Yes, she has arrived, and you can buy our latest pattern here! This is one of the designs that people have been absolutely clamouring for on social media ever since the sneak peek I shared a while back, so needless to say I'm VERY excited to finally share it with you all, and just in time for Christmas!! Hey speedy sewers, who is thinking they can make theirs in time for the holiday season??
Let's chat about the details! Valerie is a raglan-sleeved dress designed for wovens. It has a fitted, darted bodice. It features two sleeve views and an A-line skirt with darts in the back. You'll learn how to sew a tailored raglan (yes, it has a shoulder dart!), slash pockets (yes, they are nice and roomy), and a cuff with bound placket.
I'm really pleased with the way the diagonal design lines all play together with this design. The diagonal raglan sleeve, the slanted bust darts, and the slash pockets all complement each other! I am looking forward to playing with piping and top stitching! And I can't wait to share some clever tester versions where they used the design lines to great effect.
The two sleeve options give Valerie trans-seasonal appeal - I've made versions in both lightweight wool crepe (great for the long sleeve view), and will be making the flounce view up in cotton chambray (keep your eyes peeled for more makes coming soon!). Some of my favourite tester versions are gorgeous drapey rayons! The main thing you want to look for are fabrics with drape - stiff fabrics will not play well with gathers or flounces.
As usual, a huge amount of work has gone into making the fully-illustrated instructions the best they can be! This pattern is rated as "intermediate" skill level, but an advanced beginner will find everything they need to grow their confidence. Each instruction is accompanied by a clear illustration. There are a few techniques in here you'll love. My favourite is always the ingenious way of finishing the facing around the zip - no hand-stitching required. This is the fashion industry way of finishing a zip facing and it is simply the best! Once you've tried it you'll never go back. And of course, you'll learn how to sew a tailored raglan sleeve, and wonderful slash pockets (so satisfying to sew, and they look great!!).
You can buy Valerie here today, and look forward to more as we share inspiration from our testers, as well as some exciting tips, tutorials, and hacks!
The Clementine dress and top now has a full bust option, giving you more versatility with your fit, and giving a wider range of people the option to make Clementine!
Clementine was the first pattern we ever released (aww!). It's really nice to provide ongoing support and updates for our patterns.
Check out our in-depth video on sewing an invisible zip! This tutorial was created as part of the extra content for the Ella skirt, which you can buy here. But naturally, you can use this tutorial for any pattern which uses an invisible zip!
I have been developing my invisible zip technique for years, and have tried every way of sewing them! I have combined all the things I've learned along the way into my own ultimate method. I absolutely love this pinless way of sewing. And if it scares you to sew without pins, don't worry, I have some handling tips, and even some examples that show you what not to do. If you still prefer to use pins, of course that's okay too! Sewing is all about doing it the way that makes you happy.
