This much-requested new pattern has felt like a long time coming… I had a lot of requests from ladies wanting our Perth dress/blouse pattern to be made for a larger size range… so ta da! this new version is for sizes 46-54. It’s now available here in our etsy shop; CarolynandCassie, as a pdf and also a paper version in limited numbers.
I apologise for the delay; we’ve had to contend with a computer issue that has been pretty devastating, some extremely costly software that we desperately needed in order to function has been practically obliterated, it’s been so difficult… All I can say is thank God for Craig who eventually managed to work it out.
Anyway. No one wants to hear about computer blurb, yeah? On to the pattern!
ye all-important size info….
Sam’s girlfriend L is in our new size range so I asked her if she would kindly model for us. I’m so happy she agreed because she is super cute! plus now I had a good reason to make something for her, hehe… The dress I made for her is in a rather beautiful cloudy-sky print, cotton drill from Spotlight, with a white contrasting collar. I absolutely adore this on her!
My favourite part though is the crisp white collar; just love this look! the button is a little wooden one from my stash
Thanks so much L; for being such a totally gorgeous model!!
I also made two blouse versions for my sister in law, Sandi. This first version was initially a bit big on her, which totally did my head in – what did I do?!!! – but eventually I worked out it was all due to a very stupid mistake which I am too darn annoyed and exhausted to even talk about how this happened, suffice to say that one should ALWAYS check the test square BEFORE leaving the copy shop. I know I personally will never ever neglect this ever again!! #superannoying
I took it apart and re-made it to fit properly, just because I’m a glutton for punishment well really, I cannot bear to waste perfectly good fabric! And also, Sandi really likes it 🙂 #allswellthatendswell which is why I went to the effort of re-fitting properly. I cannot say how much I LOVE an appreciative recipient! makes it all worthwhile in the end, yeah? The fabric is a really very nice charcoal and white striped linen, that I ?think? I bought in either Tessuti’s or the Fabric Store in Melbourne, during one of our visits there. The only giveaway that it was initially made to a larger scale is the the overly long collar points, which I just left as they were.
The blue and white striped version, which was correct all the way from go to whoa, yay!! is a rather lovely shirting cotton from Homecraft Textiles.
Yes! Homecraft Textiles actually stocks a really nice little range of crisp shirting cottons… who knew?! certainly not me, since they were hidden way back at the very back of the store behind the vast wasteland of lurid polyester satins and “chiffons” and fleeces that takes up like 90% of that store. One day I was hanging around in there and discovered it. EUREKA!!!
Oh! Something else I made for Sandi recently, which is completely unrelated to our Perth dress pattern so if this seems a little random and out-of-the-blue, sorry! but this seems like a good a time as any to lob it into Le Blog… I promised to make a custom-fit top pattern for Sandi, for her birthday, she put in a request after I had done the same for Mum, a few birthdays back. So I made this one… The shorter, open front T-shirt over a longer one underneath in a contrasting colour is a design modelled to a favourite top she has already. We chose and bought the fabric together from Fabulous Fabrics. I’m kicking myself I forgot to take a picture of her wearing it, because she looks so lovely in these moody pinks and blues. AND she professes herself to really LOVE this one too. This just makes me so happy! See what I mean about a grateful recipient?
I can’t wait to get my copy and make my version! Thanks so much for grading this up to fit us plus/curvy girls!
You’re welcome Carolyn, and I can’t wait to see how you go!
Just ordered it ! Thank you so much
thank you Delphine, for supporting us!
Its funny how Sam’s girlfriend L looks so much like you in coloring that at first I thought it was you modeling the cloudy dress (which is gorgeous). It is fun to make something that is loved by someone, isn’t it?
thank you so much Connie! When I see my loved ones wearing things I’ve made for them, yes it makes me very happy 🙂
These are beautiful versions! Your chic dress and blouse pattern looks really good in these sizes, too! I can see that it is annoying for them not to be included in the ranges. This seems to be a problem in boutiques, too, for women who look very normal to me. But I can understand that it‘s a lot of work making the patterns with a new block and grading! Will be interesting seeing your sewn pattern popping up!
thank you SaSa! Yes, I agree it must be annoying when your sizes are not stocked. All I can say is that I never really thought this pattern would be very popular at all, I’m happy to have been proved wrong!
All versions look wonderful on the wearer! How nice of you to sew for others!
thank you so much Pencil girl! 🙂
Love love love this pattern. I have just ordered it and the long quest for a top which can be formal or casual has finally ended. The longer collar on Sandi’s darker stripe is funky with a 70’s vibe to it. She looks lovely in both versions. Well done!!
I am looking forward to stitching up this beauty for both summer and winter. Thank you Carolyn.