Pretty Violet and Charming Ginger

So this is happy: two new patterns from Colette that are beginner-friendly. And adorable to boot!

Meet Violet:

A blouse with a peter pan collar that's designed for beginners? This is my kind of pattern! I still have that wedding sewing to do, but believe me, as soon as it's finished, I'm starting on this little beauty. In my opinion it's the perfect project for that Liberty of London fabric I've been drooling over for so long.

And how about this? I'm thinking I might try to pull off something like this for the collar:

{Photo via Artpixie by Anna Grapes}

Too ambitious? Ok, ok, but wait, before I get too wrapped up in this little fantasy, let's meet Ginger:

Ginger is also perfect for beginners and comes in three versions. A-lines are so flattering, and made with a luscious fabric, it's just the kind of skirt I would wear all summer.

Oh I just love a good reason to hit the fabric store. Of course, two is even better!

Happy sewing!

Feeling Inspired!

We've got the preverbal lion and lamb of spring duking it out over here these days. One day mild and sunny and the next, gale force winds and hail. But no matter! Spring will eventually lead to summer and then we'll all need cute, warm weather clothes to wear. SO I've been surfing about, plotting the kids' summer wardrobe. Here are just a few things that have caught my eye.

Butch Top from Dutch designer Bulsjes En Beugels

Tiny Flowers Festival Dress from UK designer Tulip and Nettle

Francoise Top from Seattle's Flora and Henri

Silk Check Dress from Flora and Henri

Hmm... a little heavy on the girl clothes. Looks like I need to spend a little more time searching out inspiration for my little pirate. I think I'll head over and browse Shim + Sons. Her boys are so stylish...

Happy Wednesday!

Natural Patchwork

Just last week or so I spied this book and thought it would be something I would like very much.

And then it arrived in the mail!

The lovely folks at Shambala Publications, parent company of Make Good Crafts + Life, the publisher of this book, sent me a review copy.

How happy is that?

And although I haven't had a chance to make anything from it yet, here's what I know: I was right. I do like it very much. And, I had thought that the cute little patchwork thing on the cover was a lunchbag but in fact it's a tea cozy. Even better!

There are lots of cute patchwork projects in the book, and happily, this Japanese collection is translated (although the diagrams are so detailed, you might be able to put these lovelies together without instructions).

Two of the projects are available on the Make Good Life + Crafts web site for free, so pop over there to download the Tea Towel Tote Bag and the Yo-Yo Glasses Case patterns. They're both darling. And free is always lovely.

Happy sewing!

In the End I Made It Up

I started with a pattern in French, which as one reader helpfully pointed out before I started the project, gets a little funky in the larger sizes; decided to make some changes (beyond the sizing issues); looked to another pattern for inspiration; did a little adjusting on my own; and eventually just made the whole thing up.

But it worked out! So that's happy!

Here's what I wanted: a sleeveless spring dress for my seven-year-old that only buttoned in the yoke (not all the way down the back). So basically I used a sleeveless dress pattern, cut two front skirts instead of a front and two backs, and altered the back yoke so that the button bands worked out alright just buttoning from the skirt up.

It's a really simple style, so it wasn't too hard to figure out how to change things around (even for me!).

But the very best part of the dress, in my humble opinion, is that fabric! Don't you think? I bought it from This and That From Japan, via Etsy (along with a number of other goodies including a Japanese craft book I can't wait to dive into), to help support relief efforts there.

Seems like a nice way to welcome in spring...

Happy sewing!

Happy Earth Day!

In an effort to encourage all of you to use your crafty power for good this Earth Day, I think I'll make last year's Earth Day Sale and annual event. Yay!

Grocery Bag by Keyka Lou Patterns

Flower Girl Bolero by Cotton & Cloud

 How is a sale going to be good for the Earth, you ask? Ah well, here's my (possibly convoluted, but certainly inspired) reasoning:

All the pdfs in the shop are discounted 20% (!), so there's:

a) No shipping! No mail trucks, airplanes, boats, or trains using fossil fuels to get your patterns to you. So that's good.

b) Probably you've been meaning to use something awesome from your stash to make a reusable bag to take to the grocery. I know, me too. (Actually, what I need is MORE reusable bags since I never seem to ever have enough.) Now is the time! You already have the fabric, the pattern is a downloadable pdf (and so it's discounted), and when you're done you can answer "neither" to that "paper or plastic?" question. So that's good!

c) Remember the last time the yarn store had a sale and you bought all that luscious Malabrigo? Right, me too. Well, why not knit up something for your favorite (like, really, really favorite) little kid? Instill an appreciation of handmade goods, which by their nature are eco-friendly (right?). And that would be good!

Spring Birds by Polka and Bloom

Reason enough?

Well ok! Then here's the code: EARTH20.

If it's a pdf it's on sale all weekend. 20% off! Pick some out and get crafty!

Happy shopping!

New and So Cute

Every time Cécile Levesque sends me a new pattern for the shop I have to stop what I'm doing and dash to the yarn store. Seriously, her patterns are so cute. And here's what had me running over to the Knit Purl anniversary sale yesterday...

Little Biscuits

See? Adorable! And my seven-year-old just needs a sweater like this. Nevermind all the other WIPs. Nope, I never, ever worry about the WIPs.

Happy knitting!

Feeling Inspired!

We were browsing the library the other day, as we often do (particularly when the weather is less than inviting), and I spotted this book in the children's section:

Has anyone else seen this amazing book? Probably only crafty folks can truly appreciate how much work must have gone into these pages. All the scenes for the nursery rhymes are constructed with intricately sewn felt and sweetly painted faces.

The author, Salley Mavor, creates gorgeous, books, notecards, and limited edition dolls in her studio, Wee Folk Studio. You can order any of the above, or learn her secrets for creating her signature fairy dolls on her web site. I also noticed that there is a travelling exhibit of the original work for this book, so be sure to stop by your local library for me if it's coming to your area.

Happy crafting!

Last-Minute Easter Stitching

Easter has kinda snuck up on me this year. Which is strange because my seven-year-old has been talking about it for almost two months. (Any opportunity for presents and treats to magically appear is of significant interest to her...)

So, if the same is true for you, but you'd like to do a little Easter crafting nonetheless, I have the perfect project for you.

Easter Eggs 2011 by Polka and Bloom

Aren't those just lovely? The pattern set includes all four designs, which are both darling and simple enough to stitch up in time for the holiday this weekend.

Happy stitching!

Well Hello There!

Long time no post! Sorry about that! Life is that way sometimes, isn't it?

Alright, so the plan is to make this a week of new patterns. A little sewing, a little knitting, and a little stitching. So that's good!

First up this week are the new and much-requested Oliver + S patterns for Spring...

Family Reunion Dress

Classic Picnic Blouse and Shorts

Seashore Dress

I have to admit that until yesterday Spring seemed pretty far away around here. But now! Now that the sun has come out, and the hail (that's right, hail) has stopped...well now I can think about Spring!

As crazy as it sounds, I have high hopes for sewing a lot of the kids summer clothes this year, so you know I'll be testing these adorable patterns out. In fact, I've already started on the Family Reunion Dress for my seven-year-old, for the afore mentioned wedding. So far so good, but I'll keep you all posted as the project progresses.

Happy sewing!

More Ammo for the Army

...Army of Knitters, that is.

As a soldier in this particular army, I'm happy to offer more ammo in the way of super cool patterns. Check these babies out...

Howlite

Parfait Tunic

Pumpkin Pie

Rhubarb and Custard

Chambord Truffle

I'm drooling over the Parfait Tunic and have already started on my own Rhubarb and Custard (although mine is being knit up in a brown Madelinetosh Vintage, so it might be more of a molten chocolate cake).

I think all this cold, wet weather has me a bit backwards. I've started so many new projects—I'm knitting like it's fall! By the time the sun comes out I'm bound to have six new sweaters! Oh well, I guess that isn't so bad.

Happy knitting!

Talk to Me

So this is happy. It's time for major updates to the Magpie site. Yay!

Why, "yay!?" Well, first ask all the lovely stitchers who tried to download the super adorable Book Smart pattern this past week. {So sorry about that everyone!}

Then ask my husband about how much time I spend futzing with it just to get new patterns up or messing with the whacky shipping charges, or swearing at the computer when things aren't working the way I want them to. Bah.

And then there's the real reason {and the best one} which is: my little shop is kinda popular now! Yay! Yay! And there are a lot of things I had wanted to do for the site that just didn't fit into the budget the first go around (almost two years ago now—ack!).

Ok, so let me get to the point here. I would LOVE to know what you would like to see change. What would make the site work better for you? When you're browsing, what drives you nuts? Is there anything you wish you could do or information you wish was there or magic you wish could happen, but can't/isn't/doesn't right now?

Send me a note (magpie at magpiepatterns.com), leave a comment, tweet, use telepathy, whatever. But let me know! {And, I'm sure this is unnecessary since you are all such sweethearts, but if you can be nice about your suggestions, that would be so lovely.}

Happy crafting!

No Joke: Three Now, More Later

There are three new Army of Knitters patterns in the shop today, and they are all about warmer weather:

Benodet Cardi

Carnac Sweater

Erquy

So don't let that winter-like weather get to you. Just knit up one of these beauties and have faith that blue skies and sunshine are on the way!

More of the super cool Army of Knitters patterns to come this weekend, so keep a look out.

Happy knitting!