Notches Kai childrens dungaree pattern - A total rip off!

This is a sewing failure!

It looks OK but read on.................

I bought the Notches Kai child's dungarees pattern about a year ago when it was reviewed on the Pattern review website. It sounded a good deal. Dungarees and trousers and shorts with loads of different options, pockets etc. Because the small people I sew for are all boys the frilly options are of no use but I expected the rest to be good. 

A complete disappointment as well as a waste of money spent buying the pattern and the fabric. Then the considerable time I wasted to get a good finish because its for someone else so I try to make it perfect. As most people do for a gift.

It looks OK here I know but really its not. 

Its awful! 

First problem: the pattern prints on loads of half sheets of A4 so really a waste of paper. I had to lose around half of every sheet yet it appears to be the entire pattern despite its on half sheets ( all lines match etc) so I continue. At this point I contact Notches. They fob me off and say go to pattern review.com where I had bought it. (  Have to say here beware if you buy from this place!) 

Notches reckon the pdf has corrupted. It prints weird on both the 110cm and 116cm so the 5-6years as well. Right now I have no idea about the rest of the sizes. So next anyway I contact pattern review. I have had no response at all from them. It's been awhile now. This all began several months ago so they have had plenty of time to try and sort this out. They simply have not bothered!

So I won't be buying anything again from either Notches or Pattern Review since both gave sh1t customer services. And yes I am mad at these rip off online companies right now! I do not usually swear on my blog even if using numbers in place of letters. I just don't but I want other sewers to be warned and understand how angry I am with this and how ripped off I am feeling, before you buy this or another Notches pattern. And as for Pattern review, well they did not even bother to come back to me at all. So buy if you want but please think how you will deal with a total lack of customer services should you need help.

So anyway this is what happened next. I managed to get the pattern put together despite missing a print off half of every sheet. I found a lovely fabric that appeals to certain small man I am sewing for this time. I went to town with both side and patch pockets. Then having bought this nice digger print cotton I decided to get going and make dungarees. Supposedly in a 110cm so for a 4-5 year old in the UK. 

Even properly interfaced the facings and the top and straps which I admit I often just skip over especially with small children who will wear something for such a short time. This time though I did exactly what the pattern tells you. After all a 4 to 5 year old will test this to its limits when playing so I want it to hold up for every day play for him.

I think I paid 14 Euro for this pattern. It's possibly the most expensive I have ever bought. Single pattern that is anyway. Should have stuck with BTrendy, Burda etc. At least you get decent customer services when things go wrong and they really do try to help. Not at all these two companies!

Its never good when there is a problem but I am used to having some level of customer services and Burda in particular - that is burdastyle.co.uk, burdastyle.de and burdastyle.com have all been helpful at different times. I have not had a pattern problem with Made By Oranges ( Btrendy and My Image magazines) but have had a postage issue and they were helpful too. Thats a good point though. No pattern issues whatsoever with their patterns!

Anyway so I finally get these made and to me they look small and how will small person get into them?

The neck hole seems tight to me but maybe its just how it looks.

Well I have an even smaller person available who currently wears a 92-98cm in RTW or UK 2-3 years and no the dungarees do not go on. In fact I possibly hurt small person trying to squeeze him in! Not too badly and he does tend to object to trying on clothing, but you know the idea was make something nice not an object of torture.

So what to do?

I don't want to scrap the nice fabric. I could remake with normal so buttons and non elastic straps but even then they would be tight I think on top. Not the loose fit I was aiming for anyway. I think trousers will work but for the 2 year old not the 4 year old.

Just to clarify as well I took the smallest possible seam allowance on the pattern that says seam allowance is included. So a smaller seam allowance that the pattern actually reckons it allows for!

Also the facings do not at all fit. I had to draft my own. That's OK I could live with that if the rest of the pattern was right. It's not though.

The pattern is meant for wovens and my reason for purchase was for woven non- stretch fabrics. Summer cottons particularly. Thats what I wanted and why I bought it because I already had several stretch fabric /jersey patterns. However, if this pattern actually has any chance it may work I would make it in a stretch lycra jersey fabric. Just in case it's on your list of to-dos. I might risk some more fabric at some point and try it out. But then why bother when there is a free Sparkle and Roar dungaree pattern that works. Yes I paid for this but it was possibly the worst buy so far. I have only ever made one other pattern so rubbish and that was a long time ago so I ahve maybe so far been lucky but I have to say this experience really does put me off indie designer patterns right now. I like my favourites - How to do Fashion being a very nice one that springs to mind and I used to like Rebecca Page though Rebecca has left the label as far as I know,  but many out there are really not worth paying for. I will probably stick with the small number I currently like now for a while because this has really put me off experimenting which is sad. One rotten apple spoiling the whole barrel as they say.

Right now though I feel ripped off, disappointed and that I have wasted my precious time on a totally cr4p pattern that doesn't print properly and is definitely over priced!

Oh and yes before I cut anything of course I checked the gauge was right.

It's just a completely rubbish pattern so if I was you I would avoid this one. I also will never buy another Notches pattern ever again. What I may have to do though is work through my other small collection of indie designer patterns to see how the rest work because I own loads I have yet to make. Maybe its time to put these indies to the test and see if I prefer the big pattern companies after all. I definitely do not like Notches in case you missed what I have been on about here.

On the positive side I finally finished these as dungarees and I now know what I made and the fact is these can be altered into trousers for the 2 year old who tried them on for me. He wants them. The construction of these has been dragging on since last winter! So at least (once they get cut back into basic trousers which will be fast cos my smallest small person will then get some wear from them at least!) then I will have only stuff for me to make and some of this is on my list for a few years. I have a large pile if washed and ready to cut camo for starters - about 10 different types if camo fabric to be precise that I really want to wear and a long list of patterns sorted to use with this fabric so finally my sewing for others ends for a while. At least the future is looking good. 

Or its looking camo!

Take care and have a lovely week won't you and thanks for reading to the end of this very long text heavy post if you made it this far,

Bracken

Cozy tiger top

 

This is a top I made previously but I did not bother to add the side zip because to be perfectly honest its pointless. The neck is wide so why add a zip you do not need?

Last time I made one of these I did add the zip. I suppose if you wanted to pose like the Burda magazine with the zip open it would be worth having but then the neck falls down off my shoulders so its really not worth having the zip unless you happened to use a very chunky one and it was there just for the look of it - a bit like punk rock bondage trousers. Then it would be worth having. For my purpose though which is to have a cozy warm top - no its a waste of effort and a waste of a zip. So this version doesn't have a zip.

Its been hot for the last few weeks where I live so I was surprised today when I ut this on to realise I was cold because this is a definitly warm cozy top and I am going to like this one I think. I like the previous version but tend to layer it.

I actually began making this top back in January but I decided it would look and work better with cuffs so I ended up waiting to finish it until I had some cuffing fabric. This is sweatshirt cuffing. And they turn back so can be long for winter or shorter as seen on the rest of these photos.

Oh and the jacket itself is the same faux fur as my coat lining. 

You can see the back goes to a point with a high low hem.

Wonderful faithful hound here is my Roger. Hes a GSD x  collie and is now 7 and very lovely.

Well today is the first chilly day for ages and to be fair until I popped this on for the photos I had npt noticed I was cold so no its not actually cold. Its summer in England! 

And really this was made for wearing in winter although I suspect it will get quite a bit of wear the next few weeks if the weather stays dull and chilly so its going to be slightly more versatile than I expected by the looks of it. Have a lovely week and thanks for popping by, 

Take care

Bracken

Muslin check tie front shirt

I bought this fabric yonks ago. Maybe 2013? Really a very long time ago anyway and since I have been stash busting for what now seems like years!!!!! I decided its really time to make something from it. This is just a summery top to protect me from sunburn when I wear shirt sleeves. Right now the UK is HOT!

And predicted to get hotter! 

Still can't complain!

So this is a burda pattern I bought as a download around 2013 to 2015. I made it before but in stretch fabric which I think actually works better for this pattern. Its Burda Style 04/2012#126C. Its fine as a fun cover up for summer but would be far too short as a top in winter. For me anyway. Maybe a 16 year old could carry it off but no, not me!

I French seamed the seams to keep everything neat. It's worked great though I think I never left enough seam allowance to get the fit I usually aim for. Its OK because as a summer cover up this really works. And I have already worn this several times to avoid sunburn.

If I use a woven fabric for this particular pattern again, I would lengthen the body and make bigger seam allowances. But despite this it does work and its a lovely lightweight cover-up which I needed the last few days

I have lots more of this bright cotton muslin still to decide what to make so there might be another item from this if I can decide on something I think will work. Its a transparent muslin though and a single muslin not a double cloth so it would need multiple layers for something like a skirt or at least some kind of lining. Its fine for a cover-up top though as it is.

But either way it does prove you eventually get round to even very bright fabrics. I have managed not to add to my stash for months now and its still massive. Summer dresses next maybe?Something I can use to transition to winter by layering would be good.

Have a fun week and hopefully see you soon with another summery make.

Take care 

Bracken 

Leggings 2

 This is my second pair of basic leggings made in a decent activewear wicking fabric and I very much loved wearing them. Not the best lighting but the mountain behind is lovely. Better photos below!

We went to North Wales for a week and it turned out to be 10degC colder than at home despite being only 3 hours drive away. Shocking. It was apparently really hot at home but just pleasant in Wales. The people were not very friendly though which is disappointing because we are actively trying to decide where in the Uk we want to move. The only people we met who were friendly were Scottish. Since we are both leaning towards moving to Scotland thats a nice discovery. Really I think its a toss up between Cornwall and Scotland so either end of the UK. I would have though seriously of France and Holand or maybe Germany but after the Brexit fiasco we no lonbger have the righ to live there unless we have a huge income and its unlikely we ever will so that is now out. We can in fcat only even visit the EU for 180 days at a time and then have to be stuck back on this island for a further 180 days. What rubbish these brits chose! It is so annoying that people tell me there was a huge number voting to leave but actually it was a 52/48 split with most of the leavers now being dead! They reckon the demographic has totally changed and we would choose stay in now. I hate the fact we are no longer european. I am and always will be but these ancients are convinced we should instead be solo. Makes me unhappy that!
OK rant over!

My new leggings are the same as the last pair just different fabric and I have a 3rd pair nearly finished too. I will show you those once done. All fabric is from Pound Fabrics for I think around £9 per metre. Top was made ages ago. Its quite tatty now even though its a raggy top , its seen better days but I love it. Its lightweight yet warm.

Look at that knee turning right in now. Definitely need a knee op and you can see now by the way I am standing. I cannot help this its just my joints no longer work right so probably its my last holiday before I become cyborged ( two knees and one more hip being replaced!!!). I do not actually mind being cyborged. If the first hip is like the next few joints it will be wonderful to get my life back. Its not they never hurt again though. In the wet which is lots here, I ache in the replaced hip but its nothing to the agony before they did it and I can walk and do everything. I can even sit cross legged like a kid ( or could before the second one went wrong!) and I could not do this before the op. I was an invalid. Its for certain better to be normal than in pain and unable to function which would be me if I refused these ops. The difference between being a disabled old woman or an active middle aged one. I chose a life.

But the hip they already did is strong! I really know that right now. Its all that keeps me walking. Enough of self pity. Leggings!

You can see the colours in this fabric better here. I want some more of this fabric. Just waiting for a tax refund to cash then I can buy some. Nice when you accidentally pay too much tax and get it back. I also made two dry robes for the holiday which I slogged daily for 2 weeks to get made. I have yet to get photos of them but will do so because it cost around £70 for the two instead of  £180 each! 

I would seriously urge anyone who wants one and who can do basic sewing to have a go at making them if you want one. They are very easy. I have lots of making photos too but none as yet of the finished garments. I also have measurements and can help if anyone wants to message me about this. 

And they have no pattern as such and both work really well. I will post my dimensions with the photos once I get them. Sadly never took any on holiday but will find somewhere to take some here abouts so I can share this because possibly they are my biggest make ( and riskiest) in years and I am very happy with them. That will likely be my next post if you are interested but will have to be next week due to time and needing someone available for the photos.

Thanks for popping by and hopefully see you soon with a good blog on my dry robes!

Take care and have a great week,

Bracken

Skull culottes ( RP patterns)

Having a bit of a Goth day when I wore these!

Skulls and a black lace top- I would have been so happy to own these when I was 18!

Again I am doing more sewing than blogging and its been ages since I sat down to write. Sorry about that but I decided to concentrate on the actual sewing rather than the blogging about the sewing. If you see what I mean.

The top is an old one I made a while back and rediscovered recently when the weather got hot.

I do not seem to burn so much when I wear this. Its quite hot for the UK now so getting sunburned is an issue and I rarely remember to use sun block. So despite the colour its a nice summer top.

Culottes are made from a stretch cotton lycra fabric which has been stashed for around 3 years I reckon. Definitely time I used it for something.

Yoke ( waist) is just a black tubular ribbed fabric ( cut into the pattern of course because its a shaped yoke not a straight waistband) I had a scrap of because I ran out of the skull fabric so I needed something else. Orange strappy vest just seen is also a Rebecca Page pattern and I really need to make a few more of these vest tops. They are a good basic staple. Not sure but I think RP patterns may no longer be available? If they are back online this top pattern used to be a freebie.

I made a pair of these before in a wintery glitter fabric when RP was still owned by Rebecca Page, and a pair of shorter length fluorescent velvet shorts a little after that. I love the shorts but the longer length serves my current needs better. 

The first pair and the second velvet pair both fit better. I reckon I must have made a smaller size. In fact after making and altering the waist on both pairs I recollect I needed to go a size down with Rebecca Page patterns so these are in fact a size too big I think. That makes them a bit loose. It will actually not matter because these are specifically for my recovery period after my hip replacement so that will be OK. Its something I should try to remember for my next version though. That is that with RP patterns I am a smaller size than the details tell me I am!

I can always make a smaller pair afterwards. I mentioned in a previous post I have to have this op and it's due any time from what I have been told. I went on the NHS waiting list last August so I think its about nowish I should get the op. 

Last time I swelled up - not surprising really when a large chunk had been chopped off my leg and replaced by an implant! So these being looser could be good. I had culotes last time but a different style and they were great for day wear after the op. These are much more fitted than my previous version which was self drafted.

I have also made a purple pair of these. Again they are a little large. I have not worn them as yet but may blog later about them. In both cases I had to take in the yoke. I hate unpicking stretch fabrics. I did achieve it both times though with no holes made but for the future I am trying to get through to my stupid head to remember to go down a size for RP!!!!!

I need to make some tops in my purple fabric. They will go with these and my other ( not photo graphed yet) pair as well as the rest of my "hospital" stuff. I am aiming for all purple for sleep and day wear. It may annoy the nurses to be honest but that can't be helped. It will make my life so much easier if everything goes together easily. The nurses do like you to have day clothes and sleep clothes (pjs). Mine will mostly all be in the same fabric so the difference will be minimal and I suspect they will be offering me gowns! But these skull culottes of course are my contrast. I am hoping for time to make a second pair of pj trousers and two or 3 tops so I really must get a move on! It's a bonus if these recovery clothes can be worn later though.

Also I have yet to try this but the PJs I made before I used a yoga pants pattern with a low waist. Its an old pattern though free and brilliant. Anyway I suspect the RP yoke will go on the waist of these quite nicely eliminating the need for elastic in an added on waistband which is my usual method of making these because I do not like the yoga band top. I do love the pattern though and it works well with a normal waistband. I will let you know if this idea works on my next pair of these.

Have a lovely week,

Bracken

Basic leggings that fit!

I have not blogged for some time and there is a good reason for this slackness. This year I have spent a lot of time looking through my old me-made clothing. Some I have binned or recycled. A great deal though I have begun to alter because its pretty much all too big for me. 

For example these leggings: 

steampunk, 

camo leggings,

skull leggings

There is a very good reason for my ill fitting clothing when I began sewing again after many years when I had done no more than sew on a lost button. Well no there are two reasons. 

1) I was scared of messing up my very expensive fabric and making something that did not fit. So long as the item was big it would fit. Actually, most of my early fabric was cheap rubbish but it was what I could get hold of and to be fair it was really good for practicing until I got good enough to spend more on my fabric. I still by cheap, don't  get me wrong, but nowadays I also buy "nice". If its cheap then great but if not I will probably still buy it if I can.

2) I wanted to blog so much I did not care if I never made things fit so long as I had a post to write about. Yes agreed that is sad. But honesty  means I have to admit that and I may as well be open with it rather than just saying it to myself. Well things have changed. Now I would rather do less blog posts and make things that are really nice.

So the last few weeks have been taken up re-making things. There is still a lot left I need to deal with but I am getting there and I have lots of well fitting clothes to wear now. And my wardrobe feels really nice ( although still somewhat over full!) 

Anyway the reason for my silence with blogging is I spent a quite a few days recently remaking these old clothes and now at last they all fit. Three things I have remade are these leggings, skulls, camo and steam punk patterned - see above links. I will not waste your time or mine doing before or after pictures at least not until next Me-Made-May when I may get round to that. For now suffice it to say these now all fit and I also chopped off the ruched ankles as well because they are harder to wear. Having re-made these leggings I now also know what size actually fits and where I need to adjust the pattern - for example the ankles are just baggy on the pattern and I want proper leggings with tight fitting ankles. 

The size problem was also compounded by my losing weight. I went down a dress size by accident. This meant my leggings were 2-3 sizes too big for me so that made it all even worse. 

I then decided to buy some ( quite expensive at £8.95/m) new active wear (wicking) fabric which is 4-way stretch. Although from what I have read although sellers say ts 4-way really what they mean is 2-way. But thats a rant for another time. Look it up if this interests you. But now I have sorted it and made some new leggings as well. I have a better wardrobe leggings wise than I have had for around 30 years I think. Sometimes you need to just step back from blogging and think about what exactly you are really trying to achieve. 

I love blogging and connecting with other sewers/ sewists but really I want to make nice clothing I like and want to wear and not just to make clothing.

I have cut 4 new pairs of leggings and I am very excited to be able to show you this first pair. Its actually the second pair I have sewn up but I have not yet worn the other pair so today is the first time wearing these and yes they feel good and I am really very happy with the fit. There is a snag though if you look at the back waistband right at the end of sewing I got a tuck. 

I considered unpicking and redoing but decided no its really not worth the effort since its likely only me will ever notice and I also run the risk of making a hole in my lovely leggings when unpicking them so this is staying. 

Have a lovely weekend and thanks for popping by my blog. 

Take care

Bracken

Sun hat for child Burda style magazine #145/06/2014

 

This is a sunhat made for a child. Size is for a 52cm head. However the pattern is for a 50cm at biggest size so I cut it a little larger to take that into account and to ensure everything still fitted together right.

Its reversible because you may as well make it like that. You have to line it anyway though could have an inside seam but its not difficult to make this pattern reversible.

Its a Burda magazine pattern from an old issue I bought used but with intact patterns, from Ebay.

The pattern is #145, 06/2014 but the Burda version is not reversible. Instead they sew in lines around the brim to make it stiffer. Small person had a baby hat I made with a lining to match the outer so I decided this time to make that a feature and make it reversible. And this works well.

This is the issue with this pattern which has just 3 pieces to trace and is very easy to make larger if needed.

Unfortunately its now chucking it down with torrential rain here but thats England! We will get some sun at some point I expect.

Have a great week and thanks for popping by,

Bracken