Today is what it is all about….and we aren’t referencing the spectacular prizes up for grabs!!!

Sew-alongs will always hold a special place in our hearts! These venues are where strong, blogging friendships form and are maintained. We’ve discovered many kindred spirits in sew-along groups that have developed into an amazing, positive sewing community we are proud to be a part. That’s why THIS PART of the series holds utmost importance to us….We want our blog to be a gateway to bridging those friendships for many of you; a place that you discover sewing enthusiasts like yourself – those with similar tastes and interests.

SEW-ALONG SPONSORS:

SPONSOR ONE:

We love, love, love the Fat Quarter Shop . The service is hard to beat and it’s user-friendly site is easy to navigate between pages. A customer can search by collection, designer, theme, or color. How cool is that?!?!? Kimberly and her staff strive to keep amazing products and service readily available to the customer! Expect quality and an overall fantastic experience when dealing with this company….

Fat Quarter Shop is graciously giving the winner a $30 gift certificate to use at their online store.

SPONSOR TWO:

Who doesn’t love Birch fabrics???  The texture alone in these fabrics might cause one to swoon, but throw in the design component of each fabric line and …..insert audible gasp….. it is almost too much for the fabric lover to take! Birch Fabrics, mixes retro style with whimsical juvenile accents that lend themselves perfectly to nursery bedding, while still being sophisticated enough for pillows on your sofa, or curtains in your craft room. In addition, their fabric is produced from 100% organic cotton, and printed with low impact dyes.

Birch fabrics will be giving the winner 2 yards of fabric within a specified fabric line – winner’s choice of the fabric within the line!

And, if the judges look familiar….well, they should! These ladies were the previous month’s competitors, and have shown us all that they truly know how to “FLIP a PATTERN!”

What criteria will each consider when scoring your creations?

1. Creativity / Originality of Design. *How did the participant flip the outfit? Was it original? Was it creative? Did it make the judge say, “Aaaahhhhh, that’s a pretty neat concept!”

2. Quality of the garment sewn. *Of course the judges can’t touch it, critique it, etc. BUT hopefully they can get a feel for the garment construction through the photos.

3. Wearability. *This doesn’t need to be mistaken that the garment must be modeled {We did NOT make that a rule in the sew-along competition, so participants shouldn’t be penalized if there isn’t a modeled shot. While it is nice and helpful for judging, it isn’t a necessity}…..Instead think of it as a ‘functional wardrobe piece.’

4. Overall appeal of the outfit. *Completely subjective….and will be based on the judges’ taste and preferences.

**Please note: Last month, many sew-along friends included tutorials to go with their links. THAT IS FANTASTIC….and ever-so-helpful…..BUT it is not a requirement for entering!

**And, finally, don’t get caught up in the ‘rules/stipulations’ for playing along. It is extremely subjective, and not meant for increased stress. Instead: have fun, make some sewing friends, be inspired, and create something you love!! That’s really all that matters in the long run….

So, now is your chance to inspire the rest of the blogging world! Link up any Cottage Mama Run Around Romper sewn within the past six months….that’s right: the past six months {entries do not have to be sewn during the month of the competition – another perk to the “Flip this Pattern” sew-along}. You may enter more than one item in the sew-along competition….the more the merrier! And, no, you do not have to have a blog to participate. Share your creation on your flickr photostream and link up from there.

If you haven’t bought your Cottage Mama, Run Around Romper yet, you can still buy it through today and receive a 20% discount off your ENTIRE order. Just enter FLIP20 at checkout to secure the discount! 

There is also a pinterest board set up for “Flip this Pattern” sewn garments and/or inspirations, however, only entries linked to this blog post will be eligible for the Sew-Along Prize. This board is set up for YOU….to pin inspirations of the given patterns to flip OR to pin your own creations using those patterns. Simply email us {francessuzanne2(at)gmail(dot)com}, ask to join, and begin pinning away!

Also, we’ve created a Flickr Group {Flip this Pattern} for you to submit and share creations sewn. But, remember, only linked entries on this post will be eligible for the sew-along prize.

Finally, if you are on instagram, use the hashtag #flipthispattern to share sneak peeks and/or creations you’ve been working on throughout this series…..yet another way for us to share in the fun all year long!

Lastly, if you would be so kind to add our “Flip this Pattern” button to your page or post {or wherever you store your linky party things}, that would be awesome!

Now, how about we get this party started!?!?!?

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