Indie Pattern Month

Indie Pattern Month is being hosted by Mel of the Curious Kiwi, and Kat of Modern Vintage Cupcakes. Head on over to their blogs to find out more, and join in the fun.

Despite, having quite a substantial pattern stash containing both Big 4 patterns and Independent pattern designers, it is the Indie's I tend to reach for the most. 

Case in point, the last few patterns I have made;

Hot Patterns Cabana T shirt

Hot Patterns Superfantastic Shirt

Made By Rae Parsley Pants 

Colette Laurel

Jalie Winter Accessories

Jalie Mens and Boys Rugby Jerseys

Liesl + Co Woodland Stroll Cape

and about a dozen different wallets and bags from Michelle patterns.

On my immediate to-do list (this list is really long, so this is just the highlight reel)

Jalie's .... so may Jalies.

Most of the Hot Patterns catalogue, most notably their pant/trouser patterns ;-)
And these beauties below ...

Decades of Style 1930's Capelet

Decades of Style 1950's Object dArt Dress

Onion Coat with cut on Collar.
If you order your patterns from shopOnion, you can even have the instructions in English!

For even more Independent Pattern Designer inspiration, head over to A Good Wardrobe for an ever expanding list.

Woodland Stroll Cape

When the new Woodland Stroll cape pattern was released by Liesl of Oliver and S recently, I thought it would make a great topper for our temperate but windy city!

It doesn't take a lot of fabric, and I was sure I would have something available to try it out with stash fabric.

For the shell, I had some eggplant coloured boiled wool/rayon. This is lovely and soft, and sewed up beautifully.

This will look much better when I wear it with a scarf and such!

For the lining, I selected a silk satin that I purchased because I loved the vibrancy of it - unfortunately it was still languishing in my stash because I just couldn't imagine wearing anything made from it!

Thankfully, it looks awesome as the lining in my cape, and will make me smile whenever I wear it.

For the fastenings, I used tack buttons (like on your jeans). I wanted something a little quieter, because I have some great scarves, and with the peeks of the lining, I didn't want them to compete. Obviously though, I can change them for something brighter if I change my mind!

As with all Oliver and S patterns, the instructions are superb with helpful diagrams along with the well written instructions. My only deviation from the instructions as written was to leave the opening for turning in the back neckline rather than in the lining. I was a bit concerned pulling the entire shell through a gap in the lining would shred the seam allowances on the silk. 

They provide the suggestion/option to edge stitch the entire cape, which I did do because the boiled wool was quite puffy and the edge stitching gave it a slightly crisper finish.

This went together quite quickly, with only three pattern pieces - in fact I think it took longer to cut out and interface the pieces than it did to actually sew up!

I can see myself wearing this a lot on windy or cooler days, when I often need to wear a little something extra, but not necessarily a coat.

Christmas Sewing Round-up

A quick round-up of the Christmas presents that were sewn up by me. Mostly, these are all patterns I have sewn previously, so not much to add.

Another Perfectly Preppy skort, from the pattern by the Scientific Seamstress. This was a popular choice again featuring favourite colour, purple. The spots fabric is a cotton, and the lining a poly/cotton poplin.

The free downloadable popover sundress pattern from Oliver and S. I chose not to use a contrasting fabric for the yoke and straps, as suggested in the pattern. This is made from a very light weight cotton.

These shorts in a size 18-24 months are made using the Oliver and S Sketchbook shorts pattern. These are made from a remnant of cotton drill used previously. These looked and sewed up very similarly to the previous pairs made with the Burda 9793 pattern. I would choose to sew the Burda pattern in preference to this one, while the boys are in the size range for it.

These mens boxer briefs were made using Kwik Sew 3298. Unfortunately, the yellow contrast fabric was a bit more contrasting than anticipated! They sewed up quickly and easily, would sew these again with a more considered choice of fabric. The main fabric is a cotton jersey, the contrast a cotton/lycra jersey.

Red Riding Hood Cape

I recently dipped into my copy of Little Things to Sew again, for a great wee present for my niece's 3rd birthday. I chose to make the Red Riding Hood Cape as pictured on the front cover.

I found some fantastic red cotton corduroy for the main fabric, and some matching quilting cotton for the lining. I also chose a fun wee button to hold it closed.

As always, the sewing instructions are excellent and result in a really nice finish with all the seams completely enclosed. I completed the sewing for this at my monthly sewing group, and the ladies were suitably impressed.

This will be suitable as a lightweight topper in cooler weather, or as a dress-up costume component - will have to see what the whims of a 3 year old decide!

More Bucket Hats

As we are coming into Summer again here, I decided it was time for some more sunhats at our place. Fortunately, I came across a hat sew along here, and decided it was just the motivation I needed.

I again used the Oliver and S bucket hat pattern from the 'Little Things to Sew' book. You can find this pattern for free here.

The first one is made from left over cotton drill, from the Superhero cape made previously.
The second (and third) one is made from some leftover rip stop cotton, from a pair of pants.

All of them have plain black cotton drill as their reverse side.

A great hat pattern, that I've made previously, and will continue to use.

Rock and Roll Backpack

As a birthday present for my older son, T.  I made a backpack based on the Penguin backpack in the Oliver and S book, 'Little Things to Sew'. 

He wasn't overly inspired by the penguin rendition in the book, so I used this as a basis for making one more to his interests.

As I've mentioned previously, letting the cherubs help choose fabric can be a bit hit or miss, and the 'rock and roll' fabric I used to line his backpack is what he chose to have a shirt made out of! (Incidently, the shirt is cut out, but still requires finishing in time for his birthday too)

Given the 'vibrancy' of his fabric I went for something a little plainer for the outside and used a royal blue pinwale cord. 

I simply appliqued his initial on the front, and used a little of the lining to bind the ends of the shoulder straps.

This was another great Oliver and S pattern, with well written instructions and diagrams to help you along. 

I made it slightly harder for myself by making it plainer, as the directions are very much written assuming you are making the penguin. 

It just involved a bit more thought to figure out which bits you didn't need to cut, and then which parts of the instructions to skip past. 

In conclusion, another winner from the 'Little Things to Sew' book.

Bucket Hat and Skort

I recently received the Oliver and S book, 'Little Things to Sew', and the first project from it I tried was the Bucket Hat pattern. 

My niece had her 2nd birthday coming up, so she was the recipient of the first one.

The hat brim IS even - just doesn't look like it with the jaunty angle teddy wears it!

As we do not live near by, here it is modelled by one of the teddies. The hat is reversible, so can be worn either way.

Along with this I also made a skort using a Scientific Seamstress pattern. I used the same lime green gingham poplin as for the hat.

This pattern is a downloadable PDF, with extremely clear instructions and diagrams, and individual pattern pieces for each size. The only alteration I made was to insert adjustable elastic into the waistband, as my niece is quite small.

I would definitely recommend these patterns and have a couple more I intend to make soon.