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Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Mix 'n Match satchel

Oh. my. God. I've just finished the most perfect thing I've ever sewn. I don't think I could be more proud of myself ;-)
Mix 'n Match

I prefer sewing clothing over sewing bags, but for this beautiful pattern I made an exception. The pattern is called Mix 'n Match and it is designed as a satchel for primary school children or preschoolers (Mix 'n Match Mini). Since I don't belong to either of both categories anymore, its designer Riet was so kind to re-scale the pattern for me until it had the perfect size for a college satchel for students!

Mix 'n Match

Speaking fabrics, I chose an imitation leather (Nemesa by Lotte Martens) for the center front panels, and combined it with mint cork leather for the side panels and gold-bamboo cork leather for all other panels. The lining is an organic cotton by Birch, won here. I ironed two layers of Decovil light against all pattern pieces, with 3 broken and bent needles as a result. But it was worth it!

Mix 'n Match
Mix 'n Match

The original Mix 'n Match design has two backstraps to wear it on your back, but as I wanted my version to be appropriate for university instead of for primary school, I added a leather shoulder strap.

Mix 'n Match
Mix 'n Match
Mix 'n Match

Even the back of it is beautiful. Oh look at this!

Mix 'n Match

On the inside I added some handy features. Like pockets for my cell phone, my train card and a pen.

Mix 'n Match

A strap with a carabiner to prevent losing my keys a hundred times or more. The black-and-white part is elastic, so I can easily stretch my keys towards the door without detaching them from the carabiner.

Mix 'n Match
Mix 'n Match

The inside has three main compartments. The middle one has exactly the right size for my laptop so I added a little strap to make sure it won't fall out.

Mix 'n Match

It took 15 hours to sew the satchel and I bet it was the hardest sewing project I ever did. All the layers of leather and Decovil weren't easy to sew for my machine, but the result is just perfect. I'm so so in love.
Mix 'n Match
Mix 'n MatchMix 'n Match

I sewed the bag together with its designer and my sewing friend Riet. She made a satchel for her youngest daughter who will be starting primary school in two days. Have a look at her beautiful version here!

The two of us weren't alone while sewing. We had a camera crew filming the sewing process for the Belgian Tendens TV. It is Dutch spoken and not subtitled but it gives you an impression of the satchel sewing! (and an impression of the way I move and talk. I always find it exciting to see  other bloggers in front of the camera, for example in this little movie. It really surprised me to see what my favourite bloggers looked and talked like!)

Patroon: Mix 'n Match Mini vergroot tot 115% - Mind the Whale
Mint kurkleer: K-bas
Naturel-goud kurkleer: Madeline de Stoffenmadam (tijdelijk uitverkocht, maar wel nog te krijgen bij K-bas!)
Mint met gouden imitatieleer: Nemesa - Lotte Martens (limited edition, te koop per 60cm of in linten van 10cm)
Voeringstof: Feathers Mineral - Charley Harper's Nurture collection voor Birch - gewonnen in de Compagnie M.-wedstrijd
Fournituren en versteviging: K-bas en de Khadetjesvoorraad
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Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Just knot it

Almost together with our Tulip dress, another beautiful Belgian dress pattern was released. Riet is a sewing friend of mine and every pattern she designs is just spot on. So is Just Knot It, her newest dress!

Just Knot It

Eyecatcher is the back. No zippers or button plackets, the dress closes with a little 'knot'.
Just Knot It

And yes, I did add a button placket. Autumn is approaching and I wanted the dress to be worn on cooler days as well. The button placket is an extra option that comes with the pattern.

Just Knot It

Second eyecatcher are the side seams. They don't close like 'normal' dresses do (although Riet offers the option of closed side seams too) but overlap under the armpits.

Just Knot It
Just Knot It

Third eyecatcher (oh yes! This pattern is so amazing and unique!) is the pleated front. Again, the pattern offers a plain and simple option too, but I'm so in love with the details that I wanted to add them all!

Just Knot It

Since there are so many pattern pieces, the dress almost asks for color blocking. So that's what I did! I used 6 different fabrics: Kona cotton in  Canary, Woodrose, Bahama Blue, Lime and Papaya (bought at Bambiblauw), combined with Robert Kaufmans Geo Pop Sorbet.

Just Knot It


The result is a dress that suits my little friend Loes perfectly. The lively colors are beautiful against her toned skin and at the same time they fit her character. She is playful, mischievous and always happy, just like her dress!

Just Knot It

Loes and I, we both love Just Knot It
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Friday, August 12, 2016

Tulip blog tour - day 5

This is already the last day of the Tulip blog tour! Time flies when you're having fun!

Our first contributor of the day is Griet from the Emma&Mona-blog (previous Project Run&Play-winner and author of two sewing books). She sewed this super cool dress in size 116!

Annelies (Liezewiezewoes)  thought she wouldn't have time to participate, but she even managed to sew two! A top in size 122 and a dress in size 110 voor kleine Nena. To see both, hop over to her blog ;-) 

Aukje doesn't have a blog, but she's guestblogging at Katrien's today. Don't you think her daughter looks like a little gnome wearing her top in size 98 ?

Last but not least, Laurence (Blanche) is showing you her dress in size 98 here!

This means we've come to the end of the testers tour. Tomorrow, Katrien and I will be showing some of the pretest versions!

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Tulip blog tour - day 3

Day 3 of the Tulip blog tour and yet again I'm lucky to show you some beautiful creations by very talented ladies!

Sylvia (Lily & Woody) made this watermelon-Tulip-top in size 98 (3yo) for her daughter Lila.

Davina (Woohoo by Davina) made her daughter Sam a princess dress in size 104 (4yo), to be seen  here !

Brit works for Bambiblauw, one of Belgium's greatest online fabric shops. They even make their own fabric collections! She made her daughter this cute little dress in size 86 (18 months) in one of their self designed fabrics. More pictures on the Bambiblauwblog!

Tomorrow, I will present a very special guest blogger!

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Monday, August 08, 2016

Tulip blogtour - day 1

Today is day 1 of the Tulip blogtour, in which our great testers will present their dresses and tops to you!


Isabelle (Bel'Etoile) is a dream tester: she didn't just sew one, no, she already sewed three dresses in size 128 for her daughter! Her blog post is here.

Lies (Liesellove) sewed a dress in size 98 for her daughter Axelle, to be admired here!

Marleen (Petrol & Mint) sewed this happy top in size 116 for her daughter Femke!

Elki doesn't have a blog, but she's guestblogging at Katrien's today. She had never sewn a dress before, but her Tulip in size 92 is just perfect!

Make sure to visit all the testers' blogs to admire their beautiful Tulips!

Sunday, August 07, 2016

Pattern launch: the Tulip Dress and Top

Today is a very special day for us: we're finally launching our Tulip Dress/Top pattern!
fotoshoot

For those who haven't been reading along the past weeks, a little recapitulation! Tulip is a pdf sewing pattern for girls between 1 and 10 years old (sizes 80 - 140). The tulip petals and the gathered skirt add a special touch to this garment. It invites you to play with different fabrics/colors and with piping. You can choose between a dress and a top version, and between a closure with buttons or a blind zipper. 
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The detailed instructions come with clear pictures so even beginners can make their own Tulip. More experienced seamstresses find a summary of the instructions so they don't have to read through all the steps.


The day of the photoshoot it was raining cats and dogs, but our little models made the sun shine!
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Babette is wearing the dress in the smallest size, size 80 (or 1yo). It closes with kamsnaps in the back. We chose for the Yucca Cenote voile by Cloud9, bought at Aster&Emma.

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Eloise is showing the dress in size 104 (4yo), in the same fabric but a different color of piping. 

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Hanne is wearing the top in size 110 (5yo) in Lotte Martens’ Aspius fabric (a leftover from Livs communion dress).
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Loes got a dress in size 128 (8yo), the tulip petals in yellow cotton fabric and the gathered skirt in the same cotton fabric with a layer of lace fabric over it. By leaving the piping out, the dress is an extra fast sew!
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Liv wears the top in size 134 (9yo). The gathered skirt is made in the Yucca voile, the tulip petals are plain yellow and pink cotton with a leftover of the lace fabric over it. We used the same yellow and pink fabrics for the back. Playing with colors and fabrics makes your Tulip extra special! 
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Tulip - rits

I made hundreds of pictures and choosing the best out of them was a very tough job. I ended with a selection of 70 pictures. You can see them all in this slideshow!


The pdf pattern and its instructions are for sale FROM NOW ON for 7 euros in the Kaatjenaaisels-shop! We are working on an English translation, release date planned for October!
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Tulips features are:
  • 12 sizes: 80 to 140 (1yo to 10yo)
  •  top or dress
  • blind zipper or button closure 
  • pdf-pattern, seam allowance included
  • option to only print the size you need
  • tested by 16 beginner to experienced seamstresses
  • instructions with clear pictures
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Sixteen lovely seamstresses tested the pattern for us and helped us to optimize the instructions. The coming days they will show you their beautiful Tulips in the Tulip blogtour!

10/8⎮ Lily&Woody ▲ Woohoo by Davina ▲ Bambiblauw
12/8Khadetjes ▲ gastblogger Aukje ▲ Blanche ▲ Emma & Mona  
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If you'd like to purchase the pattern, the voucher code HAPPYTULIP (in capital letters, valid until 14/8) gives  you 10% off in the shop
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