March Indie Pattern Update!

So it seems March is a good month in the Indie sewing pattern world! Lots of beautiful spring collections. It’s got me inspired to sew up a new spring wardrobe and now I’ve got my new sewing space set up in my flat all I need is time to make it! I’m heading to NYC at the end of the week and will have my eyes peeled in the garment district for spring/summer prints and colours…my favourite time of year to fabric shop for!

New Patterns

• Style Arc’s new releases this month include the Harriet Jacket, Renae Woven Dress and Natasha Woven Pant. The free patterns with any purchase this month were the Tania Tabard and Terry Tie Cardigan so if you've got your eye on those you've got until the end of the day to jump on them!
• The latest pattern from Wear Lemonade is the Lena Shirtdress. The line drawing looks super 1920s to me with it's loose fit, dropped waist and box pleated skirt. I'd love to make it up in a vintage inspired silk.
• Sew Over It released another PDF only pattern, the Susie Blouse. I love the combination of the v neck with flat collar and how the cut just skims the figure. It has three sleeve options too.
• I’m always mega excited by the release of a new collection from Named and this time around it’s the Elizabeth Gown that has really caught my eye. The Royals Collection includes 8 new patterns in total, five in plus sizes and all PDF versions now have the layered feature so you can print just the sizes you need
• Decades of Style added the Girl Friday Blouse to their 1940s pattern collection. That huge layered collar is such an awesome design feature.
• Blank Slate Patterns released the Rivage Raglan which is a pattern for an easy to make and wear knit dress or top. I love all the colour and print blocking they have done with their samples!
• Deer and Doe released their Spring/Summer 2016 collection which includes the Zephyr Dress, Melilot Blouse and Lupin Jacket. I think my fave is the jacket; love that cropped look at the moment and the sample with contrasting sleeves!
• Another company treating us to an entire new collection is Itch to Stitch with the Zamora Blouse, Salamanca Jacket, Hepburn Turtleneck and Seville Skirt. As always Kennis has nailed some classic styles with a beautiful cut.
• Grainline Studio released the Driftless Cardigan, another company nailing those staple garments that every woman’s wardrobe needs. It's a proper classic cardigan with dropped shoulders and pockets. I think my wardrobe might need one or two!
• A pattern which really caught my eye this month is the new Falda Jacket from Pattern Fantastique. I’m always drawn to unusual designs which look like they would be fun to make as well as wear and I love how the design combines a classic shape with a more contemporary bomber style and big Victorian inspired sleeves
• Kate & Rose’s new Uptown Folk Blouse was released as a free download with Sew News magazine. It’s available through them until May and will then be on the Kate & Rose website with their other patterns
• Jenny from Cashmerette has released a free expansion pack for her Appleton Dress with includes instructions to hack it into a wrap top and pattern pieces for new cuff and shed tie options.
• The Charleston Dress is the latest release from Hey June Handmade. It's their first women's dress pattern and it's a fitted knit dress with panels which makes it perfect for getting creative and combining different textures, colours and prints of fabric.
• I think I often miss a lot of the new releases from Tessuti but their new Demi Pant pattern as really caught my eye. I’m not usually one for being drawn to a trouser pattern but these might be just what I need for spring!
• I’ve been keeping an eagle eye on the release of the Nita Wrap Skirt from Sew DIY. I’ve seen some beautiful pattern test versions popping up on Instagram and can see it working well in lots of different weights of fabric.
• Colette Patterns released a free downloadable pattern hack for their pattern of the month, the Zinnia Skirt. It includes everything you need to draft cowl style pockets for your skirt. The skirt pattern itself is 20% off until the end of March.
• Kelli from True Bias released the Colfax Dress. It's an A-line shift style dress which I particularly love the neckline of and (bonus!) it's currently 25% off in her pattern store!
• The Florence Kimono is the latest release from Sew Caroline. It's a simple flowing jacket that looks like it has great volume to it. Perfect timing to get one sewn up for summer don't you think??
• Salme Patterns' released the Olsen Dress as a free download to all mail list subscribers. It's a quick and easy simple dress with elasticated waist which would be a great starting point for experimenting with hacking your own designs.

Sew-Alongs

• Lauren from Baste & Gather has been putting up and ever so thorough Jeans Sew-Along on her blog. Parts 1-4 are now available with 5-8 coming soon!
• Kelli is running a sew-along for her new True Bias Colfax Dress pattern which kicks off on her blog on April 11th. There's a competition to win fabric vouchers if you share your completed dress by the end of the month!
• Salme Patterns are running a sew-along for their free new Olsen Dress. If you're a beginner seamstress I really recommend following this asset's a nice simple design and Elis employs some great techniques.

Upcoming!

• Couture Nomad have a blazer pattern coming soon. I can't find where I spotted that now to give you any more info but spot it I did!
• There’s a new menswear pattern coming from Thread Theory soon! It’s called the Fairfield Button-Up Shirt, a garment which will be the perfect addition to their current collection of menswear classics
• As well as their new raglan pattern Blank Slate Patterns have two more patterns (Marbella and Forsythe) coming soon as part of their spring collection
• Following the success of their Rushcutter Dress pattern In The Folds are hard at work on a new design.
• Zoe from So Zo… is currently testing a maternity camisole pattern which has an optional bust support panel.
• Tilly and the Buttons has a new pattern coming soon, there was a sneaky peak picture on the end of her last behind the scenes blog post!

Other Exciting News

• Alongside their new collection Deer & Doe relaunched their website. It's clean, fresh and modern to match their new branding and packaging. 
• Gertie from Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing latest book ‘Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book’ has been released! I've got her last two books and am looking forward to having a flick through this one.

I’ve definitely missed a fair bit of news this month in amongst a hectic work schedule and house move so please add any info you have in the comments below and I’ll do my best to update the post ASAP. I might be slow to respond to comments or post for the next week or so while I am in the states but am looking forward to getting back into the swing of regular sewing and blogging when I return!

Despite feeling decidedly spring like in my sewing plans this month the garments that have been really inspiring me from around the sewing blog community have had quite an autumnal feel!

• The Waver Jacket from Papercut keeps catching my eye but I never quite take the plunge...Julie's awesome oilskin version might be just the one to tip me over!
• I've got a thing about corduroy at the moment and the vintage one Rachel used for her amazing Adrienne Skirt is incredible. She looks so chic and elegant in it.
• Sophie can basically do no wrong with whatever she makes in my eyes and she has absolutely nailed these Birkin Flares. I don't think flares do anything for my proportions but I WANT some.
• Camille's version of the new Zephyr Dress is so gorgeous. I love how the simple lines of the design show off the fabric and as the print is a subtle one it shows off the lines of the dress too.
• The Sylphide Dress was a big hit with me when I made it a few years back and now i'm itching to make another in a beautiful print for summer just like Kate's!