small + friendly

Shorts on the Line: No Big Dill, Max California, Designs by Sessa PLUS Giveaway

2013-06-14T06:00:00-07:00

Today we have not two, but three fabulous guest posters for shorts on the line: Katy of No Big Dill, Ari of Max California, and Vanessa of Designs by Sessa. PLUS, we have an awesome giveaway!

Can you see the stars in my eyes? I get to introduce Katy of No Big Dill, which is one BIG deal! This lady is a seamstress extraordinaire. And the amount she gets done with six little ones? I am not worthy! On top of sewing the most amazing garments, she is one heck of a cook, and she and her husband are renovating a fabulous home! Visit No Big Dill today to see not one, but two, adorable shorts.

Next up is Max California. It doesn't get any cooler than Max. Seriously, this is one rad chick. She makes amazing things for herself, her son, and her daughter. And she is super sweet to boot! Check out Max California today to see her steampunk shorts.

Vanessa of Designs by Sessa knows her way around a machine. If you've got shorts to sew, this post is not to be missed. And then she always makes super cute things for herself as well. Today she's going to teach us how to refashion sad shorts into adorable knot shorts.

But wait, it gets better! You, my dear reader have a chance to win one of 12 fabulous prizes!

Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chane to win one of these fabulous patterns:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shorts on the Line: Fake It While You Make It and elsie marley

2013-06-13T06:00:00-07:00

Woohoo! Day four of the sewalong and I get to introduce two of my favorite people: Carolyn of Fake It While You Make It and Meg of elsie marley.

Carolyn has one of those blogs where you never want to miss a post (I read every single one). She has mad sewing skills and a wicked sense of humor. She makes incredible things for herself, her daughters (1 & 2), and her husband! Just wait until you see her version of Grainline's Maritime Shorts, so cute!

Meg of elsie marley fame needs no introduction. She is an A-list sewing celebrity. Without her and KCW Jude would not have half as cool a wardrobe, she has inspired countless mama-made outfits. This outfit is one of my very favorites. As if that wasn't cool enough, I love how she has decorated her home. Plus, she has inspired wonderful conversations about homemaking. Head over to elsie marley today to see her fabulous shorts.

I hope everyone is having fun stitching along! I am personally WAY behind!

This post is part of shorts on the line sewalong hosted by imagine gnats and small + friendly, sponsored by Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.

Shorts on the Line: Cirque du Bebe and Sanae Ishida

2013-06-12T06:00:00-07:00

It's day three of shorts on line! I am thrilled to introduce Sophie of Cirque du Bebe and Sanae of Sanae Ishida.

Nobody rocks a self-sewn wardrobe like Sophie; with mad sewing skills, awesome styling, and adorable photos, it's no surprise she just won Project Sewn. Oh, and I'm sure you've already seen these shorts, love! She also whips up amazing outfits for her two very lucky sons. Today she is sharing an amazing pair of Megan Nielsen Culottes.

Sanae is am extremely talented sewist, illustrator, and haiku writer. Her daughter has the most amazing mama-made wardrobe I've ever seen. Head over to Sanae Ishida today and check out not one but two stunning pairs of shorts.

The flickr group is already filling up with fabulous shorts! It's so exciting!

This post is part of shorts on the line sewalong hosted by imagine gnats and small + friendly, sponsored by Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.

Shorts on the Line: Delia Creates and Buzzmills

2013-06-11T06:00:00-07:00

Welcome to day two of shorts on line! Today we have the lovely and talented Delia of Delia Creates and Jane of Buzzmills.

Delia brings great style to all she makes and her site is a chalk full of sewing inspiration and tutorials. I have personally used the Lil Mister Bow Tie tutorial several times. If that wasn't cool enough, she is also a well rounded homemaker, sharing recipes, kid's crafts, and more. Just wait until you see what she whipped for shorts on the line: her remix of blank slate shorts.

Jane of Buzzmills is one of those bloggers whose sweet and sunny personality shines right through the compter screen. When she isn't planning the best parties ever, she is sewing adorable clothes, or taking time to be grateful. Today she is sharing adorable board shorts, including a great tip for inserting underwear style lining.

I'd like to extend a huge thank you to Jane and Delia for doing such amazing jobs on their shorts.

How about you? How are your shorts coming along?

This post is part of shorts on the line sewalong hosted by imagine gnats and small + friendly, sponsored by Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.

Shorts on the Line: Petit a Petit & Family and Shwin & Shwin

2013-06-10T06:00:00-07:00

It is my pleasure to announce the first two guest posters in our series, Celina of Petit a Petit and Family and Shauna of Shwin & Shwin!

Celina is not only a children's fashion designer and amazing sewist she is also one of my favorite people. With fabulous work like this circus outfit and this modern tuxedo, you know she is going to take shorts to the next level. As usual Celina went above and beyond and made not one but two shorts, be sure to visit Petit a Petit and Family to see all the details.

Shauna has dazzled the sewing community for years with her imaginative designs and impeccable construction. Today she is going to share an adorable new version of her pattern the Honey Pie Bloomers. I've never seen something on Shwin & Shwin that I didn't love, this is no exception.

A huge thank you to Celina and Shauna for kicking off our fabulous sewalong!

This post is part of shorts on the line sewalong hosted by imagine gnats and small + friendly, sponsored by Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.

Shorts on the Line Kickoff

2013-06-09T09:27:56-07:00

I'm so exited! The shorts on the line sewalong officially starts tomorrow! I am thrilled to announce this amazing line up of guest posters:

6/10 - Petit a Petit and Family and Shwin & Shwin

6/11 - Delia Creates and Buzzmills

6/12 - Cirque du Bebe and Sanae Ishida

6/13 - Fake It While You Make It and elsie marley

6/14 - No Big Dill and Max California and Designs by Sessa

6/17 - girl inspired and Casa Crafty

6/18 - Frances Suzanne and Caila Made

6/19 - Made by Rae and Craftstorming

6/20 - Noodlehead and emmyloubeedoo

6/21 - Siestas & Sewing and Made with Moxie

6/24 - imagine gnats and small + friendly

Just in case that isn't exciting enough, there will also be prizes!! And by simply entering your shorts in the Shorts on the Line flickr group, you will be entered to win (official rules below). Prizes will be awarded for the judges' first, second, and third choices as well as one viewers' choice! In addition to these prizes, there will also be some giveaways throughout the sewalong, so stay tuned!

We have some amazing sponsors for this year's Shorts on the Line! First, I would like to thank our super wonderful series sponsors, Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads! Shorts on the Line is also sponsored by the fabulous Fat Quarter Shop.

Prize Sponsors:

aurifil
Craftsy
The Cottage Mama
Fat Quarter Shop
Fishsticks Designs
Hawthorne Threads
hey june handmade
imagine gnats
Jo-Ann
Kitschy Coo
LouBee Clothing
MADE
Made by Rae
Oliver + S
peek-a-boo pattern shop
Pretty Prudent/Pellon®
Sew Sweetness

Sewaholic
Shwin Designs
Titchy Threads

Official rules:

1. Sew (or knit/crochet) a pair of shorts. Adult and child sizes welcome. Anything that shorter than a pant (capris, clam diggers, bloomers, swim trunks) is considered fair game.
2. Shorts must have been completed in 2013, be sure to have your entries in the flickr pool by July 6th.
3. Upcycling and refashion are encouraged, but simply chopping off a pair of jeans won't win you any fabulous prizes.
4. Enter to win by submitting no more than three pictures (per shorts) to the flickr group. Be sure to add a description (links to blog posts are okay), the more we know about what you did the easier it will be for us to be impressed!
5. You may enter as many shorts as you can sew!
6. Guest posters are welcome to enter, but those items sewn for your guest post will not be considered for the prizes.
7. For consideration, photos must be added to the flickr group by 9pm EST on Saturday, July 6.

Judging Criteria:
All entries will be judged on the following criteria:
1. Craftsmanship: high quality construction, nice finishing
2. Creativity: design, fabric choice, unique style
3. Wearablity: functional, well-fitting
4. Presentation: nice photos, cute styling

I'd like to give another huge thank you to our series sponsors Jo-Ann, Pretty Prudent/Pellon®, and Hawthorne Threads.

Happy stitching!