Roly-Poly Along Plus A Giveaway

5.28.2013


Welcome to my stop on ImaginegnatsRoly-Poly-Along!  I'm ridiculously excited to be part of this blog tour - mostly because I love this little pattern and was really excited to get the chance to sew it up.  While this pinafore pattern is updated in many ways (hello pockets and center pleat!) I love the vintage look of a classic pinafore and I wanted to hold on to that feel for my version.  In an attempt to do just that I chose to keep the fabric very simple (just some teal cotton lawn that I purchased from Fashion Fabrics Club) and I let the focus of the pinafore be on the design and the small amount of embroidery that I added to one side of the front. 


I am no embroidery expert by any stretch of the imagination and I've just dabbled in it here and there in the past with some mixed results, but working on this project has made me fall in love with it.  Mostly because after approximately 100 attempts I have finally (quasi) mastered the french knot and I'm officially smitten with it.  In the future I shall be adding french knots to everything in sight - clothes, shoes, food, my children.  Whatever I can get my hands on.  You better not get too close!


While this pattern is perfect for allowing you to mix and match fabrics for both the outer fabrics and the lining fabrics, I chose to just use more of the teal cotton lawn for the lining of the pinafore since the lawn is a tad bit sheer and the pattern on any lining fabric could be seen through the cotton lawn (I learned this how I learn so many things - the hard way).


In line with keeping my fabric choices fairly simple, I also kept some other aspects of the pinafore fairly simple.  I left off the pockets since this version is for my one year old and she's barely learned to walk let alone put something in a pocket.  I also chose not to stitch down the pleat on the front and I instead just made the pleat and basted the top of the pleat together before sewing the lining on.  I also opted to add a bit of interfacing to the lining where the buttons and the buttonholes are to make those parts a little sturdier (especially since my fabric is fairly thin). 


And lastly, something unexpectedly lovely about this pinafore is the fact that C loves the texture of the embroidery and can often be found running her fingers over those little flowers.  And that just makes my heart go pitter-patter.


But enough of me blathering on about my little creation.  How about a chance to make your very own?  Rachael has kindly offered one free Roly-Poly Pinafore pattern in a giveaway.  To win, go ahead and leave a comment below letting me know what your spring/summer sewing plans are (or fall/winter for those of you in the southern hemisphere).  I'll leave it open until Friday, May 31st (11:59 pm - on the dot, baby!)

Now how about checking out some other stops on the Roly-Poly-Along?


5.13 Jill Made with Moxie / Stephanie The Crafty Kitty
5.14 Stephanie NeurosesGalore / Cherie you & mie
5.15 Ari Max California / Caila Caila Made
5.16 Veronica SewVery / Tara Girl like the sea
5.17 Nancy owen's olivia / Adrianna Crafterhours

5.20 Ajaire Call ajaire / Sarah EmmylouBeeDoo
5.21 Laura Craftstorming / Jessica a little gray
5.22 Frances Miss Matatabi / Nicke kiss kiss quilt
5.23 Amy formwork design / Kat Sew Chibi
5.24 Joanne Rose & Dahlia / Amanda Kitschy Coo

5.27 Celina Petit a Petit and family / Delia Delia Creates
5.28 Christy a.Amelia handmade / Carolyn Fake It While You Make It
5.29 Bonnie Fishsticks Designs / Maria La Inglesita
5.30 Jane Buzzmills / Kate Things for Charlie
5.31 Polly Jack & GeeGee / Molly Rose & Odin

(Rachael kindly gave me a free copy of the pattern to participate in the Roly-Poly along but all opinions, as always, are my own)

34 comments:

  1. Oh timeless cuteness! I have no need for this pattern for myself but just had to leave a comment to say how completely freaking adorable C and the pinafore are.

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  2. That is just beautiful! Love the embroidery.

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  3. LOVE this pinafore. What a stunning version and a stunning model. My Autumn/Winter sewing plans are actually to knit. I'm knitting my first sweater, yay! Already thinking of summer sewing plans though and this looks like a great start.

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  4. I adore the embroidery, simply perfect! And the back with those thighs? Too much!

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  5. I'm up to my ears in summer sewing! Bucket hats for my boys, hopefully shorts for them, more dresses and bonnets for my daughter, and a bunch of dresses/outfits for charity sewing. I also have plans (hopes?) to make a second dress for myself too!

    Thanks for the chance. Your embroidered version is so sweet and pretty!

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  6. Anonymous28.5.13

    The embroidery is lovely! I have a bunch of shirts and shorts/pants ready to sew for my daughter as well as some sewing and knitting for a baby expected at the end of summer. This pattern is on my to-sew list and I'd love to give it a try!

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  7. I am sewing crayon rolls for birthday parties but I have a linen skirt idea in the back of my head :)

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  8. I LOVE the embroidery! Great job!

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  9. So cute!! I'm currently sewing aprons for teachers as thank you presents, but after that I am planning on doing all sorts of fun summer kids' clothes sewing.

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  10. that embroidery is amazing. at first i thought that was some vintage fabric, the embroidery was so cool. and after seeing all these cute pinafores i'm pretty sure my summer sewing plans might include sewing one for ingrid. and maybe some knitting for the new baby, who will need some warm cozies for the fall and winter she'll be born into.

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  11. I love the vintage look! This summer I plan to learn to sew with knits - I signed up for a class on Craftsy.

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  12. so, so cute! your embroidery is gorgeous, and so is your baby! :)

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  13. Cute! I have lots of clothes planned for the toddler this spring/summer, plus lots of stuff for the impending arrival. It'll be busy!

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  14. I love this pattern and that I can use this for both of my girls. Thanks for the chance to win!
    Erin
    emstone28@gmail.com

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  15. Oh my gosh, that photo of your daughter feeling the embroidery makes me swoon! Beautiful!

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  16. Gorgeous outfit and those knees!!
    My sewing plans are few and far between in theory as we have almost finished a building project on our house and now we need to put in a kitchen, shower room, sort bedrooms, clean the dust from everywhere - you get the picture? But I have made 4 tops for me in the last couple of weeks so mustn't complain!

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  17. alright, this is SO sweet. she's adorable! I love that you used the solid teal- and don't even get me started on the french knots. I too got hooked over Christmas while embellishing some ornaments, and yeah- they are so fun to make. Anyway, Summer plans= eating lots of tomatoes and teaching the kiddos to swim. :)

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  18. Anonymous28.5.13

    What a darling! I've got to finish my son-in-law's "Semper Fi" quilt so I can start on quilts for my 4 month old granddaughter and my granddaughter due in August. I also have a special play quilt designed for them to play on at my house.

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  19. Oh this is adorable. SHE is adorable (those curls...those thighs ;)!! I just learned the art of french knots, too, and my two-year-old had the same reaction. :) I am also loving this color combo... Lots to love in this one post!

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  20. Yours is a gorgeous version of that pinafore! I love the embroidery and the baby! I'm in the Southern Hemisphere but seem to be sewing lots of summer clothes for the kiddos to layer. Must get going on a quilt for each of the boys though, so they can use them before spring comes around!!

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  21. thank you so much for the chance, unfortunately I don't have any sewing plans only because I have to renovate my house, so how you can easily see these things don't go well togheter ^_^

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  22. I have plans to make my first quilt. We"ll see how that goes! Lol! atabanana29(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. Those emboidered flowers! So sweet! My summer plans are building an entire wradrob for my oldest who has grown out of all her clothes. So much more fun to make her clothes than buy them at the store, althour I will probably break down and buy a couple of staples, like jean shorts and plain t-shirts. tin.kmarsh@gmail.com

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  24. Right now I am making baby blankets for new grandbabies galore. My new granddaughter would look very cute in that little pinafore. I love it that C likes the feel of the embroidery. So cute.

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  25. we are planning on going on our first vacation since our honeymoon 5 years ago and we are super excited.

    jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

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  26. Although I don't get my sewing time these days (my 4 kids keep me pretty busy), I would find the time to use this pattern to make my little girl some cute summer dresses!

    jdeemarie @ gmail.com

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  27. She is just the sweetest, plumpest, sassiest, most smoochable thing on God's green earth (besides my baby, of course). My goodness.

    This version of the roly-poly is so lovely and old fashioned, like something my grandmother made for me as a child.

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  28. Anonymous29.5.13

    Sadly, It's pre-winter here in Australia :(
    I'll be sewing a few**..no..**dozen dresses for my daughter, I've had my eye on the Geranium Dress pattern over at MadeByRae for a while now ;)
    Love the pattern! Would love to win! Maybe over a turtle neck/leggings? Cute, no?
    :D

    materialdoll@yahoo.com.au

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  29. Yeah! I love the pattern. Compagnie-m.com

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  30. The embroidery is perfect. We are spending the summer away from home so no sewing machine. I'm pinning lots and will be sewing up a storm in the fall!

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  31. Are you even kidding me with that embroidery?! It's perfect! Love this on C.

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  32. So sweet! I love your embroidery! I am hoping to make myself some maternity clothes this summer. Thanks for the chance!

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  33. I'm making shirts, shorts, diapers, hats, rompers, uh kids stuff! O would I love to add this to my repertoire!

    Rubberduckywon at gmail

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  34. C is just so adorable! I love her pastey white, been-covered-in-fleece-all-winter baby thighs. The pinafore is pretty adorable too. I'm looking forward to lots of camping trips with my daughters this summer.

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