Hello,
Hope you are all well.
In case you did not know, Minerva recently released a new exclusive fabric range and it is beautiful and colourful!
I got the chance to try it and it did not disappoint. You can read all about what I made with it here.
It really is a nice viscose fabric!
Hope you like it as much as I do. đ
Have a lovely week.
Maria x
Hello,
Hope you are all well.
Today I am here to share a skirt that I made back in February. I didnât plan to take so long to share however, I confess I wasnât feeling like it. Too much going on and my mind wasnât in it.
Nonetheless, it is a nice pattern and I really wanted to share it with you.
The pattern is the Sabina skirt by The Little Pomegranate, a pattern designed with beginners in mind and guess what? It is free for subscribers!
It is a gathered skirt pattern for woven fabrics, available from sizes (UK) 6 to 3, with elastic waistband, pockets and ruffle hem. Simple to make and lovely to wear!
It might be a free pattern nonetheless, the instructions are very detailed and include notes that explain what is what and why some techniques and steps are so important in order to achieve a nice final result that you will be proud of.
I made a size 6 based on my measurements and the only change I made was to take 16 cm from the main skirt piece length and add 2cm to the hem ruffle. As a reference, this pattern was designed for 170 cm tall people (definitely not my case, hence the adjustment).
As for the fabric, I used a viscose fabric from Rainbow Fabrics bought over a year ago. Although not always the easiest fabric to work with, viscose looks wonderful as it gives the skirt a good drape and fluidity.
Let me just add that this pattern is not just rectangular pieces of fabric gathered. It really is nicely drafted and with great instructions, thought and care. Plus, it is free! If this is Rumanaâs first pattern, I am looking forward to see more.
In short, it is a perfect beginners project and a quick project for those with more experience. The result is a nice skirt that I really enjoy wearing. It is likely that my wardrobe will see more of these skirts.
Have a lovely week. đ
Happy sewing!
Maria x
Hello,
Hope you are all well and having a good start of December.
I have been wanting to make a dress suitable for the colder months for a while and I finally did it.
Again, I have used the McCalls 7973 however, this time in a different style.
This time I used a Viscose and adore the drape and how fluid it is.
You can read all about it here.
Hope you like it. đ
Have a lovely December!
Maria x
Hello,
Hope you are all well.
I am here today sharing a dress from Ose Patterns. A new, to me, French designer. I am, a confessed French style admirer and come across Ose Patterns a few months ago. Since then, I have been following their account on Instagram and wanting to try their patterns as I really like the style.
For that reason, when Monty, the lovely lady behind Ose Patterns, asked if I would like to try one of their patterns, I havenât hesitated. So, yes, the pattern was gifted to me but, my opinion is sincere.
As it was a new designer to me, I did not know what to expect in relation to drafting, construction techniques or instructions and that was the reason why I havenât tried the patterns before. As I donât have much sewing time at the moment, I donât want to waste âme preciousâ time with something that might not come out as I expected. This is a legitimate concern but, in that case, unnecessary as everything turned out for the best. Even better than expected to be honest.
I donât like to generalise and that is a rule I like to apply in life however, French designers are not known for detailed instruction. Nonetheless, that is not the case with Ose Patterns. Not only the instructions are very clear but, there are also links to helpful videos. The instructions are actually very thoughtful, with encouragement words for those starting (or not), a checklist before you start and main steps at a glance.
The Pema Dress is available in UK sizes 6 to 18 (EU 34 to 46 / USA 2 to 14), designed for 168cm height (I always find this piece of information extremely helpful) and include instructions if, like me, you need to alter the pattern.
I made, according to my measurements, a size 34 for bust and waist, size 36 at the hips and the fit turned out great. The only modification I made, was shortening 10 inches (25 centimetres) from the skirt length, based on my height and personal taste.
The pattern has two options, View A is sleeveless and View B has ž sleeves and that is the option I made. Both versions are very beautiful to be honest and depending on the fabric you use, this pattern can be very versatile.
Now, about the fabric. I used a light/medium weight viscose from Rainbow fabrics and it turned out lovely, if I might say so đ although I must say, I had to debate with myself between the viscose or a plain fabric that would made the lovely details stand out (I might make a second version). The dress has beautiful shoulders, waist and front skirt pleats, as well as darts that make it drape beautifully. Even better, the front skirt pleats are only on the right side (the one at the front) so that it doesnât add volume to our tummy. Cleaver, right? No one wants extra volume in that area!
If you want to make this dress (and I would advise you to) do interface as recommended and if, like me, you opt for a viscose, then I recommend stretch interfacing. It is very light, the dress doesnât lose its shape and fluidity however, it does make a difference.
In short (and this is my honest opinion), this project went smoothly, everything matched perfectly, the instructions were clear and I had no issues whatsoever while making this dress.
If the only thing putting you off is the language, fear not, Ose Patterns now have an English website and the patterns are all available in English.
Hope you liked this dress as much as I do and thank you for reading!
Maria x
Hello,
Hope you are all well.
Yesterday, for the first time since what looks like forever, it actually felt like Spring and warm(er) weather days wont take long and that does make all the difference for me.
Today, I am sharing a dress I made recently and that I really adore. I made the blouse version a couple of months ago and now also made the dress.
You can read all about it here.
Hope you like it!
Happy sewing,
Maria x
Hello,
As you might know, I am part of the Minerva Makers and it has been a pleasure to work with such a lovely team for the last couple of years.
Today, I would like to share with you their brand new website/shop that is so much more than a regular shop. It is a place to get inspired and meet new makers. Of course the pretty fabrics and craft supplies are there for you. So, do have a look!
You can find the link here đ
Once you’re there, you might as well have a look at the beautiful dress I made (I am not going to be modest here) using an absolutely gorgeous Lady McElroy Linen Viscose.
See for yourself đ
Hope you like it as much as I do.
Happy sewing,
Maria x
A Pinch of Sewing 