The Sunkissed Kaftan by Pattern Emporium

Hello everyone, I am the last stop on the Pattern Emporium Blog tour today. I've been a big supporter of Pattern Emporium for a number of years now and really rate the patterns highly. Over that time the pattern designer Kate has become one of my sewing BFFs and it's been so exciting to see what a fantastic job the real bloggers (and I say real because I really am only an occasional blogger....something I'd love to fix but at the moment, life is just too hectic) have done on this blog tour.

Festival Skirt

Last week the latest edition of  One Thimble e-zine was released and this skirt by Toni of Make it Perfect quickly caught my eye. It's called the 'Festival Skirt' and was a really quick sew, especially for someone like me who isn't exactly speedy on the clothing patterns.

The Skippy Dress

Woo Hoo. It has been ages since I've been in blogland, but Kate and I are back, on our new site. You will find some things still missing and being moved across and added, but it is time to start blogging again because I have so many projects that I don't even know where to begin.

First up though, I absolutely must get this dress blogged about. Its the Skippy dress by Make It Perfect. I actually patterned tested this one ages ago when it was first released in One Thimble Ezine back in May as the Daisy Chain Dress. Toni rereleased this pattern three months later on her own website and changed the name to the Skippy dress. So for those of you with the Daisy Chain Dress, it is the same dress.

The Perfect Kaftan

I'm excited to be a part of the Make It Perfect Perfect Pattern Parade today. As anyone who reads this blog knows, I have alot of Make it Perfect Patterns and I love them. They are simple, easy to sew and most of all, allow you to create wearable clothes. I also love that Toni has patterns suitable for women, girls and boys.
Anyway here in Sydney, we are in the middle of winter. I loathe winter. So when Toni asked which pattern I was planning on sewing, I naturally started dreaming of warmer weather and our upcoming trip to Fiji and went with the Shearwater Kaftan.

One Thimble Edition 3

Hi! I hope you are excited about tomorrow's big release of the One Thimble Ezine Magazine, Edition 3. And if you don't have any idea what I am talking about, you should really get your head out of the sand and head on over http://www.onethimble.com.au to find out more.

One Thimble is a fantastic resource for sewers, both beginner and advanced. It is packed full of great patterns, helpful sewing tips, interesting articles, and great advice for those who are interested in selling their homemade products. I had a sneak peak of this addition and it is amazing Here's what is included:

Sewing patterns for - women, girls, boys and babies. And we are not talking silly little patterns that you won't use. We are talking some serously awesome patterns. I tested a couple of them and they are some of my favourite patterns ever.

Make it Perfect Essential Shorts

I have been really slack getting a pattern review up on the blog for this pattern. No reason other than things keep getting in the way. With the kids back at school, I am determined to get this blog post done. Anyway, I regularly test for my friend Toni from Make it Perfect Patterns. This one is a little beauty.

Ladies Skater Skirt

Last night Pattern Emporium released a fabulous pattern called the Ladies Skater Skirt. I was lucky enough to pattern test for this one (I have been watching for the release date of this for some time now) so here is a quick review on it. You should really just go straight ahead and buy it if you haven't done so by now because it is excellent. I am aware that I say that about a few patterns, but I make way more things than I actually put on my blog, and only the patterns I really like make the cut for the blog. This one blew me away.

Maggie Misses Dress by Violette Field Threads

Whew! School is finally back and I feel like I can spend a little more time sewing and blogging again. Today I'm sharing a review on Violette Field Threads latest women's pattern release - the Maggie Misses Dress. Here's the cover pic of the dress on their beautiful model.

How to make grown up tulip style shorts - A Pattern Emporium Hack

Have you ever noticed that year after year, there are a lack of decent shorts available to buy for women in the shops? I'm not quite sure why - perhaps the designers all saw that Trinny and Susannah What Not to Wear Episode where they started that no one looked good in shorts and that they should never be worn. Easy to say when you have lived your life with English summers. Whatever the reason, I don't get why shops think that women like getting around in teeny tiny shorts, which are pretty much the only thing around at the moment. I personally don't think they are appropriate unless you are on the south side of 25, and the way they are going these days, you also have to be happy to have your butt cheek on display hanging out the bottom of your teeny tiny shorts! Definitely not for me.

Ladies Harem Pants

I know it's been ages since my last blog. Sorry - life is busy these days and I'm finding it hard to find the time to blog. Zoe is very much a handful at the moment, and the boys are keeping me busy with all of their sports. I've also been sewing like a mad woman to prepare for my first Sydney markets in November, which I'm pretty nervous about. Realistically things are not going to change for a little while - not at least until Connor starts school next year - he is very ready for school at the moment and needs alot of stimulation to keep busy, and by the time they are all in bed I am just too tired to blog. I keep telling myself that this is just a short period of my life that will change before I know it but I have many days at the moment that are very very looooong!

Anyway, I did find time to sew up at pattern that I have been looking forward to for sometime. I've been seeing sneak peaks for it on facebook for a couple of months and was just itching to get my hands on it. It's a pattern for ladies style harem pants by the lovely Kate McAuley from Pattern Emporium. She is another talented Aussie pattern maker and she has some wonderful patterns. I love that Australia is full of such clever ladies.

Vogue 1257

Well now that Spring is finally here, it seems a bit silly to be blogging about a winter dress. But I am a slack blogger and don't blog about even a quarter of the things I sew. This dress I really liked though, so I wanted to make sure I quickly put it on the blog. Once again - I take a really bad picture. I hate having my photo taken and always look stuff and awkward. 

This dress is Vogue 1257. It said on the front that it was easy, and I have to admit I was skeptical. I was pleasantly surprised though, I found it really straightforward and relatively quick, but I have sewn lots and lots of dresses with knit in my time.

The Seafarer Top

I've got a quick pattern review for you today. This was recently released by Abby from Sew Much Ado. It's called the Seafarer Top. I was attracted to the pattern because I like Abby's patterns. I've sewn quite a few of them and the patterns are always very well thought out and give instructions that allow you to produce a professionally finished product. When I saw that it had dolman sleeves, I was hooked. I love dolman sleeves.

A Honey Blouse

Another pattern review - this one is the Honey Blouse by Make it Perfect Patterns. I first came across this pattern when I was pregnant with Zoe and Toni asked me to pattern test it for her. I loved it at the time, it was perfect for the whole fat stage of pregnancy (kicks in much earlier third time around) and I have been meaning to make myself another ever since.

Laura Knit Dress

I ordered this pattern from Style Arc earlier this month because I thought it might work well for some of the knits that I have in my stash for the dreaded up coming winter. I'll be so jealous of the northern hemisphere in about a month. I wanted to test the pattern first before I cut into some of my pricey and adored merino wool knits, and Sydney has been really turning on the charm big time with the weather lately. It has still been nice and warm, the kids have been using the pool pretty much everyday and it made sense to make a quick summer frock up to test the pattern.

I used a combo of two knits that I have had in my stash for sometime, that I was a bit unsure about, so I knew I wouldn't shed a tear if the pattern didn't sew up to suit me. I really like the results.

Simplicity 2949

I've indulged in a bit of selfish sewing of late and made myself a new dress. Naturally it is jersey - I much prefer wearing dresses with some sort of stretch in them during the daytime. It is so much easier to deal with all the bending and stretching invovled in a day with young children. Anyway, here is the dress.

The Mission Maxi

I have a confession to make. I am a selfish sewer. I like to sew mainly for myself. I think I am addicted to sewing dresses. I have way too many sewing patterns and way too much fabric sitting in the stash waiting to be sewn

The main reason I learnt to sew was because I was sick of looking in the shops for clothes that would actually fit me. I think there is a massive gap in the market. Which mother in her 30's running around after kids all day wants to do it in a miniskirt where there would be an embarrassing flash of all things under the miniskirt at least twice a minute with all the squatting down and getting up you have to do with little kiddos? I am also a firm believer that not all cleavage is good cleavage - many necklines out there are way too low for my liking. I found that when I actually found something that fit me, it was either super short, or way too low, or if I found something that was appropriate, it cost way too much and I didn't really even like it. And so my obsession with sewing dresses began.

Of all the dresses out there, I think I like the maxi dress the most. It is so practical - you can dress it up easily, dress it down with some casual shoes. And on the days when you just haven't had time to address the hairy legs, or that fake tan is looking a little blotchy, it is perfect for hiding a world of sins. To say that I have been on the hunt for a great maxi dress pattern would be an understatement. And then I came across this little beauty.