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Simplicity Sewing Challenge 2016 – My Entry In The Vintage Section

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When Simplicity announced it’s Simplicity Sewing Challenge, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to enter my first ever judged sewing challenge/competition.  Of course, I had to enter the Vintage Section, even though it was a halter neck top, which is a style of clothing I just don’t wear any more. Oh well, a challenge in more ways than one then! Here is the pattern:

The vintage pattern for the Simplicity Challenge

The vintage pattern for the Simplicity Challenge

And here is my version I am entering into the challenge:

My 1970's Outfit for the Simplicity Sewing Challenge 2016 - Vintage Section

My 1970’s Outfit for the Simplicity Sewing Challenge 2016 – Vintage Section

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Vintage Pattern Pledge 2016 #1 – The Leach-Way Dress

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This year, I pledged to make two garments from my vintage patterns.  This is the first one, which I actually finished a couple of months ago, but lack of photos . . .

Leach-Way 13775

Leach-Way 13775

It is Leach-Way Frock 13775 which features ties sewn into the side seams which you then wrap around your waist to give the dress some shape, well that’s the idea anyway.

Leachway Dress Pattern

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The Not-So-Humble T-Shirt(s) & Out-takes!

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This is the garment which returned my sewing mojo to me!  A humble t-shirt!

Renfrew T-shirt by Sewaholic Patterns

Renfrew T-shirt by Sewaholic Patterns

It wasn’t that I wasn’t sewing anything at all, after all, I make a lot of bellydance tops for others and I was very slowly making the odd thing for myself which I might wear once in a blue moon.  But I realised that I hadn’t sewn anything for myself that I could wear regularly, any day of the week.  I also realised I was short on simple, short sleeved t-shirts.  Aha!  I wear t-shirts every day, so why not make myself a t-shirt!

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Elephant Trousers!

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I am probably far too excited about these Elephant Trousers than I really should be at my age!  😉   But I love them!

I made these funky elephant trousers! Oh yeah!

I made these funky elephant trousers! Oh yeah!

So these are the brand new Carrie Trousers from Sew Over It, available only in their brand new Ultimate Guide to Sewing and Fitting Trousers online course.  The course includes the pattern for these trousers and the very popular Ultimate Trousers, which I’ve been wanting to make for awhile, but hadn’t got around to buying the pattern yet, which was rather fortuitous really!

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The Skirt That Hurts Your Eyes

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I kind of like this skirt but don’t like it all at the same time!  Meet the Skirt That Hurts Your Eyes!

Wrap skirt

Look at the skirt . . . no, look at the glasses . . . no, look at the skirt . . .

So this is an accidentally modified version of KwikSew 3951 made in a very funky, but hard to look at fabric.  The reds and greens do funny things to your eyes, even if you aren’t red/green colour blind!

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Lime & Leopard Print Sorbetto

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Just to warn you, I’m catching up on posting about the things I made last year, or even the year before!  But they were all made since I started my blog, and since it’s MY blog, I can follow MY rules, and blog about what I want!  So there! 😉

Lime Sorbetto Top

Lime And Leopard Print Sorbetto Top – I Love It!

First up is a Sorbetto Top by Colette Patterns.  The pattern is a free download and I think it makes a very cute, easy to wear, summer top.

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A collection of classy dresses

A Peak At Some Of My Previously Unseen Vintage Patterns

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I fully intended for my next post to be about one of my many completed items.  However, a lack of completed item photos has scuppered that plan!

So, I thought it was about time I shared a few of my favourite vintage patterns, which I haven’t shown before in any posts.  Without further ado then . . .

I love all of these!

I love all of these!

I just love these playsuit and holiday outfit patterns.  I think the Maudella has to be my favourite, but I also fancy making the top half of the Reveille playsuit as a top.  Isn’t the Bestway lady classy!

I won these patterns in a giveaway! How lucky am I!

I won these patterns in a giveaway! How lucky am I!

The 1945 Simplicity pattern on the left has a very interesting wrap over skirt type thing going on which I rather like.  And the jagged neckline on the right hand pattern from the 1950’s is a bit unusual.

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My First Ever Quilt! And, Yes, I’m Very Proud Of It!

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I have so many blog posts to write!  I really must crack on and get them written.  So here is the first one – I made my Mum a quilt!

Completed cat quilt

Cat Quilt – All Finished!

I saw this fabric in a quilting shop and fell in love with it, but I didn’t need it.  I have so much fabric already and I wasn’t about to make a quilt for myself as I already have one under way.  Hmmm, what to do?

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My Thoughts On The Latest Butterick Patterns

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There’s one type of email which always gets me very excited – an email from one of the Big Four pattern companies informing me their new patterns for the coming season have been released.  But the excitement is not for the reason you might think . . .

I follow quite a lot of sewing bloggers and I love reading their posts, but two bloggers in particular write posts giving their thoughts on new patterns.  One is always a very serious and informed review, the other is usually quite hilarious and points out certain “weirdnesses”!  So when new patterns are out, I look at the patterns myself, determine my own views on them, then wait in anticipation for these “pattern review” posts.

Recently I thought, “maybe I could write posts like that”, then immediately dismissed the idea as I didn’t think I’d have much to say.  That was, until yesterday morning, when I received one of THOSE emails, from Butterick.  It turns out I have plenty of opinions!  So here it is, the inaugural edition of the Quirky Kiwi Pattern Review!  I hope you find it educational/informative/amusing (hopefully it will be at least one of the 3!) 😀

Lets start with the ones I like.

NOTE: Just click on any of the photos to open up the Butterick page for that pattern (opens in a new tab.)

Butterick 6285 – Patterns By Gertie

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