My Patterns
The Christmas Playhouse Dress! (& a Quick Little Sale)
Christmas is only days away now, and I’m in the middle of crazy last-minute sewing. Anyone else with me? Are you in need of a quick Christmas dress pattern? How about the Playhouse Dress? (I’ve even had a few customers use it for an incredibly adorable nightgown!) Check out these sweet holiday Playhouse Dresses and reviews of the pattern, and read to the bottom for a 2-day discount code.
First up, Nicole from K & A Couture and Raedene of Chasing Mermaids reviewed the Playhouse Dress and showed off their versions on the Pattern Revolution blog this morning. Nicole’s is the one at the top of this post, and here’s Raedene’s. Aren’t they both amazing?
JoDee made the cutest snowman Playhouse Dress for her little one and shared it on her blog, Sew Much Crafting.
Finally, Rebecca from Rock the Stitch made this absolutely stunning Playhouse Dress.
If you’d like to make your own Playhouse Dress, you can get $3 off of the regular price of the PDF version through Friday, December 20th by entering the code “PLAYHOUSE” at checkout in the Fishsticks Designs Pattern Shop.
Designer’s Challenge: The Hide ‘n Go Seek Hoodie
It’s my turn to reveal my Designer’s Challenge pattern — meet the Hide ‘n Go Seek Hoodie! The challenge put out to the participating designers was to really strive to design something new and unique. I have had the idea for this pattern floating around in my head for quite some time, and this was just the push I needed to actually bring it to life!
Many of my faithful followers have asked for a zip-up hoodie pattern, and since outerwear is one of my favorite things to sew, I knew I needed to add one to my collection.
My first goal was to make the hoodie reversible to give you two looks in one. Outerwear tends to get more wear than other clothing between washings, and it’s so nice to be able to flip this hoodie inside out to reveal new fabrics.
I also loved the idea of mixing cotton woven fabrics with knit fabrics to give you the fit and look of a traditional hoodie with the myriad of print options that are available in your favorite quilting collections.
That woven placket at the zipper has the added advantage of making it much easier to sew in the zipper, too!
Finally, I designed the pockets, placket and back panel with a modern curve.
The lower panel on the back is a perfect spot to feature a fussy-cut fabric, too. (This one makes me smile every time I see it!)
This pattern covers sizes 12 months to 14. Other features include fold-up cuffs for extra growing room and the option of the elasticized or standard hood. I hope this one becomes a favorite for you and your little ones!
The Hide ‘n Go Seek Hoodie PDF Pattern is available for $2 off of the regular price today and tomorrow only: Click Here to Purchase, and you can enter to win a free copy in the Rafflecopter below. (If you purchase and then win, I’ll be happy to refund you or let you choose another pattern!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Cyber Monday Sale is Underway!
It’s Cyber Monday and all Fishsticks Designs Patterns are on sale for 25% off right here: The FD Pattern Shop. Just add the pattern to your cart to see the discounted prices, and don’t forget that great Buy 4/Get 1 Free Deal!
Just click on the photos below to find each of today’s new releases!
I’ll be back this afternoon to share our annual Advent Activity List! I just have to finish it up . . .
Three New Patterns & a Cyber Monday Sale!
I am so excited to share with you more details about these three new patterns and Monday’s sale (and I’m so sorry that I made you wait an extra day)! First, the sale details:
From 12:01 a. m. to midnight eastern on Cyber Monday (12/2/13), all PDF and paper patterns will be discounted in the main Fishsticks Designs Pattern Store by 25% — no code needed! In addition, you’ll be able to use the code “Buy4Get1” to get one free pattern when you purchase 4 of equal or greater value. The Buy 4/Get 1 deal is always available for PDF patterns, but you’ll be able to use it Monday for paper patterns, as well. This is the last sale of the year, so be sure to grab what you need for Christmas gifts, holiday gatherings and Christmas Eve PJs!
Now, more about these three new patterns!
The Essential Boxer Shorts pattern is the latest addition to my collection of clothing basics that everyone should have in their sewing room! In sizes Small to X-Large to fit mens’ sizes 28 to 42, the Essential Boxer has all the same great features that you’ve already come to love in the Oh, Boy! Boxers. The comfortable fit and three fly options — traditional, faux or no-fly — make these boxers perfect for all the guys in your family. Wouldn’t they all love handmade, one-of-a-kind boxers for Christmas?
Next up is the first of two new Jersey Love patterns, the Riverwalk Skirt & Faux Wrap Skirt in Misses sizes XS (2-4) to XXL (20) and Preteen & Teen Sizes (7-16).
This comfortable and quick-sewing skirt has two options — the traditional skirt and the faux wrap skirt. Both styles are sewn with a cotton/spandex stretch jersey fold-over waistband. You can choose to wear the waistband high on your waist for a shorter length or low on your hips for a longer hem.
The “wrap” on the faux wrap is sewn into the side seam and the waistband to give you the look of a wrap skirt without worries that you might come unwrapped with a wind gust!
The body of the skirt can be sewn with your choice of stretch jersey or 100% cotton jersey, and both the hem and edges of the wrap are left unfinished for that fun, modern rolled look.
Finally, the Playhouse Dress is the long-awaited modern replacement for my very first (and now retired) pattern, the Emmy Dress.
Like the Emmy, the Playhouse Dress allows you to sew with all knit fabric . . .
. . . or to combine the knit bodice with a cotton woven in the skirt and sleeves. In sizes 12 months to 12, both versions can be sewn with either short puff sleeves or long sleeves.
The modern curve in the front carries over to the back, as well.
And the joining of the front and back creates this sweet “V” along the side seam for added interest.
The PDF versions of all three new patterns will be available on Monday, and they’ll be included in the sale! You’ll be able to find them and all of my patterns right here in my main store: The Fishsticks Designs Pattern Shop.
New FD Patterns are Coming on Cyber Monday!
There are three new Fishsticks Designs patterns almost ready for you! All three will be released on Monday, December 2nd, just in time for a Cyber Monday sale. Here’s a little sneak peek of each one:
The Riverwalk Skirt & Faux Wrap Skirt (Preteen/Teen Sizes 7 to 16 & Misses Sizes XSmall to XXLarge)
The Playhouse Dress (Girls’ Sizes 12 Months to 12)
The Essential Boxer Shorts (Men’s Sizes S to XL)
I’ll be sharing all the details about the new patterns and the sale right here on Friday Saturday afternoon, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan for Monday. Until then, I hope each of you here in the USA enjoys a Happy Thanksgiving and that all of you are looking forward to a joyful Christmas season!
A Little Tour of the Fall 2013 Fishsticks Designs Quilt Market Booth
Are you ready to see the Fishsticks Designs Quilt Market booth?! I am so thrilled with how well it came together! The hot air balloon theme was an amazing suggestion from Leigh months ago. I sketched out how I envisioned the booth that night, and that sketch has been hanging on my bulletin board since. It was such a cool thing to see it come to life before my eyes!
So many people loved the hanging hot air balloons! It took a bit of trial and error to get them just right, but once I came up with an idea that worked, they were super easy. (There’s a tutorial coming soon, in case you wondered!) My 15-year-old knitter, Samantha, knitted all the baskets that are hanging under them, and she did a lovely job. (She got to come along with me to Market this year, too!)
This was my first time sewing the drapes as a whole piece. Let me tell you, sewing an 8 foot by 10 foot curtain is no small feat. Add a giant applique to that curtain, and you just might be so sore for days after crawling around on the floor putting it together that you wonder aloud what in the world you were thinking when you moved into a split-level home! (It was totally worth the work and the pain, though!)
I mixed in both well-known and newly-released patterns in our display.
And, I added a few patterns that are not quite finished, but coming soon!
Oh, and you just might see a peek of a new size range of an old favorite, too!
I really showcased my new Go Fish Pattern Series, and they seemed to go over really well! I think shop owners and sewists alike are going to love them for their simplicity, their speed and their practicality.
Leigh made the beautiful picket fence bench that you see above, and both Leigh and Kristy helped with sewing all the samples. (I could never have gotten it done without their help!) Speaking of my amazing Quilt Market crew . . .
. . . from the left, Leigh (my incredible assistant, who you can also find at Rooibos Mom), Kristy (my dear friend and the heart behind Hopeful Threads), ME! and my beautiful Samantha. We had so much fun, even when we weren’t having so much fun. (That laminate floor tried to get the best of us, but we conquered it . . . sort of. We at least made it look presentable!)
I’ll be sharing more about the rest of Market later this week! In the meantime, I’ll be finishing all of the unpacking and working on getting those new patterns wrapped up as quickly as possible.
Fishsticks Fall One-Day Sale!
Are you excited about the new Go Fish Pattern Series?! It’s up now in the Main Pattern Store, and I think it’s release calls for a sale! Use the code GoFish for 40% off of all Fishsticks Designs PDF patterns for the next 24 hours in the main pattern store. (The code will expire at 9 a. m. eastern on Thursday morning.) You won’t see a discount this big again this year! This is a great time to grab those patterns that you’ll need for Christmas PJs, clothes and gifts!
Introducing the Go Fish Pattern Series!
I’ve had this idea running through my head for a little while. I tend to be an instant gratification sewist. I LOVE projects that can be finished in an afternoon or an evening, and while I know some of you enjoy tackling involved long-term projects, I’m pretty sure that there are others out there just like me! My idea was to create a series of patterns that are inexpensive, available both as PDFs and tri-fold sewing cards, and quick as can be. All of the Go Fish patterns are sewn with basic rectangles that are cut with your quilting mat and rotary cutter using the included measurements. (No need to print any pattern pieces!) These patterns are not quite “no frills” – I tried to put a little extra something in each one. The first six patterns in this series will all be available as PDFs on my site tomorrow morning, and as sewing cards at your favorite local quilt shop in November after Quilt Market. They will be priced at $4.25 retail in both versions.
First up is the Fun-to-Go Kids’ Tote. This tote bag is sized perfectly for little ones from preschool through elementary school to carry the fun with them everywhere they go. (My testers tell me that it’s also a great project bag for you knitters and crocheters!) The lined front zipper pocket is super easy to sew in (I promise!), and it provides the perfect spot for those little things that you don’t want to disappear.
Next up is the Let’s Go, Baby! Diaper Clutch. This handy clutch is easy to grab and go when you’re just running out of the house for an errand or two, and it will fit right inside your diaper bag for quick changes on longer outings. The clutch unrolls to reveal a changing pad and pockets for diapers and wipes, then rolls back up again in a flash.
The Sew & Go Messenger Bag features two strap lengths and a hidden front pocket. It’s the perfect bag for school books or business papers — it’ll even hold most laptops! The flap closes with just a flip and no other fasteners.
The Fold & Go Art Kit is just what your little budding artist needs to keep his little hands busy at home or away. The large pocket on one side holds full-size coloring books and sketch pads, while the 20 smaller pockets on the opposite side are sized just right for your favorite crayon colors. The kit folds up and closes with a hook & loop tab.
I couldn’t leave out something for the kitchen, since we spend so much time there! Meet the Go Bake Something! Apron. This modern take on the traditional half-apron makes a great gift for someone else or to keep for yourself. It fits sizes 4 to 16, and the four roomy pockets will make any cook happy!
Wrapping up this first group of Go Fish patterns is the On-the-Go Travel Pillow. This little pillow is perfect for long car trips, sleepover parties or overnights at Grandma’s house. The pocket on the front is a great place to hide a favorite book, toy or video game, and the handle makes it easy to take along. The sham-style closure in the back makes the cover easy to remove for washing, too!
That’s all for now! What do you think? Which one is your favorite? I think these would be great for Christmas, birthday and shower gifts, and for those of you who are WAHMs, these are just the thing for making multiples for those upcoming holiday craft shows!
Aprons with a Dash of Love
A New Create Hope Designs Pattern!
Have you seen that Hopeful Threads is doing a Create Hope Designs Sew-Along this month? If you’re not familiar with CHD, I encourage you to go read the project announcement for this month — it’ll give you a great overview: September CHD Sewalong. Oh, and don’t miss yesterday’s post all about China Little Flower, the amazing organization that is supported by Create Hope Designs: Get to Know China Little Flower.
In honor of the sew-along this month, I thought I’d finish up a pattern that I’ve had in mind for a bit and donate it to Create Hope. Meet With a Dash of Love ~ Reversible Aprons for Mom & Her Little Helpers!
This apron pattern includes three sizes — The Mom size which will fit moms from about size 4 to about size 16, the Big Kid size which fits little ones from about 7 to 10 and the Little Kid size for ages 3 to 6.
The neckband is a simple no-fuss pull-over, and the apron can be sewn with cotton woven quilting fabrics or with waterproof fabrics.
And, for those of us who love having two looks in one (or just want to be able to hide a spill when necessary), this apron is reversible!
My testers did such a great job with this apron! Kelly sewed the cutest craft apron for her little guy with cotton laminate.
Tania and Denise sewed the sweetest mother & daughter aprons.
And, Ann made coordinating aprons for herself and her grandchildren. The little guy’s apron is a bit big, but is this not the sweetest picture? 
Ready to go grab the pattern and get sewing? It’s only $5 and all the proceeds go to support the children at China Little Flower! Just click right here: A Dash of Love.
The Jersey Love Blog Tour Wrap-Up
Whew! It’s hard to believe that the Jersey Love Blog Tour is over already! I had a blast seeing all the Beachcomber Dresses, Downtown V-Necks, Carnival Skorts and Runaround Pants sewn by this collection of talented sewing bloggers in those amazing Riley Blake Jersey Basics. If you missed any of them along the way, be sure to click on the photo below and go take a peek!
