Thread Faction 2016 Collection Tour

I always find it a pleasure to be in pattern tours. I do. But sometimes it is just a bit better and much more fun than it is on other occasions. Today I get to take part in the Thread Faction SS 2016 tour, where myself and other ingenious and talented ladies, are showing off our takes, hacks and reviews on Thread Faction's girls spring/summer collection. Besides, there are great giveaways, so keep reading. Thread Faction Studio's owner is Liz, the designer behind Hatchlings Patterns too, you know, I keep mentioning her pattern, M is for Motto Joggers because it truly is one of my fave and most worn pieces. When I got the e-mail for this tour I just couldn't say no, in fact I was pretty exited. 

The collection includes 7 girl patterns, including shorts, dresses, tops, a skort and romper, from size 2 to size 10. I used patterns #104 (tank top), and #105 (cropped top). I started with the tank top. My first attempted was a refashion, I used a women's knit shirt, the print imitates denim pockets and such. For the binding, I refashioned a shirt that no longer fit my daughter, in little polka dots. This top is super quick to sew, but it wasn't for me. My machine started acting as soon as I tried to sew with my double needed. After a lot of headache and losing precious time, I just gave up and used a zigzag stitch all over, it doesn't look as pretty but, well. I did a little hack to this one, adding a band in the bottom, that tights with a knot in the front. I think I need to sew it a bit more to close, and also I will have to buy a new double needle to try and see if that was the problem (I tried everything else). The top it's a size 5. 

My first idea was to make a coordinate cropped top to layer with this one, but I just couldn't seem to find the right fabric for that matter in my stash, so I moved on. I started my second piece. The cropped top using pattern #105. No changes to this one, although I think the pocket placement looks a bit weird to me. My fabric was super stretchy and I guess that messed up with it, it was super hard to sew the pocket, it kept slipping away and pulling when it shouldn't. 

I made my daughter a size 5, and when I tried it on her, she refused to take it off. I actually had to wash it before the shooting because she had stained it already. When I asked her what her fave piece was, she said it was this one. I made the leggings out of an Ottobre Design pattern (size 110cm), just to complete the bottom. I used the same knit fabric I used for the pocket. When I was done with it, I knew I needed a second tank top. Did I mention these are patterns designed for knits? Well... I tried a woven version, someone had to, right? So, yes, I used woven fabric for my second tank top (pattern #104), although I still used the knit for the arm and neck bands. Again, the same I used for the cropped top and the leggings, it is the dot line that conects them all. 

To make it woven I used a bigger size (a 6 in this case). My biggest concern was that it wouldn't go through her head or it was too tight to get her arms in, so I had her trying it on before I finished just to make sure I didn't need to cut and add a loop and button to close or something. But it actually works well as is and the extra work wasn't needed. Of course, using woven instead of knit wasn't enough for me, and I had something else in mind. Why not, adding some lace too? I have a tank dress that uses lace on the top back piece too, so I tried it on as well. I just cut the back piece how I wanted it to, and added seam allowances to both pieces. It's still a very comfortable piece, just a little fancier. By the way, I got that light and so soft fabric in a street market in Spain, and the lace, is a vintage one from my sister's MIL. 

That's how I completed my outfit. There's another hack for the #105 pattern on the cutting table, I didn't get the chance to finish it. I hope I do soon so I can share it. As for the tank top, Liz shares a lot of color clocking ideas/option in the pattern instructions. 

Now comes the fun part, right?! You can just go and grab all the patterns in this collection because they are hard to resist - I love the edgy, casual possibilities. During the tour (it last until June 2), there will be prizes given away each day, by the bloggers participating in the tour - so be sure to visit everyone and there is the GRAND PRIZES TOTALING OVER $200 too. To get a chance on that one, just go here. Take a look at everyone's creations, link below.

26/5 Nap Time Creations Miss Castelinhos Swoodson Says Needles to say 

27/5 Made By Sara Sew Not Perfect Hello Holli Whisk 'em 

28/5 House of Estrela Made By Amanda Rose Max California Brave Fabrics 

29/5 Create 3.5 Bless by Tone The College Seamstress 

30/5 Ma Me Mi Mo Paisley Roots Skirt Fixation 

31/5 Sew Very Rebel and Malice Call Ajaire 

1/6 Better Dressed Child Buzzmills Handmade Frenzy 

2/6 Lamb and ewe crafts All Things Beautiful Pen, Seb & Rox

If you want to try your chance on a free pattern of your choice, enter the giveaway below. Good luck and happy sewing!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find out what discount codes you can get in the main giveaway page, and also, what does that prize actually contain, of course. The link is the one I shared above.