Hi, Good to have you back here. I am excited to share with you this make(s) that I have been meaning to sew for quite a while. I am really glad I finally made them. This is the Love Notions Kids’ Compose robe and just in case you are wondering, there is the ladies Compose robe too. I made two versions of the ladies’ robes last year and I shared a pattern review and a few tips about the construction process. I will be sharing with the two robes I made for my little people and they are really happy with them because they had the chance of choosing their fabrics.
I made size 8 for my daughter who is 7 years old to allow room for growth. And I sewed up size 8 for my rather slender 10-year old son but I lengthed all pattern pieces to size 10.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
This pattern is quite easy to follow, all thanks to the well-written instructions. I have made two of the ladies Compose robes last year during the pattern testing process which made the making of this very easy.
Fabric Used:
I made both versions out of fleece fabric. This pattern is recommended for both knit and woven fabrics such as fleece, French terry, Sweater knit, Sweatshirting, waffle knit, and Ponte.
Fleece sewing tips
If you experience skipped stitches while sewing with fleece, you could try some of these tips.
Use a walking foot to allow for even feeding of the fabric under the presser foot.
A brand new ball point or stretch which works better than a univeral needle.
A longer stitch length is recommended such as 3.0 and above due to the bulkiness of the fabric.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
Apart from the sizing changes I made to my son’s robe, I did not need to make any other alterations to both robes.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Of course, when they outgrow these which may happen soon or later. I highly recommend this pattern to anyone who loves who had been looking to sew robes for children in your life. The ladies Compose robe is one I would recommend too.
Conclusion:
Having made the Ladies compose robe a year ago, I knew I had to make the Kids’ Compose robe for my children too. Their RTW robes had become short which made the time perfect for new compose robes.
The sweater season is upon us over here in the northern hemisphere and I am proud to bring to you the Arlington sweater by Love Notions. This is the newest pattern by Love Notions and there is no doubt that a lot of planning has been put into it. This pattern is a great transitional piece for your cold-weather wardrobe. It is a very versatile pattern offering so many options to make which is always a bonus with most of the Love Notions patterns,
Love Notions Arlington Sweater with a cowl neck, bishop sleeves, and a banded hem
This pattern is on a release sale at 30% off from today (28th September until 4th October 2021).
I am both a pattern tester and an ambassador with Love Notions patterns. This means that any purchases you make using the Love Notions patterns links I share on here earn me a small commission which goes to support this website. However, this comes at no extra cost to you and you are under no obligation to use them.
Arlington sweater with a mock neck and straight sleeves
Love Notions Arlington Sweater with a cowl neck, bishop sleeves, and a banded hem
Love Notions Arlington Sweater with a cowl neck, bishop sleeves, and a banded hem Arlington sweater with a mock neck and straight sleeves
Love Notions Arlington Sweater Pattern Features:
It comes in 3 lengths: banded shirt, hip length shirt and above knee dress.
It features 3 necklines: turtleneck, mock-neck and cowl
There are 5 sleeve options: short & long puff sleeves, long sleeve, bishop and elbow length sleeves.
Pattern Sizing:
The Arlington pattern comes in 9 sizes ranging from size XS to 5X. All these sizes come with full bust pieces. I made both my versions in size XS which is true to size.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes, the instructions were easy to follow. I must add that this pattern is very easy to sew and I would recommend it for a confident beginner.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
The one thing I really love about this pattern is its versatility. This pattern has many options to choose from.
Fabric Used:
This pattern is meant for light to medium-weight knit fabrics with at least 25% stretch. The recommended fabrics include Sweater knit, French terry, Interlock, and other jersey blends. A more stable knit is recommended for the mock neck view whereas a drapey one would be perfect for the cowl neck one.
For version one, I used a medium-weight Sweater knit for my cowl neck version and I also opted for the bishop sleeves. These two features came out better in this sweater knit because it has some drape.
I used a medium-weight rib-knit fabric for the mock neck for my second version. This fabric is stable enough to hold up the shape of the mock neck. I bought this fabric from Minerva purposely for this top.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I shortened the shirt length version by 1 inch which is a common alteration I make. I have a shorter torso compared to the rest of my body and I often do it to most of the Love Notions patterns I have sewed up with.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Of course, I need to make the dress version soon now that sweater weather is finally here. Who am I kidding? I live in the Uk where it is sweater season all year round. 🙂
I would recommend this pattern to anyone who needs a sweater or Jumper (as it is called in the UK). And a confident beginner would not struggle with putting this together.
Conclusion:
I love the Arlington sweater because it is a cold-weather staple. I do not really need to say more about it because it offers a view for everyone out there. You will be seeing more of these sweaters really soon. Thank you for stopping by.
I know summer is already here, but if you are on a hunt for the perfect sundress, the Tempo Sundress by Love Notions is sure to come through for you. If you need more convincing, you might be happy to know that the Tempo comes with no closures whatsoever which is always a bonus. The back feature comes with either a shirring or elasticated panel which helps with getting the dress on. And it also has wide straps that cover the bra straps which is always appreciated.
This pattern has just been released today 14th July 2021 and it will be on sale for $9 throughout the week (until 20th July 2021).
I am both a pattern tester and an ambassador with Love Notions patterns. This means that any purchases you make using the Love Notions patterns links I share on here earn me a small commission which goes to support this website. However, this comes at no extra cost to you and you are under no obligation to use them.
Two skirt lengths; knee-length and midi with tiered subtle gathering.
No closures and comes with shirred or elasticated back panel for easy fitting.
In-seam pockets.
Works with a regular bra.
Pattern Sizing:
The Tempo Sundress comes in 9 sizes ranging from XS to 5XL and all the sizes come with full bust pieces. I sewed size XS which was a good fit without the need to blend into size S at the hips.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions are quite easy to follow, however, creating the shirring may be intimidating for someone who has never had a go at it. The pattern instructions come with a video that assists with this step.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I like that it is the ideal sundress but with no closures whatsoever and offers bra coverage with wider straps.
Over the past year, shirring on clothes has been popular both in the sewing community and on the high street and I could not resist it. I have fallen in love with it and If it was up to me, I would add it to every garment I sew. I thought I would share with you my tips on shirring.
Shirring Fabric Tips
Shirring or elastic thread is essential. You need to handwind it onto the bobbin to avoid stretching it.
A wider stitch length is recommended. I used 3.5 stitch length for my version which is a cotton poplin and you could do a length up for heavier fabrics.
It is advisable to draw shirring guide lines onto the right side of the fabric with a fabric pen but it is not always possible on some fabrics. So I use the sewing machine foot to set my width between the lines. I line up the previous shirring stitch line with the edge of the machine foot before starting to sew a new row.
I don’t cut the threads at the end of the row, but rather continue onto the next row. In so doing, time is saved and I don’t have a risk of threads unraveling.
Fabric Used:
The Tempo dress pattern is recommended for light to medium weight fabrics ranging from rayon/viscose, cotton lawn, cotton poplin, linen. I made my Tempo sundress in this gorgeous, seventies-looking cotton poplin I picked up at a discount from Pounds fabric, UK. I could not resist this print and I got it purposely for this pattern and it didn’t disappoint.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I did not need to make any major alterations to this pattern apart from adding an inch to the skirt piece. I have proportionately long legs compared to my torso so this is a common alteration of mine.
Conclusion:
The Tempo sundress is a gorgeous sundress that sews up quicker than most because it comes with no closures. I would recommend it for a confident beginner and anyone who does not want to sew buttonholes. I see more Tempo dresses to come but until then stay well. Thank you for stopping by. x
The Love Notions Sybil Illusion Skirt is the only skirt sewing pattern you will ever need. It is your go-to beginner-friendly skirt pattern meant for knit fabrics. This pattern comes with 7 variations catering to different styles and needs. It can either be dressed up or dressed down all depending on the fabrics you choose to use. I have made two already and I see more to come.
The Sybil Illusion skirt pattern is on a re-release sale at $5 today only (Friday 9th July 2021) and It will be at 30% off throughout the weekend. I am both a pattern tester and an ambassador with Love Notions patterns. This means that any purchases you make using the Love Notions patterns links I share on here earn me a small commission which goes to support this website. However, this comes at no extra cost to you and you are under no obligation to use them.
I have shared a tutorial on how to sew and fit the pencil skirt variation of the Sybil skirt collection on my youtube channel. if you require some hand-holding while you sew your version, here is the video for you to follow along.
Pattern Description:
The Sybil Illusion Skirt Collection is drafted for knit fabrics and with 7 variations: pencil, a-line, swing, drop yoke with swing, gored, asymmetrical wrap, and pleated. And all versions in this collection, with the exception of the drop yoke, come with both knee and midi length options and inseam pockets. All skirt waistbands can include the optional hidden control panel or a yoga-style waistband with no closures needed.
Pattern Features
Meant for knit fabrics
7 styles: pencil, a-line, swing, drop yoke with swing, gored, asymmetrical wrap and pleated
2 lengths: knee and midi
Optional inseam pockets
Optional hidden control panel
Yoga style waistband
Pattern Sizing:
This pattern has just had an update in sizing and it now comes in sizes XS up to 5XL. I made my two skirts in both sizes XS and S. I made the pencil skirt in size XS at the waist that I blended into size S at the hips. And I went for size XS for the swing skirt throughout because it was not fitted at the hips requiring me to blend into a bigger size.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions were very easy to follow and that is why I would also recommend this pattern to a complete beginner.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I like that this Sybil skirt pattern sews up pretty fast with no closures and elastic but only requiring a yoga waistband. Most features can be assembled with just 3 pieces if you choose to omit the pockets.
Fabric Used:
The Sybil skirt pattern is recommended for knit fabrics ranging from light to heavy-weight fabrics depending on the variation you choose. Some variations require drapey and light-weight fabrics such as rayon /viscose jersey, cotton jersey, cotton interlock, or ITY whereas some might require more stable and heavier fabrics such as Scuba, Ponte, and French Terry.
I used two variations of Scuba fabric for my two skirts. I used a more stable Scuba for the pencil skirt and a Crepe Scuba with some drape for the swing skirt.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I needed to take in the Pencil skirt at the sides and I would advise that you fit on the skirt first before attaching the waistband. I share the fitting process in the video linked in this post above.
The knee-length swing skirt came off a bit short for me because I have long legs. I omitted to turn the hem up by an inch and instead used a narrow rolled hem to finish off the hem of the skirt.
Conclusion:
I love the two Sybil skirts I have made so far and they are sure to get loads of wear. I do not have an idea why it has taken me this long to sew up this pattern having owned it for a few years. I would recommend this pattern to anyone who wants to have a go at sewing a skirt, which includes a complete beginner because it comes together so fast and easily. Will you be picking up the Sybil Illusion Skirt during the sale?
Josephine is an entrepreneur, blogger, public health professional who loves sewing, baking and is passionate about a healthy and natural lifestyle.
