Happy New Year :: Resolutions

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope you all managed to have a fun, restful and rejuvenating break, and are ready to start this year with energy. In the spirit of starting, let's talk resolutions! I always write resolutions, and this year will be the first I'm held publicly responsible for mine - so here goes!

My 2013 Resolutions and Goals:
1. To make 12 new (ie cut from patterns) garments in 12 months
2. To complete all item re-fashions waiting in various heaps in my sewing room
3. Continue and fine tune my healthy eating and exercise routine to fit my life
4. Body Goal - cardio fitness and muscle tone and flexibility
5. Do new things and go new places
6. Nurture friendships

So there are mine, what are your's?

Made-By-Me :: Navy Polkadot (UFO)

Hello hello!

I was inspired after finding a tiny swatch of navy polkadot fabric at a vinnies down the south coast to modify and finish this navy dress that I think I originally started last year!

I finished it Monday evening, and am wearing it at work today. I had originally planned it to be a long sleeve dress, but as you can see I changed that into little cap sleeves of polka dots, and added the dots to the mid-riff also..

I'm really enjoying wearing this dress, I got the length just right for work attire, but I think this dress will be versatile enough for other occasions too...

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Pattern Love :: Jacket Patterns

Hello!

Do you often find you really need or want to make a certain item of clothing - eg work dress, jacket, party dress - and yet cannot seem to find the right pattern? I do! It's a bit like going shopping with something specific in mind, and not being able to find anything suitable! And yet, when you're not looking, it seems a gazillion amazing things suddenly spring up out of the atmosphere. 

Let's try and help each other out shall we? Introducing a new blog segment 'Pattern Love' - a segment aimed at highlighting great patterns found, even if not yet tried, for specific clothing needs. And as you can tell by the post title, I'm starting with Jackets!

I work in an office, as a designer, and whilst I don't need to be 'jacketed' all the time, I do wish I had some stylish jackets, comfortable enough to sit at a desk all day and work in, and keep the chill of the air conditioning off my back! Plus, a good jacket is so smart, and can be so versatile! We women are lucky, often all we need is a good jacket to make almost any dress office-worthy!

When it comes to jacket patterns, I have found most of the commercial offerings lacking. So, when the lovely Tasia of Sewaholic very recently released her Cordova Jacket pattern, and then followed that with numerous drool-worthy images of the jacket made up by herself or her testers, I went to sewsquirrel.com.au (Australia Stockist) and snatched up my copy....

Doesn't it just look wonderful! All lovely and pristine in it's gorgeous packaging - I can't wait to find the right fabric and whip one up! I even have ideas for alternate front closures that would be so adorable, and am planning to borrow a few ideas from some of the pattern testers such as adding hidden pockets on the inside!

But you've heard the saying, when it rains it pours right?

Look what else I have found at papercutpatterns.com.....

The Milano Cape

The Watson Jacket

All these wonderful jacket patterns discovered all at once! I've added the two papercutpattern jackets to my birthday and Christmas wish list, so here's hoping!

Do you have any favourite jacket patterns you've found/own/tried and tested and love?