Author Archives for sewmarymac

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About sewmarymac

Hi, Im Mary Anne and I’m so exited to share my blog with all of you! I hope you find it inspiring no matter where you are on your sewing journey. I live on the East Coast of the US(at the beach in NJ). I’m a retired FACS teacher(Home Ec), where I taught sewing, foods and child development for 32 years. I started sewing when I was about 10- learning from my mom, grandmother and older sister. I studied Textiles in college and worked in NYC for a Big 4 pattern company for several years before I decided life at the beach was better and more conducive to raising a family. I retired in 2017, and now I have all the time to sew! I found the online sewing community while recuperating from foot surgery. I am so glad I did! Since then I have been sewing up my casual retirement wardrobe. I like simple comfortable clothing that fits! As a full busted 5 foot tall woman in her 60’s, it’s very hard to buy clothing that fits, is trendy and I love.

Big News ~ The Metra Blazer Course Is Now Available!

The Metra Blazer is the Feature Friday pattern today, April 17, 2026. The pattern alone is just $6~ however, you can purchase the LOVE NOTIONS METRA SEWING COURSE for just $15 today with the code listed below!

Already own the Metra Blazer pattern? If you already own the pattern but now would love the course, today is your lucky day! You too can purchase just the Metra Blazer Sewing Course for just $15! That’s a great deal. In order to get this fabulous deal you must enter the code STITCH-9K4XQ2

Note~ you can’t use my personal code for an additional percentage off, so please use my affiliate link for the pattern and/or course so I get credit for your purchase.

I now own 4 Metra Blazers, two I made last Spring, one this Fall and my newest French Terry version just yesterday! It is such a versatile pattern. Depending on your fabric choice it can be dressier or more casual. It is much more comfortable to wear than a traditional blazer but looks more polished than a cardigan. I always wear one of my Metras when I go into the city for the day. I’m comfortable for the commute in. yet I still feel like I’m dressed nicely for the theater.

COTTON SPANDEX FRENCH TERRY
PONTE KNIT
BOTH FABRICS FROM
RASPBERRY CREEK FABRICS
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An Odds-On Favorite ~ The Love Notions Oakley Vest

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 since I made them, every time I get a tad chilly. And to top it off, the Oakley Vest and the Kid’s Acorn Vest are both just $5 today (1/13/2023) as the Love Notions Feature Friday patterns.

(I promise the bottom edges are even~ it’s the way I was standing and it was TOO cold to do retakes!)
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Sewing For My Post-Holiday “Fluffiness”

The holiday season is my favorite for many reasons: Family get-togethers, decorating for the holidays, holiday baking, my daughters coming home and so many other activities. My home is always full of love, happiness and good food. And it’s the good food that “gets me in trouble”. I love to bake and cook, and I love to eat what I bake and cook. Inadvertently~ I always put on a few pounds during the holidays. I’m not going to stress about it~ I will walk it off over the next couple of weeks. The problem ~ I’m just not comfortable in some of my clothing.

I don’t want to sew or buy larger clothing. What sense does it make to sew clothes that will fit me now and then be too big in a few weeks? What I need is to do is sew a few items that will make me feel comfortable now, yet still fit once I walk away those extra pounds. So, I went through my closet and looked over my Love Notions patterns and selected a few that will work perfectly for this “transitional” phase. Below are the 5 patterns that I’ll be sewing right now.

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The Perfect Gift~ The Compose Robe

Updated: 12/12/2025

Looking for a quick and easy gift idea? The Compose Robe to the rescue! I just love my Compose robe ~ it is definitely the most worn me-made garment in my closet. I actually wore my first one so much, I made a second one! EDIT~ I now have 3!

Today, 12/12/25 the Compose Robe pattern (Adults and Kids) is on sale for just $6! So go shop your stash and whip up some great gifts that everyone will LOVE!

Details

Why I love this pattern:

  • Makes THE perfect gift! (I made one for my sister for Christmas last year)
  • Quick and easy sew.
  • Beginner Friendly
  • Can be made in knit or woven fabrics.
  • Banded or hooded options
  • 2 different lengths available: Knee and Calf
  • Hanging loop included in pattern.
  • Can easily be made into a cardigan! (See this blog post)
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It’s Sloane Season Again!

…A Pattern Hack Blog Post

Every Autumn I am always excited to add a few new Love Notions Sloanes to my wardrobe. I’ll be honest, I already have about 50!!! Yes, I have been called the “Sloane Queen”. Since the Sloane Sweater is the Feature Friday $5 pattern this week, there is no better time to grab this versatile pattern! ($5 sale is over, but you can always purchase it with 10% off using my code listed at the end of this post.)

Last Fall I hacked the Sloane to have a funnel neck and I found I wore that version all winter! Then Spring came and I hacked the Sloane again to have a split hem. So naturally I decided to combine both of these hacks into one awesome sweater! I know this is going to get worn a lot this Winter!

If I’m being honest here, I typically don’t find apparel fabric that I love at Joann Fabrics. But, a few weeks ago I spotted this ribbed sweater knit that I really liked! Then it went on sale 40% off and I had an additional 20% off coupon~ so it came home with me!

This blog post is going to be short and simple with directions on completing the funnel neck and split hem hacks, If you want more details about the Sloane such as sizing and alterations that I make to fit me, visit this blog post HERE. This post also includes a ton of information on the different options , fabric types to use and ways to color block this pattern. It’s worth a visit~ there is a ton of detailed information there.

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The 5 Love Notions Patterns I’m Sewing This Fall

If you’re here on my blog today~ then you must have heard that Love Notions is having a site-wide sale this week, 10/3-10/7 2022. All patterns are 40% off! Not sure which patterns to add to your collection? To help you out I’ve put together a list of the 5 patterns that I’m sewing this Fall.

Be sure to read to the end to learn how YOU can win a free Boyfriend Cardigan pattern from me and a serger sewing machine from Love Notions!!! GIVEAWAY CLOSED

1. Aria Button down

Why?

OPTIONS!!!!

  • 3 Length Options: Shirt, Tunic and Dress(knee length)
  • 3 Sleeve Options: Sleeveless, Short, Long
  • 2 Collar Options: Banded and Standard Collar
  • Dress Options: Tie Belt or Drawstring Waist
  • Great pattern for someone new to shirt making
  • Great construction details, such a yoke burrito method and the tower placket on the sleeve.
  • AMAZING ARIA Course! A step-by-step on demand video tutorial is available for purchase.
Raobert Kaufman Cotton Flannel
Cotton Seersucker
The Plaid Aria is made from Robert Kaufman cotton flannel. It is a nice heavier weight flannel. Raspberry Creek Fabrics carries a nice selection of them. The color blocked Aria was my last summer make that I will wear into the Fall. It is made from seersucker purchased from Joann Fabrics.
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One Can Never Have Too Many Boyfriends…..Cardigans That Is!!

Updated: Jan 2026

I love the month of September. Where I live the crowds leave the beaches and it becomes what we call “local summer”. The days are warm enough to spend at the beach and in the ocean, but the nights turn cool and breezy. September is when I look forward to pulling out my cardigans! One of my most loved cardigans is the Boyfriend Cardigan from Love Notions.

The Boyfriend Cardigan is also a great layering piece for Winter too! I love wearing my heavier Boyfriends when the weather get really chilly.

What better way to keep warm than to sew up a Boyfriend Cardigan ! The Boyfriend Cardigan pattern for just $6 today, 1/23/26. (The Girl’s Boyfriend is also just $6 today!).

Back in 2022 these were “My Three Favorite Boyfriends”
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The La Bella Donna~ For “The Beautiful Women”

There are some patterns that are so good, you just sew them over and over. Imagine a top that makes you look great on your good days AND bad days. A top that is forgiving when you gain a few pounds here and there. A top that always makes you feel good about yourself. Sound too good to be true? Nope~ the Love Notions La Bella Donna or the LBD as we like to call it truly lives up to it’s name. “The Beautiful Woman” is exactly who you will be when wearing this top or tunic.

To see how I created one of my favorite Tee shirts, scroll down to see how I combine the LBD with the Classic Tee.

Custom Cottom Bamboo from RCF!
Custom Print Rib Knit from Raspberry Creek Fabrics
Waffle Knit from Joanns Fabrics
Notice that the LBD on in the right looks larger than the other two. They are the same size! The waffle knit doesn’t have the best recovery, so after wearing it appears a bit larger.
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Pick Your Own Feature Friday!!

Offer Expired!

If interested in future Love Notions pattern sale, subscribe to my blog. I will always announce sales on my blog!

$5 off One Love Notions Pattern Of Your Choice!

Left: Aria in Dress, Shirt and Tunic lengths Right: Rhapsody with Cap and Bishop sleeves

Have you ever missed a pattern when it was the $5 Feature Friday?

(For anyone new to Love Notions, every Friday one pattern is on sale for just $5 for 24 hours)

Don’t want to pay full price for it now?

Don’t want to wait for a site-wide sale?

Now is your chance!!! You can grab any ONE Love Notions pattern at a reduced price when you use my exclusive code!

Use the code: 5FFMARYMAC for $5 off any Love Notions pattern***

Go ahead and grab that pattern you missed on sale.

Snatch that pattern you’ve been looking at awhile.

Add to your pattern library (because if you’re like me you have a huge fabric AND pattern collection).

But, do it TODAY! This coupon code is good only today, Friday 7/29/2022.

***Remember it can only be used once, it will not work on the newly released Saltwhistle or any other reduced price pattern. This is the ONLY time you can not combine my 10% coupon code(MARYMAC10).

Need help deciding which pattern to grab? Check out my lists below.

These are the patterns I’ve used the most this summer:

Rhapsody, Sunday Romper and Aria (tunic lunch)
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Sew Scallops For Summer

The Saltwhistle from Love Notions

The Saltwhistle peplum top and dress is such a cute and flirty sew! It’s just perfect for summer( and Fall)! I didn’t test this pattern, but as a Love Notions Ambassador I was able to get my hands on it a few days early so that I could whip one up. In just a couple hours, I had this cute little summer peplum top with an adorable scalloped hem!

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