Category Archives: PATTERN REVIEWS

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…

This week I made the CHELSEA Tee in TERRA linen!  I have been eyeing this simple tee for months and finally downloaded the free pattern to give it a try. The CHELSEA Tee features a boxy silhouette, raglan sleeves, and a bias binding neckline. Like so many of Fabrics-store’s patterns, the Chelsea Tee is a…

Robes are my weakness, as I spend a lot of time with my kids at home, you want to have quality and comfortable home clothes. And it’s lovely to spend your slow mornings in a comfortable linen robe like Amalfi. The cozy kimono-style robe will fit perfectly into your daily routine. With a loose fit…

The Charlie shirt first caught my eye because of the interesting pleating detail on both the back and front, and I was curious as to the construction method. Funnily enough, I initially misunderstood the front closure to be a covered button placket, but was pleasantly surprised to see that the same design aesthetic could be…

I’ve been on the hunt for 100% cotton poplin fabric for the last several months and I had no clue Fabrics-Store had a whole range sitting pretty on the site. Of course they offer the fabric in a quintessential white color as well as a bevy of gorgeous floral prints; but when I saw the…

Okay, so there is a little background on choosing Ami. I look for vintage elements in contemporary patterns, something that I have started doing more of, influenced by my love of vintage clothing. I look for vintage clothing when I thrift.  The adventure that comes with thrifting can be such a rush. It is one…

The Akira Wrap and Pants made with Mahogany Rose Linen are the most luxurious of loungewear. My daughter Anna was delighted when I said I would make this set for her. With this pattern there are two top options, one is the wrap and one is a cardigan which we chose to make. The difference…

I have been a long-time fan of button-up shirts because of their versatility: short sleeve, long sleeve, long sleeves rolled up halfway, no sleeves! And lately I’ve noticed half-placket tops floating around the virtual sewing community world, so I decided to try it out with the Bruna Shirt pattern. I love the idea of having…

I can’t begin to tell you how often I have looked at a piece of clothing and thought “that wasn’t made for me”, meaning – I knew instantly that it wouldn’t fit me, my body type, or lifestyle. But I guess that’s the thing with garments, right? We mostly wear items that fit those three…

I think most of have been on the hunt for the perfect pleated trousers…or at least it seems that way when scrolling my Instagram feed. There is an abundance of patterns out there right now and the fact is, pants are just hard. I am not going to lie, I’ve bought 3-4 (maybe more!) high…

I used to have a jumpsuit in this lovely color and I really liked it but over time the seams wore out because it was pull-on over the hips with no zipper. A jumpsuit was actually one of my original designs for myself and my daughters when I started Ma Ma Osa so many years…