Following the great feedback I've had so far on my Flossie's Pinafore pattern and sewing kit, I've been working hard on a pattern I initially designed for Ernest's first birthday.
The Birthday Romper is one of my favourite patterns for Spring and Summer.
Inspired by a photograph in an old copy of Penelope Leach's Baby and Child; I pored over this book after the birth of my eldest, India. I bought it in a charity shop, it has a strong smell of perfume, and even now just flicking through it can take me right back to my first parenting experiences.
The photo in question captured my imagination. It is of a baby sleeping in a large old coach built pram, lying on a patchwork quilt wearing an adorable romper dungaree. That photo evoked in me a feeling of calm and perfection that I can't quite describe.
The Birthday Romper embodies those quite lovely feelings I have when I see or even think of the photo, and hopefully some of that is evident to others in my final design.
This week I have been working hard grading this pattern into sizes 3-6 months, 6-12 months and 12-18 months.
I've also begun sample making.
This sample will be winging it's way to a cute little tester in the next few days.
And this one will be looking for a tester in a few days.
I'm pretty happy so far with how the sample sewing is going, and hopefully the pattern will be ready to print by mid March, just in time for Spring!
I do need a little help though. As I've already said, I so far have graded the pattern in three sizes from 3 months up to 18 months. I think these are the sizes this style most suits, but I want to ask you, dear readers, would you like more sizes? A 0-3 months, and a 18-24 months?
Please let me know in the comments. And just as a little incentive, all commentors will be entered into a little draw for one of my Flossie's Pinafore patterns.
The Birthday Romper is one of my favourite patterns for Spring and Summer.
Inspired by a photograph in an old copy of Penelope Leach's Baby and Child; I pored over this book after the birth of my eldest, India. I bought it in a charity shop, it has a strong smell of perfume, and even now just flicking through it can take me right back to my first parenting experiences.
The photo in question captured my imagination. It is of a baby sleeping in a large old coach built pram, lying on a patchwork quilt wearing an adorable romper dungaree. That photo evoked in me a feeling of calm and perfection that I can't quite describe.
The Birthday Romper embodies those quite lovely feelings I have when I see or even think of the photo, and hopefully some of that is evident to others in my final design.
This week I have been working hard grading this pattern into sizes 3-6 months, 6-12 months and 12-18 months.
I've also begun sample making.
This sample will be winging it's way to a cute little tester in the next few days.
And this one will be looking for a tester in a few days.
I'm pretty happy so far with how the sample sewing is going, and hopefully the pattern will be ready to print by mid March, just in time for Spring!
I do need a little help though. As I've already said, I so far have graded the pattern in three sizes from 3 months up to 18 months. I think these are the sizes this style most suits, but I want to ask you, dear readers, would you like more sizes? A 0-3 months, and a 18-24 months?
Please let me know in the comments. And just as a little incentive, all commentors will be entered into a little draw for one of my Flossie's Pinafore patterns.
I do love baby bloomers, either worn under a short dress like my Flossie's Pinafore, or simply with a little t shirt on sunny days. Who can resist chubby little baby thighs, so cute!
Today I'm sharing with you my free pattern and tutorial for baby bloomers you can whip up in less than an hour and using less than half a metre of fabric, often you can squeeze a pair out of fabric in your scrap bag.
The outfit featured here is made with vintage fabric. The dress is made using the Flossie's Pinafore pattern, the applique uses scraps from my scrap bag and the Scrappy Dove template.
And good news if you are looking for patterns to use to make items to sell, I am currently changing my policy; in future if you are a sole trader and would like to use any of my free patterns or tutorials or any of my paper patterns to make items to sell at a craft fair or on your web space then please do.
All I ask is a link back to me here at Lazy Seamstress as the original designer. If you are unsure if you qualify as a sole trader please contact me and I'll be happy to discuss with you.
Remember if you do use any of my patterns or tutorials, I love to hear from you, and I especially love photos, which with your permission I like to feature on the blog, and on social media.
Today I'm sharing with you my free pattern and tutorial for baby bloomers you can whip up in less than an hour and using less than half a metre of fabric, often you can squeeze a pair out of fabric in your scrap bag.
The outfit featured here is made with vintage fabric. The dress is made using the Flossie's Pinafore pattern, the applique uses scraps from my scrap bag and the Scrappy Dove template.
And good news if you are looking for patterns to use to make items to sell, I am currently changing my policy; in future if you are a sole trader and would like to use any of my free patterns or tutorials or any of my paper patterns to make items to sell at a craft fair or on your web space then please do.
All I ask is a link back to me here at Lazy Seamstress as the original designer. If you are unsure if you qualify as a sole trader please contact me and I'll be happy to discuss with you.
Remember if you do use any of my patterns or tutorials, I love to hear from you, and I especially love photos, which with your permission I like to feature on the blog, and on social media.
My Flossie's Pinafore pattern has been consistently popular since I first made it available as a free download in 2010. The pattern has also been available to download for free from Pattern Spot and Craftsy.
I know though that a download pattern isn't always to everyone's taste, and so with that in mind, I recently re graded the pattern and had all three sizes printed onto one master sheet.
The master pattern is printed on high quality paper, so durable for many tracings.
I have also updated the instructions to include more detail,photographs and diagrams, unlike the download version which comes with a simple order of work and no photographs or diagrams.
The pattern is now available to purchase in the Flossie's Garden Etsy store for £7.50.
Also available are several sewing kits, which contain everything you need to make a Flossie's Pinafore for that special little someone in your life.
Each kit includes; the pattern, full instructions, 1 metre of cotton fabric,interfacing,1 reel of matching thread and two co ordinating buttons. The kits are priced at £19.50
The download version will remain free on my blog,Pattern Spot and Craftsy, but if you are looking for a version with more detailed instructions, or prefer a sturdy master pattern from which to trace all three sizes as often as you'd like, or even looking for a gift , then the pattern or kit will work best for you.
Hoping this will be the first of many more patterns and kits this year.
I know though that a download pattern isn't always to everyone's taste, and so with that in mind, I recently re graded the pattern and had all three sizes printed onto one master sheet.
The master pattern is printed on high quality paper, so durable for many tracings.
I have also updated the instructions to include more detail,photographs and diagrams, unlike the download version which comes with a simple order of work and no photographs or diagrams.
The pattern is now available to purchase in the Flossie's Garden Etsy store for £7.50.
Also available are several sewing kits, which contain everything you need to make a Flossie's Pinafore for that special little someone in your life.
Each kit includes; the pattern, full instructions, 1 metre of cotton fabric,interfacing,1 reel of matching thread and two co ordinating buttons. The kits are priced at £19.50
The download version will remain free on my blog,Pattern Spot and Craftsy, but if you are looking for a version with more detailed instructions, or prefer a sturdy master pattern from which to trace all three sizes as often as you'd like, or even looking for a gift , then the pattern or kit will work best for you.
Hoping this will be the first of many more patterns and kits this year.
You can see there is a bit of pattern tweaking still to come, but despite that, I can honestly say that these photos arriving in my inbox this week have been one of the highlights of the week, even knowing I have more work to do on this pattern.
These were not the only fabulous photos I've recieved this week how about these?
Marie won a Scrappy Dove kit in one of my recent give aways, and had some lovely "Mummy and Son" time making it up. Here is what she said to me.
"I really enjoyed the process .... my youngest son, Humphrey, joined in and made his own with me. Humphrey chose an old pair of pjs, a sock and a pair of pants for his. Humphrey enjoyed making his bird too and is happy for me to send you a photo to say thank you. It was a lovely project to complete together. Thank you."
This week has been half term here, I've still been working, so I've had six children here most days (some days more!), and each needing attention of one form or another, which means any serious stitching or working on patterns has taken a back seat. Though I can never quite stop tinkering.
I finally finished off this bunny that had been sat sadly on my desk for longer than I care to admit. He is made from two precious scraps of original 1950's fabrics bought a few years ago at the Antique Textile Fair in Manchester.
I've been helping India make a skirt. She used my A line skirt tutorial and raided my stash for some gorgeous Linton Tweed. I got the job of all the hand stitching.
I know she has an eye on one of my vintage handbags to go with this skirt too!
I've also been playing with box pleats and pattern matching, following Tuesday night's Great British Sewing Bee, but hopefully more on that to come....