…………Welcome To My Sewing Room (This post contains affiliate links)
Feature Friday Pattern From Love Notions~ The Ballad Blouse
The $6 Feature Friday pattern from Love Notions today, 4/3/26, is the Ballad Blouse. This is such a perfect blouse for spring and summer. Sewn in the right fabric it will keep you looking cool and comfortable right through the summer no matter how hot it gets where you live! Please consider using my affiliate link to purchase your pattern. You can read more about that below in the “Pattern Links” section.
For details on my “Puff and Ruffle” sleeve hack for the Ballad Blouse, visit this blog post.
The Ballad Blouse is THE perfect blouse for spring and summer! It’s loaded with options that can easily help you fill your closet full of beautiful yet comfortable blouses. The relaxed fit will help you stay cool, yet look cute! The real star of this pattern is the shoulder detail! You can choose between shirring or gathers. I’ve only made the gathered version at this time. Consider trying the shirred version as well~ I did shirring for the first time in a LONG time for my Tempo sundress. It’s a lot easier than you might think! Plus there is a wonderful video to help you along the way! I can’t wait to make a few sleeveless versions for summer!
What I’m Sewing This Week~
I’m working on my final of the new Love Notions jacket pattern~ be on the lookout for sneak peeks from Tami on the Love Notions Facebook Group and Instagram! I’m working with a beautiful piece of stretch denim like twill from KiKi Textiles. This pattern doesn’t require stretch denim, but this was the exact color I was looking for. It’s available in several colors too! I’ll share that information when the pattern releases.
The Patriotic line from Raspberry Creek Fabrics released earlier this week, and I have been busy sewing up 2 designs! I choose 2 prints that are available on Double Brushed Poly or Rib Knit. I LOVE the rib knit from RCF for making basic tees, the Vivace dolman, nightgowns and the LN LDT dress. I love that so many of the designs in this release are just subtle red, white and blue prints~ they don’t all scream Happy 4th of July! However, if that’s what you love~ they have designs for you too! While my exact prints are only available on DBP and Rib Knit (due to the saturated and darker colors), there are also many prints available on Cotton Jersey and French Terry.
- LN Classic Tee/La Bella Donna mashup. (my most sewn and worn tee)
- Mini Patriotic Stripe rib knit
- LN Vivace Dolman
- Dusty Blue Block Print Floral rib knit
- I’ll have better photos of this over the weekend! (it was 40* and raining all day yesterday)
You can find the entire RCF Patriotic line HERE. These fabrics will be $1 off per yard through Monday 4/6.
To read all about my Classic Tee/La Bella Donna mashup tees, visit this blog post.
To read all about the Vivace Dolman, visit this blog post.
And lastly I began to work on a Metra Blazer that I have planned for at least 2 years! I think I put it off for so long because I was going to have to trace a new size(because of weight gain 😦 . But now I’ve lost that weight and can go ahead and sew the size that I already have traced! YAY!
I purchased this “Fruit Dove” Ponte Twill from Surge Fabrics a few years ago specifically for a Metra Blazer. I’m so happy to be finally working on it! This exact color is no longer available but there are several other colors still in stock. I find it has a tad more drape than most Ponte knits making it perfect for a casual Metra! You can find the Ponte Twill fabric HERE.
For more details about the Metra Blazer, visit this blog post.
Visit this blog post to see additional Metra Blazers that I’ve sewn up.
What I Wore This Week~
As you can see, I’ve worn some springy makes this week along with some warmer makes. We had temps this week in the 80’s and today it was 40*!
- LN Aria Button Down ~ color blocked in cotton seersucker. (one of the very first Arias I made!)
- LN Vivace Dolman ~ in a rib knit from RCF (2023?)
- LN Constellation Pullover for a bike ride along the coast (swim knit from RCF-2022?)
- LN Ballad Blouse~ with a hacked Puff and Ruffle sleeve, in linen/rayon
- LN Melody Dolman~ hacked to a popover top with peplum skirt, in a rayon(found at an estate sale)
- LN Constellation~in a soft sweatshirt fleece(that actually has some stretch to it!) from Style Maker Fabrics (2024)
For details on my Melody Dolman Peplum hack, visit this blog post.
My Spring Sewing Plans~
I’m slowly working on my list and trying really hard not to add anything new to the list! I did add the Gray Sweatshirt fleece Metra Blazer because I’ve been seeing the “Gray Sweatshirt Blazer” all over for over $100!
- LN Compose Robe “Cardigan”
- Lt. Blue Italian Boucle (Chic Fabrics, NYC Garment District) DONE!
- LN Metra Blazer
- Navy Ponte (stash)
- Bright Pink Linen look ponte (Surge Fabrics 2023?)~ Sewing right now!
- Gray Sweatshirt fleece to copy the “Gray Sweatshirt Blazer”
- LN Aria Button down
- Purple Linen~ long sleeved (Mood Fabrics, linen chambray)
- Navy Linen hacked “Jacket” (Mood Fabrics, midweight linen)
- Another color blocked linen version (will buy at Gray Lines Linen in NYC my next trip in)
- White Textured Cotton ~long sleeved (Stash
- LN Coda Coat
- Draper James bed quilt
- LN Caprice Skirt
- Denim Chambray (stash)
- Navy Batik print (I’ve had for years from Fabric.com!)
- LN Constellation
- New Swim knit from RCF- lipstick pink and green
- Coral Loop French Terry
- LN Clef Coat
- Gray Sweatshirt Fleece (stash)~ I ordered a pink Vislon separating zipper~DONE
- Navy Boucle (Style Maker Fabrics 2023?)~ It’s in time out and waiting it’s turn! This Coat is cut out and I’m setting it aside and will come back to it.
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: 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 stash which allows me to continue to test and review more patterns.
To receive an additional 10% off LN pattern prices, use my code 10MARYMAC. 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.
*******If this code is not working today, please use my old code~ 10MACSEWS********
Fabric Resources~
REMINDER~ Monday April 6, 2026 is the last day to order the new Spring fabrics at Style Maker Fabrics with the $5 shopping fee! Believe me, this is a great bargain!
Below you can see all the fabrics that I bought for this Spring and Summer from Style Maker. I can’t wait to get these prewashed and to begin planning what to make with them. I have some ideas for a a few of them already!
Melody Peplum Hack?
Perhaps a Cardigan?
Bonus Photos~ Sandy Hook National Seashore
We had an 80* day on Wednesday (not normal for us at this time of year!), so we headed over to one of our favorite trails at Sandy Hook to check on the seals before they headed north. It is truly one of my favorite places to ride, although it does get too hot on this trail in the summer since there isn’t a ton of shade. Sandy Hook has a little bit of everything~ the ocean, views of NYC, a historic lighthouse (250 years old), an amazing paved bike trail that winds through Fort Hancock (a historic army fort built in 1857). And within the old Fort grounds is an amazing tavern that was once the barn for the mules~ hence the name The Mule Barn Tavern.
sewmarymac.com 