Category Archives: PATTERN REVIEWS

When I first started sewing garments, I immediately fell in love with linen. I loved how it wrinkled with wear and it felt very forgiving as I taught myself how to sew a straight line or maintain the same seam allowance throughout a pattern. So when I sat down to think of my seven favorite…

Linen and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly, they say.  Okay, maybe they don’t say that… but it’s true!  Living in a very hot climate is one of the many reasons my closet is mostly comprised of linen.  It’s natural, so my skin is sure to not get irritated when it reaches the…

What is more luxurious than linen pyjamas? (Okay- that is a rhetorical question because everyone has their own vision of luxury.) Linen pajamas evoke slow mornings and leisure. They are more elevated than your partner’s old sweats and a toothpaste-stained sweatshirt…which tends to be in rotation for me regularly this season. As I was preparing…

Since I am such a fan of linen, its benefits and natural properties plus the look and feel of this beautiful fabric, this is an easy list to share with all of you. I hope you enjoy it and I hope you feel inspired to get sewing. Here are my favorite patterns to sew with…

I have done several pattern reviews for Fabrics-Store and I can say they are some of my favorites. When I begin a new project, I like to do a generalized Pinterest search to get inspiration. It helps me to imagine how I am going to style a garment before beginning to sew. After doing the…

Linen has been one of my favourite fabrics to sew and wear ever since I started sewing. It has the perfect blend of drape and structure, it can be the most satisfying fabric to work with, and it’s an absolute dream to wear in all seasons. Today I’m sharing seven of my favourite sewing patterns…

Summer pants, the ever-elusive search. When asked to make a pattern for the thread from the FS pattern catalog, I wanted to highlight a pattern which I haven’t come across much. I love a good linen pant especially one that would work for both work meetings and a night out with the girls. Mykonos is…

Wrap cardigans are popular right now and easy to accessorize.  You can sew them with long sleeves or short sleeves, and layer them over a tank. I’ve been wanting to make a wrap suit for a while, so I didn’t put it off and started as soon as I got Akira’s pattern and fabric. It’s…

Today you can allow yourself to play with the style of slip dresses. What should I match the dress with? A slip dress in cold weather goes well with knitted clothes (sweater, turtleneck), and coats and jackets are worn over it. In warm seasons, a shirt and a T-shirt are combined with such a model….

I love a good button down. I know this isn’t a revolutionary statement by any means, but there’s a reason it’s become a wardrobe staple in so many people’s closets. They have the innate ability to be a closet chameleon, transitioning from office wear to casual chic, and they are a piece I return to…

The traditional trouser includes a waistband, belt loops and a fly front but over time I think we’ve accepted many variations on this beloved staple garment. Don’t misunderstand, I do love cozy elastic waist linen pants as well. I’ve even designed patterns for such a pant and have several but nothing can totally replace the…

I should start with a caveat. I think the idea of ‘flattering’ is so steeped in society’s obsession with controlling what women wear, that writing about picking patterns that suit my body type feels like walking a very tricky line. That being said, we cannot deny that certain silhouettes will make us feel wonderful, will…

Some of us edge into garment sewing from a quilting or crafting habit, or perhaps someone’s child needs a costume. I’ve seen people hang a piece of fabric on themselves and start cutting. I’ve had all of those starts, but none of it stuck until I picked up my first dress pattern.  Years down the…

Everyone loves options. You get so many with the Abbey pattern set: it has 7 pieces. I cannot resist a great collar, so, the cardigan was a perfect choice for me. I was looking for something that could transition the seasons. I like the roomy design of the cardigan.  The sleeveless option fits the bill…