Summer holidays for me!

I'm taking a break/rest over the nearly here Christmas/New year period and heading off for some summer holidays and a well earned break. Both the website and Etsy shop are still open and your orders will still be shipped throughout this time. I won't be around much here on the blog though starting from today  until the 6th January, but  then i will kick off what is going to be an AMAZING year for Bluegingerdoll! I have some fabulous patterns designs ready to be released and they are STUNNERS!  I can't wait to get stuck into 2014 so much cool and exciting stuff. I will though most probably be hanging around a bit on Instagram , Facebook  and Twitter if you feel the need for some Bluegingerdoll love :)

Till then folks i wish you all a very safe and happy Christmas and fabulous New Year! Hope you all get spoilt and enjoy every minute with you family and friends over this festive time :)

Don't forget the Christmas is ON NOW with 20% off all patterns in both shops, so get in quick before it ends tomorrow and take advantage of the awesome discount.


Catch y'all in the New year!


Abby
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Christmas sale extended until 25th of December!

  Good news folks, i have decided to extend the current Christmas sale that is now on until the 25th of December!  20% off ALL PATTERNS on the website AND in the Etsy shop.

All pattern prices have been marked down already with the 20% discount, so there is no coupon code to enter just add your patterns to the cart and purchase. Sale includes all PAPER and PDF patterns as well pattern packs etc.

So grab yourself a bargain and treat yourself to a sewing Christmas present!  Woo yeah!

Enjoy!
Abby
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Star struck Mae....

Here it is the last interview/blog post for 2013 with another talented and super crazy cool sewist from the blogosphere! But its not the last of me folks,  i have some cool stuff still come here on the blog even though we are getting super close to Christmas!Argh exciting :)

Introducing Julie , from her very lovely blog Jolies Bobines. I spied Julie's Mae blouse randomly one day on Instagram and i was blown away by it! The fit of her Mae blouse is absolute perfection and the fabric choice is the cutest i've ever seen :) Oh and how awesome does it look with jeans?! 
 FYI if you are on Instagram you can follow me at Instagram/ bluegingerdoll and if you're not on Instagram i totally recommend you get on there ASAP there is a massive sewing community on there, it's where all the cool kids hang out these day, ha! I also have an inkling that it will become the way for blogging, an instant photo of your just finished sewing project,hell yeah!

Julie was kind enough to answer a few questions about her Mae blouse for me, so read on and enjoy:

What type of fabric did you use? What inspired your choice of fabric?

I used a cotton by a french fabric designer I love "Atelier brunette".

I had some fabric left (I made some clothes when she start the collection). I chose this one

because I wanted to do something retro-modern and with some poetry And have a top to wear every day !

Did your Mae blouse live up to the image you had in your mind?

Yes, I love this pattern ! All the details, collar, sleeves and back buttons. It's exactly what I thought. The first time I saw this pattern was on Paunnet blog, and so I then followed Bluegingerdoll patterns. It was on my pinterest board, and I decide to make it when I saw the pdf version was available. I thought It was a good way to see if I can to make your patterns. I prefer paper patterns. So now I'm ready to do the Billy jean dress

How did you decide to reflect your personal style in the pattern?

 I think the fabric choice is very important and of course how you'll wear it ! With a skirt or trousers, flat shoes or stilettos... So it's not only one piece of clothing,it  is also how you wear it !

Tell us a bit about your making process, any tweaks you made? 

 I loved do the Mae blouse ! I had no problems following the sew along instructions (very good practice when you don't speak english very well ) I especially appreciate the back construction with perfect definitions. 

 What thoughts do you have about the project?

 LOVE!!!

Are you planning any future Mae blouses?

 Yes, of course, maybe a stylish (chic, smart) version with silk or a dress version why not.

Hooray! There is currently a Christmas happening in the shop, 20% off ALL patterns

which includes PAPER & PDF formats, so there's no stopping you from picking up those 

patterns you've been eyeing off! 

Sale ends 22nd December 2013 so get shopping quick smart!

** FYI if you do purchase a paper pattern i will get them in the post ASAP but it is Christmas

time so please expect delays and that it most probably wont make it to you before Christmas

day, so please keep this in mind OR order a PDF version of the pattern and receive ASAP in

your inbox :)

Abby

xxx

Billie Jean is NOW available as a PDF PATTERN!

Good news peoples! 

  The Billie Jean dress is NOW available as a downloadable PDF pattern! It's awesome to finally have all of the patterns available in pretty paper packaging or easy peasy PDF format for you keen sewists.  I tell ya, you gals LOVE your PDF patterns though, they are being brought and downloaded at the speed of light since they've been released! 

FYI I am still working on a copy shop print out version of each of the patterns, so hang ten on those just for a little bit longer, possibly early in the new year it will be done :)

A little reminder as well of the current  Christmas sale that is on in the shop at the moment! 20% off  all patterns ( paper & PDF) are included in the sale, as well the newly created  Billie Jean PDF pattern .  

Sale ends 22nd of December Head on over to he e WEBSITE or ETSY and pick up a bargain while you can!!!

Enjoy!
Abby
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A little Christmas sale...For the rest of the week!

It's nearly Christmas so i'm thinking there couldn't be a better time then to have a sale! 

 Now until the 22nd of December there is  20% off ALL PATTERNS on the website.

All pattern prices have been marked down already with the 20% discount, so there is no coupon code to enter just add your patterns to the cart and purchase. Sale includes all PAPER and PDF patterns as well pattern packs etc.

So grab yourself a bargain and treat yourself to a sewing Christmas present!  Woo yeah!

Enjoy!
Abby
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Mae blouse class at The Handmakers Factory!

Calling all sewists here in Melbourne!

I am totally stoked to tell you all  that in the fast approaching new year ( how scary is that?!)  i will be teaching a sewing class at the awesome  Handmakers factory here in old Melbourne town.  I will be teaching you how to sew up your very own gorgeous Mae blouse , which i might add has been the  most popular sewing pattern out of the lot since its release! 

'Mae is a romantic 1940's inspired blouse. Featuring a flattering scalloped front neckline design, kimono sleeves and fitted front and back waist darts for a flattering feminine figure. A button down back finishes off this lovely blouse. Mae is able to be worn tucked in or out and is ready to take you from day to night. A versatile and easily adaptable blouse that is wearable in all seasons and suits a variety of different fabrics.' 

I have been super  excited planning the class with the lovely Nichola from the Handmakers factory and we have cooked up a class that will be a ball! The sewing class will be a two day event spanning from 10am-4pm on  1st March  and  2nd March 2014. Two glorious days filled with sewing  and hanging out with me ( I promise I'm fun!) in The Handmakers Factory fancy studio! Not only that, you will leave the class with your  sewn by you Mae blouse that you will be  proud of, fits perfectly and will totally  make all your friends jealous, ha!  You will also have all the sewing, fitting/pattern alterations understanding and  skills to keep on sewing Mae blouse's till your sewing machine explodes once you get home! 

The Mae blouse is the perfect beginners pattern to sew  as well as looking amazingly gorgeous, just check out all these divine Mae blouse's below for some inspiration, as well  as a   whole bunch more on the Flickr group.

In this class you will learn the following, which will be split over the 2 days:

-How to trace your pattern from the pattern sheet

-How to take your own measurements and choose the appropriate size ( And complete a FBA/SBA if needed)

-How to make a muslin

-How to lay out your pattern and cut your fabric

-How to sew your garment together

-How to create and sew the perfect scalloped neckline

-How to insert buttonholes on your machine

-How to hand stitch buttons onto your blouse

-Hem the blouse

Participants will need to bring the following on the 2 days:

-The Mae blouse sewing pattern*

-Sewing machine 

-You can bring an overlocker if you like although we do have a couple in the studio

-Sewing tools (i.e. pins, scissors, thread, chalk, quick-un-pick etc)

-Fabric and matching thread for the project, as per the pattern instructions

-Calico or a cheaper fabric similar to the actual main fabric you'll be using. This is for your muslin.

-Tracing paper, pencil and ruler

-Lunch

A cutting out table, space for sewing machines and an ironing board plus iron are all provided in the studio.

*Pick up a copy of the Mae pattern  either PAPER or PDF version on the website or you can purchase a copy of the paper pattern at the class on the day. 

 So quick sticks, places are limited so book your spot ASAP people. This Mae sewing class  is going to be the place to be on the 1st and 2nd of  March 2014! You can find out all the finer details, HERE as well book in your spot.

***Just a quick FYI about sewing skill level for the class. You must be somewhat confident and have some  recent experience using a sewing machine to attend this class.

I am so excited to be teaching this pattern in a real person class and hopefully meeting a few of you face to face, so i hope you can join me!


Abby
x

A perfect Miss Peggy x 2...

Wowee have i got a gem of post  for you today! A little inspiration  to warm your already over excited sewing heart... 

Introducing Mary, from her blog Idle Fancy. Mary was my very first  customer to buy the Peggy skirt. I'm talking pressing that purchase button within a nano second of me releasing the pattern to the world! This initial sale made me relax a little and validated the fact  that the Peggy skirt pattern was most probably going to do OK out there in the sewing world, at least someone liked the pattern!  So massive thanks Mary :)

I asked Mary to give me low down on her 2 fab Peggy skirts, which are sewn up in cotton poplin and a gorgeous wool blend fabric. Not only Mary stitched up 2 amazeballs Peggy skirts, she  has also gone and done a really in depth review of the Peggy skirt pattern, i mean she has skinned it clean, opened it up for all to see, straight from the horses mouth, straight shooter stuff.. you get the drift. And an FYI,  this review of the pattern is totally ALL Mary's opinion, nothing to do with me. I just think giving you peeps a heads up about a reviews of  Bluegingerdoll patterns that are out there,  is a great way for all who are sitting on the fence about the Peggy skirt pattern or any other Bluegingerdoll patterns so you can get a review from another sewist just like you, not me the pattern designer who albeit tries really hard to be transparent and very open with all my patterns, but obviously  in the end i guess i am always going to be slightly bias about them... cause i think they're all cool as shit! Hahaha :)

OK enough from me, take it away Mary!

What type of fabric did you use? What inspired your choice of fabric?

For my first Peggy, I used a red cotton poplin with white pin dots. Because of the classic, retro look of the Peggy, I really wanted to use a fabric that fit the vibe of the pattern. Luckily, I had just enough of these tiny dots left over from a wearable dress muslin to make  out a Peggy. 

Did your  Peggy skirt   live up to the image you had in your mind?

It was even better! With high-waisted skirts, I get a little nervous about how they'll sit over my hips, but the finished Peggy fits beautifully. I absolutely love how the pocket design turned out and the waist placement is so flattering. Best skirt ever! 

How did you decide to reflect your personal style in the pattern?

Most of my wardrobe is made up of modern takes on retro styles and this Peggy fits in perfectly with that aesthetic. The pin dots are a more subtle take on the classic polka dot, which I love, and the design itself pairs wonderfully with my winter uniform of tights & boots. Even better, with heels and a fitted sweater it will dress up perfectly for a little retro flair at upcoming holiday parties! 

What thoughts do you have about the project? 

The Peggy skirt is, hands down, my new favourite skirt pattern. It's such a versatile piece, easily skewing either casual or dressy, depending on what fabric is used, and has such thoughtful design details. The pockets seem simple, but they add just the right amount of visual interest to the skirt front. Honestly, I can't rave enough about this pattern! I'm in love. 

Tell us a bit about your making process, any tweaks you made? 

For the most part, I followed Abby's instructions and process to a tee, taking just a few small adjustments here or there. Fit wise, I took in the waistband by about three inches, to compensate for my exaggerated hourglass figure, then took a very large hem (five inches!) to make the Peggy stop just at my knees. The only other thing I did was omit the adorable waistband tabs, because I was sadly pressed for time. 

Are you planning any future Peggy skirts?

Yes, definitely! I actually just finished my second one, made up in a black, cream, & pink wool plaid, and am already plotting a lip-shaped waistband version to sew up this weekend. Since she's such a versatile, comfortable skirt pattern, I probably won't stop making Peggy' any time soon!

Now go and read more about Mary's Peggy skirt addiction on her blog and her review of the Peggy skirt and all the over cool stuff she has sewn up. Before you go though,  check out a few more eye candy pics below of the Peggy skirts  from Mary's blog. Remember if you have stitched up a Bluegingerdoll pattern then get in touch and share it with us!

Also the Peggy skirt is NOW is also available as a PDF pattern as well as the paper pattern, so there is no excuse for not grabbing a copy for yourself! Grab it here, all you fence sitters :)

Abby

xx

The Peggy skirt is now available as a PDF!

Woohoo i've got some awesome news!  The Peggy skirt is NOW available as an easy peasy downloadable PDF pattern, alongside the  MAE and Stella PDF patterns. They're all  are available  at a super reasonable wallet friendly price which is an added bonus as well as being ready immediately for download so you can get sewing straight away.  I am still working on a copy shop print out version of each of the patterns as well converting the Billie Jean pattern to a PDF, so hang ten on those just for a little bit longer :)

Head on over to the WEBSITE or ETSY and download your Peggy skirt PDF pattern and  even pick up a copy of the MAE & STELLA PDF patterns as well, while you're there :) 

For the peeps that aren't into PDF patterns all the patterns are still ( and always will be) available as pretty paper patterns. 

Stay tuned folks i have some awesome surprises coming up before the year is out!

Enjoy!
Abby
x

Billie Jean bombshell

I love absolutely love seeing all your Bluegingerdoll creations out there in the wild, but even more i love sharing them here on the blog. So guess what here is another spectacular creation.

The lovely Sandra, blog Sewist Stitch  has gone and stitched up a bombshell Billie Jean wiggle dress that looks absolutely AMAZING on her! And the fabric is sooo pretty i would love to get my hands on some!

Sandra being the cool gal that she is, has also taken the time to answer a few questions about sewing up her Billie Jean dress, so take it away Sandra....

What type of fabric did you use? What inspired your choice of fabric?

I chose a bold floral cotton sateen.  I'm not usual a floral girl, but the colours and the large print just drew me in.  I chose a cotton voile for the lining so it wouldn't get all hot and sticky during summer.

Did your  Billie Jean dress  live up to the image you had in your mind?

The dress is way better than I imagined it to be.  For ages I had been sitting on the fence about buying this pattern because of the off the shoulder straps and I'm not a huge fan of the strapless bra.   Then I read a comment on a blog somewhere that suggested a bra stay on the shoulders would still allow the Billie Jean dress to be worn for a normal bra without having to worry about falling straps.  The bodice the of dress is much much much better than I imaged it to be.

Tell us a bit about your making process, any tweaks you made? 

I made a muslin first which is where I made some adjustments to the front princess seam.  I had to adjust the curve of the side front to fit the location and size of my boobs.  I also lengthen the bodice, which is something that I have to do 99% of the time anyway.

I really love how the front bodice is attached to the front skirt, the back bodice pieces are attached to the back skirt pieces and THEN the side seams are sewn.  This order of constructions allows you to line up the darts in the skirt with the princess seams in the bodice perfectly.  It also allows for minor fit adjustments to be made at the side seams, although in saying that I probably could have nipped in the waist another 1/2" on this dress.  This means that all the construction is sewn in the flat - gotta love that :)

I did consider shortening the skirt to knee length, but then decided not to and kept the original pattern length.  I'm so glad I made that decision, as I think the length of the skirt is part of the charm of the dress.

 What thoughts do you have about the project?

I really like the fit of the Billie Jean.  Whilst it is a 'wiggle' dress it is so easy and comfortable to wear.  In no way do I feel restricted (other than slightly changing the way I get in and out of the car!).  If you were looking for a little bit more freedom in the skirt it would be easy enough to lift the back vent up a little.

Are you planning any future Billie Jean dresses?

I am about half way through my second Billie Jean.  My second is a formal dress constructed with couture techniques.  I hadn't planned on making a second so quickly but the need of a formal dress arose and it was a real no-brainer that I paired Billie Jean with some fabric that had been in my stash for years.  More on that one soon.

Check out Sandra's blog, Sewist Stitch for all the details as well as all her other awesome sewing creations!

 Remember also  if you have sewn up a Bluegingerdoll pattern then get in contact and share it with us all or simply upload it to the Flickr group.

Abby
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