Cue the Beach Boys: Coverups

It might just be me, but I think it's kind of awkward to just walk around in a bikini, when you aren't in the water or sprawled on the sand. My favorite is the ol' tshirt and shorts combo- but this spring I decided to get creative and from my own pattern, make a romper. Needless to say, it didn't work out so well, as I haven't posted anything on it. It was basically due to my ditziness; I sewed the wrong pieces together. So I don't know if I may continue, but if I don't, here's a few of my other pics.

Romper: This style is my ideal beach cover up- it's so easy to slip on and off for impromptu dips after a bit of tanning (not that I tan, us redheads BURN).
My favorite pattern has probably been already posted, but I'll post it again!
LINK: Click here to access the free pattern!
This particular pattern as cute details that make this cover up stellar- such as the subtle ruching on the bodice! Check out some past projects made with this pattern!

Sorry it's so tiny! The full picture included the maker's head, and I didn't want to violate privacy. Don't worry, you can find it on the sewer's BurdaStyle page: Heleen de Haan.

Romper #2: This pattern is slightly classier, with belt loops and a V Neck, but it is still perfectly awesome for the beach. My advice? Buy a cute Hawiann Floral for a perfect swimsuit match!
Link: Access this free pattern here!
Some Finished Products:

But Romping aside, there's plenty of other ways to cover yourself up. Take sarongs, for example. Though slightly tinier then my past two options, they are a great way to go from the beach to your next destination!

Sarong #1: This sarong is more of a dress option- basically just a rectangle that you can tie- but that leaves lots of room for variation in length! Try making one in a cute print!

Link: To access the tutorial, click here.

Sarong B: This is the skirt variation, with a tutorial from a different site.



Link: To access the tutorial, click here.

What the end result looks like:

Sorry that this isn't the best post ever- but it still has lots of good information and places to find great sewing patterns without spending a dime.

So Happy Sewing!

Lilly :)

Cue the Beach Boys: Beach Bag Edition

With only a week or so of school left, I bet you already probably know what's on my Floridian mind: The beach. After a fruitless spring of sewing, I've decided that during this vacation, nothing's gonna stop me from creating the stuff of my dreams. This post is a compiliation of all the components for a day of fun in the sun, along with tutorials and fabric suggestions. Have fun!

I bet that most all of you have a trusty beach bag (probably not just one) tucked away in some corner of your house. But if mine's anything like yours, its drab. After all, just because there's a little sand involved doesn't mean that we have to throw style to the wind, right? Here's a few patterns that caught my eye when looking for this essential piece.

Refresh With Mesh: This Beach Bag is made mostly with mesh and just a bit of grosgrain ribbon- cute and functional!
The End Result:

My picks: Try using an ocean blue toned mesh with tangerine ribbon for a fun summer look!

Find the Instructions at this URL: http://www.marthastewart.com/273704/mesh-bag

Upcycled Towel Bag: This project is great for achieving a patchwork look and it uses up scraps of towels, too. If you don't want to part with any of yours, just go to a dollar store- they will have cheap finds there that will serve the purpose quite nicely!

The End Result:

My Picks: If you don't want to use scraps from an array of towels, try just making it out of one- you can either use the squares and follow the tutorial, or you can cut off two two inch strips from the short ends of the towel and then sew up the long sides. Try using a zebra print towel and neon green straps for a "totally teenage" (that term was "crazily cheesy") look.

Find the Instructions Here: http://alisaburke.blogspot.com/2010/05/beach-towel-tote-tutorial.html

Stay tuned over the next few weeks as I reveal cute patterns/ tutorials for SWIMSUITS, sunhats, COVERUPS, and more!
Happy Sewing,
Lilly!