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…

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Tip Tuesday: Side Boob (and how to avoid it!)

By Sarah | July 11, 2017

Happy Tuesday! We are back from vacation, and (semi) recovered from all our adventures (lets not talk about the laundry though, m’kay?) and I’m excited to share a new blog series with you: Tip Tuesday and Fail Friday! This idea came up while a dear friend was visiting a couple weeks ago- I’m sure you…

Vacation on the beach: Shaving…Optional!

By Sarah | July 10, 2017

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…

Applique Bikini Hack!

By Sarah | July 8, 2017

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,…

Green Tee Hack: Side Lace-Up!

By Sarah | July 2, 2017

You know what I LOVE about a great staple pattern? The ability of hack it of course! The Green Tee by Greenstyle Creations is a great example: solid drafting (no sleeves cut on the fold! Can I get a hallelujah?!), perennial style and clear instructions. In fact, I love the Green Tee so much, I’m…

June BeeBox: The Duchess Skirt!

By Sarah | July 1, 2017

I’ll admit, I was a bit stumped when I received my June Bee Box from Vinegar and Honey. I love stripes, but I don’t love sewing them (I’m a perfectionist, and all that matching drives me batty sometimes!). That, combined with the fact that its been in the triple digits here, had me scratching my…

Serape in the Sun

By Sarah | June 30, 2017

When I was a kid, we had this old Serape woven blanket that my dad picked up in Mexico on his travels. The colors were incredibly vivid, and despite heavy use, the blanket never seemed to show it’s wear. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of laying on this blanket at the beach, resting…

Always Be a Mermaid….

By Sarah | June 29, 2017

                               When I was a little girl, I was often home sick from school (chronic ear infections….plus a little lollygagging), and while I was “recovering”, my favorite thing to do was watch Peter Pan on VHS (am I dating myself a bit here?). The best part was when Peter is visiting the Mermaids in…

Bye bye Bikini!

By Sarah | June 27, 2017

I’ve been on a bit of a swimwear kick lately, and I’ve been dying for a sexy, yet functional (read: won’t fall off in the ocean) one-piece swimsuit, but it’s been a bit of a unicorn. Don’t get me wrong, I still have all the feels for the bikini’s I’ve sewn (see examples here, and…

Sunset Cami: Lace Trim Hack

By Sarah | June 26, 2017

Last week I showed you my version of the Bali Blouse by New Horizons- but that was only half of the package! The Bali Blouse also includes a pattern for sweet little camisole called the Sunset Cami, to keep you covered under the open back of the Bali. Since I closed up the back of…

Video Tutorial: Moxi Shorts and Bias Binding

By Sarah | June 26, 2017

The Moxi shorts from Greenstyle Creations are one of my go-to summer patterns- they fit my #momlife perfectly, and give off a cool, athletic vibe even if I haven’t hit the gym all week. Once you know the pattern, they go together pretty quickly, but there are a few “tricky” parts that might trip up someone…

Dreaming of Bali….

By Sarah | June 23, 2017

I have a coworker who travels to Bali every year. She always comes back with amazing stories, a gorgeous tan and beautiful gifts (so thoughtful, and fortunate for her- since it makes it harder to hate her for her kid free, relaxing tropical vacations!) When I saw the Bali blouse/Sunset Cami by New Horizons, I…

Whoa, Whoa, WOVENS! A beginner’s guide!

By Sarah | June 23, 2017

When I first learned to sew, I was told that sewing with wovens was easier than sewing with knits. They were supposed to be better behaved, easier to manipulate and more durable, not to mention less expensive. I *think* the person who told me this must have been talking about quilting cotton, because as soon…

New Fall Cardigans…

By Sarah | October 24, 2019 |

When I was a kid, I used to divide my closet between “summer” and “winter” clothes. Despite living in California, where the seasons were typically pretty mild, I enjoyed having a stark division in my closet, and had strict rules about not wearing “winter” clothes in the summer, and visa versa. Looking back on it,…

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…

Tie Back Tanks!

By Sarah | August 10, 2017 |

I have a confession to make: I’ve only made it to the gym twice in the last two weeks. When I don’t make time to exercise, it makes for one cranky momma- so I’m putting this out there to keep myself accountable! Fortunately, with the new Tie Back Tank from Greenstyle, I’m able to look…

Raglan Sew-Along: Day 1

By Sarah | December 10, 2018 |

Welcome to the Raglan Sew-Along! This week we will be sewing up our raglans! For this sewalong, I’ll be using the Centerfield Raglan and Add-on Pack, and the Men’s Hudson Pullover, both from Greenstyle. I highly recommend trying both these patterns, but if you’ve already exhausted your pattern budget for the month, you’re welcome to…

When the dog eats your Ice Cream….and other tales of summer

By Sarah | March 15, 2019 |

    I believe firmly in sewing controlled weather…if I start sewing for summer, it will TURN INTO summer, right? It’s a theory of weather management that’s never failed, so since I’m officially tired of winter, I decided to start sewing rashguards. I’ve sewn my kids’ swimwear for the past three years running (check out…

Trailblazin’ in Style!

By Sarah | November 1, 2017 |

     How much interest does your spouse take in your sewing? Being our resident photographer, Stephen knows about a few pattern companies, and his favorite by far is Twig and Tale. He has been showing me photos of adorable vests, coats and accessories he wants me to make the kids for months, so when the…

Fail Friday: Shibori Dyeing

By Sarah | July 21, 2017 |

Happy Friday! You’ve almost made it to the weekend, and that means its time for some humor at my expense in this week’s episode of Fail Friday! Regular failure is considered a learning opportunity here at Casa Sarah, so let’s dive right in and see what lessons I’ve learned this week! A few weeks ago,…

Sahara by the Seaside…

By Sarah | June 25, 2018 |

While I was in San Diego, I had the pleasure of visiting several local fabric shops…and doing a bit of shopping (all that money saved on shipping means more to spend on fabric, right?). It was really fun to visit these places in person, and even better to get to meet the people that work…

Greenstyle Lacy Slope Tank and Applique Tutorial

By Sarah | April 9, 2017 |

Do you love the look of appliques but aren’t sure how to attach them? I received some gorgeous appliques and this super soft rayon spandex from Dhee over at the Fab Clique, and I’ve put together a tutorial for you using the Lacy Slope Tank by GreenStyle Creations over on their blog! Jump on over…

July Bee Box: Green Tee Cardy Hack

By Sarah | August 2, 2017 |

I’m terribly late with my bee box posting- all these family vacations and fun-in–the-sun summer activities have really distracted me from my sewing room lately! But, I finally got a chance to dive into my Bee Box and figured out what to make. When the fabrics first arrived, I loved the sinfully soft feel but…

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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