Hot Patterns Red Hot Mama Multi-Pocket Tote

I ordered two Hot Patterns a while back after the fiasco pants. I ordered the Red Hot Mama Multi-pocket Tote and the Deco Vibe Cosmopolitan dress. They arrived in a timely fashion but the purse pattern was missed half of the pages including the directions and the Deco Vibe dress had no directions included with it. I emailed and it took quite a while to get a response. When I did get a response, it was a nice one. They were sorry for the mistakes and they would 1) send me another purse pattern and 2) email me directions for the Cosmopolitan Dress. It was fine but it was a pain. I finally got around to making the purse. I've actually been sewing a lot even though there hasn't been much on the old blog. It's secret-sewing!!!

This baby is large; definitely a beast. I'm not sure if I love it though. the pocket in the middle is really big. I took several pictures with it on me so you can see exactly HOW big. It has three main pockets. The outer two are smaller and have all the pockets. The inner one is huge with no pockets. You can add them to the middle, of course. I used an IKEA canvas fabric for this. I wanted a firm fabric and want to use leather eventually. This is my practice bag, if you will.

I put a ton of pockets in it. It's really hard to see what I did when it's in the bag so I also drew some pictures of all the pockets. 

The inner bag is so large, I can put in an entire pair of shoes like this. Not stacking the shoes, but putting them side by side. Like I said, LARGE inner bag.

I will use it around town and then I will let you know how I like it and it's massive-ness. Here it is for scale on me.

See? She's BIG!!

One issue I had with the bag was the less-than-stellar directions. I consider myself an accomplished seamstress and I have (I think) really good spacial abilities. I can easily image how something goes together by reading the directions. This bag boggled me. There were steps that were just flat-out missing. I used the directions, the YouTube videos and a lot of wine to get through this. If I make it again, in leather, I will be more prepared. Beware if you decide to tackle it!

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Goodies

Did you guys snag any good sewing stuff for Black Friday/Cyber Monday? Last year, I bought a bunch of fabric and patterns. This year though? I wasn't really feeling it. I did snag some fun though.

I used this opportunity to buy about 40 randomly-colored zippers. I buy loooong zippers that I know I will have to cut off. This way, I always have a zipper for projects like my Charlie bomber jackets. The difference in price between the 18" and 28" is only $.20 or so, so it's totally worth it. I bought about 10 with the brass teeth, 10 with plastic teeth (like these in the picture), and I bought 11 white zippers that are closed on the bottom. I really only needed six for Jalie 3244 Christmas pajamas. I could either buy six of them for $1.10/each or I could buy "bulk" and buy eleven of them for $0.42/each. That was a no-brainer decision. They are all long zippers so I will just cut off what I don't need.  They had a free shipping plus 40% deal and I took full advantage of it. The metal zippers at Joann's are about $6-$9 for each one!

I also bought two more Hot Patterns. They had a 30% (I think?) plus free shipping promotion going on. I really want to love this company. I've adored their line drawings for years. I did finally bite the bullet and buy three of them not too long ago. Out of the three, one was a hit-it-out-of-the-ballpark winner, one was a what-the-fuck-were-they-thinking, and one of them was okay-but-needs-alterations. Those aren't good odds, especially when I'm used to Jalie, Ottobre, and Burda. Anyway, I did it again. I figure, it's a damn tote bag, how can it go wrong? I've been carrying around a lap top a lot more lately and struggled to find a cute, larger, non-frumpy tote bag lately. Then I had a face palm moment and I was like, "Dawn. Dawn! Why don't you just sew one." I've sewn the Nairobi bag before and it was easy to sew the leather. I used the bag for years until it wore out. I'm going to do it again with this bag.

I also bought this one which is so old now that it's considered Vintage Hot Patterns. Again, though, this is one I have admired for years. I'm hoping for another hit-outta-the-ballpark. I've seen so many versions out there (and I remember the neckline issue!) and they are all lovely. This is exactly the type of thing I love in the winter too. Keep your fingers crossed for me! I want to love you, Deco Vibe Cosmopolitan Dress, please do not disappoint me!

Hot Patterns–Metropolitan Good Times Dress/Tunic/Tee

So, let’s refresh ourselves shall we? Back in May, I bought three Hot Patterns to try them out and to see if they would fit me well. I had never tried Hot Patterns before but I have long admired their sassy line drawings. (Note to self: never, ever, ever rely on line drawings for informative consumer prices. Not that these drawings are misrepresentations of the patterns, but line drawn women always look so perfect with their wind-blown hair and sassy poses.)

Anyway, here is my dress version. Let’s see. I think it’s . . . okay. Initially, I was going for all purple, but then, obviously, I ran out of fabric. I chose the striped fabric because I knew I wouldn’t find anything to match it exactly. And I’ve learned that if you are going to mismatch, mismatch like a boss, meaning do it loud and proud. Here’s what I like. I like the yoke and overall shape. Yes, I think it would have been better in all one color. But I don’t think that’s the main issue.

Here’s what I really don’t like. I really don’t like the sleeve shape. This is a very soft fabric and the sleeve just kind of collapses. In a stiffer fabric, I’m afraid this would stick out like wings. If I make this again, I’ll have to re-draft them to make them sit like they should. The sleeves on this are rectangles, with no shape. Literally rectangles. And the longer 3/4 length sleeves are the same but just longer. I think they would have the same issues.

This is not the look I am going for but this is what I would get if the fabric had less drape.

The amount of fabric in the back seems excessive too. Well, I’m not too impressed with this dress. It’s okay but it certainly doesn’t look like the billowy, wind-blown models.

So, the tally. My first Hot Patterns was a bright success, the second was a horrible failure and this one, well . . . what do you guys think? Okay as is? Salvageable with changing the sleeves?

Hot Patterns DISASTER - Weekender Cargo Pants

I don’t enjoy writing bad reviews. In fact, I would much rather just pretend nothing happened and never write about this. But then, I would feel bad about other people buying this pattern. I had such high hopes. I love the casual styling, I love the topstitching, the pockets are fun, I love the pockets that form the belt casing. It could have been a great pattern. I would have enjoyed the topstitching and the pockets. Alas, it was not meant to be.

 

 

First, the crotch height is um, high. Like, the highest draft I’ve ever seen. This almost reached to the bottom of my bra. I don’t understand it. At all. How can the draft be this high? Can you see the faint white chalk marks where the rear pockets go? The pocket flap would start on my back!!

 

Look, you can actually see the bottom of my black and white sports bra. The top of the pants go way above my ribs. And the seam allowances are 3/8” on this pattern. Even if you took that into account, the height on these is crazy.

 

So then I had an ah-ha moment. Maybe it’s NOT the pattern. Maybe I need to make a larger size? And pull them down more?? Maybe my hips are not letting the fabric settle down where it should be? So I loosened the pins holding the CF together and ended up with the weirdest low, pointy crotch ever. No, it’s not me. It’s definitely the pattern. When it is pulled up to rib-ville, the crotch curve actually fits okay. At least, it really felt like that is where it is supposed to be.

 

On the plus side, I used crappy muslin fabric and didn’t spend too much time on this.

Anyone want to buy a pattern? I won’t be using it. I bought it because I love my Jalie Vanessa pants (which I’m wearing right now) and thought these might be similar. Hahahhahahahahhaa. Maybe, instead, I will add the details I like (the pieced and topstitched legs and the large pockets) to my Jalie pants instead. They never let me down. The Hot Patterns tally is 1 for 2 now. I have one more pattern to try out. Oh, and I did email Hot Patterns last week about the missing pattern piece on my HP t-shirt. No response. It’s been a week.

Hot Patterns: Riviera Once, Twice, Three Times a T-Shirt

The other day I bought three Hot Pattern patterns and I finally had a chance to sew one of them up. And you know what? I love both versions I made. I would love to make up the third version but I think I’ll need a thicker knit.

Here was my first version. On this version, I made the “regular” t-shirt and added the armbands to make the sleeves a little longer. I put the sleeve band on the cross grain for a little stripe fun. This knit is really thin and was a bit hard to sew. This pattern uses facings which I interfaced. This is a true boat-neck and the neckline is just a straight line between the shoulders. I found the neckline to be wide so I sewed the neckline seam about 1/2” more narrow on each side. This wasn’t quite enough and my bra strap shows. I have one criticism with this top. There is no pocket pattern piece on the pattern sheets. Okay, I have a second one. There is also no pocket placement line on the t-shirt. This is EXACTLY the type of thing I struggle with; the “correct” dimension on a pocket and where to put it. It is those small details that really makes something look homemade versus professional. So, no pocket for me. I may email them and ask about it.

 

I’m not in love with the facings but I think it may be the best way to deal with this type of neckline. Overall, it’s a win. Pooling above the butt because of my prominent ba-donk-a-donk.

 

This is version #2. I’m in love with this version. I narrowed the neckline down a little bit more than the first version. I ended up making the neckline 1” more narrow on each side. This width is about perfect for me.

 

Look at those sleeves! I had to laugh when The Sewing Lawyer put up a post recently about the stupidity of bell sleeves. I couldn’t agree more. This has the fun of a bell sleeve but with functionality. I CAN eat when I am wearing it!

 

This top is designed to be about 2” longer than the plain t-shirt. I like this length better than the other one.

 

I left the sleeves unhemmed and it will be fine in this fabric. Overall, I’m in love with this floral version.

 

I kind of wish I had made it a dress. I don’t think there would have been enough fabric for that though.

So far my experience with Hot Patterns has been one for one. We’ll see if the streak keeps up. I have the pants on the table right now so we’ll see how those fit. Oh, and for the record, my measurements fit into the size 8 and I made a size 8 with no alterations and things fit well. I didn’t even add length which I almost always do.

Hot Patterns

I bought some Hot Patterns the other day. I have never bought one of their patterns before but I have long been enamored by them. This cargo pant is a brand new one but the other two are oldies, but goodies. One thing I wish Hot Patterns would do it a better job of making large pictures of their line drawings. I think I know all the details on these patterns but I’m not quite sure.

 

I made the Jalie Vanessa pants the other day and they’ve been in constant rotation since I made them. This pant reminds me of them a bit and I love the detailing on them. I thought I would give them a try. I think I would wear these quite a bit. I just have to find the right fabric.

 

I’ve loved this top for a really long time and there are so many great makes from this pattern. I know that *jazz hands* sleeves are a huge thing this year in fashion so I decided to get this if not only for the billowy sleeve version, though I do love the other versions too. And who doesn’t need a whole wardrobe of knit tops?

 

And I’ve always loved this third pattern. There are three different neckline variations, three lengths, and three sleeve options. I live in knit dresses in the winter. The tunic and dress are right up my alley. I like the top too, and I love the neckline. Imagine the dress with those ties at the neck in a thin merino wool. And it has pockets! 

Needless to say, I’m excited to get these in the mail. I’ll let you know more when I get them!!

Hot Patterns - Nairobi Bag

I finished it!!! It is pretty darn big but I love it. I always have to haul around a ton of stuff so it should be perfect. I love the teal color - very springy! Grumpy girl #1 wanted to be in the photo also. This photo is to show you the size and the real color. It's not as eye-popping as it looks in the other photos. Here's the original post with a little bit more information. Here are a few in-progress photos. Here's a link to the Hot Patterns page with the information. I got my download free (thank you, you-know-who!). If you want me to send it you, you probably won't have to convince me too much. I'm writing this small because I'm hoping that HP won't read this if it's small. They already aren't really big fans of me.

Here's the inside. This side sports a zippered pocket with a pink (all for you Paulette!) zipper.

This side has a series of pockets that you can barely see. Didn't I do an absolutely freaking awesome job matching the prints? It's so easy to do on something without darts, pleats, and curves. You can see my iPhone peeking out of one of the pockets. I made a few pencil pockets and a larger one for my wallet.

I decided to add a leather facing to the top edge. I didn't want the cotton peeking out at the top and I thought the cotton would be too dainty to deal with the magnetic snaps and the stress of open/shut, open/shut, open/shut. As it turns out, it's very hard to topstitch this many layers of leather. I topstiched through the outside and facing so that the lining didn't just go together leaving the main bag open. I never downloaded the directions so I don't know how HP has you put it together. I omitted the middle section of the bag. Melissa has made this bag numerous times and says that it's fine to leave that part out of the bag. It's plenty big she says.

Here's the outside of the bag with the straps. I don't like how long the straps that attach to the bag. They are too long. Oh well, there is no way I am fixing that at this point. On my next bag, I'll change that.

This is the intersection between the purse straps and the shoulder strap. Notice on the purse how I couldn't topstitch around the bag where the straps go it???? Too bulky. I'm not sure how to fix that next time. This time I think I'll just leave it. Oh well. I still love it. I'll get lots of use out of it.

Leather Purse

I've been wanting to make a purse for a while. The torquoise on the left is suede (HOW FUN IS THAT COLOR??). The fabric on the right is a quilting cotton for a lining.

I think I'll use the Gutterman upholstery thread for topstitching. I like the light tan one on the bottom.

I'm going to make this HotPatterns bag. I'm hoping I can cut it out and make it this coming Saturday. We'll see how fast I can work my way through it. I'll be using one of Paulette's machines at Seams Like Home.

Must. Buy. This.

I absolutely love this new pattern from Hot Patterns. I have never tried any Hot Pattern before but I am sorely tempted with this one. Part of it is the styling. I LOVE the grays and white. Love. It. If my local fabric boutique has it in stock, I'll buy it. Paulette, is it there?? I have some rayon knit that would be perfect. I would use self-fabric for the rib knit sleeves, neck, and hem. I love it and now I'll have to keep my eyeballs out for ribknit. My favorite is the elbow length sleeves.

Simplicity 2922 Muslin

So, here again is the dress that I like. I decided on Simplicity 2922 as my base pattern. I made up a muslin today and I think it's coming along nicely.


I had already decided that the belt would go all the way around instead of the buttonhole belt holes. I may or may not add sleeve cuffs. I kind of like them how they are right now so I might now add the cuffs. I cut off about three inches off the top of the sleeve. I'll show all the alterations in a later post when I figure out everything. I'm usually an above the knee kind of gal but I like this length too. This is the first Big 4 pattern that I've ever worked on that really has potential. Maybe I'm just getting better at fitting my body and figuring out what works for me.



The original Simplicity pattern has quite a bit of gathering in the back under the yoke. I did that originally but then I took most of it out. I had to take a 1" tuck in the back yoke. But I realize now, they added seam allowances because they put a zipper in it. I should have taken out the seam allowances on the pattern pieces before cutting it out. Duh. I also took out most of the gathering. I may take out a little bit more. I know the Hot Patterns dress does have gathers but I like this better.


You can see how the the gathers puff out a bit.

It was my birthday yesterday. Not only does my husband buy fabric, he buys me shoes for my birthday. Eat your heart out ladies. He bought this pair and the red patent leather pair I've been coveting.