The Wind of Change

The new Giveaway seems to attract some attention, I promise that La Mia Boutique issue will not disappoint. I reduced the giveaway period to 2 weeks, it seems there is a lot of freebees I have to give to my lovely readers, that monthly draw is just not often enough! Good for you ))))

ENTER HERE

My affair with Pattern Master Boutique has ended.

I returned it for a refund, after the simple peplum top pattern I designed (using their presets) came out with different side seams length and the armhole 2.5 inches larger than a sleeve cap (???)

I just used standard Burda measurements for size 34 to test it, so it wasn't me taking wrong measurements, it was a programming issue. I mean, it is an over $200 piece of software- this is a lot of money for a faulty fit like that. I just have no intention of going back to it, and it is off my Recommended list for good.

I didn't even expect that I will have to re-measure these settings and I even cut out and started my peplum top, and when it came to side seams- well, I was seriously ticked off by that. Luckily it is still possible to fix the muslin ( as it looks ok to actually wear in public), but I have been spending a lot of hours learning CAD pattern drafting instead.

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April Giveaway winner and New Giveaway

The Butterick Retro pattern winner is Kate Hope . It is a beautiful fitted dress pattern, absolutely stunning,   I really hope she will enjoy making and wearing the dress- it is very flattering for any figure. I would love to see the final results, go for it Kate, email me some pics, if you do make it- we can feature them here!!!!!  Congrats!

Now our next giveaway is quite good as well- it is a november 2011 issue of La Mia Boutique magazine.  Here i just a little peep of what is inside- I think this issue is absolutely fabulous, hate to give it away, honestly:

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Diana Moden- not just another sewing magazine

I have just received my sample copy of Diana Moden- a Russian sewing magazine, that regularly features Simplicity patterns.  My 6067 dress was featured in this year's February issue, however I had to buy an original pattern as I didn't have a paper copy of this magazine. 

I have to be honest, in spite of a huge debate on if it is right or wrong to use copyright piracy content, I personally do not hesitate in obtaining a digitalized copy of a sewing magazine with all pattern sheets if there is no way for me to get it otherwise. Diana Moden's issues can be often found scanned into a pdf's by an altruistic criminal, probably somewhere in  Eastern Europe region (God bless them) and kindly made available to download through numerous file sharing sites. 

Why do I use those files? Well, nobody is trying to make living sharing those patterns, so I gratefully accept and download. I have obtained an impressive collection of such names as Patrones, La Mia Boutique and Burda Style (those older issues that I do not have- I do prefer a paper copy any day and will honestly pay whatever the price for it). I have a few older la Mia Boutique issues, though it is much easier to buy them online these days. I have a couple of issues of Manequim and a big collection of knitting magazines too. I do not upload them or sell them, I just keep them on my laptop, hoping to use something sometimes. 

Now the challenge is in printing out those scanned copies. You really need to know the exact dimentions of the control square on the pattern sheet to get the right scaling. And there is where I have been failing. My printer just doesn't obey my instructions and keeps messing it all up. So I cannot really use them. 

Diana Moden is only sold in Russia, even though they have a website with a legal digital copy available for download, the access to it is exclusive to Russian Federation ( as you have to send a SMS to a Russian  number to get access code). They do accept an international bank transfer, but it is just too much hassle over a few euro worth magazine). The main attraction of this magazine is the fact that they feature original Simplicity patterns (4-5 patterns per issue) and this makes Diana Moden top value sewing magazine for anybody, even if you don't speak the lanquage. 

To my absolute delight, recently I found out that a company in Germany that arranges subscriptions to magazines published in Russian (I had a Burda subscription with them before it became available in my local bookstore) allows Diana Moden subscription as well. 

3 month subscription cost me 17 euro including shipping to Ireland (76 euro for a year). Even if just 1 of the 3 issues featured Simplicity patterns, that are sold for average 10 euro each, I see the benefits of subscribing already! What made my day even more- they offer a subscription to another popular Russian Sewing Magazine ШИК (Шитьё и Крой), which is now featuring either la Mia Boutique or Patrones patterns in every issue. 15 euro for three month is great, considering you cannot subscribe that easily to either of those magazines from Ireland. And you get all patterns fully, only a few month later.  So I am looking forward to the end of April, but when both of the magazine should have arrived. Bliss! 

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January 2012 projects

So here we are in 2012! Wow, I actually feel quite relieved that 2011 is over- it was a hard year for many people, full of stress and uncertainty and losses. There were lessons to learn, especially on how to let go of things and, unfortunately, people as well. Surely the new year does not mean those issues are all gone and we have a clean page to start with, oh no. But it feels so much easier to be prepared for the worst, while hoping for the best, of course.
The few coming weeks seem to be quiet enough to spend some time in the sewing workshop, so I looked through my wish list and there are a few quite doable projects, I'd love to get started on.

The first on is a ruffled jacket from Burda 1/2012. I have an off-white light pique type fabric, that I purchased from Germany, that could be perfect. Although it doesn't have that soft look as the mohair coat on this picture, it is still very soft and non-crease and it frays beautifully, which I plan to exploit at the edges of the ruffles. Overall the pattern seems easy enough, I will have to get started on it this week.

The next is a stunning dress from La Mia Boutique ( November 2011). I have to say, that I was very impressed with this issue of La Mia Boutique- a couple of years ago I bought a few issues and the garments were... to put it mildly.... very extravagant. Yet this issue is packed with beautiful, really Italian style garments. Here it is:

I am going monochromic on this one, with a white/grey/black print lycra jersey and leather imitation grey jersey for the middle part. It might turn out very nice and different. Looking forward to making it so much.

These two projects are decided on, but there might be some more. Tomorrow we are planning a small shopping spree, so there is no point of planning to make things like skirts and trousers, when I might end up buying them on sale somewhere. I know i am on the look out for a nice black clutch and a narrow golden and silver belts. And my growing daughter needs head to toe wardrobe update, so wish me luck!

And just before I go- here is a round-up for my 2011 projects:

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