I love fall. Everything about it: the leaves changing color, the smell of crisp fall days, sweater season, bring on the boots and, of course, Halloween! My mom made so many costumes for my brother and I growing up. We were homemade mermaids, Daniel Boone, toy soldiers, kitty cats, and clowns! I love that I can now carry on that tradition with my own children! However, I am definitely not a fan of buying a pattern just to make a costume one time. It seems like such a waste of money! I usually try to use a pattern I already have or one that I can use for more than just that costume. It seems that sentiment is common in the testers group for Honeydew Kisses Patterns, too! Tiffany Grace-Buzanowski of T. Grace Designs used The Fiona Suspender Shorts and Ocotillo Leo to create this super cute Mickey Inspired outfit that is perfect for Halloween, dress up, or a family vaca to Disney! The suspender shorts would also be perfect in denim for a Minion costume! Or you could alter it to be a suspender skirt, for a great nerd costume!

Wanda Broussard added a collar to the Amelie dress for an adorable Minnie Mouse outfit! My Minnie-loving kiddo would wear this any day,not just for Halloween! I love the puffsleeves! This would be an amazing Princess costume, too! Insert different colors like blue, yellow, white and red (for a certain dwarf-loving, forest-dwelling princess) or neutrals for another forest-dwelling, sleepy princess! Simply lengthen the skirt for a more formal princess look, which wouldbe perfect for a ball gown (add a tulle/chiffon overlay and some glass slippers and you are good until midnight)!

Speaking of princesses, check out this pauper Cinderella dress made by Melissa Bixler-Anaya (and follow her on Instagram here: Melly Makes It). Maybe my house would be cleaner if I had stuff this cute to wear while cleaning…hmmm. Anyway, how adorable is this?! Melissa used the Beatrice Dress with apron. This dress uses a knit bodice with woven skirt, so it was perfect for this project with no modifications! This would also be a great way to make a birthday outfit, or Halloween outfit, for Alice in Wonderland (Onederland for first birthdays). I love that there are no modifications needed for this, because sometimes I just don’t want to have to sit down and figure out how to change a pattern to suit what I need. I just want to print it and cut it as-is.





This Wonder Woman Costume, created by Lola Buns (you can follow her on Instagram here: Lola & The Wolf), is another great use of a pattern without modification! So, if print and sew is your go-to, give the Ocotillo a try! This is such a versatile pattern that so many costumes can be made with very little to no modifications/hacks! Now, let’s all take a moment to mentally sniff and snuggle this precious squishy before moving on…






See what I mean? Versatile! Jessica Simmons Vert created this Alicorn costume for her daughter using the Ocotillo pattern; adding some wings, and a tail, horn and mane! Did you know that a winged unicorn is called an Alicorn, or Pegacorn? Now you do! So, if that’s ever a question on a game show and you need to know the answer to win a million dollars…. you’re welcome! But seriously, I would have LOVED to go as a Unicorn, or Alicorn, for Halloween when I was a kid. (Actually, I don’t think I ever grew up because I’m going as a Unicorn for Halloween this year, but that’s not the point here.) This Alicorn costume is the bee’s knees. I bet she will have a ton of fun playing dress up even after Halloween is over! She could even wear that to school! Add a denim jacket or cute cardi and it would be totally winter appropriate with some boots! 


And we round out our costume parade with this daring cutie, sporting her Captain America costume made by Rachel Reese, of Violets and Jewels Blog. Rachel used the Seraphina bodice with a circle skirt to make the dress. She fashioned a belt, using craft foam, and a shield, using a dollar store charger and plate, to complete this kick butt ensemble!

So, now that we’ve got your head totally full of awesome costume ideas, what HDKP pattern will you be using to complete your little’s costume this fall?? We would love to see what you come up with! You can post pics in the Facebook group here: 

Honeydew Kisses PDF Sewing Patterns

You can also post pics on any social media platform and tag HDKP! Use #honeydewkissespatterns or use #HDKP + the pattern name used (ie: #HDKPCoralie or #HDKPLantana, etc)

Happy Trick – or – Treating!


-Sarah Boring
Honeydew Kisses Virtual Team

How to add a bib to any bodice

I recently had a customer ask me how to add a sweet little bib, like the one below, to the bodice of my Amelie Dress. I was going to just explain it real quick, but I decided to make a simple tutorial for anyone else who might be wondering!

You can do this to pretty much any bodice, as long as there is enough space to add a bib! Cut your front bodice piece according to the pattern instructions and find a scrap, fat quarter or any other piece of fabric that is big enough for your desired bib size. Gather up your trim (lace, eyelet, mini poms, ric rac, piping, fringe, etc) and get ready to sweeten up that bodice! 

As a side note, this is one of my favorite Amelie dresses I've ever made. It is so special to me for a couple of reasons. It was a custom I made for the winner of an auction I participated in for a dear friend of mine, whose son was born with severe medical complications. Coincidentally, out of all the patterns and fabrics out there, the auction winner specifically requested my pattern and this fabric. For those who don't know, the designer of this fabric just so happens to be my amazingly talented sister, Tasha Noel! Combining my and my sister's talents to help my friend during a time that I couldn't give much financially was literally the best feeling ever, and I will forever love this dress because of it ♥

 I may be a bit biased, but I'm so obsessed with this Little Red Riding Hood fabric! It is long since out of print and impossible to get your hands on the original collection... so, you can imagine my excitement when I heard that Riley Blake is doing a reprint of it in flannel!! Eeeek! My girls are SO getting some cozy jammie pants for next winter!!

Anyway, there you have it! Easy as pie, using almost any bodice pattern and a scrap of fabric large enough for your preferred bib size, you can easily draft and add your own bib!

Happy sewing and please feel free to share your creations with us in our Facebook Group:

Honeydew Kisses Patterns Chat

Honeydew Kisses Patterns Sewalong: Seraphina Dress/Tunic Day 5--Catch-Up Day & Wrap-Up

Thank you for sewing along with us! If you're like me, you probably do a lot of sewing catch-up on the weekends when things aren't as crazy. Now, it's time to find out who won the 1 yard of out-of-print Anna Maria Horner Centerpiece fabric.

We had 6 participants (not including Jennifer & Merav's entries; for those making more than one Seraphina, we counted your first entry) and Random.org picked...

Congrats to Patsy Thurlow Chalker!

All the Seraphina dresses and tunics came out beautiful. We hope you are all proud of your creations! We love how everyone's fabric choices make Seraphina look unique. Here are some completed pictures of the participants:

Adorable bunny Seraphina by Patsy Thurlow Chalker

A seahorse Seraphina from Patsy Thurlow Chalker. Love the piping on the collar!

Love this car Seraphina by Tanya Needles Speke!

A classic seersucker Seraphina by Cori Clemmer.

Colorful tunic & shorts version by Angela Kratz Brockway!

Spring floral pastel Seraphina by Celine KHoo.

How precious is Ashley Brosrom's daughter in her Seraphina tunic & bloomers? The chambray & floral is such a classic combination.

Cherise Tower was inspired by Talia's original Seraphina. We love the Vintage Market fabric that she used! Fun fact, Vintage Market was designed by Talia's sister, Tasha Noel!

The sibling dress to match by Cherise Tower. :)

The pink plaid & aqua floral Seraphina by Emily Hendrickson is just too sweet!

Love this bold, floral tunic with enclosed zipper by Danielle Kuznia/The Kisses Co.!

Isn't this Jennifer Paganelli Good Company dress by Jennifer Nagdeman beautiful?

And last, but not least, Merav created two Seraphina's with lots of fun modifications! Her take with the exposed zipper has been used by several people in the sewalong. Thanks for sharing!

Honeydew Kisses Sewalong: Seraphina Dress/Tunic Day 4--Skirt Construction & Let's Save those OOP/H2F fabrics

Thank you for joining us on day 4 of the sewalong!  We are excited to have another winner of a free Honeydew Kisses pattern from our Day 3 participants!  We had 6 participants (not including Jennifer & Merav's entries; for those making more than one Seraphina, we counted your first entry) and Random.org picked....

Congratulations to our winner Emily Hendrickson!!  Please contact Talia Puthoff for your choice of a free pattern!  

Now it is time to construct and attach your skirts!  This is always exciting because you know you are ALMOST DONE!!!   Don't forget to post your progress today and tomorrow!  We are still giving away another pattern and that gorgeous Anna Marie Horner Centerpiece fabric!

Since it was the underskirt, and I knew that at least half of it won't be shown (unless miss Hobbes decided to lift up the top-skirt) and in order to save on my OOP fabric, I wrote out a quick math equation that that allowed me to use 2 different fabric for the skirt and stick to the correct measurements.

For Hobbes size 3 dress, the length of the underskirt cutting measurements is 12.75" and after it's finished and hemmed, the top skirt sits about 3' inch above it. So I did this: (measurements in inches, math equation written from left to right)

12.75 - 3 = 9.75"

Then I need to include the hem in my equation because I will be using the the OOP fabric at the bottom. The hem in the Seraphina dress calls for a total of  0.50' inch

9.75 - 0.50 = 9.25"

Now I don't want the underskirt OOP fabric to start exactly where the top skirt hits, so I planned to overlap by 1.5 inches

9.25 - 1.50 = 7.75" (this represents the amount of skirt length that will be at the top of the underskirt, hidden and therefor connect the OOP fabric that will be visible in the underskirt)

With the above information, I took my original underskirt measurements of 12.75" and subtracted 7.75". The remainder of 5" in length is what will be cut from my OOP fabric. However, before I cut my fabrics, it is IMPORTANT that I add ONE seam allowance to each fabric where the two skirt pieces will connect. I decided to add an even 0.5 inch to each skirt piece and sew them together with a 0.5" inch seam.

Therefore my final measurements for Hobbes size 3 Seraphina underskirt were:

Top (connector/hidden piece) of the underskirt: 7.75" + 0.5" = 8.25"
Bottom (visible piece) of the underskirt: 5" + 0.5" + 5.50"

***Now just saw the two under-skirt pieces with 0.5" seam, top stitch and continue the pattern as written.

Ok, maybe not such a quick math equation, but very easy to follow, right? It's just a little trick that I sometimes use that give me the opportunity to work with a small pieces or hard to find (H2F) fabric.

Honeydew Kisses Sewalong: Seraphina Dress/Tunic Day 3--Bodice & Sash Construction (Zipper Modification too!)

Welcome back to day 3 of our Seraphina Sewalong! First thing--let's announce our free pattern winner for Day 1 & 2 of the sewalong! We had 9 participants (not including Jennifer & Merav's entries; for those making more than one Seraphina, we counted your first entry) and Random.org picked....

Congrats to Tanya Needles Speke! Please contact Talia to get your free choice of pattern!

Now back to sewing! Today, we are going to sew our bodice & sash together. It will probably be our longest sewing day since the bodice is so detailed, but it is definitely worth it!

Follow Steps 1-13 to create the collars and side ties. Decide if you are going to embellish your front bodice or leave it plain. If you plan on doing pintucks, then get your iron hot!

Follow Steps 19 to insert the optional front sash.

Follow Steps 20-47 to finish the bodice--attaching and binding the collar along with attaching the side sashes.

Complete bodice with pin tucking, front sash and side sashes.

Do buttonholes give you fits? Merav is going to show us an exposed zipper modification with Seraphina! With a 4T Seraphina, you can use an 8" exposed zipper. You may have to use a longer zipper with the larger sizes.

Exposed zipper modification.

To begin, cut 1/2" inch from the edge of each back piece (including the lining pieces) to account for the 1" overlap you would have with the buttons. Follow all steps up until Step 27, skipping the interfacing portion since you won't be doing buttonholes. Then, Merav decided to baste the neckline with a small 1/4" seam so she could install the zipper with the neckline closed.

Open the zip all the way down and pin as much as you can to each side.

 

Leave about 2" from the bottom unpinned. You will stop sewing at that mark.

Now, sew down each side with your regular foot.

Pick up the tail/part of the zipper you didn't sew down.

Flip the bodice over to the lining side and adjust the exposed zipper from the lining side, making sure everything lines up properly along either side of the bodice. Pin in place.

Flip back over and mark the zipper 1/2" from the bottom. Sew down the remainder of the zipper. Sew across the opening 3-4 times and then back up on the other side to meet your stitches

Tada! Your 5 minute zipper!

Now, continue on with Steps 28-34 to attach the collar and binding to the bodice, which will enclose the top of the zipper within the bodice. Skip to Steps 39-47 to attach the side sashes.

Whew! We are all done with Day 3 of our sewalong. Doesn't your bodice look just gorgeous? Join us back tomorrow to finish our dress. Almost there!

Honeydew Kisses Sewalong: Seraphina Dress/Tunic Day 2

Welcome to day 2 of our amazing sewalong!  We always love to see the fabrics you choose on day one.  If you missed day 1 you can still go back and catch up with us!  We would love to have you join us! Day 1 Seraphina Sewalong

Now it is time to cut out those pattern pieces and fabric!  Be sure to choose the correct bodice front.  There are two choices.  You can use bodice front 1A, which is a plain bodice front OR bodice front 1B for the pin-tuck bodice front.  You will have two pieces for the front, one of which will be your lining.  The other options you will have are to sew Seraphina as a top or a dress.  You can also choose to make this with a single or a double layer skirt.  Your last option is to have the front sash piece or not.  You do, however, need the side ties that tie in the back of the dress or top.

What do you do if your child is a mixed size? For example, Jenny's youngest daughter measures almost 45" tall, but has a chest measurement of 20.5" around. The measuring chart provides a height guideline and the FINISHED chest size. You will want 1-2" of ease in the chest so the dress is easy to get on & off, but not be gaping in the armsyce. According to the chart, her daughter would need a 6 length, but a 4T width. Since we don't want to tinker with the collar & neckline, we are going to cut a 4T bodice & just add length (I measured about an 1" difference between the heights of the 4T and 6 shoulders) at the bottom of the bodice.

After cutting the pieces it's fun to lay them all out in the shape of the dress.  Laying them all out will give you a better feel for the end result.  Sometimes I make some last minute changes to fabric choices after I see it all before me!

Be sure to add your progress to the Honeydew Kisses Patterns Chat group on Facebook.  You will then have a chance at winning your choice in a Honeydew Kisses pattern and later on some Anna Marie Horner fabric!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post! Merav is going to show us how to change up the buttons to an exposed zipper!

Jennifer's cut fabric pieces for a pin-tuck Seraphina with a double layer skirt and front sash.

Honeydew Kisses Sewalong: Seraphina Dress/Tunic Day 1

Good morning! We've got a fun few days ahead of us sewing up the Seraphina Dress/Tunic! Don't have the pattern? Enjoy 20% off until Wednesday, March  at midnight. Use code: SAL20 on Etsy. 

Seraphina dress with double skirt, pin tuck bodice, & no front sash.

Seraphina tunic with lace accent.

To encourage fans to join in the sewalong, we will be awarding a free Honeydew Kisses Pattern of your choice each day (credit back if you already have all the patterns). Plus, Talia has a fun prize to award at the end of the sewalong--1 yard of the out of print Anna Maria Horner Hand Drawn Garden Centerpiece in Evening from her own personal stash!

We will break Seraphina down into daily, manageable steps so by the end of 5 days, you will have a beautiful tunic or dress! Each day you can upload your progress photos in the respective albums on the Honeydew Kisses Pattern Chat FB page. Here is our schedule:

Please read through the fabric requirements and measure your child to determine what size will work best for you. In Day 2, we will discuss size mashing if you need to slim down or widen sizes. :) We have petite girls, so we're always size mashing for the best fit. Print your pattern pieces and check the 1" print square to ensure it printed properly.

Now, for the fun part--finding the perfect fabric to use for Seraphina! In my opinion, fabric selection is the most exciting part of the design/creation process. You can search through your fabric stash for the perfect fabric combo or use this as an "excuse" to go fabric shopping, like we really need one! Keep in mind, you will need interfacing for the button placket and collar as well as 3-4 buttons for the back bodice. So, if you don't have these materials, head on out to your nearest fabric store to grab these items. If you pick up some additional fabric to replenish your stash, we won't judge!

Will you choose to do pintucks, a simple bodice, or an embellished bodice? Single skirt, tunic skirt, or double skirt? Full sash or optional front sash? We can't wait to see what you pick! Here are some tester pictures to get your creative juices flowing.

Simple bodice, double skirt dress, no front sash.

 

Pintuck bodice, double skirt with lace accent (directions not included in pattern) on top skirt, no front sash.

Lace & button bodice accent, double skirt, no front sash.

Pintuck bodice with double skirt (accented underskirt) and no front sash.

Simple bodice with buttons, front & side sashes, tunic length.

Here are our picks for the sewalong!

Until tomorrow!

Jennifer's fabric picks for day 1 Seraphina sewalong.

XOXO, Jenny, Jennifer, & Merav