The Knight Hoodie - for Perfect Pattern Parcel #4 Boys edition

The Perfect Pattern Parcel #4 is here and is all about the BOYS! And I feel so honoured to be part of this pattern parcel inspiration tour!

I have to say I am always excited with the PPP releases! I have been hoarding all the Perfect Pattern Parcels since #1. It is such a great opportunity to get a bunch of amazing patterns from the best indie designers and at the same time knowing you are contributing for a cause!

It was really difficult to choose one pattern for this tour since they are all fantastic! But I have been eyeing the Knight Hoodie from Charming Doodle since it was released. We live very close to a beautiful castle (yes, a real one! and it is only five minutes away, walking!) so my kids are always playing pretending they are strong and courageous knights and lovely princesses. Lucky for them I love to play along and make them some costumes. The Knight Hoodie is just perfect! I have already sewn one of Elisa's patterns - the Kudzu cargo pants (not yet blogged) - so I knew what to expect from this pattern... perfection! 

Although this hoodie seems very complex because of all the different pieces I have found it to be not a difficult sew - even with the zipper! The instructions are really great! Super clear and easy to follow. It is not a quick sew though (lots of topstitching), but it is totally worth it. I love it!

The Knight Hoodie is a bonus pattern of the PPP#4. Here is a look into all the other patterns included in this parcel:

Maxwell Top by Shwin Designs

Zippy Jacket by Blank Slate Patterns

Schoolboy Vest by Sew Much Ado

Small Fry Jeans by Titchy Threads

Jet Pack Bag by Betz White

Bonus pattern: Knight Hoodie by Charming Doodle.

I already had made the Small Fry Skinny jeans from Titchy Threads - one of the best patterns e.v.e.r! Seriously, Laura knows how to make a pattern like a professional... She is definitely on my top 3 best indie pattern designers. You can read more about my Skinny jeans here.

And I also had already made the School Boy vest from Sew Much Ado. I can never say enough good things about this pattern. It is super super easy and quick to sew!
I was one of the testers and I have to say it I think it was the only time I had nothing to say on the feedback form... I was so embarrassed and afraid that Abby would think I didn't cared about providing a good feedback... I mean, as a tester I always try to spot and point as many things as I can regarding every aspect of a pattern (pattern pieces, assembling, instructions, construction, etc.) but this pattern was just perfect in all its aspects...
You can read more about my School Boy vest here.

The Perfect Pattern Parcel #4 ends in two days! Hurry up! You really don't want to miss this amazing set of patterns plus contributing to such a great cause. Get it here!

About Pattern Parcel:

We believe in supporting independent pattern designers. It’s our opinion that indie patterns are just, well, better than big box patterns, and we’re pretty sure our customers think so too. So, we allow customers to show their support in naming their own price for each Parcel.  We also encourage customers to allocate part of their Parcel price to the charity Donorschoose.org in order to help classrooms in need. Pattern Parcel donates all profits after expenses from Parcel sales to the charity as well. Together we've raised $9,800 towards eliminating educational inequality.

Parcel #4 Inspiration Tour Schedule: Friday, August 22 casa crafty || Lulu & Celeste || Keep Calm and Carrion
Saturday, August 23 Max California || Amanda Rose
Sunday, August 24 little betty sews
Monday, August 25 Kadiddlehopper || Radiant Home Studio
Tuesday, August 26 La Pantigana || Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts || Friends Stitched Together
Wednesday, August 27 Make It Perfect || Modern Handmade || GYCT Designs
Thursday, August 28 Needle and Ted || Mae & K || Mimi's Mom
Friday, August 29 Pienkel || Once Upon a Sewing Machine || Friends Stitched Together
Saturday, August 30 FABulous Home Sewn || Gray Skies || The Crazy Tailor
Sunday, August 31 Nine Stitches || Max California || Oliver's Fancy || Friends Stitched Together
Monday, September 1 a happy stitch || lady and the gents || Our Family Four || Swoodson Says
Tuesday, September 2 verypurpleperson || Things for Boys || The Crazy Tailor
Wednesday, September 3 Our Family Four || Rebekah Sews || a happy stitch
Thursday, September 4 Sew a Straight Line || la inglesita || Made by Sara || Knot Sew Normal
Friday, September 5 Knot Sew Normal || Gracious Threads || Sofilantjes || Max California

The Tinley tee and the Love Me Knot shorts - a perfect playground outfit

Today I am part of the Tinley tee and Love Me Knot shorts pattern tour. Both patterns from GYCT. 

I have tested the Firecracker dress & tunic also from GYCT a few months ago (still to be blogged... shame on me!), so when I had the chance to be a part of this tour I immediately said yes - I knew these patterns wouldn't disappoint (and they didn't)! 

Both patterns are an easy sew! The instructions are really great and I have to say that these patterns are great for beginners.

The Tinley Tee

I have used a light-weight cotton piqué knit in a color block combo (white and red), that I had previously used on a polo shirt for my little man.
If you know me already you know that I love the little details. So I had to add something to this simple basic tee to make it stand out a bit. :) I have add two navy blue square buttons to the center upper front to match the shorts cotton woven color and pattern. ;) I also have opted for a small zig zag stitch as a contrasting top stitch for the sleeves and band and I think I really like the outcome.

This pattern offers four sleeve options: short sleeve, long sleeve, gathered cap sleeve and flutter sleeve - I have opted for the later. And has two hemming options: banded hem or regular hem. Size ranges from 12 months to 12 years old. 

I really love this pattern - it is definitely my go-to pattern for a basic slim fit tee from now on.

The Love Me Knot Shorts

For the Love Me Knot shorts I used a checkers cotton woven in navy blue (this pattern is intended for woven fabrics but it can also be made out of knits) that my lovely cousin Raquel gave me along with a bunch of (big) fabric scraps she rescued from thrift shops in the UK. Although she knows her ways with a sewing machine she is more into crochet lately - you can check her Facebook page and Etsy shop here.

These shorts are so cute! Don't you love those keyholes and lovely bow ties? What about those cute pockets?

I was positively surprised for finding darts in this pattern! It is not a common thing to find darts on a kids clothes pattern but they sure help to make a perfect fit sometimes. 
Another great thing about this pattern - you only have to print 7 pages! 

You can find the Tinley tee here and the Love Me Knot shorts here. You can also find a bundle for both patterns here! And you can save 15% using code "SAVE15". 

There is a give away for these two patterns! Chelsea is generously giving away both patterns to two winners - enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 


Make sure to have a look at all the other participants for the tour!

September's sew-cial calendar!

Hey guys! August as been a great month. In a word: vacation! :)
We have spent some time at the beach and some time in the countryside and in the woods. But I'll leave that for later (I'll share some photos later on a family life kind of post).

Sewing wise it was a good month altough I had no sewing machine for two whole weeks... And surprisingly I survived! haha I have stayed away from pattern testing (with just one exception) and again, I survived! haha
I already posted here on the blog most of the things I have sewn, so no monthly round-up collage this time.
In August I had to challenge myself to sew ahead of time... I had a few commitments so I had to sew before I went away on vacation. Well, coming from someone who works better when under (a deadline) pressure that was new... And I enjoyed it! So, sewing resolution #1 (while on vacation, under the sun and looking at the sea) is: I will start sewing ahead of time, practicing slow sewing...
This last month I had my first contributor's post at Peek-a-Boo - a fun tutorial - and I also published a simple tutorial on how to add elbow patches to any pattern. I have always looked at tutorials as a plenty-of-work-and-time-comsuming thing but I have to say I really enjoyed doing it, so resolution #2 (this time looking at my kids slowly chasing a beautiful red fox in the woods) is: I will make more tutorials.
There are a couple more sewing/ blogging resolutions but I will leave those for later. :)

And now the fun :) - September's sewing series, challenges and sew-alongs are*:


Project Run & Play season 10 (It's here! Yay!)
Starting Sep 8th
Week #1: 80's Cartoons Inspired
Week #2: The "Hand-me-down" Makeover
Week #3: The Denim Challenge
Week #4: Signature Style



Flip This Pattern - Fall 2014
September Showcase (yours truly will be showcasing a great indie pattern!)


Sew Many Books
Sep 1st - 21st (Link up and prizes)
Sew clothes for kids inspired by any kids book!

Selfish Sewing Week - Fall 2014
Sep 22-28


Monthly MashUp
Sep 18-26th

CraftingCon
This month's theme: Princesses
Link-up here.


Craft Book Month 2014
A cool challenge for all those of us craft book hoarders! :) Just make something from a craft book!
Link-up here (with prizes).

The Cottage Mama Sewing Contest
Link up until  Sep 12th (with prizes).


The Monthly Stitch
Theme: "Amnestry" - Time to revisit an old challenge or finish an UFO.


4th Annual Fall Essentials Sew-along
Sep 1st - Nov 30
Sewing and knitting a Fall wardrobe for yourself!

Am I missing any fun sewing events? Just let me know, please! :)

Let's get sew-cial! :)


*I have to make it clear that I only list here the ones I identify with the most and those I would love to join. There are a lot of sew-alongs for women clothes or for quilting, for example, that I don't include because I only make clothes for myself ocasionally and I don't quilt (much),so I usually don't include those. (Not that anyone asked or complaint about it but I just felt I should explain it. ;) ).


Olá! Agosto foi um mês muito bom. Numa palavra: Férias! :)
Passámos algum tempo na praia e no campo e na floresta. Mas vou deixar isso ara mais tarde (vou partilhar algumas fotografias num post mais familiar, sem ter a ver com costurices.)

Relativamente a costuras, foi um mês bom ainda que não tenha tido a máquina de costura comigo durante duas semanas... E, supreendentemente, sobrevivi! haha Também não fiz testes a moldes (com apenas uma excepção) e mais uma vez, sobrevivi! haha :)
As poucas coisas que consegui costurar este mês já foram todas publicadas ou serão brevemente (em data específica), por isso este mês não tenho nenhuma colagem com o "resumo" do que fiz e ainda não publiquei.
Em Agosto tive que me desafiar a costurar os projectos com (muita) antecedência... Tinha alguns compromissos (com séries de costura ou pattern tours de outras bloggers para as duas últimas semanas de Agosto e para esta primeira semana de Setembro) e por isso tive que costurar tudo antes de ir de férias. Bem, vindo de alguém que trabalha melhor sob pressão, foi uma uma novidade... E a verdade é que até gostei! Por isso, resolução n.º 1 (tomada enquanto estava de férias, estendida numa toalha a ver o mar) é: Vou passar a costurar com tempo, calmamente, deixar tudo para a última.

Neste último mês tive a minha primeira publicação enquanto colaboradora do blog Peek-a-Boo - com um tutorial - e também publiquei aqui no blog um outro tutorial simples sobre como acrescentar cotoveleiras a qualquer molde. Sempre vi os tutoriais como algo muito trabalhoso e moroso mas tenho que admitir que até gostei de os fazer, por isso a resolução n.º 2 (desta vez tomada enquanto via os meus filhos a perseguirem sorrateiramente uma raposa lindíssima pelo meio da floresta) é: Vou fazer mais tutoriais (ou passo-a-passo, como preferirem).
Tomei mais algumas resoluções no âmbito do blogging e da costura mas ficam para depois... :)

E agora, a parte divertida :) - Aqui está a lista* de desafios e séries de costura para o mês de Setembro! (Ver acima!)

Está a escapar-me algum evento? Por favor, digam! :)

*Devo esclarecer que apenas listo aqui as séries e desafios com as quais me identifico mais e nas quais, pessoalmente, gostaria de participar. Há vários sew-alongs de roupa de mulher ou de quilts, por exemplo, que não incluo aqui porque só costuro para mim ocasionalmente e normalmente não faço quilts. (Não que alguém tenha perguntado ou reclamado, mas achei que deveria deixar aqui este esclarecimento. ;) )

Tutorial - roll-up reversible place mat

Today I am over Peek-a-Boo blog with my very first contributor's blog post (if you missed the announcement check it here!). I thought I would share something either then... kids clothes. :) So I am sharing a tutorial for a roll-up reversible place mat! Go check it out here! And happy sewing!