Sew Reporter – 27th February

Hey team! Happy Sunday. We’ve been whizzing through February which means we are getting closer and closer to spring – yippee! We’ve become quite taken with waistcoats since we’ve added two styles to the shop and are VERY excited about the upcoming series (and final, boohoo!) of Killing Eve. Other than that, we have been busy topping up the shelves with some of your favourite paper patterns and have added some lovely new styles to the shop.

Have a wonderful Sunday whatever you have planned!


A waistcoat isn’t necessarily a piece I’d given a great deal of thought to adding to my wardrobe until recently… and now I just can’t get the idea out of my head! Waistcoats appear to be having a moment gang! We have added a couple of new waistcoat patterns to the shop and it got me thinking about how to style them.

Then a hugely iconic reference popped into my head – Diane Keaton in the movie Annie Hall. While studying the model shots of the Miller Waistcoat by Merchant and Mills another film character I was utterly obsessed with came into my head – Saoirse Ronan in the latest remake of Little Women. So let’s take a little look at the waistcoats in their wardrobes…

When I saw Little Women at the cinema I walked away so taken with the styling of the film I just couldn’t get it out of my head. Jo March (played by Saoirse Ronan) particularly captured my imagination. There is one scene where she is wearing a tan overcoat with a waistcoat over a white shirt with a neckerchief… I was sold! When I saw the new Merchant and Mills Miller Waistcoat pattern and I couldn’t help but see the Jo March in the styling. It made me see the styling in a modern, everyday way. I love how they’ve paired it with a full skirt (the Shepherd Skirt) and jumper. I want to take these Jo March vibes into my sewing!

Miller Waistcoat by Merchant and Mills

Sizing: UK 6 – 16/18 or UK 18 – 28/30

Format: Paper (coming soon) and PDF

As I said, the first style icon that popped into my head when thinking of waistcoats was Diane Keaton in the film, Annie Hall. I mean, Diane Keaton has incredible style full stop. The Annie Hall look is so effortlessly cool and powerful. Worn with a simple white shirt and wide trousers… it’s utterly iconic. I think you could swap trousers for wide-leg jeans and the tie for a neckerchief for a more relaxed look.

I think the Liliana Vest by Vikisews is a fresh take on a traditional waistcoat. It is designed as a stand-alone piece, so you could layer on top or deepen the armhole of the pattern if you want to layer underneath. It feels like it exudes Annie Hall’s attitude to me! So are you convinced? Will waistcoats make a comeback? We will have to wait and see!

Liliana Vest by Vikisews

Sizing: UK 6 – 14/16

Format: PDF


We are definitely in the need of a little sunshine at the mo, and this gorgeous creation is bringing us cheer! Emily made the ZW Gather Dress by Birgitta Helmersson in this beautiful warm yellow fabric and we adore it. Check out Emily’s blog, Self Assembly Required to read all about making it.


This wonderfully elegant make caught out eye this week! Helen’s little black dress is made using the Givre Dress pattern from Deer and Doe and a wonderful combination of a Ponte knit fabric and black stretch lace. The end result is incredibly chic, we love it Helen!


We are really excited about all the things we’ve added to the shop this week. We have copies of the latest Fibre Mood magazine and a batch of new Fibre Mood PDF patterns if you had your eye on anything from the last issue. We’ve also added some incredible new patterns from Vikisews that are not to be missed!

Do you already have a specific design in mind? Or do you need some help finding the perfect pattern for your fabric? You can search all the patterns in our database using our newly updated sewing-specific search tool.

Women wearing the Civetta Blouse sewing pattern from Opian on The Fold Line. A blouse pattern made in crepe de chine, chiffon or georgette fabrics, featuring a front and back gathered shoulder yolk, round neck, front button closure, ¾ length bell sleeves and cinched in at the waist with a narrow belt.
CIVETTA BLOUSE by OPIAN SIZING – UK 4 – 20 Format – PDF
NUAGE BALLOON SLEEVE SHIRT by CAMIMADE SIZING – UK 8 – 20 Format – PDF
JOY DRESS by MAVEN PATTERNS SIZING – 8 – 18/20 Format – Paper
STELLA COAT by DOVETAILED SIZING – UK 8 – 26 Format – Paper
UNISEX DEAUVILLE SHIRT by ALICE & CO PATTERNS SIZING – chest 85 – 125 cm / 33″ – 49 Format – PDF
CLOVE VEST by CHARLOTTE EMMA PATTERNS SIZING – UK 8 – 22 and UK 20/22 – 36/38 Format – PDF

We’ve been busy restocking paper patterns from your favourite designers. This is just a small selection of our favourites, you can browse them all following the designer’s links below…

TOP ROW:
1. September Coat BROWSE ALL MERCHANT AND MILLS PATTERNS
2. Ibi Dress – BROWSE ALL PAULINE ALICE PATTERNS
3. Page Hoodie – BROWSE ALL CHALK AND NOTCH PATTERNS
4. Nova Dress – BROWSE ALL STYLE ARC PATTERNS

BOTTOM ROW:
1. Freedom Dress – BROWSE ALL WARDROBE BY ME PATTERNS
2. Pearl Cardigan – BROWSE ALL TILLY AND BUTTONS PATTERNS
3. Pietra Pants – BROWSE ALL CLOSET CORE PATTERNS
4. Fisherman’s Smock – BROWSE ALL SEW DIFFERENT PATTERNS


Image courtesy of Simone Rocha

Have you caught up with any of the London Fashion Week shows online? We thought we’d take a look at some of the incredible pieces that were shown at LFW to see if there are any themes we could see translating into DIY dressmakers’ closets in AW22. You can find it on the blog now!


We are counting down the days (and hours!) till Killing Eve is back on our screens. If you are also rewatching the previous series in preparation for the fourth, you might like to rewatch this video where Kate hunts for patterns to recreate some of the looks from the programme!

Killing Eve is back on Monday 28th February on BBC iPlayer and BBC America on Sunday 27th February. You can currently catch up on the other three series on iPlayer.


If you are a fan of recreating looks you find on the high street, catwalk or in TV and films, this challenge is right up your street! Throughout the month of March, Jen and Sharlene are hosting a challenge to #SewRecreateTheLook! They have weekly prompts, prizes and will be sure to share lots of sewing inspiration.

Follow @jenlegg_teescreatives and @sosewdressmaking for all the details of the challenge.


Come and join our sewing Facebook group where we are chatting about sewing plans, new patterns and helping each other out with projects.

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