I was invited to join Pickle Toes Pattern Brand Rep. Team to make the Black Raspberry Dress/Tunic. This pattern is familiar to me because I have made a similar design from a Japanese sewing book, the only different is that PTP has shoulder closures, while the pattern from the Japanese book is a pull over style with no closure, so, with no closure means, the armholes is slightly larger than PTP's Black Raspberry. I had trouble with Black Raspberry the moment I was selected as one of their brand representative member! First, their message went to my Request Message on FB (which I didn't get any notification until it was 2 days after the closing date for the call, and by Monday (a day before the deadline) I was having trouble sewing the pattern! Ugh! Initially, I was planning to make matching dress for Adra and her big sister, since they get along well together now lol. I was in a hurry and I wasn't my sewing self, I was clumsy, I was panic, I was not being professional at all! All I know I needed to complete this dress before the deadline! And both dress was a mess! A huge one! *SOB So I thought it was the pattern fault, and was thinking how am I going to give a positive review and promote this pattern if there is so much error?? I was frustrated and discarded both dress without hesitated, went to the kitchen and made myself a cup of coffee. I know I needed to calm down. Finished my coffee, I re-read the instructions and it was all my fault *DUH I didn't read the instructions thoroughly and I misread and skipped some step while making the the two dresses. It was a relieved! The instruction was well written, even though the steps are kind of in a different sequence if to compare with the similar pattern in the Japanese Sewing Book design that I have, but you will complete the dress eventually! -REMINDER- JUST READ THE INSTRUCTION THOROUGHLY AND READ IT A FEW MORE TIMES BEFORE YOU START SEWING! LOL So okay, back to the story, I searched for another fabric to cut. And since I do not have more time, I just cut one size for my 8 years old girl in this royal blue Thai cotton with Thai silk design print in gold. Enaydia is 8 years old but her chest measurement falls into size 6 in PTP design, even though I was worried at first especially the armholes, but once the tunic (yes, I did tunic length) is done, everything was perfect for her! Black Raspberry can be made in woven or knit fabrics and there is some tips on how to find suitable knit fabrics for the design. It also has 2 lengths option - dress or tunic, it has rounded yoke with shoulder closures and the design can be made in size 2 - 16! You can plan matching dresses for all your girls! :D Did I mention it also has side seam pockets?? Yay! Although this is not my best sewing (I know I can do better if I have load of time! lol) Overall, this is a nice design and perfect for summer, and if you know how to draft a bigger armholes, this dress is perfect for layering too! Omit the pockets and you can even finish it faster, but sewing the rounded yoke is a bit tricky and you need to go slow if you want to have a perfect rounded end. Oh, here, my fabric is a little stiff. I think a fabric with nice drape will look amazing for the pattern. And I think the only thing I would change is the width of the armholes binding, it is just too wide for my liking. So, if you find my review is good enough, head over to Pickle and Toe Pattern to get your Black Raspberry!
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Hi everyone. I am so excited to share with you all my Easter Blog Tour with Handmaiden's Cottage. I made the Patchwork Dress! :)
I really, really love this sweet pattern because it has a simplicity design and what best is that I can use up all my fabric stash. And you know what, there is even a tutorial on how to add hand embroidered design on few squares of you want to make the dress extra special *wink For this dress, I chose a Korea cotton in pastel colour for the body with giraffe design ( I wish I have a bunny design though, so it will be perfect for the Easter theme!) and went really crazy with the patchwork fabrics haha...I tried to create a colour tone effect (did I nailed it??) The patchwork dress comes with 2 option of sleeves - 3/4 length circular flounce with elastic band and short sleeves also with an elastic band. And since it always hot here, I always pair my daughters's dresses with a legging to cover their legs and I love the decent look on my girls. Oh, and that is the very reason why I omitted a row of patchwork strip to just 3 rows instead of 4 rows to shorten it a little bit. This dress is more like a mix of raglan and peasant design, and with the patchwork, I thought it is going to take forever to finish the dress (I was panic!) but instead it was a fairly quick sew - I was amazed! I added some decorative stitches to the patchwork to add a special detail on the dress and I love it!
The original design has a removable sash, but I decided to sew the sash on the dress because my little cheeky girl is more than capable to lose the sash and use it to play with our pet kitty lol. But, instead of using a fabric sash, I use a beautiful 3.5cm wide lace trim. It just added a feminine touch to the dress, don't you think??
This is such a beautiful and a quick sew design, and I had so much fun mix matching the patchwork skirt and I can see a few more Patchwork dresses for Adra and her big sister, and couldn't see a better way to use up all my fabric stash. Yay! Thank you Lynn and Lori for having me. Of course a blog tour is not a blog tour without a discount! Hooray! Their sewing patterns are on sale during the blog tour only!! Use coupon code: EasterTour2018 to save 30% off their website or their Etsy Shop!! Sale begins March 1st and ends March 12th at midnight EST. The Handmaiden’s Cottage is also doing a giveaway! Check it out below! One lucky person will win a $50 store credit to the Handmaiden’s Cottage website!! Enter below in the Rafflecopter giveaway and follow along each day of the blog tour to earn an additional entry each day!! |
AuthorHi! I am Liza and I am a full time seamstress and work from home studio. Archives
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