Free Sewing Pattern

A new month and a new opportunity to enter our Sewing Challenge! This month’s theme is Black & White... an exciting theme, which means you can use any of our patterns to create something for yourself in Black or white, or both. Remember to share your creations with us on twitter @MySewingPattern

This week’s patterns in review

The High Waist High Low Skirt

A BRAND new pattern, part of our high waist skirt collection. We have decided to give you this one for FREE right here!

Download it and make your skirt today! Pattern includes sizes XSmall to XLarge

You may have noticed that we haven’t  yet posted a picture of the complete skirt, we have decided that during the month of April, all our amazing followers who create this skirt can submit the pictures to us in twitter @MySewingPattern with #FreeSkirt, at the end of April we will pick our favourite picture shared from a fan, and use this as our cover picture for all future marketing related to the skirt.

So exciting, I can’t wait to see what you guys create. Until next time...

Happy sewing!

The life of a sewist

Today is a grey and overcast day, perfect I think for working in my PJ’s while a draw up a few new sketches for patterns I’m going to be releasing.

I have been running my sewing business now for five years, it’s amazing how time flies. Selling my digital sewing patterns has allowed me the opportunity to work from home, sometimes I feel so spoiled to be so lucky.

I want to say a big thank you to all my amazing sewing fans who have allowed me to achieve this in my life. Anyone who knows me knows that my cats and dogs are my children (I currently have 8), and for the last 6 months my oldest baby has been terribly sick, my Jack Russell named Onyx. She has chronic renal failure and some days she requires 24 hour care. Being able to work from home has allowed me to look after her and help her to live a full and happy old age. I am truly grateful to everyone who buys my sewing patterns and online products, you have done more for me than I can possibly express. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I hope you all have an amazing week ahead, and very successful sewing projects. Now enough of the serious stuff and back to the sewing fun.

Here’s a tip when putting together your newly printed A4 pages to create your sewing pattern: Use 2 sided tape to join the sheets of paper together. I do this firstly because the pages are less likely to come apart in the long term and secondly it allows me to fold up my patterns when I put them away, and when I am ready to use them again, I unfold them and use a warm iron to go over the pages to smooth them out (no steam, this will damage the paper).

This week’s patterns in review

Isabella Maternity dress

Our first maternity dress sewing pattern was launched last week. (I tried to make my dressmaker's form look pregnant by pinning a pillow to it o_O )

This fashionable dress is perfect for the mum-to-be who has a special occasion to attend, or who simply wants to look stylish in the upcoming spring and summer season.

I also launched a set of two maternity sewing patterns, the Isabella dress and the Jacqui dress together make the perfect combination.

Sewing Patterns for a year

To celebrate 5 wonderful years of sewing we have decided to launch this amazing offer. You can opt to have our range of brand new sewing patterns sent to you, every second week for a year.

 

The total value of this is over $80, but instead we decided to practically give it away at $29. Which means you’re making a huge savings of over $50! We are only running this amazing special until 10^th March, so take advantage of it now!

When you purchase this amazing offer, you will be receiving your first pattern immediately available to download, the ladies short waistcoat.

 

Until next time...

Happy sewing!

Sewing packs that save you money

Save money this year by making your own clothes! To help you achieve this, this year we will put together wardrobe idea packs. What this means is that we will put together a collection of patterns for you that will help you to create a suggested look.

By buying these packs, which can contain anything from two to five patterns, you will be paying a discounted price, saving even more money on our already low priced sewing patterns.

We are working hard on a surprise project that is going to be launched in the next month or so... I can’t give anything away now but what I can say is that is is going to take sewing patterns to the next level! Like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/booleheart for all the latest news.

This week’s patterns in review

The Kim Pack

 

That’s right, you can get Kim Kardashian’s look with our Kim pack of patterns, easily and affordably at home.

Valentines 2016 pack

 

Our Valentine’s day 2016 pack includes our vintage style knickers sewing pattern (plus the tutorial on how to add suspenders to your vintage style knickers), our ladies thong sewing pattern, and our envelope style gift bag sewing pattern to help you make that romantic day even more special.

 

Before you go remember to check out our competitions!

Happy sewing!

JOIN OUR SEWING CHALLENGE AND WIN

Do you want to get more sewing done in 2016? Whether to practice and hone your skills, or to simply create a fun and affordable wardrobe for you, your friends and family? Then join our sewing challenge for 2016.

By joining our challenge you also stand the chance to win an Acer Chromebook. 

How do you join?

Every month we will be posting a sewing theme, for example for January the sewing theme is ties. Create a sewing project, in theme, take a picture and share it with us on twitter using the hashtag #MySewingPatterns

An example of how your tweet must look

There are a few rules of course:

1. The projects posted on twitter must be from the Boo Lè Heart / My Sewing Patterns range of sewing patterns (CLICK HERE or click on the button to the right of the page to visit our online store).
2. A new pattern theme will be tweeted every month, so remember to follow us on twitter @MySewingPattern
3. Entrants can make any of the 12 themes supplied at ANY time during 2016, as long as you mention which month it is for. For example, you can still make your January tie in March 2016 or sew all 12 themes in the 12 days of Christmas, the choice is yours.
4. You don't have to make a specific pattern, as long as it's in theme. For Example if the theme is "make a dress", you can make a dress from ANY of our available dress patterns.
5. For an entry into the draw to win the computer, entrants must create at least 6 of the sewing challenges.
6. Entrants who create all 12 challenges will receive 2 entries into the draw.
7. The last sewing challenge must be shared with us on twitter no later than 30 December 2016. The draw for the winner, and announcing the winner on twitter will happen on 31 December 2016.

Feel free to add your own sense of flare and style to the patterns!

Here are the themes we have already been running during 2016:

January: Ties – sew any of our tie patterns

February: Dresses – sew any of our dress patterns

March: On Top – sew and share any of our tops, jackets, waistcoat... pretty much anything you would wear “above the belt”

April: Black and white – sew anything you wish from our patterns in this color combination

May: For The Ladies – make anything from our sewing patterns for women

June: Something for the Guys - use any of our men’s patterns for your entry
July: Anything Vintage, Pin-Up or Rockabilly style - bring those classic styles back to life
August: For the Home - Make something that makes your house feel like a home

Good luck and Happy Sewing!

Demystifying our digital patterns

Our patterns come in a very easy, printable format. They are downloaded as pdf, and can be printed on any home based printer, on standard A4 paper.

I even did the maths, and most of the time it works out cheaper to purchase and print patterns in this way, than the traditional way of going out to purchase a physical pattern.

For today’s blog post I just want to go through the basics of how to use our patterns so that you can see that they are so user friendly, anyone can use them.

What you will need:

• A printer to print out on
• Plain, normal A4 sheets of paper
• Sellotape
• Paper cutting scissors
• Additional: I like to put my patterns in an A4 PVC envelope when I’m not using them, just to keep them safe.

 

How do you do it?

1. Print your pattern on your standard, every day printer.
2. You will see that each A4 page has a grid border, these grids are marked on the sides to help you to match up the pages.
3. Each page shows a column and reference number to help you to line them up in the correct order.
4. Once you have assembled your pages (like a really big and super easy puzzle), you tape all the pages together. You will now clearly be able to see your pattern on the pages in front of you.
5. Cut out the size you choose, and just like that your pattern is ready to use.

 

You also still have digital copy on your computer, so if you need a different size our your pattern gets damaged, no problem, you can easily print a new one.

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

Happy sewing!

Holding my horses

What a busy start to the new year! I am already in the process of creating a whole lot of new patterns being launched over the next month and am really excited to be sharing them with you soon.

I often find I am so impatient and just want to start sharing everything with you straight away, but alas I have to hold myself back, as hard as that may be. Creating samples and testing the patterns is time consuming, but necessary, to at the very least make sure my patterns work before I launch them.

With my bridal range though, as this process can take longer than expected, I do like to post the patterns available for pre-order sales. Keep your eyes open for these as the pre-order sale prices are much lower than the final pattern prices, so you really get a huge bargain by taking advantage of these... and I usually throw in a free gift pattern too.

This week’s patterns in review

Our Sunglasses pouch

I must admit, the popularity this pattern gained absolutely blew my mind. It become a much bigger seller than I thought, but let’s face it, who doesn’t own sunglasses (or even normal glasses at that), and these are items that we do want to keep safe and in good shape for seasons to come.

 

And for beginning sewing fans, this really is an ideal starter pattern to give a try and hone those skills in creating fashionable homemade accessories.

Available for pre-order

Our next bridal pattern is in the process of being created to be launched in February 2016.The Taryn dress is a simple yet elegant strapless dress. It is a timeless design that is ideally suited for the woman who has an effortless and confident sense of style.

 

It will go on sale for the price of $9.99, but for now is available for pre-order for only $5.99.

As a bonus gift, whoever takes advantage of the pre-order special will receive a FREE pattern and instructions for our long thin tie. This is the perfect accessory for a date who would like to wear a little something to compliment the woman wearing our Taryn dress. It can be made in matching fabric or colours to the dress itself.

 

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

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!!!

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)

\

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