Friday Patterns Sunny dress and top for #sewmystyle2018

Friday Patterns Sunny dress and top for #sewmystyle2018

So it's the reveal day for this month's #sewmystyle 2018 pattern - the Sunny dress and top from Friday patterns. This was such a great project to start of the year's challenge. It was a simple enough pattern to not be too scary, and I love the whole ethos behind Friday patterns...they love to create minimalist patterns that are easy to sew, and they donate 5% of their sales to charity. Oh, and it's a great pattern to have to hand as well by the way!
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Wear a blanket to work...Seamwork Mesa

Pattern review of the Seamwork Mesa dress, with long sleeve alteration.

This has been one of my most worn clothing items this season. When it's cold and dark in the mornings, and I'm feeling exhausted, all I want is comforting clothing. So my task this autumn was to find a way of achieving this, whilst maintaining a professional appearance for work. I have to say, the Seamwork Mesa pattern and quilted ponte combination I went with has totally smashed this. It's comfortable, quick to make, and everybody comments on it (always a nice touch when you've made it yourself and they don't know that). I know lots of you love the secret pyjamas idea - this is my version - a secret quilt!
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Sewing activewear, plus GBSB live workshop

Sewing activewear, plus GBSB live workshop

I was lucky enough to get booked into a workshop for the Great British Sewing Bee Live. I chose the workshop on making yoga pants using an overlocker and coverstitch machine with Jade Early (aka 'the girl with the bright red hair'). Although I haven't had a burning desire to make activewear, I was looking forward to moving beyond my basic serging and also to use a coverstitch machine. I won't be purchasing one in the near future so thought I'd take the opportunity to use one on a garment and see how I liked it.

Unfortunately the organisers of the GBSB live decided to skip the coverstitch machines and we found this out on the day. So, this activewear has been sewn using a combination of regular machine and serger. I managed to get a fair way through the yoga pants, and was able to finish these at home along with using the remnant fabric for a top too...perfect timing for my fitness goals for the New Year!
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Minerva Crafts Blogger Network - Simplicity 8292 in Atelier Brunette Crepe

Minerva Crafts Blogger Network - Simplicity 8292 in Atelier Brunette Crepe

This is a Minerva Crafts Blogger Network make, so for full details head on over there to find out more about how I made this beauty. Atelier Brunette fabrics are clearly pick of the month for me, with December kicking off with a super comfortable sweatshirt made in their beautiful French terry. This dress uses their soft and drapey crepe, which is perfect for the delicate fluted sleeves of this Simplicity dress.

Minerva Crafts Blogger Network - Simplicity 8292 in Atelier Brunette Crepe


As you know December's #wardrobebuilder theme is party dresses, of which I have managed to create plenty since beginning learning to sew. Although I have quite a few occasion dresses, I've noticed a gap in my handmade wardrobe for special occasion dresses that can be worn to day events as well as evening ones. Some kind of sleeve would also be welcome, given that the weather in the UK is likely to be too cold for sleeveless attire. That's why Simplicity 8292 struck me as a pattern that could do 'double duty' for evening and other events, such as weddings, so long as I chose the right fabric.

Normally I am also drawn to floral prints, but using a plain (yet high quality) fabric has meant that I can accessorise this dress for the occasion, and really makes a feature of the fluted sleeves. The Atelier Brunette crepe is soft and lightweight; it helps with the drape of the sleeves and has enough body to hold up to the rest of the dress. The bodice of this pattern is lined, and this sits perfectly underneath the main fabric.

Minerva Crafts Blogger Network - Simplicity 8292 in Atelier Brunette Crepe

Having had a look at the finished measurements, previous experience with commercial patterns and an attempt at tissue fitting led me to cut a size 12. This fit very well at the bodice, but was a little tight at the hips. I had to pick the seams at the side and back at the hips and stitch again using a 1cm seam instead...next time I'll grade out to a size 14 here!

More details over on the Minerva Crafts Blogger Network, and links to all the supplies too.
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#sewmystyle 2018 January: the Friday patterns Sunny dress and top

Happy New Year! After finding so much inspiration from other makers last year with the #wardrobebuilder project, I've teamed up with an awesome international team of bloggers to lead in  #sewmystyle2018. This is the first month of the project, featuring the Sunny dress and top by Friday patterns, sponsored by Stone Mountain and Daughter fabrics. Every month I'll be keeping to my #wardrobebuilder habits, posting inspiration and ideas for each month, along with a final reveal at the end of the month. Make sure you are keping up with us on social media, and if you haven't yet signed up to the project....do it quickly......there are some fabulous patterns coming up on the schedule!

#sewmystyle 2018 January: the Friday patterns Sunny dress and top

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Welcome to Sewing and Other Stories; my journeys with sewing and knitting; pattern reviews, tips and guides for beginners. I'm also the designer behind West Beach Knits knitting patterns and I host a Knitting and Sewing channel on YouTube where you can see all of this in person. Come have a look!

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