Tuesday, December 9, 2014

The SEWsterhood of the Travelling Pattern.

Do you remember that movie from 2005, where four young girls stay in touch by passing around a magical pair of jeans that fits each of them perfectly???

It might have been a good movie - it might have been a rubbish movie.  I have no idea cause I've never seen it.  Girly movies like this one really aren't my thing.

I was talking to a lady on facebook last night about long-distance shared clothing, when I struck upon the idea of doing the same thing with a pattern.  One vintage pattern travels around the world and everyone makes the same dress, but uses their own creativity in choosing fabrics and maybe slightly modifying the dress for them.

So we are going to do it.

With this pattern.


I've picked this one for a few reasons:
  • Its not overly complicated, so beginner sewers can join in too.
  • Its a decent size to grade up or down from.
  • It offers possibilities for customisation (patch pockets, in-seam pockets, piping, bias etc)
  • It will work in different types of fabric.
So I'm going to set down some rules.

1. Look after the pattern!  Its got a long way to travel, so be gentle with it!!
2. When it gets to you, you need to sew it.  There are other people waiting to play, so hop to it!
3. Get your model on!  We all want to see what you've made, so pose for a few photos.  These need to be emailed to me with a bit of a story so I can write a blog post to update the Sewsterhood on where the pattern is.  If you have a blog, do a post on it and I can link back to your blog as well!
4. Make some notes in the Journal.  This pattern is traveling with its own diary - please write an entry (or a few) - you could pass on any hints for the future sewers, or just write a story.
5. Put it in the Mail.  When you are finished I will give you the address for the next participant so you can send the pattern on its journey.  What you received with the pattern needs to stay with the pattern.

If you draft any special pieces for your dress, it would also be nice if these go with the pattern with some brief instructions.  But this is optional.  

I'm hoping that now that you have read this, you will want to join in.  I will be making a list (with my name at the top) of the Sewsterhood of the Travelling Pattern - to get on it just send an email to sewretrorose(at)gmail(dot)com.  I will be making the list in the same order as I receive emails.  Each blog post I write will say who is getting the pattern next, but I will also send an email to you so you know its on its way.

Join the Sewsterhood!!!

Beccie
xxx

Hi everyone!  After an amazing response I'm sad to say that I'm closing the list for the travelling pattern.  Thank you for everyone that has joined in!


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Swirl Sew-along : The Final Post!

Its been a couple of weeks now since I posted the final instructional post for the Swirl Sewalong.  And in that time all the girls have been working their little hearts out to get their dresses finished.  Not everyone made it (life sometimes just gets in the way no matter what we do!) but I hope they still post the photos in the group when they do finish, so I get to see how fabulous they all look.  Everyone has done so well, and I'm so happy that everyone enjoyed my first Sewalong!!!

So here are all the finished dresses!

But because its my blog, we are going to start with me...



Abigail Roberts




 Amber Stivers-Anders


Amy Jansen-Leen


Angela Wicentowich



 Anna Travierso



Claire Gittens



 Daisy Vernimmen



Doris Colerano-Romann



 Esther Hayes



Esther Albantow

 
Eszter Molnar




 Imogheena Farandel




Irene Kwinten


Jane Hassall

Jane gets points for being first in with her Swirl photos!

Jane Parker


 Janine Roberts




Janine showed off and made two!


Jo Brody




Johanna Taggart


Johanna bought this fabulous fabric from me, and I love that she's used a rose shaped button!



 Kacy Burchfield



Katherine McRae




Kelly Dearman


 Leisa Franklin



Loran Watkins



 
Loran also showed off and made two!



 Lynn Potts



Shermy Freeman

 Shermy is too adorable for words!

Mary Mayo


Pamela Smith




 Petra Iriska



Rachael Coutts


Sandra Cox


Sandra wore her Swirl for the first time at Disneyworld!!!  AND made her husband a matching vest!!!


Siobhan Smith


Zoe and Sue Chakos
 
The mother daughter sewing team of the group!

Susan Earlam


Susie-Marie Woods

 I love this photo so much!

Tina Roneklint



Didn't everyone do an amazing job!!!  I love them all so much!!!  Thank you to everyone for making this such a wonderful first experience for me.  I hope you all come back for the next one!!!

Beccie
xxx