffle.

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

So let's dish about the fabric I used for this. It is a super soft, lightweight french terry from LA Finch Fabrics. The drape and soft feel of this fabric is for real amazing. I know I will be wearing this top so much in the coming months, and I'm considering ordering some more for a spring dress for myself. I'm also planning a matching dress for my daughter with the scraps from this project. That's really how much I love it!!

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

Cardigans are a huge staple in my wardrobe and I love the Waterfall paired with one, so I had to make a new one to specifically coordinate with it! It was serendipitous. I had these 2 fabrics in my stash, the french terry only a month or two, but the sweater knit for nearly a year, they were definitely meant to be together! 

Do you see how those pinks match up!? Sorry guys, I haven't been this thrilled with a me-made outfit in a while, I can't help it. Lol!

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

I used the Eleanor Cardigan pattern for this sweater. It's a lovely, oversized, simple cardigan with 2 length options. I went with the hip length and took 2 inches off, because, short. The sleeves are still plenty long, I took an inch off and hemmed an inch, but I may go back and chop off some more. I also sized down one size from the size chart because I knew this fabric would "grow" some. I really loved the simplicity of the pattern and how quickly and easily it came together. I'm sure there will be more in my future!

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

The fabric for the cardigan is from Girl Charlee, I bought it about a year ago, but they still have it available (here) on their website, it is on their slightly flawed list, but at a fantastic price! The only word of caution I have for you is to be very careful with your iron temperature! I had mine at about half temp and had a slight melting incident! Thankfully it was on the inside and very minor, but, just a tip to be cautious with the iron :)

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

Thanks so much for reading! I'll leave you with a few more pics and then don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom and link up to this post (HERE) for more prizes!

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour

Women's Waterfall Raglan Pattern // Make It Mine Tour


Links & Details:

Patterns:
  • Size Sewn: 
    • Top - 4 bodice, 6 sleeves
    • Cardigan - XSmall
  • Changes Made:
    • Top: Lengthened bodice 2 inches. Created new band at the bottom, instead of ruffle (see post for details and pic)
    • Cardigan: Hip length - shortened 2 inches, sized down one size because of very drapey open weave fabric.
Fabric:
Jeans: Target (similar)
Fedora: Target
Shoes: cheap, but these are on their way as replacements!

Project Sew It // Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

Friday, February 3, 2017

Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

Have you heard of #projectsewit? It's a fun movement started by the fabulous Celina of Petit A Petit + Family, challenging sewists everywhere to sew at least one garment a month. Whether it be for ourselves or our kids. This year she made the challenge even more fun with a theme to go with each month. January's theme was SWEATERS. 

This also coordinates with another challenge that took Instagram by storm; #sewmystyle. Each month there is a featured pattern and the idea is that if you make each one, you will have a small capsule wardrobe at the end of the year.

I've jumped in to play along with each challenge! I'm not sure I'll be sewing every pattern included in Sew My Style, but I'm hoping to be able to sew the same type of garment each month. For example: February's pattern is a cardigan, I'm not planning to make that exact pattern, but I'm planning to sew a different cardigan pattern.

All that explaining, brings me to the sweater I'm here to talk about today! It is one piece that ticked the box for both of the challenges. Yay!

Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

Having made the Toaster Sweater #2 before, I knew that I wanted to make it again in a different type of fabric. This time I chose a lightweight sweater knit with a fun sparkly stripe from Stylish Fabric

Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

I sewed the same size as my previous version, which is one size down from where the size chart put me. I also lengthened the pattern by 2 inches. It is perfection. I'm totally in love with this version!!

Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

I can definitely see myself sewing even more of this pattern. Not to mention I still have to sew up version #1! Also the mash-ups between the 2 that are showing up are amazeballs. I have many more Toaster Sweaters to sew up, that is for sure!

Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

This sweater knit is very thin and lightweight (I may have been a little cold during this shoot :)), I think it will be a perfect early spring piece! I can't wait to pair it with shorts or capris. I will say though that it snags very easily. I didn't have any problems while sewing it, but just wearing it for the shoot and then carrying my tripod into the house, under my arm, it snagged in a couple places. I'll have to be careful when wearing it!

Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

The sparkle of the sweater was hard to photograph, but it's there! It has some metallic gold threads woven in with some blue as well. Totally pretty. Totally up my alley!

Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women


Toaster Sweater // Sewing For Women

So there is my completed January challenge piece! If you follow me on Instagram, you'll probably know January was a rough one, with sickness and winter blues. February is already feeling much better, and I'm praying the crazy sickness bugs leave us alone for the rest of the season! :) I've got fun plans for February and already a good jump on the projects, yay!!!

Links & Details:

Pattern:
Fabric: 









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