Sewing Indie Month, Be A Pattern Hacker

I have a very nice surprise for you today, so be sure to read to the end :)
Over the last few weeks, I've thought a lot about pattern hacking, redesigning, chopping, whatever you would like to call it, primarily because I have a pile of patterns I have been commissioned to hack for Sewing Indie Month!! So, what does it take to make a pattern your own? As you saw last week with the top I did from Soma Patterns,

the change can be very, very simple like adding a triangular shaped sleeve.
You may remember the dress I did last summer,

that started with Butterick 5678. Of course, this was much more involved, but lots of fun and even more fun to wear!!! 

I did lots of hacks to that simple shirt pattern. If you would like to scroll through and see the many faces of Butterick 5678, click here.
A little more inspiration can be found with all the posts I've done on sleeve drafting. Here's a link to my Pinterest Sleeve Page, http://www.pinterest.com/sewbussted/sleeves-on-saturdays/
The sleeve below was drafted from the free t-shirt pattern offered by Deer and Doe. You can find the instructions on how to draft this sleeve here, http://rhondabuss.blogspot.com/2014/03/sleeves-on-saturdays_15.html

Deer and Doe is not a part of Sewing Indie Month, but to refresh your memory, here's the list;

• By Hand London
• Christine Haynes
• Closet Case Files
• Dixie DIY
• Fehr Trade
• Garmenter
• Kate & Rose
• Lolita Patterns
• Maria Denmark
• Seamster Sewing Patterns
• Sew Caroline
• Sew Chic Patterns
• Sewn Square One
• Sinbad & Sailor
• Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Patterns
• SomaPatterns by Sylvie P
• Stepalica Patterns
• Pauline Alice
• Thread Theory Designs
• Tilly & the Buttons
• Waffle Patterns

A number of the companies have free patterns, so be sure to take a look.

Now for the surprise!!!!!

This week's hack will be a pair of pants from Sewn Square One.

You may be wondering what in the world I could do with a pair of pants. Well, you'll have to come back by tomorrow to see, but I think that what I've done is rather cute if I say so myself :) I will tell you that my pants have a very different look, and yet, the change was nothing earth shaking. You'll see!!!!

Okay, finally, the good news!!! Elizabeth was so very generous to offer a free pattern to my readers!!!!! If you would like a chance to win your own copy of her Paper Bag Pant pattern, just leave a message on this post. You'll only have a few days to enter as I would like to get the pattern out as soon as possible so whoever the winner is will have a chance to make the pattern up during Sewing Indie Month. Get Ready, Set, Go!!!! I'll announce the winner Friday morning. That's this Friday morning, May 16, 2014!!!!!!!

If by chance you've already hacked a pattern and would like to link it up for a chance to win the prizes that I announced on May 1st, see this post and link away, http://rhondabuss.blogspot.com/2014/05/announcing-sewing-indie-month.html  You'll find the link button just under the list of prizes.  

Happy Hacking!      

Sewing Indie Month, Soma Patterns and No Waste!

This May we are celebrating the incredible patterns that are available from the independent pattern industry. Last week I shared with you that I was asked to participate as the Pattern Hacker. I jumped on the opportunity as I love to take a pattern and figure out other possibilities, but I still can't get over my title!!
This week I have chosen a fun and simple pattern designed by Sylvie P of Soma Patterns. She is a designer with a mission to create patterns that leave no waste. Since I am constantly looking for ways to keep my scraps out of landfills, the idea of no scraps left behind really appealed to me. Here's a look at some of the no waste patterns that Sylvie has designed.
The FloriAnn Skirt

The Abby Jacket
I have seen the Abby Jacket in person and it is fabulous

 The Emily Skirt

 For my first pattern hack project, I chose the Cendrine Top.

This is an ingeniously designed top, basically a rectangle, and you know that's something I always like! I decided to keep my first design simple by just adding a sleeve to the top. I love the front drape, it's so feminine and soft. So I thought that I should do something that would be in line with the design and the concept of the pattern.
My top with little butterfly sleeves.

The sleeves are just 2 triangles, so SUPER easy to do and I think the design is in keeping with the overall design of the top.

Floaty and flirty!!!

The sleeve opening of the top is just a slit and is cut after the shoulders have been sewn in. All I did was measure the length of one side of the armhole slit. It was 8" long. I then measured how far down I would like the points to hang on my arm. Ironically that measurement was also 8". So I drew a square that was 8" on all sides and cut it in half diagonally. Voila, Sleeves!!!! You will need to cut 2 squares as there are 2 triangles in each sleeve.
Here's a few pictures of me in the top.

As I said, the top is super easy to make. The ingenuity of the design is in how the shoulder was designed. I just love it. Based on this experience, I will be making a few more of Sylvie's designs. Later this month, I am going to revisit the Cendrine Top and show you how to make this into a reversible jacket.
Be sure to check out the posts of my fellow bloggers. Here's a link to the schedule of who is posting and when, http://seamsterpatterns.com/sewing-indie-month-calendar/.
Also, be sure to check out all the companies who are a part of Sewing Indie Month.

By Hand London 

Christine Haynes

Closet Case Files

Dixie DIY

Fehr Trade

Garmenter

Kate & Rose

Lolita Patterns

Maria Denmark

Seamster Sewing Patterns

Sew Caroline

Sew Chic Patterns

Sewn Square One

Sinbad & Sailor

Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Patterns

SomaPatterns by Sylvie P

Stepalica Patterns

Pauline Alice

Thread Theory Designs

Tilly & the Buttons

Waffle Patterns

Remember, there are fabulous prizes for anyone who enters the pattern hacking category. You can see all the prizes listed on this post, http://www.rhondabuss.blogspot.com/2014/05/announcing-sewing-indie-month.html So download an indie pattern and get hacking!!!!