A Jumpstart with a Jumper (and a Giveaway!!)

I have gotten quite a jump start on Christmas here.  I have several presents wrapped, Christmas card photos ready for printing, a little experimental baking done, and best of all, Christmas dresses DONE!!

When Lindsay, THE Cottage Mama from The Cottage Home , sent one of her new, seriously fabulous patterns to try out, I couldn't help but jump on the chance to sew up three coordinating looks and call them Christmas dresses!!  And since I knew I'd have a real juggling act to get some pictures to share, I decided to turn it into a big photo shoot party! These three girls had an absolute blast and I'm so excited to now share this pattern with YOU!!

The Janey Jumper pattern is probably the most well-written, well-executed pattern I've ever seen.  I could probably go on for days about all the details that continued to wow me throughout the dress-making process, but I'll include just some here: 

• Variety - The pattern includes three variations and I loved them so much, I tried all three.  On Grace's dress, I changed the variation a little bit as the pattern has a flat patchwork panel running down the center of the dress.  I chose to do two patchwork ruffles just so I could squeeze more ruffles in somewhere.  I don't know that the prints were different enough from one another to see the patchwork aspect, but just think of the possibilities with Lindsay's design!  There are also plenty of opportunities to add ric rac, ribbon, ruffles, buttons, all kinds of embellishments - love that!  You can even get two looks out of one dress because it's fully reversible!
• Straightforward - The progression of steps in this pattern was perfect.  The instructions were clear and I loved that there were little tips included; I felt like Lindsay was there showing me what to do (someday maybe!!)  The illustrations and extra details were invaluable.
• Seam Allowances - This is probably a little weird, but one of my pet peeves is when it takes me like a hundred years to identify the seam allowances on a pattern.  Not so here!  The seam allowances were written clear as day.  It made me smile.  
• Simple and Quick - The dress was simple enough to put together that I did the latter two dresses a couple steps at a time while cooking dinner or watching the kids color.  After assembling the first dress, I didn't even need to check the instructions the second and third round.  Everything was just so well explained and straightforward.  A quick sew ranks high in my book!
• No Seam Ripper Needed - This pattern is drawn so perfect and explained so well, I didn't have to redo anything!  Lindsay's technique for the scallop front is genius and the scallops pressed out easily.  (I trimmed all my seams with pinking shears).  All three dresses came together easily with the lines matching up and everything lying flat.  It was a sewing dream!

Sewing DREAM, I tell you.  Of course, I expected nothing less from the Cottage Mama.  These dresses just make me happy!  

 And now for the best part... Lindsay is giving away TWO of the Janey Jumper patterns here at 

girl. Inspired!  

 

 To enter the giveaway, leave a comment telling me something that makes you happy.  For two extra entries (each with a separate comment), you can "like" The Cottage Home on facebook HERE, and follow The Cottage Home.  Giveaway will be open through November 19 and the winners (that's two of you!!) will be chosen at random.

This giveaway has concluded.  Please check in for future giveaways.  Thanks!
 

If you haven't already, you should check out what some other awesome bloggers are doing with the Cottage Mama's Sewing patterns by following along on the blog tour. 

November 8^th – The Cottage Home

November 9 ^th – Craftiness is not Optional

November 10^th – A Lemon Squeezy Home

November 11^th – No Big Dill

November 12^th – Kojo Designs

November 14^th – Aesthetic Nest

November 15^th – Girl.Inspired

November 16^th – Noodlehead

November 17^th – The Cottage Home

AND if you need to get your hands on the Cottage Mama's sewing patterns right now, they are available for purchase by clicking here.   You can also read all about the release of her first two paper patterns on Lindsay's blog by clicking here.

Good luck and happy sewing!!

***The two randomly selected winners of the Janey Jumper giveaway are:

Kristin of The Meldrin Family

and

Barb from Quilting Barbie

Ladies, please send me your address and we'll get these patterns shipped out to you!

Thanks for entering.  If you are interested in sponsoring a giveaway at girl. Inspired., please contact Stef at girlinspired@yahoo.com****

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