The Pattern Pages

I don’t know about you, but when it gets to spring and the flowers start to bloom and the sun shines, and I begin to think about sewing for spring, lighter fabrics and floaty florals. I’m so excited about our pattern collaboration this time, Varma is an exclusive pattern from Laura and Saara Huhta’s book, Building The Pattern published by Quadrille. This 3-in-1 pattern includes the gorgeous jumpsuit shown on our front cover but also a fabulous pair of trousers or shorts - all ideal for getting a jump-start on your spring wardrobe! I think, we all love styles from the past, so come reminisce with me and step through the decades with lovely patterns that are a nod to the past but have today’s sizing. If you fancy a…

NEW WEBSITE FOR GEORGE + GINGER This pattern brand has a fresh new to look to its website. The update has given its online presence more user-friendly features like how customers can view listing photos. You can now also swipe right to left easily rather than having to select a tiny icon of the photo you wanted to view and scroll back to the top of the page to view it. It’s little things like this that make a big difference when it comes to navigating the site! There is also a new top bar highlight on the home page so any discounts are right there and there’s no searching for coupon codes or automatic discounts. www.georgeandgingerpatterns.com CELEBRATING 10 YEARS Lauren Guthrie, former finalist on The BBC’s Great British Sewing…

1930s These nautical-inspired slacks lace up with eyelets at the inside centre front waist and are held in place with large buttons and a belt that passes through a bound buttonhole, they also can be made in two different lenghts. The Chic Ahoy Slacks, Halter & Bolero pattern has what it says in the name and includes a cute halter top with a wide collar and a bolero jacket! Resto-Vival Patterns are original historic patterns that have been restored and revived, and sewers will need to interpret vintage instructions. The emergence of trousers as acceptable public attire for women began in the early 1930, largely due to the enormous influence of the movies and the high-profile movie stars. The 250 Hollywood Pants pattern includes three patterns that will steal the…

FREE pdf Pattern for readers Bag Finished Dimensions: Height 28cm (11in) | Width 33cm (13in) | Base depth 8cm (3in) You will need: Exterior fabric: 50cm x 1.4m (¾yds of 54in) wide or 92cm x 112cm (1yd of 44in) Bag lining, front and interior pocket fabric: 60cm x 92cm (2/3yd of 44in) wide Sew-in interfacing for bag body and upper flap: 92cm x 92cm (1yd of 36in) wide Wide fusible interfacing for flap underside, strap, exterior and interior pockets: 60cm x 92cm (2/3yd of 36in) Optional wadding for bag body: 92cm x 92cm (1yd of 36in) wide Notions: 1 x magnetic snap set | 3 x buttons 40mm (1½in) diameter to embellish strap ends and flap | 8cm x 20cm (3in x 8in) piece of plastic canvas or similar to…

1. Make exterior pocket A.Iron interfacing onto wrong side of pocket (D). Place pocket and lining (D) pieces right sides together and pin. Leaving a gap in the centre of the lower edge seam of about 4cm (1½in) for turning pocket through, stitch together round side, upper and lower edges in a continuous line, pivoting at the corners. Clip seam at curved edges and corners. B.Turn pocket right sides out through gap and press. C.Pin pocket onto Right side of front right side of bag front using dashed line on front (A) template as a guide. The upper pointed pocket edge should be about 10cm (4in) from the upper raw bag edge and the lowest point of the curve should be 3cm (1¼in) from the lower raw edge. TIP: It’s essential…

Bernadette is a dress historian and is best known for her YouTube channel that documents the reconstruction and interpretation of historical dress. She focuses on English and American fashion that predates the use of the electric sewing machine. She aims to rediscover the methods by which clothes were made, and her YouTube channel seeks to explore how we can learn from historical sewing techniques and attitudes towards dress in an effort to fight the effects of fast fashion. Last year, we reviewed her book, Make, Sew and Mend: Traditional Techniques to Sustainably Maintain and Refashion Your Clothes, which is a wonderful read! Based in New York, Raissa is a fashion historian, and lectures around the world on varied topics including 19th Century dress reform, the Golden Age of Couture, period…