A Fine Vintage

In three days time we are going to find ourselves in a brand new year, filled with new opportunities and adventures... and of course more exciting sewing projects. This past year was filled with growth in leaps and bounds and we are thrilled with how our pattern range is growing. We currently have over 30 patterns and pattern variations and combinations available in store.

Our $1 sale will be running until the 31^st so remember to take advantage of it while you can and stock up on those patterns. As from 1^st January the prices will be returning to normal.

This year our vintage style patterns were our best sellers, so we have decided to share a few of these in review as we reflect back on the wonderful year we have had.

This week’s patterns in review 

High waist shorts

 

This is our best selling pattern of 2015! We have just had the most amazing feedback from this pattern which I based on 1940’s style summer shorts.

 

This pattern is so quick and easy that you can have an entire collection in an assortment of colors in a very short time. Vintage style is in, and this is an affordable and fashionable way to dress up your wardrobe.

Easy as Pie Rockabilly Style Dress

 

This is such a cute dress, it can be made in an assortment of colors and fabrics for the Rockabilly fan in all of us. 

We have posted an earlier blog post to help you create a waistband to give your dress the perfect finish. You can even create a variety of different color waistbands to mix and match and give your dresses more versatility, so remember to look into our archives too!

Trumpet style gown

 

The Trumpet style bridal gown pattern in our online store is our first official bridal pattern. We are so excited to be launching it, and there will be many more bridal patterns to come in 2016.

 

Trumpet style gown in champagne satin with additional flowers appliquéd down its length.

Remember to check our previous blog posts for the TWO competitions we are currently running.

Have a wonderful New Year. Happy 2016 and happy sewing!
 

I can smell Christmas!

Two days to Christmas, and what a busy week I have had preparing new patterns for you. My apologies for the late blog post, unfortunately I had a few unforeseen troubles over the past few days.

This has also affected the launch of my first bridal sewing pattern. The good news is that we are back on track! The sewing pattern for the wedding dress will now be launched on the 28^th of December. So for those who are eager to, you can still take advantage of the pre-order special, it will be running until the launch on the 28^th.

This week’s patterns in review

Perfect Holiday Gift bag

 

This year I was determined to come up with the perfect little handbag to carry around to all my festive social engagements. I created this bag so that it was big enough just to carry around all the essentials but would allow me to be stylish at the same time.

Belt and bags combos available in my online store

 

Picture of combo

Saving money by buying two patterns in one. These two patterns make such a fashionable pair. Making a matching set (or 5) can add that extra something special to your wardrobe this festive season.

They also make great gifts to create for friends and family, especially when packaged in one of our envelope style gift bags. Save even more by buying all three of these patterns together.

 

Picture combo with a gift bag

You can give the physical, homemade with love gifts or print the patterns out and inset them into an A4 size gift bag to give to the sewing fanatic in your life.

Remember to check our previous blog posts for the TWO competitions we are currently running.

Have a wonderful festive season, and happy sewing!

Our first bridal range

The weeks are flying by as fast as the year has! I can barely believe that it’s already mid December! Only 10 days to Christmas, and 16 days until we are looking at a new year... it hasn’t quite sunk in yet.

I have been busy working away at our range of bridal patterns, and the first pattern is almost complete.

This week’s patterns in review

Our first wedding dress pattern

The completed pattern will be officially launched on the 22^nd of December. Until then I have loaded it in my online store for pre-orders.

Those who pre-order this pattern will pay a low, special price of $9.99 – once the pattern has launched it will retail for $14.99 so it really is worthwhile placing your order early. Pre-orders will be emailed  out on the morning of 22^nd December 2015.

Those who take advantage of the pre-order special will also receive the free sewing pattern for my wedding ring pillows.

These are ideal for displaying rings for photography reasons, and of course for use during the wedding ceremony. It even includes an elastic band to prevent the little ring bearer from accidentally dropping the pillows while carrying out his / her precious duties.

Competition time

Enter your wedding dress design!

Design your own wedding dress and send it through to us. The winning entrant will receive the sewing pattern for her dream gown so that she can create the gown of her dreams!

The winning design will be created and the sewing pattern will form a part of our 2016 bridal patterns collection.

Email your Full name, email address and your own design to mysewingpatternz@gmail.com

Terms and conditions:

The entrants must supply their own original designs, unfortunately we cannot plagiarise any existing designs.

Competition closes 31 December 2015, with the winner being announced on our Facebook page on 5 January 2015, www.facebook.com/mysewingpatterns

The entrant acknowledges that once the pattern has been completed it is the property of Boo Lè Heart Clothing and my Sewing Patterns, and may be sold under these brands.

The pattern will be ready by end of February 2016, the entrant will be the first to receive the pattern in the correct sizes.

Design will be judged on originality and degree of difficulty.

We are really looking forward to receiving your designs.

Have a wonderful festive season, and happy sewing!

The festive fun continues

What an amazing and busy week I have had! I would like to thank all my customers, friends, family and fans out there for their wonderful support. Without you guys the dreams of having my own business just would not be the reality it has become.

With black Friday and cyber Monday now far behind us, I was in two minds about raising all my sewing patterns back to their regular prices. I found though that I really just couldn’t, I was having such amazing responses from everyone that I decided to continue my sale right through December 2015. Though from 1^st January the prices will be returning to their normal values, so take advantage of these ridiculously cheap sewing patterns while you still can. (Click on the button to the right of the page).

This week’s patterns in review

The envelope style fabric gift bag.

 

This bag was such an instant hit, not just among my sewing patterns fans, but among many who could not sew at all. I had friends and family asking me to make packs of these bags for them to use during the festive season. For days I sat happily sewing away at these packs.

These bags aren’t just great for your own personal use, but to create for friends and family too. It’s a gift that keeps on giving... you too are welcome to use my sewing pattern and take orders from your friends and family for that little bit of extra spending money over the upcoming festive season. And remember the sewing pattern comes with a free gift pattern too.

The under dress, that’s also a great over dress.

I originally created this pattern to go along with my batwing collection of dress patterns. I just loved making these in chiffon for those hot summer days, but needed to wear a little something underneath to protect my... ummm... modesty.

 

Me wearing a knee length batwing dress with the mini under dress

However, as it turns out, the under dress makes a great summer dress all on its own. I have now made myself a few in a variety of colours. It also comes in two lengths, mini and knee length.

 

Selfie time: Me wearing a knee length under dress

A cause close to our hearts

Boo Lè Heart clothing and My Sewing Patterns has had such a wonderful and prosperous year that we have decided that from this point onwards a percentage of our profits will be donated to a worthy cause.

 

For 2015 and 2016 we have decided to support the African Birds of Prey Sanctuary in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. This sanctuary not only creates a sanctuary for birds of prey who are injured beyond being able to be returned to the wild, but it also works as an educational centre to help teach us about these amazing creatures, so that we have a better understanding of them and the troubles they face.

Every month we will keep you updated as to how much we have been able to raise for this very worthwhile cause.

Have a wonderful festive season, and happy sewing!

Festive wardrobe

The festive season is absolutely on us...  I’m not all too sure what happened with the past year, especially the past 6 months. In all honesty I felt that it was still July but then I looked up and it was November.

A year filled with plenty of lumps and bumps, but most importantly a good few lessons learned, especially in business (some I am still recovering from). My spirit might be a little bruised but it is far from broken. I have however (in a mild panic) come to realise that not only is the festive season upon us, but that also means that the party season has arrived.

No doubt you might find yourself, just like I have, being invited to more events than I have time for... but what to wear?

Of course being a woman of fashion I can’t possibly be seen wearing the same outfits too often, this means that I have a lot of new outfits to make, which means you will be receiving a lot of new patterns to play with in my online store.

Me in one of my batwing dresses ***

... and don’t forget the accessories! I am determined to make myself the perfect festive season clutch! Just big enough to hold the necessaries when doing my social rounds.

Belt I made for myself recently ***

I can’t wait to get started (I literally have a starting list of 75+ patterns that I wish to make), so follow me as I get to make all of these new and exciting creations this festive season and into the upcoming year.

Happy holidays and happy sewing!

***Click on the button to the right of the page to purchase the patterns for these items

Silly season

Black Friday is tomorrow, and with the silly season ahead most of us are dreading popping into stores to do gift and seasonal shopping.

If you are anything like me, then you try to avoid it altogether, opting rather for online shopping, or better yet, creating gifts from the heart at home.

To help you get started, I have reduced the price of most of my sewing patterns down to a mere $1 for our black Friday sale (click on the button to the right of the page), including the drawstring bag which can be used as an ideal Christmas gift bag (see earlier tutorial on how to make your own iron on festive prints right at home).

My elves and I are busy scurrying away to finish a range of new patterns that I will be posted for you over the next couple of weeks, including bags and dresses that will create perfect outfits for the many gatherings you may have to attend this festive season.

If you need to go out, let your hair down and party… well then do it in style!

I will also be making more regular blogposts and free tutorials, so remember to follow my blog by email (window to the right of the page) to get all the latest updates right to your inbox.

Remember to like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/mysewingpatterns as I will be posting loads of specials, and perhaps even a flash sale or two over the next month, as well as images of patterns that will be available in store.

Brace yourselves for the exciting month ahead, and happy sewing!

Adding a belt to your batwing dress

This is a quick guide on how to create a sash belt to compliment my pattern for the summer batwing dress.

Dress before and after adding a belt

You will need:

·         Your summer batwing dress, made from the sewing pattern available in my online store (click on the button to the right of the page).

·         10cm / 4 inch length of fabric, cut from the width of the same fabric used to create your dress.

Step 1:

Cut your piece of fabric 10cm / 4inch wide (The bias will form the short sides of the section of fabric cut).

Step 2:

Fold your fabric in half, right sides facing and sew the open seam closed (keeping a 1.5cm / 5/8” seam allowance). Use your overlocker / serger to neaten the edge.

Step 3:

Turn the belt the right way around and press flat.

Step 4:

If you would like to add the belt as a permanent feature, find the center point of the belt and attach this to the dress by doing a hand stitch on the center back seam along the the waistline.

Your dress with matching sash belt is now ready to wear!

Happy Sewing!

Make your own holiday bags

Themed drawstring bags

This is a quick guide on how to print your own iron on stickers at home to apply to themed bags. This idea is really great for Christmas themed gift bags or Halloween themed Trick or Treat bags.

You will need:

·         My drawstring bag pattern (available in my online store, click on the button to the right of the page.

·         Thick iron on interfacing

·         An ink jet printer.

Step 1:

First I cut out a really thick iron-on interfacing to the size of A4 sheets, and placed them in the feeder tray of my ink jet printer, making sure the glue was on the opposite side to be printed.

Step 2:

I got some awesome pictures off the internet and printed them (as I would paper), though you can print any image you like, even photographs of friends and family - or your favourite cat.

Step 3:

I cut out the images and ironed them onto the main fabric of the bags. The best time to do this is after cutting out the pattern pieces, but before sewing it all together.

Step 4:

Finish putting your drawstring bags together, according to the pattern and instructions of my Easy 10 Step Drawstring Bag. 

Step 5:

Share your awesomeness and your new bags with friends and family.

HAPPY SEWING AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Create your own iron on lace

Have a gorgeous iron-on lace ready at hand is always welcome in my studio, it is an easy to apply option for a beautiful finish to compliment almost any garment.

Unfortunately iron-laces are not always easily found in stores, so here is a quick tutorial on how to make your own.

You will need:

A heavy woven fabric, preferably synthetic or an embroidered fabric. (You can pick one with a pre-existing design or a plain fabric and create your own design).

Fabric chalk

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Small fabric cutting scissors

A candle and something to light it with

·         On the fabric of your choice, trace out the design with your fabric chalk on the wrong side of the fabric. A thick woven fabric is ideal as when using thin fabrics, the glue from the glue gun can give it a “blotchy” affect. Thicker fabrics are more resilient to hot glue and during the ironing on process.

·         With your hot glue gun, on the wrong side of the fabric, between the lines of your traced design, add a thin layer of hot glue.

·         Once the glue has cooled, carefully cut out your design.

·         Light your candle and lightly singe the edges of your ribbon (being careful not to burn it) to give it a finished off look (another reason why using a synthetic fabric is preferred for this process, as the edges will melt nicely)

·         Your iron on ribbon is now ready for you to add to any garment or accessory of your choosing. The hot glue melts quite easily and quickly during the ironing process, so a use a “cool” to “warm” setting on your iron. Always practice a section of fabric first to make sure you have the temperature right before applying to the completed garment.

Happy Sewing!

Add a waistband to your Rockabilly Style dress

Our Easy as Pie dress is incredibly cute on its own, but you are always welcome to give it a little extra something to have your friends and family complementing you on your sewing brilliance and stylish fashion sense.

Before and After

So to add a waistband to your Easy As Pie RockabillyStyle dress follow these few easy steps.

What you will need:

1.    The front and back bodice pattern pieces from your Easy as Pie Rockabilly dress sewing pattern (available in my online store, click on the button to the right of the page to buy yours now).

2.    25cm / 10” width of fabric of your choosing.

3.    25cm / 10” width of iron on interfacing

4.    25cm / 10” width of pattern tissue

5.    One to four buttons. The quantity of buttons you end up using will depend on how broad your waistband is and how big the buttons you choose are.

6.    Your completed Easy as Pie dress, in the size of your choosing.

Step 1: Place your pattern tracing paper over your back bodice pattern piece and trace the outline of the bottom of the pattern. 1.5cm / 5/8” above the bottom seam measure the desired width of your waistband. (I have gone for a 5cm / 2” width. Measure a further 1.5cm / 5/8” above this line for your seam allowance.

At the centre back seam add an additional 1.5cm 0r 5/8” to allow for an overlap for the button(s) and buttonhole(s)

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Step 2: Do the same as above for your front bodice piece (except for the additional 1.5cm or 5/8”), only remember to exclude the dart from your waist band. Do this my measuring your waistband up the dart, then moving your pattern piece to continue after the dart again.

Make circles on the section where the dart would have been. You will be transferring these markings to your fabric to help you line up your waistband on your dress.

Step 3: Out of your waistband fabric cut four pieces of fabric for the back waistband pattern pieces. For the front waistband pattern piece, cut out two pieces of fabric on the fold.

Step 4:  Add iron on interfacing to the wrong side of two pieces of the back waistband section, and one piece of the front waistband section.

Step 5: Sew together the side seams of your waistband pieces and press open.

Step 6: Attach the waistband pieces together. Sew along the top and bottom seams and only one centre pack seam. Clip corners.

With the second centre back seam, measure 1.5cm / 5/8”, roll seam inwards and press into place. Loose tack to keep in place as you turn the waistband right way around.

Step 7: Turn waistband right way around and press. Stitch along the edge to finish off and to close the opening in the centre back seam.

Step 8: Make your buttonhole(s) and attach your button(s).

Step 9: With needle and thread catch your waistband onto your completed dress at the side seams and front darts.

Style tip: instead of stitching your waistband to your dress you can add press studs to the dress and waistband, making it detachable. This will allow for you to make an assortment of coloured waistbands that you can mix and match with your dress!

Step 10: Your dress is now ready to wear!

Happy Sewing!

Back of dress, before and after