25 Days of Christmas – Day 16 Isla

Day 16 of 25 Days of Christmas with Simple Life Pattern Company and Art Gallery Fabrics has me swooning. If you are looking for comfort and style, then Isla is a must have on your pattern wish list. With so many pattern variations it is sure to become a favorite.

When you purchase Isla, you will find it is a beautiful knit pattern with a heart cutout in the back bodice. I received this soft knit pine print from AGF and decided to change the cutout to a tree shape.

I printed the pattern and cut it out, without cutting on the heart lines. I used a pencil to draw the tree shape I wanted directly onto the pattern piece. I then cut on the lines I had drawn and proceeded to cut all my fabric pieces. It is important to remember if you decide to draw a custom shape that you account for seam allowance. Also, since the bodice pieces are cut on the fold, make sure you only draw half of the shape onto your pattern piece along the edge where the fold will be. I used a piece of interfacing between the main and lining fabrics to keep the tree points more stable and keep them from curling outward.

 

I just adore how this top version turned out. Winter in Kansas can be very unpredictable. However, with this versatile top we are sure to get lots of wear beyond Christmas. We had a warm weather day so we paired this top with some of our favorite small shop denim shorts. As the weather gets colder we’ll be pairing with leggings and boots to stay comfy and cozy.

 

To achieve this look

AGF fabric is Loblolly Pine in knit.

Buffalo plaid socks are from Little Stocking Company.

Boots and monochrome boot buckles are from Vagabond Boot Company.

Shorts are from Ella B. Denim company.

Freebie

The freebie today is a home decor craft. When we went to take photos of the Isla I made, we grabbed a basket and gathered pine cones on our walk. I’m going to have my husband help me break down all the pine cones this weekend so I can make some of these rustic Pine Cone Petal Trees. I will not be painting mine. I plan to leave them the natural brown color and add white glitter to the tips to make the trees look snow-covered. How do you plan to decorate yours?

Recipe

I have an edible chocolate pinecone recipe for you today. All you need is a few ingredients to a make these tasty treats. If you have a favorite chocolate cake recipe, these would be perfect to add on top! If you need a good chocolate cake recipe then stay tuned. I’ll post my Nana’s famous recipe soon!