Valentine Cupcake Top!

Me again with my 4th Sewing Mama RaeAnna cupcake top.

I truly love this pattern.  It's so versatile.  One pattern that I can get a 1000 different

'looks' out of is always the greatest deal.

Once again, thank you RaeAnna for having me on the Valentine Cupcake Top tour!

It's your lucky week!  You can get the Cupcake Top 20% off with the 

code SWEET.

Go buy it HERE.

Today, I have a quick tutorial on how to add a cupcake cut out to the back 

of your cupcake top!

My Little Plumcake Pleated Skirt

I had the great pleasure of pattern testing for My Little Plumcake.

High waisted pleated skirt with optional shoulder straps AND pockets!

Swoon Coraline Clutch

*This blog post contains affiliate links*

Do you want the most versatile clutch pattern ever?  Your answer is "Of course!"
The newest Swoon bag pattern is Coraline Clutch.

Coraline pattern comes in two sizes: 11" wide and 14" wide.
She has to handle options: with handles or with wrist strap.
She also has a slightly recessed zipper top to ensure your personal items do not
escape while you are out on the town or dancing with a stranger at that new club.
Best part?  Coraline can be finished in 1.5 hours.
Super fast.  Perfect gift for any occasion.
Or even the perfect gift for your closet.  Whip up a bunch
so you'll have one to match any outfit.

One of my besty bag makers, Diedelbug Handmade
sewed up all the options.  Back left is the 14" bag, right middle is 11" wide and
the front is the handle-less wrist strap clutch.
Go check out Diedelbug on Facebook.
She's really bad ass and she has several ready to ship bags and wallets.  

Frozen Elsa Dress

Ah, Frozen.  

The current favorite movie over here, as I sure it is in ALL households with a young girl(s).

Ali Cat has been begging me for a month solid, maybe more, for an Elsa Dress.

The details she requested.  Knee length, blue, and a veil.

I thought I would need to draft a pattern but then found Made for Mermaids Elsa dress pattern.

The pattern was a great starting point.  I felt the pattern was a bit wide for Ali and took the bodice in by 4 inches. I also narrowed the sleeves by 3" or so and used a narrow hem instead of elastic.

Ali also requested a gathered skirt verses the circle skirt in the pattern.

Swoon Patterns Eloise Wallet Pattern Review

*This blog post contains affiliate links*

Happy Sunday everyone! I trust you have had a great weekend thus far.

Daddy Ali Cat and I have been working hard to prepare for putting the house on the market.

Part of me is quite sad.  It is our first "home" together.  We've put a lot of money and heart into the house and it is quite lovely.  I will do a video walk through of it one day when it's clean.

Speaking of videos!  Ali Cat & Co. is now on YouTube.  Follow our channel so you don't miss out!

We have two videos up; check it out.  Laugh.  I am ridiculous on camera.

We are also on Instagram.  #alicatco

Now I need to figure out an easy way to link and manage everything.  

On to why you are here, the pattern review.  

Swoon Sewing Patterns released their first pattern of the year.  I have heard she is releasing 

one pattern per month this year.  Get ready!

January is the month of Eloise Wallet.

Exterior trifold compartment has 10 card slots and large money slot with snap closure.

The trifold compartment is sewn to the main compartment in a U shape, providing a secret pocket between the two.

 

Betty Sewalong Day 5: Attaching Exterior to Liner and Finishing

You made it!  Last day of the Swoon Betty sewalong!

Today is a quick and easy day; under 30 minutes.

Today we are attaching the interior to the exterior bag.

Lace Sewing Series with Sewing Mama RaeAnna

Several weeks ago during a lull in the dinner conversation, I started thinking about what to do with the lace that has been sitting patiently in my crap room.  Literally two hours after that conversation with myself, I received an email from Sewing Mama RaeAnna asking if I would want to be apart if a lace sewing series. She was reading my mind, right? Such a wild coincidence!
Without further ado, thank you Sewing Mama RaeAnna and Sew Very for the invitation! I am truly excited to be apart of this series!

You can also enter the Snowflakes and Lace linky party!

Today, I am sharing a simple yet exciting t-shirt dress and a free ballet slipper applique design. 

Betty Sewalong Day 4: Assembling Exterior and Interior

Day 4 of Swoon Betty sewalong is here!  

Today we are inserting the main zipper and constructing the exterior and interior.

Let's get started!

Prepping the Side/Bottom Piece

1. Take your side/bottom exterior piece and add piping to the two short sides.

Same drill as before.  Cut 1/2" of cording out of each end.  Pin raw edges together.

Betty Sewalong Day 3: Complete Side Panels

Welcome to day 3 of the Swoon Betty Sewalong!

Today, we will be completing the exterior main panels.

This includes the handles, stripes and piping.  Yes, piping.  Put those big girl panties back on.

I want to see everyone have piping.  You can do it, trust me.

For today, you will need exterior main panels, all 4 stripes, handle pieces, handle hardware (if using), and piping.

Large Stripe

1. Take all 4 stripe pieces.  Fold in half, matching long sides (hot dog style) and press.

Then fold each long side under 1/2". Press.  

Repeat for other 3 stripes.

Betty Sewalong Day 2: Prep and Side Panel Pocket

Hello!  I'm so happy you returned for day two of the Swoon Betty SAL!

This can mean one of two things 1) the SAL instructions are so awesome you came back for more

or 2) the SAL instructions are a train wreck that you can't help but stare at.

Either way, we must continue.

I like to get a bit of prep work out of the way.  I find if I do a few things early, it makes the bag construction flow smoothly.

Making Handles
Step 1: Take your handle pieces and fold them in half, press.  

This applies to all handle pieces no matter which style you chose.

Ali Cat Co 200 likes Giveaway!

200! It's a big number, yet not really in the Facebook liking world.

But that does not matter.  I am so very excited to have every single one of you on my little page.

In excitement to have 200 likes on the Ali Cat Co Facebook page, I have 2 yards of fabric to giveaway!

The fabric is white with little grey polkadots.  The dots are slightly raised giving it a really fun effect.

I have washed, dried, and ironed this fabric.  

You're welcome, now you can just start sewing!

The giveaway is open to everyone.  Starts now and ends Sunday.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Betty Sewalong Day 1 Print, Cut, and Stabilize

Welcome to the first ever Swoon Sew-a-long!  This is quite an exciting time!
Today through Friday, we will have step by step instructions and pictures on how to sew Swoon's Betty Bowling Bag. If at any time, you still have questions, please comment or ask in the Swoon Fan Group on Facebook. Or, if you have a better way of doing something, I want to know that too!

If you still need to purchase the pattern, you can do so HERE.

Here are Betty's curves. She's a beaut.

Kid's Felt Doctor Bag Tutorial

Several months ago, our lovely neighbors cleaned out their guest room that was full of their grand children's baby toys and gave us ALL of them!  Needless to say, Ali Cat and Cookie just adore our neighbors, mostly because they give them cookies everyday.
Included in the box of toys was a bunch of play doctor toys.
Thus the birth of the Dr's Bag!

Hello 2014!

Let's wrap up Ali Cat & Co's 2013 sewing!

here are most of the items sewn last year.  2 of the photos wouldn't upload and I left out some of the uneventful items.