Sunday, February 24, 2013

Who taught you how to sew?



Today on facebook I published a simple question and got such amazing responses. The question was, "Who taught you how to sew?"


Who knew that such a simple sentence could conjure up so many memories from your lives. Some of you were taught by your mothers, grandmothers, aunts, neighbors, home ec teachers, the internet and many of you were self-taught.

What amazes me is that sewing is universal. The love of color, fabric, design and creating something out of a flat piece of fabric is captivating. I cannot imagine my life now without sewing. If I am not sewing or creating a pattern, I guarantee you that I am thinking about it for a few hours a day.

When I was a little girl, I remember going to my grandmother's house every day during the summers because both of my parents worked at that time. She had a sewing closet - and to me - it was magical. When I would slide open those brown, wooden doors the sewing machine on it's tiny table would reveal itself like the sun just coming up over the horizon. It was beautiful in my eyes!

My grandmother kept scraps of fabric, old towels and plenty of costume material around at all times that we could use to sew. I remember sewing straight line after straight line along old towels, and practicing folding hems over along the frayed edges.
Above my mom and her mother.

My grandmother kept her "good" scissors in a special drawer - the same drawer that kept her thimble and her pincushion.

She sewed plenty of clothes for my sister and I growing up and when I look back at pictures I love seeing the clothes we used to wear. They were always matching, were simple and delicate, and made with such love.
(From left to right: my mom Claire, my sister Laurie, my grandmother, myself, my son and in the front is my grandfather)
Myself with my grandparents.

I will never forget going to the fabric store to pick out fabric to make palazzo pants (very 80s) and a wrap skirt. I remember how proud I was to wear that wrap skirt every time I put it on. There is something very empowering in the craft of sewing and it is something I love to share.

My daughter is now 3 and loves being in my sewing room. She loves looking through my scraps, pushing the backstitch button while I sew, being my assistant and putting the pins back in the pin cushion. I hope in years to come she will have the same love that I do for sewing and perhaps one day will pass it on to her children.

Over the past two months my mom has started quilting. It has been so much fun going to the fabric stores with her, picking out fabric, laying out the squares, coordinating the colors, and watch her transform yards of fabric into such intricate designs.
Above is my mom and her mother. Two generations that sew and have passed it on to me.

I am so proud of my mom for what she is doing! She has made three quilts in the past few weeks and a new spark is in her eye. I am sensing that we are more and more alike. She finds herself thinking about sewing, about material and designing quilts in her mind as soon as she wakes up in the mornings.

I am so glad she is exploring her creative side!
My son still loves when I sew him shorts or pajama pants, but long gone are the days where I made his john johns (rompers). They grow so quickly and I can't hug my children enough!

Thank you for sharing your stories today on Facebook - simple and beautiful, yet we all share the same thing. We love to create.

Happy Sewing!
www.etsy.com/shop/SeaminglySmitten

Jenny

Friday, February 22, 2013

Want to be a Boutique Sewing Partner?

Seamingly Smitten is GROWING and needs YOU to help! So many times women will email me asking where they can get the items that are pictured instead of a sewing pattern. Not everyone knows how to sew (or has the time to sew) these chic, simple and boutique styled clothing! Well if YOU CAN SEW and OWN your own shop or small business...join my team!


Seamingly Smitten is looking for Boutique Partners! If you own Seamingly Smitten sewing patterns and sell the items made from these patterns, email me today! I am going to post an exclusive Boutique Partner list and feature it as its own page here on the blog and want YOU to join!!I will direct people to this page when they want an item. Think of this as FREE ADVERTISING for YOU! In exchange, I would love to use a picture(s) you provide as the examples in my pattern listings.





To get on the Boutique Partner list with Seamingly Smitten you need to have these qualifications:

*An Etsy shop or online shop with a feedback rating of 99-100%

*Professional quality photography (meaning crisp, clear images; close-ups and full-shots)

*Your shop listing must include in the write up that the item was made using a Seamingly Smitten sewing pattern

*Being a Boutique Partner also means you will allow me to use your photography for my pattern listing examples in my pattern shops / the shops my patterns are sold. (MORE EXPOSURE for YOUR SHOP!!)

 If I choose your picture(s) I will refer to YOUR SHOP in my ETSY pattern listing AND my instant download shop pattern listing by saying: ("Thank you to (your boutique name) for sewing this Seamingly Smitten sewing pattern and for the use of these photographs. Please check out her shop  here: ..........")

That's it!

If this is YOUR SHOP, then YOU CAN BE our BOUTIQUE PARTNER!



You will be able to advertise one logo or banner on our Boutique Partner page as long as you offer Seamingly Smitten items for sale in your shop.

That is FREE ADVERTISING for YOU!!

I average 300-400 blog hits per day / 12000 hits a month) and would LOVE to have you join our BOUTIQUE PARTNER TEAM!! Think of all the exposure your shop could GAIN!

Contact me today to join! Don't wait! Include in your email your shop name, shop website, a link to the specific item and a few awesome pics! I will contact you if you qualify and will put YOUR SHOP name in our Boutique Partner listing today!


Happy Sewing!
Jenny Hall
Owner/Designer
seaminglysmitten@gmail.com


Saturday, February 9, 2013

Women's Sewing Patterns - easy sewing patterns - Seamingly Smitten

Do you know what I love about making easy sewing patterns for women? I LOVE when they send me an email telling me how easy it was, how much they love their new top or yoga pants, and most of the time, they tell me it was the first thing they have EVER made for themselves! It makes my day!
 
 
I've sold over 2,000 sewing patterns the past two years and am so encouraged by the positive responses and customer feedback I get! Thank you for allowing me to grow with you and your sewing skills!! The more people I meet, the more I know that sewing is making a come-back!
 
Keep it up, ladies!! I LOVE hearing what you want me to make, so please email me at anytime to share your ideas!! Your feedback helps my pattern collection grow!
 
Email me anytime! Jenny Hall - owner/designer

 
Here are two NEW easy sewing patterns for Women that are in THE PATTERN SHOP and READY!
 
 
*It can't get easier than this, ladies! Scooped neck, kimono sleeves and elastic waistband. You can make this in an hour and wear it out that night! The ones below are from my pattern testers and they used cotton fabric. Check out those smiles!! I love how proud they are to wear what they made! Ladies, you look fabulous!
 
 Donna P. made these!



 
The second pattern I designed was for a knit. Don't worry if you haven't used knits before since I give loads of tips of how to work with them and even tell you what kind of needle to use. Knits are awesome because they stretch and have a nice drape to them. That's why I made this

Cowl Neck Top sewing pattern for WOMEN (sizes XS-XXL)
 
It flatters all sorts of body shapes and bust sizes. The draped neckline is fun and flirty and is still so easy to do! This also takes about an hour (as a Mom I know that one hour is alone to craft is pretty hard to come by sometimes, so we better make it worth it!

 Kelli (left) and Donna P's daughter (right)


Joelle W. (above)
Theresa (above)
original mock-ups I designed (above)
 
I wish you all new needles and fun fabric!!
Happy Sewing!
Jenny

Monday, February 4, 2013

Sew Fab e-pattern BUNDLE - 18 PDF Sewing Patterns for $24.95

Do you love having the latest and greatest PDF sewing patterns? Well now is your chance to get 18 PDF sewing patterns in a HUGE bundle SALE!

I already got mine!! Get yours soon!
It is THIS WEEK only!!

I'm so excited to announce

the Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle Sale,

sponsored by The Southern Institute and Fat Quarter Shop!

   
Over the past eight weeks a lot of behind the scenes work has taken place to bring you this amazing bundle of ePatterns from several of the top pattern designers and bloggers in the sewing and blogging world. The result is a bundle of 18 PDF sewing patterns that you don't want to miss.
 

Buy Now
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR PATTERNS

For one week only, ten pattern designers have come together to bring you 18 of their best PDF patterns, valued together at over $139.00, for the incredible price of $24.95! That's over 80% off of the combined retail value! Plus you can enter to win a dream of a giveaway valued at $390.00 from some really great shops! For less than $25.00 you will have a library of resources that you can use over and over again.

  The designers that have joined this sale are experts in their craft. They have been sewing for a very long time and are well known in blogland and elsewhere. Each designer has contributed one or two of their favorite patterns to create a bundle that is sure to please!

Whether you are sewing for your own family or making gifts for others, these are patterns that you will love to use. If you've never sewn with a PDF pattern before, let me tell you how great it is! After downloading your pattern instructions and your pattern, you will print out the pattern itself, creating pattern tiles, if you will. Simply tape the tiles together to create the full pattern! At that point you can cut out the size that you need and pin the paper pattern directly to your fabric or you can trace the pattern size that you need onto sewing paper or tissue paper and cut it out, saving the paper pattern for later when you need to sew another size. Paper patterns are so convenient because you can print them out as many times as you need!
Click here to buy the bundle!
Now let me tell you a little bit about the giveaway! The Sew Fab Giveaway is amazing! One lucky winner will win a bunch of amazing prizes from Craftsy, Fat Quarter Shop, fabricworm, Jennifer's Jewels Custom Labels on Etsy, Green Bee Patterns, author Deborah Moebes, Mee a Bee, Gussy Sews, I'm Feeling Crafty, and Ball and Chain on Etsy. See the end of the post for giveaway details. This giveaway is not to be missed!

I know you're dying to know "What is included in the pattern bundle?"

18 well-loved ePatterns from 10 well-known designers are instantly accessible to you by PDF download upon purchase of the Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle. Here are the patterns that you will receive (click on each title to see more details):

The Commuter Cowl Pattern

From luvinthemommyhood
 

Alex and Anna Winter PJs Pattern

From peek-a-boo pattern shop
(6 mos. to 8 years)
 

Alex and Anna Summer PJs Pattern

From peek-a-boo pattern shop
(6 mos. to 8 years)
 

The Forget Me Knot Dress Pattern

From Me Sew Crazy Patterns
(2-6 years)
 

The Madeline Dress Pattern

From Me Sew Crazy Patterns
(2-6 years)
 

The Sidekick Suitcase Pattern

From Sew Fearless
 

Go To Gift Bags Pattern

From Go To Patterns
 

Go To Shift Dress Pattern

From Go To Patterns
(12 mos. to 12 years)
 

Banyan Trousers and Shorts Pattern

and Banyan Tee and Tunic Pattern

From Figgy's Patterns
(18 mos. to 8/9 years)
 

Scirocco Dress Pattern

From Figgy's Patterns
(18 mos. to 8/9 years)
 

Modern Folksy Bunny Pattern

From Gingercake
 

Love Your Lunch Box Pattern

From Gingercake
 

Miss Mod Top Pattern for Women

From Seamingly Smitten
(XS-XL)
 

Mimi Maxi Dress Pattern for Women

From Seamingly Smitten
(XS-XL)
 

Ruby Lou Doll Pattern

From Sew Much Ado
 

Mommy & Mia Apron Pattern

From Sew Much Ado
(sized for women's regular and girls' 3-6)
 






The Goodship Dress Pattern

From One Girl Circus
(2T-13/14)
The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle is only available for one week and will never be available again! You can purchase the bundle from February 4th at 8 a.m. EST through February 11th at 8 a.m. EST and there will be no late sales offered. Due to the nature of the sale there will be no refunds offered.

You don't want to miss this unique opportunity to purchase a ready made collection of 18 PDF sewing patterns from 10 of the best designers out there!
Buy Now
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR BUNDLE
 

And now for The Sew Fab Giveaway!

You are not going to believe the prizes included in this giveaway! Can't buy the bundle? It's okay... purchase is not required to enter. Take a look at what you have the chance to win:
 

A free online class from Craftsy.com

The latest release, Stitch Savvy, by Deborah Moebes
 
Sterling Silver Sewing Machine necklace from Ball and Chain on Etsy
 
$50 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop
 
Fabulous Wristlet from Gussy Sews (not necessarily the one pictured)
 
$50 Gift Certificate to fabricworm
 
The Scoop Tote Pattern from Green Bee Patterns
 
60 Custom Tags from Jennifer's Jewels
 
Red Riding Hood Little Girl's Satchel from Mee a Bee.
 
Handmade Sewing Machine Cover from I'm Feeling Crafty.
 
A Sewing Themed Box of Goodies from Pick Your Plum
 
YES, ONE WINNER WILL WIN ALL OF THOSE GOODIES!!!
There are lots of chances to win and no purchase required to enter the giveaway. Just use the Rafflecopter widget and enter to win this amazing prize package that will inspire you in your sewing as well as keep you stocked with fabric for many projects to come!

The Sew Fab e-Pattern Bundle Sale!

Sew Much Inspiration right at your finger tips...

only $24.95!

Get your bundle now!

Can you believe all of these patterns that are included? This will keep you sewing all year and for years to come! The great thing about PDF sewing patterns is that they can be saved to your computer and printed any time you would like in ANY SIZE! You don't have to worry about cutting into a tissue paper pattern and ruining it. That can't happen with a PDF sewing pattern!
 
Treat yourself to this sewing bundle and you will have projects galore!!
 
Happy Sewing!
Jenny