The Victory Patterns Blog
Boundless Style is here
It’s REAL!!! It’s really real! Boundless Style is in my hands and I’m so excited that after almost two years in the making, this book is out in the world! I know some of you have received your copy and hearing your feedback is making all the hard work feel so worth it! If you haven’t grabbed a copy as yet, it’s in the shop. Check it out!
Welcome to Lookbook for Boundless Style
I wanted to share something exciting with you! As you may know, Boundless Style is almost out. Just a few more weeks to go! But I wanted to give you a bit of a sneak peek into what this book is all about so you can get your imagination going and plan some fun projects for the Fall. So, let me tell you! Boundless Style is a mix and match pattern book that gives you five bodice, five skirt and five sleeve patterns that you can combine any way you like to create your own design.
Back on the Victory Patterns Track
You wouldn’t know by the looks of things, but there's been a lot going on behind these curtains, and I'll soon be able to draw them back and show you what's been going on. It’s been an immense year for me, such a whirlwind! This year has seen the full spectrum of emotion, big challenges, and growth. In the mix of everything, I crossed off a big item on my bucket list and wrote a book, which will be out this October!
A special new project
I've had my head tucked deep down under piles and piles of fabric, working away on the pretty big project that I have to keep mostly under wraps for now. I leaked a little secret a while ago on Instagram that I'm working on a book. I figured it's about time I mention it properly here so that you know why I've been M.I.A. While I can't say more at the moment about what the book is all about, I wanted to share as much as I can up to this point
Melbourne magic
I hopped over to Melbourne recently for the most amazing weekend with some lovely ladies from blog land. This was a whirlwind trip, as Simon (who was surprisingly happy to join in on all the sew-ist activities) and I ran around town over a weekend, catching up with sewing peeps and trying to soak in as much as possible that this incredible city has to offer: Food, street art, coffee, galleries, did I say food?
TJ's Garden Lola
Isn't this dress crazy beautiful?!! My jaw dropped when I saw Tj's version of Lola. At first I thought, where the heck did she get that amazing knit and how did she manage to line up the print so perfectly across the panels?!?! But at a closer look, I realized that she DREW. IT . HERSELF!!! This girl has talent!
New friends
I had a little ray of sunshine dropped in last week from the big apple to brighten my day! Jennifer from New York's Workroom Social was visiting Toronto, and it was such a treat to hang out with another lovely sewing diva and chew on big ideas and lofty dreams.
Josephine Kimberling's magic touch
I wanted to share some of the beautiful dresses made by the super talented fabric designer, Josephine Kimberling. Taking a look at through her gallery, you can see such a great variety of awesome sewing patterns made up of her beautiful fabric, including some from the Victory Patterns' collection.
It's pretty inspiring. I want to live in her world of florals, rainbow streamers, and soda pop! Here's a little peek at her versions. Hoooly mama! I'm in love with her version of Chloe! Give me mixed coordinate floral prints and day of the week. Feast your eyes, ladies!
It's pretty inspiring. I want to live in her world of florals, rainbow streamers, and soda pop! Here's a little peek at her versions. Hoooly mama! I'm in love with her version of Chloe! Give me mixed coordinate floral prints and day of the week. Feast your eyes, ladies!
DIY Bucket bag
We all have that trunk, closet or drawer that is overflowing with scraps of fabric left over from previous projects. Too beautiful to throw out and yet too small for another project, these forgotten bits of fabric tend to sit collecting dust. But despair no more for we have the perfect solution! Sewers grab your collection of fabrics and prepare to be very busy creating multiples of the following tutorial as it is both a fun and functional way of using leftovers.
Sallie's Sewing Spotlight
SATSUKI DRESS
Sallie seems to have the Midas touch. If you poke around on her blog, you'll see that everything she makes is gold! Even her amazing illustrations, holy moly, woman, UBER talented!!! I love this version of Satsuki; the silk has such a beautiful, dark smokiness to it and a beautiful drape. I've become partial to this dress in black, and it's so nice to see such a lovely version and such pretty photos! Take a look at Sallie's post on the dress too; it's a good laugh! (Thanks Jessica for pointing Sallie's blog out to me!)
How to sew an Understitch
If you've ever sewn a pocket bag or a neckline facing and you find that the inside parts keep peeking out, trying to steal the spotlight from your beautiful the garment, it's likely because you haven't sewn an understitch along the seam of the finished edge. An understitch is used along edges where you have inner linings or facings that you want to remain concealed on the inside of the garment. This stitch that will help all those inner parts to stay put, leaving you with crispy clean finished edges!
Sophie's sewing spotlight
I like Satsuki for its simplicity and because it lends itself as a blank canvas for lots of fun, decorative and personalized techniques. Sophie's done just that by creating beautiful cutout lattice-work along the front and back neckline. She's done such a fantastic job! I thought it might inspire you to do something creative with your Satsuki or another dress pattern. Thanks for sharing, Sophie