Fleece, make it in fleece. You can keep your regular size and make it baggy, I went to the largest size and have made it super wintery. Use woven for the interfacing and interface the collar in woven as well. When you make the pocket you line it in woven and then bag it out. You can nix the slit if you choose. I've made it plenty of times now and what I do is use basting thread and get that front and neck facing tacked down, it's one you do in front of the telly and I promise you will get it perfect every time. This is 100% a beginner pattern, don't believe a single soul if they say facings are hard, installing your collar so it's enclosed is so much easier than any other method. What you'll find is people get hung up on facings, basting and zips because they were told it's hard or boring, and will go to incredible lengths to avoid them, and then a few years in when they've discovered ladies like lifting pins and needles on the youtubes they'll baste all the things all the time.

I wanted to make this dress in Autumnal colours. I bought 3 separate metres of a lightweight corduroy hoping that would be enough. It was but only just, I had to join two pieces together. The pattern does call for more but I think you would have more wastage. I joined the fabric using French seams apart from the side seams as there are pockets. The fit is good not too baggy if I make it again I think I would take it in more and add a zip just because I don’t like really loose dresses. I did wear a thin poloneck underneath for adding warmth on a chilly day.
The instructions were good an it is a simple dress to make.

I made this dress to wear to my sister in law's wedding from a gorgeous viscose jacquard satin from Fabric Godmother. as the fabric was so special i made up a wearable toile in some cheaper leopard print viscose i had in my stash. i was amazed at how easy it was to make and how beautifully it came together. the instructions were easy to follow and the end result feels so lovely to wear - elegant yet simple. i made no adjustments to the size 10 and the fit was perfect. it works just as well for a day trip on a summers day with a light shirt/jacket and trainers as it did for a wedding.

My daughter had looked at wedding dresses but there wasn’t anything that came in vaguely in her budget so we decided I’d have a go at making her dress. The various options for sleeve, neck, bodice and skirt made this perfect. In fact I’m going to be using it again for my wedding next year…. 2 for the price of 1. Bargain.

Firstly I should say that I’m not great at following instructions, cutting with precision or using the correct seam allowance. This however was a joy to make, I thoroughly enjoyed the project and love the finished dress. Will definitely be making another and almost certainly a sleeveless pinafore option

The perfect over sized shirt for this season. I made a size XS which tallied with a 33-34” bust. I’m a 34.5” bust. The finished measurement at the bust is 43”, so 9 inches of ease. There's loads more details on my blog but needles to say, the Closet Core instructions are thorough and straight forward.

https://lovelucie.org/2024/10/11/closet-core-jenna-shirt/

I decided to make this for the dressmakers ball. The pattern goes together beautifully and is easy to make adjustments to. The instructions are clear with good photos. The only thing I didn't feel quite happy with was the foam cups, they tended to twist and needed additional securing, which was tricky. May be to do with size and smaller cups may be sufficiently stable just tacked to the lining darts. So much fun!

Bella Loves Patterns Rosie shirt

First of all, the frustration of the previous reviewer who awarded this pattern one star and discarded the project is palpable but, I feel, unfair to Bella. The reviewer is right that the photographed construction is hard to follow. A sample garment could perhaps be made in contrasting colours. There is a sew-along for this pattern on Bella’s own website. (It might have appeared after the reviewer gave up working on the Rosie.)

Bella put up the video explicitly to address the collar construction. She explains that the method is used in coat making and that she employed it to avoid puckers easily produced in some conventional methods. I strongly suggest a toile, viewing Bella’s demonstration which is done without a hitch, and viewing some more coat collar videos. I did all of that and I have made a coat and so I recognised the method although I then made the same mistake in joining the collar seams as I did with the coat!

Cutting, marking and matching needs to be super accurate so, another time, I would cut the pattern in single layers. My final fabric was a very light linen which frayed, and moved, easily.

If I hadn’t seen Bella do if perfectly, I would have said I wasn’t sure that the coat method translates easily to smaller, thinner pattern pieces. By the time I had unpicked the short and narrow corner seams of my linen, there was little left to work with. I did a lot more tacking (basting) than that recommended - which was none. I am not sure that the garment will survive being washed many times before the collar corners fray.

Much of the troublesome area is out of sight so, at the moment, my Rosie shirt does look pretty good. I love the style and have some thoughts of making another and hacking it into a shirt dress.

Picture taken without buttons or holes or hem!

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This is a well designed and executed pattern. Very neat and tidy without raw edges and a bias edge at the neck. I had a strip left after cutting a skirt and was just able to fit the pieces with side stripes across the grain. I have purchased the expansion pack and see more vetiver in my winter wardrobe. I have never been disappointed by French Navy.

The Islares is an interesting project to sew and the finished top is really comfy, but the square neckline makes it a bit different from a normal t-shirt.
The instructions are excellent and have a good level of detail. I thought sewing the square neckline might be a bit tricky, but it was actually fine. It's not as simple as a regular round neckline, but the instructions explain everything very clearly and I didn't have any trouble.
The sizing is good - I made the size recommended for my measurements, and it fits nicely. The top isn't tight-fitting, but it has a nice shape to it, and isn't at all baggy.
I've made a couple of versions for me and one for my mum and they've all turned out nicely.
I'd definitely recommend the pattern!

I was chuffed to bits to receive this pattern as a freebie in The Fold Line 2023 advent adventure. I have only just got round to making my first pullover in a snuggly sweater knit fabric. The pattern is super easy and would be a great one for a beginner - and even easier using a woven fabric. I fully intend to make another in a woven which will give a little more structure to the neckline. I added 2” to the length so I could tuck it in and 3” to the sleeves (I am ver tall!) I noted there were no lengthen/shorten lines included on the pattern pieces which was fine for the body with its straight sides but the sleeves needed to be graded in to incorporate extra length.

This is the 3rd dress version I’ve made and I’ve also made the jumper version. I just love how comfortable and flattering it is and the options that are available with the pattern too although I’ve yet to explore them. I have a desk based job and it’s the perfect comfort level for sitting all day. This pattern works really well with fleece backed jersey and loop backed jersey (as the pink/black/blue version is). I have omitted the pockets as they kept popping out in my first version but would like to try again with them. I have also shortened the hem by a few cm as that is my preference for my stature. The jumper is a great one too although I have a short torso (15.5”) so will shorten for next time. I just love this pattern and will make many many more versions!

Loved making this blouse. I made three of the high neck version, one in cotton, one in a cotton lawn and the final one was made from a discarded embroidered cotton duvet cover. Loved the shape and the sleeves. I don’t like high necklines, so I lowered it a bit. I also downsized it. On her chart I was almost a size 7 but downsized to a 5 and still have plenty of room . I lengthened by 1.5 cm, I, 5’6”. Did the B cup version, no darts. I might make another with the lower neckline, with or without frill…I think the latter can be a bit of faff?

This is my third M&M pattern and I found it true to size and a quick make. I hadn't made anything with a zip guard before but the instructions were easy to follow. I opted for front darts

I used some fabric from my local scrap shop. It wasn't labelled but it feels like a lightweight checked wool linen blend. I'm hoping they will become a staple in my autumn wardrobe

I made this pattern up in an organic pinwale corduroy for the autumn and I am delighted with the dress. The pieces fit together very well giving a satisfying result.
The pattern instructions were very clear and easy to follow with plenty of images. In fact I learnt some new ways of doing a collar, a sleeve placket, and a sleeve cuff that made the process easier. As the shirt element doesn't have a yoke or darts or require fitting, it removes some complications, and it still draped nicely.
I chose to add one single tier to my dress because I had less fabric than the pattern stated and it worked well - I just lenthened the first skirt tier.
This is an impressive pattern with lots of variations and I know it's going to become a favourite of mine for years to come. My head is busy imagining it in a lighter fabric for next summer!