Calla Lily Skort

Just in case I haven't mentioned my love for Kymy before (ya know, like here, here, or here, and so many others I haven't blogged!)  I'm going to do it again!  Kymy rocks.  Ya know WHY Kymy rocks?  Kymy rocks because she KEEPS coming up with super styles, super fun, super easy, super fast patterns that both my girls and I love!!  Almost all of Kymy's patterns come in girls and ladies sizing and the Calla Lily skirt is no different!  I bought the women's version during the Bundle Up event a while back but haven't gotten it made yet (it's coming soon though!) so when I got the opportunity to test the girls version I naturally had to jump all over it!   (sorry about the quality of the MLP outfits, they're cell shots while we were in Nashville.)

The girls and I went to My Little Pony Fair and Convention in Nashville last weekend so I used to opportunity to make them some new outfits.  The Calla Lily skort was perfect!  It's light and comfortable, it has built in shorts (no worrying about them being lady-like 100% of the time because if the skirt falls open...BAM! Shorts.  Score one for modesty! )

I used a lightweight knit for the skirt part.  It's slightly see-through so the fact that this is a skort made it even more perfect!  Their MLP tops are the Rio Racerback from Peek-A-Boo patterns that I modified to have a stretch-lace panel in the back).

Then after we got home I decided to try my hand at getting a t-shirt panel in this pattern and I love it.  I see lots of these in Kessa's future!  

All of the versions I've done of the Calla Lily skort so far are the Fishtail view but there is also a less dramatic option that's more of a regular high low (it doesn't come down as far in the back.)

 Lookie!  Shorts!!!

So, are you sold yet?  If not how about I tell you that they're on sale right now?!?!  Yup.  They are!  If you snag them here this weekend they're only $7.95!  AND...if you don't already have the ladies version you can buy the Ladies/Girls bundle at a 25%  discount!

And one last thing...if you're the first person to use my link to the EYMM shop that buys something you can use the code kt0tb9y9 for an additional 10% off!!!

(This post contains affiliate links)  

Wassup?!?!?!

I was super excited when I got the e-mail saying I got to test a new Love Notions pattern.  This was my first time testing for Tami and she was great!  The Cartwheel Collection  started out with 3 pieces and kept growing!  lol.  The final collection has a top, tunic or dress length piece, shorts, capris, a skirt (which can have double layers with a pick up or a single layer) and instructions for mashing the shorts or capris with the skirts for full on cartwheel coverage!

(hehehe, how about that cute little tan line peeking out?!?!)

I tested the dress in a size 4 (the dress option has since been lengthened.)  I love a good A-line and can't wait to make some leggings to go with this.  It's going to be a fantastic late summer/early fall piece!  I love the shape of it and it's great for mixing a few bold patterns/colors but still keeping the over-all look clean and simple.  

Now, I thought maybe I'd compare and contrast this piece with the Soleil pattern because I had someone ask me about them earlier today.  First off, they are, over-all, VERY different patterns.  

The Soleil has a high bodice with a gathered skirt and pockets.  The opening in the back is a different shape and has binding around it as well as being lower in the back.  It doesn't have sleeves.  VERY DIFFERENT.  If you're not someone that is comfortable altering patterns then I'd say, buy both!  Or if you don't have a knit skirt pattern, or any other number of things.  

Those things said, the friend that asked me IS comfortable altering things and DOES already have knit shorts/capris/skirt patterns and she only wanted to buy one pattern.  So, for me, I said I'd buy the Cartwheel Collection because then you can use the bodice and mash it with ANY kind of skirt you want (twirl skirt, ruffles, the sky's the limit) without having to modify it.

With the Soleil, you have to modify the top to even be able to make the bodice of a regular dress.  This is a big thing for us because we upcycle 99% of the time.  

I also told her that the Cartwheel collection is a faster sew.  You just press and hem the opening, stitch the back top and back bottom together and boom!  You're ready to rock and roll with the rest of your design.  The Soleil takes a lot longer because you have to cut and press your binding, bind it all, top stitch half of it,  lay the pieces down NEXT TO the front piece to figure out where they need to be placed on each other, pin, top stitch the other half (this stitches the back top and back bottom together at the same time) and THEN you're ready to move on with the rest of your dress.   

Now, don't get me wrong.  I love the Soleil dress and I've made several and will be making more...but I won't be using it as the bodice for most of my upcycles.  I'll just be using it when I want that whole dress.  The Cartwheel collection has won my heart for an open back for regular upcycles!  :)

And how cute are those shorts?!?!  Grace loves the knit waist band too.  

Ladies California

If you remember this post from a while back you'll know that I tested the Girl's California dress from Everything Your Mama Made and made Kessa a hi-low version out of this same fabric.  She loves it and wears it all the time!  

When I got a chance to test the ladies version I jumped all over it!  Kymy's patterns usually start at Newborn (in the children's style of course!) and go all the way up through 5XL in women's!!!!  I usually hover between a L and XL in her patterns which is about what I wear in ready to wear clothing as well.  

The Ladies' California has 4 different length options from a Maxi (which I've made now too and LOVE but don't have any good pictures of yet) all the way up to a peplum top.  I made the above the knee dress and shortened it just a few more inches (because I'm short and I wanted more of a tunic).

You can use knit or woven for the main pieces of this dress and it can be worn with the faux halter or the scoop in the front (OR you can use two scoops or two faux halters!)

It's also a super quick sew and majorly comfy!!!

So, I'd say this pattern is another winner from Kymy!!!!

(this post contains affiliate links but opinions are all my own!)

Last but Not Least....Slytherin!!!

It's our final day of Harry Potter looks here at BabyFish Designs!!!  Thanks for sticking with me!  lol.  (If you missed the previous days you can see the Overview, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff in their respective posts.)

Zane is....busy.  That's the what people say about him.  That's really just a nice way of saying he's full of mischief and always into things.  That said, Slytherin seems to be a good fit for him!

I used the Streamline Tee (my favorite, go-to shirt pattern!) and the Metropolitan Pants, both from Terra's Treasures, for his Slytherin look.

The wording on the back I cut from a shirt that was his when he was baby that I've been hanging onto.  It's quite perfect for him.  And how about those Welt pockets?!?!  The directions in the Metropolitan pattern are so clear and easy to follow I've gotten a perfect pocket every time I've made them!  My older son has two pairs of pants from this pattern and this won't be the last for little guy either.  

They also have functional front pockets (and this photo of him on the run was the only one I got of them!  lol)

I made him a 4T and then put in a pretty big hem so that I'll be able to let it down and he can wear them all fall/winter (I did have to adjust the elastic down because he's skinny though).  I found this stretch bottom weight fabric at JoAnn's and just couldn't pass it up even though I hadn't been planning on making him pants for this look.  

He very politely asked for a cape to go with his shirt so I obliged (and let me tell you, the freezer paper stencil for this one had me questioning my sanity!  lol.  If you follow me on Instagram you saw my pain!  lol) 

I used skull fabric to put a faux tie on the front and a crest with an S on it on the sleeve to finish off the details of his shirt.  

I solemnly swear I am up to no go.... (I know Slytherin's shouldn't know that but....it's just so fitting!  lol)

And Dumbledore sporting a look you've never seen before!  No beard or robes when he goes fishing!

Hufflepuff!

Hi there!  Thanks for coming back!  Today is July 1st which means it's OFFICIALLY Star Wars month at Crafting Con but I'm still playing catch up from Harry Potter month and doing detailed posts of my outfits.

Today we're up to my youngest daughter and she's in Hufflepuff!  I really love the bright yellow mixed with gray and black in her outfit and she's already worn it several times.  That means she likes it and I consider that a WIN!  

I used the Rio Racerback top and dress pattern from Peek a Boo patterns for her top and modified it to have a panel of stretch lace at the top back.  I just LOVE that touch!

Then I reverse stenciled (more freezer paper stencils cut with my Silhouette here!) HUFFLEPUFF on the back of one side.

I put a badger around the side from the back to the front  too.  

The skort (I didn't get any pictures of the attached shorts, but trust me, they're there!  She isn't known for her modesty at this point and I'd rather not have everyone around getting undie shots all the time.  :p ) is the pinwheel view of the Ashley Knit Skort from Funktional Threads.

I also added an "H" to the skirt for Hufflepuff.  All the fonts here are the Harry P font from www.dafont.com

She loved it (and the wand that her sister made her) and kept running around saying, "Presto!  I just made a... (fill in the blank with anything and everything you can think of!  lol)"

Come back tomorrow for our LAST Harry Potter look!!!