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.

Raspberry Creek Fabrics Suit Up For Summer ~ Swim Tour 2022

Hi Friends!! I am so excited to be back again for the Raspberry Creek Fabrics Suit Up For Summer Swim Tour of 2022! This is my third year participating in this tour and the fabrics just keep getting better and better. How is that possible!?!?! Make sure to read to the end of the post for GIVEAWAY details!!

DISCLAIMER: If you’re looking to see cute swimsuits sewn up in beautiful RCF swim fabrics- you won’t find them here. BUT– you will see some other ways you can use this awesome swim fabric from RCF! Hopefully my blog post today will inspire you to grab some of these awesome swim fabrics and make something other than a swimsuit! Because we all know swim fabric isn’t just for bathing suits anymore!!!

As soon as I found out I would be on the tour again this year, I knew exactly what the first thing I would make would be! I LOVE the UPF50+ pullovers sold by Lilly Pulitzer. So, my first mission was to recreate my own version with RCF swim fabric. I selected this awesome Paint Swirl Print from the Trends Collection. Let me tell you~ this was a favorite among the promo team! In fact the Trends Collection is so awesome I wish I could have every single design! I grabbed my beloved Love Notions Constellation Pullover pattern to create my dream pullover! I honestly wore this 2 days in a row after taking photos and I’ve gotten so many compliments on it! I never knew I needed a pullover in swim fabric~ now I need to make another one asap!

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Wrapping Up Winter~ in the Love Notions Whistler

If you’re looking for a great pullover pattern filled with options~ the Whistler just might be the pattern for you! I’ll be honest, I never thought it was really my style. Then last winter Tessa at Love Notions sent me the pattern and asked if I would sew one up for a promotion. And now~ it’s one of my favorite pullovers to wear!

You can grab yours TODAY only~ 1/31/25for just $5! Make sure you use my coupon code- MARYMAC10 for an additional 10% off!

Details

The Whistler sweater and hoodie is a loose fitting pullover with an interesting inset yoke. It can be made with a shawl collar (my favorite version) or a hood. The BEST detail about this sweater is the inset pockets. If you like to carry your phone around with you~ these pockets are the best!

The options are endless! There are three lengths to choose from: top, tunic and dress. You can also choose between a banded hem or a straight hem. At the inset you can opt for a flat or gathered front.(All my versions have the gathered front). This sweater requires 2 buttons( functional or not- I just sewed mine through all layers).

The skill level is listed as intermediate, but I think an advanced beginner could tackle this. The video links in the tutorial are excellent! This pattern looks a lot harder than it actually is! I found it to be a surprisingly quick, fun and satisfying sew!

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Lincoln Top Joins the Love Notions Family

As a Love Notions Ambassador, I was lucky to be able to test the new Lincoln top pattern! If you’re looking for something quick, a little different and the perfect sew to get you out of the mid-March slump–this is the pattern for you! Believe it or not, It’s a fast and fun sew!

Make sure to grab the pattern today (2/09/24) for just $5! Use my code, 10MARYMAC for an additional 10% off at any time.

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The Terra Tunic Gets an Update!

The Terra Tunic from Love Notions has gotten a long awaited update! This is such a versatile pattern that can easily update your work and casual wardrobes! As a Love Notions ambassador I was able to test this pattern and sew up a few versions. You’re gonna need this pattern, trust me!

The Terra Tunic is the $5 Feature Friday pattern for Friday 1/24/25. You can grab the pattern HERE. Use my code MARYMAC10 for an additional 10% off.

The Details

The Terra Tunic is a straight fitting top, not too fitted and not too oversized. The chunky 2 1/2″ hem with side vents is one of my favorite features of this pattern. The back is slightly longer than the front, giving you plenty of coverage.

The Terra has 6- yes 6 neckline options: scoop, V-Neck, funnel, asymmetrical, boatneck and V-neck hood. Also included are 4 sleeve lengths: short, elbow, 3/4 and long. (As you can see, I am a big fan of 3/4 sleeves.) Optional welt pockets and elbow patches are also included.

The best thing about the Terra is that you can fill your closet with them. By mixing and matching the different options in addition to different fabric types you can create many unique tops!

My newest obsession right now is the V-neck hood version. I typically never make the hooded version of things, because I always feel that the hood is choking me. I just love the look and feel of this V-neck hood. I made 2 of this version and have another one (or 2) planned.

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Fitting The New Fraser Cardigan

The New Fraser Cardigan from Love Notions is here! Buy the pattern now and sew up your own in time for the new season of Outlander coming on March 6! Be sure to scroll to the end for the pattern link and an extra discount coupon from me! The pattern is on sale for just $5 today 2/28/25.

I will be totally honest here, I have never worn a Cocoon style cardigan before. I always felt like they never fit me correctly and always looked a tad frumpy on me. This is what I love about being a Love Notions Ambassador, when testing new patterns, I am often pushed out of my comfort zone when it comes to styles. And I will also admit that I NEEDED to test this pattern since my family tree includes MacKenzies and Frasers(all you Outlander fans will understand that!)

Rather than just simply review this new pattern and give you all the details, I figured I would pass on my fitting tips for this cardigan. I hope you find them helpful, especially if you’re a “petite pear” like me!

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The LBD Laundry Day Tee Dress

(The Little Black Dress Laundry Day Tee Dress)

Make sure you read to the end to find a coupon code!

LDT dress with a Boyfriend Cardigan- a PERFECT combination!

I think most of my followers know that I LOVE the Laundry Day Tee Dress from Love Notions! If you didn’t know that, I suggest you click HERE and read all about my love of the LDT dress.

This past Spring and Summer I basically lived in my LDT dresses. Partly because they are so comfortable and partly because I’m dealing with some post COVID fluffiness. As the temperature started to drop and leaves started to change I realized I needed a Fall LDT dress.

So, I shopped my stash and came across a beautiful heavy weight black rib knit that I had purchased from Boho Fabrics last year. I thought to myself, “What if I make a solid black Laundry Day Tee dress?!” And the rest is history!!

The LDT became my LBD! Never could I have ever realized that this one dress would get worn as much as it already has been!

To make this the perfect Fall dress, I made my first 3/4 sleeve version. I did slim the sleeve just a tad so it wouldn’t get pushed up when wearing it under a jacket or cardigan. Other than that one change, I made it exactly the same as all my other LDT dresses. (For fitting and fabric tips, see my original LDT Blog Post HERE.)

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Holiday Blog Tour with Raspberry Creek Fabrics

I was so excited to be asked to join in on this Blog Tour for Raspberry Creek Fabrics! As some of you may know, previously I was a Strike-Off sewist and member of their Blog Promo team. When they approached me about being part of this Holiday Tour, I couldn’t say no!

My challenge was to create Holiday Pajamas with any fabric that Raspberry Creek Fabrics has to offer.

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My Top 5 Love Notions Patterns

In honor of the 40% site wide sale over at Love Notions this week- I decided to give you a run down of the 5 Love Notions that I use the most! These are the patterns I use over and over again to create my wardrobe.

Make sure you read to the very end of this blog post for some really exciting news!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Sloane Sweater

What I love about this pattern:

  • The versatility of this pattern is never ending!
  • Amazing options to choose from: hood, pockets, yoke, elbow patches, 2 body styles
  • Hackability: the Sloane is so easy and fun to hack.
  • Easy to achieve a good fit- it makes a great pattern to use for gifts

Click HERE to see my blog post all about my Sloanes. You can read about several hacks and RTW copycats that I have created. All the Sloanes below are made from sweater knit and are the ones I am wearing most this Fall. My blog post features Sloanes made with French Terry and other fabrics.

Hood option in sweater knit
Funnel Collar Hack
Basic Crew neck in sweater knit
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The Arlington~ The Perfect Transitional Sweater & More!

A Favorite in the Love Notions Family!

The Arlington Sweater is the $6 Feature Friday Pattern today, 10/17/2025. It is such a great pattern for the transitional weather most of us are having right now. Be sure to use my code 10MACSEWS for an additional 10% off.

As a Love Notions Ambassador, I was able to get my hands on this pattern before it was released. Let me tell you – it’s a pretty awesome pattern–one that so many have been asking for over and over! It is such a classic with enough options that take it from a basic turtleneck to something extra special!

THE DETAILS

The Arlington includes 3 body styles: shirt length, banded shirt and dress length. There are 3 necklines to choose from: Turtleneck, mock neck and cowl. It also has 5, yes 5 sleeve options: Long, Elbow, Short Puffed, Long Puffed and Bishop. With all these options there are so many different combinations you can make with just this one pattern! Talk about bang for your buck!

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