New Release ~ Emmaline

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We’re always so excited for a new design. And this one is no exception. The style and ease of this newest release, Emmaline, will have everyone taking notice! Are you ready to meet her?

New Release ~ Emmaline

Emmaline is perfect for spring and comes with so many options! Let’s work from the top down, shall we? First of all, there are multiple sleeve lengths. You can choose long sleeves, 3/4 sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves. The skirt comes in 3 lengths, top, dress, or maxi. The skirt in dress and maxi lengths also have the option of being a simple skirt, or a color blocked chevron skirt! Cool, right?

One of the BEST things, though, is that it’s compatible with the Clementine, which means you can swap out the sleeves or skirts to make a whole new dress! How exciting is that?!

Tester Photos

As always, we have some super talented testers who killed in this test! Look at some of their absolutely stunning creations below!

We’ll start with the girls. They’re so adorable and the Emmaline is so versatile! Perfect for any child who loves a good twirl!

Even the older girls love Emmaline! And with the right fabrics it can be absolutely stunning as a more formal dress!

And last (but definitely not least!) Let’s talk the ladies version! Oh so pretty! And with all the options you can make so many completely different dresses with the same perfect fit every time!

And we can’t forget one of the best possibilities… Mommy and me sets! I mean, really, how can you not LOVE these?!

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that you don’t want to NOT own this pattern! And you can get it on sale for a limited time! Sale is good until Friday, April 13th at midnight EST. Get the child’s version here for only $6, ladies here for $7, or buy the bundle and save more for those mommy and me creations for only $12!

Also, be sure to join our Facebook community to share your gorgeous creations, get help, and see all of the other amazing BSD sews by talented seamstresses!

BSD's Most Read Sewing Articles of 2017~ Pin for later!

BSD’s Most Read Sewing Articles of 2017

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As we look back on the last year, we like to peek at the most read sewing articles that we’ve produced. Maybe you’ve read them. Maybe you haven’t. But we thought we’d share them with you. Maybe you missed a gem you needed. Either way, you can look back on these fond memories with us. And maybe learn something new in the process! So here are the top 7 articles from 2017.

BSD's Most Read Sewing Articles of 2017 Pin for Later!

7. Fun Uses for Seemingly Useless Scraps

Fun Uses for Seemingly Useless Scraps ~ Great pin for scrap ideas!

See some of our favorite quick and easy scrap-busting ideas! You never know what you might find or learn in the process!

6. The Don’ts of Pattern Testing

The Don'ts of Pattern Testing~ Pin for an amusing read!

This tongue-in-cheek article took a dive into the world of pattern testing. It’s a great amusing read for how not to be a good pattern tester. I must admit, it was very fun to write too!

5. 8 Specialty Feet That Will Change Your Life

8 Specialty Feet That Will Change Your Life ~ Pin to read later!

So much useful information here! Most important to remember: DO NOT be afraid of specialty feet! Thay are your friends and here to help you! Read this article to find out which are the most used feet and why they are so awesome!

4. Top 10 Knit Fabrics For Garment Sewing

Top 10 Knit Fabrics for Garment Sewing ~ Handy Pin for Future Reference!

Confused about knits? This handy little guide will tell you about popular knit types and some of the best projects to use them for! We got a lot of requests for this one in our group, so we brought it to you!

3. Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams

Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams Pin for Later!

This post was SUCH a handy tool for reducing the bulk you can get in seams. Especially when you’re dealing with a lot of layers. Check out this article for help with reducing your bulk.

2. 12 More Bad Sewing Habits You Need to Quit Doing

12 More Bad Sewing Habits You Need To Quit Doing - So guilty of number 5!

There are a lot of things you shouldn’t do as a seamstress. Things that are just poor time management to things that are downright dangerous. This is a list of a few of those things and why they are a no-no.

And our MOST read article of the year…. *insert drum-roll here*

1. Know Your Needles

Know Your Needles (And the Fabrics They Go With) - The unclose photos of the needles really show there is a difference! Must pin this for future reference.

One of our more informative articles, I think. This one goes over a few of the most used needle types out there and which types of fabric and projects they are good for.

 

If you can think of any of our posts that you especially enjoyed that didn’t make the list, please share them in the comments below! And as always, feel free to join our Facebook group for fun, giveaways, sharing, and help! We’d LOVE to have you!

Lettuce Hems… On a Sewing Machine! What?!

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So today I want to bring you something that is near and dear to my own heart. Lettuce hems. They’re cute, they’re frilly, and they’re my favorite way to finish off a knit garment. Now, I’ll admit, it is a very love-hate relationship. I love the look, I love the ease (once you have it down), but I hate the time it takes. Ultimately, though, I adore them and use them any chance I get. So I thought I’d pass along the knowledge of how you can create your own lettuce hems… on a regular sewing machine!

Lettuce Hems… On a Sewing Machine! What?!

You heard me. A regular sewing machine. Why? Because I do not (yet) own a serger. But I loved the look, so I learned how to do it. And now I’m going to teach you! Are you ready? Let’s get started!

What you need:

A sewing machine

Thread

A full (matching) bobbin

Knit fabric with a good stretch

The Key to a Successful Lettuce Hem

It all starts with machine settings. Lettuce hems NEED the correct settings to come out perfect and beautiful. You basically want to set your machine to a satin stitch. On my machine that is a zigzag with a 5mm width and a 0.3mm length.

Working With the Fabric

Now that you have your machine all set up, it’s time to stitch! I recommend starting with a scrap for your first couple of tried to make sure you have the technique. It can be tricky to pick up, but once you have the hang of it, there’ll be no stopping you!

Place your fabric under the needle with the edge about 1/8″ right of the center under your presser foot. You need to make sure that the needle will be OFF your fabric on the right-hand side. Start slow and STAY slow

Start slow and STAY slow. Gently push on your foot pedal and feed your fabric through while stretching it. This stretch paired with the tight stitches is what creates the ruffled effect.

If you go slow and stretch well, you’ll end up with a beautifully ruffled lettuce hem! Now you can take this technique to your dress, shirt, and sleeve hems! Do keep in mind, though, this might not be the best finish for ALL knit garments (I occasionally still use a traditional hem because it fits the aesthetic better, so use your judgment), but it is often perfect and pretty on circle skirts! (Think Maci and Sahara)

That’s it for today! But if you have suggestions for other sewing tutorials you’d like to see, please drop them in the comments and we’ll see what we can do! And join our Facebook group for help, more tips, and to share your beautiful creations!

 

Sewing a Successful Dart

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With the much-anticipated Rebel Woman currently in the works (to match the adorable Girls Rebel), we wanted to help you on your way to a super successful dress. That said, this post is all about the darts! Darts are crucial to getting the fit right in women’s garments made from woven fabrics. Sewing a successful dart isn’t hard, but it does require a couple of small details to get it just right.  Are you ready to learn? Great! Let’s get started!

Sewing a Successful Dart

Prep

The first step to success is to make sure you accurately transfer all markings. I typically do this by creating a small hole at the point of the dart to make that mark. I then mark the wide ends at the raw edge. Once that’s done, take a straight edge to draw a line from the edge to about 1 inch away from the dart point.

Once that’s done, take a straight edge to draw a line. Bring it from the edge to about 1 inch away from the dart point.

Starting the Sew

Pin the fold so that the fabric won’t move around while you’re sewing. Then sew with your regular straight stitch the length of the line you drew. Stop about 1 inch away from the folded edge and the dart point.

Here’s where the little tricks come in. Most people will just keep sewing right to the edge. Don’t do that. With your needle stopped, shorten your stitch length to 1 mm. Continue sewing at a slightly narrower angle toward the edge with the shorter stitches. Sew straight to and OFF the edge of the fold. Do not backstitch! The tighter angle and lack of backstitching are what will give you a nice even dart without a pucker!

Tip: Some sewists like to cut those end threads a little longer and tie them by hand. However, this is not necessary as the stitches should hold without that knot if you don’t want to tie it.

And that’s it! Beautiful darts every time! Try it now and let us know how they turned out in the comments below or in our Facebook group! We’d LOVE to hear from you!

Installing an Invisible Zipper

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Sometimes learning new sewing skills can be scary. But it doesn’t have to be. A good tutorial (or sometimes live lesson) and some practice and you will be performing ALL the sewing skills without even thinking about it. Today, I’m here to help you out with the one that I was the most terrified to attempt to date… the invisible zipper. I promise it’s not too bad, once you get the hang of it. And think if all of the gorgeous clothes you can create with this skill! Bella Sunshine’s Alice in girls and Ladies sizes, as well as the Rebel dress, will make great use of this skill!

Installing an Invisible Zipper

First Steps

Gather your supplies. Your fabric, zipper, concealed zipper foot if you have one and tools. This next step might not seem like much, but it is essential to getting the invisible zipper correctly installed. Iron the zipper teeth FLAT with the iron set to a synthetic setting and the zipper unzipped. The flatter they are, the more successful you will be. Also note that you do not want to rezip the zipper at any point before installation is complete, as it will cause the teeth to curl up again and undo all of the work you just did in flattening them.

Preparation

If you’re installing the zipper in a woven garment, finish your raw edges with a zigzag or overlock stitch. This will ensure the fabric will not unravel overmuch as you work. After you’ve completed that step, make a mark along the raw edge at the distance of the seam allowance. This will help you get the zipper placement right. Do this with tailor’s chalk or a disappearing pen on the right side of the fabric. Make sure you mark down both the left and right sides of your opening.

First Stitches

Typically speaking, most concealed zipper garments are lined, so make sure you keep the lining out if the way here. This is JUST for the main fabric piece. Take your zipper and lay it face down on the right side of the fabric with the teeth lined up along the line you made previously. Keep the raw edge of the zipper to the side with the raw edge of the fabric, as pictured.

Now, with your concealed zipper foot (or regular zipper foot if you don’t have one) stitch right along the zipper teeth. Be very careful not to catch them up in the stitches!

Now Do It Again!

Now that you have everything all stitched down on one side, you’re going to repeat it for the other side. Pin the other side of the zipper to the other side of the opening and stitch close to the teeth again.

That’s it!

Your zipper is installed! Now, in a lined garment, you’ll still have to deal with lining, but if you follow the pattern instructions, it should be pretty easy. The hard part is all done! And look how pretty it all turned out!

I hope I helped explain it all sufficiently, but if you have any questions, please comment them below or visit our Facebook group. We’re here to help!

Fun Uses for Seemingly Useless Scraps

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Have you ever looked at your scrap pile and wondered what to do with it? Have I got some ideas for you! I’m here to give you some ideas of super fun things you can do with those scraps!

5 Fun Ways to Use Your Seemingly Useless Scraps

1. Matching Hair Accessories!

One super fun and easy thing to do with scraps are to make fun hair accessories! If you’re sewing for a little girl, there’s nothing better than having a little hair bow to match the outfit. And you can use ANY type of fabric to make these happen! (Don’t let my stitching throw you off… I used a contrasting thread so you could see what I was doing.)

To make a bow, just take 2 small rectangles of fabric (roughly 3×4″ or bigger, if you’d like), sew them together, leaving a 1.5-2″ hole on one long side for turning. Flip and press. Stitch the opening closed either by hand or really close to the edge. Cut another rectangle roughly 2″ square. Fold in half and press. unfold and fold raw edges into the crease. Close it up with the raw edges inside and press. Sew down both sides. Fold the strip so that the raw edges are together and sew. Flip the seam to the inside, insert the fabric rectangle you sewed first into the ring you just created to for your bow. A few hand stitches from the backside to secure it all together and the bow is done! Just hot glue it to a clip or barrette and you’re good to go!

2. Appliques!

Whether you have an embroidery machine or not, you can create fun applique designs to add some pizzaz to your creations. It’s a fun way to personalize, have fun, and use up some scraps!

3. Zippered Coin/Pencil Pouches!

Unlined zipper pouches are so easy and versatile! All you need is 2 fabric scraps (preferably woven) the same size and a zipper the same size or longer than the fabric.

First, place one piece of fabric right side down on top of the zipper, matching the raw edge of the fabric with the raw edge of the zipper tape (fabric should be covering the zipper completely). Stitch in place and finish the edges. Open the fabric out and press the fabric and seam away from the zipper carefully. Repeat with the other piece of fabric on the other zipper edge. Top stitch the seam allowance to the fabric if desired. Fold the pouch shut with right sides together and the zipper along the top edge (unzipped 3/4 of the way). Pin the fabric edges together, making sure everything matches up. Sew the 3 sides without the zipper. Clip your corners and finish the edges. Trim the zipper if needed. turn your pouch right side out through the zipper opening and you’re done!

4. Neck and Arm Bands!

If you sew with knits, hang on to those long skinny scraps! You never know when they might make the PERFECT neckbands or armbands for a shirt or dress. And less waste is nice too… especially with how pricey some knits can be.

5. Plushie Tree Ornaments!

Handmade holiday decorations are the best! Cute and personal, they make great gifts or decorations for your own tree. You can use any type of fabric you have laying around. And kids can have so much fun helping you pick the prints and ribbons to use together to make them!

Here’s what you need. Fabric scraps 3×3″ or larger (depending on how big you want your tree), ribbon scraps (both wide 7/8″+ and skinny 1/4″), polyfil or tiny scraps for stuffing.

First, make a template for your tree that will fit the scraps you have. Cut 2 identical triangles from the scraps. Place triangles right sides together with a loop of the skinny ribbon at the top point in between them and on the inside of your tree. Sew the top 2 sides. Clip the corner and turn right side out. The ribbon should be at the top and ready for hanging. Stuff your tree with polyfil or smaller scraps enough to be puffy, but not too full. Take the wide ribbon and a short length of it in half with the cut ends together. This will form your tree’s trunk. Fold the raw edges of your tree to the inside, place your trunk where you want it and pin everything in place. Edge stitch the bottom edge of your tree together, making sure you catch both bottom pieces and the ribbon as well. That’s it! Baby tree decoration!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these little scrap busting projects and will try a few of them out! If you do, please share in the comments below! We’d love to hear about them! In the meantime, Happy Crafting!

DIY Trick or Treat Bag Fun!

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Halloween is creeping up. That means costumes, parades, Trick or Treating and CANDY! And of course, every little ghoul needs a candy collection receptacle for people to help them fill. So today I’m going to show you how to make your own little Trick or Treat tote bags! Have fun with it! Let your creativity out! Make them match any costume with the right fabric and/or embellishments. Ready? Let’s do it!

DIY Trick or Treat Bag Fun!

Materials:

2 pieces of fabric 15″ tall by 14″ across of your main fabric

2 pieces of fabric 15″ tall by 14″ across of your lining fabric

1 piece of fabric 44″ long by 4″ wide for the handles

Instructions:

Making the Handle.

Take your handle fabric and fold it in half with wrong sides facing long sides together. Press.

Open and fold the raw edges into the center crease. Close and press again.

Edge stitch down both sides of the handle to secure. Cut in half. These will be your 2 handles for the tote bag.

Making the Tote Body.

If you are going to decorate or embellish the front of the bag, now is the time to do it. I’m leaving this one plain, but there are literally endless possibilities here. You could applique a jack-o-lantern face on orange fabric. Paint a superhero logo on the front. Stitch a fun embroidery design to coordinate with the costume… these are just a few ideas, so go wild!

Make a mark 3″ in from the outside top edge of each piece.

Take your two main pieces and pin them right sides together.

Using a 1/2″ seam allowance, sew down one side, across the bottom, and back up the other side. (Leave the top open.) Repeat with Lining.

Squaring the Bottom of the Bag.

With the main body of your tote inside out, take a bottom corner and flatten it with the seams on top and bottom. Measure up 1.5″ from the point on the seam and draw a line straight across the corner.

Sew along this line. Repeat these steps for other main and lining body corners.

Cut the corners off below the line of stitching.

Final Assembly.

Flip your main body piece right side out. Insert it into the lining (still inside out) so that the pieces are right sides together. Be sure to match side seams.

Take your handles and insert them in between the main and lining pieces. Line them up on the inside of the marks you made before beginning the body assembly. Be sure your handles are not twisted.

Pin well and sew around the top of the bag, leaving an opening of about 3″ for turning it right side out.

Pull the bag right side out through the opening.

Tuck the lining down inside the main body of the bag. Press well around the top edge. Edge stitch about 1/8″ from the top edge of the bag to reinforce the handles and close the opening.

And you’re done! So easy, right? As an added “Cute Bonus” I’m going to share my little princess “modeling” her new trick or treat bag! She really adores it and can’t WAIT to go out Trick or Treating!

 

 

If you use this tutorial to craft your own trick or treat bags, please feel free to share your bags in the Bella Sunshine facebook group! We’d LOVE to see them!

 

Reagan Raglan Sew Along Winners!

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Welcome back to the FINAL Reagan Raglan Sew Along post! We had SO much fun this week and I absolutely LOVED to see what everyone sewed up! If you missed the sew along, you can still read along with them and grab some cool hints and tips for sewing up the perfect shirt, tunic or top! Here are the posts for Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 and Days 7 and 8! Now, on to the winners!

Reagan Raglan Sew Along Winners!

As with all Bella Sunshine sew alongs, we have three winners to announce! Each winner will receive a $10 Bella Sunshine gift card for their participation and hard work. Not to mention their adorable creations! The categories are Admin choice (the chosen favorite of the BSD admin team), People’s Choice (the creation with the moest likes in the final sew along pictures) and Random Draw (winner chosen at random from the completed projects. Ready to see our amazing winners?

People’s Choice Winner

Tracy Ossmann was the clear people’s choice winner. Her fabric choices were amazing and the whole thing came together SO well! I’m honestly pretty jealous of this top as it’s right up my alley. She made this BEAUTIFUL long sleeved v-neck Reagan with a floral skull print and solid sleeves that coordinated perfectly. Congrats, Tracy!

Admins Choice

There was much deliberation over the Admins choice. There were SO many wonderfully made Reagans to choose from it was definitely difficult to narrow down. In the end Joke Vanthuyne took this prize with her adorably quirky picture. She made a super cute ladies dress with an added embellishment. She added waist tabs to create her own little flair. It really made her stand out and we were VERY pleased that she joined our sew along and shared this with us! Congrats, Vanthuyne!

Random Draw

Considering Halloween is my hands-down all-time FAVORITE time of year, Virginia Mumford’s creepy eyes Reagan was another favorite of mine and I was SO happy when she came up our random winner! She did a fantastic job on her v-neck and I’m really loving her fabric choices! The recipient of this masterpiece looks pretty pleased too, don’t you think? Congrats, Virginia!

Thank you so much to ALL of the sew along participants! You all accomplished amazing things and I sincerely hope to see you all sewing along with us in our next endeavor! We will announce the next one as soon as we have a pattern and dates nailed down!

For anyone still lacking it, the Reagan Raglan for Ladies and Kids is always available FREE to our Facebook group members! Just join and check out the pinned post to grab the codes! See you all again soon!

Reagan Raglan Sew Along ~ Day 1

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It’s been too long since we’ve had some sew along fun. So here I am to bring it to you! Are you ready? This go round, we’re going to sew up the very versatile (and free!) Reagan Raglan for Kids and Ladies! This is unisex for children, so bring on the boys! And we also have a ladies version if you’re more in the mood for some selfish sewing. If you aren’t already, join the Bella Sunshine Facebook group and peek at the pinned post for the code you need to make this amazing pattern yours at NO cost! Now… On to the fun!

Reagan Raglan Sew Along~ Print and Cut Paper Pattern, Choose Fabrics

As with any sew along, preparation is key! Today, we do the initial prep work. Get your pattern printed, assembled and cut. This does require you to have chosen your options. Are you sewing for a kid or adult? Are you going for a curved neckline or the original v-neck look? Do you need the sleeves long or short? All of these questions are crucial to the stack of pieces you will have when you’re done.

Next, you’ll want to Choose the fabric(s) you’ll be using to complete your creation. Make it fun, make it crazy, make it traditional… Just make it YOURS! Creativity is one of the best parts of sewing!

Once you’ve got your fabric choices, join us in the Facebook group and add your picture to the comment of today’s picture in the sew along album! You never know when we might decide to draw for a random prize. *wink wink* I’ll be back with you all tomorrow! Until then, take a gander at the schedule, so you’ll know what to expect!

Announcement: Reagan Sew Along Coming!

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We have a fun announcement for you all! Another sew along! Starting this Saturday, we will be sewing along with the Reagan Raglan! Want more details? Here’s what’s up!

Announcement: Reagan Sew Along Coming!

The premise of a sew along is simple! Visit the blog and read up on that day’s steps, complete those steps, and share! In the end, we will all have adorable little (or adult) raglans to share! And the best part? Prizes! That’s right! Everyone who completes the sew along and shares pictures of their final creations is entered to win a prize at the end! There will be 3 $10 Bella Sunshine gift cards awarded. One for each category: Admins Choice, People’s Choice, or Random Draw! Do you want in? Just come to the Bella Sunshine facebook group to share your progress and keep an eye on this blog for the steps!

What will you need?

To complete the sew along you will need fabric, a machine, thread, pins and the pattern. Oh, and internet access. That’s pretty important too.

Surprise!

There’s more! Melissa has been working hard to make this free pattern even more phenomenal! If you haven’t downloaded this pattern recently, you might want to consider replacing the file, because it has new treats for you all! She has added a rounded neckline to all sizes for those who don’t want or struggle with a v-neck AND she’s expanded out to plus sizes in the Ladies version! How great is that?

You can get the pattern in Ladies or Kids sizes for FREE by checking out the pinned post in the group for a special code! Come join us for fun, support and prizes as we sew this easy wardrobe staple! See you soon!

Check out the schedule below to know what to expect.

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