ruffle top pattern review

today i'm happy to be reviewing the lovely Heidi's (of Elegance & Elephants) first pattern, the ruffle top. when i first saw her a-line dress version of the ruffle top, i knew it was a pattern i needed to have in my ever-expanding pattern arsenal.

my original plan for this pattern was to exactly copy this tunic by Suzanne of Winter Wonderings, Wanderings, & Whatnot, but then Heidi made this fabulous dress for the Straight Grain Kids' Clothes Belgian Style series, and i knew i needed a ruffle top sans ruffles with contrasting panels, and fast! (you can see more great versions of the pattern in the E&E flickr group.)

but what fabrics to use??? as luck would have it, i had this special edition fat quarter of over-printed linen from Leslie of maze & vale sitting right on my kitchen table as i pondered this very question.

i paired the handprinted linen with one of my favorite print staples, bike path, from Lucky Penny by Alison Glass for Andover. i gave B the choice of colors (yes, i have a stash of this print and so should you!)... i was hoping for gray or orange, but she demanded hot pink. so, hot pink it is. with a gray tie, so i got that in at least.

a few of my thoughts on sewing the ruffle top:

. the pattern pieces were clear and easy to print (and only three of them, yay!).

. i confess that i am absolutely terrible at following pattern instructions, so i doubt that i'm qualified to judge any such thing. i will say that the step-by-step instructions in this pattern are accompanied by photos, which is great for those of us who are more visual.

. the pattern is definitely suitable for a confident beginner or intermediate sewist, as stated.

. i like the range of options in this pattern: tunic, a-line dress, or swing dress. it's definitely nice to get that kind of variety in one pattern. with sizes 18 mos-8 years, i'll get a lot of use out of it.

i'm super happy with the result, as is miss B!

modifications made to the pattern:

. no ruffles.

. i made the ties extra long so they can wrap all the way around the tunic, upon request of one cute little model.

. when finishing the armholes and neckline with bias tape, i used pre-made bias tape, which i understitched and then turned under so that it is only visible on the interior. because the bias tap on the neckline was finished this way, i simply extended it on one side in the back for the button loop.

. i added topstitching on the side panels where they are attached to the front and back centers.

and now a goodie for you!! Heidi is giving away one free pdf of the ruffle top pattern to three lucky imagine gnats readers! can't wait? use code "IMAGINE10OFF" for 10% your copy of the ruffle top pattern through tomorrow, march 28.

*disclosure* i received a free copy of the pattern for the purposes of posting this review, but all opinions are my own.

the all-important "how to win" details:

to enter, you must follow the Elegance & Elephants blog OR "like" Elegance & Elephants on faccebook and leave a comment letting me know.

*bonus entry* for current or new imagine gnats facebook fans... just leave an additional comment telling me that you're a fan. (and thanks for being one!)

giveaway closes march 30th at 8pm EST. the three winning names will be drawn randomly and notified via email. this giveaway is open internationally. if you are a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, include your email address in your comment so that i can contact you if you win.

thanks to all who entered! the giveaway is now closed.

mr. zigzag, a man quilt

well, folks, this quilt has been a long time coming. mr. zigzag was started last june as a birthday present for Nick (i was planning ahead... his birthday wasn't until november!). is it even fair to say that "it took longer than expected?" i mean, really i'm not sure i ever actually expect to finish a quilt. at any rate, the top was finished by november, but then that sat in the closet. in a pile. for a while. 

until, that is, i finished my super #scrappytripalong quilt and decided to send it off to Shelly of Prairie Moon Quilts for a little ranch vacation. i feared that good ol' scrappy might be lonely, so i sent mr. zigzag along as well!

i had never sent out a quilt to be long-armed before... the process of wrapping the quilts up, sealing them in a box, and handing them over the post office counter, well, it was a tad nerve-wracking. but holy cow, worth every bit of it! i was completely blown away when i got this one back in the mail!!

just look at these beautiful stitches...

i had fallen in love with the faux bois quilting from Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters, and even though i felt like it was a little risky to do an all-over design on this quilt, we decided to just go for it! with a thread that stood out, even. go big or go home, right?

clearly it is perfection! i'm super in love with it, and i should mention that mr. zigzag's owner is a big fan as well. phew!!

the solids in this quilt are all moda bella solids: feather, steel, etchings charcoal, and navy. the prints are from Parson Gray's Curious Nature and Cloud9 Fabrics Cut Out & Keep by Heather Moore (aka Skinny laMinx). the backing is from moda's Brannock & Patek Woven Basics collection, a lovely brushed cotton that washed up super soft and crinkly. all fabrics from the lovely sewn studio.

i'm super in love with mr. zigzag! i'm also super happy that while i got to give this quilt as a gift to someone i love, i still get to snuggle under it myself.

happy stitching!

march sponsors group giveaway *now closed*

it's giveaway time :) this month, there are three fabulous giveaway prizes for you to win! without further ado, here are the prizes my fab sponsors are offering:

win a threadfollower Beige and Teal Bird in Flight Kit from sewn studio!

sewn studio is a modern fabric shop and sewing lounge in the heart of cincinnati’s oakley neighborhood specializing in fresh, modern fabrics. you’ll also find designer patterns, top-notch notions, embroidery supplies and trims and ribbons of all sorts. each month we put together a selection of workshops designed to enhance your sewing skills, from the beginner who has never threaded a needle to more advanced students looking to learn new techniques. classes vary from month to month, but generally include machine sewing, home decor, beginning and intermediate quilting, hand embroidery basics, and classes for kids.

find sewn studio here: blog / website / facebook / pinterest / twitter

win a jelly roll of Avalon by Fig Tree Quilts from Fat Quarter Shop!

The Fat Quarter Shop was founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly. An avid quilter, Kimberly began her shop as a side business while still working a corporate position, cutting, packing and shipping right out of her house during evenings and weekends. From the very beginning, she was committed to delivering top-notch service for every single order and customer. As the Fat Quarter Shop's reputation grew, Kimberly decided to make it a full-time operation. Her husband Kevin joined her not long after, and with his help, lots of hard work, and a tireless commitment, the store began to grow. The Fat Quarter Shop continues to branch out with the best fabrics, exclusive kits, quilt clubs, BOMs, and more.... and they will always be driven by the passion that Kimberly founded the store upon, which is always giving you the best products and service!

find Fat Quarter Shop here: shop / blog / facebook / pinterest / twitter / @fatquartershop on instagram

win one each each of 4 inch, 6 inch and 8 inch, 3 weight closed end Organic Cotton zippers from Stitch Organics! zippers feature semi-autolock slider (gold finish), and undyed tape is made up of: Organic Cotton 45%, Corespun 46%, Polyester 9%.

Stitch Organics is an online organic fabric store and haberdashery for the modern sewist. started by Stephanie of The Crafty Kitty and based in Reading, England. Stitch offers organic sewing thread, fabrics (including knits, voile, and cottons), sewing patterns, and recycled notions.

find Stitch Organics here: shop / blog / facebook / twitter / flickr group

the all-important "how to win" details:

this giveaway is open to everyone. if you are a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, include your email address in your comment so that i can contact you if you win. (note: i've noticed an increase of no-reply commenters, especially in cases where blogger accounts have been linked to google+ accounts. if in doubt, please leave your email so that i can contact you if you win.)

giveaway closes march 29th at 8pm EST. the three winning names will be drawn randomly and notified via email.

to enter, simply leave a comment (any comment!) on this post. want a little inspiration? let me know who your favorite indie pattern designers are!

if you'd like to up your chances to win (and who wouldn't, right?)... here are *four* things you can do to gain a bonus entry!! for any that you choose to do, just leave an additional comment telling me that you've done so.

1. follow sewn studio on facebook
2. follow Fat Quarter Shop on facebook
3. follow Stitch Organics on facebook
4. bonus entry for imagine gnats facebook followers (current or new)!

thanks to all who entered! the giveaway is now closed.

piping hot curves bag

my lovely friend Karen of Sew Well Maide has released a hot new bag pattern, the Piping Hot Curves Bag!

the Piping Hot Curves Bag was designed to designed to give medium to advanced sewists new skills or to consolidate existing skills. make yourself a striking new bag while perfecting your skills in: sewing gentle curves, piping, gusset construction, and zippers.

in addition to the lovely curved shape, the bag features an internal zippered pocket is big enough to hold all your essentials. the handle of the bag is long enough to carry the bag over your shoulder and wide enough to be comfortable, freeing up your hands for other activities.

the pattern is available for purchase in the Sew Well Maide Etsy shop and Craftsy shop... and a lucky imagine gnats reader will win one as well!!

the all-important "how to win" details:

this giveaway is open to everyone. if you are a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, include your email address in your comment so that i can contact you if you win.

giveaway closes march 28th at 8pm EST. the winning name will be drawn randomly and notified via email. to enter, simply leave a comment (any comment!) on this post.

if you'd like to up your chances to win (and who wouldn't, right?)... here are *three* things you can do to gain a bonus entry!! for any that you choose to do, just leave an additional comment telling me that you've done so.

1. follow Sew Well Maide on facebook
2. subscribe to the Sew Well Maide blog
3. bonus entry for imagine gnats facebook followers (current or new)!

thanks to everyone who entered! the giveaway is now closed.

keeping track of the gnats

it seems to be true that google is "retiring" the reader as of july 1. so, here's a little overview of the ways you can keep up with all of the adventures of your very favorite gnats...

i've technically been following a handful of blogs via bloglovin' since that whole "gfc is going away!" fiasco, but haven't really checked it out since last week. so far, i'm loving it! super easy to use, and i was even able to transfer all of my blog subscriptions directly from google reader... thank goodness because there are hundreds of them!! the iphone app is super easy to use as well. you can find imagine gnats here on bloglovin'.

you'll find pics of what i'm working on, links to what blog posts i'm reading, giveaway alerts, and event updates here on the imagine gnats facebook page. 

on the off chance that you're using a reader other than google, you can most likely add the blog to your RSS feed here.

i love to see what you make! add your imagine gnats inspired pics to the imagine gnats flickr group here and check out pics of what i'm up to in my feed here.

i'm hit or miss on the twitter, but my facebook feed does end up there so if you're a tweety type, that might be a good place to follow along as well.

you'll find an abundance of things to sew, quilt, make, and do on my pinterest boards.

for pics throughout the day of what's happening, what i'm sewing, what i'm wishing i was sewing, what fabrics i'm eyeing, and what general craziness the gnats are up to, instagram is the place to be.

if you're not following me on instagram, you missed the sneak peeks i posted from the big roly-poly pattern photo shoot last weekend! oh, the shame... how will you ever manage? well, alright, i'll share one or two. here are some of the girls' current favorite silly poses:

yep. they're the best! and the roly-poly pattern should be released in pdf form by the end of the month!! i can't wait to share it with all of you :)

in addition to following imagine gnats around the web, you can also catch me posting from time to time for sewn studio and Sew, Mama, Sew!... also, don't forget that you can buy your own fabulous imagine gnats patterns (and whatever other goodies i might be in the mood to list) in my etsy shop.

as always, thanks for being here!!! really, my readers are THE best!

sewing collection giveaway

With warmer temperatures around the corner, we want to help you get inspired for Spring!

Some fantastic bloggers and companies have teamed up to help you get your Spring Sewing On. Enter the Sewing Collection Giveaway for your chance to win one of SIX incredible prizes. The total of all prizes is valued at more than $2,000! Get inspired this Spring!

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Pfaff® ambition essential™
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Andover Fabrucs  ||  Pattern Anthology  ||  Pellon  ||  Sewing for Boys Book

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Aurifil  ||  Pellon  ||  Raspberry Creek Fabrics  ||  LilyGiggle  ||  Riley Blake Designs ----------------------------------

Craftsy ||  One Girl Circus  || Pellon  ||  Create Kids Couture  || Fat Quarter Shop ----------------------------------

Cricut  ||  Pellon  || The Fabric Fairy  ||  Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop ----------------------------------

Violette Field Threads  ||  Pick Your Plum  ||  Pellon  ||  Sew it Girl  ||  Banberry Place ---------------------------------- Let's get inspired for Spring!

To enter, simply like all of the Facebook pages below...

***Make sure you only enter ONCE, because this form is shared on participating sites. Duplicate entries will be deleted, giveaway ends Tuesday, March 25th. Good luck!***


* This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. No purchase necessary. For alternate entry, e-mail jgerblick(at)hotmail(dot)com with your full name and the subject line “Spring Sewing Collection Contest.” The sponsors will ship all prizes within 7 days of the end of the giveaway. Giveaway starts Monday, March 18th at 3 am EST and ends Monday, March 25th at 8 am EST. Once the giveaway ends, winners will be chosen using Random.org and contacted within 24 hours by e-mail. The main contest post at MeSewCrazy.com will be updated with winners’ names once we’ve heard back from them. Winners will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Some giveaways open worldwide.

modern quilts, on books and inspiration

let's talk quilting books... how do you use them? i find that i rarely make the exact things shown in the books, but when looking for inspiration, i often pull my favorites off the shelf. to be totally honest, i very rarely read the words in these books; they might as well just print pictures on hard pages a la board books. 

it would seem fitting for a book titled Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe to inspire a dialogue about "what is modern quilting?" and "in what way do these quilts represent that aesthetic?"... frankly, the book is a little light on that substance, but honestly, that's not really my gig anyway. so, for me, the inspiration offered by this book is enough. 

but there are important discussions about modern quilting happening around the blogosphere. in reference to modern quilting, and this book specifically, Rossie wrote this review, which is worth a read. and my dear friend Thomas Knauer has a lot of thoughtful things to say on the subject of modern quilting... if you're not already reading his blog, you can and should check out some of those posts here.

as far as my thoughts on this book go... well, i decided to just make something inspired by this quilt from Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts:

i started by cutting up a mini charm pack of Aneela Hoey's newest line, posy, from sewn studio. and, yes... i cut up squares that were only 2.5" to start with... in half!

i put the whole thing together rather quickly (which was easy to do because it's so small, just about 7.5" square) and didn't pin anything. i'm pretty shocked that any of my points line up, actually! i just might try some fun quilting on it and i think it will be the perfect resting place for a nice cup of tea.

would you like to be inspired by this book? Jennifer is giving away one copy of the book, so stop by Ellison Lane Quilts to enter for your chance to win!

*for disclosure's sake: i was given a copy of this book in exchange for posting about it today. all opinions are my own.*

happy stitching!