Back to school means back to ALL the activities and crazy nights of shuttling kids to and from each lesson and practice. This girl is a die-hard dancer and loves getting back into the studio. She spends a couple of nights each week with her dance company and is one of those kids that just dances through life. Her studio requires black leotards so of course, she needed a ...
Read More
As summer approaches, I knew I needed a new batch of t-shirts. I'm forever on the quest to find the perfect fabric for those slouchy tees I love so much. I grabbed six different knit substrates from the site and got to work! I debated on which pattern to use for this comparison and settled on the Love Notions Classic Tee. It is full of options, comes in sizes XS-XXXL, and ...
Read More
Do you ever get a fabric in the mail and then immediately order it in ALL the colors? That's exactly what I did with the modal jersey's from the shop! They're just about the softest things I've ever felt and I want to fill my closest with a million modal pieces! I picked up the brushed poly/modal jersey knit in charcoal, olive green, and soft peach to get started on my ...
Read More
This sweet girl is all about fashion. She started online window shopping for school clothes in July. She loves to browse all the trendy websites and is constantly filling shopping carts with the latest looks. Unfortunately, her tall, lanky frame doesn't work for a lot of ready-to-wear clothing. She now knows that she can bring me her wish list and we can shop for fabric and patterns to recreate her ...
Read More
Swimsuit season is my favorite! Not because I love strutting around in next to nothing but because I can't stop sewing swimwear! I'm excited to be here on the Cali Blog sharing my tips and tricks for sewing with nylon/lycra swim knit and to let you know it's not just for the swimming pool. My first tip is an important one. ALWAYS choose good quality fabric! Whether you're sewing your first ...
Read More
Chambray week has been amazing, am I right?! So much inspiration to get you back to your machines and ready for spring. Chambray is such a versatile fabric and this week has proven that! Make sure you head here to see all the gorgeous options in the shop. I'm crushing hard on the Robert Kaufman Greenwich Chambrays in the shop right now. So many vibrant, beautiful colors and the weight and ...
Read More
Anyone else over the cold and dreaming of spring? Our winter here in Utah was unseasonable warm through most of January and February and I think Mother Nature is making up for it with snow storms and cold temps for the last two weeks. I'm so ready for sunshine and blossoms! To help beat those end of winter blues, I'm doing some transitional sewing with pieces that work well layered now ...
Read More
The Cali Blog Squad has some serious love for the Toaster Sweaters from Sew House 7. Do a quick search and you'll find a handful of variations of both versions. They work great for a huge variety of fabrics which makes it a favorite for so many of us. These are my first versions and I feel like I've finally joined the cool kid club. I now get why these patterns ...
Read More
It's getting downright chilly here and I'm ready for it in my two new cozy sweaters. While browsing the Cali site I was loving all the sweater knits in stock. So many choices that I just had to grab a couple. I started dreaming of oversized, snuggly cardigans and settled on two patterns to try. The first is the Carrie Cardigan from Delia Creates. I picked this absolutely amazing Blush ...
Read More
I love scouring fashion magazines and Pinterest as we head into a new season. I've been loving the huge embroidery trend and knew I wanted to incorporate it into my daughters fall wardrobe (I'm hoping to add some to mine too- can't let her have all the fun!). I hopped on Amazon and grabbed a bundle of embroidered flowers and then started brainstorming everything I was going to floral-fy! Jackets, ...
Read More
As soon as the nights start to get the tiniest bit of a chill to them I start to get itching for fall. Fall is by far my favorite season and easily my favorite season to sew for. I love cozy sweaters, fun hoodies, and comfy joggers. It also means it's totally acceptable to wear soft french terry everyday! Cali Fabrics has a great selection of french terry and I immediately ...
Read More
I love when I get the 'What's New' emails from Cali Fabrics. I always immediately have to check out all the new goodies that have hit the shop. When this beauty arrived a few weeks ago I was so intrigued. I loved the bright vibrant colors and thought it'd be a fun addition to my summer wardrobe. It's a rayon gauze and while I can't get enough of rayon challis ...
Read More
The weather is turning hot, hot, hot and my wardrobe needed some serious help! I've been wanting to make the Oceanside Pants from Blank Slate Patterns for ages. They are a breezy, relaxed fit drawstring waist pant or short that look amazing in lightweight fabrics such as linen or chambray. I snatched up this perfect lightweight indigo tencel denim and it was exactly the look I wanted. Several of us Cali ...
Read More
One of my favorite things about sewing is pattern testing. I love watching the process as the designers perfect each pattern and the fun environment a group of testers creates. I've made so many great relationships with designers and other testers that I can't help but sign up when the call comes. One of my favorite designers to test for is Tami at Love Notions patterns. She is so thorough in ...
Read More
I always love to see what Pantone comes up with each year as the hot and trending colors. This year's color of the year is Greenery- a vibrant shade of green, somewhere between lime and olive. I'm a huge fan of all things green and was excited to incorporate this color in our wardrobes. My daughter was the lucky winner of the first piece in this gorgeous color. I used this ...
Read More
I'm absolutely head over heels for velvet! I'm loving this trend and want to velvet-fy everything in my wardrobe. I love a good loose fitting t-shirt and knew I needed a fun velvet version for sure. Cali has so many colors to pick from but grey is totally my jam. I figure the grey can be dressed up with jewelry but it's also subtle enough that I can easily wear it everyday ...
Read More
Fall/Winter sewing to me means time to break out the plaid. Cali Fabrics has a huge selection to choose from and I couldn't help myself and grabbed a handful to play with. For this project I used this Mid-weight Black Watch Plaid. It was thick and perfect for this structured dress. This Tartan Wool Suiting or this Tartan Wool Blend are similar prints and would look great in this style dress ...
Read More
Halloween is just around the corner and if you're anything like me your costumes are still just a thought in the back of your mind. I'm usually a last minute girl and I rarely, rarely sew my kids costumes. If it can be done in under an hour- then I'll jump right on it! This year my daughter wanted to be a leopard and Cali Fabrics was our first stop. ...
Read More
As a busy mom of five I get my fashion inspiration not from the pages of Vogue magazine but usually from the chic mom running errands or pushing the cart around the grocery store. I live in comfy clothes but still like to look pulled together. I've been dying for a pair of denim joggers for what seems like forever! Hallelujah! The stars aligned and these beauties were born! I love ...
Read MoreHi, I'm Tami and I blog over at SewSophieLynn. As a mom of five I’m constantly going, doing, and giving. I love it but somewhere in there I lost a bit of ‘me’. Creating is that outlet that lights a fire and gives me the energy and drive to get through the carpools, laundry, dishes, and just everyday life. I find myself again as each new project comes together. I started ...
Read More