April 2017 / Handmade Frenzy

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Women's Farrah Pattern // Sewing For Women

Happy Tuesday everyone!!

I'm so excited about the dress I get to show you today. I had the opportunity to test the Farrah Dress & Top, the newest from Chalk and Notch. Through today, it is available exclusively through UpCraft Club, and tomorrow it becomes available in the Chalk and Notch shop as well. Grab it while the discount applies!!

Okay, so lets chat about this fabulous dress!! I sewed View B in the dress length. View B features a center front ruffle, all views feature a front and back yoke, gathers in the back bodice, gussets, and a split hem detail. All of these details come together to create a seriously fabulous garment.

The ruffle on my dress is from the very first version during testing. It underwent some pretty big changes, and ended up being longer and a slight v-shape. I have so much love for the final version (although, I think this version is pretty awesome too!), and I can't wait to get a chance to sew up another one!

View A, which I haven't had a chance to sew yet, has a ruffle detail at the sides that also becomes a flutter sleeve. You can check that out here. I really love both versions so much!!

The dress is fitted beautifully across the bust and then flows through the waist and hips. There is generous ease built into the pattern here, and if you prefer a slightly more fitted shape, it is super easy to blend sizes to achieve a closer fit. This is made even easier if you use the layers feature in the pdf to print only the sizes you want to work with.

I normally like my dresses a little more fitted, but boy, do I feel fabulous in this dress!! Fabric choice also plays a huge role here. This is a silky print from Joann's, it has very lovely drape and is also kind of "spongy". I'm not sure how else to describe it ;) Anyway, it made a perfect Farrah!

The pattern instructions are so good, as per usual with Chalk and Notch patterns. Every detail is covered and the illustrations are clear and helpful. I think my favorite part of the whole dress was sewing the gusset. Everything fit beautifully and that finished arm hole just made me so happy! I often struggle with arm holes that are too tight or too large and show my bra. This one was neither. Absolutely perfect. Yay!

The final version also has slightly more gathering at the back yoke.

So what are you waiting for!? Run and grab your copy while it's still on sale!!

Coffee & Thread Pattern Tour // Ania Tunic

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Hi everyone! I'm so thrilled to be a part of this pattern tour today!! Olga (Coffee & Thread) is one of the very first blogging friends I made in this amazing online community. She is super sweet, knowledgeable and creates amazing patterns!! I have sewn a few of them over the years. A couple of Mulberry Tunics here and here (which are now tucked away, impatiently waiting for boy #2 to wear them!) and last year's Eleena Dress, which she wore to church yesterday, and it still fits fine (yay!) except that it's turning into more of a tunic than dress length, yikes!

Image may contain: one or more people, child and outdoor

For the tour, I chose to make the Ania Tunic. I was smitten with this pattern from the moment I saw the first sample. There are many variations with this pattern (there is even a dress length version on the tour!!), with sleeve and pocket options, or you can choose to make it in a woven or knit! I love versatile patterns so much.

However for this version I decided to keep things simple. I used this amazing cut of linen/cotton blend from Miss Matatabi that I have been hoarding for a while and wanted to let the fabric shine.

*The fabric is sold out, but you can view the listing here for all the details on it*

I sewed short sleeves since those get the most mileage around here and went plain with no pockets. I made a size 4 with 5 length. As always, sizing is spot on with Olga's patterns.

I love the details in the back as well. I just so happened to have the perfectly matching button and Kona Cotton Solids laying around. The inside bodice is lined in the same fabric that you see a teeny bit of here at the bottom of the neck line split. I don't think I sewed the bias onto that little v part the way it was written in the pattern. Oops. But it turned out very well and I love the little additional pop of purple there.

She is pleased as punch with this dress because purple is here favorite color "except GOLDEN is my VERY favorite color, Mom", so if you use your imagination, she has a little bit of both in this top. :)

It's been a little while since we did a photoshoot with her outside, and apparently she has developed some top-notch new modeling skills since then! :)