Sewing Pattern Review - Mother Grimm's Beltaine Tunic

I absolutely adore Jodi from Mother Grimm Patterns - her designs are whimsy and unique. 

And she encourages my habit of colour blocking. 

The Beltaine Tunic is a diverse pattern, which even flatters those of us with hips!

There are a zillion options, so you can get away with wearing the same top over and over again. 

And it's the perfect length for those of us who insist on wearing leggings as pants (yes, I've been converted despite digging my heels in for years...pending the top is long enough to cover my caboose). 

The options included are:
- Round or Hanky Hem

- POCKETS

- Banded Bodice (great for colour blocking due to lack of full fabric!)

- Plain front (no colour blocking or pockets)

- Trim (lace, ribbon, or even DIY!)

- Colour Blocking

For my test muslin version, I used a REALLY thin sweater knit for the main portion, the last scraps of my Llama fabric for the pockets, and spandex for the band and pocket binding. 

The spandex was too thick (I feel), and I wouldn't use such a thin heavy sweater knit again (not flattering on my booty), but that's why we test with a variety of fabrics. 

So, I graded the pattern for my larger waist/hips from where I normally do on patterns - from between the armcycle and waist - which didn't turn out perfect - hence why we use scrappy fabrics for our first version during testing.

There were enough modifications made during testing, that the kinks were worked out, and it fits like a nice glove now!  

For my final version, I was *supposed* to do a plain version with ruffle, but needed to colour block due to a raging pounding migraine and lack of fabric. 

So I used the remainder of this black & white silky rayon fabric from when a local Fabricland closed 3 or 4 years ago, a lighter spandex for the band, and a super light sweater knit ($3 a metre Fabricland special) for the skirt and ruffle portion. 

I didn't have enough fabric for the full ruffle length (maybe 1 metre less), but I really like the drape it gives with a smaller ruffle. 

The ruffle isn't hemmed, so make sure to either use a fabric that doesn't get ratty over time and washes, or hem/zig zag stitch it to keep it pretty. 

I also didn't grade my final version either - I went straight Emerald sizing, with the smaller back option (to prevent sway back), and it's perfect! 

I'm 5'2" and didn't shorten the pattern anywhere, and with the right fabric (not slightly see through like my sweater knit), will make a cute flirty dress!  With leggings underneath, it's perfect legging length. 

It was a quick sew, and Jodi's instructions are clear and concise. 

If you like a little bit of flirty flare, sew for it!  

The Beltaine Tunic is on sale for 25% off with code BELTAINE25 under May 12th (Saturday) - Grab it now!

The Gretel Skirt - It's all About The POCKETS with Mother Grimm Designs!

I love it when I can just totally embrace the inner child within, and others just go with it.

This will make sense to Doctor Who Fans

That's what happened while testing the fun Gretel Skirt for Mother Grimm Designs, located in the UK!

It was a quick test, but it was also a quick skirt to sew up with easy to follow direction.  The design was created for stretch jersey/knits, however, many of the testers ended up using not only stretch jersey, but non-stretch wovens mixed in the the knits for spectacular results!

This is a "panel" skirt, meaning, you are to use an uncut t-shirt panel - apparently they are sold as such, but I like to cut things up for repurposing, so most of my "panels" actually DO come from t-shirts, and I just colour block  around the edges to make it into a full "panel."

Neither my test skirt nor fancy skirt had panels, but I sure did use a mishmash of fabrics - each fabric pulling the colours and designs from the other - such a neat effect for an under-hour sew!

Mishmash test skirt

There are two smaller side panels, and the front and back panels - which can be reversed, just by twisting your skirt around to the other side!  It sits at your proper waist, so for myself, I don't feel overly hippy or large bottomed, as it is a rather flattering cut.

That's how I got away with wearing my Tardis skirt at work without feeling too dressed down.   And really - the POCKETS are so awesome, they held my work pass AND phone, and a bit of change for my required 2nd coffee of the day.

It also passed the wind test. Every girls' worst nightmare is having that light flowy dress or skirt...go up like Marilyn Munro in her famous white dress, all because of a wind gust.

Between my office building and the parking lot or mall (where I get my coffee or sit in during lunchtime), the wind can gust me away like Mary Poppins 3 out of the 5 days a week I am there.  It did this while I wore my Gretel skirt, and due to the size of the panels, it did NOT blow up.  There was some rippling, but I didn't have to hold my skirt down!

A skirt you can whirl in that stays down in the wind (and has POCKETS) is a must in every girl's closet!

So, if you have some bits and bobs of fabric that you are coveting because it's too small for a full item, Gretel allows you to use these smaller fabric pieces as side panels, pockets, or even the waistband!

Gretel can be as fun or as serious as you want it - a panel is fun, but not required.  I can only imagine this as a Christmas Dress, with big pockets to hold goodies in, perhaps with a lace overlay on the sides. Or it can be hiked up over your chest, and worn as a dress (with a few alterations, like lengthening the skirt and lowering the pockets) with or without straps added on.

I am now eyeing Mother Grimm's Dragon Wings (which I wish were adult size....although I could always trace a larger patten), but feel that I will dive into the Adult Coif (face hood for the winter) with add ons like animal ears or a pixie cut when I'm ready for new patterns.

For now, I will OCD over Gretel. I feel I need one for every day of the week!

Gnome Tried to hide in my side pocket!