batsy's posterous

When designing the Sweet Pea Dress I wanted to create something that was not only cute now but also when the child got a little bigger. I love sewing for my daughter but am sad when she's grown out of it in a week.

There are many design details that can be used to create longevity in children's wear; these are the ones I chose to use. To avoid the dress looking tight I added tucks across the front to give extra room, and raglan sleeves for an easy fit trough the shoulders and arms. I didn't leave large hems instead I intend the dress to become a top as it gets shorter.

I since I started this dress the wee girl has grown a bit so I thought I'd share how her size 12 month fits then and now along with a look at her Dr. Seuss print size 18 month. 

I know the difference isn't hugely noticeable in the photos but it is there.

The first patterns are now available on Etsy

I should be finishing the Sunrise Hoodie sample but I'm missing a zipper that is long enough so that will have to wait. I should be grading the Monogram Hoodie but I really don't feel like it so instead today I am working on new styles. 

On the kid front the next patterns will be the basic T-shirt, footless tights and fitted pyjamas. I have yet to transfer the blocks to the computer so it will be a bit before they are ready for sampling. 

On the women's front the next pattern will be a dolman sleeve top.
I'm loving my dolman sleeve sweater and have really been inspired by Andy Hall lately (especially the off the shoulder top with striped band). I find this style comfy and relaxed with out being sloppy and still fashionable. Perfect for my next pattern.

The block is made, the sketch book is out, this is what I'm working on today. 

Underlay may not necessarily be anything new to you but where to look for it for free may be. I love using underlay for cutting. The ability to cut fine fabrics with a minimal amount of hair pulling and swearing really appeals to me. The problem is what to use. I am very stingy with my drafting paper as I no longer have the perfect contact for a free supply of end of the roll un-printed newsprint. I am also not in a position to by paper specifically for underlay as was my boss' case in my old job. So now what?

There is old news papers but it can leave ink behind and the tissue paper leftover from gifts is often too thin and unstable. There is the packing paper left behind by the moves but that is in very short supply and long gone. Sometimes I can use scrap tracing paper but that is only when the pieces are very small. What I found to be the best source of free underlay is the sheer abundance of packing paper included in many shipments. This week I received a package from Amazon and per usual the box it was shipped in was about 4 times bigger then the then the item in it; the rest was packing paper. I was going to recycle it till it dawned on me that it would make excellent underlay. Now I have many meters of free unlay of good weight and not bad width that won't leave ink behind.

Final sample is done!!! Jordan tried on his hoodie today and it fits great, including the hood! I was thinking of making it longer but after seeing it on him I think it is fine the way it is. (He is tall for his age so if it fine on him it should be good.) 

Next up is grading. I'll be doing sizes 3, 6, 12 and 18 months as well as 2 years this time. I haven't taken the construction photos yet but I can do that when I sample other sizes. I also only finalized my construction method with this sample and it is easier to take pictures when you have a clear method in your head. I at least have photos for the pattern cover! So cute!

I am always looking for pattern testers, let me know if your interested. (including for the first three to be released.)

Finished the gusseted hood sample. Mina finally gets her Three Little Pigs hoodie.

It turned out ok, it fits. Thinking I may tweak it to be a bit bigger yet. We'll see after I try the other hood. I may have lost a bit of hight with the way I finished the neck. It looks nice but I used a little more seam allowance then I added.

This hoodie is the Monogram Hoodie but with different pockets. I think she likes it; she was playing with it after I took it off.

Almost finished the pattern for the Sunrise Hoodie. I'm just finishing the hood, adding darts and seam allowance. If all goes well I hope to be able to take the pattern to Kinko's to have it and the new children's hoods (Monogram Hoodie) printed this week. (Hopefully tomorrow.) I am looking forward to getting this sample made becuse 1- I need a new hoodie and 2 - the pattern has changed a lot more then I expected it to.

 

I am in need of a new hoodie as well and have been for a while. My current one I picked out while pregnant and not surprisingly it doesn't fit well.  Problem is I can't seem to find one I like in stores. It doesn't help that I keep comparing everything I find to my favourite hoodie that I had to retire due to being worn out. Luckily for me it is one I made. 

So without further ado, the next pattern i'm working on for release is BWJ01 - Sunrise Hoodie. Inspired by a 1929 Buttrick pattern book this is a long fitted women's hoodie with circular details on the front and pleating in the hood. 

The original Sunrise Hoodie, August 2007. The 2011 version will be slightly modified; shorter sleeve cap and changes to the hood.

Working in the changes to the hood draft for the Monogram Hoodie. To correct the fit issues with the original draft I'm adding a gusset. Since I wasn't wanting the Monogram Hoodie to have a gusseted hood I'm also making changes for a non-gusset version. (I'll save to gusset version for another time).

Working on the hood has been interesting for me as I have perviously only drafted adult sized hoods and not many of them at that. The method I have for children sized hoods are not for the styles I was looking for so I am merging the adult and children's meathods to get the styles I want. Needless to say it is taking a little experimentation. I have 2 more hoodies cut so I will be trying my new hoods out on them.