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 have two grown daughters, 29 and 33 who now both work in NYC (actually still working from home since March 2020). One is a graphic designer and the other is a textile designer.
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 late 50’s, it’s very hard to buy clothing that fits, is trendy and I love.
I do sew mostly for myself but sometimes my oldest daughter “commissions” me to make a few things for her and she takes me fabric shopping in the city as my payment.
The newest pattern from Love Notions is here and it’s a good one! The Coda Quilted Coat is the perfect piece to add to your outerwear collection. I’ve made mine from a bed quilt from Home Goods! The possibilities are endless!
The Coda Coat is the perfect pattern that helped me create a “Coastal Grandma” style coat for my wardrobe. I must warn you though, this pattern is dangerous. Ever since I made mine, I spend hours of dreaming different ways to make another one. And yes, I will be making another one! The Coda is addictive~ you can’t make just one!! Be sure to grab my code at the bottom of this post to get the 10% off the pattern.
There are 2 great things happening at Love Notions Patterns today! First, the Metra Blazer is the $5 Feature Friday pattern. (2/3/23). Second, the new Metra Blazer Course launches today!!
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 TERRYPONTE KNITBOTH FABRICS FROM RASPBERRY CREEK FABRICSContinue reading →
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!)Continue reading →
Love Notions New Year’s 30% Off Sale (New 10%off code is SEWMARY10)
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.
Love Notions Patterns are on sale 30% off between Monday, Jan 2 through Friday Jan 6, 2023. In addition you may use my coupon code (SEWMARY10) for an additional 10% off. Be sure to read to the end of my post to learn how you can win a free Love Notions pattern from me! (GIVEAWAY OVER)
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.
Today, 11/25/22 the Compose Robe pattern (Adults and Kids) is on sale for just $5! So go shop your stash and whip up some great gifts that everyone will LOVE! (Sale is over, but you can always use my discount code at the bottom of this post)
Details
Why I love this pattern:
Makes THE perfect gift! (I made one for my sister for Christmas last year)
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.
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 meand 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 FlannelCotton SeersuckerThe 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.Continue reading →
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.
What better way to celebrate the arrival of September than to grab the Boyfriend Cardigan pattern for just $5 today (9/02/2022)
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 Print Rib Knit from Raspberry Creek FabricsWaffle Knit from Joanns FabricsCustom Peach Print for Peach Picking!Notice that the LBD on in the center looks larger than the other two. They are the same size! The waffle knit in the middle doesn’t have the best recovery, so after wearing it appears a bit larger.Continue reading →
Left: Aria in Dress, Shirt and Tunic lengthsRight: 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:
Hello! Welcome to my blog. I'm Mary, a retired Family & Consumer Science teacher of 32 years. I now spend my time making all my own clothes because I'm fun! I have an amazing daughter who made this blog for me.
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