Frances Suzanne | Sewing with Sisters

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

A Continuation: Flip this Pattern {!!!}

Patterns first, shall we? Selecting twelve patterns (one per month) was absolutely heart-wrenching! We took into account various seasons, gender-based, cottons vs. knits, and the potential for “flipping”….and when it was all said and done, here is the "Flip this Pattern" line-up for the year.

We combined large companies with small companies; established ones with ones just beginning pattern sales; etsy shops - several PDF patterns, and others with paper patterns only. Many of these patterns we haven't even sewn before {okay....truth be told: some we don't own....yet...}. All the patterns, though, hold a common thread - ones we felt had endless possibilities for flipping!

And, WOW, what an amazing response received from these companies!! Many have provided their feature month's guest bloggers a complimentary pattern, and are planning some pretty awesome discounts and prizes for YOU during their scheduled month....just saying.

But, wait.....what about the guest bloggers??? Oh, brace yourself.... Are you ready? Sitting down for this??

Speechless, huh?? We were too...as the pieces to the series began to fall into place. Phenomenal was the word that kept coming to mind!! These fabulous bloggers are ready to knock your socks off with their 'flipped' creations. And, YES - the smack-talking between some has fully commenced!

So, don't twiddle your thumbs....crank up those sewing machines, and get to sewing! Heidi's Bubble Pocket Shorts from E&E Patterns is kicking off the series on June 5. And, yes - there will be some pretty exciting announcements regarding June's feature pattern in the weeks to come!!

*Please note: creations sewn within the past six months may be linked and contributed to the monthly sew-along linky parties. These do not have to be completed within the month of the feature pattern.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Introducing: Flip this Pattern {!!!}

Today is the day we've been thrilled to share with you for quite some time....Okay, seriously.....like waiting on the edge of our seats excited!!

It's our first sewing series to host, and we think it is going to be fantastic!!

The “Flip This Pattern” series is a YEAR-LONG SEWING EVENT, running from June 2013 – May 2014! It consists of twelve “flipped patterns,” sew-along linky parties for each one, and some fun prizes along the way….

Why “Flip This Pattern?” It is a loose spin-off on the television series, Flip this House (although unlike the show, each of the chosen patterns is a WONDERFUL, stand-alone pattern). We are dependent on patterns, and love to add details / special features to make outfits more ‘ours’ along the way. We are always intrigued by the way others use a given pattern and create their own ‘take’ to it! “Flipping” can be as simple as fabric selection/s, or as complex as adding various ‘details’ to an outfit. Think of it as “icing on the cake” – making something good, even better!

Three to four guest bloggers will ‘flip' the chosen pattern as the month progresses. Everyone is invited to participate in a monthly sew-along linky party….specifically set up for the 'flipped' pattern of that month.

What will the run-down of a given month look like? Here is a generic ‘flow of events….’

MYSTERY PATTERN ONE: ?????? {is the suspense killing you???}

Final week of the preceding month: discount codes available for the flipped pattern, giveaways of the pattern, and prizes announced for the guest contributor and sew-along winner
{*offers and prizes will vary each month....}

First Wednesday of the month: sew-along linky party opens

Following 3-4 Thursdays (depending on the calendar): guest contributors share a 'flipped version' of the given pattern

Friday (following the final guest contributor's flipped version): public voting of the guest contributors' creations; sew-along linky party closes

Sunday: public voting ends

Final Tuesday of the month: Winners announced

**And the cycle continues with the next month's pattern!

And, since we are such the tease, come back tomorrow to see both the patterns revealed, as well as the phenomenal line-up of "Guest Contributors / Competitors / Flippers" waiting in the wings. And, yes, for the record: there may or may not have already been a little smack-talking going on behind the scenes with some of these ladies.....

Grab a button....and let the countdown to the showdown begin!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Knock It Off {Elegance and Elephants}: Floral Bias Skirt

gifted pattern: Mini Boden Knock Off || FrancesSuzanne for Elegance and Elephants Knock it Off Series

Who doesn't love a little Mini-Boden?? Any heart palpatations when you receive that little catalog in the mail??

For Heidi's spring "Knock It Off" series over at Elegance and Elephants, we opted to take a mini-Boden design {the Embellished Summer Skirt}, and knock it off for a fraction of the price.

Ready?? On your marks, get set. . .let's knock it off!

Materials you will need:

Finished skirt length + 1.5" main fabric (for instance if your finished skirt length is 16.5", you will need 18" of fabric or 1/2 yard) *And by all means if you want to LITERALLY knock it off, choose colors similar to mini-Bodens and knock yourself out!

1/2 yard of contrasting fabric for flower design

1 package of bias tape (we used extra wide double bias strips)

3/4" elastic (length should be the child's waist measurement minus 1")

Matching thread

Stiff bristle hairbrush

1) Cut skirt fabric, 1.5" longer than the finished length (the additional length will be used for the waistband). The width of the skirt will go selvage to selvage.

2) Use the floral design (found here). Be sure to print it at 100%, and tape the tiled pages together. The embroidery design is a standard 44" long and may be used on a woman's skirt for that matter!

3) There are several options how the design may be used: embroidery, paint, ribbon/cording, or bias strips like we chose to do. You might consider using a light colored fabric for ease of transferring the design. If you choose a darker fabric, it will be necessary to cut out the design, then trace around the outside edges {as seen in the photo below}.**The idea of using the bias strips originated at Riley Blake {with a few modifications}.

5) To make the strips, fold the fabric on the bias {diagonally}. Pin in place. Start about 1/2" from the fold and sew a straight line, parallel to the fold. The second line needs to be sewn 1/4" away from the first line. Continue on, sewing parallel lines every 1/4". Press.

6) Next, cut between all stitching lines (1/8" on either side). We went the slow, tried and true way - good 'ole scissors, but if you are comfortable operating a rotary cutter, by all means go for it!

7) Initially, I pinned the bias strips down to the traced line, but found that even though I am ~~very~~ extremely addicted to pins, it was easier to manipulate the fabric and sew as I went without pinning (place the stitched line of the bias directly on top of the traced line and sew) . Backstitch at the beginning and the end of each strip.

8) As one bias strip ends, overlap the ends about 1/4 of an inch and proceed until the entire design is covered.

9) After the floral design is attached, use a stiff bristle hairbrush to scrub the thin bias strip design until it frays.

10) Next, for the bottom edge of the skirt, open up the double folded bias strip, stitch right sides, raw edges together.

11) Stitch skirt back seam with the bias tape completely unfolded. Press seam open.

12) Fold the bias tape to cover the raw edge at the bottom of the skirt, as well as the seam allowance, and topstitch to finish the bottom edge of the skirt.

13) Finally, for the waistband casing, press 1/2" to the wrong side of the skirt. Then, fold an additional 1" to the wrong side of the skirt. This will form your casing. At this time, feel free to add a label or piece of ribbon so that the skirt back is easy to identify. Stitch the bottom edge of the casing, leaving about 2" open for inserting elastic. Next, stitch close to the top edge of the band to keep the elastic from curling.

14) Insert your elastic, using safety pins to feed it through the casing. Overlap your elastic about an inch, and stitch a rectangle to secure the ends to one another. Release elastic back into the casing, and then stitch the remaining 2 inches of the casing closed.

15) Congratulations!!! You have just 'knocked it off' for a fraction of the price!

And, as a special treat to the Elegance and Elephants readers, as well as our own. . .a freebie! Simply click here for your very own floral template and this tutorial formatted for printing. Think of it as our gift to you!