Pattern Review

I mentioned on my facebook site Trims So Sweet (www.facebook.com/TrimsSoSweet) that I was making my next project a 5Berries pattern. So I thought I would do a review and share with everyone who would like to have a crack but is unsure of things like difficulty, sizing, processes, and hints and tips I use to make things easier for myself.

So the pattern I worked with is the Amelia Peasant Dress by 5berries and can be found at http://5berriessewingpatterns.com/product/a-amelia-copy-pattern/ if you would like to have a crack at it. You get sizes 18 months all the way to 12 years which is rare in most patterns as you usually don't get a wide variety of sizes. So thats a plus.

Now to explain for those beginners out their that this pattern is purchased then emailed to you to be printed out and put together before you can use it. Having 25, yes 25! pages to the pattern pieces alone this one was one of the biggest I have tried so far. My tip if you have an iPad or can work near a computer is to print out just the pattern pieces and use electronic sources to read the pattern. Otherwise it can be quite a hit on your ink supply.

Once I had printed out the pices it took me an hour to put them together and tape up so they were secure. Each page is numbered on several sides to ensure you match it up with the right joining piece. I only had an issue with one area at the bottom of the back of the dress where it didn't seem to match up but was easily overcome using common sense. You also get a photo of how it all joins up for reference.

So construction of the dress is easy as. You essentially have four pieces, so you really can't go wrong. You get step by step photo guides for construction but I think it could have used a better written guide. Given this pattern is labelled beginner I think more details was needed like explaining that you can use an overlocker to finishes the edges or an alternative is to use a zig zag stitch along the raw edge of the material. Instead they have "finish them with overlock or zig zag".

Once the main component of the dress construction is complete and you have to put on the finishing touches to the wrists and neckline. I generally like to double fold to you don't see any stitching but I followed the instructions and it actually meant it was less time consuming and less fiddley and doesn't look too bad. I did leave out the top stitching as I was being lazy and I didn't think it was neccessary to get the desired look.

Ruffles. I hate ruffles! Well I like the look but hate the work to get them looking nice. First of all don't let the pattern pieces confuse you as you have to take notice of the sizing written on the piece and not the piece itself as you won't have enough. I used to hand thread and pull ruffles but I strongly suggest using the longest stright stitch on your machine and setting it at the longest length then pulling it until you get the desired ruffles.

The belt is optional and you don't actually have to make it for the dress to be finished. Or you could make multiple ones in different coordinating colours to get different looks. I went a bit longer in my measurements only by mistake but it did turn out lovely as it hangs the length of the dress now. Once I had it on my model/tester, Miss G, I didn't like the belt slipping down as I wanted it to sit higher than her waist. So I added two belt loops under the arms and in the same material as the dress to it can be worn without the belt too.

Overall opinion: Please remember this is my opinion and I have been sewing for 11years.

This is a great pattern and I am already planning the next dress to make. It leaves a lot of flexibility in being able to incorporate your own sewing techniques which is great. I did get this pattern on sale and think it is great value, just needs to be reworked so that the instructions and pattern pieces are a bit nicer to my printer. All in all am recommending this to anyone that wants to try out a full dress, plus it has options for a short sleeve. So great for summer or winter.



If you have any technique questions I am happy to answer, or would like to purchase a custom made dress in the Amelia Peasant Dress style, just contact me on trimssosweet@bigpond.com or at my facebook page www.facebook.com/TrimsSoSweet.

Method of madness

Firstly I would like to state my least favourite job to do around the house it the laundry, I will avoid it if I feel I can get away with it but it is always waiting for me. Unless my dear husband decides he will help (that term is used very lightly).

So I hate how my husband hangs clothes on the line, folds them, and in general when he touches my laundry pile. Now don't get me wrong I do apprieciate the help, but, and there is a big BUT, it just seems his helping creates more work for me.

I have a method of madness when it comes to my washing pile. Firstly I separate whites, towels, and linens from my colours. He puts in anything he can get his hands on. Next I always soak my whites, as I have messy children. He chucks them in without even a spritz of stain remover.

I always hang my washing in groups (of who they belong to) making sure darks are hung inside out (to avoid fading) and they are all straight so they dry evenly. He hangs them as he picks them up out of the basket and randomly around the whole clothes line.

When getting them off the line I fold as I go and since I have already grouped them they go straight into the draws and cupboards as I walk through the house. He will grab them off the line when one item is dry, chuck them into the basket and put it someplace out of the way.

All his "help" results in me not knowing where the clothes are, having creased clothes from sitting in a basket for several days, some of the clothes are still damp from not being straightened before hanging on the line, whites still have stains, towels and washers are randomly found, and I have to spend more time resorting, rewashing, rehanging, and folding. Making things so much more time consuming then they need to be.

There are other things that my husband does that get on my nerves but this tops the list. What does your husband/partner do that peeves you to the max?

Customer Satisfaction

Whenever I create something unique for a client I am constantly second guessing whether what I have come up with, based on their vision, is going to be good enough.

As I'm cutting fabric up, pinning in place, sewing seams, adding trims and making those final touch ups I am all the while thinking, OMG they are going to get this and then contact me saying what the hell is this that you sent me.

Even as I am placing that parcel in the mail box I am secretly wishing maybe it will magically transform while in transit or get lost and the client will forget they even ordered it. All from that fear that trying my hardest isn't going to be what they want.

I am by no means a perfectionist, in that I require every stitch to be perfectly aligned or every loose thread trimed. I hold my work to a very high standard so I make sure I don't rush through an item and that I take the time to get things right.

But who out there doesn't secretly want people to love the hard work they have done to create something specifically to their requirements? My hands up!

Even though this creating processes I have is plagued with second guessing, the moment I hear "wow, my item arrived today and I love it", I take a long breathe and reassure myself that I can continue to make great things and send them out into the world.

Please share what goes through your head while creating your clients items.