The Robson Coat: At last a trench for the grown-ups!

Tasia of Sewaholic is bringing out her patterns at breakneck speed right now.  This next pattern, released today and hopefully in the shop within a few days in the shop now, fills a gaping hole in the coat patterns of Backstitch... A trench coat!  Hurrah!

We already have a trench for the kids, with the Oliver+S Secret Agent, but up until now, we didn’t have one for us grown-ups.  Well it’s here and it’s brilliant.  The Sewaholic Robson pattern stays true to the classic design and will mean we can all have this outerwear necessity in whichever colour we fancy. 

 

I actually don’t have a trench coat and have been painfully aware of this hole in my wardrobe for some time.  Now I will just have to make myself one.

Textural Heaven

A few weeks ago Architextures came in.  This new line from Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics is brilliant.  The collection is based on architectural line drawings and is genius with its handwritten text, diagonal crosshatch and plan based sketches. 

Here at Backstitch we have a selection of six of these prints all in black and white.  These black and white textural prints are fantastic for contrasting with popping colours... check out this fantastic x plus quilt as an example of using monochrome against colour.  I am planning a cot quilt with some of this against the loveliness of Constellations.  You can buy the six prints off the bolt here or as a bundle of fat quarters here. 

If you love the cross hatch texture then take a look at our ever expanding range of Sketch.  More colours due in soon!

Let’s say hello to Make It Perfect

We love it when we welcome a new pattern house onto the virtual shelves at Backstitch.  The latest newcomer is Australian design house ‘Make It Perfect’.  Their patterns are real wardrobe staples which are simple to construct with lots of room for creative expression.  We have started out with four of their women’s designs, but there are lots more, including plenty of little girls dresses, so shout if you see something you think we should be stocking.

There is the Poppy Tunic which has a great everyday shape and fit.  It has insert panels front and back and a stylish bottom trim which allows for that pop of your favourite print.  I think this dress would work wonderfully with our Linen Blend which has a lovely weight and warmth to it.

Then there is the Honey Blouse: a versatile top which is elegant and flattering with it’s subtle gathers and slimming waistband.  The puff-shaped three-quarter length sleeves and a scoop neckline both feature a twisted trim to add personality and detail.  This is a great top for daytime casual and dress up glam (I’m thinking of those work to evening fashion features in women’s magazines... although in my admin days I was never together enough to make that sort of seamless transition from office day to glam night!)

Now we have the fab Coastal Breeze: the dress that feels like a t-shirt.  Made from super comfy stretch fabric and with a classic scoop-necked shape, this is one you can just chuck on in the morning.  The dress features flattering empire-line, tummy-friendly pleats and with no zippers, darts, buttons or other fiddly bits, this is quick to whip up too.  

And the last of these Make It Perfect patterns at Backstitch is the Shearwater Kaftan.  The ultimate summer essential with two length options and a front placket detail this is a great top for slinging on over your costume on holiday or wearing with jeans and flip flops on those balmy summer days – they will come won’t they?  Those balmy summer days feel like the stuff of dreams right now!!

Do let us know how you get on, and whether you want to see more of these patterns!

Constellations...

A few weeks ago we had a new line hit the Backstitch shelves... Lizzy House Constellations.  I love this line.  Really truly head over heels, to the point that I'm clearly a little bit in love this Lizzy House herself.

This line is a perfect mix of stars and moons, galaxies and supernovas.  And really, what better fabric to sleep under than stars and moons?

We have fifteen prints from the line.  Twelve of the constellations and three of Lizzy House's fantastic coordinating Pearl Bracelets.  You can buy all fifteen prints in the fat quarter bundle.

And, do you know the song Constellations by Darwin Deez?  Watch the video it's totally awesome.  In fact.  I might just love Darwin Deez a little bit more than Lizzy House herself.

Gather and a call for pattern testers

One of my very best friends is one half of Gather.  Gather are a new independent pattern house based here in the UK.  They've just put the call out for pattern testers for their debut pattern.  The pattern is a chic day dress with a sleeveless or long sleeve option.  They are looking for a range of sewing abilities.  For more details see this blog post.

WINTER SALE!!

Sorry, did I just shout that? Well it is pretty exciting.  The SALE section on the website had got pretty slim.  But slim it is no longer.  Last night I put over 50 new fabrics into clearance with a nice big discount of 20%.  There are some real beauties in there too.

The clearance ranges include Summersville, Quilt Blocks, Flea Market Fancy and A Walk in the Woods.

 
There's also Simpatico from Cloud 9 which is the very best in pastel geometrics.  I've kept some of the Straws stripes for myself as it makes supreme binding as seen on my Boy Two quilt.

Charlotte Skirt Sewalong: By Hand London

You've all seen the (oh so fantastic) patterns from By Hand London haven't you?  No? Then check out this post here.  Well, they are hosting a sewalong for their Charlotte Skirt.  It starts today and will conclude in time for you to wear your slinky new skirt on your hot Valentine date.

What are you waiting for?!

Material World - Perri Lewis

I had a lovely surprise in the post yesterday: Perri Lewis's new book - thank you Perri! 

I had heard that Perri was writing a craft book, but didn't know anything about it so it was a total mystery.  It turns out that 'Material World - The Modern Craft Bible' is a lovely book.  It has all the inspiring strokeability that you expect from a craft publication, and introduces some interesting crafts.

The book covers fifteen crafts with a chapter for each.  It's an unusual selection with decoupage, millinery, leather work and macrame in the mix.  Each chapter covers the basic techniques, a 'masterclass' with top tips and advice from two artists working in that field, a modern and simple project plus more ideas for ways to translate these traditional crafts in contemporary ways.

This book is a great one... good work Perri!  Perfect for those who are looking for a new craft to try or for those all round crafty types who like dabble in a bit of everything.

And me?  Maybe I can be persuaded to take up quilling again!

Christmas... Eeek!





So the countdown has begun and I am, like many of you must be too, in a position of mild fear and panic, mixed with feverish excitement.  I have been beavering away on the machine... must blog that, and packages are arriving in a steady stream at our door.

Backstitch will, of course, be open for orders throughout the festive season, but (gasp) I will not actually be going to the Post Office every day. 



Normal service will be in place up to and including Friday 21st December.  From Friday 21st there will be no dispatches made until Monday 31st December (I know, how dare I take a holiday!).  From this point.  Normal daily week day dispatches will resume.

I am very much looking forward to closing the laptop, getting out my knitting and curling up in front of the fire.  Will you be doing that too?

And, the Christmas fabric is selling out fast in the shop, with many lines already gone.  If you want some lovely fabric for those festive projects than take a look here, here and here.

By Hand London - Elisalex and Charlotte

Nothing excites me more than discovering a new independent pattern designer that prints paper patterns, and I like to actively search them out.  Most pattern designers we stock were at Backstitch before any other UK shop (parp parp - that was me blowing my own trumpet, sorry about that).  So I was supremely excited when By Hand London came and introduced themselves to me - virtually of course.  And, THEY ARE BASED IN THE UK! 

Sorry to shout but this is truly exciting.  Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against all the lovely independent designers from beyond our shores, but I do have mild complaints about transatlantic shipping costs, import taxes and slow boats.

By Hand London are Charlotte and Elisalex. Don't they look lovely?  The two patterns that make up their Autumn/ Winter 2012 are (very sensibly) named after themselves and have fantastic British style.  Both the Charlotte Skirt and the Elisalex Dress have loads of good versions and are great value and £10 and £12 each.

And finally, when the box arrived this morning (all the way from London), on opening it I let out a little squeak and then may have even let a swear word escape for the packaging is very very nice.

09/11/12 EDIT: Disaster! The lovely ladies at By Hand London have discovered some issues with the printing of the tissues for these patterns and have recalled them.  They will be back in stock in about four weeks.  Click here to be told when they come back into stock.