Archives

My Favorite Combination= Love Notions + Style Maker Fabrics

First……….A Little About Me Made May

Happy Me Made May! Are you participating? I’ve participated the last few years, but this year I decided to sit out. I’m still enjoying following along on Instagram with everyone else! It’s a great way to find new patterns, new fabric resources and new sewing “friends”. If you aren’t familiar with Me Made May, you can read all about it here.

I’m not participating for a few reasons. I wear Me Mades everyday, so I don’t “have to try to wear them each day”. My oldest daughter is getting married this week, so I’ve been pretty busy with that. What I decided to do for Me Made May this year, was to pull things from my closet that I don’t typically reach for. I’m wearing them and then deciding whether to keep them or pass them on. A few items I’ve worn for an hour or so, then I found they annoyed me for some reason or another~ in this case I changed and put that item into my donate pile.

Me Made May is also a great time to evaluate your wardrobe and see what gaps your wardrobe may have. So, that may mean buying some new fabrics to help fill those gaps! Who doesn’t love buying new fabrics!

These are all versions of the Rhapsody Blouse. All these of these rayons are still available.

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Four New Arias For Spring

…Adding to My Coastal Preppy Wardrobe with the Love Notions Aria

The Aria Button Down is on sale today, Friday 4/4/2025 for just $6! If you purchase the Aria on-demand course for $25 today, you get the pattern for free. My code LOVEMARY10LN, can be used if purchasing the course or just the pattern. The course is regularly $30.

A classic button down is always a staple in any coastal preppy wardrobe. Worn open over a tee is such a classic coastal thing to do! It can also be worn under a cardigan or blazer. In the NorthEast by the coast, our mornings and evenings are often cool. Long sleeve shirts are really worn year round! I wear mine all Spring and Summer! When the weather gets hot I simply roll up my sleevesI My linen and seersucker Arias are some of my most worn! Want to read more about my “Coastal Preppy Wardrobe” and which Love Notions patterns I use to create it? Check out this blog post!

Nervous about sewing a button down shirt? No need to be! There is an awesome sewing course you can purchase that holds your hand every step of the way. Detailed information on the course can be found below. I have personally viewed the entire course and must say it is amazing!

These are the four new Arias button downs that I added to my closet these past 2 weeks. When I have several garments from the same pattern planned, I often batch cut, batch prep and batch sew.

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Spring Ahead With The Oakley Vest

…A Mini Tutorial: Quilting Your Own Fabric For The Oakley Vest

  • The Oakley and Acorn Vests are on sale Friday, 3/8/24 for just $5 each! Remember to use code 10MARYMAC for an additional 10% off.

When we think about sewing up a vest, we often think about our Fall and Winter wardrobes. I realized that last Spring and Summer that I wore my light pink fleece Love Notions Oakley way more than I ever expected to! (You can see photos of it at the end of this blog post). It was then I that I decided that one of my first early Spring makes was going to be a new Oakley just for the warmer months!

When I begin to plan my warm weather makes, I always lean towards my “go-to” colors: pinks, bright greens, navy and of course white. I also LOVE sewing and wearing linen during that time of year. So of course, I decided I wanted a white linen vest with a fun “coastal and preppy” lining. So I started by search for quilted linens~ and nope, there were none to be found. So I did what I needed to and quilted my own!

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Going Casual and Coastal With The New Aurora Tunic

~ A New Pattern Review

Edited : The Aurora Dress and Tunic is the Feature Friday pattern today 3/28/2025. Pattern is just $5- with an additional 10% off if you use the code MARYMAC10.

I have been looking at all the tester’s versions over the last week or so~ and it’s such a great classic pattern yet has an updated twist. Be sure to visit the Love Notions Facebook Group (or the pattern listing) to see all of the amazing versions.

I didn’t test the Aurora pattern~ but as a Love Notions Ambassador I did get a copy in advance. (A perk of being an Ambassador!). I couldn’t wait to sew one up!

If you follow my sewing journey here at Sew Mary Mac or on Facebook or Instagram, then you know that my style is very “Coastal grandma/preppy”. So, of course I had to make my Aurora Tunic fit my life style!

The Aurora is a classic yet modern dress or tunic. The Dress version is fitted at the waist, while the Tunic has more ease in the waist and hip areas. The Aurora is so versatile~ it can be dressier or more casual depending on your fabric choice. My favorite things about this pattern~ the fit, the pockets and the ruched sleeve!

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Love Notions Lincoln Top~ Making it Longer ~ Updated Feb 2024

….A Mini Pattern Hack Blog Post

I don’t know about you~ but I’m ready to sew for Spring. I always like to add a few transitional pieces to my closet this time of year. Things I can wear now and right into the warmer weather. I tested the Lincoln Top pattern from Love Notions back in 2022. I fell in love with this pattern because of the cute button side detail and that it’s a pretty quick sew.  Last year I made I made a longer version and loved it so much! So for 2024, I made another long version and changed the neckline!

Have you made a Lincoln Top yet? The Lincoln Top is just $5 today, 2/7/25.  Use my code MARYMAC10 to get an additional 10% off.

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Viva La Vivace

A Versatile Pattern from Love Notions

Looking for a quick sew? Want something as comfy as a basic Tee, but elevated? Then the Vivace Dolman is the perfect pattern for you! I’ll be honest, when this pattern first was released, I had no interest in making one because dolman sleeves typically don’t look great on me. I should know better by now, because I think every Love Notions Dolman top looks good on me ( the La Bella Donna and Melody).  Last year when it was the $5 Friday pattern, I quickly sewed one up and I kicked myself for not sewing one up sooner. Its’ relaxed fit makes it cool to wear in warmer weather yet it’s also perfect in the cooler weather layered underneath a cardigan. And I just LOVE the cute overlapped V-neck!

In honor of today’s Feature Friday, I’ve sewn up another Vivace ( it’s hot off the machine!!) AND written a blog post all about it!The Vivace is just $6 today, 2/27/26. If you place an order of $8 or more you can get an extra 10% off by using the code 10MACSEWS.

My newest version!
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The Classic Clef Coat Joins the Love Notions Line Up

Love Notions is starting the new year off with a bang!!! The Clef Coat is that pattern that you didn’t know you needed. I was lucky enough to test this pattern, and believe me I am a BIG fan of this one! This pattern is so versatile depending on your fabric choice.

Today, 2/13/26 isn’t a bad luck day, it’s actually a lucky day because the $6 Friday Pattern is actually 3 patterns! The whole Clef Coat Collection is on sale today, each one just $6 a piece. If you purchase 2 or 3 of the Clef Coat pattern you can get an additional 10% off by using my code 10MACSEWS. This means the Ladies Clef Coat, the Mens Bass Clef CoatAND the Kids Treble Clef Coat are all on sale.

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Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall~ the Constellation Does It All!

It’s hard to believe that with a closet FULL of Love Notions Constellations, that I’ve never written a blog post about them! This pattern has really become a go-to for me. I wear them year round! I find it a great alternative to a “hoodie” or basic sweatshirt. It’s just as comfortable, yet looks so much more “polished”. It sews up so nicely in a variety of fabrics, which truly makes it suitable for all four seasons!

All 3 Pullovers- the Ladies Constellation, Men’s North Star and Kids Navigator are just $6 Friday, 12/19/2025. Remember to use my code 10MACSEWS45 for an extra 10% off.

Quilted Knit
Cotton French Terry/RCF
SPF50 Swim Knit/RCF
Sweatshirt Fleece/RCF

Above you can see my Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall versions! Four different fabric bases perfect for four different seasons! As you can see, my favorite version is the collared version with the curved hem.

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Warm Up With Love Notions

30% off ALL Love Notions Patterns and Courses All Week!

Happy New Year! What better way to kick off the new year than with a sale of our favorite patterns?!? Now is the time to treat yourself to a few new LN patterns that you’ve wanted for awhile. Just in case you need a little help~ here are my favorite Love Notions patterns for winter sewing. The sale runs from Monday 1/8/2023 through Friday 1/12/2023.  Sale includes all pattern except the newest release (the Encore Skirt) and courses. Remember to use my code 10MARYMAC for an additional 10% off. 

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Love Notions Ends The Year With An Encore!!

………….A Pattern Review (updated 10/2025)

So how many encores are too many? In the case of Love Notions’s Encore Skirt pattern, the answer to that question would be~ there could never be too many! 

Back in 2023, I didn’t test this pattern, but I did get my hands on a copy of it and was able to sew up 2 different versions of this new skirt. As a person who doesn’t wear skirts very often (I usually prefer dresses), I have to admit I really like this one!! 

The Encore Skirt is the Feature Friday pattern and is available today, 10/31/2025 for just $6. You can get an additional 10% off by using my code 10MACSEWS.

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