Showing posts with label pdf sewing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pdf sewing. Show all posts

Tuesday, 27 August 2019

Put a Twist on It - 5 out of 4's Sally Skirt

Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. 


The new 5 out of 4 Sally Skirt Pattern is just that. 

It includes several fashionista options:
- Knee length or Maxi length skirt
- Regular or knot twist band
- POCKETS



 

 The front is pretty sweet with the easy-to-follow instructions for the front knot option - I used a black cotton lycra (Water Tower Textiles) for the base band, and added some funky stretch lace (Libelle Sewing) for the knot part. 

I didn't need my seam ripper once!

The pockets are the perfect height for my hands to just happen to fall into. Because POCKETS!






The side view is also quite nice - you can see with my Gloria Peplum top that there is no evidence of a fabric knot underneath, and it works well with my Sheila Top (tank to long sleeved, top to dress length!) tucked inside to really show the band off. 

And the back - I like it, and I love the flare at my knees. 

So if you love a quick sew, Sally is the Skirt for you (and Sheila is a super quick top sew up too!). Get Sally here.




***Affiliate Links Above used - I love these patterns, and without the help of those who love their patterns, marketing would be extremely difficult for the pattern makers we love and learn to love. Affiliate links help with the hours, fabric, and tears that go behind testing each pattern in order to provide a real-person view on the patterns for you (and me!)  

Monday, 14 January 2019

Sewing Pattern Review: Halla's Comfy Cozy Wrap & Essie Cardigans

I love being warm and cozy - and being able to layer up is important to keep me from freezing in my basement office!




With our shocking news about Gideon's Osteosarcoma last month, my sewjo has been reduced to a trickle.  Providing hospice care for an 80lb lapdog Rhodesian Ridgeback takes priority. 

Once the initial shock wore off, and I wasn't crying every few hours, I finally made myself a Comfy Cozy Wrap Cardigan



I love the options available for this cardigan - but my favourite is the cross over cardigan top - I can pair it with a tank top underneath (or not, as it covers my bust area perfectly). 

It is warm enough that I can wear it on its own, or layer it if I'm going out in the deep cold. 

The options include:
- Cross front cardigan
- Cross front sweater
- Midline button up cardigan
- Half or long sleeves
- Cuff option for sleeves


It was an easy sew, and I made another one this past weekend - It's love!  

It covers my hips, the sleeves are perfect, and the instructions are easy to follow - no seam ripper needed!

I used Cotton Lycra for the sleeves and Star Wars Cotton Lycra for the main bodice - both from Water Tower Textiles. 

The Bands are actually from an old Le Chateau top that was just too small and weird - I wore the top twice, so the fabric is pretty new.  Upcycling at its best!!

The Essie Cardigan goes in line with my current adoration for Peplums. 

I am HIPPY. I have an hourglass shape. But after making my first Peplum last summer, I'm hooked. 

I got Essie on its release, but with no pattern testing going on during the holidays, I actually had time to make one of my non test patterns.  

This is my first project from 2019, and I love it! 

 

This isn't going to be my first Essie either - I love the fit, the flow, and diversity of the options, which include:
- Half & Long sleeves
- Short or Tall Cuffs; Bands
- Circle or Handkerchief Peplums, or Straight Cardigan
- Regular or Wide Shawl Collar
- Waistband with Waist Tie
- In Seam or Patch Pockets. 

Of course I love pockets, so mine has POCKETS!

 

Another easy to follow sew with the perfect fit as usual - this is why Halla is one of my main go-to patterns. I know it won't take me half a day to sew up a garment, and the fit will always be perfect based on measurements. 

My Fabric includes funky Canadian wild Cotton Lycra from Okee Dokee Fabrics, and Cotton Lycra Scraps for the band & waist tie along with lightweight sweater knit - both from Water Tower Textiles.

I think I will make the straight cardigan next - I lack a normal cardigan!  

Thank you, Halla, for your fabulous patterns xoxo

***Affiliate Links Above used - I love these patterns, and without the help of those who love their patterns, marketing would be extremely difficult for the pattern makers we love and learn to love. Affiliate links help with the hours, fabric, and tears that go behind testing each pattern in order to provide a real-person view on the patterns for you (and me!) 


Monday, 26 November 2018

Won't You Take Me to Comfy Town?



Choo Choo!  Welcome to your next stop on the Rebecca Page Comfy Town Blog Tour!


What is comfier than a cup of warm tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, a good book, and a stuffie? 

Having all of the above while wearing your comfy clothes!

Today I have a few hacks and tips for a few of my fave patterns by Rebecca Page Patterns.

The Paris Party Dress Top and Pippa Pants: The Oopsie Hack





Everything is better with stuffed Unicorns and Flamingos!

I always forget about the Paris Party Dress *TOP*. And I forgot how flattering and easy to make it was. (an easy sew = automatically comfy)


When I received my recent Water Tower Textiles order, I knew this striped lightweight cotton lycra was meant to be a Paris Party Top!



It is the perfect fit, matches with my Flamingo Pippas, and is super easy to grade (I am a Medium to XL in *most* Rebecca Page Patterns). 


The pants, however...let's just say - READ THE STRETCH REQUIREMENTS!

I failed to do this, as I was so excited to sew up my Flamingo fabric - which happens to be some lightweight sort of 2-way stretch fleece from a Walmart throw blanket.

So....when I tried on my Pippas, out came the seam ripper and my hacking noggin. 

The pants wouldn't come up over my thighs let alone to my hips, so I:

- Measured the existing fabric (with stretch), and realized I needed to add another 6" on either side to get these birds on my not-so-stick-legs
- The pants fit my knees to ankles, so I knew I didn't need to cut down past where my knee hit - so I cut a straight line down the length from where the pants should sit (without the band) to my knee.
- I cut a slight angle on either side of the slit to prevent wonkiness at the point (knee)
- fdfaf

And after all that, they fit perfectly!  And I now know to DEFINITELY size up the next time I don't use the proper stretch fabric for my Pippas.

The Strappy Cami and Pippa Pants

The Strappy Cami is a Subscription Only pattern - and it's SO comfy and easy to sew up.  The grading makes it fit like a glove. 

This is my fourth Cami AND pair of Pippas... I'm a bit obsessed. 

But the comfort of this outfit screams: "Curl up on the couch with a puppy at your feet while reading a book and sipping on some tea!"

I like this Camisole more than others because it also has a Ruched Side version. I'm a sucker for Ruching as it hides my imperfections and I can nom nom without it showing (ha ha).

The fabric is the same fabric as the Paris Top above, from Water Tower Textiles.






Gideon approves of my next comfy outfit!  

I LOVE this Comfy Cowl, and so does Husband.  He compliments me on my other two all the time, so why not add a third into the mix?  

I love the way it flows, the pocket option, and the cowl multi tasks as a head cover if I forget my hat!

Lightweight Cotton Lycra/Rayon from Water Tower Textiles.  Obviously I have a favourite Fabric supplier, and Patty has awesome "clearance" fabric - my favourite way to shop!

Another pair of Pippas (#5!), with some awesome Scaled Fabric from Okee Dokee Fabrics.  It's Double Brushed Polyester, and feels like a dream when I wear them!  




I can wear all of these garments to be comfy at home, work (I *do* work from my home office 98% of the time), or just running errands.  

I mean, who wants buttons, snaps, and tightness while succeeding at life? Not this girl!  


Please visit all the stops on the Rebecca Page Comfy Town Blog Tour. Don't forget to comment on the blogs each day and enter the giveaway posts in our Facebook group or a chance to win some prizes from Rebecca Page.
  1. Monday, November 26: Rebecca Page (Intro), bigflynotions, Stitched by Jennie
  2. Tuesday, November 27: Ropp OriginalsFlaxfield Sewing
  3. Wednesday, November 28: Simply KyraSeams Sew Lo
  4. Thursday, November 29: Seams Like StyleJot DesignsSixth Snow
  5. Friday, November 30: The Sewing UnicornPatchWitch
  6. Saturday, December 1: Sarcastic SewistBellephantPrincesse et Tresors
  7. Sunday, December 2: Liviality, Soul Fed on Thread, The Scatty Sewer

Wednesday, 22 August 2018

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby Right Round



I want a hug. 

Not a normal hug.


No.


I want one of those pick-me-up-off-my-feet-squeeze-me-tight-spin-me-around-hurts-my-tummy-but-still-makes-me-smile-leaves-me-breathless-gives-me-butterflies-makes-me-fiffle-stupidly kind of hug.

That's kind of the feeling I get wrapping myself up in the Rebecca Page Wrap Around Top.

This is a neato pattern, designed for regular wear, pregnancy, or nursing.

The bust wrap is amazing (hello-lift-up!), and you can wrap it as you like.

The pattern includes:
- short, 3/4, or long sleeves
- optional camisole underneath
- option to have the middle tie section or not






I paired mine with a few different bottoms.

First I tried it with The Pippa Pants, which are also amazingly comfortable, for a casual look.


Secondly - the Peggy Pencil Skirt for a more formal or business casual look.

Don't they pair well together?



The back bodice tucks nicely into the wrap - just make sure to hold the bodice down the first few wraps, or the wrap won't capture the bodice.




The bodice stops just under the bust, in theory, to allow for the expansion of a woman with child's belly as it makes room for babies.

My expansion would only be for if I'm having a poutine or piece of cheesecake.






You can see the comparison of styles side-by-side - same top, different feel with each pairing.







Now, I used an interesting combination of fabrics.


The sleeves are a random stretch fabric from Fabricland


The main bodice and part of the tie are a lovely soft Rayon from Water Tower Textiles.


And I decided I wanted a longer wrap than the two angled tie pieces (there are normally 2 angled pieces, and optional middle straight piece for those of us not with child...but I wanted more wrapping fabric).


So my lingerie stretch lace came to the rescue, being the same width as the rayon fabric! 


So I cut the angles off the end Rayon pieces, and sewed the lace onto the raw edge of the snipped rayon pieces. And voila - a bit of a fancier wrap due to lack of the same Rayon fabric, and a quick gander in my sewing room.





This is a rather quick sew with easy to follow instructions.  And it's a top unlike any that I've seen before! 

You can really scrap together the tie part if need be, and have a beautiful end result.

Best thing? Once you have it wrapped, not only is it flattering, but it also stays put while you walk, dance, or sit down.

If you are super paranoid, you can always wear a camisole underneath, but I feel it's good as-is for me.

Plus if you wear it on date night, it's probably a lot of fun to take off when you get home *wink wink*.

Grab your Wrap Around Top pattern and whip it up in a jiff for a new-kind of top that's going to wow you and those around you.

Sew On!



Wednesday, 13 June 2018

Sewing Pattern Review: Rebecca Page's Cora Cocoon Cardigan

Who doesn't like wrapping themselves up in a cozy blanket after work (during work), or on a drizzly chilly day?  

I know I'm always cold, so having some sort of sweater or wrap is a necessity staple in my wardrobe. 

Rebecca Page's newest pattern, the Cora Cocoon Cardigan definitely meets my requirements!  




It's an extremely simple sew with a lovely drape which Husband compliments every time I wear mine. 

He says, "It's so you."  

So I guess I'm comfy and cozy!



There are a few sleeve options: sleeveless, 3/4, or full length - keeping in mind that the sleeve essentially starts at the elbow. 

Fabric is key to ensure there is enough stretch that the arms aren't too tight. 

I opted for a lightweight sweater knit, and there's plenty of stretch, but also good recovery, so it's comfy on the arms and all around. 

Don't use a structured or stiffer knit - it will make the cardigan boxy and not flow well - lightweight is key! (the pattern gives plenty of suggestion). 

This cardigan takes well under an hour from cut to sew (faster than doing laundry!), and you'll love wrapping yourself in it once complete.

Really, you'll hug yourself A LOT when you wear it!  

The drape on the back is perfect, as it covers my booty, and it flattering. 



And guess what? There really is no top or bottom - it's mirrored, so you can't wear it the wrong way.

Husband has no idea how to hang it (I hang it up like a scarf around the actual hanger hook part), but it's not that confusing. 




And guess what? It's on sale through June! 

Dolls (30% off)

Child's (30% off)

Ladies (30% off) 

Bundle (37% off)