let's hear it for the first ever BG sew along!

okay ladies...totally new territory for the girl behind BG here. but, you asked...and i caved. i mean, i do like to have a good time!

sew alongs. i am probably like the last person in the free world to catch on this train. i also just recently got on the whole shorty train too and i am completely obsessed. anyways - they are about to begin here at BG and i am so stinking excited!

here are the rules:

1. there are no rules.

seriously. mostly because i would probably break them am new to this as well and basically just want to have fun, help to teach a few different techniques to your BG pattern and get everyone involved in sewing. i really, really am so excited that more and more people are sewing. it makes me smile!

the first sew along will start next week. i will be showing you how to take your already crazy-versatile lazy susan pattern and make it in knit. knits are becoming oh so popular lately and rightfully so. once over the fear of sewing them (yall, they really aren't bad, especially not the good ones...the bad ones, well they cause me to make up bad words and lose my religion all while dripping sweat from my underarms) you will realize how much you can do with them, how forgiving (i have to giggle here, i had written unforgiving and literally read it 3 times before it dawned on me i had the wrong word, talk about an editing disaster, haha) they are and mostly...your kids will love them. they are so comfortable!!

now, i will totally confess to you and tell you that i fought the knit craze as hard as i could. i was scared to death of the stuff. i had no reason to be, i just was. well, one day, i finally caved and gave it a good try. i am so glad i did. now, i wont tell you that i am always tooting glitter and kissing unicorns when i sew knit, because that isn't true. when i have a good knit, the unicorns are there and purring while i sew, wait do unicorns purr?? but, when i have a thin, slinky, rolly knit...earmuffs to everyone in a 50 mile radius. promise.

but in all honesty...that happens with wovens too. i mean, we all have some not so dreamy days in the sewing room, right?

but, more than anything, if you are new to knits - WELCOME and i am here to hopefully get you prepared. we will do this together and you will get hooked and start looking for knits wherever you go! so, first things first. read up on knits. google search everything you can think of. that is what i did, and what i still do to this day. this is a GREAT blog post for knits. seriously. i have it bookmarked because it covers almost everything you will ever need!

http://sewaholic.net/a-big-list-of-tips-for-sewing-knits/

now, for buying your knits. just like any other fabric, not all knits are created equal. you will learn quickly the different in a good knit and a bad knit. my most fave knit of all times is a cotton lycra. to me, it has enough beef to the fabric for ease of sewing, and it has a great recovery (meaning it wont stay all stretched out) thanks to the lycra. i sew with jersey knit a lot, since that is what you will usually find locally like at hancocks, joanns or hobby lobby. but you have to be careful since your jersery will not recover. for instance, if you make a pair of pants or leggings, when the knees strech for bending/sitting, that fabric wont recover and you will wind up with baggy knees. 

the most important piece of advice i can give you with a knit is to feel it. but, that is nearly impossible since most local stores don't carry a large selection. so, if you are buying online...look for the weight. i like to stay in the 8 oz and up category. i heart a 10 oz, but you cannot always luck out.

so, for those of you that are ready to shop for some knits to test your waters...i asked on my FB page and here are some of the places you suggested:

• girl charlee
• purple seamstress
• the fabric fairy
• banberry place
• funkalicious fabrics
• eurogirls boutique
• chez ami
• burlap button
• nature's fabrics
• one red blossom

how fantastic is that! and i just heard a little birdy tell me that chez ami is actually having 30% off right now! i have never ordered from them, but have only heard great things! 

for the sew along, i am going to be showing you 2 different ways you can construct the bodice:

ONE: for when you have a very thin knit. (this particular knit is from girl charlee and is the chartreuse oatmeal stripe, i cannot remember its weight but i want to say it was around 6-7. it is thin, and a bit see-through but it has rayon so it is ooooooh so soft!).

TWO:  for when you have a heavier knit. (this knit is also from girl charlee, it is the peacock cotton lycra. it is labeled as 10 oz. i really like it, and the color is beautiful. photos don't do it justice!)

so, before next week - go get you some knit fabric, do some homework/reading on knits and grab the lazy susan pattern if you haven't already. oh yeah, and i almost forgot...come and join in the fun of brownie-goose lovers on facebook. that is where we can all share photos and tips for the sew along (and all the time actually).

i think the sew along will start on monday - but as i said, no rules...so i haven't gotten it all figured out just yet. ;) but i know it will be fun! and as i work on the blog to get it more user-friendly...bear with me! technology is not my strong point. :)

and in case you don't have the pattern yet but want to shop...here is what you need:

sorry this is so blurry - how frustrating! now, the one confusing part is that you may NOT need a lining depending on the weight of your fabric. but not many places will cut anything less than 1/2 yard anyways, so you should be good to go! also, you can construct not just the bodice, but the skirt as well of knit or you can mix and match like i did above with a knit bodice and woven skirt. possibilities are endless!

introducing the seaside shorts

there once was a day that i was SO in love with the darby shorts i couldn't imagine anything would top them. and then i designed the summer sailors, and fell instantly head over heels. and it has become by far one of my best selling patterns and i never imagined it could be topped. well...my ladies, i must say that my newest pattern, the seaside shorts have the sailors on a run for their money.

this short seriously just makes my day. it can be all serious and preppy with linen or seersucker, or it can be fun and playful in bright quilters cottons. it can also be so comfy and a go-to when constructed of knit or terry cloth. i mean...i heart it.

i often have people ask where i find inspiration for new patterns. this one came to me by mistake. honestly. funny story. i was going through my camera roll on my phone one night since my iphone has the worst storage capacity ever (i have a way with bad phones) and found this one that i must have accidentally taken while on the track at the YMCA one day. you ever do that? i do all the time switching from my run keeper to my music, i tend to accidentally call people then too. if you ever get a call and someone is huffing and puffing on the other end, don't worry your house is not about to be blown down, it is just me sweating out the crazies.

well, i saw it an giggled and was like, "aaaahahaha. that's silly and i totally busted myself drunk running (crossing the lines, hehe)." but then, as i continued to scroll i realized i must have taken more while i was trying to crunch away the baby (ahem, yeah he is 2 and a half, but who is counting) belly. because i found this one.

and BAM. it hit me. i loved the way the shorts curved on the side. i also loved the way that they were trimmed in bias. i went home and got to work. and i constructed a pair that literally made me swoon but had some issues. so, i worked out some kinks and constructed another pair that fit the bill even more and i was so excited. then, the shorts got buried in my disaster of a sewing room and then it flooded and all that fun jive. needless to say, about 2 months later i found the shorts and got back to the grading board. and that my dear geese is how the seasides came to be. not all accidents are bad. :)

anyways, i think you are gonna love these shorts! you can do so much with them as far as fabric combinations go and you know i love a button. well, guess what...you can get creative there too! 

and all that bias trim, be not afraid my ladies! i have included a detailed photo tutorial on how to make your own. once you do it, you may never go back. it is so much easier than you think and it gives you so much flexibility in the sewing room, literally. haha.

and you know the girl behind BG wouldn't be happy if it wasn't covered in buttons and pockets. :) how about these sweet little faux-flappers? proven to make the cutest tooshies even cuter.

i also have given you the option to make a flat front short, or to make the elastic go all the way around the waist. how fun is that?

ps - did i mention i have seen some of these sewn up as capris? oooooh my gorsh.

and...i've seen them rocked in boy fabrics too! 

so, have i sold you yet? hope so! the seaside shorts will be hitting my etsy shop monday july 15. they include sizes 6-12 months up to size 12. i sure hope you love them! 

check out what my awesome testers did!

this right here is a girl after my own heart!

 

seasides on the seashore...swoon. wish those were my piggies in the sand!

can you even stand the cuteness! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeks. as always, a humongo thank you to my testers. you ladies help me more than you know it and i really, really appreciate it!

peace out until monday! i am working today to unpack my sewing room for the umpteenth time in the last few months. let's just say this time i opted to ex-nay the guest room in favor of my sewing room on a main level that wont flood!

PS - you may notice over the next few weeks my blog may change a bit. i am working on getting things organized and set up for sew alongs, tutorials, size charts (ask and you shall receive my awesome geese!) and guest bloggers with new techniques for your fave BG patterns. :)

wonky crotch and plumber's booty

how's that for a title? hehe, get your interest?

okay, i have had some feedback lately regarding the summer sailors and proper line ups with pattern printing. i have checked and double checked my master copy and on the master copy all of the lines match up. with that said, i have also printed a few times at my own house and had an instance where everything didn't line up perfectly. so, all i can say is that i think there are some issues maybe with printers and when the paper pulls from the printer??? i am no computer genius, but i can help with trouble shooting!

i put together a small little tutorial to help you if your inseams aren't matching up perfectly. also, confessions...this is how i sew EVERY single pant, shorts, capri, etc pattern since i tend to be on the sloppy side sometimes when cutting out a pattern. i always like to cut the pieces, then line up the crotch points and cut the inseams at once so that i know they will line up like butter. :)

hope this will help clear up any confusion!

now that we have cleared our sewing rooms of wonky crotch and plumber's booty...we are ready to move right along, huh? hehe.

ps - i am so highly annoyed that i took the time to make these PDFs so that they would be clearer only to realize that blogger no longer accepts PDFs. grrrrrr. so, sorry for the blurriness, if i didn't have 2,830 loads of laundry to do today i would redo it all, but right now i am off to the washing machine!

also, i am off to the beach for a week starting tomorrow and dare i say this vacay could NOT have come at a better time. in the last week my youngest has had surgery, my brown dog got sick, i had to put my brown dog down and then the youngest got pneumonia. needless to say, my toes are screaming for some sand and my shoulders are dying for some sunshine and my hands are ready to hold a cold bevo. oh and did i mention my belly is ready for boiled peanuts? ;)

i will be going unplugged this vacay - so the shop will shut down and i will be away from emails and facebook for the week. be back next sunday! thanks again ladies!!

most supportive customers ever. period.

ladies (and gentlemen if you are out there) i honestly cannot thank you enough for the immense amount of support you have given me over the past few days after the loss of my very best friend in the whole wide.

 

if you knew mallard, you would never be able to say he was "just a dog" as he was SO much more. as i said, he was my best friend. he knew all my darkest secrets and loved me the same. he always was up for a good snuggle and cry if i needed one. he walked me down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams and was there when i brought both of my babies home. i have never known a more loyal friend and i miss the ever-living mess out of him so much already. i could literally post thousands of photos and tell you a ton of stories, but, a/ i am not quite ready for that and b/ you would probably be bored to tears. :)

it is so hard, and while each day gets a little easier to face, my house is so quiet without him. you know the  moment an animal comes into your life that at some point you will have to face that dreaded day, but it never makes it easier. i am just so thankful that i was blessed with 11.5 amazing years with him.

but above all, thank you ladies. i have been blown away by the generosity, support, sincerity and loving kindness that you all have shown me over the last few days. through the emails, comments, sweet words of wisdom, sharing your loss and grief, etc. i have been just amazed. my dad has always told me that animal people are good people, and i stand firm by that belief.

my sweet lucille (the goose) misses him so as well. it is hard on her since her best friend is gone too. but have no fear, i have given her so many hugs, kisses, snuggles (she is not a snuggler as brownie was), etc that i might actually be getting on her nerves. :)

 

i just opened shop back up and i thank you for allowing me to take a few days of rest. i have a lot of catching up to do, and will do so as i can, so bear with me. i had intended on making this blog post last week, but as you can see, things took a sort of different turn.

it is now summertime and my kiddos are out of school. i am so very fortunate to be able to stay home with them day in day out (whether or not i feel the need to poke my eyeballs out by 9:30 am) and one of the things i love so much about the great sewing community out there is that we are all mostly mommas. and so we all understand that kiddos come first, sewing comes next, and then maybe laundry. hehe. but i work a little slower in the summer just because both of my hooligans are here all day. i enjoy being able to hang out with them. what this means to you is that i am not as quick to get back to you with emails and questions and such and i don't spend much time on facebook so i don't see tags and things of that sort. i think we all enjoy a bit of relaxed living in the summertime, i think that may be why it is one of my fave times of year!

we are leaving for the beach this saturday and i may/may not shut down shop for the week while we are gone. thankfully, etsy's downloads keep my shop running smoothly, but i don't always check emails and such when i am on vacay. i enjoy going unplugged, remember first and foremost i am a shady lady. ;) so, i may and may not, still haven't decided...but if so, it will just be a week! i only wish i could stay at the beach all summer. talk about not getting anything done!

thanks for listening and again thanks for being there. now, try not to get too jealous of our crazy-awesome water pressure here and don't forget to hug those labradors for me! oh, and try to pretend you don't see my 6 year old squeezed into an 18 month bathing suit. she refuses to let it go. oy.

happy summer to my awesome geese!