My PDF Shame

This week was the week I checked my long neglected PDF pattern folder. Stay with me please, it's not quite that boring! Now I'll almost always opt for a printed pattern over a PDF version (unless there's no choice of course), so I wasn't expecting to find much. Imagine my surprise when I discovered 25 patterns in there, 25! But the worst thing was that around half of them were completely unused - just purchased in a frenzy and forgotten about forever. I felt especially bad as there are some absolute gems amongst them:

Summer Blouse - Maison Fleur

Anderson Blouse - Sew Over It

Edith Blouse and Dress - Maria Denmark

Maritime Shorts - Grainline

I could go on….

With a paper pattern you have a physical reminder of your purchase, but this doesn't happen with PDFs. And because of the additional time needed to print out and tape them together, it's easy to sweep PDFs aside in favour of a quicker fix. Maybe I need to start printing out the instructions and putting them in envelopes so they're more visible? 

This then got me thinking about what other patterns might be lurking in the shadows in different forms. One area I tend to totally overlook is sewing books. Again, it's a mental block with me - if they're not in a pattern envelope I'm blind to them. This is mad because I've had some real successes with sewing book patterns (see below), and really should make an effort to use them more frequently. 

Anita Tie Top from Sew Over It Vintage

Lace Pencil Skirt from Fashion with Fabric

Whilst we're on the subject, I also have an entire cupboard of sewing magazines with free patterns, maybe I should start perusing those too?! 

Does anybody else completely forget about the PDF patterns they own? Or is it just me?! Perhaps it's time for some kind of pattern inventory to keep them front of mind? If there's a particular reference system that's worked for you, I'd love to know. Thank you! x

Autumn sewing list: semi-posh tops and cocktail dresses

The weather in the UK is pretty chilly at the moment and it definitely feels like autumn is on its way. All the lightweight tops and sundresses will be packed away in the not too distant future, which means a new season of sewing can begin. I don't have any concrete plans for autumnal sewing, but there are a few gaps in my wardrobe that I'm keen to fill. One of them is for semi-posh going out clothes. I don't need many as I'm not constantly out on the lash, but it would be good to have a nice choice for the few occasions I do get to escape!

Top of my list are evening tops that can be worn with slim trousers (or a pencil skirt) and heels. A current favourite in this category is my Sew Over It Anita Tie Top, which is dressy, comfortable and absolutely perfect for glamming up a pair of skinny jeans. 

I can see at least one more version in the making, perhaps using another Liberty print as it worked so well last time. I've also just bought Sew Over It's Anderson Blouse pattern. 

I'm optimistically hoping that sewing it will magically transform me into its classy and sexy namesake - Gillian Anderson. Highly unlikely, but I'll give it a whirl. I think rayon would be perfect for this kind of drapey top and I've seen several lovely ones recently….

I think this navy viscose print is so elegant. It also comes in a red or black colourway. 

I love the colours in this bright floral rayon challis print.

Or maybe I should go for a big, blousey floral print instead? Like this Joel Dewberry rayon challis.

On the cocktail dress front, I'd still like to use the skirt and bodice blocks I made on last year's pattern cutting weekend to make myself a little black dress. I don't actually own such a thing, and although black isn't the greatest colour on me, I think I need one in my life. I have in mind a princess seamed dress with slight cap sleeves that I'm planning to make with Prada crepe-backed satin. The fabric is self lined which means I can really concentrate on getting the fit right.

I'd also like to make the lace cocktail dress which has been dancing around in my brain ever since I first clapped eyes on Karen's red lace dress. Sadly, the lace dress class that she took isn't held at a time that suits me, so I'll be teaching myself as I go along. This could turn out well or it could be a total disaster, there's only one way of finding out isn't there?!

I'll probably use a combination of my bodice and skirt blocks and this Amazing Fit pattern which I picked up in a Weaver Dee sale last month. 

I really like the style lines of View B, with the lace overlay shown in View C (but not the long, flouncy bit). I'm also going to treat myself to a Craftsy online course - The Essential Guide to Sewing with Lace, which just received a good review by Fabrikate. I think it could be the ideal stepping stone between attending a course in person and trying to work things out for myself!

Of course, I'll need to keep warm alongside swanning around in drapey tops and cocktail dresses, so I'll still be sewing myself a few basics. But that's another blog post! Have a good week. x