INTRODUCING THE VIOLET DRESS!

Here she is, the gorgeous Violet dress!

'Violet is your essential little knit dress. Its comfortable and stylish as well as quick and easy to sew. Featuring a bodice with multiple yoke detailing on the front and back bodices and a set of subtle and alluring gathers at the bust line. View A features a pencil skirt with 3/4 sleeves, View B features a mini skirt with cap sleeves and View C features a flared, knee length skirt that skims perfectly over the hips.

Mix and match the skirt and sleeve variations to create your very own individual and unique Violet dress, that will match any season and occasion.'

VIEW A
  Hug and flatter those curves with View A.
Featuring a comfortable but fitted pencil skirt with 3/4 sleeves.

VIEW B

Show off those pins with View B. 
Featuring a mini skirt and cap sleeves.

VIEW C 

Feel effortlessly pretty and glamorous  in View C. 
 Featuring a flared, knee length circle skirt that skims perfectly over the hips and long sleeves ( please note: image below depicts 3/4 sleeves).

Not only can you put your individual stamp on Violet by mixing and matching the sleeve and skirt options but you can also get creative with the yoke detailing on the front and back bodices by using contrasting fabrics to highlight them and make Violet your very own.

 View C with contrasting fabric on the front and back yokes.

Its such a comfortable dress to wear and so versatile. Layer it up in the cooler months with tights, boots and cute cardigan or a lighter breathable jersey fabric for the warmer days. 

Designed for a beginner sewer and available in the size range of: 4-24.

Violet is available now as a PDF download only .
Pre-order your paper version of the pattern now, the ship date for these will be 
late November/Early December.

To celebrate the release of Violet please enjoy a 10% discount off 

until the 26/11/2014 midnight (AEST).

 Simply use the the coupon code: VIOLET at the checkout.

Abby

xxx

P.S  A jam packed sew-along will happen in the new year.

Modern, vintage silhouette - The Winifred dress

Hello Gingerdolls,

I was pretty excited last week when Abby emailed me a copy of the new Winifred pattern.  Shirt dresses comprise a large part of my vintage pattern collection, if I see one near my size I grab it.  There's just something about this classic style that I can't get enough of.  Sadly due to needing substantial grading work most of my vintage collection has not been sewn.  But hello, Abby has my back and drafted Winifred. I promise I didn't bribe her or anything, she must be physic.

After getting all my fitting work done, I went to ransack my stash for appropriate fabrics.  While I was swayed by a large scale flora print, in the end this Liberty of London Tana Lawn was the winner.  From far away it just looks like bright streaks of color, but up close it has sky scrapers in between all the streaks.

Colorful and a little modern, a perfect juxtaposition to a vintage silhouette.

Those of you with eagle eyes will be noticing that my Winifred does not exactly match the technical drawing. I confess to being a serial pattern tweaker and made a few changes to suit my personal tastes.

Pattern Tweaks
Smocking -  I've used elastic smocking to gather in the back waist.  This was something I learned from a Gertie Shirtwaist dress pattern and loved how comfortable the finished dress was.  To start a horizontal chalk stitch line was drawn in between the bottom 2 waist notches. I hand wound some elastic thread on a bobbin and put regular thread in the top of the machine.  The stitch length gets set bigger than usual because the elastic will pull and make the stitches small.  I used a stitch length of 3.  Starting and stopping about 1/2" from the seam allowances, I stitched on top of the marked line. Then using my presser foot as a guide, stitched several more parallel lines spaced 1/4" away.  I stitched a little further up the back than the top waist notch making 9 lines of smocking. After all the smocking is stitched, steam it with your iron to make it completely ruche up.

I also left off the belt tabs so that a real belt could be worn with the dress. 

Pockets - I like a full skirt with pockets so I swiped the pocket bags from the Billie Jean dress.  They were inserted in the side seam and 1" below the lower waist area notch. I used the normal steps to insert side seam pockets, sew bags on front and back skirt, then sew up pocket bags with the side seam.

Tucks - Instead of using tuck darts on the front, I sewed in a plan tuck.  My fabric print has a linear nature to it and the straight tuck suited it better.  The tucks are the same length as the tuck dart legs and are sewn in the same location.

Neckline Changes - I made the collar an 1" wider at the front and increased the open part of the neckline by 2.5". I like collars and flashing collar bones. ;)

I hope everyone is excited about Winifred as Abby and I are. 

And don't forget there is 10% discount on  the Winifred pattern until this Sunday! You can pick up your copy here.

 We can't wait to see your makes so remember to add then to the Bluegingerdoll Flickr group after you post them on your blog. 



 Happy Sewing - Heather

The Stella sew-along - Getting started...

It's sew-along time again folks! This time round  we will be sewing up the Stella blouse  together.  

 I hope you're  ready to join me in this sew-along?!

Start & Finish dates:

The sew-along will run for a week and i will posting everyday throughout. It is quite a quick blouse  to sew up so a week is more than enough time to get it done.

Sew-along starts: Tuesday 28th of January

Sew-along finishes:  Sunday 2nd of February

With a sew & tell round up in the following days, the fun part!

Can ya sew?

If you are a newbie on the sewing machine or have been sewing for yonks, then the Stella blouse suits you all. The Stella blouse  is rated as a beginner pattern. We  will be covering both versions of the Stella blouse, View A with sleeves and View B the sleeveless version during the sew-along, and i  will be holding your hand the whole way through. Hopefully you will pick up a few new & neat sewing skills along the way as well.

How this sew-along will roll:

For the week that we shall sew the Stella blouse together  we will follow the below schedule:

Post #1:  Getting started with the Stella blouse, fabric suggestions, sizing,  tracing and cutting.

Post #2: A guest post from Heather on: How to do a FBA and SBA on the Stella bodice.

Post #3: Start to assemble the bodice i.e darts etc.

Post #4:  Inserting the zipper and assembling the pockets.

Post #5: Add the sleeves ( VIEW A) and how to finish off the sleeveless version ( VIEW B).

Post #6: Hem, finishing touches and we're done!




Count me in! What do i need?

* The The Stella blouse pattern
*Fabric - I recommend fabrics such as  Chambray, Cotton & Cotton blends, Linen, Wool & Wool blends but the blouse is versatile enough feel free to experiment with different types of fabric.
* 7'' invisible zipper  to match your fabric.
* Matching thread
* Two 5/8'' cute button
* The usual sewing supplies : Your trusty sewing machine, pins ( lots of them), sharp fabric scissors, an  iron, tracing paper, pens & pencils, measuring tape.

Wanna be social?

Keep in touch with other sew-along participants, post your progress, ask any questions or simply have a gawk on the below social media stuff:

Facebook/Bluegingerdoll

Instagram/bluegingerdoll - Use the Hashtag's  #bluegingerdoll or #stellasewalong to post your progress photos on Instagram.

Twitter/bluegingerdoll  - #bluegingerdoll or #stellasewalong


Flickr.com/bluegingerdoll  - Upload your Stella photos to the Flickr group.

Grab  a button:

If you care  join me... then grab a button for your blog and share the love.

Hope this Stella blouse  sew-along tickles ya fancy, cause it's going to be a good one! 

If you have any questions or what to have something added to the sew-along then yell out!

xxx 

Sweet Stella....

I released the Stella blouse pattern late last year and i'm still totally enamoured with it. I just keep  grabbing for  this pattern whenever i get the chance to sew something for myself. I guess for a few reasons, its so quick to sew up, doesn't take up heaps of fabric so a great stash buster and the fit just feels so right when i wear anyone of my Stella blouses. I need to pat myself on the back with this pattern, its a winner! :) 

 It is such  a great blouse to wear to work in my 9-5 job while adding a tad bit more personality than the usual corporate garb. With this newest Stella blouse i kind of feel like i'm channelling a little bit of Mad Men vibe, ha!






I shortened the sleeves on the View A version of the Stella pattern roughly by about 4'' to make the T-shirt sleeves, which have also come in handy with the summer heat we are having at the moment and i also throw this one on with jeans for a little bit more fancy casual outfit then my usual band t-shirts :)

Instead of using the neckline facings in the pattern i finished off the neckline and sleeve hem with bias binding. 

I paired the Stella blouse with a simple black pencil skirt i made up quite sometime ago, but is still my go to skirt, you can't go wrong with a pencil skirt in my opinion. And some red flats that again i have just rediscovered in my wardrobe after sometime of falling out love with them a few months ago.

This Stella is stitched up in some gingham i had lying around, which i always seem to have laying around :) And there seems to be a theme with gingham with me.

I've worn this Stella blouse to work quite a lot and its so comfy i find because of the form fitting long line  bust darts that run right through the hem line.For busty girls like me it accentuates the figure nicely and the pockets add some cute definition without adding extra bulk to the tum- tum area.

I can't wait to see all your Stella versions popping up over the place! I have a few more versions waiting to show you so hang around for them!

The Stella pattern is now available in paper and PDF format, so treat yourself and grab a copy :)

Abby
x

New year & new pattern......

 HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I hope 2014 makes you want to dance you pants off daily!

 I'm excited to get stuck into 2014 now that i'm back after a lovely 2 weeks off and  awesome Christmas and New year time,  i'm rearing to go!

So to kick off what is going to be a fab new year i'm starting  off 2014 with a brand spanking new pattern!  A very sweet, simple and super comfy singlet pattern design. This pattern  is  the perfect pattern to ease back your sewjo after Festive season goodness :)

So without further ado, may i introduce the:

 SHERRI PATTERN

'A sweet and simple vintage inspired singlet, the Sherri singlet pattern features cute tie shoulder straps and a  relaxed but very flattering  bodice design. Sew yourself a  Sherri singlet for the perfect summer top, lengthen it  into a dress  for the a cute summer dress or beach cover up, or even sew one up as a comfy pyjama top! It is also the perfect pattern to sew up and worn as a layering piece during the colder months. The options are endless with the Sherri singlet pattern!'

 There aren't any darts, zips or buttons on the Sherri pattern, so it makes it an easy sewing project for a newbie to the sewing world or a super quick project for the more experienced sewer. 

The Sherri singlet can be sewn up in just about any kind of fabric for these two pictured a cotton gingham and cotton rayon which is so nice to wear especially on a hot day. It is also a great stash buster.

 The Sherri singlet has been designed to be fitted enough to give definition around the bust
 ( so you ain't wearing a  sack) but also with a sweet almost baby doll design fullness to the bodice.  




The Sherri singlet  can also be lengthened into a dress for the perfect summer dress or beach cover up. I love my Sherri singlets i have lived them all this summer, the best! You can also   change the way you tie up the straps for a different look!

The Sherri singlet will only be available as a PDF and she is ready to be downloaded NOW   in the shop and on  ETSY.

I hope you will love to make Sherri pattern because she is the sweetest pattern going around :) 

PICK UP A COPY OF THE  SHERRI PATTERN HERE

A big thanks to you all for all the support and kind words in 2013, very much appreciated. I hope you can all stick around with me for an even more awesome year  in 2014 for all i have in store with Bluegingerdoll, it's going to be grand!


Abby
x

WIN A COPY OF THE STELLA PATTERN!!

 

 
WIN a copy of the Stella Blouse sewing pattern!!

To celebrate the release of the Stella Blouse pattern, Indie Stitches is giving away a copy to one lucky person. To enter simply 'LIKE' the Indie Stitches Facebook page & then leave a personal message via the Indie Stitches page with the phrase "I love Stella". (Be sure to like the page and not the post) If you have already 'liked' the page don’t worry, you won’t miss out! Just leave the personal message. Entries close at midnight on Monday 25th November. Winner will be announced on Tuesday 26th November.

Good luck!
 
Abby
xx

WIN A COPY OF THE PEGGY SKIRT PATTERN!

One of my favorite things when a new pattern is released is having a little competition to giveaway  a copy to one lucky duck. This time around i have my newest pattern, The Peggy skirt up for grabs!!!

I try and make each competition of little different each time, cause its all about having fun.
 So this time round its photo caption time!! I love these type of comp's, hilarious.

What better photo to use for the competition then the below. Two  gorgeous iconic 50's  sirens in an absolute stinger of a photo.

To enter all you need to do is:

Tell me what you think is going on in this photo by next Friday the 25th AEST by either commenting on this blog post, or on Twitter, or on the Facebook post or on the Instagram pic.

It's simple.. make me laugh my face off with your wit and you win!

Winner will be drawn Sunday 27th and announced here on the blog.

Good luck!

Abby
xxxx