Pattern Tour: Matinee Dress and Top and a Giveaway

You guys remember how I was a guest blogger for the most recent season of Kids Clothes Week? Yeh, well one of the co-guest bloggers with me was Jenn of A Jennuine Life. Jenn is super talented and she’s just released her first girl’s dress and top pattern, the Matinee.

The design is beautiful – I had such a great time planning and scheming this top. I splurged on some beautiful Amy Butler (Queen Anne Butterflies) from my local quilting shop. I have had my eye on this fabric after seeing Abbey’s gorgeous Miette skirt. I bought quite a bit, so hopefully there may be something for me from this fabric too…. However, I’m digressing, let’s get back to the pattern.

I don’t always enjoy each and every sewing experience – but I have to say this one I LOVED. Jenn’s pattern is excellently written, great instructions and lots of options to keep me from getting bored. The Matinee is at the perfect level for my current sewing ability, it’s not complicated, but the challenge for me is in creating a beautiful professional finish. The bodice has a full lining which always gets a big tick when you like the insides to look as nice as the outside. Obviously, this is the peplum version, but extend the peplum and it’s a sweet little dress.

Let me explain the chocolate face. It’s winter in the southern hemisphere and really a bit too chilly to be prancing around outside in short sleeves. To appease my mum guilt at asking Miss A to do just that, I gave her a hot chocolate. Of course I should not have been surprised that there was chocolate on her Matinee top even before I could start shooting. Ho hum, and so it goes to keep the 2yo model on side.

I followed the pattern, except for the sash at the back. The pattern has the sash going around the mid-section and joining at the back with buttons. I didn’t want the butterfly pattern to be broken up, so I just added the sash at the back. Instead of joining with buttons, the sash is secured with a hook and eye on the inside. Maybe not the perfect solution, but it works ok.

And now to the important information. Jenn is generously offering 20% off her pattern for the duration of the tour with the code matineetour20 – click here to visit her shop. And there’s more!! A mega giveaway – hurrah!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

^^here is the giveaway link.

Thanks so much Jenn for the invitation to be part of the Matinee tour. I can’t wait to see what you design next!