Browsing Tag

Knit Fabric

Indie Sewing Patterns

.Hudson Pants.

Last week I made myself a pair of Hudson Pants. This pattern has been on my “to sew” list since it was released, and I’m glad I hadn’t bought it yet because it is a part of the Perfect Pattern Parcel #6 so I managed to get this pattern + 5 other awesome women’s patterns in one!

(I think I was singing a song with Harvey in the pic above!) 

When I pulled out the pattern, I had a few moments of fabric indecisiveness…I had some light grey sweater knit or some dark grey velour or my (big) stash of jerseys to choose from. I was leaning towards the sweater knit or velour as the Hudson Pant pattern is for a pair of “dressier” trackies (if there is such a thing?!) but we are heading into Summer and I wanted something that I would be able to wear as the weather warms up and those fabrics would be too hot. Then I remembered this pair of pants I saw at the shops a few days before…when I saw them I made a mental note to try and construct a pair myself because they looked really easy to make and I knew I could totally kill that $60 price mark!

And this variation of the Hudson Pant was created! I decided to take the original pattern and change the bottom of the legs to give the pants more of a harem-feel. To do this, I simply straightened the legs instead of tapering them in at the bottom and then added 5″ to the length as I wasn’t adding a cuff to the leg hem. To hem the pants, I turned up a casing and inserted the same wide elastic as in the waistband.

I LOVE how they turned out and have been wearing them heaps! When the harem pant trend first started, I didn’t buy it at all. But seriously…now I get it! Who doesn’t want to be able to wear a pair of pants as comfy as pyjamas out and about??! I can’t wait to make some more, and want to try out the original cuffed hem too.
This fabric is a ikat print cotton jersey from Ixat (not avaliable now.) I thought I might have been too flimsy for the pants, but it is actually perfect. Perhaps if I had stuck to the original cuffed pattern it might have felt a bit too much like leggings though?

If you are looking for a comfortable pair of pants you can wear practically anywhere – then give the Hudson Pant a go, it is awesome. I couldn’t fault anything in the pattern…the fit is spot-on, the instructions are just right. The perfect amount of instructions and nothing was confusing or hard to understand at all.

To get this and these FIVE other amazing women’s patterns at a great price AND support a charity at the same time, visit Perfect Pattern Parcel…it won’t be around forever, you’ve only got 4 more days to take advantage of this great offer.

Parcel #6 includes:
Syrah Skirt by Lauren Dahl (exclusive release!)
Bronte Top by Jennifer Lauren
Julia Cardigan by Mouse House Creations
Hudson Pant by True Bias
Zsalya Dress by Kate and Rose

BONUS PATTERN: Odette Dress by Bluegingerdoll

Pattern Parcel #6: Choose your own price and support DonorsChoose. Win/win!
Bonus Pattern:
Choose a price of $32 or greater for Parcel #6 and you
will automatically also be sent the Bonus Pattern! That’s only $5 a
pattern. The Bonus Pattern for this Parcel is the Odette Dress by
Bluegingerdoll. Vintage inspired silhouette is had two flattering
necklines and a gorgeous skirt.  The Odette Dress pattern goes from a
size 4 through a 24!

How Pattern Parcel Works:
Here at Perfect
Pattern Parcel, we believe in supporting independent pattern designers.
It’s our opinion that indie patterns are just, well, better than big
box patterns, and we’re pretty sure our customers think so too. So, we
allow customers to show their support in naming their own price for each
Parcel.  We also encourage customers to allocate part of their Parcel
price to the charity Donorschoose.org in order to help classrooms in
need. Pattern Parcel donates all profits after expenses from Parcel
sales to the charity as well. Together we’ve raised over $12,000 for
classrooms in need!

October 27, 2014
Make It Perfect

.Cuff Tops + taking matters into my own hands.

After making Spy Tops for the little girls I had on my to-do list to sew one for myself. By the time I got around to it, the weather wasn’t cold enough to commit to a cowl neck so I made a couple without the cowl.

These were fun to sew, super fast and it was a good
opportunity to put a few of those printed knits (both from Crafty Mamas) to use. I bought this
fabric with intentions to use it for myself, it is a German knit and the
quality is unreal. I used a black jersey for the contrast cuffs and like how it frames the print.

This Lillestoff print is a little less “out there” but the tone-on-tone leaf print is enough to give a bit of interest. 

The pattern was drafted using my Skippy dress as a base. I took the top portion and modified it heaps – removed the gathers from the sleeves, brought in the side seams a bit for a more slim-fit, added some length then finished it off with wide cuffs on the hem and sleeves. 

There are lots of top patterns around now, I don’t know if anyone would be interested in this one or if you can just draft your own? What do you reckon? If enough people are interested I could write up a pattern for this – and include the cowl neck option and perhaps a couple of other variations? These tops have been on high-rotation in the wardrobe lately, just right for that in-between seasons change.

 
And for the first time ever I pulled out my tripod and remote and took these photos myself! It took a bit of figuring out, but I found that it was easier to take them inside than outside for some reason. I rigged up a plastic basket on the highchair to focus on before I jumped in front of the camera! Apparently my camera and remote are supposed to have a timer function on them so that I can press the button and then hide it from view before the camera actually snaps the pic but it wasn’t working for me so you can see the remote in all of the photos!

 SUPPLIES:
Swaffing, Cherry Picking, Love Boat in Blue jersey
Black jersey
Lillestoff, Leafly in mint jersey
Robert Kaufman, Laguna in Emerald jersey

October 24, 2014
Joey, Make It Perfect, Skippy

.Skippy & Joey Hop.

Welcome to the last installment of the Skippy & Joey Hop! 
Vanessa from LBG Studio cropped the skirt of this Joey dress to make it a tunic length to wear with jeans – I really, really like! How about those big, bold florals too? Pretty!
 

Abby from Sew Much Ado has THE cutest little girl wearing THE cutest Joey! She used an unexpected print for little kid’s clothing and I think it looks fantastic, cute little cowl neck too!

 
Jane from The Drapery is ready for some Spring action in her cheery Skippy dress. Love her puffy, short sleeves. She used some Lillestoff knit – one of my favourites.

How awesome is this Joey made by Christie from A Lemon Squeezy Home? Perfect print for a little girl – and she pulled out all the cool poses in these fun photos!

And Sunni from A Fashionable Stitch has produced the cosiest Skippy top around. She used some thick, fleecy sweater knit and paired it with a pretty lace knit. Isn’t it beautiful?

I’d love to send out a BIG thankyou to the wonderful ladies who took part in my Skippy & Joey Hop! So much awesome inspiration, I love seeing what others create with my patterns.

If you would like sew these dresses for yourself you can
purchase them here:

 

October 21, 2014
Make It Perfect, Skippy

.Still Skippin’.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I know what you are thinking…another Skippy post? Sorry…(not sorry) I’ve got lots to share!
This maroon one was the very first Skippy I made. I used this fabric because I knew that I wouldn’t be disappointed if it didn’t work out. The fabric quality is great, not sure what it is as it was given to me but feels like a jersey that has a bit of lycra content as it has great stretch and recovery and isn’t thin or flimsy. But the colour just didn’t do much for me. I don’t think I have anything maroon in my wardrobe and just don’t feel comfortable in it.
Turns out, the dress worked out pretty well first time around, too good to not be worn, so my big sister scored herself another Skippy! 

Maroon is also a really hard colour to photograph. It isn’t as dull as in these pictures. I’m not sure what else to say about this one that hasn’t already been said…feminine gathered 3/4 length sleeves, a pocket to stash your hands and as comfortable to wear as your favourite pyjamas!

SUPPLIES:
Make It Perfect, Skippy sewing pattern
Maroon jersey knit fabric
 
 
October 18, 2014
Ottobre

.Baby Tops (but not for much longer).

It has been 5 months since I last shared any tops I have sewn for Harvey. This is good and bad. 
Good, because it means that the clothes I am making him now will be worn for a much longer time. 
Bad, because he isn’t growing as fast which means that he isn’t a baby anymore. I had to title this post “Baby Tops” because I fear that it won’t be long until we are referring to Harvey as a toddler more and a baby less. Boo hoo.

The growing baby required some more tops though. I managed to squeeze the front and arms of this top out of a little piece of this favourite left over cloud fabric that I had. Because I didn’t have quite enough for the whole top, I used a little left over piece of solid grey (from this dress) for the back. I like the look and think I will be using it more in the future. A good way to stretch out your favourite fabric that little bit further too!

This pattern is one that I have used a lot in the past. From Ottobre 1/2011 called “White Rabbit”. I used some solid grey ribbing for the neckband and sleeve cuffs.

And this slouchy top was added to the collection too. I used a new pattern for this one – from an older Ottobre magazine: Spring 1/2009. The design is called “Muksis” jersey tunic and top” – you can definitley tell the way that trends and styles have changed over the years of Ottobre magazines. The older styles are much more slouchy and baggy. I don’t mind how this top is nice and loose fitting though. It will definitley fit for a long time – particularly becasue the sleeve cuffs are folded over. 

I don’t love the envelope neckline though, I never have really. It doesn’t ever seem to sit right and tends to stretch out of shape. The ribbing I used to bind the edges is quite thick too so was a bit tough to sew to the shoulder seams and ended up pretty bulky, but nothing too noticeable for a baby’s top. The little pouch pocket is very cute too. Unpractical, but cute!

SUPPLIES:
Grey cloud jersey knit

Charcoal jersey knit
Hilco campan knit in lime/blue

October 13, 2014