(To the melody of Let it Snow) “Let me sew! Let me sew! Let me sew!”

I have my favorite mug from Joann’s Fabric that says the above, filled with piping hot tea or coffee every morning and through the day as I start on my sewing for Christmas gifts.  Luckily my relatives don’t read this blog so I think I’m safe.  Spoiler alert for Grandma and Siena!

This is the perfect example of how you can use PatternFile to inspire you for gifts for friends and relatives.  Think of the tag fuction like the Amazon.com gift list.  When you log a pattern in Pattern File, in the tag field,  just type a persons name whom you think the project might make a perfect gift for in the future.  Later, when you want to make that thoughtful special thing for a dear friend or relative, just type their name and all the patterns that you tagged their name will appear.

In the case with Grandma, I knew I wanted to make a vest so I searched the term “vests.” All the vests I own appeared in the results.  Scanning through my collection on my screen, I realized I neither had a vest in her size nor in the the style I wanted to make for her.  So off the Joanns I went to get the perfect pattern for her.  I chose See & Sew B445.  Now that I have it in my collection, I typed “grandma” in the tag field when entering the pattern and saved.  This way if I want to make another vest for her, I can just search “grandma” and this pattern will appear in the results.

For my niece Siena, I totally did an impulse buy of material.  I saw the cutest “woodland creature” corduroy material in which I plan to make a dress for her.  I’ve been grabbing any toddler pattern I think is cute and adding it to my collection these days.  As I searched “Siena”  and scrolled through the results M5416 caught my eye of the right design for what I had in mind.  I will be making view D but I might embellish it with the ribbon in view F and still going back and forth if I want to add the pockets that are in view C and G.

McCall's M5904 View B

My niece is turning three this weekend.  Aunt Liz has been a little busy but is still determined to get a personally crafted gift in the mail by Wednesday.  What to make…hello PatternFile!  It’s weird.  Usually I am doing costumes.  Which means I use PatternFile to look up design that I will use in mixing pieces from different patterns to make something close to what I had in mind.  This time, it’s just a simple dress I’m looking for.  However, I do admit, I’m tempted to make her a fairy costume as she loves playing dress up.  Plus,  Halloween is just around the corner!  Oh heck, so I typed in Siena to pull up all of the patterns I have been collecting for my niece.

I chose View B of M5904  Here we go!

Look! I even cut my hair!

PatternFilers!  I’ve missed you.  Where was I the last three months?  I was buried deep in patterns, material, costumes and planning for a huge Labor Day event with the Live Action Role Playing Game called Dying Kingdoms.  It was an amazing event.  Approximately one hundred and forty people came to participate for four days.  Fifty of those participants were cast members who needed costumes for several characters.  It was almost like being the head of the wardrobe department on a movie set.

But that’s all over now.  I’m back and ready for some PatternFile action.  A lot has happened since I’ve been gone.  It seems the mobile app is near completion.  Of course we are all on pins and needles with anticipation for the release of the mobile app.

It’s good to be back.  My poor collection loos like a storm ran through it.  Stacks of patterns are out of their boxes.  I’ve purchased quite a few new patterns.  Those need to be logged.  But clean up and new logging should be a breeze with PatternFile.

Simplicity 2172

This is a continuation of the journey through the high seas of pattern searching and modding for the perfect pirate bridesmaid costume for my friend’s wedding. I’m glad I waited a bit. Simplicity came out with sewing pattern 2172. I plan to do the corset and coat with pants from Butterick 4807 View B. I’m going to add pirate cuffs to the coat pattern. What I’m debating right now is if I should make the sleeves detachable.

I just spent the last few days spring cleaning. This always brings me back to the dream sewing room/space. I’m always trolling blogs and sites for ideas. This morning I found this post on The Blue Gardenia

I just stumbled upon a great little sewing blog called Sew and Grow.  Readers can not only find great sewing tips and pattern reviews but also sewing machine reviews.  I’m looking forward to reading through the archives of this blog over a cup of jasmine tea with honey.