Sewing Projects

Made these for a friend's little girl's first birthday. The applique is a free font from sewforum.com. The shorts and applique are out of Fabric Finders pique fabric.


I've made a couple of items out of this adorable Riley Blake fabric from the Rainy Days and Mondays collection.

Betsey/Joey Shorts Customer Creation

Just got this pic from a customer. She used the Betsey/Joey shorts pattern and added the cute turtle applique to complete the outfit. She sells this short set along with other handmade items in her Etsy shop called Hailey Bugs Closet.

Ava Sundress as a top - customer Creation

One of my Louisiana customers sent me this picture using a shortened version of the Ava Sundress as a top to wear with shorts. What a cute short set this made with the bright colors and applique.

Here is what she said:

"I just finished with my first Ava dress (cut to a top w/shorts). I SIMPLY LOVE IT..... I must say your e-patterns are the easiest by far to read. "

I enjoy seeing the patterns used in different ways. Customers are so creative. Keep the pictures coming. They inspire me.

Halloween Customer Creation from Annette Reversible Sundress

I found this adorable dress on sew forum made by a customer using the Annette Reversible Sundress Pattern. She made this for her granddaughter and was kind enough to allow me to share it on my blog and facebook. It is such a joy to see how creative customers are with my patterns.

More Annette Reversible Sundresses for a different set of sisters.

I made the first set of dresses for my great niece's two girls. They wore them to a family function and another niece really liked them. She asked me to make these for her two girls - also my great nieces. Of course I said yes.

These dresses go together very fast. They are lined in the green check used on the applique and can be reversed. Change the ribbons and you have a whole new look.

Made from Annette Reversible Sundress pattern. Both of the fabrics used are by Fabric Finders. The font is Bobo Applique font I downloaded free from sewforum.com. The only problem I had was it went from the outline stitch directly to the satin stitch. All I did to resolve the problem was make the first outline stitch, lay the fabric down for the applique and just backed it up one thread color to redo the outline stitch. Not sure if that makes sense to you but if you embroider, you may know what I'm trying to say.

Sundress with music notes applique

It's been raining all weekend which is great for sewing. I got this dress done and a couple of other miscellaneous projects for my niece.

The little girl this was made for loves music and the color yellow. I had a bit of a problem with the stitching on the first try so I added some fusible interfacing to the dress fabric and applique fabric. The second try stitched out really well. I'm still new at the embroidery and machine applique so I learn as I go and from trial and error - lots of error. LOL.

The dress is made from the Annette Reversible Sundress Pattern. It is reversible - the other side is a tourquoise, yellow and white floral print.

Annette Reversible Sundress

My latest project using the Annette Reversible Sundress pattern. The tree applique is a free design I've wanted to try. For some reason, I pictured the tree bigger and intended to have only one on the front. Because it was smaller than expected, I decided to use three in a row. I thought the border fabric was very interesting so I picked up 1/2 yard at a local quilt shop knowing I would eventually find some use for it.

I think the dress has a kind of eco friendly look to it. What do you think?

Ava Sundress

This is my latest sewing project from the Ava Sundress Pattern. The front was inspired by a design I saw in a boutique I visited recently. I randomly placed circle appliques with black and white fabric. Look closely and you will see the recipients initials on one of the circles. Since I don't have an embroidery machine that you can combine designs, adding a design within a design was something new for me.

Using the two black and white fabrics from the appliques and a pink microcheck, I made handmade braided trim for the straps and added the black and white bow to complete the look.
The fabric I ordered is in and I have lots of ideas of what I want to do with it. Looking forward to some serious sewing this weekend.

I've had numerous requests for a boy pattern and recently tried something I think will work well. If time permits, I hope to make another test or two and work on the design changes. Depending on how it all works out, I have a similar idea for a pattern for girls. Maybe I'll have it far enough along for a preview next week.

Ava Sundress, Annette Reversible Sundress, Applique and Embroidery

I've been busy sewing and getting some practice with my embroidery machine. Some of the projects are gifts but others are for possible sale at a trunk show I may have.

This one is made from using the Annette Reversible Sundress Pattern . The flamingo applique is from Embroidery Boutique .

I used the applique fabric for the reversed side and added a fabric flower in the blue pique.

This is the Ava Sundress Pattern, my newest pattern. The bow applique is from Applique For Kids. Check out her gallery and find the JoAnn Dress, Karen Capri Set and Tana Tutu Dress showcasing some of her great designs.

This is another Ava Sundress Pattern using a free design from Sew Forum. I would love to give credit to the digitizer but I didn't make note of it when I downloaded the design. The Ava Sundress Pattern will soon be available on YouCanMakeThis.com.

A co-worker recently got married and I monogrammed these towels for her. I told her I was a beginner in the embroidery area. She said she was OK with that and didn't mind me practicing on some towels for her. The font is from Embroidery Rn.

I didn't this size letter before putting it on the towel and was a little disappointed that it was not as large as I thought for the hand towels. I decided to make them both the same just to be consistent.

I have to admit, I don't enjoy embroidery on towels as much as dresses but wanted to give it a try. It's been fun trying some of the applique and embroidery designs I've been collecting.

I've also got a new pattern I may try soon. It is only in the idea stage at this point but hopefully will become a reality in the coming weeks.

Ava Sundress with embroidery and braided trim

I recently purchased a few embroidery designs from Embroidery Boutique and wanted to try them out. The Ava Sundress pattern is great for embroidery and applique on the front. I also added a handmade braided trim for the straps and along the hem.


This embroidery design is very simple and fast to do. These applique designs are

so much fun and are great for that little something extra on an outfit.

This is a better view of the braided trim. I used two pieces on each side for the straps and one row along the hem.

I took some pictures of the process and will try to put together a tutorial for the trim. I used gingham fabric in three colors for this trim. It takes a little time to do but I really liked the results. I ended up making extra to use again on a future project.

Annette Reversible Sundress - Customer Creation

Here is a customer creation from Cathy using the Annette Reversible Sundress pattern. I saw this fabric by Fabric Finders at All Brands and thought it was so very cute. The bunny applique really adds to the look. What a cute Easter dress for a special little girl.

Thanks Cathy for sharing these pictures.

Sunny Wrap Dress Sewing Pattern with applique

I'm finally getting more comfortable using my embroidery machine and everyone was right - it can be addictive. I made the Sunny Wrap Dress in the reversible style using Heather Bailey coordinating fabric I purchased from All Brands.

The applique design is from Applique for Kids. I wanted something easy to try and thought the bow design would be something I could use on many projects. The dress took only a couple of hours to make.

This is the reverse side. I am drawn to fabrics with pinks and greens. All Brands in Baton Rouge has a large selection of fabrics from different designers. They keep adding more. It's hard to resist temptation to buy everything I like.

Customer Creation - Karen Capri Set

This is another great creation from Joy at Applique for Kids using the Karen Capri Set and her own applique design. What a great Spring and Summer outfit.

Tana Tutu Dress Customer Creation

Here is another creation from Joy at Applique for Kids using the Tana Tutu Dress Pattern. The frog is another of her own designs called Mod Frog available on her website.

Thanks Joy for sharing another great project.

Karen Capri Set Customer Creation

I received these pictures from Joy at Applique for Kids using the Karen Capri Pattern. The fish is one of many designs available on her website. She shows how changing a few things can make a different and unique look. She used a border on the ruffle with the same fabric as the fish applique as well as piping along the top of the ruffle.
Adding the same ruffle and applique on the pants ties it all together. With the wavy blue fabric, the fish actually look like it is swimming in the water.

Thanks Joy for sharing these pictures.

Tana Tutu Halloween Outfit

Look at this cute Halloween outfit by Kris at SWAKembroidery using the Tana Tutu Dress and Hocus Pocus Girl Applique. Applique and embroidery can make an outfit very unique. The purple ribbon and tulle really brings out the applique. Since children grow so fast, adding a shirt underneath a sundress can allow use for more than one season.

This precious little girl is ready for Halloween.

Dee Dee Pleated Dress Pattern

My new pattern is ready and available on Etsy, soon to be available on YCMT.


Dee Dee Pleated Dress is an easy pattern that has pleats on the front and back and ties on the sides. The ties can be adjusted to make the perfect fit. The tie is sewn on to hold the pleats in place and is a great place for some decorative stitching or a small embroidery design. Add an extra button to the straps to adjust for growth. Included are instructions and patterns for sizes 1 through 6 along with lots of pictures to illustrate every step.

One of the testers, Bani, is from Germany and suggested I add metric measurements to the pattern for European customers. I added the metric to this pattern and will include the conversion in all of my patterns. Eventually I will revise the previous patterns to include metric measurements also. Thank you Bani for such a great suggestion.


Here is Bani's creation for the testing process. She does beautiful embroidery and applique and added it to the front and back ties as well as along the hem as you can see.

My second tester, Coleen, added an apron to the front of her dress. Even though they used the same pattern, you can see how these changes and the different fabric choices make each dress a unique creation.



Thanks to Bani and Coleen for helping me test this pattern. I appreciate all the great comments and suggestions.

Thanks to my adorable models for the cover and to their mom for taking the pictures. Check out her blog, J Chustz Photography.

Sunny Wrap Dress Pattern

Sunny Wrap Dress pattern is now available on Etsy and soon to be available on YCMT.

Sunny is a wrap dress pattern in girls sizes 1 through 4 that is fast and easy to make. It is a aline style with extended shoulders to form a hint of a sleeve. Included are instructions for a reversible and non reversible style. This dress is a great canvas for embroidery or applique.