commuter cowl review and giveaway!

December 4, 2012January 7, 201343 Comments

i’m the next stop in A Very Go To Christmas blog tour! Andrea is building a pretty great shop over there at Go To Patterns, and it keeps getting better the more designers she brings on! you should definitely go check it out, and check back often because i think the first time i ever looked she had, like, 3 patterns in there and she’s now up to nearly 70! lots of basics, lots of fun stuff, lots of options.

the pattern from the shop that i chose to review is the commuter cowl, designed by shannon of luvinthemommyhood! i remember loving this pattern when it first came out but never pulled the trigger and got it. i was excited to sew it now, especially after making her sweetheart dress and having such a good time with it.

every time i saw this cowl pop up, i tried to figure out how it was made. it SEEMED super simple, but i still had no idea what was going on with the split and the twist and for the life of me couldn’t figure out how to make it myself. a pattern was needed.

even with the pattern, for some reason my brain was having trouble grasping a few basic concepts. do you have certain techniques like that, things that just trip you up no matter how well-explained they are? for me it seems to be tubes. i always sew the wrong thing closed, think something will turn right side out that won’t, all sorts of craziness. i kept having to tell myself to just follow what the pattern said and not think i knew better…especially with finishing the scarf off…and it all worked out great! i want to make another now that it finally clicked (which i should because i really love the final product and this one is destined for Christmasgiftland).

the pattern lists instructions for varying sizes of cowl depending on the fullness you want and the type of fabric you’re using. i made the 1/2 yard option with this amazing Nani Iro flannel (WITH SPARKLY POLKA DOTS) that i picked up at bolt during their sale, but it’s gone now. miss matatabi has a nice Nani Iro selection though, including flannel!

here’s the thing, too. shannon is a pacific northwesterner. even though she’s in canada and i’m in the US, we share a climate. a gal from a chilly and rainy place understands that scarves are very important to have in a wardrobe. i live in trench/rain/warm coats all fall/winter/spring, and the only chance i really have to add some personality to my outerwear is through my scarf collection. they’re cozy, too. it’s amazing how much warmer you can be when your neck is covered. frankly, i even wear them all day at the office – i can never have too many!

i think gals in warmer climates could rock a commuter cowl in voile or gauze, though, and it’d have a totally different (but gorgeous) look!

head over to the Go To Patterns shop to pick up your commuter cowl pattern NOW! it’s only $4 and you can definitely get your money’s worth if you give one of these as a gift! then go ahead and make one (or more) for yourself. you know, the old “one for them, two for me” type situaish.

oh, and thanks to my good friend erin for taking these photos! apparently i’m a bit more relaxed with a lady photographer?

AND NOW…another giveaway! two days in a row, that’s right!

Enter to win a shopping spree at GoToPatterns.com and Sew Fine Fabric!

giveaway now closed

Check out the talented blog tour:

Handmade Therapy Nov. 29th

a pretty cool life. Nov. 29th

Sew Much Ado Nov. 30th

Simple Simon and Co Dec. 1st

One Little Minute Dec. 1st

The Cottage Home Dec. 2nd

Sew country chick Dec. 2nd

Nap Time Crafters Dec. 3rd

A Little Gray Dec. 3rd

skirt as top Dec. 4th

you & mie Dec. 5th

Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy! Dec. 5th

Me Sew crazy Dec. 6th

see kate sew Dec. 6th

Delia Creates Dec. 7th

i was provided with the commuter cowl pattern at no cost for this review, and i am also an affiliate of Go To Patterns. my opinions, as always, are my own.

sew, mama, sew giveaway day!

December 3, 2012December 7, 2012156 Comments

today is giveaway day at sew, mama, sew!

sew, mama, sew may have been one of the first sewing-focused larger blogs i came across…i think it was through their bustling flickr group, maybe? it’s a site full of great ideas and i’m always finding new blogs through them. anyway, i’ve never had my act together enough to participate in one of their giveaway days before, but i have something ready this time!

my giveaway item is a foldover doily clutch, sewn by me and detailed in my tutorial here!

foldover doily clutch

this sweet little clutch has a touch of vintage style but the the gray hemp outer and the metal zipper are very modern. it’s fully lined with a fun abstract woodgrain fabric.

foldover doily clutch

it would make a great gift, but if you keep it for yourself i won’t tell. 🙂

want to win this foldover doily clutch?

HERE’S HOW TO ENTER:

leave me a comment! need a prompt? how about…what’s your favorite holiday song?
leave your email address with your comment so i can contact you if you win.
must be 18 or older to win.
giveaway is open to international residents.
giveaway will close december 7 at 5pm PDT. i’ll pick a winner at random and let them know by december 9. **GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**

that’s it! if you’re visiting skirt as top for the first time, feel free to poke around a while! i sew kids clothes, adult clothes, quilts, whatever strikes my fancy. i offer a number of free tutorials, and if you like movies, my friend jessica and i run an ongoing film petit series which is a fun one to check out!

anyway…greetings! salutations! and good luck!

sweetheart dress pattern and giveaway

October 2, 2012October 2, 2012107 Comments

have i got some sweet stuff for you today!

i was recently lucky enough to pattern test the newest pattern by the lovely and talented shannon of luvinthemommyhood, which was just released yesterday! it’s called the sweetheart dress, and it’s the perfect dress for a girly little gal like mine. it’s a quick, fun sew, featuring a fully lined bodice with the cutest heart cutout in the back, and a gathered skirt for twirling. it’s a dress that’s great for comfy day-to-day wear, but has tons of style!

i sewed it in sarah jane’s find the narwhal fabric from her out to sea line, and i’ve decided it’s pretty much the cutest fabric ever. Em calls the narwhals “unicorn whales,” and i’m not correcting her. they ARE unicorn whales! the fabric itself is quilting cotton, but with a really nice drape and feel.

shannon’s pattern is great, and i even learned how to line a bodice in a way that i had never tried before. it’s always fun to learn something new when i sew! it came together nicely and i was excited to make a dress that i knew Em would love.

the pattern includes sizes 2-6. though it’s a PDF pattern and i know some people aren’t so fond of those, it actually requires no taping! NONE! just print the three page pattern, cut it out, and get sewing.

i just think between the heart cutout and the pink narwhal fabric, this dress pure confection. you probably need this sweet little pattern for KCWC next week, right? well…i can help with that!

luvinthemommyhood is generously offering a fantastic pattern giveaway to skirt as top readers! here’s how you can win:

leave me a comment on this post – any comment will do. if you need an idea, i’d love to hear what part of the changing season you’re most excited about.

bonus entries:

like skirt as top on Facebook and leave a separate comment letting me know
like luvinthemommyood on Facebook and leave a separate comment letting me know
visit the luvinthemommyhood pattern shop and let me know your favorite pattern in there (man i wish i could knit)

that’s a possible FOUR separate entries!

i’ll pick THREE winners on sunday, october 7. one grand prize winner will win the sweetheart dress pattern, plus every pattern in shannon’s shop! yes, EVERY SINGLE PATTERN!! additionally, two runners up will win the sweetheart dress PDF sewing pattern! pretty great, eh?

deets:

if it’s not already linked in your profile, please leave your email address so we can contact you. the format of skirtastop(at)gmail(dot)com works well to help avoid spam.
open to US and international residents.
void where prohibited.
if you don’t want to wait to find out if you’ve won, you can buy the sweetheart dress right here right now!

have a great day, and good luck!

superhero cape giveaway winner!

March 21, 2012March 21, 20123 Comments

thank you to everyone for the kind words and for entering my first blogiversary giveaway! i’m pretty sure your comments were the cutest in blog history – i loved reading your little ones’ names and favorite colors. i can just imagine all those kiddos flying around in their superhero capes, and wish i could make one for everybody (totally cliche, but true). but since i’d most definitely go insane sewing over 40 capes (and nobody wants that), i had to pick just one winner…

according to random.org, the winner of the custom superhero cape is jamsby! she said…

My daughter Willa would get such a kick out of this. She is almost 2 but loves playing dress up. Favorite colors? Hmmm, not sure about that one, but her Momma loves teal and magenta. I love your blog! Can’t believe you only have a year under your belt.

teal and magenta cape, coming right up! isn’t willa such a cute name, too? jill, i just sent you an email.

thanks to all who entered and take the time to read my little blog. you guys are awesome!

one year and a giveaway!

March 17, 2012March 20, 201244 Comments

happy st. paddy’s day, and guess what? skirt as top is one year old today! i can hardly believe it. this year has been such a fun whirlwind for me, and i’m so glad i started a blog to share more about my projects and really get to know you all better. i’m having a blast.

i thought it’d be fun, on my very first blogiversary, to give something back to you guys for being so awesome. i decided that i want to make and give away a custom super hero cape to one lucky reader! sound good? it fits probably a 2T on up.

here’s how to win a cape for your little one, made by me:

leave a comment telling me your child’s name (or first initial) and their favorite color (or colors).
giveaway will close on tuesday evening (the 20th), and i’ll announce a winner on wednesday. **GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**
if your email is not linked in your profile, please leave it with your comment. the format of skirtastop(at)gmail(dot)com works great if you’re not into spam.
open to US and international residents, because i get a kick out of international mail. 🙂
void where prohibited.

thanks so much for reading, and may the luck of the irish be with you!