………….Welcome to My Sewing Room (This post contains affiliate links)
Feature Friday Pattern From Love Notions~ A Great Transitional Piece for Your Closet!
I’m just gonna put this right out there. I bet that if you make a Love Notions Oakley Vest, you are going to LOVE it. I’ll also bet that you will immediately make another one! There, I said it! This is THE perfect make to add to your closet right now. I’ve been throwing mine on everyday lately, every time I get a tad chilly. I honestly wear mine year round! They are part of my everyday wardrobe all fall and spring, yet I even wear them on summer evenings as it gets chilly by the coast.
And to top it off, the Ladies Oakley Vest and the Kid’s Acorn Vest are both just $6 today (2/20/2026) as the Love Notions Feature Friday patterns. If you buy both you can get an additional 10% off my using my code 10MACSEWS.
You can grab the Ladies Oakley Vest HERE.
The Kid’s Acorn Vest can be found HERE.
Want More Info On the Oakley Vest?
My first blog post about the Oakley Vest will give you all the details on the Oakley Vest, along with:
- Sewing Tips for the Oakley Vest
- My Fit and Sizing modifications
- Instructions for my pocket modification
- Instructions for my collar/zipper modification
- Tips for purchasing thread
I wrote a blog post about how I quilted my own fabric for an Oakley Vest. Note: I am NOT a quilter! (So this may not be the way some of you would do this!). This vest is made from linen and lined with cotton poplin and it is simply one of the best SRPING makes I have made! I wear this constantly!
As you can see from some of my photos, that I LOVE layering the Oakley Vest over RTW sweaters. However, I also LOVE layering it with several LN patterns! This photo shows the Oakley paired with an sweatshirt fleece Aria button down and a rib knit La Bella Donna.
Visit this blog post to see how I layer up with my Oakley Vests.
Need a great resource for zippers for your new Oakley Vests?
Visit this Weekly Stitch Blog for all the details on which zippers I use and where I purchase all my zippers from. (Note: This post was written for the Fall pattern sale, this is not a current sale.)
New Pattern Release From Chalk & Notch~
I was honored to test the new Rivi Blouse and Dress pattern from Chalk & Notch! I highly recommend this pattern. Gabriela really listens to her testers and any issues that may arise and does whatever is needed to correct the issue or to provide additional instruction when needed. This is an elevated pattern designed for woven fabrics with details that definitely set it above the rest. It was designed with striped fabrics in mind, but is beautiful in any fabric.
I found this pattern so enjoyable to sew!!! Is it a super fast sew, not exactly. It actually took me almost as long to get the pattern pieces laid out and cut as it did to sew it up. But, it was worth it! I absolutely LOVED the collar construction and directions. If you are new to sewing a collar with a separate collar stand~ this is a great one to start with. It’s the little things in the directions that can really make a difference in the finished garment. Trimming directions for the collar were amazing~ NOT trimming the seam allowance at the center front means you get a much cleaner finish!
Be sure to check out Chalk & Notch’s Instagram, @chalkandnotch for even more info and fabric discount codes!!!
The Details
- Blouse or Dress option
- Blouse finishes at the hip
- Dress finishes above the knee
- Side Slits for blouse and dress
- Dropped shoulders
- Unique angled yoke seams on front and back yokes
- Long or short sleeve option
- Inseam pockets on dress (optional)
- Size 0-30 (Up to 58″ bust)
- A/B or C/D cup options
- C/D option includes bust dart
- Sewing Level: Intermediate
Get more info on the Rivi HERE.
My Tips for the Rivi Blouse and Dress
- Make sure to pay attention to your seam allowances, as some seams are finished with French seams.
- Be sure to mark ALL “T” markings.
- Don’t skip Step 1~ staystitching!!!!!
- Step 4~ take extra care when matching up the “T” marking. Take notice how the center front edges DO NOT align up yet. Eventually they will!
- I highly suggest cutting ALL pieces on a single layer.
Below you will see my test garment that I made during testing. I plan on making another one soon. I wasn’t able to get great photos as we had 18″ of snow and frigid temps~ so inside photos had to do.
I sewed up a size 16 C/D and graded to the 18 hips. In the future I may not grade out quite as much at the hip/
What I’m Sewing (Doing) This Week~
This week I didn’t really get much sewing accomplished. I did however go through my closet to weed out the memades that I just don’t wear. I pulled them all out, made sure they were all labeled with the correct size and then took some to a local consignment shop and donated the rest to a local nursing home. I was amazed at how long it took me to accomplish all of that!
It was also my FAVORITE time of year! Prepping for the Raspberry Creek Fabrics Swim Fabric Release!! I began planning my Raspberry Creek Fabrics swim fabric sewing plans. As a member of their promo team, I was given early access to the new 2026 Swim fabric designs. I selected three and decided what I would make with them. Now I’m just waiting for them to arrive!!! These fabrics are tentatively scheduled for an early March release.
RCF swim knit fabric is one of my most favorite things to sew with. Have I made a swimsuit~ yes~ but I LOVE sewing up regular clothing with it. Interested? Visit these blog posts to see what I’ve sewn up with RCF Swim Knit fabrics.
- Sewing Up Swim with RCF ~ 2025
- Sewing Up Swim~2023
- Suit Up For Summer~2022
- Let’s Go For A Ride With the Tinley Skort
Here are just a few of my favorite RCF Swim knit makes!
- Made For Mermaids Jordan dress hacked into a kayaking dress
- Love Notions Tinley Skort
- Love Notions Laundry Day Tee Dress
- Love Notions Constellation
- My VERY FIRST RCF swim make~ a LN Constellation
- Love Notions Clearwater Swimdress
My Winter/Early Spring Sewing Plans~
I’ve done a good job of sticking to. my list~ however that’s mainly because I haven’t gotten much sewing done! I must say I am really looking forward to Spring sewing!
- LN Clef Coat
- Gray Sweatshirt Fleece (stash)~ I ordered a pink Vislon separating zipper~DONE
- Navy Boucle (Style Maker Fabrics 2023?)~ I ordered 2 zippers, both a navy Everbright metal zipper, one silver the other gold and will decide when they arrive which one I will use. Edited~. this is cut out and I’ve chosen the gold zipper! Can’t wait to get this sewn up!
- LN Coda Coat
- Draper James bed quilt
- LN Compose Robe “Cardigan”
- Lt. Blue Italian Boucle (Chic Fabrics, NYC Garment District)
- LN Metra Blazer
- Navy Ponte (stash)
- Bright Pink Linen look ponte (Surge Fabrics 2023?)
- LN Aria Button down
- Purple Linen~ long sleeved (Mood Fabrics, linen chambray)
- Navy Linen hacked “Jacket” (Mood Fabrics, midweight linen)
- White Textured Cotton ~long sleeved (Stash)
- I made a LN Melody in this fabric last summer and I reached for it so often so I’ll make another!
Thanks for reading “The Weekly Stitch”! I’m so happy you took the time to “visit” my sewing room!
Mary Anne 🙂
Remember to follow me over on Instagram to see all my latest makes! @sewmarymac
You can also follow my Facebook Page~ Sew Mary Mac. On this page you will find information on my makes from all pattern companies. If I know of any good sales(pattern or fabric) I will also feature this information. I have had many of my loyal followers send me friend requests on Facebook. I do post in the Love Notions group under Mary Anne MacLean, however this Facebook account is private. There is no sewing content on that Facebook Account.
Pattern Links~
NOTE: Some of these are affiliate links. It costs you nothing to purchase from these links but they do give me credit for your purchase and provide me with a small commission. This helps fund my fabric addiction which allows me to continue to test and review more patterns
To receive an additional 10% off Love Notions pattern prices, use my code 10MACSEWS. This coupon code can be used on any purchase as along as the order total is $8 or more. This means that you can no longer get my 10% off one $6 Feature Friday pattern by itself. Since this change has been made I would truly appreciate it if you used my affiliate links above to purchase the Feature Friday patterns so that I will get “credit” for the sale. (I do receive a small commission). To take more advantage of the $6 FF sale, I suggest adding another pattern or a children’s pattern to your order so you may use the 10% off code~ in this case grab the Kid’s Acorn Vest pattern! It makes a great gift!
sewmarymac.com 
Your posts are packed full of info, lots to think about and inspire. Is there a blog that shows details of the bias tape zipper technique? I a zipper phobic and always get in my own way.
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