5 out of 4 Patterns

Vacation on the beach: Shaving…Optional!

I spent 2 weeks packing for our family vacation down south…using a series of carefully crafted checklists to avoid forgetting the mountains of essential gear that is crucial to survival with three young children…and do you know what I forgot? RAZORS!!! I traveled to the land of who-wears-the-least-wears-it-best with the intention of doing a full…

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Applique Bikini Hack!

Since swimsuit season started (which is right after Valentine’s Day according to the ever strange advertising schedule of big box stores) I’ve been lusting over the applique swim bikini’s I’ve seen in those annoying (but sometimes useful) ads on Facebook. I was stymied, however, by what type of appliqué would be suitable for swim. Well,…

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Suit Up For Summer: Keeping Cool in the Pool

    School countdown is in the single digits, the temperature is rising and the flip flops are claiming a permanent spot in the doorway: summertime must be (almost) here! And that means swimming, swimming, swimming. I’ve mentioned before that it gets mighty toasty around here (triple digits!) during the summer, so cooling off in the…

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Swimwear: The Holy Grail of Sewing

I’ve long considered swim wear the holy grail of sewing, along with lingerie and full featured blue jeans (all those rivets, and topstitching!). Although I live in swim all summer, sewing my own swimsuits always seemed a little out of my league- a daunting task with an uncertain outcome. So, of course, when 5 out…

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This one’s for the boys!

   I’m back with another pattern testing adventure, the Willow and Redwood vests from 5 out of 4 Patterns for two of my favorite guys! I could have alternately titled this post,  zipper immersion therapy, because with four! zippers a piece, these vests will desensitize your zipper fears FAST. I’m happy to say that thanks…

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