Flickr (at long last)

I have finally got organised enough to set up a Flickr group for Backstitch.  At the moment it is looking a little empty, there are a few friendly faces in there (helloo!) and I've linked some of my makes to the pool, but what I really want to see is all of YOUR makes. 

Backstitch being an online-only company, I really miss out on not meeting you, getting to chat about what you are making, and then seeing the final creation.  Please use this group to share pictures of the process and the fruits of you labour.

See you soon in Flickr-dom!

Dena Designs: London - Somerset

We have three new prints in the shop, and a new cocktail bundle too.  The three prints are from the London range by Dena Designs.  I just could resist this one print and so we ordered it in it's three colourways: Pink, Blue and Green.  The print is called Somerset which is very fitting as that is where Backstitch HQ is based!

The bundle is named Vodka Daisy and is a fat quarter of each of the prints.

Anyway, enough from me, what do you think?!

Sewing for Boys - Treasure Pocket Pants

The day that my copy of Sewing for Boys was delivered was a very happy one.  I have two small boys and sewing clothes for them has never been the most exciting prospect.  There are some lovely patterns available for boys, but lets be honest, the girls are catered for rather better!

This new book by Shelly and Karen of Patterns by Figgys is totally brilliant.  Crammed full of wearable and practical clothes for boys aged 0-7 years.  There are 8 full size pattern sheets in a pocket at the front of the spiral bound book, followed by some general tips and instructions for using the book. 

Then comes a series of pages with large pictures showing all the projects in different make-ups... A great format - it makes it much easier to choose a project.  After that you have the instructions for each pattern, and then an appendix at the end with instructions for particular techniques.

This week I finally got around to making a project from the book.  I went for the Treasure Pocket Pants.  The pattern instructions are excellent, and I found Karen's Sewalong instructions really helpful too.  I used some navy needlecord that I've had kicking around for ages, and some crimson Klona Cotton.

This morning my little man wore his new trousers for the first time and off we went to climb the Tor.  The pockets are properly kiddy friendly, roomy and good for putting things in (I know, but most pockets on kids clothes are not good for putting things in!).  They are great for running in, and look good too!

I already have plans to make up another pair of these trousers for the smaller boy, and then I'm rather taken with the idea of the Two-in-one Jacket.

Related Products

All Patterns by Figgys

All Patterns for Boys

Klona Cotton

Sew Liberated Patterns: An article about Meg McElwee

Would you like to read the article about Sew Liberated patterns that I wrote for the September 2012 issue of Sewing World magazine?

This month we meet Meg McElwee, the pattern designer whose passions lie not just in sewing and crafting, but also in education and family life. BY ALICE SYNGE

Interviewing Meg McElwee, the woman behind the pattern label Sew Liberated, has been a great joy. You can’t help but admire this woman; her refreshing approach to life and living, and the creativity that drives it is truly inspirational.

Meg lives in North Carolina with her husband and two small boys. In these fast moving times of high commerciality she clearly has some very strong values based on the importance of family, the environment and a great respect for others and her surroundings. This provides the foundation that underpins her work. “My patterns feature simple, clean lines, and what I would call a ‘rustic, bohemian-chic’ sensibility. I design for women like myself, who like to wear comfortable, flattering clothes” says Meg of her designs. But, don’t take this ‘rustic bohemian’ the wrong way, Meg’s direction is a truly modern one, reflecting the more sensitive way that we are all trying to live right now, whilst definitely keeping it chic.

Meg also designs clothes patterns for children, and the Sew Liberated children’s designs have an easy wear, easy care quality that reminds you that children should be allowed to be children, and their clothes should enable them to play and explore the world in comfort.

Meg has a background in education and before launching Sew Liberated Patterns taught three to six year-olds in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Mexico. “My own eclectic educational philosophy, is one that prominently features Montessori, but has at its core a belief in child-led, discovery based learning - learning that is liberated from the traditional, top-down method of education”. This learning approach is one that translates very obviously into her childrens sewing patterns, and particularly her latest book ‘Growing Up Sew Liberated’ which is all about sewing items for young children that are both functional and educational. “The projects are organized in chapters that mirror a child’s day – projects for waking up and getting dressed, projects for cooking and homemaking, projects for indoor and outdoor play, and projects for bedtime” says Meg. However, this philosophy of exploratory life-learning clearly has a huge influence over the way that Meg approaches all elements of her life.

As well as the recent book, we’ve just seen three new Sew Liberated patterns hit our shops: the Mariposa Tee; the Aurelia Cardigan; and the Bohemian Carpet Bag. The Mariposa Tee and the Aurelia Cardigan are unique tops that use knit fabric alongside woven, which gives both pieces an ‘elegant-cosy’ look. “They're a blast to sew” speaks Meg of the tops “and are totally approachable projects even for someone who has never before sewn with knit fabrics. You'll also learn some fun, new techniques with these patterns that you can apply to your other sewing projects.” The generously sized Bohemian Carpet Bag is set to become a classic. “It’s my go-to travelling bag” admits Meg “it makes a great carry-on, or a stylish beach bag.” Brilliantly, the bag's construction is deceptively simple, thanks to a tubular frame closure.

We’ve also got another couple of patterns to look forward to. Due for release in October, are two new dress/tunic patterns from Sew Liberated. Going on the massive and continuing success of the Schoolhouse Tunic (have you made one yet?) which was released in 2009, we are really excited about these. “One pattern will use woven fabric, and the other will use a knit” says Meg.

When we get on to the subject of the ‘grand plan’ for Sew Liberated, Meg admits that she would like to expand. “Right now I can only come out with 4-5 new designs annually. It would be great to come out with more.” And Meg continues “Eventually, I would like to have a team of designers that do the work that I currently do, so that Sew Liberated could always have several interesting designs in the pipeline.” You can appreciate her desire for this direction; “It's such a busy time in our lives, with two young children and my husband in graduate school. We try to balance work and family, but sometimes that is very hard.”

This appreciation of the reality of her situation is humbling, and Meg shares with us her understanding to be content with her present abilities. “I really believe I must embrace the concept of creativity beyond simply making things. At this time in my life, with so many things on my plate, I must be kind to myself and be content with knowing that my sons see me living creatively every day, even if that means I don't make a lot of tangible goods with my hands. You needn't feel guilty for not being in the time or place in your life where you can sew/knit all sorts of things for your children. Just re-route your creativity to living, rather than making. We ALWAYS have time to live - sometimes we don't have the time to make. The making will come. For everything there is a season.”

Meg clearly works extraordinarily hard at making her home a haven of serenity, encouragement and stimulation for her family. She clearly has a motivation to live by her passions of “education, parenting, sewing, crafting, and family life”, and she’s making us happy too as she keeps producing Sew Liberated patterns for us to enjoy.

You can follow the online journal that is Megs blog at http://www.sewliberated.typepad.com/

Related Products
All Sew Liberated patterns
Mariposa Tee
Aurelia Cardigan
Bohemian Carpet Bag

New Bundles



Orangeade Parade

I've just put seven new bundles into the shop.  I love this new selection, and really enjoyed putting them together.
 

Blue Blazer

There are some new colour grouped bundles.  I can't decide if Blue Blazer or Orangeade Parade is my favourite.


Merry Widow

And then I have some Lily Keziah bundles too: the Merry Widow, and the Pussyfoot.  In each of these you get a fat quarter of the most beautiful screen and block printed patterned fabric, and two corresponding Klona cottons.

Do you have a favourite?

Win a Hurricane Bundle!

Hurricane Berry

Have you had your eye on one of our tonal Hurricane bundles?  Then get yourself over to Lily's Quilts where she is running a giveaway to win one... Christmas might just come early!

Lotta Jansdotter :: Echo (Echo, Echo)

It's here, it's here! We've been waiting for this line with much anticipation since July, and I have to say it was worth the wait.  Lotta Jansdotter's first fabric line with Windham Fabrics is called Echo and is a triumph.


Vanilla Coke Bundle

Lotta Jansdotter hails from Sweden and her designs have that wonderful Scandinavian simplicity.  Her website talks of her designs as being 'like little plants working their way through cracks in the sidewalk. Things of simple beauty that bring relief to the urban landscape.'

We are carrying three of the prints, Moira, Choma and Florine, in three colourways.  We have also put together a bundle of these nine fabrics which we are calling the Vanilla Coke.

The fabrics lend themselves to all sorts of things: table linens, quilts, clothes, bags...

What will you make?

Dead Simple Quilt Along

This morning I finished cutting out my squares for the Dead Simple Quiltalong that Lynne from Lily's Quilts is leading.  Are any of you joining in?  This is the first quiltalong that I have taken part in, and I was really drawn to it, as I have been wanting to make a quilt based on the colours in the Hurricane Mute Bundle for a while.

This quiltalong focuses on palette, using squares lain out in a seemingly random fashion.  You pick your own palette of five colours, and your choice of quilt size (50" X 70" or 70" X 90"), and which size square to use (5" or 9").  I chose to make the larger quilt with the smaller square - I am clearly a sucker for punishment.

I chose to use a majority of solids for my quilt.  Quilts using solids have been really appealing to me of late, my quilts inspiration board in Pinterest has told me that. Isn't Pinterest great?!  I chose the five solids: Klona colours Ash, Purple, Blush, Jade, Gold, and then had a hunt through my end-of-line pile (there have to be some perks to running a fabric store!) and pulled out some matches.  It was a massive stroke of luck to discover that the two Anna Maria Horner Social Climber prints both matched my palette exactly.  These two prints make me mad and giddy, so I really hope the quilt is a success... there's no more left!  The only print there that I still have in stock is the Kaffe Fassett Purple Spots.  You can't go wrong with spots.

The total number of squares from each palette is the same, sixty in each, but the number of printed vs. solid is slightly different. I cut as much as I had of each print, and then cut the solids to make up the rest.  Who knows how it will turn out, but that's part of the fun.

Anyhow, all cut out now, so better get that sewing machine out.

Backstitch talks to the Designers: Sarai Mitnick of Colette Patterns

Another article from the series that I wrote for Sewing World magazine. This time I had the pleasure of interviewing Sarai from Colette Patterns:

Working out of a studio in Portland, Sarai and her design assistant Caitlin steadily turn out the incredibly clean, elegant and chic sewing patterns that we know as Colette. The studio they work from is in an old industrial building in Portland and has an entire wall made of factory windows extending to the ceiling. ‘Our view is a mix of old industrial buildings, trees, and the beautiful green hills to the west. Oh, and a train runs directly under the window, which can be noisy. But we're used to it’ says Sarai. From this industrial environment come the most beautifully produced classic, feminine patterns with a modern approach. ‘The classic elements come from the lines and details of the designs, but what makes them modern is that they're practical. They fit into a modern wardrobe, they can be styled in different ways, and they're easy to wear’ explains Sarai.

Remarkably for someone who produces such technically perfect and instructive patterns, Sarai is almost entirely self taught. ‘I really enjoy learning difficult skills, and I have found that a hands on approach is the way I learn best’ says Sarai. She got her first sewing machine, a ‘not at all fancy’ inexpensive model, when she was sixteen and her grandmother began to teach her to sew. ‘At the time I had no idea that sewing was such a complex skill. I actually think that’s a good position to start from sometimes, because I wasn’t intimidated by it.’

Sarai’s tastes have changed a lot since her first self-made garment which was ‘a very simple A-line sheath dress in a quilting cotton, with some scratch lace at the hem’, and now draws on designs and styles from the past. ‘My inspiration varies quite a bit. Right now I am really into the classic styles of the early sixties, but I like to mix things up, finding details from different time periods and incorporating them together in interesting ways’ she explains. ‘I'm really interested in past "retro" trends too. For example, the way the Biba look of the 1970s drew on fashion from the 1930s, or the influence of 1920s fashion on the gamine styles of the 1960s. It's always intriguing to see familiar things put into a new context.’

This study of past styles is evident in all Colette Patterns including the three new designs just released for Fall. All three of these new patterns are suitable for beginners, so anyone can make them! ‘I really enjoy designing beginner patterns with interesting details, since I know that many beginners are looking for something to sew beyond the basic wrap skirt. I really feel these three patterns alone could form the basis of a very chic mini wardrobe.’ Sarai explains.

The first new release is Peony, a classic boatneck dress with a removable cummerbund style belt. It's a very flattering dress that can be made in many fabric combinations and with either short or long sleeves, so adaptable for any season. ‘I was very much inspired by Audrey Hepburn in creating this dress, and wanted to do something with an utterly classic style that could be interpreted in many different ways by the seamstress.’

Jasmine is the new blouse pattern. It's a beautiful, versatile blouse that can be made with a contrasting collar, or a longer collar that ties in a bow. ‘Because it's cut on the bias, there's no need for sewing closures, which I know many sewists appreciate, and it has a very graceful drape’ says Sarai.

Finally, there is Clover, the first trouser pattern from Colette! ‘My customers have been asking for a simple and easy pattern like this for such a long time’ says Sarai. ‘Again, I definitely had Audrey Hepburn on the brain in designing these. I wanted a pair of pants that would be chic, a little retro, but very easy to wear’. The Clover trousers are slim, and can be made either in ankle length, or a mid-calf length. They have optional flat in-seam pockets at the front and a side zip.

Sarai has also just written a book. ‘The Colette Sewing Handbook’ is released in the US mid-November and will be available here in the UK shortly after. The Colette patterns are well known for their terrific instructions, with each one bound to teach you new clever tricks. The book, which is covers techniques through projects, is therefore much anticipated. ‘I’d realised that there are a few concepts that are really central to having a great sewing experience: planning your projects, working with patterns, getting a good fit, understanding fabric, and finishing’ says Sarai. All the lessons in the book are structured around these five fundamentals, and each fundamental has its own project, so readers take a hands-on approach. ‘I wanted to provide something that was more like a guide, something that lets you build skills gradually and focus on the things that will make the biggest difference to your sewing.’

The new styles and the book demonstrate that Sarai clearly has her finger on the pulse when it comes to what the modern sewist wants. ‘I imagine that my customer is someone like myself: a creative woman who sews both as a creative outlet and because she wants a wardrobe that means something to her. I think many women today are tired of the cycle of spending on trends or clothes that don’t last. We want to make more thoughtful decisions about what we wear, and handmade clothing is an incredibly fulfilling way to do that.’

Related Products:
All Colette Patterns
Jasmine Blouse
Peony Dress
Clover Pants

New Colette Patterns in the Shop: Jasmine, Peony and Clover.

Colette has just released three elegant new patterns, and all of them suitable for beginners.  And the best news?  They have just arrived into the shop!

There is the Jasmine Blouse, the Peony Dress and, wait for it, the Clover Pants... yes, TROUSERS!!

The Jasmine Blouse is a figure-skimming top with no closures. The blouse is shaped with bust darts and center seams that gently hug the body. Version 1 has a long collar that can be tied in a bow and elbow length sleeves gathered to a cuff. Version 2 has a shorter contrast collar and a notched cuff.

The Peony Dress is an elegant bateau neck sheath dress with a fully removable cummerbund style belt which can be made in a matching or contrasting fabric, closing with a single button in back. Version 1 has 3/4 length sleeves, a contrasting belt, and in seam pockets. Version 2 has short sleeves, a matching belt, and no pockets.

The Clover Pants are beautifully slim... still can't get over the excitment of having a trouser pattern in the shop - our first!  They close with a side zipper for a streamlined look and easy sewing. Version 1 is ankle length, with small in-seam pockets set into the waistband. Version 2 is cropped just below mid-calf.

Related Products:
All Colette Patterns
Jasmine Blouse
Peony Dress
Clover Pants