Tag Archives: Butterick

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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The-Beginnings
The curved side seam where my zip had to go - oh this is not going to be easy

See, The Vintage Top Does Exist!

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So as I mentioned in an earlier post, I finished making my first ever garment from a vintage pattern!  (Well actually I finished it at the end of last year but it’s taken me until now to work out how to take decent photos without the assistance of a friendly photographer!  I know, shame on me, call myself a blogger and all, how embarrassing!)

This is my "Arms Akimbo Pose"

This is my “Arms Akimbo Pose”

Butterick Pattern 6887

Butterick Pattern 6887 – I made View B

I did cut out a muslin/chair, sewed it up (including very roughly putting a zip in the side), and was actually quite pleased with the result.  I also learnt a bit about putting in a collar, I was glad of the practice so that when I came to sew the real thing, my collar went in much easier than it might have!

The top has kimono / dolman / magyar sleeves.  I think it depends what source you look at to determine which term is correct, but basically the sleeve is just an extension of the bodice, not a separate piece of fabric.  This creates extra fabric in front of and behind the arm, but if your fabric is quite drapey, then it still looks fine (oh, but my fabric isn’t drapey, never mind!).  The fit around the waist was quite snug, but I quite liked it as it emphasised the shape of the bust and since it’s cut on the bias, it stretched quite nicely so I didn’t feel restricted.  No photos of the muslin/chair – too boring.

My "Sunglasses Pose"

My “Sunglasses Pose”

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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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Butterick Pattern 6887
Maudella 5208

More Vintage Patterns!

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Well, over the past few weeks I’ve managed to increase my vintage pattern collection quite considerably!

You can get some real treasures on ebay – I won an auction for a lot of 12 vintage patterns and it was like Xmas when I opened up the parcel!

Here is a selection of my favourite recently acquired pre-loved vintage patterns:

 

Maudella 5133

Maudella 5133

Unfortunately Maudella patterns never seem to have a year printed on the envelope or the sewing instruction sheet, which is a real shame.  So I’m guessing this pattern is from the early 60’s, maybe late 50’s.  I can’t wait to make this one, I think it’s rather unusual.  Talking about unusual Maudella patterns, how about this one?

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Butterick Pattern 2179

Vintage Patterns – A New Obsession

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Woo hoo!  I’m a proper blogger now – I have real comments on my blog posts, not just the spam comments you always get!  I’m a happy bunny!  (It doesn’t take much, I know 😉 )

Ok, back to what I intended to write about . . .

About a year ago, one of my friends said to me that I should wear 50’s style dresses, (you know the type, fitted bodice and big pouffy skirts), as they would suit me.  Funnily enough, just the day before, I’d been looking at 50’s fashion and had decided that I should try to make myself a 50’s style dress!  It was obviously meant to be!

So I searched and found two reproductions of vintage patterns that I liked.

Vintage Vogue Pattern 2903

Vintage Vogue Pattern 2903

Butterick Retro '56 Pattern 5603

Butterick Retro ’56 Pattern 5603

I couldn’t decide which one I liked best, so I bought them both of course!  I’ve made a dress from one of the patterns (the Vintage Vogue) and it was the most complicated pattern I’ve ever sewn!  Anyway, that will be the topic of another blog post, so I’ll jump ahead a little now.

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