Men’s and Women’s Forester Coats

By Sarah | April 29, 2018 |

Late last year, when I tested the Trailblazer collection (mens, women’s, children’s and nestledown- whew! that was quite a project, you can read about it here), Lisa hinted that there was a coat in the works, and asked if the trailblazer folks would be interested in testing it. I said yes, of course, because my…

Ahoy!

By Sarah | April 18, 2018 |

Do your kids love to play pirates as much as mine? These three little scally-wags love pretending they are on a ship, shooting cannons (marshmellows!) and finding treasure- so when I saw the panels available for the latest round from Peekaboo Fabric Shop, I was almost afraid to show them, knowing they might demand pajamas,…

Portlander Shorts Hack!

By Sarah | April 16, 2018 |

Counting how many Portlander pants I have is a bit like asking me how old I am…I’m pretty sure I’m over 35, but unless I do the math, I can’t *quite* remember by how much 😉 That’s totally OK though, because it gives me the freedom to sew a few more pairs- and since I’m…

Side Tie Skirt Hack

By Sarah | April 12, 2018 |

I’m pretty happy with my pattern stash- I have a selection of favorite designers, and a very (almost embarrassingly!) large collection of patterns to choose from (curious how I organize them? Check out my post here on pattern organization). When I find a new style I want to sew, the most efficient thing is usually…

More Fit Gear!

By Sarah | April 6, 2018 |

Sewing activewear can be kind of addicting- its fast, easy, and gets lots of daily wear- what’s not to love? Hopefully you aren’t sick of seeing it on my blog, because here’s another winner! I took some time off from sewing during Spring Break, but as soon as I got back, I dove into the…

Hacked! Summit Peak Hoodie with Nursing Access

By Sarah | March 31, 2018 |

I’ve been waiting on the women’s Summit Peak Hoodie ever since I tested the children’s version late last year. I’ve actually thought about using the largest kids size, but that can be problematic, as I’m not really proportioned like a kid, despite being pretty petite. So I was really excited to see it finally come…

Xpress Tank Sew Along: Day 3

By Sarah | March 31, 2018 |

Welcome to the third and last day of the Xpress Tank SewAlong! This week we are taking a little time for ourselves amidst the holiday chaos (and I do mean a little- this pattern is quick!) to whip up some Xpress Tanks for the warmer weather to come. If you don’t have your pattern yet,…

Xpress Tank Sew Along Day 2

By Sarah | March 29, 2018 |

Welcome to the second day of the Xpress Tank SewAlong! This week we are taking a little time for ourselves amidst the holiday chaos (and I do mean a little- this pattern is quick!) to whip up some Xpress Tanks for the warmer weather to come. If you don’t have your pattern yet, you can…

XPress Tank Sew Along Day 1

By Sarah | March 29, 2018 |

Welcome to the first official day of the Xpress Tank SewAlong! For the next three days, I’ll be sharing a post per day walking you through the steps of sewing the Xpress Tank by Greenstyle Creations. If you don’t have your pattern yet, you can grab that here. If you missed my first post on…

X-Press Tank Sew Along: Fabric and Supplies

By Sarah | March 26, 2018 |

Welcome to the first post in the X-Press Tank Sew-Along Series! The Xpress tank from Greenstyle Creations is one of my all time favorite workout tops, and just like a can of pringles, once you make one, you’re going to want another, and another! One of the best things about this pattern is it’s versatility.…

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Sedimentary Sews

By Sarah | February 10, 2023

  Hello sewing friends! I’m back today to share some more sewing makes and family photos, but instead of the ocean, this time we are focusing on the desert! There are so many amazing desert places to visit, and despite spending quite a bit of time in the Southwest, I feel like we’ve barely scratched…

More Ocean!

By Sarah | February 7, 2023

Hello again friends! Today I’m back with one of my favorite outfits of all time, because it’s all about my favorite place in the world: the ocean! We often get asked where our favorite place that we’ve been is, and anywhere with an ocean easily tops the list for me. I grew up in Southern…

Tested: Nustle Joggers (and bonus Green Tee)

By Sarah | February 2, 2023

Hello everyone! Today I’m back with another test, this time for the new Nustle Joggers from Itch to Stitch. Until now, my favorite jogger pattern has been the Carita’s from Pattern Niche (formerly New Horizons, most recent pair HERE), and I’ve made them in both kid and adult sizes quite a few times. In general,…

Snazzy New Workout Set!

By Sarah | November 18, 2022

Hey friends! See, I promised I’d be back shortly, and here I am! I’ve got another fun outfit to share today, one that involved a bit of struggle and some new techniques for me, and I”m excited to share it! When this “Secret Forest” print arrived in my mailbox from Sew Dynamic Fabrics, I fell…

Celebration Outfits!

By Sarah | November 15, 2022

Hey friends! Long time no blog- I think last time I posted we were leaving Maine and into New Hampshire. It’s been a whirlwind fall filled with hiking, rock climbing and exploring. After New Hampshire we continued our tour down the east coast, stopping in New York, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Georgia before finally…

Throwback 90s Sweatsuit!

By Sarah | September 1, 2022

Hello friends! I’m back again today with a new me made outfit. This time, it’s a sweatsuit set that has a decidedly 90s vibe, and I’m not mad about it! When I received this “dark jungle” brushed jersey fabric from Sew Dynamic, I knew I wanted something soft and cozy. The fabric feels like athletic…

Matchy-Matchy!

By Sarah | August 23, 2022

  Hello friends! Fall is upon us, and I’m really enjoying seeing the leaves change and the weather get cooler up here in Maine. I don’t have any intention of staying into the winter (brrr!!) but for now, we are soaking up the autumn vibes and hoping for a spectacular leaf peeping season! I’ve also…

Tested: Itch to Stitch Soller Top

By Sarah | August 7, 2022

Hello friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful summer! We have been so busy hiking, rock climbing, swimming, biking and playing that I’ve barely touched my sewing room since we came to Maine. I had alllll these plans for what I was going to make, and then poof! Time has just flown by, and I…

Little Miss 4th of July!

By Sarah | July 3, 2022

  Hello friends! Happy 4th of July! This year, we are celebrating Independence day in Bar Harbor, Maine and hope to enjoy parades, fireworks and BBQs with our traveling family. While I sewed this swimsuit up in Massachusetts, we just got to Maine yesterday, and took our first dip in the Atlantic Ocean this far…

Tested: Greenstyle Courtside Dress and Shorts

By Sarah | June 20, 2022

  Happy summer y’all! We are happily three-quarters of the way up the East Coast, and loving every minute of the cool, pleasant days we’ve been having. We are currently in New York, and this state in particular has blow me away with its natural beauty and amazing hiking trails. We sorely missed hiking in…

My FAVORITE beach in the world…so far (and a new bikini to wear on it)

By Sarah | May 29, 2022

Hello friends! I hope the Swim SewAlong that I did a while back has continued to inspire you to sew your own swimsuits, I know it has for me! Since we’ve been chasing a consistent 75 degrees, I feel like swimsuits have become a type of year round uniform, so there’s really no reason to…

A New Kind of Animal Print…

By Sarah | May 28, 2022

Have you ever noticed that animal prints are always big cats or snakes? Rarely does any ocean creature get the opportunity to show its colors outside of the sea, so when I saw the whale shark print from Sew Dynamic Fabrics, I knew I had to sew it up and give these amazing animals their…

Chelsea Pants Sewalong Day 4

By Sarah | October 25, 2017 |

We’re almost there folks! It’s day 4 of the Chelsea Pants SewAlong, and today we get to construct and attach our waistbands! It’s all downhill from here- once you do this, all that’s left is to hem ’em up and wear ’em out (and make another few pairs, of course!). If you’re just catching up…

Who Made it Best? Chi Town Chinos Edition!

By Sarah | October 21, 2017 |

You all know how much I love pattern testing and blog tours to bring on the heat when I’m feeling lazy or my sew-jo is lacking, right? Well, I figured that to get over the REALLY BIG hump that is sewing a pair of fully-featured pants, I’d need a stronger cocktail- and Melissa of Mahlica…

Summer 19 Road Trip Part III: Grand Canyon & Monument Valley

By Sarah | July 23, 2019 |

******Disclaimer for those afraid of heights- PLEASE READ******* Please be aware, there WILL be photos below that show me standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon, and in the middle of a mojor highway in Monument Valley. I am a naturally cautious person, so I didn’t do anything overly dangerous, despite some of the…

Snazzy New Workout Set!

By Sarah | November 18, 2022 |

Hey friends! See, I promised I’d be back shortly, and here I am! I’ve got another fun outfit to share today, one that involved a bit of struggle and some new techniques for me, and I”m excited to share it! When this “Secret Forest” print arrived in my mailbox from Sew Dynamic Fabrics, I fell…

Happy 4th of July!

By Sarah | July 3, 2020 |

Happy Fourth of July friends! With 2020 more than halfway over, I could go deep here, and share all the insights, challenges, and opportunities I’ve had over the past 7 months, but I’ll save all that for another day, and just say that we are taking the day tommorow to celebrate the birth of our…

Chelsea Pants SewAlong Day 5

By Sarah | October 27, 2017 |

It’s the final day of the Chelsea Pants SewAlong! Its exciting to see all these awesome pairs of pants come together! It always amazes me how versatile this pattern is- from workwear to a date-worthy pants, to lounge around the house comfies, this pattern can do it all! Here’s what we’ve covered so far: Day…

Mini-Me!

By Sarah | December 11, 2017 |

Every month I receive a fun surprise box of fabric from Vinegar and Honey. And every month I hem and haw about what to do with it- but when this month’s box arrived, a lovely plaid ponte, I had an uncharacteristic moment of certainty, and decided that I needed to make a matching outfit for…

Baby Harbor Knot

By Sarah | April 7, 2017 |

A few weeks ago, Striped Swallow Designs worked their drafting magic again and came up with the women’s Harbor Knot, a semi-fitted tee with a perfectly on-trend twist at the side seam. I’ve seen tops like this come up frequently on the pattern hacking groups, but there is NO WAY I would have been able…

Midway Bomber Jacket Sewalong: Sourcing Fabrics/Supplies

By Sarah | April 8, 2017 |

Midway Bomber Jacket Sew-Along Part 1 I’m so excited to be doing a sew-along for the Midway Bomber Jacket! I loved this jacket in testing, and had plans for several more, so I thought, why not invite some others to sew along with me and have fun together! Brenda of Pretty Posh Prints was gracious…

Tutorial: Cutting & Sewing Stripes for a Perfect Finish

By Sarah | April 3, 2019 |

Confession Time: I LOVE wearing stripes. They’re a great way to add visual interest, a second (or third, or fourth) color to a basic wardrobe staple, and can be sewn in so many different ways (color-blocked, on the bias, etc.). BUT, ( and this is a big but)….I haven’t always loved sewing them. My perfectionist…

Sarah Connell

About Sarah Connell

Sarah is a wife, mother and avid seamstress. She is passionate about teaching, encouraging and empowering other women to express themselves creatively. 

Follow her sewing adventures on SewingwithSarah.com or your favorite social site.

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