If you sew for kids like I do, I'm sure you appreciate patterns that are transitional and that you can sew all year round. It just so happens my last 3 sews of 2019 were just that. I wanted to make something for my daughter and nieces for Christmas before we left California. I thought it would be a super sweet memory and I wanted to be sure they were ...
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Earlier this year I tried my hand at sewing a new (new to me) kind of fabric called Plisse. I’m pretty sure you’ve seen it around as the texture is very similar to seersucker. Plisse is a woven type fabric and is characterized by its crinkled appearance that is a result of the application of a caustic solution that causes the fabric to shrink and pucker. It’s lightweight in texture ...
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Hi guys! You’re not going to believe this, but I actually made something for myself! (Yes, please look out for flying pigs today. Lol). The Madison Cardigan This particular project had many firsts: 1. First time sewing and completing a garment for myself. 2. First time sewing with brushed waffle knit 3. First time photographing myself and 4. First time blogging about it. It was a fun experience and I thought I’d share with you ...
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Full Disclosure: I still feel some type of way writing this post, or even admitting such a thing happened, and even though I have MAJOR FEELS about it, I can't deny that is has indeed happened ...my daughter turned SIX! And with 6 came a new sense of self awareness, independence and strong opinions. Admittedly, I'm not surprised that her already strong spirit has intensified, I just wasn't quite ready ...
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Hi guys! So this year, instead of sewing for Halloween, I've sewn for Disney Dapper Day! Dapper Day is just a few days after Halloween and so I wanted to use my time and creative juices wisely. Dapper Day is NOT a costume event, instead it's where guests celebrate sophisticated style drawing inspiration from the 1950's feel of Disneyland. I love vintage style clothing, and welcomed the opportunity to sew something ...
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Hey guys, So I live in California and the weather has been so temperamental. One day it's cold , you wake up the next day and its bright and sunny, but if you dare to go inside for a minute the next thing you know it starts raining! We've been having a steady streak of sun and warmth though, and so it was the perfect opportunity for me to get a ...
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Hello lovelies!! Truth be told, I've avoided sewing knits because I'm not a very big fan of knit binding. I'm such a perfectionist, and because I don't have a coverstitch machine (yet) it bothers me when my seams and stitches are not symmetrical, that is, until I figured out how to fake it! It really was the most exciting thing I've stumbled upon. A few months ago, I sewed up a knit ...
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Hello Lovely Readers! Welcome to my second post on the Cali & Co Blog! I've been doing a lot of "comfortable" sews recently, so I was itching for a challenge and decided my next sew would be something I've never sewn before, with fabric I've never used before. I was browsing the site and came across this gorgeous Red, Black and Ivory Plaid Heavy Weight Loose Weave Poly Twill and I just had to have it! ...
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Hello Readers! Today I get to share with you my first post as a Cali Fabrics contributor! I primarily sew for my daughter who I affectionately refer to as #thespiritedone, (she has a love for life unlike any I've ever known, so it was just fitting). When I came across this beautiful Floral Rayon Stretch Jersey Knit, I envisioned instantly a Riley and Brooklyn pattern mashup for her; both PDF patterns from Made for Mermaids. What I adore ...
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Hi There! My name is Candice Ayala, I blog over at CandiceAyala.com, and I am also the owner and creator of PatternTesters.com. I was born and raised in Belize, Central America, but I now reside in Los Angeles, California - with my husband, our two kids and our fish named "FISH". (haha, the little named him!). I'm an Administrator by day, and a sewing ninja/blogger by night. :) When I taught myself to sew 6 years ...
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