Lady and the gents

*Warning, this post contains lots of super adorable photos. And when I say lots, I really mean like more than anyone probably really wants to see, but she's super cute so too bad! :)*

I'm back with another awesome pattern! I was thrilled when I found out I was going to test the LOL Swing Top by A Jennuine Life! This was my first experience with one of Jennifer's patterns, and let me tell you, she really puts her heart and soul into her patterns!

Let me introduce you to the LOL Swing Top.

This pattern boasts and adorable swing a-line top with a great racerback yoke! It is extremely versatile and cane be made in both knits and woven, and has a cute little button or snap closure on one shoulder.

Since I decided to go with a woven version, I opted for a button closure! How adorable is that?!?! The size range on this pattern is....are you ready???? Newborn-12years! Yes, you heard that right! A top that can take you from birth to tween sizes! Amazing right!?!

I love the fullness of this top. Even on my tiny little lady, it does not overwhelm her! Jennifer really worked hard on making sure the fit was spot on! This is my tester top, so a few changes have been made for the final pattern to make sure the fit was perfect. I really like the binding she uses in the pattern. I chose to hem the top in the binding also, and love the finished look!

The drape of this top is so pretty, and that back!! To.Die.For!! Who doesn't love a racerback in the summer! But forget just the summer! I see my little lady wearing this with a cute little cardigan and skinnies come fall!! I think it will easily transition into the colder months!

My little lady loved playing in this top! It was very comfortable for her and she had plenty of room for movement, which is very important if you are a busy 2 year old!

This pattern is beautifully written! Jennifer really took the time to give you amazing instructions and illustrations. The pattern pieces went together with no issues. I really likes how she took the time to explain each step in a way that even a beginner could understand!

This pattern is a winner! I will definitely be making more! I can't wait to try it in knit. Here are a few more photos because I can't resist showing her off!

To get your own copy of the LOL Swing top pattern, head on over here! Jennifer has it on sale for 20% off with code "LOLRelease" this week! And while you're here, how about taking a few minutes to check out the other awesome bloggers in the tour!!! And don't forget to like Jennifer's facebook page so you can stay up to date on all the happenings over there!

***This post contains affiliate links***

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love summer. Said love affair started early on as a child. With not many friends my own age in my neighborhood, I would often swim in our backyard pool all by myself, all day long, eating lunch over the side of the pool so I didn't have to get out.

Now as an adult, I have tried to ~~force~~ instill the same love of all things summer in my children. With my boys, both love to splash in the water, but it wasn't until this year that they really learned to appreciate how amazing summer is!

The little lady, on the other hand, is just like her Momma and LOVES summer and everything about it! Because of this, I knew I would need to make her an adorable bathing suit, at some point. I didn't really expect to do it this summer, but when I saw the line drawings for the new E-Beth Designs bikini, I knew it was time.

Please take a moment to say hello to the Beachy Keen!

The Beachy Keen is my first "made by me" bathing suit! The thought of making this was daunting, but I had confidence I could do it. Thankfully, Elizabeth's patterns are AMAZING and so well written that even a beginner, like me, can sew this up!

This pattern has a ton of options!

I am a self-proclaimed E-Beth groupie, and I like to say I've been with her since the beginning! I've been extremely lucky to have tested all of Elizabeth's patterns! Each one is easy to understand, well written, and goes together beautifully! This pattern is no exception.

I chose the fringe tankini and skirted short options

since I love all things extra girly after having 2 boys! The halter back is a perfect back and the construction of this pattern is great! The top really stays put!! I will say that the fringe is the hardest option to choose, so if it's your first time, you might want to try the flouce first!

The little lady was not really into taking photos this day, especially since she fell in the parking lot and skinned her knee :( Her favorite thing to do was stop and gaze at her knee, as you can see in the above photo. Didn't really make for great pics, but who can resist that HUGE buddha belly?!?!?!

It's a miracle! She's in almost in the water! haha The fit on this pattern is fantastic! Spot on, as I like to say! Little lady has an 18in chest and the 6month suit fit perfectly! Since testing, the shorts have been extended a tad to make sure those diapered bootays

are covered!

For my first time sewing with swimsuit material, I was pleasantly surprised! It actually wasn't that bad! I used lots of pins and my twin needle was a lifesaver and made hemming a breeze!

I did make a few mistakes on this suit but they were all user error. As I was sewing, thinking how well things were going, I realized, way too late, that I used the waistband as the halter strap. OPPS! My bad! I improvised and shortened the strap to the correct measurements. That's what I get for sewing with a migraine!

Off in the distance were this little lady's brothers. They were sliding down a GINORMOUS metal slide. You know the ones. Only beaches have them. They are super tall and super hot. She really wanted to go on the slide. I promised her if she took nice photos for Momma she could have a try.

That last photo....gets me every time! The expression on her face is priceless! Back to the bathing suit though. Not once did it shift! Not when she walked up the huge ladder to the huge slide, positioned herself to go down said slide, or when she flung herself down and tried to hold on for dear life. The suit stayed put!

AHH!! That belly!!!! Love it! I will be making more of these! My next one will be a tankini with the flounce! I think you should make one too! What version will you try? Pick up your copy here! And don't forget to follow Elizabeth on facebook!

As always, thanks for stopping by! Happy sewing!

Ok, so if you are one of my blog followers, you know how much I am in love with Seamingly Smitten Sewing Patterns. If you are new, well you will quickly learn that these patterns rock! I have been testing for Jenny for about 9 months now, and I have to say that I have loved EVERYTHING I have sewn from her! Her patterns are easy to understand, sew up super quick, and are among some of the best staple pieces in my wardrobe!

I love that I can take one of Jenny's patterns and follow it to the "T", and the result is great! But, I can also put my own spin on it, tweak it ever so slightly, and come up with something just as great, because her patterns have great "bones" if you will!

I have sewn way too many of these patterns to count, so I had a hard time picking which pattern to show off. I decided to go with the ever popular maxi dress, and chose theMagazine Street Maxi Dress. This pattern is great for all sizes and shapes, which is why I love it so much!

During testing, I made this awesome version with a jersey top and crepe bottom! I love the mix of casual fabrics with dressier ones. This is one of my favorite color combinations! Anything paired with coral is perfect for summertime!

I knew I wanted to mix it up a bit, so I decided on shortening the skirt to just below the knee. Ok, I confess. My real reason for shortening the skirt is I only had enough fabric for a shorter skirt and my husband probably would have locked me up in my room without my sewing machine if I went and bought more fabric! Either way, I couldn't be happier with the results. In fact, when I put it on, my husband told me it looks 100% off the rack, which I'm sure all you seamstresses out there agree, that is the BEST compliment to receive!!

Meet the Magazine Street Dress! She still boasts the adorable cap sleeves in the original version, but has a flirty shorter skirt and is perfect for those hot summer days! And I know this dress will be a great transition piece into the fall. Pair it with boots and a cardigan, maybe even a cute scarf. The possibilities are endless!

I LOVE, the shorter version really just as much as the maxi! Most summer days you can find me in a maxi skirt or dress, but sometimes you need to show off those legs! Don't you agree?!?!

I adore the scoop neck and back in this pattern! The bodice is always a perfect fit and so flattering! I love that Jenny included options for both tank and cap sleeve. I think we should talk her into designing a 3/4 sleeve for this too!! :) How cute would that be?!?!

Besides changing the length of the skirt, the only change I made was to forgo enclosing the elastic where the bodice and skirt meet. I chose to sew the elastic right onto my seam allowance!

The Magazine Street Maxi pattern is a very quick sew. You can make this is a few hours, and the end result is fabulous, regardless of if you follow the instructions word for word, or you like to throw caution to the wind and mix things up a bit!

Jenny is graciously giving all of you readers an AMAZING chance at owning her fabulous pattern! Enter below for you chance to win one of 3 prize packs of 5 Seamingly Smitten patterns of your choice!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

But wait!! That's not all! Don't want to wait for the giveaway? No worries! Head on over to the shop and use the code below for 50% off of your entire purchase! Yes, you heard me right! 50% off!!!!

Thanks so much to Jenny from Seamingly Smitten for letting me be a part of this great blog tour! And don't forget to pay a visit to all the other amazing contributors!

http://www.scatteredthoughtsofacraftymom.com/
http://patternrevolution.com/
http://gloriajune44.blogspot.com/
http://ukuchic.blogspot.com/
http://www.craftybiggers.com/
http://www.eatsleepmake.com/
http://www.sewastraightline.com/
http://blog.bebelambs.com/
http://luluandceleste.blogspot.com/
http://www.ourbusylittlebunch.com/
http://snickerdoodlestew.wordpress.com/

*WARNING- THIS POST IS SUPER DUPER PHOTO HEAVY FOR THE SOLE REASON I COULD NOT CHOOSE MY FAVORITES BECAUSE SHE HAD AN AMERICAN FLAG AND ALL THE PHOTOS WERE ADORABLE :)*

I like versatile patterns and I cannot lie. You other patterns can't deny......I'm ridiculous, I know. But seriously, who doesn't love a good pattern that you could make like 99 different versions of and no 2 would be the same?!?! That is what you can achieve with the Cherry Pie Skirt pattern from PiePie Designs.

Ok, so I didn't really count how many different versions you can make, but there are a lot, trust me! This pattern is the epitome of fast! You can sew this up in no time, and the finished product is just darling! I love this pattern because the sky is the limit!

Let's talk features!

Did you think I was joking about the 10 milllion different style options?!?!? I was not!!! There are a ton! That may be the hardest part of this pattern, that and choosing your fabrics!

Before I sew I always do a little brainstorming. I was thinking about Cherry Pie and how All-American it is. What is more All-American that denim and with the 4th of July just around the corner, I knew I needed to incorporate red,white and blue!! I really wanted to do a reversible skirt with one side in denim, and the other in some sort of patriotic fabric. I came across this adorable red and white heart fabric and knew it would be perfect!

One of my favorite details is the hem! I love the hi-low hem! It's simple yet modern!

Some hi-lows seem really weird, not really proportional, like the front is way too short and the back is way too long. I love the proportions on this! It is perfect!

And don't you worry about not being able to move in this skirt! It is roomy yet not too big! You will still be able to do all your activities comfortably! HaHa

Ok, seriously though, this pattern is fantastic! The instructions were super easy to understand, the hyperlinks are so helpful, and I really liked the separate instructions for each style of skirt! This is a great staple piece for your little lady's wardrobe. It is cute and really easy to make!

The other great thing is that this pattern will last you a long time, and you will be able to use it for all your little ladies, from 12m-12 years old!!! My lady is a tad smaller than the recommended size for the 12m , so I shortened the elastic a few inches and it was perfect! The gathered waistband is comfy and Lisa gives you the elastic measurements you need, so there's no guesswork needed!

You can't go wrong with this skirt!! It's a definite home run in my book! Want to pick up a copy? Head on over here and get yours now! How about a chance to win a FREE copy??? Well, Lisa's got you covered! She is giving away a copy of her Cherry Pie Skirt to one lucky winner, so enter below!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! And don't forget to take a look at all the other amazing stops on the tour!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am super excited to be part of the Mimi blog tour! I was so lucky that I got to test this amazing pattern by Filles a maman. The Mimi is really a darling little pattern!

Seriously, adorable, right?!?!? This pattern has tons of options, which if you know me, makes me super happy!! You can make a shirt or a dress. How about adding a collar or leaving a little keyhole opening?? Want long sleeves? This pattern has got ya covered!

Have to play peek-a-boo around a tree? This top will totally work for that! haha I crack myself up! But in all seriousness, this pattern really is fantastic! Melanie does a fantastic job putting together a pattern that not only fits well but looks amazing and is easy to understand!

Ok, so when I thought about making another version of this, I really wanted to put my own spin on it. Unfortunately, it did not turn out as planned, but I think it actually is not too bad, haha.

I really wanted to make it in woven. I knew this would work for my little lady since the size I tested was pretty roomy on her. What I didn't account for was her large melon!!! While she may wear 6-12months rtw clothes, her head is normal size, and that little key hole opening was not working for us!!

I actually sat in her room with her for 5 min trying to force it over her head. Mom of the year over here!!!! So, much to my chagrin, I took the top over to my sewing machine, grabbed my scissors, and cut the neck. Uggggh, can we just have a moment of silence for that beautiful neckline I so sadly destroyed....

What matters is that she likes it, right?!?! She said, "ohhhh pretty!" when I put it on her. And really, now the neckline is kind of a boat neck! A wonky boat neck, but I can work with that!

Besides that gorgeous neckline, the hem is TO.DIE.FOR!!! Oh, and did you notice?? No sleeves! I kept the sleeves off since it's hot here and my little lady is a ball of sweat in the summertime!

Ready to make one yourself?? Head on over here and pick up your copy now! And use code MIMITOUR20 for 20% off!! And don't forget to enter the rafflecopter for your chance to win two 5 packs of patterns from Melanie's shop!