Sketchbook Blog Tour Recap

Wow, what an amazing week it was here at Sharon Holland Designs! I want to say a big thanks to:

Kara Orr from Sweeter than It Seams 

Raedene Averitt from Chasing mermaids

Elizabeth Whitehurst from Cotton Belle Boutique

Jessica Stewart from Snickerdoodle Stew

Alexis Wright from My Sweet Sunshine Studio

It was great working with these ladies, and getting to know them better through their blogs. I don't do a lot of clothing sewing so it was a nice chance to offer you, as my followers, clothing options from experts in that field. As readers of this blog, I hope you enjoyed the blog tour! What do you think, should we do something like this again for my next fabric collection with Art Gallery Fabrics? 

A fabric giveaway was also part of the Sketchbook Blog Tour. The prize, a 20-piece bundle of 1/2 yard Sketchbook fabric cuts. That's 10 yards total of fabric! Entries to the drawing were made on Instagram by reposting images from the blog tour and using the hashtag #SketchbookTourGiveaway. The winner was randomly selected from the hashtag pool. 

And....the winner is......GLENDA MORROW! Yay! Thanks Glenda for following the tour :)

Don't forget to tag me on your favorite social media when you make something with any of my fabrics so I can see all the beautiful things you are sewing. I'd love to see and share your picture with the other readers.

Sketchbook Blog Tour Day 5

Today is the last day of the Sketchbook Blog Tour and Alexis Wright is posting today from My Sweet Sunshine Studio. Alexis has sewn the Rose dress from Violette Field Threads and I am in love with how it turned out! She used the cotton Tiny Dancer Midnight and Doodlie Meander prints. Doesn't her daughter look amazing? I love this cut on her--how perfect!

Photo courtesy of Alexis Wright of My Sweet Sunshine Studio

See the My Sweet Sunshine Studio blog post to learn more about Alexis and this outfit. Thanks so much Alexis for being such a BIG part of the tour. I am looking forward to seeing you again at fall Quilt Market. 

Photo courtesy of Alexis Wright

Yesterday Jessica Stewart from Snickerdoodle Stew posted on the Sketchbook Blog Tour. If you missed out on any of the days or want to see the full list of bloggers, click here. Tomorrow I will post a full recap of the tour along with announcing the winner of the 10 yards of Sketchbook fabrics. Yup, that's right, you still have time to enter the drawing for the free fabric. Sign in to instagram and REPOST any of the Sketchbook blog tour images. Use the hashtag #SketchbookTourGiveaway in your repost and you're entered into the drawing! Drawing ends Saturday August, 22nd at 9:00 a.m. EDT.

To wrap up my series on sewing with French seams I have one more project for you. This one doesn't use French seams but I feel fits the series because the construction method creates clean finishes to the edges without the use of hems (on the body of the bag). I took the common folded Market Bag construction and added a self-lined feature to the construction for a new twist on an old favorite.

These are super fun to make! Download the free Market Bag PDF pattern from my Free Patterns page for the full instructions on how to make a bag.

SELF-LINED MARKET BAG

Large bags like these are great for for taking with you to the store or Farmer's Market. They would also make a great, reusable alternative to paper gift bags or gift wrap! Show off fun prints and make several to use and give.

Sketchbook Blog Tour Day 4

Only today and tomorrow left on the Sketchbook Blog Tour. Have you entered the giveaway for 10 yards of Sketchbook fabrics yet? Drawing ends Saturday August 22nd at 9:00 a.m. EDT.

To be entered into the drawing for 20 - half-yard cuts of Art Gallery Fabrics Sketchbook fabrics you will want to follow the tour on Instagram and repost a picture of your favorite project. Include the hashtag #SketchbookTourGiveaway in your repost and your name is in the drawing!

Snickerdoodle Stew

Photo courtesy of Snickerdoodle Stew

Jessica Stewart from Snickerdoodle Stew is our talented day 4 blog tour blogger. Jessica made this sweet dress for her daughter using the Tiny Dancer Fall, Woodblock Berry, Ink Outburst Fresco and Delineament Sepia cotton prints. The leggings were made from Air Brush Flight knit. I just love seeing this fresh face and this pretty Izzy & Ivy Designs Brooklyn's Boho dress. Don't you just love this combination?!! See Jessica's blog for more pictures of her beautiful daughter in this outfit. I love your work--thanks for being part of the tour Jessica! 

Photo courtesy of Snickerdoodle Stew

Yesterday the oh-sew-talented Elizabeth Whitehurst from Cotton Belle Boutique posted about the sweet dress she made her beautiful daughter and tomorrow the tour will end with Alexis Wright from My Sweet Sunshine Studio. Seriously, I can't wait for my (soon-to-come) granddaughter to be big enough to make clothes for--all these children's outfits are so darn cute!

Dress Up Your Closet

A change in season usually means a time to go through closets and dresser drawers and re-organize your wardrobe. Have you ever thought to give a little attention to how those hangers look as well? Cloth hanger covers not only dress up and unify mismatched hangers but add some padding to help reduce shoulder creases and create a non-slip grip for blouses that tend to slip off regular hangers. You can even color code for the different seasons! 

You will find the full instructions and pattern for Cover Up on my Free Patterns page. This easy-to-sew pattern uses French seam construction and you can make a bunch of covers in a snap! No hems to turn and no raw edges or loose threads to get on your clothing. The pattern is customizable so you can quickly draft a freezer paper template for any size hanger. The freezer paper template can be used over and over again.

I will see you back here tomorrow with the final day blog tour pictures and another French seam construction tutorial and project. Are you excited to start some sewing? What are you going to make first?

Sketchbook Blog Tour Day 3

I am in love with this fun and comfy looking knit dress and leggings outfit by Elizabeth Whitehurst from Cotton Belle Boutique. The Sketchbook collection comes with 4 printed knits and Elizabeth used the Ink Outburst Atelier and Doodlie Meander prints for this look. What a perfect look for back-to-school! Find out more about this outfit on the Cotton Belle Boutique blog.

See the full week of bloggers here. Yesterday Raedene Averitt from Chasing Mermaids posted the cutest dresses using Sketchbook cottons and Sketchbook knit for leggings. Tomorrow Jessica Stewart from Snickerdoodle Stew will be blogging and showing us what she's made with Sketchbook fabrics--I can't wait!

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Whiteburst from Cotton Belle Boutique

As the designer of the Sketchbook fabric collection, I don't get the opportunity to see my prints for the first time. That may sound weird to you but having created the prints, sewn 18 quilts (so far), and worked with these prints for the past 6-8 months takes the newness out of collection for me. It isn't until something like this blog tour and seeing what others have sewn with my fabrics that I can see the collection for the first time. That's why this week is very exciting for me and full of surprises! 

More ideas and inspiration for Sketchbook fabrics can be seen in the Sketchbook fabrics LookBook. I love this virtual magazine that Art Gallery Fabrics creates for each new collection.

Pencil Pouch Project

Yesterday I posted a little tutorial on how to sew French seams. French seams create concealed seams. This clean, professional finish is ideal for totes, pillowcases, and garments. The next three days I will be adding a new free project to my Free Patterns page. Each of these patterns will use French seams in the construction.

With kids going back to school, it's always nice to sew something special for them to use during class time. I designed a free pencil case project with this in mind. The pouch itself is not revolutionary looking but I feel the construction is and uses French seams. I bet this will be one of the easiest zipper pouch projects you will ever do and I owe it all to using French seams. Fully illustrated instructions will take you step-by-step on how to construct this simple (and I think elegant) pouch design. Makes me want to go back to school just to use the pencil pouch! Find the pattern here.

Pencil Pouch shown in Sketchbook fabrics Framework Golden and Doodlie Playful prints. Be watching for tomorrow's new pattern and how to dress up your closet!

Don't forget to repost your favorite Sketchbook Blog Tour pictures on Instagram. Include the hashtag #SketchbookTourGiveaway and be entered into the drawing for 10 free yards of Sketchbook fabrics!