Banksia Play Dress by Fresh Stitch Patterns

Hurrah!  Another pattern has been released by Fresh Stitch Patterns.  I jumped at the chance to test these patterns as they are so well designed, user friendly and provide classic staples for your little ones wardrobe in sizes 12 months to 8 years.

The Banksia Play Dress comes with multiple options for bodice, straps and skirt, meaning you could sew this dress several times over and never have it look exactly the same making it great value for money.

For this version I chose the flutter strap, bib bodice and banded skirt and used some Disney Princess fabric from spotlight as a base to draw colours from.  I used a decorative blanket stitch on my machine to outline the bodice.

As I have reviewed here previously, Fresh Stitch patterns are one of the easiest PDF patterns to tape together and follow.  Kylie puts a huge amount of effort before releasing the pattern to ensure it is just right and actively uses testers recommendations and suggestions.  The pattern tutorial is easy to follow and encourages beautiful finishing which can really lift your home sewn item into something special.  A confident beginner could tackle this without worrying, the instructions are so clear.

Though this dress is a great summer dress and works well in cotton weights it is also well suited to layering and being made in a light-weight denim/chambray or corduroy, add some tights, a long sleeve top and a cardy and you are well set for the cooler months.  In spite of it being Spring here we have had some pretty windy days hence the wind swept look in the photos.

The Princess was rather taken with her dress when we went to feed the ducks and pukeko and spent quite a bit of time twirling her princesses, all the while singing and dancing.  I know this dress will be in heavy rotation at Kindy in the coming months, I have some Wonder Woman fabric to make up another soon I just need to find the right co-ordinating fabric.

The pattern can be found here and here on sale at $1.50 for a limited time (today only) no coupon required.  If you are looking for a dress with options you can’t go wrong with this one at that price.

The Secret Garden Dress Blog Tour

When this dress first appeared to be tested I immediately applied, but missed out so when a post appeared asking for bloggers to join a blog tour I jumped at the chance, the stunning cascading bow captured my imagination and the name – well The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett just happens to be one of my favourite children’s books!

For such a stunning bow the dress really is not as fabric hungry as you would expect and has the added benefit of being able to use plainer fabrics with one stunning pattern.

I ummmed and ahhhed about using the Cynthia Rowley print as the main fabric or and accent, but I had enough so decided to feature it as the main and accented with a navy and red broadcloth.

I made a size 2 for the Princess and the bodice fits perfectly, and that V at the back just gorgeous.

The pattern taped together easily and requires deceptively few pieces given how complex the bow looks.

The tutorial is well written, with handy hints along the away, and lots of photos; though a little more detail in sections would have been appreciated as some of the photos the contrast between the main and lining fabrics is not overly clear.

That said the pattern is aimed at the intermediate level seamstress and just requires a little thinking as you go along, and if a supplementary tutorial were to be added for these parts I really think it could be and advanced/confident beginner pattern. There is a Facebook Group found here that I know would be really helpful too.  Don’t be afraid to try if you have some sewing experience and are looking to up-skill.

Enough of official review stuff lets look at the detail again.

Seriously I took so many photos of this detail, of course it didn’t help that it was rather windy when I was trying to take photos 😀

Of course I couldn’t make the Secret Garden dress without some Secret Garden book inspiration.

“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”…

“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Of course here in New Zealand we are in the midst of Spring and all that goes with it weather-wise.  Monday started with torrential rain, Tuesday and Wednesday were glorious but with an Antarctic bite thanks to the snow being dumped on the Central North Island and today, well, today was Spring in all her glory.

 

Allison and Deborah have decided to add a coupon code for the purchase of the Secret Garden pattern for the duration of the tour. The code is “SGTOUR25” , this code will give a 25% discount for the purchase of the pattern in the website http://www.empatterns.com as well as in the Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/empatterns. The price has been reduced in the Craftsy shop http://www.craftsy.com/user/3129921/pattern-store

The only change I made was to do a rolled hem in white on the underskirt, I love the definition it provides.

If you haven’t checked out the other other bloggers on the tour please do their work is gorgeous and there are even a few twists for inspiration.

September 22

Sofilantjes – From a Box – Golden Rippy

September 23

Friends Stitched Together – Project Destash– Simple and Trendy

September 24

Call Ajaire – Crooked Whimsy – Giggles & Beans – Sews ‘n Bows

September 25

The Adventures of Captain X and the Gingerbear Princess – Once Upon a Sewing Machine  

Thread Riding Hood

September 26

Pienkel – Made by Sara – Rebel & Malice – Shaffer Sisters

September 27

Sewing Sober – Lulu & Celeste – Climbing the Willow

 

 

Day 1 EYMM Zander Hoodie Blog Tour

Welcome to Day 1 of the EYMM Zander Hoodie Blog tour, I can’t wait to share my experience of making this unique pattern.

When the Boys Bundle from Pattern Revolution came out the other week, one of the patterns that really caught my eye as a fresh twist on a staple was EYMM’s Zander hoodie. With its asymmetrical zipper, big pocket and vest or sleeved options. I also loved that in spite of being released as a ‘boys’ pattern it is totally unisex, in fact I can’t wait to make one up for me!

Having sewn Kymy’s patterns previously (here and here), I knew her instructions would be thorough and while this hoodie is definitely a step up to an intermediate level pattern, the instructions are very clear and well-tested so trust them! Looking at the pattern pieces might make you wonder how on earth it will all go together, something I greatly admire about designers, but I promise it will all come together and make complete sense in the end.

The pattern comes in two size ranges offering great value for money. The children’s/tween’s sizes (3months to 18 tween) and the soon to be released adult sizes (this is available for pre-order now, sizes XS-5X), so everyone is covered. I made up the size 6/7 for Captain X mostly for the length so he can wear it well into next year since spring has just arrived.

I used a light grey sweatshirt fleece for the main, a charcoal ponte for the band and pocket, cotton for the lining and a patch of drill for the badge on the front. While the pattern calls for a knit on the inside it is possible to use a woven, the only spot I found need a bit of finessing was the armholes, but there would have been no issue had I been inserting sleeves.

 

The Captain loved it he especially loved that he could wear the hood like Palpatine.

Kymy has a great little reverse appliqué pack that can be used with this hoodie, using the same idea using a Darth Vader picture from some drill I found at Spotlight (the Star Wars cotton came from there too).

The only issue I had was the printing and taping being an A4 paper user I found the lines a little off while taping and it required a little more patience than usual with an EYMM pattern; however I know Kymy is looking into this as I write. Such great service and dedication to making her patterns just right for everyone, which is why her adults version is having some final tweaks before being released.

Overall this is a great pattern and just that little bit different than your typical hoodie, making sewing for the Captain just a little more interesting.

You can find the patterns here. Use the coupon code hoodiesrock for 25% off of Zander’s Hoodie & Hooded Vest, the Boy’s Silhouettes Reverse Applique Pack, and pre-orders of the His & Hers Asymmetrical Hoodie. It is valid through 11:59pm on 9/23.

Don’t forget to visit the other Bloggers on the tour and see the great things they made too.

 

The Flutterby Peasant Dress/Top by Little Kiwis Closet

OK so I tested for Little Kiwis Closet again – I think I might have a problem, I made three versions of this dress/top in one go and I still didn’t make all the options available.

Seriously though, for all that there are multiple peasant tops and dresses out there the Flutterby Peasant is definitely one you want to have in your repetoire and here are the reasons why.

Note: I made this dress longer than the pattern states.

Reason 1.  This dress is real value for money, there are dress and top length options that can both have a ruffle or not.  Then there are the sleeves, you have a choice of flutter, short or long with or without an elastic casing at varying points on the sleeve.  I TOLD YOU THERE WERE OPTIONS!

Reason 2.  Lydia’s awesome way of putting a pattern together, it never fails for me and it is so easy.  Her instructions are clear and easy to follow too.

Reason 3.  This is a peasant dress with actual pattern pieces.  I know seems obvious right?  But there are patterns out there that don’t advertise this in their listings, sure some people like to measure and cut and sometimes I do but mostly I don’t.

Reason 4.  This is a fitted peasant, which I love as the Gingerbear Princess is rather petite.

Reason 5.  The size range – NB to 12 years, even more value for money!

Reason 6.  Lydia’s general awesomeness!  OK so this doesn’t relate to this specific pattern but Lydia is dedicated to her patterns being the best they can be (which is why you end up with so many options).  The Facebook Group is great for ideas, inspiration and help and Lydia is around to answer questions there too.  As an aside she is just as lovely in person and has made me feel really welcome in my new hometown.

So go get your pattern here, it is 20% until about midday NZ time tomorrow 9/9/14.