Spring Sewing with JOANN

This post is sponsored by JOANN. It may contain affiliate links but all words, reviews and opinions are my own.

Hello friends!

I’ve recently joined the JOANN blogger team and I’m thrilled to be sharing my first post with you today. While planning this project I knew I really wanted to make an outfit that shouted “SPRING!”. I had so much fun walking through JOANN and browsing through all of their new spring fabrics. There are so many reallllllyy good ones right now!

I decided that I wanted to make a two piece outfit that included a pair of jeans and a feminine top. I was initially planning on blue denim jeans but then I saw the 10 oz. white bull denim (what shouts spring more than white jeans?), and it jumped into my cart. Next I had a puff sleeve blouse in mind using Simplicity S8839 and I was on the hunt for the perfect fabric. I turned the corner and there it was: a blush peachskin puckered windowpane rayon poly fabric named Spring Garden. It was a perfect match and I felt giddy inside about it!

First, let’s talk about the top.

I really love the long sleeve design of Simplicity S8839 but I knew it wouldn’t be very practical for my current lifestyle. We also recently moved our family from SLC Utah to Orange County, CA and I really need some warm weather tops. I’m all about the puff sleeve trend happening right now! I love the cropped style bodice with an ultra feminine sleeve detail, so I went with view B.

For the fabric, I used Spring Garden HM Peachskin Puckered Windowpane Rayon Poly #164-3404. It’s currently not available to purchase online but could possibly still be available in stores. The whole Spring Garden collection is gorgeous and totally worth checking out!

For my top, I sewed up a size 10 which was one size down from what my measurements were on the chart. I made a few fit alterations to my top. First, I noticed the sleeve caps were hanging off my shoulders and didn’t lay on top of my shoulder notches as they should. (You can see this issue on the front of the pattern envelope, so I wasn’t surprised). I altered the shoulders by taking off a bit of the bodice shoulder and tapered to the underarm side seam. I also raised the sleeve hem by a 3/4″ for a smaller ruffle at the hem. I love how the fabric has a bit of structure but also some drape to it. It was a great fabric + pattern matchup.

Now let’s talk about these pants. I used the Dawn Jeans pattern by Megan Nielsen, and chose the straight leg view. A year ago I bought some straight leg Levi’s and I am obsessed with them. After making the wide leg version in the Dawn Jeans, I instantly loved how they fit me high on the waist and snug at the hips. With this pair, I was hoping to recreate something similar to my beloved Levi’s. I went with a zip fly this go around (this pattern offers a few different fly options), and you guys!!!!! The fit is so good!!!!

I sewed a size 4 in the waist and tapered to a size 0 in the hips. I ended up slightly taking in the waist a little more from here, as well as taking about a 1/4″ off of the center back yoke and tapering to the end. The finished fit is fabulous. I was nervous about sewing white jeans but with the proper undergarments, the pants aren’t too see through and are totally wearable. JOANN’s 10 oz. bull denim works really well for this pattern.

I had a really big birthday this month and I desperately wanted to wear my new spring outfit while celebrating but I couldn’t get my photos done in time for the big day. I have been dying to wear these pants but have had so much anxiety that I would get something on them if I didn’t wait to photograph them first. The other night I had a dream that I spilled something all over them and spent the rest of the dream planning how I would try to clean them up for the photoshoot. You guys, these pants are really that good haha! I’m so excited that I can now add them to the daily rotation.

I decided to go with a sand colored Gutermann topstitching thread (Col. #30) to add a little contrast to my jeans and I really love how they turned out.

I bought all of my supplies (besides the Dawn Jeans pattern) from JOANN stores including the jeans zipper, jeans button, jeans needle, topstitching thread, interfacing, etc. You can find everything you need for jeans sewing at JOANN! Since moving, my new JOANN store has been totally revamped and it’s gorgeous inside. I can’t wait to go back and browse all the fabrics again.

I hope this post leaves you feeling inspired for spring sewing! Thanks for reading along and come back soon because you won’t want to miss what I have planned for April! Happy sewing!