Back to School goodies!

My girls' first day of school was yesterday and with it came a new milestone for our family. My oldest, Sophie (or Sophia, as she likes to be called now... sniff, sniff), started Junior High! I can't believe my baby (don't tell her I called her that) is a BIG GIRL now.

To commemorate the grand event, I shot these pictures before they left for school yesterday. The girls wore the newest MODKID knit patterns, The BREEANN Top and the MELANIE Dress (available now in our Etsy shop), which were actually named after their BFFs.

When I posted these pics on Facebook, I got tons of questions about how I did those giant numbers the girls are holding. I just made them up real quick in Illustrator and cut them onto card stock on my Silhouette Cameo machine. Since a few of you requested I made these available, I have these now live on my Silhouette store:

But, now onto the patterns...

A few weeks ago I sneaked peeked our BACK TO SCHOOL collection on Facebook, and both pattern designs were met with lots of "oooh's and ahhh's" and "when can we get these?".

Well, your wait is finally over!! We have just released the BREEANN and MELANIE patterns. And here's a little bit of info about each...

MELANIE

This adorable and comfy dress is designed to be sewn with knits, and features a sweet A-line silhouette and some oversized side pockets for all her treasures. Our pattern includes three sleeve length options so it can take your girl from the warm Summer months through the chilly Winter days.

  
BREEANN

For the tween/teen crowd, we've designed this hip hooded top that features two sleeve variations -- fitted and flutter. We paired that with an oversized kangaroo pocket and a yoga waistband, for the perfect top.

See lots more photos of both patterns in the shop listings.
Again, both patterns are available NOW in our Etsy shop.

Stop The Presses!

To commemorate the release of my newest fabric collection, Just My Type, I have designed this easy-to-sew geometric quilt that uses every print in the collection. And best of all... it's FREE!

You can download this quilt pattern from:

• You Can Make This
• Craftsy
• Etsy (although Etsy wouldn't let me list it for less that $0.20 so you're better off getting it from one of the other two places).

This quilt was designed to use the Just My Type pre-cut bundles...

Charm Packs:

and Fat Quarter Bundles:

Plus some extra yardage for sashing, backing and binding. All the fabric requirements are clearly listed in the pattern listing, so you can know in advance how much you will need to buy for this quilt.

If you are looking for Just My Type fabric, I know it just started shipping last week, so it might not be readily available everywhere, but a quick Google search reveals it is in stock at Hawthorne Threads, Fat Quarter Shop, FabricWorm, and all over Etsy. (Retailers: if you have Just My Type in stock, please leave your link in the comments and I will add you to the list).

Here are a couple more pics of the quilt to whet your appetite.

Happy sewing!!

What's new?

WOW, it's been nearly 6 weeks since I blogged! This Summer has proven to be one of the busiest Summers I've had in a long time (if ever). Lots of new exciting projects coming up which, as it usually goes, I have to keep hush-hush until it's all said & done.

But I did want to keep you abreast of some of the stuff that's been keeping us busy for the past few weeks.

On the PDF pattern front, we are working on a few new designs, and we just released a new pattern yesterday. It's called the JOSIE Retro A-line dress.

Josie is a sweet A-line dress with retro styling. It features a center gore with wrap-around tabs and adorable cap sleeves. With only 5 pattern pieces to cut, this dress will be an easy sew, so you can make it over and over again in all your favorite designer fabrics!

At the moment you can buy JOSIE (along with all of our other e-patterns) here:

• Our Etsy Store
• You Can Make This
• Craftsy

Here's some wonderful pictures I received from my tester, Debbie Clifton. This gives you a clearer idea of the fit and construction. It has adorable button-back tabs for a more fitted look and sweet cap sleeves. How perfect is this for back-to-school wardrobe? I know, I know... they just got out of school, but it's never too early to start planing ahead, right?

On the PAPER CRAFTING front, I have been creating lots and lots of new shapes for my Silhouette store. My most popular, by far, have been these fun and colorful cupcake wrappers shown below. And I can't lie... I do love that in order to photograph them well, we need to get some of these amazing cupcakes from Sugar Mama Bakery here at the studio. It does sweeten our day quite a bit. ;)

Can I just say...YUM!

On the PUBLISHING front... oh boy, where do I even begin!? I am in the middle of signing contracts for not one, but two (yes, 2!) books to be published in 2014. Sorry that I can't reveal anything more on that, but just trust me when I say it's exciting and NEW for us, so I hope you all will be just as excited about them.

We have also been working on LOTS and LOTS of projects for different magazines. In addition to the quarterly SCRAP LAB projects for American Patchwork & Quilting (a new one will be out on August 13th!), we are also busy designing projects for Modern Quilts Unlimited. Actually, we will be featured THREE times on MQU this year, including a studio tour later this year! Stay tuned.

Currently, we have a quilt in the current issue of QUILTY Magazine (a Fons & Porter publication):

And a table runner in the current issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited:

On the FABRIC FRONT, a little birdie told me that Just My Type is shipping in just a couple of weeks, so we have been busy creating projects for the fabric launch. Check your favorite store and see if they have Just My Type on pre-order. I hear it's selling out FAST!!

Thank you all for the wonderful comments on my blog reveal last month! I am thrilled that you love it as much as I do. :)

OK, that is it for now!! PHEW. Like I said above, LOTS and LOTS more exciting projects coming up soon... new patterns, new fabric, new magazine projects, books and paper crafting items, so STAY TUNED!

HARPER Dress
Newest PDF downloadable pattern by MODKID

Harper has a slim fit and above-the-knee length for a very chic and modern look. It features suspender straps, bias tape binding and a couple of patch pockets for her little treasures. This easy-to-sew and easy-to-wear style will be a favorite of her Summer wardrobe. This pattern even comes with a tutorial for making your own bias tape!

SUGGESTED FABRICS: quilting cottons, shirtings, voiles, gauzes, lawns, linens and muslins, 44"/45" wide. We used a selection of fabrics from Textured Basics and Heaven & Helsinki by Patty Young for Michael Miller Fabrics.

This pattern comes in sizes 2T (toddler) to 10 (girls).






NOTE: This is a downloadable PDF pattern, NOT A PAPER PATTERN. Your pattern can be opened with Acrobat Reader and will print on standard letter-size paper (8.5" x 11"). There are 8 pages total in this document, including full-size pattern pieces.

A million thanks to my pattern tester, Elizabeth Shepherd, for the wonderful test sample, pattern feedback and photo above. Her adorable model, Brie, is wearing a Harper dress in size 2T, made with Cool Dots and Diamonds from Textured Basics.

A million thanks to my pattern tester, Andrea Thomas-Lambe (www.thomasparkgifts.com) for the wonderful test sample and pattern feedback. Above photos are courtesy of April Atkinson of M.A.S. Photography. Her adorable model, Isa, is wearing a Harper dress in size 4T made with City Block from Heaven & Helsinki and Cool Dots from Textured Basics.

A million thanks to my pattern tester, Carissa Haning (www.heartandseoulphotography.com), for the wonderful sewn sample and photo above. Her adorable model, Johanna, is wearing a Harper dress in size 6, made with Diamonds and Shoreline from Textured Basics.

Find the HARPER pattern here.

©2013 Patty Young Designs for MODKID, LLC®. All Rights Reserved. Do NOT reproduce without permission. Photography, illustrations and layout property of Patty Young.

HOLLY JUMPER DRESS
MODKID's Newest PDF Sewing Pattern

Well, as you have probably noticed already, we are really embracing the PDF revolution! We started producing these downloadable e-patterns in November of last year, and so far we have 6 already produced with a few more on the way.  So far we are hearing wonderful things about them, but we'd love to hear more. Leave us a comment for your chance to win a free PDF pattern of your choice!

Today, we are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our e-pattern line up. It's called the HOLLY JUMPER DRESS. Holly is an adorable jumper dress that can be worn with or without an undershirt. It features a series of skinny shoulder straps that weave in a beautiful pattern onto a racerback bodice, and two very full gathered skirts for maximum twirl power. A couple of drawstrings at the front give the overskirt a scalloped look, letting the underskirt peek out ever so slightly. It comes in sizes 2T to 10 all in the same pattern, just like our paper patterns do.

Find it on ETSY and CRAFTSY (and coming soon to an e-vendor near you!) :)

My favorite feature in this pattern is the back bodice. Here's a closer look at the way those four straps intertwine in the back. LOVE IT!

Above photos are courtesy of M.A.S. Photography.

I also love the scalloped skirt. Those drawstrings are so sweet! Check out the amazing photos I've received from my testers...

A million thanks to my pattern tester, Elizabeth Shepherd,  for the wonderful test sample and pattern feedback. Above photos courtesy of child photographer, Jessica Castaneda from Jessica Idalia Photography. Our adorable model, Brie, is wearing a Holly dress made with Puffy Bird, from Heaven & Helsinki, and Diamonds, from Textured Basics.

Now, take a look at this adorable version...

 Worn with an undershirt...

A million thanks to my pattern tester, Linda Edson (www.allegrofabrics.com), for the wonderful test sample and pattern feedback. Above photos courtesy of Sofia Laos Photography. Her adorable model, Nicky, is wearing a Holly dress made with Spare a Square, from Heaven & Helsinki, and Shoreline, from Textured Basics.

Here are a couple of other photos of Holly I've received, not sewn in my fabric, but still precious. :)

Above two photos courtesy of Teresa Abel Martin 

Above photo courtesy of Jenny McCourt © 2013 Kim Russell Photography

Hope you enjoyed the photos! Again, you can find HOLLY on our Etsy and Craftsy stores, and soon it will be at a few e-vendors out there too!

Now, I just want to do something fun. Since this whole downloadable pattern thing is still a new venture for us, I would love to hear your feedback. Have your purchased one of our e-patterns before? If so, what did you think of it? If not, are there any specific patterns you are hoping to see from us? Anything new you are excited about getting?

Here's is a quick recap of our current e-pattern offerings. You can see them all here on Etsy:

We also have a few new ones in the works. Here is a sneak peek of a couple currently out in testing:

Please leave us a comment and on Wednesday, we will draw 3 winners who will each get to choose a FREE e-pattern from our Etsy store. Please leave us a way to contact you if you are a lucky winner! GOOD LUCK!!