Now who doesn’t love a good PJ pattern, don’t know about you guys but when i get in from work, i’m straight into my PJs (Once i’ve been for a shower and put clothes worn outside of the house into wash… dam you Covid-19!!!)

So here is a little about the Pattern if you haven’t come across it yet!

The Whitechapel Pyjamas have a boxy style shirt with a button front. The trousers are comfy but not baggy with a slightly tapered leg and an elasticated waist. We provide full instructions for stitching them up with fancy French seams for a comfortable and professional finish – but don’t worry there aren’t too many of them! 

There is also a free short-version pattern hack here.

I would say suit this as an Beginner pattern as it quite simple to construct, you just need to allow yourself time to make the french seams but it is sooo worth the added effort!

The trousers couldn’t be easier – just 3 seams and some elastic. The top is an easy introduction to french seams, flat construction sleeve insertion and a simple collar. You’ll also need to make some buttonholes. Start with the trousers if you’re a complete beginner and wear them with a t-shirt while you complete the shirt!

Thankfully i could get all my supplies from Boyes in Town (Its a chain of Department stores that have a vast array of goods ranging from clothes, electrical items to Arts and Crafts) My local store has a good Sewing department and bought all my supplies for just over a tenner! That includes 3m of Polycotton, Thread, 6 buttons and elastic.

The Pdf assembles really quickly it was just my adjustments that i needed to make due to my short arms – 1″ taken off the length of the sleeves and legs needed to be shortened by 1 1/2″ too. Oh yeah not forgetting that Raylan ‘helped’ too hahahaha! For reference i made Size Purple (18) for the Bust and Graded to Navy (20) for the hips.

The trousers were super quick to make and love all the french seams as they are just so comfortable and pretty on the inside too!

Now the tricky bit for me was the collar to be honest but i got there in the end, i think sometimes that i need to rush a garment when i don’t have to and actually sat down and did some hand sewing was quite satisfying.

Then onto the button holes which my Mr Singer does really well and quite glad that i have buttonhole foot and 1 step stitch it makes my life so much easier. Still can’t believe i managed to find matching buttons to the fabric print!

After man french seams, buttonholes and hand stitching later here are the completed Pjs!

Of course moi modelling said PJ’s with a good brew in one of my many souvenir mugs

Happy Sewing!

Sal xx

P.S. Alice & Co are offering a 20% launch week discount on this pattern i think it’s on till 6/4/2020 and are also running a giveaway on instagram with Storrs London – the company that gave the fabric to Alice & Co for their own samples.

The post Whitechapel PJs by Alice and Co Patterns appeared first on The Yorkshire Sewist.

Now if you haven’t heard about Wow Fabrics before where have you been?!! It’s a fabulous family run company that can print any type of print you’d like into 13 different fabric options!! But here is a little bit of info about them:

The fabric company with the ‘WOW’ factor. Based in the heart of the UK, and with an international reach, and using our in house state of the art digital printers a process known as ‘sublimation’, we’re able to offer high quality bespoke printed fabric for all of your fashion needs.

Wow Fabrics has over 50 years combined experience in creating bespoke printed fabrics and textiles, producing items for worldwide licensed brands such as Star Wars, Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story, Pokemon and World of Warcrafts., in addition to working with small and startup businesses.

With competitive prices, extremely fast turnaround times, no minimum order quantity and extensive knowledge around placement printing and products, and a strict quality control in place, we’ll help to give your creations the ‘Wow’ factor.

Also there is many different fabric options to use so at long last no print is just set for one type of fabric!!! Yay!

Now I couldn’t resist this beautiful watercolour floral print as it is just stunning, I ordered mine on the spun polyester base it’s a thin jersey.

Fabulous timing too as Nina Lee Patterns were looking for Sewists to pattern test 3 of her patterns  Southbank Sweater, the Carnaby Dress and the Mayfair Dress in the new size range extends from UK 16–28 and the PDFs for this range will be entirely separate products ; the overlap of 3 sizes with the original range (6–20) is to hopefully help any customers who need to grade across sizes. I was luckily enough to be picked for the Mayfair!

With this fabric being a wide width i was able to get the dress cut out with some scraps that i can hope to turn into some knickers at some point.

Is anyone else like me and want to use their sewing accessories at any opportunity? Love using my Pattern ruler for cutting out straight lines with my rotary cutter than using my frixion pen for marking.

So on I went with sewing the Mayfair together! With my Sewing Assistant wanting to get in the way!

Now when it came to Step 5 of sewing the collar facing just imagine once big burrito!, that’s where i had a total brain fart moment it took me a few attempts at getting this right but once i figured it out it did came clear but Nina will be adding a video tutorial to her website and link to it in the instructions. 

Would you believe that the belt was 3 pieces and its super long… don’t get me wrong i love a belt but when out have to turn it the right way out, that’s where it gets time consuming! So instead of sewing one end, i left both ends open and slip stitched the ends shut for ease of turning.

Think you all know me by know that i need to shorten the sleeves on any garment i make so i hemmed by sleeve by 4cm rather than 1cm and with the Dress itself i used a double hem by 4cm in total rather 3cm and then used my twin needle to hem both.

I find threading my twin needle tails to the underside of my garment then knotting them quite therapeutic for some reason.

And here is my Mayfair! Made in Size 16 for Bust and graded to 18 for waist and 20 for hips. Its a nice classy dress which is definitely coming with me when we go away to Amsterdam Minicruise!

Happy Sewing!

Sal xx

The post A Mayfair to admire! appeared first on The Yorkshire Sewist.

Hi All!

I was lucky enough to be selected by Melyssa for her 1st ever PDF Pattern to test! The Wearable Studio are a new Indie Pattern Company based in Australia and their patterns are designed to embody beauty, femininity, comfort and elegance. 

When i received the lucky email from her, i knew i had the right fabric for this top in my stash… this lovely Suzy Viscose in Sky from Sewisfaction! It’s such a beautiful print and such a dream to sew with too, no issues whatsoever!

The Franki Top is a versatile transitional piece. It has a boxy, relaxed feel which can be made into an everyday casual top or an elegant feminine piece, both of which will be a staple in your wardrobe.

This pattern will be a breeze for sewists with a little bit of experience but the detailed instructions (written and photograph guides) will gently help build the skills of any beginners too.

Both versions have a flattering hi-lo hem line.

Version 1 features a flirty ruffle hem and three-quarter sleeves with pretty ties.

Version 2 is cropped at the waist and has short sleeves.

I made a Straight Size 12 and had no fit issues with regard to the shoulders where i am petite in that area on some pattern brands lol the only thing i would change in my next version which has to be Version 1 with the ruffle hem and tie sleeves is to lengthen it by 2″ just for personal preference… Don’t think i can get away with the crop look in my early thrities!!  Overall though the instructions were very clear and the pieces fitted well where they should!

So grab yourself a copy now and make your own Franki’s!

Happy Sewing!

Sal xx

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As promised, Becca and I have been working hard behind the scenes for Sew Up North on June 24th 2017.  Just over 1 month away now!!! Arrgghhhh!

Now next on our list of appreciation of our sponsors is the Lovely Laura of Cotton Reel Studio!

She has promised us an exclusive  20% discount code for those attending. Yes….You heard right! So you best RSVP! Not forgetting a £30 Voucher too!

If you haven’t come across Cotton Reel Studio before, I highly recommend having a good look around with your favourite brew in hand together with your Paypal details LOL!

They stock my favourite Pattern Designers – Deer and Doe, Megan Nielsen, Tilly and the Buttons, Evielaluve just to name a few! Also not forgetting the beautiful fabrics that Laura has online too as I’ve received some lovely Bird Print Chambray for my upcoming Simplicity Project and it’s just fantastic quality and who doesn’t like a cute print?!

So keep your eyes peeled for my new Project

  Although they are an online business, don’t think that means they aren’t willing to answer any questions you might have about their products. Also Laura will be attending too

So, if you don’t find everything on your shopping list in Leeds, you’ll be able to get hold of it online.

Thank you Laura, you are awesome!

See you in June? Click here to RSVP

Sal xx

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Hi there!

I’ve another quick update today on the remarkable generosity of another sponsor of Sew Up North.

If by chance you’ve not yet heard all the details of the next Sew Up North, you can find out about it here, but one of the elements of the day will be a charity raffle in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, so make sure you spare some pennies from the fabric shopping to buy tickets with!

Becca and I have been chasing Raffle prizes all over the place, with a remarkable level of success, and one of the nice companies happy to sponsor us in support of this Charity is Sew Over It.

Lisa and the team at Sew Over It specialise in beautifully drafted patterns with a slight vintage feel, giving a wide selection of very wearable and very popular patterns.  Earlier this year, they launched their PDF club (which, obviously, I joined and so has Becca) giving you an opportunity to purchase each month’s new pattern early and at a discount.

In their massive generosity, Sew Over It have donated 5 pdf patterns of the winner’s choice to our raffle. Yes you heard that right!!! 5 PDF’s of the winner’s choice.  With the only proviso being you need to pick them by the end of June. That’s totally dooable right?!

The only way I  can see that being a problem is if you don’t already own any of their patterns and are stymied by the massive selection of pretty things!  A quick glance at their website reveals a total of 14 pdf patterns right now, with new ones being added all the time.

So thank you, Sew Over It, for being so awesome!

And if that tempts you to attend, please head over to our  Eventbrite page and let us know so we can prepare you a goody bag! You don’t want to miss out!

Sal x

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Time for another quick Sew Up North update!

We’ve already shared with you the lovely Raffle Prize offered by Minerva Crafts and the discount offered to all Attendees by Sew Essential. However, there’s lots more to come! Yay!!

The next contribution we were offered for the Charity Raffle Prize Fund is one I will definitely be buying a few extra tickets for.  You may have noticed that I quite like Indie Pattern Companies. It’s nice to know that I’m supporting the people who are starting up and running these small, niche businesses. Yay for Indie Sewing!

Myself personally, I haven’t sewed much of Tilly’s Patterns but I am on with my Sew Crafty Design Team Project for April of using the Fifi Boudoir PJ’s so watch this space! Becca has sewn quite a lot of Garments from Tilly’s so go and have a nosey at her blog!

The lovely Tilly has offered us 2 pdf patterns of the winner’s choice from their website.  The lucky winner will be able to take their pick from the full range of pdf patterns. Now that’s a prize and half!

Thank you so much Tilly, you are awesome!

So, if you haven’t already, head on over to the Eventbrite page and get yourself signed up!

Sal x

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