DISCLAIMER: If you’re expecting to see cute swimsuits sewn up in beautiful Raspberry Creek Fabric swim fabrics- you won’t find them here. (ok~ maybe at the very end.) 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!!! The fact that Raspberry Creek Swim fabric is UPF 50+ makes it great for any day/activity out in the sun.
The Timbre Top and Dress pattern from Love Notions is here and what perfect timing! Over on the Northeast Coast, we’ve been having much hotter and humid weather than normal. This top/dress is PERFECT for hot sticky days!
I was so excited to test the new Timbre top and dress, so excited that I kept sewing them up. Every time I looked in my stash I thought, “Wow, this would make a cute Timbre!” I LOVE this pattern and I’m positive that you’re going to love it too! It reminds me of one of the first things I ever sewed for myself back in the 70’s~ and I think I just may have to recreate it!
The Timbre Top and Dress pattern is the $6 Feature Friday pattern today August 1, 2025. You can use my code 10MARYMAC for an additional 10% off.
The Clearwater Summer Essentials is the newest member of the Love Notions family ~ and it’s a winner in my book! I can’t believe I sewed a swimsuit AND I actually wear and like it!!
Update 6/27/2025~ In honor of the Girls Clearwater Summer Essentials pattern that released today, both the girls AND Ladies patterns are on sale for just $6 ALL WEEKEND! You can use my code 10MARYMAC for an additional 10% off.
Although I am not new to sewing swim fabrics, last year this was the first time I ever attempted sewing a swimsuit for myself. Oh how I wish the new sewing course was available last year! I read so many blogs and watched so many videos to find all the tips I could. But~ you are so lucky because Tami and Katie Grimm (another Love Notions Ambassador) have put together a Clearwater Sewing Course that basically holds your hand as you sew this pattern! This sewing course is $25 and is sooooo worth it! This weekend only (6/27/25-6/27/2025) if you purchase the course you can get either the girls or ladies Clearwater pattern for FREE!
If someone told me a year ago that I’d be sewing my own swimsuit this summer~ I would have laughed and said “NO WAY”. I LOVE sewing garments in swim knits. But, I have NEVER really had an interest in sewing an actual swimsuit before. I always thought it would be way to hard to fit my petite yet curvy/busty shape.
I didn’t test this pattern, but as a Love Notions Ambassador I receive a copy early. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect! Needless to say, I am thrilled with my new swim dress. I have already taken it for a swim AND I’ve ordered another piece of swim fabric to make another!
…A Mini Pattern Hack Blog Post~ Turning The Game Day Into A Nightgown
The Game Day Jersey is the perfect pattern to make your own “team” jerseys, but this pattern can be so much more!! I’ve modified this pattern into my favorite nightgown pattern!!! It took a few tries to get it just right, but now I have the perfect nightgown pattern!!!
There is a whole family of Game Day Jerseys available: Women’s, Men’s and Kids. Today, Friday June 28 they are all on sale for $5 each as the Love Notions Feature Friday patterns! Use code 10LOVEMARY for an additional 10% off.
You can read my detailed post about the Game Day Jersey HERE. This post has all the details, sizing and fabric informations you may want to know. There are also some tips for sewing up your own Game Day Jerseys.
The Caprice Skirt pattern has just been released by Love Notions. It’s the perfect item your Spring and Summer wardrobe needs! I was lucky enough to test this pattern and it gets my stamp of approval! I have already made 3 of the 5 options and I love each one of them!
The Caprice Skirt is the Feature Friday pattern Friday, May 2, 2025 for the very first time!! It’s just $6! You can use my code LOVEMARY10LN for an extra 10% off.
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.
When I tested the Clef Coat and made a few versions back in January, in the back of my mind, I knew it would be perfect for a Summer vacation coat! We spend a lot of time on the New England Coast where jackets are always needed in the evenings and when out on the water.
I purchased this madras patchwork fabric at the end of last summer from Cali Fabrics. At the time, I didn’t know what I would make with it. But, once I made my first Clef Coat a few months ago~ I knew it would be perfect for a Summer Clef Coat. I decided to really get a lot of use out of this coat that I would line it. I used a knit Loop French Terry from Raspberry Creek Fabrics to line my newest Clef. It was much easier to do than you might think!
…Fabric Choices For the Love Notions Tinley Skirt & Skort
Updated with new Tinley photos July 2024
Last August (2023) the Tinley Skort, Shorts and Skirt was released. I was days away from my 2 week vacation in Coastal Maine, but I quickly sewed one up and packed it to go. I can’t tell you how much I wore it! I wore it so much that when planning my summer/vacation wardrobe I sewed up a few new ones!
The Tinley is on sale today, Friday 5/16/2025 for just $6! Remember to use my new code LOVEMARY10LN for an additional 10% off.
*This blog post is all about the fabric choices I made for my straight skirt/skort version of the Tinley. If you want all the details on the Tinley be sure to visit this blog post. There you will find all the pattern details, how I adjusted it to fit my petite pear shape, the modifications I made and a few sewing tips too!
The Tinley can be made from both knit or woven fabrics. If you have a knit in your stash that doesn’t have enough stretch for your other patterns, this is the perfect pattern to use. (As I typed this last sentence I was reminded of a gray French Terry in my stash that I haven’t used yet for exactly that reason! I think it’s destined to be a Tinley!)
…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!
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!
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.
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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