I've been using a lot of prints in my sewing for me and recently even pushing my comfort zone to using prints for trousers as well.  It's been great for my wardrobe in livening and brightening it all up but it created a problem I'd never had before when on several occasions now I realised I was pretty bad at print matching and didn't have many plain coloured or simple styled tops to pair with them and give me multiple ways of wearing each.  

So I'm working on a bit of a 'basics' project to fill the gaps whilst keeping a capsule idea in mind.  Looking at my wardrobe, most of my clothes are in the pink to purple colour range so I need to look at co-ordinating and contrasting colours which fit with those so that each 'basic' I make can be teamed with as many things I've already made as possible.  

With that in mind, I went looking for patterns full of options, patterns which I could make lots from but all be different and very quickly came across the Dublin Dolman pattern by New Horizons. Literally PACKED with options, it was the perfect start!

I'm loving being involved in blog tours at the moment, here is my stop on the first Sewing by Ti tour I've been involved in! I've followed Ti's blog and tours for quite a while now so it's a little nerve wracking to be involved myself this time! Ti's blogtours are all themed but what that means to us is up to our individual interpretation! This tour is themed "Dress up this Town" and my immediate thoughts on that were dresses for occasions, not just for Weddings, Christenings and evenings out but for the lunch dates with your girlfriends, for attending Church, for any occasion where you want something a little more than an everyday casual dress. What I came up with may not surprise those of you who know me and know what a HUGE fan of Itch to Stitch Designs I am, so here we have 3 dresses all from ITS all very suitable for occasion wear when sewn in the right fabrics whilst still working brilliantly as casual everyday dresses in others. PS. make it to the bottom for the great giveaways!

Ever since I made my Husband his football shirt from the Bram raglan pattern, he has been asking for some joggers to go with them, mostly because his legs are much longer than all the store bought ones fit and also because he wanted to be able to get them on and off over his shorts, boots and shin pads.  He practically brought me my machine and fabric when I asked if he liked the style of these from Wardrobe by Me, even when I told him he'd need to model them for release photos and here! So here they are, modelled with his Bram!

Some of you may have already seen these, especially if you read my Suit up for Summer blogpost from last week but I wanted to take a closer look at them and tell you a bit more about them.  So here is an entire post dedicated to these fab  patterns from New Horizons! PS.  Did you see there is a code for 30% off sitewide until the end of the day?! quickkk! 

​I am SO excited to be part of this blog tour celebrating the Bluezette's 2 year anniversary! Released by Love Notions in both Ladies and Girls sizes, this is a dress pattern I've not tried before but have seen so many gorgeous versions of and hadn't realised quite how many variations could be made from the pattern and blog add-on! So many, I couldn't decide on just 1 version to make so made 2!

I've been lusting after this pattern for quite a while, putting it in and out of my cart on the New Horizons website but never truly looking at the details to see just how many options it included and never quite knowing what fabric it was asking to be made in {more on this in tomorrow's blogpost!}  So when the combination of fabric, timing and pattern options fell into place I just had to try it out!  If, like me, you have only been looking at the listing photo of the Telluride with the beautiful faux Henley scooped hood and not checked out all the other options, I urge you to go take a quick look, I bet you'll be as surprised as I was!

I settled on the Henley version with puff short sleeves and bottom hem with this beautiful organic 'Bling Bling' print cotton jersey from Jersey Jollies, it's a 95/5% cotton lycra mix and at 220gsm, just a little lighter than the custom jersey fabrics I've been sewing recently but equally as lovely to sew with.  I washed it at 40 degrees and even tumble dried it and it had so little shrinkage I was very surprised, just 2cm in width and 3cm in length! 

With well drafted sewing patterns for wovens becoming harder to find as the preferred jersey knit patterns seem to be increasing in popularity, I was happy to see Itch to Stitch's new pattern was another designed for wovens! I have to admit, I was just a little outside my comfort zone on this one as I've never worn a jumpsuit before, so I signed up for testing out the dress version only but a combination of curiosity and trust in the designer led me to trying the jumpsuit too! AND I'm glad I went with it as it's opened up a whole new avenue to explore and create with this Summer! 

I'm always eagerly on the look out for the next Itch to Stitch* pattern tester call as I just KNOW it's going to be amazing. Not necessarily always in design, although everybody needs the basics too, but amazing due to how brilliantly and professionally the patterns are drafted, graded, illustrated and finished! So when the call for the La Paz* came out, I admit, I squealed a little! And what can I say but WOW?! An unlined, beautifully tailored, notch collar blazer for knit fabrics with all the bells and whistles! Seriously I'm in awe of this jacket pattern, it made a garment perceived to be impossible to make at home, easily achievable for any confident experienced sewer and I just know I'll be making more.

From the very first sketch I saw of this beautiful dress in the Love Notions* newsletter, I just knew I needed the pattern! It was my first testing experience with Love Notions* and I was very impressed at how thorough their testing process went. Tami was so determined to get the fit perfect we actually went through 9 versions before getting to the final pattern!  I was also super happy to be able to squeeze the bodice out of the last of the stunning Summer Garden print from Lulus Fabrics, the fabric and pattern just works so well together! 

When the testing call came out for this along with the Tierras Joggers, I didn't hesitate to apply, as although it's not a style I would usually go for, I haven't yet made a pattern from this designer which doesn't suit me or isn't flattering and I'm glad I did!

Far apart from my usually very fitted clothing, this is a boxy style easy wearing comfy top with a lovely overlapping envelope style boat neckline and lends itself well to such a variety of knit fabrics which change the look from anything from a drapey feminine tee to a very boxy sweater! 

I'm especially looking forward to wearing mine in the summer when it's really too hot to wear clothing which is extremely close fitting as well as teaming with Tierras for comfy lounge wear.