Betsy & Ava Fabric Inspiration

If the Ava and Betsy blog tour wasn't enough inspiration for you, then today I'll be pushing you over the edge with some choice fabric selections. Is there anything more fun than project planning through fabric shopping? I submit that there is not.  So let's discuss what types of fabrics will work with each pattern and drool over some pretty swatches.

The Ava kimono jacket can be made with both light-weight and medium-fabrics.  A light-weight fabric will drape more and sit closer to the body.  In comparison, a medium-weight fabric will stand away from the body, creating a fuller silhouette. What ever weight fabric you choose, I suggest selecting one that have a decent amount of drape for best results.  This allows the fullness of the style to hang in a pleasing manner, rather than making you look like a line baker.  So save your coatings and stiff brocades for more fitted jacket pattern. For Ava we suggest....

Cotton Lawn/Voile/Chambray - Light and lovely, these fabrics would make the perfect jacket to take the chill off on a cool morning.

Source - Emmaonesock

Source - Sawyer Brook Fabrics

Silk Crepe de chine/Silk Charmeuse - For a truly luxurious jacket for lounging around in bed while someone brings you breakfast.  Or at least pretending that could happen. :)

Source - Marcy Tilton

Source - Gorgeous Fabrics

Linen/Linen Blends -  Also perfect for warmer temperatures, if you want a more rustic look than a cotton fabric.

Source - Hart's Fabric

Source - MarcyTilton

Wool crepe/Flannel - Need a cozy jacket for fall nights or for dealing with that overactive office A/C? Then a wool Ava is the way to go.

Source - Mood Fabrics

Source - Mood Fabrics

The Betsy pencil skirt can be sewn up in a wide variety of fabrics to give it a different look. When choosing a fabric lean towards one that is mid-weight with a stiffer hand. The thicker weight will help the fabric skim over your curves, hiding any of those pesky problem areas.  Betsy can be sewn in both stretch woven and regular woven fabrics, but you should size up for non stretch fabric. I would suggest the following fabrics....

Wool Suiting/Tweeds/Plaids - For skirts that coordinate with business attire or just for keeping you warm in the winter. I want a tarten skirt to pair with sweaters and boots.

Source - Mood Fabrics

Source - Mood Fabrics

Cotton Twill/Sateen/Pique - Sew in either fun prints or solids to see you through warm weather. All you need is a T-shirt and some wedge sandals.

Source - Sawyer Brook Fabrics

Source - Marcy Tilton 

Brocades - Perfect for a fancy night out or weddings. I'd love to have a brocade fitted jacket/skirt suit set in my closet.

Source - B&J Fabrics

Source - Mood Fabrics

Denim - Easy to dress up or down, denim is the ultimate wardrobe basic. Pair with a pussy box blouse and heels for when you want to look put together. For days lounging around pair with a tank top and flip flops.

Source - Emmaonesock

Source - Marcy Tilton

The Betsy & Ava blog tour round up!

For those of you who have been following along with the Betsy & Ava blog tour you would have been treated to some seriously talented gals sewing up these two patterns and rocking them in their fabulous ways. If you missed it I've rounded up them all up in this post! Yay!

The release of Betsy & Ava and also the blog tour of these two patterns coincided with the new size range for Bluegingerdoll patterns, sizes: 4-24. What better peeps to showcase these new sizes than the Curvy Collective. These gorgeous ladies also showcased ( better than i could in a blog post) that if you got curves than you can still totally rock a pencil skirt AND it be sexy and flattering! For me this was the best part.

Just to clarify and also  in case any of you have been wondering,  seeing as this blog tour was bang in the middle of a recent debate floating around the sewing blogosphere.  All these lovely lasses tested either one or both of the patterns (receiving a copy of the final pattern as a thank you/payment) and being the nice folk they are decided of their own free will and no payment to partake in this little blog tour for the patterns. Therefore  the blog tour consists of all their own honest opinions ( good and bad) of the patterns - no arm twisting, payment for glorified opinions ( Bluegingerdoll will never work in this way) grey areas or choosing of clique groups ( for the blog tour/pattern testing have occurred).  In my opinion a/this blog tour is such a cool, fun way to showcase how these patterns on different can be interpreted from another's unique perspective, shown on a range of body types and sizes, a range of fabric types as well as a whole host of others cool reasons which are too many to list.  I think its important to show the patterns in an unadulterated way at arms length from me so there is a clear and honest look at the patterns either as a blog tour or in a pattern review (which are also unpaid) - who wants to listen to me bang on about how cool my patterns are?  Even for me it was so very  interesting to see the patterns transformed in another's hands from its original version. I,  like you  got a lovely surprise each day when i saw each lovely blogger post their take on Betsy and Ava. I found it inspiring. I'm just truly grateful and thankful that such lovely people  exist who are completely 100% willing to help a me  (a stranger to nearly all of them)  out with my little piece of the world by testing my patterns and showcasing them  in new, unique ways and giving me thorough, professor like feedback!

So enjoy the blog tour round up  and you should totally blog stalk all these ladies for their honest take on Betsy & Ava, pretty pics and a lot more sewing goodness! They're sewing inspiration in the flesh.

The pictures say it all - Gorgeous!

Handmade by Heather 

Tanya not only made a gorgeous floral Betsy skirt ( View B) but an entire Bluegingerdoll ensemble with the Betsy skirt ( View C), the Ava jacket and the Mae blouse! This is so seriously divine, i might (will) copy.
Tanya from 

Betsy & Ava go chic/Rock star corporate with Liz. This beats any and all the boring corporate suits I've seen!

Liz from Sewn by Elizabeth

Tracy absolutely rocks a floral Betsy along with a unique ( awesome) take on the Ava jacket.
T from uandmii

Rockin it completely!

Mary from Young, Broke & Fabulous

Knocking it out the park with this super sweet Betsy ( View B)

Mary from Idle Fancy 

A contemporary and chic take on the Ava jacket.

Andrea from Four Square Walls 

Recreating my exact vision with Betsy & Ava in the coolest way! I'm in love with the mustard Ava.
Melissa from Scavenger Hunt Blog

Coming up on the blog are some  tutorials to help you out with sewing the tricky parts of both patterns. An official sew-along won't be taking place for either patterns due to the fact they are pretty simple patterns and i would love to just focus on these tricky parts of sewing them up than an entire sew-along. If you do have a tutorial you would like to see with the patterns please holla and Heather and I can have a tinker and see if we can help out. Remember i'm always around on email if you want to get in contact directly about the patterns :)

I'm off to sew up some of these Betsy & Ava looks for myself! 

Abby

x 

P.S Apologies if any of the 'clarification' sounded harsh - its just my opinion on the whole thang :)

Introducing new patterns: Betsy & Ava ( 10% off + larger sizes!)

Introducing the two new patterns

The Betsy skirt & Ava jacket

Two patterns that combine beauty, glamour and comfort. 
Pair them together or alone either way make a statement in your handmade wardrobe.

The Betsy skirt

'The 'Betsy' pencil skirts have been designed with the hourglass figure in mind to  flatter those curves. A perfect wardrobe staple the Betsy pencil skirts have three design variations to compliment your style.  

View A - A flattering classic pencil skirt  design featuring belt loops and a kick pleat.

View B - A casual  but elegant ' wrap' pencil skirt  with button closure.

View C - The ultimate curve hugging, high waisted 'Pin up' style pencil skirt featuring a shaped front waistline and a sexy 'accordion pleat' on the back of the skirt.

 Betsy is the one pencil skirt sewing pattern you need. '

View A

 

View B

View C

 

The Ava jacket

'Beautiful in its simplicity, the 'Ava'  is a fully lined kimono swing jacket.  Featuring just the right amount of ease for a laid back look  whilst still  looking elegant and glamorous. Featuring a shawl collar with complementary turned up cuffs and hidden pockets along the hem line. Designed with a flattering  flared shape in the back of the jacket, 'Ava' suits a variety of fabrics and is perfect for all seasons. Pair your 'Ava' jacket with a "Betsy' skirt or skinny jeans  and start your day with comfort, elegance and style.'

 Betsy & Ava are available in sizes 4 -24 and all Bluegingerdoll patterns from here on in with also be available in these sizes. I'm working hard to update all the other patterns being available in these larger sizes too, so hang tight on those.

Until Wednesday the 28th of May  receive a 10% discount off  Betsy & Ava. 

Both patterns are available as paper or PDF formats.

GRAB A COPY OF THE PATTERNS HERE

Tutorials and sew-along's will be coming up on the blog  for the patterns as well as some other cool stuff, so stay tuned.

Hope you LOVE the new patterns!

Abby
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