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Welcome back for more WOMEN"S sewing..... today we are sharing awesome creations from Denita and Lisa. Each are cute, comfortable, and stylish.... and yet perfect for very different seasons. What are your favorite patterns to transition through the seasons????
Read MoreSo I constantly see posts online to the tune of: 'What exactly is X fabric?', 'What should I order online', 'I just wish I could touch it...'
Well, I am here to give you some insight. I'm hoping to do more and more of these posts over the next year so that by the end of 2015 if someone asks 'What is X fabric?', you are going to have the answers!
Read MoreIt's no secret that we are HUGE fans of Jocole patterns here at Pattern Revolution. Today we are sharing the Jocole Skinnies again because we just love them so much! If you've never made a Jocole pattern before, be sure to check into the Jocole Facebook group to participate in their upcoming Sew Along and keep tabs on the featured section of the website so you don't miss our favorite day of the week- Wednesday, when one Jocole pattern is half off every week!
Here's Melissa to tell you more about the Skinny Pants.
Hi, I’m Melissa from Sassy Fras Designs and I’m so excited to be on the Jocole Blog Tour today!
I have thought the Jocole Skinny Pants were the best thing since sliced bread since the first time I laid eyes on them. However, I was very intimidated by them. I loved every version I saw, but I know the seamstresses who had sewn them are also a little bit like Wonder Woman, and my only super power is keeping a household of 5 kids from running (too) wild, so I remained intimidated. With a little encouragement, I jumped into sewing up a pair. Now I just have two problems #1) I need more stretch fabric in a rainbow of colors. #2) Why did I wait so long to try this pattern?!
From start to finish, this pair was done in under 3 hours. No joke. That includes taping pattern, tracing in my size, cutting fabric & sewing. I would have sworn something like this was going to take me days!
This is my wearable muslin. I did back pockets, but no patch pockets, and was bucking the recommendations & planning on them being wearable all along. It could have gone either direction, but I was lucky (this time!) The fabric is a teeny bit on the stiff side (it’s a chocolate brown stretch denim that happened to be in my stash) which highlighted areas where any bunching or pulling was occurring, but one quick session of pinning & altering & they’re much better. My next pair will be made with a little more lightweight stretch denim.
The pattern comes in a range of sizes from 00 to 28w, with lots of stops in between and makes it very easy to blend sizes to fit our bodies.
I’m still no Wonder Woman, but these pants absolutely make me feel like Super Girl at least! Ready to take on all that my kids & job throw at me, while looking pretty stylish to boot! And that is the moral of my story – if a mere mortal like me can do this, so can you.
For a full review and more information http://patternrevolution.com/pattern-reviews/2014/6/15/skinny-pants-by-jocole
Time to VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!! VOTE HERE
*We are the first circle to click in the poll at the bottom of the post (Becca&Suzanne of Pattern Revolution)*
So we were only allowed 5 images and 600 words over at Skirt Fixation - and you can imagine how that was no where near enough for two blabbermouth photographers like Becca and I!!! We wanted to show off and explain some of our choices in greater detail.
Read MoreSay what?? We're more than halfway through our series! So much fashion inspiration, so little time!
Read MoreThis week we are continuing in our Sew Yourself Some Love Series. Here's a little look at what is coming so that you don't miss out!
Read MoreSorry - I should have had this up earlier in the week, but life has a bad habit of getting in the way. Thank you all for reading the comparative leggings review and for linking up your own legging creations - it is so fun to see what everyone has made for the little loves in their lives.
And the Winners are.... (chosen by random.org 'cause no one could pick from all the cuteness!)
One Pattern from Peek-a-boo Patterns
#5 Coles Corner and Creations Sally Leggings (how AWESOME for holloween)
One Pattern from Lily Giggle
#19 Baby Fish Designs Petal Pants and Ruffle Leggings comparison (love seeing the doll sizes too!)
One Pattern from Jocole
#32 Trisha of Night Owl with her Ruffle Leggings
Congratulations ladies, make sure you e-mail us with your contact information so that you can claim your prize!!!
I am a child of the 80’s. I had my Cabbage Patch Preemie, my Strawberry Shortcake decorated room and, of course, copious amounts of Barbies. I did make clothes for my dolls with the sewing knowledge I learned from candlewicking embroidery with my mom, but I think the thing that prepared me most for life as a boutique owner would have to be Fashion Plates. You could mix and match tops and bottoms and fun prints to make your very own creations! Who would have thought 30 years later that you can use the same(ish) techniques to mash up PDF patterns to come up with new combinations?
Today’s post is going to be a quick breakdown of the mash up. If you’re brand new to PDFspeak, a mash up is taking two patterns (or more!) and switching the pieces around to make a new look. You can swap a halter bodice for a peasant top or a romper bottom for a skirt. It’s a great way to stretch the PDFs you have and also breathe life into your sewing if you just can’t find that perfect look you’re going for. It’s also great for adding coverage to a garment for modesty or seasonal needs. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination...or your Paypal funds and Dropbox storage!
I was given the opportunity to mash two great patterns. I have wanted to try the Happy Herringbone pattern from Jocole for some time and I was looking for just the right time to add it to my shop. While I love the design, I really wanted a bodice that would put this unique dress over the top. I went in search of a pattern with a bodice that mimicked the “V” shape of the skirt, and landed on the Allison Dress from FooFoo Threads Patterns. The best part about these two patterns is that they are from two designers with two totally different looks
Foo Foo Threads "Allison" dress bodice
Jocole's "Happy Herringbone" dress skirt
The end result is this beautiful dress.
The lines on the bodice are simple and classic, but they literally direct your eyes to the magnificent piecework featured on the skirt.
I’m here today to give you a beginner’s guide to mashing up patterns. It’s really not hard, but it does take a little time and thought. In the end, it’s definitely worth it! These are general guidelines, meant for beginners, and not set in stone rules. I’m sure there are people that would do things differently than I would, but here are my tips for you if you are just getting your toes wet!
Keep things simple and swap piece for piece. If one of your patterns has longer bodice, look for another pattern with a long bodice. Same thing with short bodices. When you get a little more comfortable with it, you can do some math, but sticking with this in the beginning will keep you from having the skirt portion too short or too long.
Use patterns you are already comfortable with sewing. This will save you time and headache and allow for a pleasant mash up experience. This will also prevent you from ruing the day you let me talk you into doing this!
Just like anything else that has to do with sewing, once you start, you WILL get addicted. You will go to bed at night planning out your next mash and look for the next moment you have to squeeze it in. Again…just a heads up!
Most of all, have fun. These are definitely a challenge, but very doable for an enthusiastic beginner. If you really want to do one and can’t choose between patterns, have a sewing friend pick them out for you!
And just in case you wondered what the dress would look like if you totally swapped the pieces and sewed up the parts that didn't get invited to the party, here’s the bodice from Happy Herringbone and the skirt from the Allison Dress.
The gorgeous fabric used in this mash up was from the Urban Mod line from Art Gallery Fabrics. Photos were taken, dodging rain, by the talented Rebecca of Prima Luce Photography in Charlestown, Indiana.
Welcome to Pattern Revolution! We're a collective of women focused on encouraging and educating the modern sewist. Our team is made up of moms, shop owners, hobbyists, and masters of the trade. Our skill levels and project interests may vary, but our love of electronic PDF patterns are the same. Read more about the future of sewing patterns, or dive right in and let our posts inspire you
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the posts on this site are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, Pattern Revolution will receive a small affiliate commission. These commissions help keep the lights on at Pattern Revolution and we appreciate all of our readers for using them to purchase when possible. A complete list of our affiliates can be found on the "Sponsors and Affiliates" page. Pattern Revolution also receives a copy of the patterns featured on this blog free of charge. All reviews and options are the those of the reviewer alone and they receive no compensation for their review. Pattern Revolution only recommends products or services we use and believe will add value to our readers. Pattern Revolution is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
