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Flosstyle

Practical PDF Sewing Patterns

in Arts and Crafts· Beginners· Behind the scenes· Guest Blog Post· Sewing Leave a Comment

That time I tested the W-Under Woman cloth pad pattern

The weather outside is frightful (hmmm, kinda), but the fire is so delightful (yeah, no, definitely not fire weather this side of the equator), and since we’ve no place to go (thanks corona), let us sew let us sew let us sew 🧵

What better way to get into the swing of celebrating the festive season than with some uber festive cloth pads (the red dawn doesn’t care what season it is so might as well be prepared) :b

Pretty much started out like any other testing pattern day…send file to the Husbander for him to print; instructions gets printed; Husbander gives me the printouts; put printouts down somewhere; survey fabric options; decide that I’m ready to begin; struggle to remember where printouts are; hunt entire house for printouts; find printouts; start reading through printouts; realize it’s missing the pattern pieces; ask Husbander to print pattern pieces; pattern pieces printed; move sewing projects, random toys & other things that have now magically appeared in the 10minutes I was away from my sewing space; take a deep breath, ok I think we’re ready.

I took the instruction’s advice (make sure to read through the instructions more than once) & measured (more like eyeballed) one of my current cloth pads so that the ones I’m making can be similar in size (plus it gives me a visual for construction). After umming & aaahing for a bit I settled on the 2.75” pattern pieces at a 10”inch length, & I’ll be attempting the 3 different core options (exposed, visible, & hidden), because I like being extra like that.

Cut out pattern pieces, added tape, making sure everything has been connected with the precision of advanced OCD…easy peesy lemon squeezy. 

Cotton woven top, bamboo/cotton fleecy fabrics underneath

Delve into the depths of my fabric containers for suitable fabrics, message your sewing person to double check you’re using the correct fabrics, delve back into the depths because that piece of fleece you spotted before will come in handy & let the cutting begin! 

Honestly out of the whole process I think the cutting & tracing was the most difficult part (thank goodness) although truth be told I’m probably using the wrong thread, most definitely the wrong needle, the fabric is also questionable, but honestly I’m ploughing through a lot of fears here & it actually feels great so might as well give all the different stitches a try (I don’t think I’ve ever used an overcast stitch…where have you been all my life!!! And it actually came out looking pretty good). 

So after all the stressing & worrying about making mistakes, wondering if they’ll look any good, hoping my machine doesn’t give me a mini heart attack when a needle breaks (no needles were harmed in the making of these cloth pads- hooray! Don’t forget channeling stitches & pressing seams are your friends) I think these came out pretty marvelous & best of all, no-one died! Can’t wait to give these festivenessnessnessnesses a try. Hope you’ll attempt them too!

Happy Sewing!

V

Not too shabby

Filed Under: Arts and Crafts, Beginners, Behind the scenes, Guest Blog Post, Sewing Tagged With: Cloth pad, cloth pad pattern, Flosstyle, Flosstyle Patterns, sew, sewing, sewing makes me happy, W-under woman

in 2019 52 Week Sewing Challenge· Flosstyle Patterns· Sprouts· Twigs· Ventura Lite Leave a Comment

52 Week Sewing Challenge – Week 16


This weeks Challenge: Sew a bathing suit or undergarment (Rejected)

It’s beginning to get too cold for swimming here so I decided to reject this weeks challenge and leave the swimmers until next summer. Instead I made some warm clothes for Mr 3.

I used the Sprouts Twigs Pattern for the pants and the still in development long sleeve version of the Ventura (the lite version is free with the code in the Flosstyle Fair Group on facebook). Mr 3 was most impressed he had a lion pocket on the shirt.

What have you sewn this week? I’d love to see.

Happy Sewing
x Gail

Filed Under: 2019 52 Week Sewing Challenge, Flosstyle Patterns, Sprouts, Twigs, Ventura Lite Tagged With: 52 week sewing challenge, boys sewing, Flosstyle, Flosstyle Patterns, sew for boys, seweing

in EZ Wrap Wallet· Flosstyle Patterns· Sew Along 1 Comment

EZ Wrap Sew Along

After the amazing response to the Bucket Hat Sew Along, we are running another video sew along! This time it’s the EZ Wrap Wallet!

The perfect chance to make something for yourself! The EZ Wrap Wallet has an option to suit everyone from beginner to advanced. There will be a daily video and blog post as well as heaps of pictures for you to follow along.

 

Important Details

Starts January 29th

You can get the pattern here.

Join the facebook event here.

And get ready to sew!!

Happy Sewing xx

Filed Under: EZ Wrap Wallet, Flosstyle Patterns, Sew Along Tagged With: Ez Wrap Sew Along, Flosstyle, Sew Along

in Flosstyle Patterns· Sew Along· Zoo Leave a Comment

Sew Along with the Flosstyle Zoo

The Bucket Hat Sew A Long was such a success, I thought it would be fun to do another sew a long. I spoke with Gail and we thought doing a pattern that worked well with all season would be best. So, here I am, excited to announce the start of my first Sew A Long using the Flosstyle Zoo!

The Zoo is packed with a variety of options and includes some fun modifications in the pattern. Zoo consists of 17+ different shirts, rompers and dresses for babies from newborn to approximately 4yrs of age, and even has an 18″ doll pattern included. If you are overwhelmed trying to decide which version/combo to make you can always check out the Flosstyle Patterns Facebook Page for inspiration. There’s also a FREE long sleeve add on you can grab here.
With the Zoo being such a big pattern we decided to split the entries up. If you make just a top that’s one entry, if you make a romper or dress that’s two entries. Each entry is a chance at winning free patterns and discount codes to Flosstyle Patterns! You can join the event here, where I will upload daily photos for you to follow along in sewing your Zoo at home. After the sew along is finished you can upload your finished Zoo into the appropriate album and sit back while I do all the tallying and draw some winners.

The Sew A Long starts November 20th so you have time to buy your pattern, Gail even included a discount code for those who join to get 20% off, so don’t forget to join the event and the group to stay up to date and follow a long!

Thanks and hope you join me!
-Jennifer King

Filed Under: Flosstyle Patterns, Sew Along, Zoo Tagged With: dress, Flosstyle, romper, sewalong, shirt, zoo

in Guest Blog Post Leave a Comment

Guest Blog – An Interview with Gail Couch

Gail Couch took over Flosstyle in February of this year. She strikes me as kind, warm, intelligent, curious and incredibly busy! When asked how she copes balancing small children, a husband, paid work and Flosstyle, she responded with something very relatable to many of us, “apparently I don’t sleep!” she said, laughing. ‘Once the kids are in bed I’m up until eleven most nights, sewing and computer stuff, there’s a lot of work that goes into it behind the scenes. I get around five emails a day from people saying they’ve lost a pattern, can I please send it through.’

Gail Couch and her youngest using the Flosstyle Kanga Carrier

Our conversation moves towards her take over from Flosstyle’s former designer, Jess Turner. Towards the end of 2016, it had been announced that Flosstyle would be closing shop forever. There was a natural outrage amongst Flosstyle fans, which caused Jess to reconsider. “Most people stayed loyal to the brand, about 100 left the Flosstyle Fair Facebook group thinking it was all over,” says Gail. “Most people were just happy that it was still going and that there would be someone to answer their questions. I think a lot of people have learnt to sew via PDF patterns, so they’ve got a lot of beginner questions. Most people were happy to have support back. But, I still get the odd person going ‘oh, where’s Jess?'”

Since Gail took over the Flosstyle Fair group it has grown to over 5,000 members, a wonderful achievement amongst indie pattern designers. She told me that while most of her customers are Australian based, some of the new group members are coming from the United States. Flosstyle will be remaining true to it’s roots, “There’s not going to be forth of July sales,” she says.

Gail Couch and her oldest son

Gail sews on a Brother Innovis 600. It’s a domestic machine which has proven to be worth its weight on gold, “It pretty much sews anything. I have an Aldi overlocker, and I love it! I’m thinking about getting a second so I can have one for white and one for black. I desperately want a coverstitch! Oh, and I have a vintage singer too, just one from the 1980’s.”

I asked her if she was currently working on anything, “I don’t do any fun sewing, but my seven year old wants me to sew with him so we started sewing a pair of shorts on the weekend.” When asked if she had a favourite Flosstyle pattern, she said “Umm, can I say one of mine? Ha ha ha, no, probably the Ultimate Bucket Hat actually. It’s great for everything, useful for me for my kids and it’s my go to birthday present. Everyone can always use a hat.” The Ultimate Bucket Hat pattern is very highly recommended and highly regarded amongst sewing groups.

I asked her about the release date for the upcoming baloo wallet. “Never!” she laughs again, “I feel like that pattern is cursed. I’ve been through three computers trying to get it out, they’ve all died. The fourth one is sitting there waiting for my husband to set it all up.”

The ‘cursed’ Baloo wallet

I asked Gail what is next for Flosstyle. She was much more optimistic about the future of Flosstyle than the baloo wallet! “My oldest is right at the end of the sizes so I was thinking maybe an older version of sprouts and splitting it up into boys and girls. But I really want to do some vintage baby! And then maybe some ladies stuff as well. I’ve got a batwing shirt that I made for me, but you know, drafted for me is not drafted for everyone!” she laughs.

“I get bored if I’m not doing stuff,” says Gail, “I don’t know how to sit still and do nothing.” I questioned whether sewing was a relaxation thing for her, “not really, no. I have to be doing something and I have to know how things work. I have to do it, I have to know how it works. I started sewing when I was about 12 and I was living with grandma, and she was sewing and she’s taught me to sew so I can hand embroider and hand sew, and cross stitch and long stitch. Anything crafty, I’ve kind of had a go at. I like sewing because what you create is very practical, useful and logical. Sewing let’s me be creative while creating something practical. My kids can wear the clothes I make them.”

The Tidy Travel Tote – Pattern by Flosstyle

To finish off our interview I asked Gail if she had a tip or favourite tool to share with us. “My favourite sewing tip: Always thread the machine with the pressed foot up! It can save a lot of hassle, helping to make sure the thread is properly between all the tension discs. My favourite sewing tool: My rotary cutter or my glue pen, both are life changing if you haven’t used them before and once you have you will wonder what you did without them!”

Happy sewing

– Beth W

Disclaimer: I am on the Flosstyle marketing team and do have affiliate links, which I have used in this blog.

This blog has also been posted as part of the Australian & New Zealand Designer Series on the Australian Sewing Advice and Inspiration Blog Page.

Filed Under: Guest Blog Post Tagged With: Flosstyle, Gail Couch, Interview

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  • Make your own Christmas stocking December 18, 2020
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  • That time I tested the W-Under Woman cloth pad pattern December 8, 2020
  • Sewing for Beginners Part 1 – The Tools of the Trade November 2, 2020

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