Sew Independent

As I typed out sew independent in the title, the thought occurred to me that I really like all the implications. I think that describes me as well as everyone who visits this blog, we are so very independent! We like to like to sew, we like to be creative and in all of our endeavors, exhibit our individuality and independence. 

As you may remember, I participated last year in Sewing Indie Month as....The Pattern Hacker!!! I love that title :) Well, as it turns out, Sewing Indie Month is coming up once again. Since I have yet to take the little box off of my blog, I was asked if I would do a post announcing the upcoming event as well as a fabulous sale that will kick it all off. The sale is all about a pattern bundle which is rather fun. So before I get to the details, let's take a look at the patterns.

First up is the lovely Dixie of Dixie DIY. You may remember that I just completed her shorts for the Sew News sew along. A picture of me in my shorts is coming up this week. Dixie has designed a super cute new dress pattern. Look closely and you'll see the little cutout design on the side. As cute as the cutout is, I'm thinking that it could also be a design detail with lace or even leather.

Next up is a designer that I have enjoyed for some time. You may remember her free Newsboy Cap pattern that I made a while back. Her Cookie Zippered Jacket is a great into fall jacket. Yuki is offering a free add on pattern of a hood, so the jacket is all the more versatile.

Sew House Seven is a new to me pattern line. Their Mississippi Ave. dress is just as breezy and feminine as a pattern can be. Not only is it a lovely little dress, it would also make up into a lovely nightgown. You can find all of their patterns HERE.

Muse Patterns are designed by Kat Haristy of Wellington, New Zealand. Her Melissa dress and blouse pattern is feminine with a vintage touch. The lovely detail on the front of the dress is echoed on the back. The pattern also comes with a skirt pattern that features the detail on the pocket. A super versatile pattern! You can check out all of her patterns HERE.

Next up is Miss Mari of Seamster Patterns. Her brand new Sorrel Dress and Top Pattern has been in the works for a while and I'm so happy to be able to finally tell you about it. The collar detail is just that, a detail, not a seperate collar. 

She has also provided this option which I really like.

Lolita Patterns is offering their Sugar Plum Dress pattern, perfect for the business woman on the go. You may remember that I tested this pattern. You can see my version HERE. 

Another new to me pattern designer is Jennifer Lauren, She is offering her Cressida Skirt Pattern to the bundle. The skirt can be made with a double row of buttons or a single row and belt loops can also be added.

The Saltbox Tank or Tee from Blueprint Patterns has a very interesting inspiration. Be sure to check out her blog and see what inspired this top.

The Sutton Blouse from True Bias features an easy to wear design with kimono sleeves, one piece yoke, a pleated back and side slits.

The Ultimate Trouser Pattern from Sew It Over is a pant for every wardrobe. A slim leg with and ankle grazing hem, perfect in summer and winter.

Now here's a little information about the pattern bundle. Please take note that I'm a little late in getting this post out, the sale ends on Wednesday August 12th!!!!

• The sale will run from Monday August 3rd to Wednesday August 12th.
• 20% of bundle proceeds will be donated to the International Folk Art Alliance, which provides education and exhibition opportunities to folk artists from around the world. Just a few examples of what the International Folk Art Alliance has been able to accomplish by helping artists create stable, year-round livelihoods includes helping shelter women from domestic violence in Ecuador, building a school for children in Pakistan, empowering women in repressive cultures around the world, and feeding villages in Niger.
• Sewing Indie Month (SIM) is a month-long celebration of indie sewing patterns where designers collaborate to bring you fun blog posts and informative tutorials. This year SIM will take place in September. It's accompanied by a sewalong contest with fantastic prizes. Since the patterns in the SIM Bundle 1 are mostly wovens, this sale gives you time to make muslins before the contest begins in September while supporting small women-owned businesses and raising money for charity.
• This year the Sewing Indie Month HQ will be Sew Independent, which Mari from Seamster Sewing Patterns took over from Donna, who decided to step back from the site. You may buy the bundle and keep up to date with the latest SIM news at www.SewIndependent.com 

Pricing:

Pay what you want for the bundle! The more you pay, the more rewards you'll receive. 

• Pay $25 or more to get the Sutton Blouse, Cressida Skirt, Sugar Plum Dress, Mississippi Ave Dress & Top, and the Ultimate Trousers.
• Pay $32 or more to get the Cookie Blouson and Bonnell Dress.
• Pay $38 or more to get the Melissa Dress, Blouse & Skirt, the NEW Saltbox Top, and the NEW Sorrel Dress & Top.
• The 10 people who spend the most will get printed copy shop versions of the patterns mailed to them as a free bonus.

New Patterns:

The Saltbox by Blueprints for Sewing and Sorrel Dress & Top by Seamster Sewing Patterns are brand new patterns that are being released with the bundle. During the sale you can only buy them as part of the bundle.

So if you would like to have all 10 patterns, you may have all 10 for the bargain price of only $38.00! But since 20% goes to such a worthwhile organization, pitching in a few extra dollars would be great too. Be sure to check out www.sewindependent.com to buy your patterns and learn more about Sewing Indie Month. Have fun!

The Best Pair of Tights....EVER!!!

About a week before I left for the expo, I was asked if I would fill in for a teacher who was ill and would not be able to teach. The class was on sewing with spandex. I wanted to have a few pieces to demonstrate, so I quickly made up a pair of tights. The pattern is from Seamster Patterns and it is by far the best tight pattern I have ever worked with!!! I am now a devoted make my own tights gal!
With the tights laying flat, you can actually see the shape of the body. The tights were designed to have feet, but directions are given for footless tights as well.

 The seam runs along the top of the foot and joins to the body of the tight at the ankle. The seam disappears to a great degree, so it really isn't noticeable, unless you want it to be. You could use this as a design detail.

 The back of the foot joins to a center back leg seam.

Please excuse the bathroom shot. I'm alone so I am relegated to taking my own picture. But I wanted you to see how well the tights fit.

The tights were designed to have feet for those of us who enjoy wearing tights or leggings and who live in a cold climate. I know I have wanted to wear my leggings in the winter, but what about my feet? I end up looking like a dork if I wear socks, and if I don't, then my feet are cold. Now I can make all the great and funky tights I want. I'll probably still look like a dork ;), but at least I won't be wearing socks with my leggings! The pattern is a PDF pattern, so you will need to download it, but there isn't a lot of taping. It's a great investment at $12.00. You can find the pattern here,
http://seamsterpatterns.com/product/rose-hip-tights-9701/
One note, be sure to use a fabric that stretches in the crosswise as well as the lengthwise grain. Remember, they are tights and you want a good fit around the body and you also want to be able to pull them up!
Happy tight making!!!

Sewing Indie Month, The Hackers....The Final Entries

Sewing Indie Month has been quite a month! To be honest, I was a little worried about whether or not there would be many if any entries for pattern hacking, but you ladies have blown me away with your creativity! Congratulations to everyone who used a little creativity and thought outside the box.
We had 5 new entries yesterday and I want to showcase their lovely hacks.
A bodysuit takes on a whole new life when it becomes a maxi dress. http://dibulous.blogspot.com/2014/06/nettie-maxi-dress-hack.html took the Nettie Dress and Bodysuit from Closet Case Files and gave sexy a whole new look!
                   
After you've worked so hard to obtain a PhD and you need to defend your dissertation, a lovely dress is in order. MariaDenmark's Day To Night Top was the perfect beginning for his lovely dress made by   
http://www.kollabora.com/projects/dissertation-defense-dress
                       
Dixie's DIY Ballet Dress gave http://www.thepatternhack.blogspot.com/ the perfect pattern for creating this maxi dress. By the way, this is her first ever post. A brand new blogger!!!! Be sure to welcome her to the blogging world.
                  
For a woman who loves to exercise, The Avocado Hoodie from Seamster Patterns gave http://www.cleverthinking99.com/2014/06/jaywalk-alexaavocado-hoodie.html just what she needed to create this great jacket.
                          
Being able to run and be cool and comfortable is a must for http://sewtigersew.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/sewing-indie-pattern-hacking-a-running-top-for-the-volume-lover/, so she took the Summer Concert Tee from Dixie DIY and combined it with Fehr Trade's XYT Workout Top.
                                    
So that closes out the entries for Pattern Hacking. Again, great job ladies!!!! And a big thank you for participating. The voting will begin on Monday, so I will be posting links then.
Sewing Indie Month is not quite over for me. I will be posting my hack of Sew Chic's Myrtlewood dress this Saturday. I have an event to attend and the dress will be perfect! I also have another piece to hack from Waffle Patterns that I think you are going to love. I'll be back a little later today with a fun Thrifty Thursday piece. Until then, have a fabulous day!