Summer has almost arrived, Yay! Time to start sewing pretty shorts and dresses. Well, maybe in the rest of Australia except Melbourne. It’s been unusually cold here this spring and the thought of wearing dresses and shorts is the furtherest thing from my mind. Luckily we’ve had one hot day and I got to wear these Maritime shorts that I made (in anticipation of a hot summer) bowling. Continue reading →
Palm Tree Pullover Top
I didn’t want to waste any of the beautiful palm print silk twill I had left over from the Birdie bomber so I used it to sew up this quick and easy pullover top. The fabric is a palm printed silk twill and the pattern is McCalls 7195. It’s a loose-fitting top with bust darts, neck and sleeve bands, and hemline variations. I made it up in a couple of hours and wore it out to the pub for a drink the same day! It reminded me of when I was about sixteen and I used to make most of my clothes. I would buy some fabric, sew it up and wear it out to the Blue Light disco the same night!
Nice easy pattern, highly recommended for an easy beginner project.
Oh and my cat Oki helped me with the photo shoot. Continue reading →
Gold party pants
My latest project was the most fun I’ve had sewing for a while. My son who is turning nine, decided he wanted a pair of gold party pants to go with his reflective sunnies he’d bought recently. Don’t ask me why or where he got this idea from but I thought it was a pretty cute idea so I took him to Spotlight where he chose the gold pvc fabric and the pattern, Burdastyle 9406. He was very specific with how they should look as he’d found a picture on the web of a teenager wearing gold jeans. Continue reading →
Ideas on storing PDF sewing patterns
Sometimes organising and storing PDF sewing patterns can become a little overwhelming as they are printed on regular paper which makes them bulkier than than your normal store bought tissue paper pattern. Also, they are more affordable and easily accessible so the pattern stash can grow very quickly. Not only do you want to store them in a space efficient way but you also don’t want to pay a fortune for storage. Here are a few ideas on storing your PDF sewing patterns that I have tried and some ideas that might help sort out your stash.
Jungle Ruched Dress
This Jungle Ruched Dress came to life after I bought the fabric from Tessuti on sale for the bargain price of $11 per meter. It’s a 95% Rayon 5% Spandex Jersey Knit called Nouveau Jungle. I wanted an easy project which I could whip up in an afternoon. I found the Burda style pattern 6626 at Spotlight on sale (of course) for $4, perfect!
Ivory Lace Shirt Dress
This is my Ivory lace shirt dress which I am entering into the Tessuti Fabrics Cut Out Lace Sewing Competition.
I had to create an outfit that showcased their gorgeous lace. You can purchase the lace in black, red or ivory. They are all stunning but my eye kept heading towards the ivory lace. You can make whatever you like so long as you use the lace throughout the garment.
Birdie Bomber
Bombers are da bomb! I love them. I made one a few years ago in a Zebra print which I love and it has been one of my most worn items from my homemade wardrobe so far. I thought maybe bombers might have gone out of fashion but according to a few articles I’ve read in fashion mags and blogs lately they are still up there in the fashion trends. If fact this post from Bloglovin was what inspired me. So, after reading all of these fashion reviews I got a bit excited and drafted up a simple bomber jacket – the Birdie Bomber.
Venus Kimono Sewing Competition
To celebrate a year (and a bit) since the release of the Venus Kimono sewing patterns we are holding a sewing competition where you can win Mood Fabrics gift vouchers.
$100 First prize and $50 runner up!
How to enter the sewing competition
It’s so simple, all you have to do is make your Venus Kimono, take a photo of yourself (or someone) wearing it and share it with us on Instagram (hashtag #venussewingcomp and tag @sewthispattern), Facebook or by emailing us your entry at sewthispattern@gmail.com.
Adding pockets to your Annie A-line Skirt
The Annie A-line skirt is a simple skirt to sew and very versatile. If you want to add a few details for more of a wow factor, you can add some pockets.
I’ve created a template of some patch pockets for you but you can use these steps for any patch pocket. I’ve added mine to a stretch denim and used a floral poplin lining in this version to show you how easy it is to do.