Sew Serendipity: 2016

May 23, 2016

Spring 2016 Collection: Meet Heidi!

Our second design for the spring is the Heidi Dress. Patterned after our most popular pattern to date, the Diane Kimono dress, this new design has the same great fit and construction. With bias bound armholes and neckline, there is no need to worry with any facings! This is a pullover design so there is no zipper to worry with, either.

I have provided an option to split the bodice into a contrasting center front and back, so you can feature several prints from a collection. The skirt can be cut on the fold as a slim line or gathered, to give you more room through the hips. The dolman sleeve is one that provides a bit of sleeve for those of you who like to have a little bit extending onto your arms.

The waistband is featured with a drawstring, but can be easily altered to insert elastic instead if this is your preference. There are several hemlines featured, from tunic length all the way to maxi length.

This dress works well in a variety of fabrics. Quilting cotton is always a great choice, but if you would like to try something different, here are some suggestions: double gauze, rayon, lightweight linen, cotton lawn or voile, and silk. This design works well with border prints as well.

Here are the details about the samples:

Mid-calf length in border print.

Blooming Border by Michael Miller Fabrics

Maxi length dress with contrasting center front and back bodice,

and contrasting wide border at lower edge of skirt.

Wander by Joel Dewberry for Free Spirit Fabrics

Maxi length dress in border print with contrasting fabric

Lavish by Katarina Rocella for Art Gallery Fabrics

Knee length with contrasting layered and ruffle hem.

Olive's Flower Market by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics

Mid-calf length in rayon

Amy Butler for Free Spirit Fabrics

Knee length in layered double gauze (skirt) with lower ruffle hem

Shannon Fabrics

Maxi length with 2 contrasting fabrics

Grand Canal by Kate Spain for Moda Fabrics

Knee length in one fabric with direction of fabric changed for side front and back bodice

Studio Stash by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Heidi is available NOW on our website, so go pick up your pattern today.

Happy Sewing!

Spring 2016 Collection: Meet Mia!

Hey Everyone! Now that the stock has arrived, it is time to introduce the new designs for spring! I have two new dresses, both of which are a snap to make and a dream to wear. First up is the Mia Shift Dress. Truly, there are only TWO pattern pieces for this dress, simple darts at the bust line and back waist, with bias bound armholes and neckline. Choose your favorite fabrics and start sewing!

This design is great in so many different fabrics. It works perfectly in quilting cottons as do all of my patterns but if you want to use other substrates, here are some suggestions: double gauze, voile or lawn, lightweight linen, knit, rayon, or silk. Some of my personal favorites are border prints and these work well with this design, so keep your eye out for those as well.

Here are the details about each of the samples:

Maxi length dress with two contrasting fabrics

Handmade by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics

Knee length dress with contrasting fabric

Celestial by Amy Butler and True Colors by Anna Maria Horner; Free Spirit Fabrics

Knee length layered cotton lawn with ruffle trim on both layers at hemline

Print by Sarah Watson for Cloud 9 Fabrics

Mid-calf length with 2 contrasting fabrics, layered hem with ruffle

Strawberry Moon by Sandi Henderson for Michael Miller Fabrics

Knee length with contrasting fabric and hand embroidery embellishment at the neckline. The motif of the fabric was followed to create the embroidery. I used pearl cotton size 8 for the needlework.

Close-up of the embroidery work

Maxi length using a collection of batik prints. The fabric is pieced before the pattern pieces are cut. Instructions in the pattern detail how to do this if you want to recreate the look.

Latitude batiks by Kate Spain for Moda Fabrics