Image Slider

The Nixie Briefs Sewing Pattern - Coming Soon!!

Thursday, November 30, 2017

A little bit vintage. A little bit flirty. A lot of comfort and not a plumber's crack in sight... Oh, hey there Nixie!

I know that most of us probably have a little bit o' buyer's fatigue right now, especially after all those Black Friday sales. But I am squeezing in one eeny weeny, teeny tiny pattern release before the end of the year...

The Nixie Briefs (undies, knickers, pants - what ever you'd like to call them...) were designed for maximum comfort with a little bit of edge - hungry bum and plumbers crack will be a thing of the past.

With your choice of a high waist or hipster and instructions for fold over or lingerie elastic, you'll say goodbye to all those random knit fabric scraps and hello to some fabulous new knickers.

If you'd like to be the first to get the Nixie Brief sewing pattern, as well as have access to the subscriber-only discount, make sure you sign up to the newsletter before 8pm Monday 4th December NZDT.


See you all next week,

xx
J
Shop Patterns     .     Instagram     .     Newsletter      .     Facebook    .     Pinterest    .    Podcast

Black Friday Sale - 30% off Store-wide!

Friday, November 24, 2017

It's that time of year, the time to plan your holiday sewing and stock up on sewing patterns while you're at it.

And did you know that you can currently get 30% off all patterns, storewide from now through until Monday*? 

If you've had an Ivy or Laneway Dress planned, or a comfy Bronte Top or Gable Dress on the brain, use the code SEWTIME at the check out to receive 30% off your entire order.

This is the only public sale I do each year (unless you're a newsletter subscriber, then you get exclusive discounts on all new pattern releases, so er, maybe you'd like to sign up?) so now is the time to stock up.



xx
J

* Sale ends 8pm Tuesday 28th November NZDT.

Shop Patterns     .     Instagram     .     Newsletter      .     Facebook    .     Pinterest    .    Podcast

The Pattern of the Month - The Auden Men's Cardigan

Wednesday, November 15, 2017



I don't want to freak you all out, but did you realise that Christmas is slightly less than 6 weeks away now...?

I know that making something for the men in your life (husbands, brothers, partners, fathers, sons etc) can be a daunting task. It's hard to know what exactly they might like — enter the Auden Cardigan.

If you have someone in your life that likes a touch of the vintage mixed with everything modern, then the Auden Cardigan might just be up your alley.

It's faster and easier to make than you might think (no bust adjustments necessary!), it has lovely details that you can incorporate for a subtle or bold look (saddle shoulders, optional elbow patches and the choice of an incorporated neckline or a contrast one) and it's super snuggly and warm made up in easy-to-sew sweatshirt knits — mmmmmm, fleecy goodness.

Auden was the latest in my Pattern of the Month series, and so if you'd like to read a bit more about the pattern and how others have found stitching up the Auden Cardigan for their loved ones (or themselves!!) then please read on...


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -






It might be spring in New Zealand but it's still cold! Kristina went for Auden View 2 and used a leftover piece of 'dandy linen' from Miss Maude (that I've actually had my eye on...) for the contrast band and elbow patches.

I can't wait for the already cut out purple version with black denim elbow patches and an additional band around the bottom (per the model's request, and a mighty fine one at that!).


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -





When I originally sent Auden out to testers, the number of them who requested a version for themselves was what inspired me make the ladies version, Juniper. However, a number of those testers actually made an Auden for themselves, so when Nadine put her hand up to make one for herself, how could I resist?

A few things to think about if you're a lady who might want to make Auden — it's going to be a grandpa cardigan on you, but an oh-so-snuggly one and Nadine's is no exception. Check out the sleeve length (noted in the Final Garment Measurements) and keep in mind that the cuff is deliberately chunky, so feel free to shorten it for a slightly more delicate look.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -





More tweedy-contrast bands on Jen's Auden Cardigan! I love this colour combination too — it's really the perfect cardigan for a stroll in the countryside in autumn, don't you think?


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -




Erica's Auden Cardigan is a great example of how you can modernise Auden using plain fabrics in contrasting colours. The saddle shoulder is subtle when the sleeves and body are made in the same colour but the neckline pops in contrast.

I can also tell that it's been made in a really nice mid- to heavy-weight sweatshirting — it's holding its shape really nicely through the neckline and looking very snazzy (if I do say so myself!).


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -





Jillayne's cardigan is yet another example of a modern take on Auden and with a few little tweaks to round two, I think Jillayne will have the perfect fit.

The sleeves are deliberately longer on Auden than most men's clothing — David always has 'short sleeve syndrome' and so I thought it would be nice to make a pattern that already has longer sleeves for the lengthy-armed men out there.

Jillayne thinks she added about 1" too much length, but I think it's probably quite a novelty to have sleeves that are too long (David thinks that would be the best day ever) and luckily, you can roll sleeves back easily or just leave them as is on those cold days.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -





I love this quilted knit sweat shirting so much! It almost looks like Auden has been turned into a coat for those extra cold days (which is something I think I need to do). The saddle shoulder detail still stands out, while not taking over the quilted motif.

And that colour!


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -





Auden + a wool-rayon double knit = cosy perfection. Also, another example of how you can keep the look subtle by sticking to one colour and using the incorporated button band (View 2) with some slightly contrasty buttons to finish off the look. 

Marilyn is planning to slim down the cuffs a touch in her next version, but otherwise, I think this looks amazing!


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -




Dappled and dapper! The first purple Auden I've seen (but not the last, according to Plum Kitchen above!). Rhonda originally tried sizing down and doing a Full Belly Adjustment but then decided to stick with the straight XXL as the fit across the shoulders and back was spot on.

She does bring up an interesting point about how great it would be if there were different body pieces within a mens pattern to cater for different shapes (like I've done with the multiple bust cups in Laneway & Mayberry). It's something I will definitely look into — thanks for the idea Rhonda!


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -




We all need a little black cardigan, right? With Amanda's carefully fitted cuffs, this is definitely a dressy Auden look, even worn over a t-shirt. I also love the buttons Amanda has chosen here — the shine makes them pop just enough (and not too much!) against the plain black knit.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -




This is David's pick of the bunch; Annie's choice of soft buffalo plaid reminds him of the classic NZ Swanndri workshirt (albeit less scratchy), with the addition of beautiful plain black cuffs. Annie didn't use buttons here, as her model prefers to wear his cardigans open, and I have to say I love the look. 


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


And there you have it! Lots of lovely Audens — are you inspired to make one?

Plus, here are some previously published Auden Cardigan Tutorials (just in case you're interested!):



xx
J
Shop Patterns     .     Instagram     .     Newsletter      .     Facebook    .     Pinterest    .    Podcast

The Secret to the Perfect Buttonhole

Friday, November 10, 2017


Tailor's Tacks.

I know... you thought I was going to give you a Harry Potter magic buttonhole spell. Or, a brilliant sewing-machine-settings-sequence that works for every single sewing machine and fabric combination.

However, I think the fear around buttonholes is not the putting in of the buttonholes themselves, but more about the making sure they're evenly spaced, and, you know, straight.

Unfortunately, you can't get away with not testing how your sewing machine and particular fabric are going to play together - you will need to test and adjust your buttonhole settings each time, BUT, you can make it infinitely easier on yourself by marking out your buttonhole placement accurately so that when it comes time to put them in, you don't have to think about it and your buttonholes will come out perfectly spaced and non-wonky, every single time.

Enter, the humble Tailor's Tack.

If your pattern has buttons, it should come with the buttonhole placement marked somewhere. For Mayberry, I put them on the facing so that when it comes time to take your tacks out, if you accidentally get a little bit of brightly coloured thread fluff caught in the seam, it doesn't matter because you won't see it (and it happens to all of us at one point or another).

Steps:

1. Take a length of high-contrast thread and thread a needle - there is no need to knot the ends and it's totally up to you whether you use a double or single thread.



2. On the right side, thread your needle from one end of the buttonhole marking through to the other, piercing the underside of your fabric and coming back through at the other end of your buttonhole marking. Leave a long tail.



3. Make a loop of thread by going back through your already threaded sections, leave a long tail and snip your needle off.



4. Repeat for remaining button holes.


5. Take a pair of scissors and snip the loop in half.


6. Remove your pattern piece and assemble your pattern as per the instructions. Your tailor's tack's are pretty sturdy, and as long as you've left decent tail lengths, they should remain in place until you're ready to sew in your buttonholes.

To sew your buttonholes in, start at one end of the tailor's tack and stitch in a straight line to the other side. Remove your tack with a pair of tweezers.


See! Now there is no need to be scared of buttonholes any more.

xx
J
Shop Patterns     .     Instagram     .     Newsletter      .     Facebook    .     Pinterest    .    Podcast

Auto Post Signature

Auto Post  Signature