Month: January 2024

  • Pattern Review of the Dockside and Driftwood Polo

    Pattern: Dockside & Driftwood Polo
    Designer: Love Notions
    Fabrics: Cotton Lycra from Frankie Bear Fabrics
    Skill level: Advanced Beginner
    Size made: Large for my husband and size 4 for my son
    Adjustments: None
    Pros: I love a polo, it really takes a t shirt from casual to dressy, without being over the top. I also love being able to add things like the pocket and use different fabrics for the collars and binding.
    Cons: The binding option is a little tricky if you haven’t done a placket before. You can skip it if it’s your first time.

    Double the Polo Fun: Sewing Stylish Sets for Him and Mini-Me with Sewing Tips!

    I get accused all the time by my husband of never making him anything, so I was happy to be able to make not one, but TWO new polos for him this week haha. Hopefully less complaining for a while!

    The Dockside & Driftwood Polo is such a cute pattern, and perfect to make matchy match sets for the whole family. My husband is, in my words, boring with his fabric choices, hahaha, so I did his mainly black and had a pop of colour with the pocket. Using a gorgeous cotton lycra from Frankie Bear Fabrics. I also snuck in some colour in the binding on the neckline. Hehe. To compliment, I did the opposite on my son’s version, who absolutely LOVES colour. So it was a win win for all.

    For those that don’t know, the button up part of the polo t shirt is called a ‘placket’. The placket can be quite intimidating and a bit tricky to get right. It requires precise stitching and cutting. With a bit of practice however, you can get some really crisp and professional looking plackets on your polo’s.

    To help you get a smart looking button placket, I outlined my easy sewing tips for a perfect polo t shirt placket every time, in my latest episode of Sewcial Moments with Megan. These 5 simple tips will help you get a beautiful result and are so quick to watch!

    Grab both patterns while they are on sale $5usd each for the next 24hrs. Use code ‘Lovemegan’ at the checkout for an EXTRA 10% off.

    Also, as part of my role as a Ambassador for Love Notions, I filmed a step by step tutorial over on their YouTube channel if you still want some extra help after watching my 5 quick tips on Sewcial Moments with Megan.

    What next?

    Say Goodbye to Confusion and Frustration... 

    …and hello to pride and confidence! Learn to sew stretch fabrics with ease. Enjoy showing your creations proudly to your family and friends!

  • Pattern Review of the Adult Essential Dolman

    Pattern: Adult Essential Dolman Dress
    Designer: Ellie & Mac
    Fabrics: Organic Viscose from Spotlight
    Skill level: Beginner
    Size made: XL/XXL
    Adjustments: Grading from the bust to waist. I also did a whoopsie empire waist adjustment, read below for more details.
    Pros: Great to compliment your shape and lots of options for skirt length and sleeves.
    Cons: Because its a dolman style, it is very fabric hungry!

    Sewing Summer Vibes: A Slinky Success Story with Ellie & Mac's Weekly Sale Pick

    This one has been on my to make list for such a long time, and I’m glad I finally got around to making it. Even better, it’s part of the Weekly Sales over at Ellie & Mac this week.

    This pattern has a boat neck and scoop neck and while I thought about doing the boat neck, I really love a scoop neck on me, so I went with that. It also has a few sleeve options and skirt lengths, but I liked the short sleeves and mid thigh for the skirt. Being summer I figured I’d get good use out of it and could also put leggings underneath when it starts to cool down.

    Unfortunately I didn’t read the pattern right and ended up taking about 3 inches out of the waist, whoops! BUT, I am really happy with the end result, I would probably just end up adding that to the skirt next time as its *quite* short. haha. Instead of cutting the actual waist measurement, I cut the height adjustment line instead. But as I said, I love the result of this ‘mistake’.

    Using a really slinky fabric like the organic viscose meant it drapes so beautifully and its super soft against my skin. There is heaps of ease so I didn’t feel constricted and having the elasticated waist adds definition to my waistline, without emphasizing my stomach, which I am still self conscious about.

    All in all, I’m very happy with this one and can see it getting a lot of wear both for the rest of summer and well into the Autumn/Fall months!

    What next?

    Stop wasting fabric and time on projects that don't fit right. 

    Learn to sew with confidence and let me guide you to more sewing success.

  • Pattern Review of the Everyday’s A Weekend Dress

    Pattern: Everyday’s A Weekend
    Designer: Pattern Emporium
    Fabrics: Cotton Lycra from The Telarie
    Skill level: Beginner
    Measurements: Bust: 45″; Waist 42″; Hips 50″
    Size made: 20
    Adjustments: None
    Pros: This is the comfiest dress and I am LOVING wearing it.
    Cons: None

    Summer Joy: Turning a Tiered Dress Pattern into a Single-Tier Skirt Delight

    I’ve had this pattern on my list for a while with every intention of making it, but I just never got around to it.  So when I recommended it in my end of year pattern sales episode of Sewcial Moments with Megan, I had a renewed desire to make one!

    The fabric I used is a Cotton Lycra from The Telarie that I got in one of their Mystery Boxes and I LOVE it!! Cotton Lycra is the same as Spandex or Elastane, they are just known by different names, which can be really confusing! It’s one of the reasons I go so in-depth in my Knit Confidence course. It’s just one of the modules that helps you understand how to sew with knit fabric better which I know has helped countless students. Happy Teacher right here!

    The original pattern is a tiered dress, but I wanted to make it a single tier skirt. Luckily it’s such a simple hack to do. First I finished the bodice. I then took a measuring tape and held it up to the bottom of the bodice while I was wearing it and decided where I wanted the skirt to sit. 

    Once I had that measurement I added about an inch for the seam allowance and cut the front and back pieces at that length and carried on with the pattern as normal!

    I would make one note, be careful that you take note of the bodice line you are cutting. I cut the regular length for my front but didn’t pay attention on the back and cut the tall. It was a simple fix to adjust, but just be aware and don’t make the mistake I did haha.

    I think one of my fave things about this pattern is the generous ease in the waist measurement so it doesn’t cling to my tummy making me feel uncomfortable. It’s the perfect dress to throw on in the morning and just cruise around in all day. I imagine in winter I could pair it with some leggings and a cardigan and I’ll have the perfect easy winter dress as well.

    And you know the VERY BEST thing about this dress?!

    I was shopping at the supermarket and someone stopped me to tell me how beautiful my dress was and that is was just so summery and happy. I of course thanked them and said I made it, which they couldn’t believe. It made my day and I had the biggest smile on my face for the rest of the day. Having wearable, comfortable AND flattering clothes is just one of the reasons I sew, and sewing this dress sure didn’t disappoint!

    What next?

    Stop wasting fabric and time on projects that don't fit right. 

    Learn to sew with confidence and let me guide you to more sewing success.