It's a new year already, and it amazes me how much I've got done but yet to finish. This past year I've managed to start a variety of patters but all but one is still in the works. They all are close to being done but something has kept me from managing to complete them. This year I hope to change that and I think I have started out on a good foot thanks to dinosaurs and cold weather. 

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Dinosaur Hat

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I was really hoping to make this post much earlier but my summer got away on me. Better late then never, here is the dress/skirt tutorial I put together this summer. This is a super easy to draft and sew tutorial for a for a dress you can wear as a skirt or a skirt you can wear as a dress. Either way I found it a versatile piece I've worn everywhere from the beach to date night to my daughters gym class. Enjoy!

Batsy_Patterns_Dress-Skirt_Tutorial.pdf Download this file

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(Sneek peek at the Parkette Top and Angel Wing Parkette Top patterns which are in the works)

The Parkette Top is based on the Park Top but with shorter sleeves and clean finish neckline and the Mini Me version will fit sizes 3 months to kids size 8.

So with out further ado, a quick pic of the first sample.

I am working on some new stuff! First up is a Two in One Dress/Skirt tutorial, perfect for warm weather. I am also expanding the Park Top family with two new styles; Parkette and Angle Wing Parkette. Based on the Park Top they share the same fit but with shorter sleeves. To make it even more fun I'm releasing Mini Me versions for kids too.

Hoping to get the tutorial out this week! (Sneak peek at the new top then too!)

I am sporadic at best in posting but I did want to say Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year.

A quick update: The last few months have been very busy full of birthdays, holidays, and family visits. Most recently we have begun to prepare for a 2 week trip home for Christmas at the same time packing and getting ready to move house starting the day after we return. The studio is already packed so all I've been able to work on is my knitting. The move will hopefully help me get more done as the wee girl has been preventing me from spending much time in my studio due to her joy of playing with my machines. Needless to say I spend most of the time stopping her and not getting much done. Our new layout will hopefully help some of this.

Here's looking forward to productive new year! Cheers!

Just a bit of an update.

Patterns:

The changes to the patterns mention in may last post went well and are on their way to Kinkos for printing as I type.

Kakurenbo Dress - Re-named the Sock Puppet dress (the front style line reminds me of sock puppets.) For the wee ones birthday I made her an altered version with one of her favourite fabrics - Ikea hippos. I altered the pattern to be a halter dress with the horizontal style line moved up 1/2" and voila! it works! It hangs much nicer in the woven then in the knit. For the new pattern I also changed the front style line, it is no longer mirrored and as I mentioned it reminds me of sock puppets. I am really looking forward to making the new sample.

The Nejiri Dress - I made changes to the twist as well as making a variation that is a tank top.

These three patterns are going to be a part of my next release. I have decided to release patterns in groups/lines rather then individually. I think it will work better as far as work flow goes for me. This group will be all inspired by the Pattern Magic drafting books I mention in my last post.

Tutorials:

I have two tutorials that I'm working on. Both are how to draft types. I they have been tested but now need the instructions and illustrations made. 

There are some other odds and ends I'd like to get to but between family visits and birthday parties it has been hard to find the time. Hopefully November won't be as crazy, thank goodness Thanksgiving is in October.

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I am ready to test my first women's release: BWT01 Park Top and BWT01V V-Neck Park Top.

The Park top is a 3/4 length dolman sleeve top with the option of a boat or V neck. All opening are finished with bands for easy hemming. 

If you are interested in testing please let me know.

Made By Rae is once again hosting Spring Top Sew-Along (previously Spring Top Week) and I have offered copies of this pattern as one of the prizes. So... if you don't feel like testing enter the Spring Top Sew-Along to win a copy instead.

On wards and up words I guess. Fabric is on the way for the next round of samples. Once done, the grading can commence. 

Since the Monogram Hoddie is done it is time to start my next baby pattern. There are three patterns in the works; leggings, t-shirt (crew neck and cross over shoulder) and fitted pyjamas (top and bottom). Two of the three are unisex so more boy friendly patterns! The shirts are almost done, still need to make adjustments for bands/ribbing and the I still need to make the pattern for the bottoms but I'm getting there.

The Park Top will be released with a v-neck variation and that is up next for sampling. It will likely be the first women's wear release. Even though this one is supper quick easy to sew I'm am trying to work out the clearest instructions for the v-neck.

I decided to start a new pattern for women. A low cut v-neck wrap dress. After re-making this dress for myself the other day I thought it would be good one to release. It is one of my favourite dresses since it is so easy to wear. The first one I made (from bamboo jersey) I wore all through my pregnancy and after; it still fits too!

The Monogram Hoodie is finally up on Etsy!

Also received my shipping notification for the fabric I plan on using on the next round of samples. V-Neck Park Top, Baby T-shirt, tights and pyjamas, maybe even a new women's design...

It all started with Mina's favourite fabrics. Mina has a two favourite fabrics; Japanese three little pig fabric (her hoodie) and red and white Ikea hippo fabric (sweet pea dress).

She absolutely loves her hoodie, she plays with it and asks to wear it even indoors. I had a few scraps of fabric left and thought I needed to make something for her with it. So I decided to make her favourite doll Gee a new dress.

The pattern was supper easy to make so I decided to turn it into a tutorial.

The tutorial is for the basic dress with directions for making Gee's version. Download the pdf for instructions on drafting the pattern and sewing the dress. Lola models the basic version in the Ikea fabric that Mina likes to pull from the closet and carry around the apartment.

Download now or preview on posterous

DOLL_-_Dress_Tutorial.pdf (1826 KB)

Finished the samples for the Sunrise Hoodie and the Park Top. Next up corrections. Somehow there are always those.

Typically they are rather minor, missed notches or something being miss-labeled. Other times they are bigger and can't be foreseen till the sample is made. The Sunrise Hoodie is having the centre front lowered slightly due to the effect the zipper has on the fabric and the Park Top is having the angle of the neck ribbing changed so that the ribbing lays nicely. All easier to do now then after grading.

(yay for Photoshop processing that make bad photography viewable)

Finished the Monogram Hoodie Pattern! I'm excited to finally have it done. Now just for testing. Anyone interested in giving the pattern a try and giving me some feed-back, please let me know. (It's a free pattern if you do!)

When designing the Sweet Pea Dress I wanted to create something that was not only cute now but also when the child got a little bigger. I love sewing for my daughter but am sad when she's grown out of it in a week.

There are many design details that can be used to create longevity in children's wear; these are the ones I chose to use. To avoid the dress looking tight I added tucks across the front to give extra room, and raglan sleeves for an easy fit trough the shoulders and arms. I didn't leave large hems instead I intend the dress to become a top as it gets shorter.

I since I started this dress the wee girl has grown a bit so I thought I'd share how her size 12 month fits then and now along with a look at her Dr. Seuss print size 18 month. 

I know the difference isn't hugely noticeable in the photos but it is there.

The first patterns are now available on Etsy

I should be finishing the Sunrise Hoodie sample but I'm missing a zipper that is long enough so that will have to wait. I should be grading the Monogram Hoodie but I really don't feel like it so instead today I am working on new styles. 

On the kid front the next patterns will be the basic T-shirt, footless tights and fitted pyjamas. I have yet to transfer the blocks to the computer so it will be a bit before they are ready for sampling. 

On the women's front the next pattern will be a dolman sleeve top.
I'm loving my dolman sleeve sweater and have really been inspired by Andy Hall lately (especially the off the shoulder top with striped band). I find this style comfy and relaxed with out being sloppy and still fashionable. Perfect for my next pattern.

The block is made, the sketch book is out, this is what I'm working on today. 

There is old news papers but it can leave ink behind and the tissue paper leftover from gifts is often too thin and unstable. There is the packing paper left behind by the moves but that is in very short supply and long gone. Sometimes I can use scrap tracing paper but that is only when the pieces are very small. What I found to be the best source of free underlay is the sheer abundance of packing paper included in many shipments. This week I received a package from Amazon and per usual the box it was shipped in was about 4 times bigger then the then the item in it; the rest was packing paper. I was going to recycle it till it dawned on me that it would make excellent underlay. Now I have many meters of free unlay of good weight and not bad width that won't leave ink behind.

Final sample is done!!! Jordan tried on his hoodie today and it fits great, including the hood! I was thinking of making it longer but after seeing it on him I think it is fine the way it is. (He is tall for his age so if it fine on him it should be good.) 

Next up is grading. I'll be doing sizes 3, 6, 12 and 18 months as well as 2 years this time. I haven't taken the construction photos yet but I can do that when I sample other sizes. I also only finalized my construction method with this sample and it is easier to take pictures when you have a clear method in your head. I at least have photos for the pattern cover! So cute!

I am always looking for pattern testers, let me know if your interested. (including for the first three to be released.)