As we mentioned before our momma always did Valentine's Day right with us kids to where it was one of our favorite holidays. We (Al & Scary) took the opportunity of participating in Girls Bundle UP! tour to show our love to our girls. Don't worry we have some boy love coming next month, but today is all about the girls.
Why bundle up? The Math...
Now let us speak honestly for a moment, we are not being paid to say any of these things we don't make any sort of a commission or affiliate sale from you purchasing the pattern. We were given the two patterns you see sewn up here for review, which is a fairly common agreement between bloggers and blog tours. But we have put our money where our mouth is and are purchasing 6 additional patterns from this bundle. Okay now that we are clear on that we can continue on with why we think if you are a mom of girls you should seriously be consider purchasing.
Over here at the Shaffer Sisters we love pattern bundles of all sorts; what an affordable way to pick up patterns. By our best estimations, over 50% of the patterns we own we have purchased through pattern bundles. Although, we think it might be closer to 60%.
Buying patterns as part of a bundle gives you a chance to snatch them up at prices you might never ever be able to see again. The full price on many of these patterns is $9-$10 in order to beat the $4.50 price tag for buying 6-7 patterns that would mean for some designers they would have to give at least a 50% sale if not higher. I don't know about you but we don't often see 50% off sales for many of these designers and we have a cunning watchful eye for picking up patterns.
Another thing we love about the Bundle UP Sale is you don't have to fall victim to the pattern you will never ever use. When we look at purchasing a traditional bundle offered by other sites we usually consider that there is always one-two throw away patterns that we will never ever sew, this brings up the total price of the patterns that we would actually sew. With the Bundle UP you have a choice of disregarding almost half of the patterns (you only have to buy 6 out of the 11 patterns to get the discounted price), so you get to pick and choose the ones that are up your alley. 
Our very favorite thing about the Bundle UP sale is the great size ranges that all these patterns have. We have passed on purchasing similar kids bundles out there because they didn't have great size ranges and though we sew all the time, sometimes it takes us a couple months (or don't tell our husbands, maybe up to a year) to get around sewing a pattern even though we are totally crushing on. These large size ranges gives you flexibility for life and the change in styles from year to year. When we consider a pattern we always try and figure the price per size. This helps us know what gives us the most bang for our buck on each pattern. To help you see what a great deal these prices/size ranges give you we have figured the price per size if you were to select from 6-7 pattern option at $4.50/pattern (if you purchase more than 7 patterns the price per size would go down).
Foo Foo Threads Adeline Knit Cardigan & Dress
13 sizes = $.35 per size

Freestyle Pants, Shorts and Capris by EYMM
19 sizes (plus bonus doll pattern)= $.24 per size

Girls Wideleg Pants by Jocole
15 sizes (plus bonus doll pattern)=$.30 per size

Lilygiggle Cecille Top & Dress
9 sizes=$.50 per size

Love Notions Jam Jams PJ's
9 sizes=$.50 per size

Penny Vintage Coat and Dress from Ellie Inspired
12 sizes=$.38 per size

Potato Chip Skirt by Tie Dye Diva
11 sizes (plus bonus doll pattern)=$.41 per size

Rachel Dress by Modkid
8 sizes=$.56 per size

Sisboom Gabriella Fae Dress & Top
13 sizes=$.35 per size

Violette Field Threads Annabelle Maxi
7 sizes=$.64 per size

Winter Wear Presh Blazer
11 sizes=$.41 per size

Annabelle Dress by Violette Field Threads
The Annabelle Maxi pattern is amazing! It's a show stopper with not too much effort and uses fabrics that everyone has access to. Most show stoppers require something more than cotton so it was exciting to see this. I found my fabric at JoAnn Fabrics, the pink floral and polka-dot fabric are part of the Keepsake Calico Collection and the white is Kona Cotton that I already had on hand. It took me at least an hour to decide on this fabric because I know Ty's preference is purple. There were no interesting purples in any of the cotton so I took a chance on this and hoped that the tiny hints of deep purple flowers would be enough to count as a success.
I was amazed how quickly it came together. The instructions are very clear about explaining how to piece it together to get get the chevron to match up perfectly. Being a quilty person, I was so excited to sew this one up. I always look forward to crossing over piecing and clothing to get a bold look. Ty's chest measurement fit on the 6T size (and somewhere between 5T and 6T on height) and so I sewed a straight up 6T dress. It ended up being too long so I put in a 1" hem. It was still dragging on the ground so I ended up shortening and moving in the sleeves. Now it's probably a little shorter than it was designed, but I find it perfect for the muddy weather that we're facing and the nearly white fabric near the ground.
Ty was in love with this dress instantly. She was only bummed that she had to wait a whole week to wear it so that we could get in the photo shoot. She calls it her Valentine Princess Dress. Now I'm sure she will only take it off for me to wash it. I'm excited about the extra length hidden in the hem because she can wear it for the next two Valentines and then pass it onto her cousin.

Jam Jam Pajamas by Love Notions
For my Valentine's Day look I chose to make Boston some Jam Jam PJ's, I went to the store with one thing in mind and came out with these light weight slinky knits that are Boston's very favorite shades of pink. I thought that it would make the most comfortable pj's on the planet. I didn't realize that this pattern called for medium stable knit. I don't know if the lightweightness (let's pretend for a second that is a word) of the fabric made my pj's much larger fitting than they should have been.
Boston recently jumped in chest measurement to 21 inches and a height of 38.5" safely putting her in the 3T sizing but they seemed to fit her cousin who is in the size 5 better than it did Boston. We have sewn lots of Love Notions patterns here and have not seen this issue with sizing on her other patterns which makes me wonder if it was a mistake in my fabric choice.
I did make two modifications to the pattern; instead of cutting the bottom ruffles straight, I used my cake dome to cut a circle ruffle for a lighter feel (I used this tutorial here as a guide). I also did not hem the bottom of the shirt because with the extra bigness I wanted to make sure that when it fit her well it would still be long enough.  I embroidered little flowers all over the front bodice randomly to match her "mine" (her one and only blanket) and Minkee sheet. I did a bunch of embroidery one night when she was in bed and when she discovered it the next day she didn't want to take it off for me to finish. Luckily I was able to retrieve it long enough to knit interface the back side of each flower so the light weight fabric could handle the weight of the embroidery floss. Overall she loves them and I think I am going to have a hard time holding on to them until they fit a bit better.
I love this picture because many nights when we send the kids to bed and I poke my head into their bedroom I see Ryder sound asleep and Boston just looking out to the hallway listening to Slim Jim and I talking away. It's like she is afraid to miss a moment of excitement. I really don't know what I would do without this little spit fire. 

This post contains affiliate links. We only will affiliate with companies & products that we personally believe in and agree with their quality standards.

#findmein2015
As there was a month of silence from us sisters, I found myself able to find a little time to contemplate 2015 and what I hope to gain from it. Probably the biggest thing is that I want to find me in 2015. Since getting married in 2009, I have got to be pregnant in every year. My life is consumed with my family and I totally love it, but I want to make sure I'm being the example to my daughters of what a woman should be.
1. Be More Professional
I hope to wake up most days and get on some real clothes (not workout clothes, unless I'm actually going to workout), fix up my hair nice, and try to be that classy woman that Samson came to love. I want to treat motherhood like the professional I am. Every professional has to get up and get ready for the day before going to work and I should too.
2. Sew 2 Items for Me a Month
Part of getting out of the workout clothes and into real clothes is to make sure there's clothes in my wardrobe to wear. It's my goal to sew 2 items for me a month so that by the end of the year I will have 24 different articles of clothing in my wardrobe. This may seem excessive to you, but we've been in the poor college student status for over 5 years and had 3 kids so I'm limited on what I have left to wear that is appropriate for the life of a mom.
To start off this resolution I decided to make the Willow Wrap Dress for myself. It just came out on Wednesday and I was lucky enough to get to test it. Tami from Love Notions worked extra hard on this one and its corresponding top. There are multiple ways to mix up the neckline, but my favorite is the lower nursing accessible neckline since I'm a nursing mama and I love my dresses. The pattern includes an optional modestly panel, but I'm pretty partial to my demi top undershirt so I'll probably just stick to that.  If you can't tell from the picture below, I'm crazy about this dress.
The individual patterns get 15% off with the code 'willow' or the bundled pattern (dress & top) can be purchased for 25% off (no coupon needed for the bundle). These sales go through Sunday.
3. Happier and Healthier 
My final goal is just to "try a little harder to be a little better." Find more moments to laugh with the kids and dance with them to the princess station on Pandora. This final one probably has more to it, but I'm in the midst of figuring what it is.

What are your resolutions?

With Love,
Al

Hello, all we are finally breaking our virtual silence, the hustle and bustle of the holidays sucked us up and we got out of habit of being here. But don't worry we have some great things coming up in the next month and half. Happy 2015, hope you had a great Christmas!

We are starting the new year by reviewing awesome new pattern, "Bottoms up Pants" by If Only Designs (Pattern is available 25% off through 1/18/2015 no coupon needed). With a new addition growing in my belly I couldn't help but jump at the chance to try out this pattern. The pattern is designed to fit Cloth Diapers which is awesome because I am thinking I might give cloth diapering a go this time around. 
This pattern has a great size range for a baby/toddler pattern going from newborn to size 6T, which I can see as a real asset if your kids are as fast at growing as mine have been. It is designed to have a flat front with light/medium weight woven fabrics and can be used with a full waistband on sturdy knits such as sweatshirt fleece or interlock.
For my version of this pattern I had only a little bit of this fabric leftover from a dress I had made from Boston. I didn't want to have to worry about matching prints on the side seam so I overlapped the front and back pattern pieces and did a full elastic band. Then held my breath that I had enough as I tried to keep the chevrons level across both legs. I was exactly perfect but pretty good for off grain fabric scraps.

I was surprised that the pattern only uses a 1/4" inseam because most woven patterns that I have sewn have at least a 3/8" inseam if not a 1/2". I honestly was a little worried about such a narrow inseam but it ended up working to my advantage because I barely squeaked by with what I had on hand of the fabric. It ended up not being hard at all, I didn't find it difficult to finish the edge with a simple zig zag but it would be just as easy to serge right at the edge not cutting anything off. With the way the pattern is designed there is ample room in the seat that I am not worried about the back seam being stressed and tearing.
Silly Sally even decided to put them to the test by rolling all over the Living Room floor.

I think we better ask Sally what she thinks of her new pants?
I guess she likes them!
We are the last stop on the tour and if your on the fence about this pants pattern just look over all the other awesome pants that have been made on this tour with this pattern.  

It's the most wonderful time of the year when new pajamas and filled stocking are almost a requirement. This year to start off the season, I made these ruffled pj's for Ty using a pattern from Once Upon a Sewing Machine. They are running a sale through Saturday Dec.6 and you can get it for $5.00 (no coupon needed). Ty is crazy about these pajamas. Since I put them on her 2 days ago she has refused to take them off. They are the perfect mix of functional and girly. She loves the ruffles and flowiness.
My only regret in sewing it up is that I didn't make the skirt of the blouse about 3 inches longer. Ty has a fairly long torso and it doesn't quite cover her tummy all the time. It may be the way the flannel lays that adds to making it too short.
That being said, I love these pajamas. My plan is to take this two part pj's and turn it into two sets of pajamas. The top I'm going to add two more layers of flannel and do a solid hombre effect and turn it into a nightgown. Then I'm going to make a knit shirt to go with the pants.
Since they were ruffled pj's. I decided to go with that theme and do a banded ruffle on the bottom of the pants instead of a straight cuff. I'm glad I did the ruffles on the pants because Ty loves them. If you like this pattern, you should know that the fit on these pants are awesome! There's no weird puckers in the crotch and the length is perfect. I can't say the same thing for all pajama pants I've made in the past. It is currently my favorite woven pj pants pattern and I only wish the sizing went past size 6.
Because I'm a symmetrical kind of gal I did the ruffle on both the front and the back of the bodice. This was another small deviation from the original pattern. The back is finished off with a button enclosure. They are the first buttonholes I've done in a year since my Orchid Damask Coat for flip this pattern. Buttonholes on my machine freak me out. Although I have a one step button hole machine, if everything is not just right on it my machine ties knots. I only had to seam rip and redo buttonholes twice on this project.
I did love how the pattern said if buttons were too frightening you could always opt out and just use snaps instead. It seems like KAM snaps have been my saving grace lately, but since there were only three buttons I decided to take my chances.
The pajamas were made with flannel that recently got for 75% off so it definitely didn't break the bank to make. I'm really, really excited about these pajamas. I think they turned out awesome and I'm excited how well they were received by Ty. Lately she has been pretty picky about what she wears so its nice when she loves something enough to never want to take it off. If you don't have a little girls pajama pattern to turn to, this could be a really good option for you. It can either be used as a 2 part set or easily turned into a nightgown. I have another one cut up ready to sew that is going to be a nightgown with the pants shortened so that they are pantaloons underneath.
You should check out the other cute creations from this fun pattern if you like what you see.
With Love,
Al

I'm so excited to share this pattern review with you. It seems I have taken quite the sweatshirt sewing journey this fall to try to make something that will work for Heber. If I include this pattern, I've tried 4 different patterns and I'm happy to say I finally had success. My first challenge was that his head was too big for one pattern. The next two patterns were too fitted for my sway back buddy. He looked like a girl. It wasn't until Scary stumbled upon the Omni Tempore could I actually have a masterpiece.
We didn't have to think twice about getting this pattern and jumped at the chance to join the Omni Tempore Family Tour and knock out two Christmas presents. If you're looking for something special for Christmas, you might take advantage of the fact that for the duration of the tour the Omni Tempore Bundle is 30% off. To buy either the child size or adult size only is 20% off. Only at Sofilantjes.com is no coupon code needed.

To see the full capacity of the pattern you should keep an eye on the tour:
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I think I'm going to use the pattern blocks to make my husband some t-shirts because I love how it fits him especially for a shirt application. He was borderline sizes and I wish I would have gone up a size for his muscular build and slight stretch fabric. I will also probably do just a little less on the cuffs because they were just slightly smaller than the width of the finished sleeves and waist. I'm used to there being a bigger difference in width so that the cuffs are more snug. Since that's what keeps the cold out, that will be an important modification in the future.
Those 15 years of cow milking muscles make the sleeves snug. So if you sew this and you're borderline sizes, go with the smaller size for a super stretchy fabric and the bigger size for something more stable and outwear.
This sweatshirt has been checked for chasing, running, jumping, and flying. The hood also fits great too, we were just so busy playing at the park that I forgot to get any pictures of it actually on his head.
I really love this boy, but I can't seem to keep this 2 1/2 year old boy out of trouble. Just this morning alone he got black eye makeup all over his hands and face, the bedroom floor in the time it took me to help Ty go to the bathroom. Later he took the sewing scissors to some hoarded knit fabric as I was putting ham in the slow cooker. Then as I'm writing this last part he dumped an entire bag of rainbow fruity crisp rice all over the living room and it is now raining rainbow chunks throughout the entire living room. Please tell me this phase doesn't last forever!
With Love,
Al

Today we are reviewing the Issue 5 of the One Thimble. We first were first introduced to One Thimble a few months ago when Al was trying to find a particular style of dress pattern. The debate was on to buy the complete magazine with many different patterns and techniques or to just get the single pattern that had brought her to One Thimble in the first place. The single pattern was $9 and the entire magazine was $25. Given the tight budget she decided to go with the single pattern, but the magazine would have been a worthy investment when possible.

Since then we have been watching One Thimble to see with what they come out with next. When we had an opportunity to review one of their patterns we jumped at the chance and then the opportunity to review a whole magazine, we not only jumped but ran. There are so many great patterns in this magazine, I can't wait to try them all.

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PS. I loved this photo but the colors ended up being a bit off and pretty grainy so I bring you today's episode of photos that couldn't be on the cutting room floor because I loved it so I am changing it to black and white so it is okay.