Free Illustrator Video Tutorials Roundup

A couple years ago (before Pattern Workshop was a thing), I published several video tutorials about how sewing bloggers and aspiring pattern designers could use Adobe Illustrator. In fact, it was the response to those videos that provided the catalyst for Pattern Workshop to be created. Recently though, due to a glitch in a plugin on my site, several of these disappeared for a while. But! I have remedied the problem...and that gave me an idea - why not post a roundup for newer readers who may not have seen them and could potentially find them useful? So here you go: my top five Illustrator video tutorials. Enjoy!

Note: The first one is in the featured post spot for this post! It is an introduction to Illustrator for sewing bloggers. :)

How to Track Instagram Traffic to Your Blog

Instagram is my favorite social medium. I love how visual it is, and it's easy for me to browse while I'm nursing the baby or driving around town. (Just kidding about the driving part.)

Seriously though, I think a lot of us sewing bloggers love Instagram for a lot of reasons, but most of us don't have much of an idea about how to use it for increasing traffic to our blogs (and subsequently, sales of our patterns/products/courses, signups for our newsletters, etc.).

I recently became curious how much traffic I was getting from the link to my blog in my Instagram profile. However, I was shocked to see that it wasn't showing up anywhere in Google Analytics. With a little research, I determined that inbound traffic from Instagram simply shows up as "direct" in Google Analytics.

Womp, womp, womp.

So, I set out to find a solution to this little problem, and I'm sharing it with you in the video below!

Enjoy!

Links referenced in video:

• URL Builder for Google Analytics
• bit.ly

Lace Overlay Linden Sweatshirt...and Post-Baby Body Issues

I'm sewing again! Woohoo! Actually, I never stopped sewing - but I haven't been blogging because I haven't been able to fit into the things I've been sewing, or I haven't been happy with how I've looked in the things I've sewn (yet). I'll talk about that shortly. First, let me show you my lace overlay Linden Sweatshirt!

The main portion of the shirt is Pendleton French terry I purchased at the local store when it was on sale a few months ago. The lace overlay was purchased at JoAnn Fabrics. I think they still have it in stores! I found the ribbing at Mill End here in Portland.

As all Linden Sweatshirts do, this top came together quickly and easily BUT...duh duh duh...my ribbing was super stretchy with little recovery, AND, the French terry turned out to be equally squishy. So, when I put this thing on after making it in a size 6, it was H.U.G.E.

(For clarification and reference as always, my non-pregnant measurements of 34-27-37 put me in a Grainline 4, so I made this in a 6 so it would sort of fit postpartum and also fit down the road as a slouchy sweatshirt. In these photos, I am more like 38-32-40, for reference. I am 5'6" and 150 lbs as pictured. Normally I am about 120-125.)

So, I did what any normal person would do, and I chopped off all the ribbing to try again. I serged an inch off each side to begin with, then I dramatically reduced the length of the ribbing for the neckline, hem band and cuffs. This was not a fault of the pattern at all; rather, my fabric was uniquely stretchy with poor recovery. I think the ribbing had a significant amount of rayon it it...seriously, no recovery. It's nothing like the cotton/lycra ribbing I'm used to. It's super soft and comfy though.

Once I had the fit issues worked out, I was very happy with this top. The neckline is a little wider than I'd like since I had to cut off the original (I can't be bothered with unpicking serging from loop terry - no way, no how), but it kind of gives the shirt a slouchy, lived-in feel.

Now, about those body issues...I'm going to save the bulk of this discussion for its own post when I have time to collect my thoughts and am not waiting for my infant to wake up from his nap. Suffice it to say that when I grabbed my camera to peek at these photos after my husband took them, I was semi-mortified. Seriously, all I could see was my large chin, my mom hair, voluminous back and my flat butt.

I kind of wanted to cry. Then, I realized, I just had a baby a month ago. I suppose I look pretty darn good for that - especially since I've had three babies in less than four whirlwind years. And yes, I know, you'll all re-assure me that I look great. I really appreciate that. But you know? I'm not myself. When I look at photos or in the mirror, I see someone I thought I'd never become. It's not so much about the weight; no, it's more about my overall fitness and health.

You see, I didn't JUST have three babies. I've let so many things fall by the wayside - things that didn't matter when I was 22. Back then, I could stay up all night, eat McDonald's for every meal and drink soda like water. Perhaps it wasn't healthy, but it wasn't evident in my body shape or my health. But now, I'm older. I'm more tired. My metabolism is slower. I feel like I started having babies at 29 when everything on my body was in its proper place and shape, and then, I woke up five years later with three kids, 15 years added to my face and a body I don't recognize.

Can anyone else relate?

Again, I know it's only been a month. It took 4 months/8 months with my other two kids to lose my baby weight. But this isn't just about weight; it's about overall health. I want to be running around having fun with my grandkids in 30 years. I don't want my body to continue breaking down at an unreasonable rate. And damnit, I want to look good in my jeans again! (And can I have my blonde hair back??!!)

Anyway, like I said...I plan to blog more about this at length and even post photos (gasp) of my immediate post-baby body. I think it's important for me to come to terms with how motherhood has changed me physically (permanent and non-permanent), and I also want to share the reality (and possibility!) of it with others.

Stay tuned.

Willow & Co Patterns Aster Cardigan and Clover Shorts

I am SO late to the Willow & Co party. I know. In fact, I bought these fabrics months ago when the pattern collective first launched - and I had every intention of participating in the pattern tour. But, you know, life happened...things got in the way...and I cleared my plate. But interestingly, I've been sewing a TON more now that I don't have any "obligations." I use quotation marks because my husband always laughs when I get stressed out about sewing deadlines. I mean, it is kind of funny, you know? Because sewing. Right? Anyway, I am loving how all my W&CO garments are turning out, and these are especially cute (the Aster Cardigan and Clover Shorts). Don't mind the blurry photos; I'm not sure what was going on other than the fact that it was semi-raining. So maybe a little misty? Some condensation on the lens? I suck at photos? All of the above?

Instructions

For the cardi, I only glanced at them. That top was seriously easy to sew, and it took about half an hour. The instructions are straightforward and well-written.

Same for the shorts. Super-easy sew...predictable (but fun!)...etc.

Pattern Pieces

No complaints from this peanut gallery. Everything was perfect.

Sizing/Fit

Harper is a straight-up-and-down 20.5" (chest, waist and seat). I made the 3T in the cardigan and a 2T in the shorts. Both are a perfect fit. I chose the larger size in the cardigan because I wanted her to be able to wear a little tee underneath...and, well, I am not one of those people that wants things I sew to fit perfectly on first try. I like a little growing room.

I chose the smaller size for the shorts because Harper has my unfortunate no-butt genes. And, ahem, her daddy's, too.

Modifications I Made

None.

Things I'd Change Next Time

Nothing! I may, however, switch out the buttons since I'm not sure I'm in love with these...not for this outfit, anyway.

Fabric Choice

The top is a fabulous, thick ponte knit from A Fashionable Stitch. It almost felt like felt while sewing; I didn't have to use any pins since it was so grippy. It was easy-to-sew and works perfectly for this pattern.

The shorts are made of a medium-weight stretch twill, also from A Fashionable Stitch. Perfection.

Wearability

Right after I took these photos, I took the kids to the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. Harper was climbing all over things, playing, running around, etc. - and she did it all with ease. She even took herself to the potty (!!!!!!!) and managed to get everything up and down. I love that she was comfortable, but she also looked adorable (and got compliments! Someone asked me if I sold the garments!).

So yes, I'd give that a thumbs up for wearability. I can see this cardigan looking great all winter with jeans, leggings, skirts...everything. And the shorts? I'm thinking about putting those over some tights with Harper's purple Doc Martens.

Overall Impression

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I had so much fun sewing these patterns. They are the trifecta in my book: fast/easy but fun-to-sew and great-looking. And Harper's happy.

What have YOU sewn from Willow & Co? Do you love their patterns as much as I do?!

The Tank Dress Sewing Pattern by Sew Caroline

Last week, I took some time away from obligatory sewing and pattern design to do some pleasure sewing - you know, making something for myself just...because. No blog post due, no occasion that demands a new outfit, no self-imposed deadline. Just sewing for fun. That really is the best kind, right? Sometimes I forget that. I start hating sewing when it becomes a chore, and that's when I know I need to just pick a pattern I like, buy a couple yards of fabric and RELAX.

I chose The Tank Dress by Sew Caroline. I have had this pattern in my stash since its release, but I just haven't gotten around to sewing it. I'm so glad I did though because it was an absolute dream to make. My always-in-flux measurements (thanks, babies) at the time of this post are 34-26-36 which put me smack dab in the middle of an XS and S. I went with the small, but looking at these photos, I *think* I could have gone down to the smallest size? Or maybe an XS at the chest graded out to a S at the hips. Either way, I feel really cute and comfortable in this dress as it is.

I chose to do the pockets (which I never do), but I don't know that I'd do them next time. I know some people are all about the pockets. ALL the pockets, ALL the time, right? They're just not really me. I find they're usually more of something to get bunched up unattractively on my hips instead of something useful. You've seen my phone, right? It's huge - like a mini laptop. It doesn't fit in pockets. And I always have a huge-ass diaper bag over my shoulder. So pockets? Meh. If I did do them again, I'm probably sew them down to the front of the dress so they stay put. But that's just my own personal preference. All you pocket people can start hating on me now.

The fabric is a nice linen blend from Jo-Ann. All you fiber purists can dis on linen blends all you want to, but this laundry-hating mamma LURVES some wrinkle-free garment care. And that's what this fabric delivers. Deeeeeeee-vine.

I love this pattern and can see myself sewing lots of these for easy summer wear. I think my favorite thing about it is that I can bend over and move around without showing my butt, but the shirt-tail hem gives the illusion of a shorter dress (which I like). I also love that there's nothing binding on me anywhere - the waist is nipped in, but it's not tight. It was also super easy-to-sew. I followed the instructions exactly except that I did a narrower hem - 1/4"+1/4" instead of 1/2" + 1/2". Oh, and I used 1/2" elastic at the back waist instead of 3/4" because...ahem...that's what I had on hand.

...and I love it!

Have you made The Tank Dress by Sew Caroline yet? What do you have on the pleasure sewing docket?