Sewing: Linen Midi Skirt with Patch Pockets for WeAllSew.com

Hello! Meet my new puppy, and my new midi skirt. Everyone loves puppies, right? So I thought she'd make the perfect prop for photographing this linen skirt I made for BERNINA's We All Sew blog. (I'm an ambassador for the BERNINA brand. I sew with a BERNINA 580, which I love.)

I love the midi skirt trend in all its incarnations: pencil, pleated, full, wrap.... This full gathered skirt with patch pockets gives me the chance to revisit the skirts my friends and I wore (gasp!) a couple decades ago. Linen makes it lightweight and breezy so it's really easy to wear.

The pockets make it practical. And I think a high waistband is flattering on everyone.

I've been wearing this skirt with t-shirts and flip flops too. 

I've got a complete tutorial for making this skirt to fit your measurements at We All Sew. It's really quick to sew. It's not too late to jump on the trend!

To check out the other tutorials I've created for BERNINA view my We All Sew profile.

Sewing: Nautical Dresses and a Pretty Piped Skirt (Pattern Preview)

It's Summer's end. At least in terms of our routine. we're headed back to school this coming week. So I had to get in one last, celebratory post for summer: some nautical dresses at the beach.

I'd had all this cute fabric sitting in my stash for a couple years and finally sewed something with it when I set up a crazy two-days-before-the-plane deadline for myself. I love this Dear Stella "Ahoy Matey" fabric with signal flags and sailboats, and the coastal sailboat scene canvas from Cath Kidston.

I sewed two sleeveless Sophisticate Dresses for Audrey and Scarlett. This is a pattern I've shared a few times before (originally here in a gold version, here in a houndstooth for Easter, and then here in a safari print) that's been partially drafted for more than a year now. It's not the only one, sadly. I really need to finish it because I love it.

And for Tess I sewed a Pretty Piped Skirt. This classic skirt has a flat front waistband with piping, and a gathered back waistband for ease of fitting and wearing. The first one I made is one of my favorite projects, a dog printed skirt with piped pockets. For this nautical version I made flap pockets. When I mentioned that the Sophisticate Dress isn't the only pattern sitting on my list, I was thinking of this skirt pattern too.

Oh well, with the change of seasons there's always the hope of finding more time in the routine! 

It's been great having some time to play as a family and now I'm excited about the Fall routine with new classes, teachers and things to learn! I hope you are looking forward to the change of seasons too.

Sewing: Maxi Lady Skater Dress in Black and White

It's another Lady Skater Dress. This time in a colorblocked black and white. Always a good choice I think. And maxi length again.

I have made this dress twice before, one that is camouflage, elbow length sleeves and a modified maxi skirt and another with short sleeves and the same modified maxi skirt. This time I used the skirt pattern provided with the pattern but just lengthened it to the maxi. I can't decide which I love more, but the twirl factor with this skirt is really fun. 

These dresses are so wearable! I'm going to keep making them. I love being able to throw one on and add shoes. And maybe a necklace. I made this black tassel necklace in about five minute. But then after taking these photos I remade it and like it even more. I'll share a tutorial soon in case you're not already making these.

This dress should take me nicely through the end of summer and then I'm picking out some fabrics for Fall because the Lady Skater would be so comfortable with boots. Maybe I'll try one in the original skirt length too. Who knows.

Sewing: Beach Robes 2015

It's become a tradition to go to the beach each summer. And it's becoming a tradition to sew beach robes for the trip. At least every other year. So here are the Beach Robes 2015. (...and 2013 and 2011)

This time I selected some very comfy towels from Target and made the robes extra large so the girls can use them for a couple years.

Maybe a bit too large? Their arms are going to have to grow....

If you've sewn with Dana's Beach Robe pattern you may be wondering how if these are her largest size, 3/4. No. I've sized up a few times so that Audrey's would probably fit a teenager.

The girls love them! And not just for the beach. These are our swimming robes all year round.

Hope you are enjoying the last days of summer!