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 $5 today, 3/21/25 and you can get an extra 10% off by using the code MARYMAC10.

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The Classic Clef Coat Joins the Love Notions Line Up

A New Pattern Release Review

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.

The Clef Coat is on release week pricing from Friday, 1/12/2024 through Thursday 1/18/2024 for just $9.50. After release it will sell for $12.50. You can use my code 10LOVEMARY for an extra 10% off.

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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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The Frankie Polo ~ An Updated Classic From Love Notions

There is nothing more classic than a preppy polo shirt here in the Northeast. Love Notions has taken that classic polo shirt and updated it for a new modern look! The Frankie Polo shirt and dress is the perfect addition to a classic wardrobe!

Tha Frankie Polo is the Feature Friday pattern, 7/4/25. You can grab this today for just $6. If you use the code 10MARYMAC you will get an additional 10% off.

I was lucky to test the Frankie and I’m so happy I did! It’s the perfect addition to my Fall wardrobe and I can see myself making several more. It will be perfect for layering with vests and sweaters this Fall and Winter. Come spring, I can’t wait to sew up a few short sleeved versions. I think my favorite thing about the Frankie is the option of a woven collar and placket. All those adored scraps of fabric I’ve been holding on to~ can now be used up in my Frankies!

Update 7/3/2025: My Frankie Plans For Summer

This summer I have so many sewing plans, but one of them on my list is a short sleeve Frankie made from a solid color knit with a woven collar and placket. Simply dive into your scrap bin to find something perfect! I have these old shirts (that haven’t fit for years) that I have been holding on to because I LOVE the fabric. My plan is to cut them up and use them for the collar and placket on a new Frankie! I think they will be soooo cute!!

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The Breckenridge Henley~ A Not So Basic Basic

Need a few more basics in your closet this Fall? The Breckenridge Henley is a great top for layering or all by itself.

The Breckenridge is the Love Notions $5 Feature Friday pattern today, 10/20/23. Be sure to grab yours! Remember to use my code LOVEMARY10 for an additional 10% off. As a Love Notions Ambassador, I always try to sew up the Feature Friday pattern if I haven’t made one before. Keep reading to learn more about mine! Scroll even further to see the vest hack I made!!!

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It’s Time to Tailgate!

New Release from Love Notions for Men (and the Sideline for Boys too!)

The Tailgate Sweatshirt and Hoodie has just been released along with the Sideline Sweatshirt for Boys. I wasn’t an official tester for this pattern, but as a Love Notions Ambassador I did get an advanced copy of the pattern. So I decided to quickly sew up a Tailgate for my husband (who sadly doesn’t get many me-mades). I was promptly “”informed” at I need to sew a few more of these. I guess that means I “need” to go fabric shopping!!

The Tailgate and Sideline will both be on release pricing until Monday, 10/23/2023. The Tailgate is just $9.50 and the Sideline is just $7.50. Remember to use my code LOVEMARY10 for an additional 10% off.

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Love Notions Rockford Raglan Round-Up

(Updated 10/12/2023 with some new photos)
View A
Baby French Terry
View A- Long Sleeve with Cuff
Rib Knit from Stylemaker Fabrics
View D
Hack Sweater Knit- Mily Mae Fabrics

The Details

The Rockford Raglan is the perfect beginner pattern! It’s also a quick and satisfying sew for any sewist! It’s one of my most used patterns and I love how it can be so versatile!

The Rockford Raglan features 3 different versions. View A and B are fitted at the bust and flowy through the waist and hips. View C (which I have yet to make) has a slimmer fit and an asymmetrical hem. View D has a straighter boxier fit with a banded hem.

There are three sleeve options: short, 3/4 sleeve and long sleeves- with or without cuffs. There are two lengths included as well, top or tunic.

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Sew a Coastal Preppy Wardrobe for Fall with Sew Mary Mac

Love Notions 40% off ALL Patterns and Courses this week 10/2-10/6

This week, October 2-6, 2023, all Love Notions patterns and courses will be 40% off! This doesn’t happen very often, so I highly suggest grabbing any patterns and courses you really want to sew up soon! You can use my code LOVEMARY10 which will give you an additional 10% off the sale prices. I will also be giving away one Love Notions pattern to one of my blog readers. Make sure you read to the end to learn how you can enter! (GIVEAWAY ENDED)

The “Coastal Grandma” aesthetic has been getting a lot of attention the past year or so. This is mainly due to a TikTok trend. But, where I live (and where my family is from) ~ it’s been around for a long time and it’s always how we dress!

For the Spring Sale last May, I wrote up a blog post on this trend and talked about how I created a “Coastal Preppy” wardrobe with Love Notions patterns.  For this Fall sale, I decided to share how I was going to be using Love Notions pattern for my Fall Coastal Preppy wardrobe. I had hoped to have more garments sewn up to show, but in September we are away quite a bit. Living by the coast, it’s always the best time to enjoy the some of our favorite places that are often very crowded in the Summer months. (Block Island always calls to me in September). So, in this blog post you’ll get to see a few older makes along with a few new makes and some pattern/fabric match-ups that I’ve picked out.

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