WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT!! Love Me Knots Cover Photo CONTEST!

**Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter (top right corner on the blog). You will stay up to date on Seamingly Smitten sewing pattern releases, sewing tips, coupons and more!

**Also, follow us on Facebook to get daily updates, special sales, sneak peeks of new patterns and have the opportunity to sign up for pattern testing.

 Pattern SHOP

Can I tell you that you KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF with all your entries for The Love Me Knots cover photo contest? Now you ladies really had me worried at first and let me tell you why. 9 days before the contest deadline there were two entries - yes - just two and I was worried I tell you! BUT, procrastination leads to some awesome creativity because you all entered right up to the deadline and I had over 100 photos from you all!!

Thank you all so much for entering the contest - it was SO DIFFICULT to choose just three winners! I wish there could have been more winners, believe me!

This was not a sponsored event - it truly is money out my own pocket simply because I love my Seamingly Smitten fans and customers! If I can help you get excited about sewing and trying out new styles on your little ones or yourself, then I call it a successful day!

So, I know you are ready to see who WON.......... Here goes:

1st Place Winner is Heidi M. - she wins a $100 gift card to the fabric store Crafty Shack of Louisiana and six free Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns.

 2nd Place Winner is Hayley C. - she wins a $50 gift card to Crafty Shack of Louisiana and 6 free Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns.

3rd Place Winner is April B. - she wins a $25 gift card to Crafty Shack of Louisiana and 3 free Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns.

Winners have been notified via email. So if you're one of them, check your email ladies!

We will definitely have another contest in a few months for a different pattern, so stay tuned! Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter (top right corner on the blog). You will stay up to date on Seamingly Smitten sewing pattern releases, sewing tips, coupons and more!

Happy Summer Sewing!! See our summer sewing patterns HERE. I wish you a fun weekend filled with pretty fabric and time to sew!!

SEWING TUTORIAL: Swimsuit Cover-up

Stay in touch with Seamingly Smitten PDF sewing patterns!

 

*Follow us on FACEBOOK 

 

*check out the SEWING PATTERN SHOP

 

Join our NEWSLETTER (top right on the blog) to find out about:

*NEW sewing pattern releases

* EXCLUSIVE shop coupons

*SEWING TIPS and more!!

 

 

Sewing TUTORIAL:

How to sew a swimsuit cover-up

 

Now that the kids are almost finished with school, the weather is HOT and the pool is clean I am ready to celebrate summer!

 

During the summer we love having friends over to swim, grill, have picnics with the kids and just hang out in the water. That means - SWIMSUIT SEASON!!

 

 

 

Since I haven't sewn a swimsuit for myself (YET) I decided to sew a swimsuit cover up. This DIY swim cover-up is a sheer knit that I got on a trip to Charleston from the fabric shop called Five Eighth Seams.

 

This fabric shop has gorgeous fabrics and this one happened to be on sale since there was less than two yards left. It is a very sheer fabric but don't let that scare you. Just use a jersy ballpoint needle and a zig-zag stitch when sewing to keep the thread from breaking (popping) when the fabric stretches.

 

Love it? Let's sew one!

 

 

 

 

1. Gather materials: 1 yard of knit fabric, ballpoint needle, straight edge, scissors, pins, measuring tape and a t-shirt you own to trace the neck and sleeves.

 

*I am using just the top portion of The Women's Cowl Neck Top pattern and extending the sleeves.

 

2. Measure from your shoulder down to where you want your swimsuit cover-up to end. (Mine was 31 inches long.)

3. Fold your t-shirt in half (or pattern piece) and lay it on the fold of your fabric (with the sleeve of the shirt opposite the fold.)

 

 

 

4. Trace around your t-shirt and angle it out (like an A-Line shape) until your cover-up is as long as you wanted it. (Mine was 31 inches. The picture shows it longer, but I cut it shorter after this and didn't take a picture.)

 

5. Repeat so you have two pieces this same shape.

 

6. Lay your cover-up pieces right sides together. Fold them in half down the middle seam. To cut the neckline, measure 5 inches down along the fold and measure 4 inches across from the top of the fold. Cut.  (You can make this a deeper scoop - it's your cover-up so personalize it to your taste!)

 

7. Open them up and lay them right sides together. Pin the left shoulder seam ONLY.

 Here it is pinned:

8. Sew along the pinned shoulder seam using a 3/8 inch seam allowance.

9. Lay your cover-up right side up and have the neckline spread out like this:

 

 

10. Cut a strip of the fabric 2 inches wide x the length of the neckline. (I made mine 5 inches longer than needed - you would rather have too much than not enough as you pin.)

 

11. Fold your neckline binding in half with wrong sides together. You will be looking at the right side of the binding.

12. Start on the end of the dress' neckline and pin the binding along the entire length. Trim the excess binding.

 

 

13. Sew on your binding using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Remove pins as you sew.

14. Press binding with your iron. Topstitch 1/8 an inch below your binding to secure the seam.

 

15. Lay your swim cover-up right sides together. Pin the right shoulder seam. Then pin down the sides of the cover-up.

 

16. Sew along your pined shoulder seam and along both sides using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Trim threads.

 

17. Try it on. Hem if needed. Since this is a knit, it will not fray, so I left the edges raw. (Time saver - score!!)

 

Put on your bathing suit, beach hat and flip-flops! Toss on your cover-up and head to the pool!

 

 

 

 

Happy Sewing and Happy Tanning!!

 

See our sewing patterns HERE.

 

I love comments! Let me know what you think or

if YOU will TRY IT!!

Knit Maxi Skirt Sewing Pattern for Women - Women's Maxi Skirt pattern

Do you want to sew a Maxi Skirt for yourself? This DIY Knit Maxi Skirt is a BREEZE to sew!! I mean a true BREEZE!!

I have already worn my skirt three times in the past two weeks and am already inspired to make more of them!!

Some pattern test pics:

 

 

 

If you are looking for awesome knit fabric, check out Girl Charlee knit fabrics.  Unbelievable prices and selection! I already have my eye on two more prints!!

Scoop up The Knit Maxi Skirt for Women's sewing pattern HERE in the pattern shop. It's instant download, too. Can it get any better than that?

Buy it HERE now!

You'll be GLAD you did!!

Happy Spring Sewing!!

Model CONTEST and FREE FABRIC!

Want to win a gift card to get some

FREE FABRIC?

 Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns is having a Cover Model Contest!

Sew up The Love Me Knots Dress sewing pattern (pattern HERE on sale for $2.99), take some pictures and email me up to three favorites!

Clear photos and great shots of the dress on a sweet little girly is all you need to enter!

Email your pics to me: Jenny - seaminglysmitten@gmail.com

Want to know what you will WIN?

*First Place Winner Prize Package (a $150 value)

The 1st Place Cover Photo entry will receive a $100 FREE FABRIC gift card to The Crafty Shack of Louisana!! Just imagine all the FREE FABRIC you can choose!! (not redeemable for cash) and 6 FREE Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns!

*Second Place Winner Prize Package (a $100 value)

The 2nd Place Cover Photo entry will receive a $50 FREE FABRIC gift card to The Crafty Shack of Louisiana!! (not redeemable for cash) and 6 FREE Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns!

*Third Place Winner Prize Package (a $50 value)

The 3rd Place Cover Photo entry will receive a $25 FREE FABRIC gift card to The Crafty Shack of Louisiana!! ( not redeemable for cash) and 3 FREE Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns!!
Get your pictures in by May 25th to win! Winners announced May 31st on the blog.

Anyone can win! The fabric store can ship your fabric to you!

Happy Sewing!

8 Mother's Day Gift Ideas that you can SEW!

If you love waiting until the last minute to find the perfect gift for your Mom, or simply can't come up with just the right idea, here is a list of 8 Mother's Day gifts that you can make TODAY!

These projects would make awesome handmade gifts! They would also show your Mom just how much you really know about what she loves to do!

Grab your sewing machine, some fabric and get sewing!

1. For the techie Mom, you can make her this Padded iPad Case TUTORIAL - CLICK HERE from Polkadotchair.com

2. For the fully accessorized Mom, check out this bag with a gorgeous bow - full tutorial HERE at I am momma hear me roar

 

3. For the Mom that loves to garden you can make her this Spring Garden Apron tutorial - find it HERE at Craftaholics Anonymous blog!

 





4. To help your Mom organize her earrings make her this NO SEW Burlap Earring Holder - CLICK HERE to see the tutorial from Positively Splendid Blog

 

5. To the safety conscious Mom, check out this Handmade Portable First-Aid Kit! I haven't seen anything like this before!! You can CLICK HERE to find the tutorial at Positively Splendid.

 

 

6. For the Mom that loves to journal, write poetry or pen about her travels, how about a fabric covered journal? CLICK HERE for a tutorial by Stitched in Color.



7. For the healthy and fit Mom, how about sewing her a new drawstring Yoga Bag? CLICK HERE for the tutorial by Sew4home

8. If your Mom loves to cook and throw dinner parties, check out these Reversible Placemats! CLICK HERE to get the tutorial from Amy at Naptime Crafters!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mommies out there! I hope you get a day to relax, a day free of cooking and you get some time to take care of yourself!!

Tween Maxi Dress sewing pattern NEW RELEASE!!

This pattern has been on my to-do list for months! So many of you have asked when I would start making larger sizes in my patterns. Well, here it is! I hope you LOVE it so it will be the first of many!

Introducing:

The TWEEN / TEEN Maxi Dress

sewing pattern for Girls!!

 

Love it? You can get it here in the pattern shop today!

Have you been looking for a TWEEN / TEEN maxi dress that is simple yet stylish? This Tween / Teen maxi dress has an elasticized top that stays comfortably in place, an elasticized empire waist to give it some shape and includes FOUR strap options.

You can choose wide straps to cover bra straps and are sewn from front to back for more coverage, criss-crossed straps in the back, halter style straps that tie in the back that are spread out in the front or they can form a v-neck. Your teen / tween can wear this dress during the day with sandals, flats or flip-flops.

This dress looks great in solids or even bold and modern eye-catching prints. You can even use up to four fabrics that match your personal style and personality. You will LOVE making and wearing this dress! Sew one today!

 

 

More patterns to come just for you!!!

Happy Sewing! Even for your tweens and teens!

 

~Jenny

 

Linking up here:

http://sewchatty.blogspot.com/

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2013/05/06/made-by-you-monday-151/