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1.03.2010

Oh Suzanna Smock ePattern giveaway

I love reconstructions. Not only are they usually less expensive than using virgin fabric (I can buy two grocery bags stuffed full of adult shirts for $5 here at one particular thrift shop) but, if I do it right, I can avoid having to do any of the tedious stuff like buttons, while having some sophisticated details - all already done for me. Best of all, it's quick! I don't think I have to convince anyone with children the value of being able to make a garment in a nap time (or in less time than a Dora DVD).

Generally, I use patterns in my reconstructions because I find that they allow me to have the correct fit and do not take any longer than guessimating. I actually think they save time in the end by reducing the number of botched garments sent away for scraps because they ended up fitting odd. Perhaps the pattern route is less adventurous, but wasting precious time sucks even more. Plus, I always end up eating too many cookies after wards, soothing my feeling of failure over having made something unwearable.

So, because I love the reconstruction so much, I've decided to put together a little ePattern for revamping an adult shirt to a child's smock peasant blouse style. You've already seen a version of it here, it here, and I know some of you will recognize that it's a variation on my basic peasant blouse pattern, which is no longer available in the shop.

I'm calling it the Oh Suzanna Smock, mostly because of Smootch's country girl look she's been cultivating lately:


(Can you tell she's been missing her home back in Alberta? My little punk has gone all cowgirl on me.)

The Oh Suzanna Smock epattern has pattern pieces for girls sizes 2-7. There is an option for making your own gathered sleeves or using the pre-existing cuffs from your reconstructed shirt:


You can also re-use the pockets or create your own with a pattern piece:


There is, actually, a whole pattern there that could be put together with virgin fabric. The whole pdf package is 18 pages, with 11 of those being pattern pieces.

Would anyone like a copy before I list it in the shop tomorrow night? To enter a draw for the Oh Suzanna ePattern giveaway, just leave a comment on this post. I will randomly choose a comment (via random.org) Monday (January 4th) at 9:00 PM (pacific time) and sent the winner a pdf file containing the pattern.

Happy commenting!

*******************************************************************

Thank you thank you thank you for playing! Thanks for all the wonderful comments - you all say such lovely things, it's no wonder why I'm hooked on this blogging thing :D

I just drew Anxiously Hopeful's number (who has a picture of her gorgeous fresh one on her blog that makes me feel all broody). Congrats Anxious on the babe and I hope you enjoy your pattern too.

For anyone else interested in acquiring the Oh Suzanna Smock ePattern by another route, I am listing the pattern tonight on Etsy, where it can be yours for a measly $4 US.

I'll be back soon!

141 comments:

  1. What a great way to recycle!!!
    I do alot of charity sewing for kids and this peasant blouse recycled from shirts is going to make many little girls very happy!!! I love how you incorporated the shirt cuffs and pockets with the original 'snaps' into the construction of this! I am visualizing a tired skirt to match!
    Thank you for sharing
    now off to read the rest of your blog and get more sewing inspiration!!

    Jane Doe
    eyesofyellow@yahoo.com
    London, Ontario, Canada

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  2. Rosa in the AntipodesJanuary 3, 2010 at 1:03 PM

    Another great idea! I just came back from a long holiday craving for new projects! Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year

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  3. Don't want my name in the drawing, as I've won a pattern from you already, just wanted to say yea! I've been looking forward to this. Want to try the blouse but frankly am way too lazy to draft my own pattern, even with your excellent tutorial. :)

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  4. I'd love to try this out. I really hate doing buttons, so learning how to "cheat" around that would be fantastic!

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  5. What a great , green idea :o) It looks really pretty too.

    cj x

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  6. Whoo-hoo! What a great idea! I have a ton of my hubby's shirts that he has gotten too big for that I am dying to try this out on

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  7. I have a shirt that would be perfect for this and 2 little girls to wear it!

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  8. Of course I would LOVE a chance to win this! I'm crossing my fingers!!! I have a 5 year old daughter that I would have lots of fun making these for!

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  9. How fun! I would love a copy (and will probably buy one if I don't win!) You're so dang creative!

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  10. Wow, love what you've done with the shirt... those cuffs are so sweet! I'd love to make this for my daughter.

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  11. Oh great idea!

    I would love to win an ePattern (in Germany we call them eBooks), because I have to little girls and lots of old shirts - would be fun to try out to scale my shirts down for them!

    Greetings from Germany,

    Tanja
    :-)

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  12. awesome! love to give this a go. :)

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  13. Thanks for the chance to win! IT looks like a great pattern.

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  14. great top. I want to go that thrift store!

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  15. Yes please! Your reconstructions are always fab! Excellent sleeves :D

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  17. I love this! It's useful, fun and so cute! I'd love to try it out!
    ~lisa

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  18. Smootch is looking so grown up in that pic, love the country girl look.

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  19. What a lovely pattern! She does look very Oh Suzanna as well.

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  20. What a good idea!! I would love to win!

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  21. Love it! Smootch is so darn cute!
    I hope I win! :)

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  22. That is adorable! I love the detail of using the cuffs.

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  23. Turned out so cute! Love that it's a reconstruction. Thanks for the giveaway!
    ~Jenny~

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  24. WOW....double WOW!! I am currently looking for patterns to use for my hubby's old shirts and this looks fantastic! Would love to give it a go.

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  25. What a great idea! I love the look of this outfit! I bet it would look great on my girls too...
    Thanks for sharing your ideas. Love your blog!
    Hugs,
    Sandra

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  26. What a fabulous idea. I love the idea of reusing the front instead of working around it!

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  27. Lovely. What a great idea! davisdanelle@hotmail.com

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  28. i'd love to win this! the sleeves & pockets would be fun to sew!

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  29. OH, how fun!!! I would LOVE to win this...I have plenty of shirts I could recycle for my little ones!!! SO creative!!!

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  30. Aww, gowon! I lurve your patterns and such. I'd totally love to try adapting this pattern to a tunic for my boy.

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  31. Love reusing things. Great idea! The sleeves are great. Thanks for this giveaway!

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  32. I too love the cuff detail! My own little Turtle would look great in this smock :D

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  33. i do! i do! love the sleeve and the pockets! my two girls NEED some of these! thanks!

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  34. Wow I love this (especially the sleeves!) Thanks for the giveaway :)

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  35. Adorable!! Since I am terrified of buttonholes - this is just the thing...

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  36. I love the idea of using what someone else has already done!!

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  37. This look would be cute at Stampede (for all you Alberta folk, you know what I mean).
    Love to try it.

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  38. That is gorgeous. I love it.

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  39. Aww, mens business shirts is there a more lovely item of clothes to recontructed...they are sooo wasted on working men ;)

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  40. $5 for a bag of men's shirts?! Wow, there is nothing like that around here. But I do have some of my own work shirts that I would like to taper down to kidlet size.

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  41. Ooh I love this version of the basic men's shirt transformation. I must have this for my little one.

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  42. I have a whole pile of shirts just waiting to be reconstructed! I'd love a pattern! Thanks!

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  43. Love this reconstruction. It's giving me ideas too as I've really never done much reconstruction sewing.

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  44. I just gathered a bunch of new clothes for re-purpose! This would be great!

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  45. that is absolutely gorgeous!! i may be late but still wanted to comment anyway coz it's gorgeous!! :D

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  46. i recently made my two daughters a simple dress, each (for the first time!). the dresses came out really cute and it's given me the courage to try to make more clothing for them and maybe even myself! i love the idea of using repurposed clothing to make new clothes! i especially like how you use the existing details, like the cuffs, buttons and pockets! so clever!

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  47. Oh! I would love this!

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  48. oh, this is just ridiculously adorable. the pearly snaps on the sleeves! on the pockets! gah! i love it... you've outdone yourself.

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  49. this looks too cute. i would love to try it out.

    Kristy.Hall@cox.net

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  50. Love it! Want it! Too cute for words.

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  51. What a great upcycle! I'd be thrilled to win the pattern

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  52. This is so cute! I would definitely love to use this pattern!

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  53. That's really sweet! I'd love to win a copy :)
    Thanks!

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  54. i love your patterns! And this one is no exception

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  55. That is one adorable dress. I know my 4YO DD would love a dress (or three) like that!

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  56. Ooo, I'm a big fan of your original peasant blouse pattern! Would love to be able to use old shirts for it!

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  57. I love the pose she has in the picture! What a great shirt! Please enter me.
    Thanks for having a giveaway- and a great Blog too:)

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  58. I can't complain about getting a free pattern.

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  59. I would love a copy, great use of shirt features!

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  60. Really cute way to "re-do" an old shirt. I am a huge fan of thrift store shopping, and your recycling ideas will cause me to look at some items with different eyes.

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  61. oh oh oh! pick me! pick me! I've been lurking on a MILLION sites and gathering tutorials, but still haven't actually done it yet. I'd love to just have a pattern and just go ahead and do it!

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  62. Why, yes, I would love to have a copy of this pattern!

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  63. That looks great. I am in need to start back my garment sewing mood -still stuck with quilting which I don't mind actually

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  64. lovely - thanks for the chance to play.

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  65. I always love a chance to win, especially when it is a pattern.
    lbroadstreet(at)tds(net)

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  66. Oh my gosh, you must be reading my mind!!! My husband just cleaned out his closet and all weekend I have been trying to refashion his shirts into a dress like this for our oldest daughter. I would really love to purchase this pattern if I should not win. Thanks for taking the guess work out and creating this!!!!

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  67. Yes, please! I love it, cowboy style and all!

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  68. I love love love your blog! Your creativity is inspiring! Thanks so much for your generosity!

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  69. I LOVE your ideas and check in on your blog almost daily! This pattern is right up my ally. I do a LOT of recycling to make garments for my little ones!

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  70. My dad brought me a pile of shirts, and I've been trying to decide what to do with them. I'd love to try your pattern! I've come to the same realization recently, that using a pattern (even if I draft it myself on the spot) is much much more accurate and faster than winging it.

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  71. I totally hope to win this one, but if not, I'll buy it anyway...
    I've already bought three patterns from you and am loving the results -- and I have used all recycled fabrics to make 4 bush hats, the fair weather jacket and the swirly dress. It makes so much sense to me as well...

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  72. I'd love to win that! I have a lot of adult shirts given to me by friends, that would be perfect for that!
    mortypri@aol.com

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  73. Very cute! I love reusing some of our old stuff and this is a really cute dress - DD would look great in it :) Thanks for the chance to win!

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  74. Awesome! count me in please!

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  75. I would love to win the pattern :) It is an adorable way to use a shirt... thanks for a chance to win

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  76. This is great! Put me in for a chance to win! Thanks!

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  77. So wonderful! And my husband just went through his shirts tonight and gave me a pile! --Stephanie

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  78. So cute! I love the button detailing. In 2010 I intend to overcome my fear of clothes-making. This would make for a nice jump start. :)

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  79. great idea! i would love to try it out for my twin girls.
    greetings from switzerland :-)
    barbara

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  80. Fantastic - I have a pile of things I'd like to recycle so this would be a great start :)

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  81. I would so love to go into the draw for this.

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  82. Happy New 2010!! What a great giveaway!! I love all your tutes. Thanks heaps!

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  83. Yes please! this dress looks great. Keep up the great work, and Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  84. Would LOVEthe pattern!!! Looks so cute!!!

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  85. I'd like to sew that one for my niece.

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  86. That looks and sounds just lovely!! Thank you for a lovely giveaway.

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  87. I would love to have a pattern for reconstruction rather than winging it - what a great idea. I try to use recycled fabric too, but often find regular patterns won't fit the amount of salvaged fabric. I also LOVE the idea of time saving with buttons and other details already incorporated.

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  88. I love your blog and have followed it for a long time before I listed as a follower as I have a blog too now. Any way I hope I'm not tooo late for the draw I would LOVE the pattern. Thanks for a great blog!!

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  89. What a great giveaway!!! thanks!

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  90. great idea! can't wait to try it by myself. i also have a little cowgirl at home!

    best wishes for 2010!
    tonja_raeubertochter

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  91. Hey :o) This is a fab tute and would fit in with my Wardrobe Refashion pledge. With my old singer I can only do straight stich so anything that helps me to avoid hand stitching buttonholes would be a godsend!

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  92. I love that dress, and I absolutly want to make one for my princess!! great idea for reciclyng!!

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  93. Fantastic!!! I have a little girl who has also gotten into a cowgirl state of mind and misses her Albertan home. This would work so well with the hobby horse my friend made her for Christmas.
    Thanks for the chance to enter!

    (kimmieluwho at yahoo dot ca.)

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  94. Please choose me! I'd love a free pattern!

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  95. too cute, I would love to win this.

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  96. I don't need the pattern, but just have to say that I love the use of the cuffs and am going to be doing a lot more of that than sleeve pants from now on. What a great way to use the nice cuffs - I have a very Texas button-down with mother of pearl cuff buttons that I cannot wait to hack up!

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  97. Another great idea! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  98. what a great way to recycle those shirts my husband no longer wears! Thanks for the tute!

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  99. What a fantastic idea! Keeping my fingers crossed... ;)

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  100. Your (re) use of the cuff/sleeve is *brilliant*! I would love a copy of your pattern. Thanks for all the inspiration you've provided.

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  101. Yet another great pattern - I know I can always find something clever on your blog.
    And I love the thrift stores - if I can't find something to wear, I can always find something to cannibalize and make into something else.

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  102. Smootch looks adorable...as usual!!

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  103. So cute. would love one!

    Ali McKeag

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  104. Super cute! Plus, I just raided my sister's donation pile, so i have a big bag of clothes to be refashioned for my kids!

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  105. I'd love to win this pattern! I'd use it with new fabric since nice shirts are almost impossible to find in thriftstores here!

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  106. I would love to give this a try! Hope I'm not to late!!

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  107. A very green giveawy. I'd love to be in to win.
    spamtrap27@internode.on.net

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  108. A pattern on how to recycle would be great - I have zero idea!

    Thanks for the chance

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  109. This is so cute! I should do more recons!

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  110. I would love to be entered in this draw!! It looks like a great project :)

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  111. would love to win this pattern! will buy a copy if i don't...i would like this in a grown up size!

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  112. I think she looks adorable as a cowgirl :)
    I still have a pattern that I bought from you that I haven't made yet, but am hoping to get to that soon. I could always use another pattern to inspire me!

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  113. cute! i really love the name. :D

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  114. I love those sleeves, what a great pattern!

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  115. I love how you reused the sleeves and pockets. I hope I win!

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  116. I'd love this pattern! Also love your blog :)
    Tennille

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  117. oh , just in time, pick me, pick me. its really cute.

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  118. Cute! I'd love to win this pattern. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  119. i am so into reconstruction clothes right now for my little kiddos. this would be awesome.

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  120. I hope I am not too late. What a cute pattern. I love doing makeovers.

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  121. Vegbee,
    Even if I'm not randomly selected, I'm going to purchase this tomorrow. A sewing machine for Christmas and springtime on the way (It is!!! I swear!) mean happy stitching time for me.
    Thanks, as always, for creating something lovely and practical. You're the best at what you do!

    Julia W.
    Somerset, New Jersey, USA
    jmwhit@gmail.com

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  122. I completely agree with the "repurposing is easier, cheaper, and faster than new fabric" thing! And as my hubby has recently lost some weight, I have a stack of shirts just waiting to be recreated!

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  123. How incredibly clever! Would love to try my hand at "repurposing." Am enjoying your blog immensely.

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  124. I love to recycle/repurpose things as well but somehow I'm not good about making the pattern part. I would love to give yours a try. Haven't found a style yet for my little almost 7 yr old. Sometimes it's girly the next tomboy. Maybe I need to focus on punk and funk. Love your stuff!

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  125. This is so creative! You are so talented.

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  126. What a fun blog...full of useful info...thank you so much! I've been sewing for too many years to count, and there's always more to learn and more fun to be had! My creations are at ETSY....shop name Sweet Baby Couture
    LOVE LOVE ETSY!!

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