Sewing Pattern Review: Bella Sunshine is Back with Primrose Panties & Coraline Camisole!

After a new member was introduced to the Bella Sunshine Designs family, Melissa is back in full force pattern designing!  

She has created the most comfortable daily wear panties and layering camisole - for 15-18|" dolls, newborns through teen sizing, and ladies up to 5XL.

The Coraline Camisole is an easy sew - and uses Fold Over Elastic.  The instructions are clear on how to sew the elastic on - it really isn't as scary as you think it is if you have never sewn with it before. 

 

The camisole is a loose, yet curve appealing fit - and doesn't cling onto your skin, hence covering up some lumps and bumps.  

Remember to grade to your size if your bust differs from your hips/waist. It truly does make for the glove fit. 

I used a lightweight Cotton Lycra from Water Tower Textiles for my Camisole

The Primrose Panties are another easy to sew garment - perfect for larger scraps.  You can also colour block scraps together to make a fun pair of panties. 

What do I love most about these panties?

- The gusset has hidden seams - thus no scratching where you don't want uncomfortable feels
- There are several rises - from low to high depending on your preference
- Bands, Elastic, or Fold Over Elastic binding options
- Regular or Boyshort options
- You feel like you aren't wearing panties!  No adjustments required throughout the day - something I haven't found with other panties I have made to date!

The cute organs fabric is from Zenith & Quasar Fabric.  The Unicorns and Panda Fabric are from Okee Dokee Fabrics

 

 

And finally, I whipped up some super scrap busters for Chloe, the 18" Doll.  

She looks super stylish in both her bra and panties set and dress length camisole!

Another easy sew - and the binding is sewn in prior to making those tiny circle seams, so you won't be swearing because you missed fabric in the seam, or sewed up your finger again.  

Dolls really ought not to be naked underneath their clothing, and this is the perfect easy solution!


The Doctor Who Fabric was a special order through Water Tower Textiles, and the Owl Fabric was from Okee Dokee Fabrics.

 

 

Camisole and Panties patterns can be purchased separately, or in several different Bundle packages:

- Newborns to size 12 Girls - Camisole or Panties
- Ladies - Camisole or Panties
- Dolls - Camisole or Panties

- Ladies AND Girls Bundle - Camisole or Panties
- Girls and Doll Bundle - Camisole
- Doll, Girls, AND Ladies Bundle - Camisole

Until next sew!

***Affiliate Links Above used - I love these patterns, and without the help of those who love their patterns, marketing would be extremely difficult for the pattern makers we love and learn to love. Affiliate links help with the hours, fabric, and tears that go behind testing each pattern in order to provide a real-person view on the patterns for you (and me!) 

Sewing Pattern Review: Bella Sunshine Designs Sophia Racerback

***ON SALE July 10-18!

Ladies:  Regular $10 - Release $6.50 w/code BSDSophia

Girls: Regular $9 - Release $5.50 w/code BSDSophia

Bundle it up: Regular $17 - Release $10 w/code BSDSophiaBundle



I love a good tank top. 

I also love clothes that are more flowy and less tight fitting for daily wear, or hanging out. 

The Sophia is a knit racerback pattern with a lovely flowy bottom.

I sewed up size 4 overbust without grading for waist/hips as usual (I'd grade to a 12/14 for waist/hips otherwise).  

I did this for a few reasons: 
1) Lack of fabric that was flowy enough
2) I didn't want it to look TOO big on the bottom

The end results?  A top I feel comfortable in, and love to show off!

The armcycle is great on me and not too tight despite my larger biceps (vs biceps on a "store model" comparable size), and my fabric flows nicely without weird bulges. 

 


I can wear this with my racerback bras, regular sports bras, or even my sultry lacy bras with a little somethin' somethin' showing on my back. 

I'm 5'-2", and didn't shorten it, as I generally like longer length tops - this means I can wear this Racerback with leggings, but not show my big caboose to the world. 

The sizing for ladies is as follows:
- Overbust: from 30" to 59.75"
- Waist: from 23.5" to 53.5"
- Hips: from 33" to 59.75"
- Bicep: from 9.75" to 22.5"

You can also purchase the pattern for Girls sizing from 6 months to 12 years old as well! 

My first top was made with a very light sweater knit (which can show every bulge and bump with the wrong pattern) and another random light sweater knit for the purple bindings. 

My second top was made from Double Poly Brushed fabric, and is so soft. I want to pet it and snuggle with it. 

I'm weird. 

This pattern took about an hour or so from cut to finish, and the instructions are simple to follow.  

I didn't even have to use my seam ripper on either top!  

This doesn't happen often. 

I've made one other Racerback pattern previously, and the Bella Sunshine version is definitely easier and I just love the different flattering shape in comparison with your typical Racerback.  

I feel you will too!

Sew On!

Bella Sunshine Design's 18,000 Facebook Members Celebration!

Wahoo!  BSD's 18,000th member just joined their Facebook Group!

To celebrate, they're giving 30% off ALL patterns (except bundles) until June 15 midnight EST (that's next Friday!).

Let's keep this post short and sweet, and share some of my BSD attire with you!

Apple Cardigan

Amelia Top

Clementine Top & Sansa Pants

Clementine Top

Clementine Top & Sansa Pants

Eden Leggings & Amelia Top

Maggie Top & Eden Leggings

Eden Leggings

Maggie Top & Eden Leggings

Emmaline Dress



Emmaline Top & Eden Leggings

Reagan Raglan

Me Made May - May 3rd!

Welcome Back!

It's Gonna Be May continues with my unintentional (yet intended) co-ordinating outfit - I even made my pants today.

Sorry to those who wanted a no-pants-party - not happening, even while I'm working from home.

Today's me-made attire consists of:

- Bella Sunshine Designs Maggie Top - long sleeves, tunic length, with scoop neck

I also repurposed a stupid small t-shirt I got from Wish.com (everything is too small there, even when you think you order the right size!), hence the square unicorn.

But see what I did there?  I am a Unicorn amongst a field of Deer - I'm hilarious! Right?!?

- Bella Sunshine Designs Eden Leggings - capris length mid rise band.

I'll show you a picture of my band from my original photos, but it sparkles, and everyone needs a bit of sparkle in their life. And unicorns.

I'm 5'-2", and took 2-3" off my leggings to obtain the capris length (otherwise they would look like short full length leggings, and that's just insanity!), AND I won this fabric through a fast finger Auction with Okee Dokee Fabrics.

And the fabric length really only went the length of my leggings. And it worked out for me! 

I'm good at improvising!

Alternatively, with short fabric lengths, I colour block - both for fun and to use up scrap fabrics, but also because of fabric length or width limitations. This happens way too often to me.

I need a sewing fabric Sugar Momma. I'd totally promote all the fabric in such a fabulous way that everyone would want it!

That will happen as likely as me winning the LottoMax.

- Twig + Tales' new Forester Coat - Round hood (HOODS!), welt pockets, back belt, and Unicorn Fabric as part of the lining!!

The lining in the coat has 3 different fabrics, as I lacked one solid lining colour. AND I really wanted to use my fleecette unicorn fabric in a coat. Twig + Tale screams whimsy, thus this was the perfect coat for it.

The outside is a slightly stretchy fleece - not recommended for the coat, however, I sized down and the width has the no-stretch fleece fabric, and the length has the under 20% stretch portion of the fabric (I can't think of the correct terminology right now - thank you Vestibular Migraine Brain Fog!), so it worked out well.

And of course, Justin joined me to sing out, "It's Gonna Be May," with me again - our daily ritual this month!

I'm sporting my new TheraSpecs (anti-migraine glasses) so I can look like a cool singer like Justin or Bono. Maybe they have migraines too? Cool!

Try out one or all of these patterns - the leggings and top will take you less than a few hours, and the coat will be a bit more of an adventure for a few afternoons - but well worth the labour of love!

Sew On!

Sewing Pattern Review: Bella Sunshine Designs Emmaline Top and Dress

I love colour blocking (aka using as much of my different fabrics in as many clothing articles as possible).

Bella Sunshine Designs Emmaline instantly drew me in with the awesome Chevron Skirt!

I have sewn up both a dress and a top, and can't wait to hack the top version with Chevrons as well!  Why? Because it's fun, a challenge, and because it's a test of skill.

The Emmaline pattern has a multitude of options, including:

- An unlined bodice\
- Banded flattering neckline
- Full Bust Adjustment pattern pieces if you upper and full bust have more than a 3" difference
- 2 A-line skirt options - simple (plain) or Chevron
- Top, Dress, or Maxi dress lengths
- From girls to ladies sizing

For the Ladies sizing, it goes:

- Up to 59.75" overbust
- Up to 53.5" Waist
- Up to 59.75 Hips
- Up to 22.6" Bicep (Melissa has awesome directions if you require a larger bicep adjustment)

The bodice is knit (4 way stretch) - a more stable cotton lycra is preferred to avoid sagging with the skirt weight.

Same pattern - different looks!

The skirt can be any knit fabric with good draping - the drapier, the more whimsical the skirt is!

It's about an hour or two from cutting to finished, depending on which style you take on.

The instructions are clear, and walk you through each step with drawings and easy to understand verbiage.

If you are so inclined, try mashing Emmaline up with the Clementine, Amelia, or Sahara skirts or bodices for a different look! 

Grab your Emmaline now and Sew On!