New Pattern Alert! The Sorrel Dress...

Sorrel is a fresh take on the classic shirt-waist dress, seamlessly pairing vintage elements with modern design.

With inclusive sizing, A to D cups and pockets!

Now available in Digital and Paper formats!

After last year's successful Kickstarter campaign, I'm so happy to finally be able to release The Sorrel Dress today, in both digital and paper pattern variations.

The Details

Shaped with double open-ended darts around the bodice and skirt waistline, Sorrel's relaxed silhouette and sleek skirt provide the illusion of a fitted garment with all the comfort of a shift-style dress.

A simple foldout collar frames the face, creating a gentle V neckline and grown-on sleeves lend a casual vintage vibe.

Layer with fitted long sleeves and boots for cool weather, or make up in a seasonal double gauze or flowing cotton lawn for a light-weight summer garment.

View 1 includes a separate button placket, great for playing with prints and different fabric layouts. View 2 has a grown-on button placket, helping keep the design simple and the construction straight-forward.

With A, B, C & D cups included, as well as clever inset pockets, Sorrel is a perfect project for confident beginner seamstresses.

Multiple Bust Cups & Inclusive Sizing

The Sorrel Dress spans across a large range of sizes from a 6A (bust size 74cm or 29") all the way to a 24D (bust 126.5cm or 48 3/4").

Included in the instructions are a full set of Finished Garment Measurements as well as a step-by-step guide to figuring out which bust cup size you are, so that you can make a garment that fits your unique shape.

Skill Level

The Sorrel Dress is a perfect project for confident beginner seamstresses.

Sorrel looks like a more complicated shirt-waist dress than it actually is! The collar is cut in one with the front bodice and open-ended darts eliminate the sometimes troublesome bubble tip that can so easily appear with traditional darts.

The frame-skimming silhouette is as easy to fit as it is to wear - with grown-on sleeves and side seam pockets.

Gathered Sorrel Dress Tutorial

Get even more out of your Sorrel Dress pattern with the easy Gathered Skirt Tutorial here!

With a looser silhouette, it's perfect for the warmer months when you may not want a fitted garment (or you're 18 weeks pregnant like I was in these photos). I can also attest that it's the perfect breastfeeding dress post-partum. Comfortable, stylish and so easy to wear.

Tester Makes

During the campaign last year, I posted several sets of Tester Makes which you can read through below.

They're a great way to see what the dress looks like on many different silhouettes, as well as getting an understanding of where the hot spots are in the pattern.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Emmy Couture

J Noyed Creations

Samantha

You can purchase both the digital and paper Sorrel pattern directly from my website, or find out where your nearest JLH Stockist is here. And while you're at it, why not add another paper pattern or two to your order?

Don't forget to tag me on Instagram and use the hashtag #SorrelDress

xx

J

The Sorrel Dress is coming...

It's nearly time for the official Sorrel Dress pattern release! Woohoo!

Sorrel will be available in both paper and digital format. If you'd like me to pop into your inbox and let you know when it's ready (before anyone else and with a cheeky wee discount!) just sign up to my newsletter here before 8am Tuesday 30th July NZDT.

xx
J

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A Slow Return...

Hello dusty little blog space!

Somehow, Miss Rowan is 5months old (!?) which means my maternity leave is pretty much over, which means Hello JLH! I'm back!

To be honest, finding a balance is going to be interesting as I'll still be at home essentially full time with Rowy. I'll be working around her naps and Oscar's Kindy days during the week, then spending evenings working and weekends with the family (and my garden! I'm itching to get back into it).

It's going to be busy, but I'm at the stage where I'm ready to get back to it. I'm bursting with ideas (even though I haven't had an uninterrupted nights sleep in over 5 months - turns out, Rowy's not a night sleeper...) and there is plenty in the works already.

Next week I release The Sorrel Dress (in both paper and digital format) and then shortly afterwards, I'll be officially launching paper patterns for four of my other designs -  make sure you sign up to my newsletter.

I also have pattern releases planned for the next year or so - which is something I've never done before. Mostly because I change my mind quite often, but also because planning patterns that far in advance means that there's more room for cross over with other indie pattern designs. But I've realised that even if something similar comes out before I've released one of my designs, no two patterns will ever be exactly the same. And it's nice to already have designs decided upon so I can just work towards getting them done, rather than um-ing and ah-ing about every-little-thing. Energy is limited and decision fatigue is real right now.

I know I had planned to post a few tutorials during the time I was away, which obviously didn't happen (I blame lack of sleep...). But I do have everything prepped and ready to go, so I'll be posting those over the coming weeks.

I may still be a little slow and fuzzy around the edges, so I hope you'll forgive me, but it is so nice to be back.  I missed you guys.

xx
J

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Baby Bump News! She's here...

Hello dear readers - if there are any regular readers left out there...

As some of you might know, I was expecting our second baby this year, and I'm so happy to announce that Rowan Anne Gretchen made her early arrival on Wednesday last week. Everyone is home and doing well.

A 35-week Rowan bump!

I've been away from this little space over the last few months because I've been working away on getting paper patterns made and produced. If you were a Kickstarter campaign backer, make sure you keep a regular eye on the Updates section of the campaign page to stay in the loop. If you weren't a backer but want access to paper patterns (including my newest pattern Sorrel) as soon as they're released, you might want to sign up to the newsletter - you'll get all the info first! They'll be landing at the end of July...

I will be taking maternity leave until the 22nd of July, but I do have some blog posts scheduled and emails will be checked regularly until I return. Please accept my sincere apologies if replies take a bit longer than you're used to from me though, I'm sure you all understand.

In the mean time, I'll be enjoying some baby snuggles and popping onto Instagram on occasion to see what everyone is up to.


xx
J

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Happy Holidays & a little break...

Hello folks!

It's that time of year, I'm going to be taking a little break over the next few weeks. I'll be checking urgent emails from the 31st December NZDT, but will be back to full steam the week of the 7th January NZDT.

The Shop will remain open during this time, so you can still purchase any digital patterns.

What a year 2018 has been! I hope you manage to take a few days off over the coming weeks, and I'll see you all properly next year, for lots of exciting new things.

xx
J

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The Final Countdown...get your paper Sorrel, Pippi & Juniper patterns!

It's nearly at an end! There is less than a day until my paper pattern campaign finishes and the real work starts.

If you've had your eye on the paper Sorrel Dress (or Pippi Pinafore & Juniper Cardigan), now's the time to jump on over to the campaign page and pledge your support.

By pledging now, you'll get your paper patterns at the special campaign price - they'll retail for $18 USD once released in mid-2019 (you're getting them for approximately $14 USD) and you'll also have them before anyone else. The goal is to start sending them mid-March next year, but they won't be available to the public until the middle of 2019.

Pippi Pinafore & Juniper Cardigan Paper Patterns

Now Available!

Maybe Sorrel isn't your thing, but did you know the campaign was so successful that I added Pippi and Juniper paper patterns into the print run?

You can order your paper Pippi and/or Juniper through the campaign page for the special campaign price and get your patterns sent to you before anyone else. Simply scroll down to find the relevant reward on the pledge page.

Adding additional Rewards to your original pledge...

If you've already pledged but would like to add extra rewards, you'll need to update your total to reflect any extra rewards you'd like to add. Once the campaign has finished, I'll send you a survey and you can let me know all of the additional rewards you pledged for, plus any additional shipping if required.

For example, if you want a Sorrel Dress pattern set with mini scissors, plus a paper Pippi Pinafore, simply add the Sorrel reward set to your pledge and add on an additional $20 NZD for the paper Pippi pattern.

If you're pledging for 3+ paper patterns, please add an additional $7 NZD worldwide shipping (or $5 within NZ).

If you're confused about anything or would like an exact amount that you need to pledge for additional rewards, please just send me an email or a message through Kickstarter (you might want to do that soon because I'll probably be asleep in the last hours of the campaign closing).

Let's do this!!

xx

J

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A Breezy, Gathered Sorrel Dress Tutorial...

We're now in the final week of the Sorrel Dress paper pattern campaign!

There's still time to pledge towards the paper Sorrel (and now Pippi & Juniper) patterns - the campaign finishes on the 1st December NZDT, so if you'd like to be the first to access paper patterns at a great discount AND get your patterns before anyone else, now's the time to do it :)

Today, as promised, I wanted to share a little tutorial on how to turn your Sorrel Dress into a beautiful, breezy dress. I know that many of you are currently in the depths of winter, but come March/April, when your paper patterns start to arrive, you may be starting to think about all things spring. And of course, for those of us who are meant to be in the depths of sunny, warm weather, when you receive your digital Sorrel's at the start of December, you'll be able to hop right to it!

In this tutorial, we don't sew the front bodice darts in, just the back ones. This leaves you with a lightly fitted dress that is perfect for the beach or for layering with long sleeves underneath (teamed with boots and a little cropped cardi of course!).


You'll need:

• Sorrel Dress Pattern
• Spare paper
• Tape
• Ruler
• Pens/pencils

All pattern alterations assume seam allowance has been removed, unless noted.

Bodice Construction Steps:

1. Sew up bodice as per the instructions, leaving the front bodice darts free (i.e don't sew them in!).

Gathered skirt pattern alteration:

I added an additional 7cm to my half patterns (so 14cm total to the back & 14cm to the front) on the sample pictured for a lightly gathered look. You may choose to have more or less, it's totally up to you, just replace my 7cm (X) with your desired number.

Back Skirt:

1. Place some spare paper underneath your back skirt pattern piece at the fold. Add Xcm additional width to the centre fold for your skirt gathers. True up your pattern where needed.

Front Skirt:

Depending on which cup size you fall into, will make a difference to the amount of extra width you want to add to your front skirt - we want your gathers to be proportionate all the way around - this is because the front darts are different widths depending on the cup size compared to the back (which stays the same across all cup sizes).

I've provided the math for you below for each cup size, replace the X with the same amount you added to your back skirt. Y equals the total amount of additional width you will need to add to your front skirt for propionate gathers all the way around your dress

Original Pattern:

A Cup skirt:  2cm + Xcm = Ycm

B Cup skirt:  2.4cm + Xcm = Ycm

C Cup skirt:  4.8cm + Xcm = Ycm

D Cup skirt:  7cm + Xcm = Ycm

Curve Pattern:

C Cup skirt:  4.6cm + Xcm = Ycm

D Cup skirt:  7.2cm + Xcm = Ycm

E Cup skirt:  8.8cm + Xcm = Ycm

F Cup skirt:  12.5cm + Xcm = Ycm

If you're making View 2 with the grown-on button band, you can add your additional Ycm width from the 'band' inwards, so that the button overlap remains flat. Use the diagrams below to cut and spread your pattern.

If you're making View 1, you can add your additional skirt gather width right from the centre front of the skirt piece, since the button band is added after the bodice and skirt are joined.

1. Cut down the View 1 cut-line on your front skirt pattern piece.

2. Place your spare paper underneath the cut pattern spread Ycm. Tape in place and true up your pattern where needed.

Gathered Skirt Construction Steps:

1. Attach pockets and stitch up side seams as per the original instructions.

2. Place 2 lines of basting stitch along your skirt waistline, stopping 5mm (1/4") before you hit a side seam and starting again 5mm (1/4") after you've passed a side seam.  Use a 1cm (3/8") seam allowance for the first line and a 2cm (3/4") seam allowance for the second line (this will help you achieve an evenly gathered skirt) and make sure you leave long thread tails.

3. Right sides together, pin your skirt to your bodice at the waistline, matching front and side seams. Gently pull your basting stitches to gather your skirt so that it fits neatly into your bodice. Tie threads in a knot and spread gathers evenly along the waist line, then pin in place.

4. Attach skirt to bodice using the 1.5cm (5/8") seam allowance, back-tacking at each end.

5. Remove basting stitches from the skirt and finish waistline raw edge. Continue to make up dress as per original instructions.

Another variation on this is to leave your front bodice darts in and take your back bodice darts out instead. You could even add some waist-ties to the side seams for a relaxed, cinched in look. In fact, I might try that next!

xx
J

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