This pattern was well constructed. I am a beginner - and recently bought a serger - so I used that throughout the process. I made this shirt for my teen daughter and she loves the neckline.
Loved making this pattern. Great instructions, easy to follow if you are a beginner. The best bit is the option to customise depending on what pockets you use and where to put them!
I used denim scraps for my first jacket and it won’t be my last!
I made this out of some needlecord, (didn't bother with the tie!) it's a really comfortable dress and love that it has pockets.
I struggled a bit to get the placket straight, but I think that's down to me, rather than the pattern.
This is a dress I shall get a lot of wear out of.
This was such a satisfying make. I used a vintage sheet to make a slip to go under my Scout dress. As with all Merchant & Mills patterns the instructions were clear and the attention to detail made this a beautifully finished garment. Loved that the french seams make a delicate piece seem more sturdy.
I'm thinking of making another in an Indian print to wear as a summer dress.
I loved making this out of stuff from my stash. Tracing the pieces was fun and they all fitted together. And I learned to make tucks although they are facing in, not out. Good opportunity to practise top stitching too.
Really great product. Highly recommended. Great addition to any make!
A fantastic quick sew. Even better because its a free pattern. I downloaded it and printed it at the weekend. Cut out this morning and made up at lunchtime. Super easy and will be a great addition to my spring wardrobe.
Fabric a 1.1m french terry remnant from Clothkits.
I really like the drafting of this pattern and have managed to make a nice dress. However, the instructions are incredibly difficult to follow. They have I think been translated into English and the translation is not great, making it confusing. The diagrams also use a busy floral print so it's hard to see what's happening. If you've made similar patterns before and know what you're doing, I would recommend, otherwise I would probably avoid.
Great labels repurchased them great quality they don’t fray and lots of designs too choose from
Even though it's one of my staples, I didn't know the Remy raglan has a gathered sleeve extension which you can download free at The Fold Line. So you may see another before long. It's a quick and easy pattern with a bias bound neckline, made here with Thai cotton from the Chinese market in Chiang Mai. I cut trousers too and didn't have quite enough length to make the turn ups for the sleeve which isn't a problem.
I have to admit I’m becoming a firm Fibre Mood fan. Oriana is a delight to sew with clear instructions as always. I used a light cotton lawn weight of fabric which holds the voluminous sleeves beautifully- only change I would make next time is to interface the button placket to give better structure it feels a bit flimsy otherwise this pattern and design is a WINNER. Nice work FM. Sorry no photo as yet will try and upload later.
The design for this is lovely and I took quite a while to decide which dungarees looked best, and picked these.
The ‘finished sizes’ chart is way off. It shows the waist being significantly narrower than the hips, which it isn’t. Even so the size I went for, based on the hip measurement, was way too big. I had to take about 15cm out of the width, as well as about 20cm width out of each leg (they are still a baggy fit).
Not only was the sizing wrong but they seem to be designed for someone at least over 6foot. I am 5’3” and expected to have to take a hem up. But I also had to take 8cm off the bib and raise the crotch considerably too.
After pinning to fit me and altering I have a gorgeous pair of dungarees that I love. But I have never had such a problem with pattern sizing before.
Sadly I won’t be using this pattern again and I have been put off atelier Jupe. However, if you are willing to measure every pattern piece, pin and adjust, then they do come out lovely.
It's a lovely pattern with a lot of detail, including proper cuffs with three buttons. I haven't made any notes on the envelope which suggests that it was a straightforward make. Do check the length. I thought I wanted it longer so I added four inches but it didn't suit me so I cut eight off again and I'm 5ft 8.
This was a simple jacket to construct, and it came together relatively quickly. I preferred to fully line this jacket, but would consider making an unlined mid-season or summer version with Hong Kong seams in a lighter weight fabric such as corduroy, linen or denim.
The jacket is comfortable and loose to wear, allowing plenty of room for sweaters and warm winter layers.
I am now planning to make a further jacket for the spring, next time I will go down a size and lengthen it slightly.
This pattern is great for beginners as it is easy to construct, especially if you leave it unlined.
The fabric quantities are fairly generous, and so I was able to make a skirt to wear with the jacket from the left over fabric.
This jacket is versatile, and is great worn casually with jeans, or more formally over a dress or as a suit with matching skirt or trousers, depending on your fabric choice.
You can read more @ Now Falling For The Merchant & Mills Sanda Jacket - Sew Atelier M
I was inspired by the choice of denim patterns in order to do some stash busting. It's a great magazine produced by some interesting people. It was the first time I had traced patterns. I bought Swedish paper and enjoyed the process, finding it mindful and therapeutic.
I made the Carmy jacket out of a variety of scraps and off cuts; added a yoke lining and lined cuffs and collar stand with lighter fabric. I did need to check out seam allowances because they are wider where flat fell seams are involved. Ended up with the sleeves not fitting because of this and had to work around. Then I went and cut through the end of a buttonhole. Never did that before so will have to embellish. Here, it just needs some more top stitching. Have further plans ....
The Pogonip reminds me of the fleece tops my parents had in the late 80s/early 90s. It brings a level of nostalgia that I find very appealing!
I made my Pogonip from double sided quilted cotton which means it's nice and toasty, if my machine objected slightly to the thickness in some parts.
I omitted the pockets because I didn't have enough fabric to mess up welt pockets. For me, the top is just as great without them.
For more details, please see my blog post
http://yorkiemousehouse.home.blog/2025/02/02/pogonip-warmth/
A great pencil style skirt with interesting angled pockets. I decided to emphasise that feature with a change in the direction of the corduroy fabric I used. The instructions were clear , all the parts came together well and i think the pattern is suitable for a beginner.
The Quinn trousers were a longer slower project than other trousers I have made but the results were rewarding. It's all about the pockets and fastenings! There is a lot to get stuck in to and build skills with these trousers. Instructions were good and clear although I could have done with more help or notches or something on placement of front pocket to front leg to make sure the angle and placement was right, but maybe I missed something. I got there in the end and I do like the style. I shortened them a lot at the cutting stage and still had to shorten them a bit more at the end. (I am 5'3"). (picture shows the two types of pockets, front and back, side by side mid make)
This was a fun quick make suitable for beginners and a fun skirt to wear. I opted for the three tier version (with no lining) and shortened the length of each section to reduce the overall length to fit me but keep the proportions.
I really liked the topstiching pocket details on this skirt, and a template is given for it along with clear thorough instructions and tips. I also liked the shaped waistband, although it sits a bit low on my waist and I would need to adjust grading for furture makes. I adjusted for overall length which is a fairly standard adjustment for me (5'3"). The fabric is a lightweight denim but I think it would hang/sit better in a heavier or stiffer denim.
I bought the Abina Top recently because I have been on the hunt for a pattern to dupe a much loved Toast t-shirt. This pattern really fits the bill and I definitely recommend it. It has an interesting shape/style line around the shoulder and the fit has turned out to be the perfect boxy, but not too boxy, silhouette I was looking for. There are lots of great examples on the hastag on IG and it looks like the top makes up well in a range of different stretch fabric. I used a french terry for mine which held the structure without being too stiff. I can definitely see myself making a number of these for the spring and summer in different colours and weights of fabric. I have not given this pattern 5 stars because the instructions are a bit on the sparse side. This may just be me getting the wrong end of the stick, but the instructions for finishing the neckband seemed very bulky to me. I ended up following a knit neckband tutorial from Guthrie and Garnie which worked well. Overall a really nice t -shirt and well worth the battle with the neck band!
