Secret Garden Dress Release has Arrived!

By now I believe everyone knows I love pattern testing! They are so many wonderful designers out there. My heart goes flutter every time I see a tester call. I say now this is my favorite and then there is always that next one waiting to be tested and it becomes a favorite! :) So, my list of favorites is getting pretty long....lol...

Ok, so this is one of my favorites of oh so many! 

Allison of E+M Patterns and Deb of Sprouting JubeJube teamed together to design the Secret garden Dress! Perfect dress for little ladies not wanting ruffles but want a classic sweet design that makes one say, "that is girly without the ruffles!" Now, I am a ruffle kind of gal but I do love this dress just as much as ruffles and lace! :) 

The dress has a fully lined bodice with a side zipper. It has a double skirt. If you would like a more simple version you can make the underskirt only. Of course it would not have the gorgeous cascading bow it the back! That  is one of the great show off features of this dress! 

The PDF instant download pattern can be bought at E+M Patterns and on Etsy for a discounted price of $6.00 ( regular $8.00)!

The pattern comes in sizes girl sizes 2-10. Instructions are well written along with great pics. 

Please show Deb and Allison some loves on their FB pages!

Of course, as always CRD is always happy to create your special outfit! You can contact me anytime!

Till next testing, 

Connie

Ollie and Annie has Released the Mabel pattern and it has a sale code!!!

I am so pleased that I was chosen by Stephanie to test her newest pattern Mabel! It is a fast and easy sew even for a beginner! 

The Mabel dress is a vintage styled drop waist dress with a flared skirt. It also has an option to add a belt for extra style! Best of all, this pattern is so versatile. The Mabel dress is made with a little extra room in the bodice which makes it great for all seasons! Just pair up a t-shirt under the dress for colder months or wear it as is for warmer months. The design is quite simple, but the possibilities are endless. Your little girls will love this dress!

Sizes available include 12 months, 18 months, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

This pdf pattern includes easy to follow step-by-step instructions with colored photos. For beginners, it also includes explanations on certain sewing techniques.

This listing is for a pdf pattern only so you can make your very own Mabel dress! It is also available for instant download so you can start making your dress as soon as you receive it! Stephanie is  always available for questions on constructing your dress and her email is provided in the pattern. You can also find her on Facebook at Ollie and Annie Collection.

Use the code MABELDRESS25 to receive 25% of the pattern in the OLLIE and ANNIE COLLECTION SHOP! If you buy the Mabel dress pattern you can also received 25% off the Bubbly Bubble Skirt! What a steal! Sale code is good though 7/28/2014.

Here is my model already for her first year of  school in my ABC version with a ruffle down the center of the bodice.

Now for a quick tutorial on making the ruffle.  And I do mean it is quick and easy! Attach the ruffle as the last step in making your dress. I made the size 5. I cut my ruffle 1 3/4" wide and the length is double the length of the bodice. Of course. you can go more wide or narrow for the ruffle and the length is determined to how much gathering you like. I did a rolled hem to all 4 edges of the ruffle. (If you are going to turn the edges under on the ruffle instead of doing the rolled hem add 1" to the width and length.) Next, gather the down the center of the ruffle. Then, using your marking tool of choice, mark a line down the center of the bodice. Pin the center of ruffle on the drawn line and then stitch! Now you have added a cute ruffle to the Mabel dress!

Join Stephanie from Ollie and Annie Collection on her blog and FB.

Visit Sew Crazy MOM because she has a great review also of the Mabel Dress!

Of course if you are not a sewer or do not have time to create this cute dress Cranberry Ridge Dress would be delighted to sew it up for you! I can be contacted at Cranberry Ridge Design.

Be seeing you at another review real soon!

Connie

Look what CRD has tested and reviewed for Create Kids Couture and they are on SALE!!!

I have been one busy seamstress here at CRD! I have tested 4 more patterns for Create Kids Couture and they ALL released today with sale pricing until 6/26/2014 at 7pm! YAY!!!

First up for review is Baby Conner's Diaper Cover Set.

This pattern is a perfect diaper cover set for boys newborn up to 24 months!

  

This diaper cover set is so cute being used as an outfit for a cake smash session to celebrate that first or second birthday.

  Also make the simple version of the diaper cover and bow tie or a cute outfit for a hot summery day. Add back pockets and suspenders to dress it up a little more!  

Kristen, with Create Kids Couture, is the designer for this pattern. Her directions are always spot on and easy to follow. With great pics to show you the way. Of course you can always get support for making this outfit from Create Kids Couture Facebook page.

Now time for the baby girls!

Harper's ruffled Pillowcase Dress/Top and Emma's Ruffled Butt Bloomers . These are 2 separate patterns but they are so cute paired together and of course they are on sale until 6/26/2014 at 7pm! 

Harper's Ruffled Pillowcase Dress or Top will quickly become a favorite of yours because it is such a fast and easy sew! You can use quilting cottons, as I did, linens, broadcloths and corduroys. Put a short or long sleeve tee on underneath for cooler weather. 

Emma's Ruffled Butt Bloomers are also a quick easy sew! I love 3 layers of ruffles on little girls behinds but I am not a big fan of gathering 3 separate rows of ruffles! Katie,designer of this pattern, has made sewing the 3 layers of ruffles so fast! She has layered the 3 layers together so you only have to gather once!!!! Let me tell you Katie is one smart cookie in my book. :) For the legs you can use elastic or shirring. I love did I say I LOVE shirring! I really do!  If you have not tired shirring you need to but don't wait and put it on your bucket list you need to do it now!!!

Now for the girly and cute Jaimesyn Ruffled Bottom Romper!

Jaimesyn is an adorable fully lined 4 layered ruffled romper, with flutter sleeves and a cute back bow. Since it is completely lined there are no exposed seams! You can choose to sew the crotch opening shut or use snaps as I did. I used KAM snaps.

Harper, Emma and Jaimesyn's  come in newborn to 24 months size.

The sky is the limit with all of these patterns! Let your imagination run wild! :)

(The following info is directly from Create Kids Couture webpage.)

 Thorough, uncomplicated step-by-step instructions accompanied by color photos that allow you to follow along with ease from start to finish.

 Computer drawn pattern pieces you can print over and over again; no more patterns that rip or tear! 

 Please note that PDF patterns differ from traditional sewing patterns, and not all PDF designers have the same style. We prefer to give measurements for simple rectangles instead of rectangular pattern pieces to save your time, paper, ink, and tape. You will only receive pattern pieces for curved portions of the garment, and you will follow the cutting chart for the remaining pieces. 

If you would like to see an example of our style and try it for free, please download our free sample pattern HERE.

Of course as always Cranberry Ridge Design is more than happy to sew up something special for your sweetheart. Feel free to email me!

Hope to see you for the next pattern test and review!

Connie

Thanks to all the great models! Logan, Owen, Capri and Jenna!

Handmaiden's Cottage releases Cottage Peasant Top Pattern with a Great Price!

The Handmaiden's Cottage has released the Cottage Peasant Top today with intro pricing! You can buy this PDF instant download pattern for only $3.50!  Wow, a pattern from a well known designer for only $3.50 forever! It comes in sizes 2T-girls size 10.

Lynn, the designer of Handmaiden's Cottage has designed this wonderful pattern to be layered under dresses or worn alone. It can be worn under the Tea Party Dress or under the Picnic Petticoat. I was chosen to test the top length.

This wonderful pattern is a fast and easy sew. It is an instant download printable PDF pattern. The pattern has very detailed step by step instructions with clear color photos. As always, Lynn gives different options for different sewing techniques. I did rolled hems on the bottom ruffle, sleeves and top of the bodice with a coordinating thread. 1/4 elastic is used in the neckline, waist, and sleeves. Instead of buying bias tape I made my own casing for the sleeves and neckline. For the waistline you stitch down the seam allowance for the casing. Fabric requirements are only 7/8-1 1/3 yard! 

Lynn can reached by email, Facebook, or convos though her Etsy store. Please show Lynn some love by joining her FB group and making her Etsy store a favorite! Also, she would love if you followed her on her blog!

As always, Cranberry Ridge Design is happy to create a one of a kind design for your sweetheart! I can be reached at this email!

Till next testing!

Connie

Aunt Colors soon releasing her first pattern Kylie!

Aunt Colors designer, Heather Doak, allowed me to be a tester on her first soon to be released pattern Kylie! 

Heather has made a great pattern to make a super girly twirly dress out of scraps! I had no need to buy fabric to make this dress. I used 77 different fabrics! I do believe after I fluffed my scraps they grew...lol...After cutting all my scraps to the correct size I closed my eyes and picked the squares to sew together! No need to worry about what square goes where! This dress reminded me so much of the scrappy quilts my mom had stitched together years ago. In this dress there are scraps from quilts I had made my grand daughters mom and siblings in years past. 

Her directions are straight forward. No pattern pieces to print. All you need is a cutting mat, rotary cutter to get started. Having a serger does make this dress easier to construct but is not necessary. As she discuss in the directions ever a lower end model serger works great. I used a lower end model Singer serger that is about 20 years old and it performed well! Having a ruffler foot does help! But, if you don't have a ruffler foot there are other ways to tame those ruffles! Lots of times I use a thicker quality invisible thread for my top thread and regular thread in the bobbin. I set my stitch length to the longest setting and adjust my tension. It gathers beautifully and the invisible thread normally does not  break when adjusting the gathers! There are no seams to match when gathering the 3 tiers together.

The dress pattern is available in sizes 2T-girls size 14!

My model loved the great twirl factor of this dress!

As always Cranberry Ridge Design looks froward to making your one of a kind dress! Please email me! 

Till next pattern testing!

Connie

Handmaiden's Cottage Releases New Picnic Petticoats Pattern with Sale Pricing and Sale Codes!!!

The Handmaiden's Cottage released the Picnic Petticoats pattern today! I was chosen to test this girly pattern along with the 18" doll.

I made the size 4 for my model. She wears a size 4 or 5 in ready to wear garments. The size 

4 is a great fit!  Loved this sweet dress and the dolly dress.  My model for the dolly dress was an 18" doll from a big box store.  Great easy sew with great directions. Loved how Lynn, the designer, went into great detail about using the gathering foot! She uses a 1/2” seam allowance for most seams. I have used the wide ric rack on dresses before but always sewed a seam though the middle of the ric rack. Never thought about stitching both edges like she showed! :) Her directions are spot on with lots of great clear color pics.

This is a great pattern to use all those left over scraps. I actually had been hoarding the Michael Miller Dick and Jane fabric from several years back to make the dress. the other fabrics were scraps.

As you can see below the dress has lots of fullness so your princess can twirl! Little girls love the twirl factor!

The dress is designed in a reverse knot fashion. This is one buttonhole in the back bodice to lace the shoulder straps though to make the pretty bow.

On the Etsy listing Lynn has included a pic which includes fabric requirements and finished dress measurements. I love when I can see how much fabric I need before I buy a pattern. Because I am a gal that likes to sew late at night, knowing the fabric requirements helps me decide if I want to buy the pattern to sew up at midnight!

Lynn is available to answer questions by email or join her Facebook group The Handmaiden's Cottage. You can follow her on her blog also.

The pattern is sale priced at $6.00 until Monday 5/26/2014. regular price is $10.00. 

Lynn also has added some coupons that will be ongoing! WOW!!! Save 10% on purchases of $20.00 with the code 10FOR20. Save 15% on your purchase of $30.00 or more with coupon code: 15FOR30.

As always if you would like Cranberry Ridge to sew up this special dress for your princess please email me!

Till next testing time, 

Connie

Create Kids Couture releases Clover pattern and its on SALE!!!

Create Kids Couture has released the Clover pattern for sizes 6-12 months though girls size 8. It was released today and will be on sale for a limited time!

The pics were all so darn cute I couldn't decide which ones to use!...lol

Now on to the pattern review. :)

I made the maxi in a 12-18 month. The pattern has 3 length options top, dress or maxi. It is shirred all around the waist. Come on now ladies and gents shirring is a breeze! Once you do it you will come back for more, I promise! :)

I can see my model wearing this sweet dress into early fall. Just pair it with a sweater or cute lace top underneath. But for these warm summer months it will be worn sleeveless and with a pair of cute sandals on those sweet piggies! 

And remember I would love to create a Clover for your little one! You can email me at cranberryridgedesign@gmail.com.

Tell next pattern testing review, 

Connie