Designer Pattern Swap

Another round of Designer Pattern Swap is in the works this week. I was delighted to participate, and even more pleased to matched up with Judy from Patterns for Pirates. I've admired her patterns for awhile, because most of them appeal to my knit-comfortable-casual-jeans-wearing style.  I chose to sew up her Boyfriend V-Neck tee, and I love the results!

Finding great fitting tees is a challenge for me, since I very long limbed (a.k.a. monkey armed). The tee is generous in the arm length, but it's was easy to add an extra inch since I chose to make the cuffed sleeves.

This tee is a slim cut, but not snug. The V-neck has two options; traditional and crossover. I selected the crossover style. The dainty pocket adds a nice accent. 

I used buttery soft Art Gallery and Kaufman knits for this tee, making it hard to change out of at night. I'm thinking about making a couple more to pair with pajama pants for comfortable and cozy sleepwear. 

Keep an eye out on Pattern Revolution for more Designer Swap posts and more chances to win free patterns from the featured designers. Enter here for a chance to win!

It's Designer Challenge Time!

It's that time of year again, when designers get together to try to come up with something out of the ordinary. Pattern Revolution hosts this fun challenge. This year, our group of a dozen ladies will each release our patterns on different days. Today is my day to show off Monkeysbug's new design!

After a lot of brainstorming, I decided to go back to the place I started. Comfortable tee shirts with fun appliques were the beginning of my online business days, and I've never lost the love. For the Designer Challenge, I've come up with the Jump Start Dress.

The dress is a simple design with inset pockets, but it's just a jumping off point. I've included instructions and pattern pieces for adding your own applique touches.

The testing group made so many great examples!

Check below for your chance to win a 3 pack of patterns from Monkeysbug, and stay tuned for a new pattern each day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

$4 Friday, make room for Free friday!

Hi sewing folks! You might not know that Monkeysbug Patterns started out as Monkeysbug Tees. Before I started designing patterns, I was an applique making fool. It was very gratifying to start with a blank canvas, then pick the sweet fabrics and a fun design. Best of all, applique saved me when my little guy would only wear tees "with something on it".

I abandoned my first love for pattern design, but not without some regret. Each project was so quick, and the results made little people instantly happy.

Care to try it yourself? Below is a link to my Quick and Easy Applique pattern. Included are 6 designs of mine, but it's a breeze to make your own too.

Download your free copy here! 

A new project to finish out this old year.

I'm dusting off this blog in honor of a project that I'm so grateful to be a part of. If you haven't already been following, The Designer's Challenge is a group of more than 20 pdf pattern designers who were given the task of coming up with a unique, new design. Our goal was to bring you something you've never seen before. With only a few days left in the challenge, I'm release my Mouse Manor Twirl Skirt!

When I was a kid, my sister and I received pillows that had fun little pockets for a little doll to play in. Using that pillow as my inspiration, I designed a little mouse (since not all girls like dolls) and a skirt with plenty of hiding places for the wee pal. My hope with this pattern is that it inspires creative playing for little ladies and mice alike.

There are nine pockets to choose from - a stocking/sock, mitten, hat, cottage, tulip, toadstool, heart, teacup,  and basket.

You can load up your skirt with plenty of pockets for a mouse adventure.

The tester for this pattern did an amazing job!

Some testers went a little wild with their fabric choices to make mittens especially cozy.

One amazing tester even designed her own stocking pocket for a festive skirt!

The Mouse Manor Twirl Skirt is on sale today.

 I'm so delighted to have gotten to challenge myself with such a great group of ladies! Check back for the remaining designers release dates. The challenge goes through December 17th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And the winners are......

Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway! The following ladies are entitled to pick three patterns from my shop. Please email me your choices at monkeysbugtees@gmail.com.

If you are interested in getting all the latest info on monkeysbug patterns, I've started a group on facebook. I'll be posting in the group first when I have open calls for new testers. I hope to see you there!

 #27

Angela July 8, 2013 at 11:38 AM

Thanks for the giveaway!

 #40

Bridgett Wright July 9, 2013 at 10:21 AM

Congrats on the 3k fans!! Thanks for the giveaway!

#63

Jennifer Pelto July 9, 2013 at 6:37 PM

Would love to win! Thanks for the chance! Glad that you've shown up on my FB radar! :)

3K Giveaway!

Yippee! We've made it to 3000 likes on Facebook! This calls for a celebration! Comment below this post for a chance to win a 3-Pack bundle of patterns from my shop. I'll be drawing 3 winners. The drawing closes Tuesday night 7/9. I will be drawing and posting winners on Wednesday 7/10.

Additionally, I've started a facebook group for monkeysbug patterns. It's a more casual setting to talk about current projects, pattern ideas or upcoming releases. I'd love to see you there - https://www.facebook.com/groups/508576655880193/

Spring Sewing Giveaway!

I haven't used this blog in so long! I hope I can still muddle my way through the steps. In honor of spring, sunshine, and the beautiful fabrics that are so hard to resist, I've randomly selected a winner for a 4-pack bundle of patterns. The winner can choose any 4 single patterns from my shop at www.monkeysbug.com.

An the winner is.....

 #70 Héloïse Allurazzura

Please contact me with your pattern choices. 

 Thanks to everyone who participated! I'm offering a coupon code to everyone for the the weekend. Use the code "SUPERSPRING" for 30% off any order from the instant download shop - www.monkeysbug.com. Please not that this code is only for the instant download shop. It will not work on etsy.