Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Butterick 6285

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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Gertie basking in the sunshine

Meet Gertie, the new addition to our family!

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Please say a big “hello!” to Gertie – my mannequin 😀

Gertie basking in the sunshine

Gertie basking in the sunshine

I’ve never owned a dressmakers dummy/mannequin, but I’ve thought about it many times.  I always seemed to get caught up in the debate of whether an adjustable or non-adjustable one would be better.  Then looking at the prices, well, they’re not exactly cheap are they?  So at that point I’d ask myself if I really needed one, and that would be the end of that debate for another 6 months.

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And a close up of the box

I’ve Got A Brand New Etsy Shop!

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The time finally arrived when my vintage pattern stash started to take over the house. What started as “I just have to have that vintage sewing pattern and then I’ll be happy” turned into “but I can’t let that lot of 28 vintage patterns go to just anyone, I have to protect them!” Am I bonkers? Probably!

The patterns I want to get rid of

The patterns I want to get rid of

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great_british_sewing_bee

Who Doesn’t Love The Great British Sewing Bee!

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Yippee! The Great British Sewing Bee is back in all it’s glory!  It’s series 3 and I was wondering how they were going to make it more difficult and/or find better sewers than series 2.  Well there’s certainly some very competent sewers this time round and I can’t wait to see how they all get on!

egg timer

You’ve got 7 minutes sewers!

If you’re a sewer, have you ever asked yourself “I wonder how I would get on making that item of clothing in the time frame they’ve been given?”

I thought so!

Has anyone tried it at home?  If you have I’d love to hear how you got on 🙂

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Hmmm, which fabric will work with which pattern . . .

I’m A Little Puzzled

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Hi! I have actually finished my vintage top! Yayy! But until I have some nice photos, you’ll have to wait for the post all about that.  In the meantime, I’m A Little Puzzled . . .

Have you seen the fabric kits you can buy from places like Craftsy?  (I’m sure I’ve seen them on other websites as well, but I just can’t seem to find any of them right now.)

Wrap dress on CraftsyFor example, here’s a dress that I might consider making but I really don’t like the fabric they’ve chosen for the kit.  OK, this one has a choice of two fabrics, but it still puzzles me and makes me a little mad! Why? I hear you ask.

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Patterns and books in pretty boxes!

Pretty boxes!

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Broken sewing machineHi!  Well, I haven’t been doing any sewing recently because 10 weeks ago my sewing machine went poof!  There was no smoke, no bang and no sizzling noise, just a little pop! and then . . . nothing 🙁  To cut a long story short, I took it to the very worst place this side of the moon to get it fixed, it is still not fixed, and now I have resorted to contacting the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline to get help on what to do next.  It’s all very upsetting, however some people have been very helpful; a friend lent me her sewing machine and another repairman who I usually use also offered me the use of a machine!  So the whole thing has dampened my enthusiasm and now that the weather has turned a little cooler as well, my dreams for a funky new summer dress have faded *sniff* *sniff* !

Right!  That’s enough of the bad news!  Onto the good 😀

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