handcrafted by RED - sewing and other crafty adventures: June 2016

Ok, so it probably goes without saying that this blog tour was a perfect fit for me! Let's just say I'm not known for my housekeeping skills, shall we?? It's a good thing I've got (one or two) redeeming qualities or my family would really be out of luck.

To be fair, I'm actually pretty good at doing the laundry. My kids brag about my stain removal skills all the time. (They should know, they test me with incredible frequency.) Where I falter is once the clothes are washed and dried. Usually I'll fold them fairly quickly, and even sort them into piles by household member. After that, it's a free-for-all; like, a grab-your-pjs-from-your-clean-clothes-pile type of free-for-all. My kids are just about old enough to put them away themselves, so maybe this won't be a problem for much longer. My husband will just have to figure it out for himself. ;)

Enter the newly released Posey Tunic and Peony Leggings from Sew Like My Mom (SLMM) Patterns. Miss P and I tested these for Melissa last week, and we both loved them immediately. My girl, at the ripe old age of 6.5, isn't a huge fan of "matching" outfits, but this is a set that's easy to coordinate. Lucky for me it's super easy to sew; lucky for my kiddo, it's easy for her to just grab and get dressed and out the door to school on time. Suffice it to say it was easier to sew up this set for her than it was to coax reasonably normal pics from her, too.

Since I had been working from the tester copy of the patterns, I decided to reprint the final version and start from scratch with the timer going. It took me *just* over 1 hour to print, tape, cut fabric, and sew up the tunic and shorts. And that included re-threading both my serger and coverstitch, and also replacing one bent needle. Not too shabby. I sewed up the tank version since Miss P needs summer clothes, but the tunic pattern also includes multiple sleeve lengths and the leggings pattern includes capri and pants lengths (and also a super cute gathered side panel option).

My kiddo wore this to school the day after we took these pics (and she did the same with the tester version we sewed last week), so clearly she'll need some more. I love when I find a great pattern (or set of patterns) that can be used over and over. It'll be on the top of my pattern pile - and the top of Miss P's laundry pile - for sure!

Thanks to all of our amazing sponsors for being a part of this tour.

A few of the designers are having sales for the duration of the tour, so here's the codes!
George & Ginger use code MAKELAUNDRY25 for 25% off her patterns

Blaverry use code MAKELAUNDRY for 25% off her patterns

Stitch Art use code MAKELAUNDRY for 30% off patterns

Paisley Roots use code MAKELAUNDRY for 25% off patterns

These codes are good through June 12th!

Then Laela Jeyne's Emily Womens T-shirt & the Deluxe Charlotte Kids Leggings are on sale through the 11th! No code needed!

I know everyone loves a good giveaway so here's the prize packages:

Link-up Prize Package

Link Up at Pear Berry Lane, Paisley Roots, or The Crafting Fiend