Cassie Archives - Handmade by Carolyn

the Karijini dress

16/03/2024 7:36 pm \ 8 Comments \ Carolyn

Hello! I’m back, and with a BIG project that has been on my mind for quite some time now… a new pattern! Please welcome the newest pattern to gallop out from the Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co stable, the Karijini dress!

This is possibly our most ambitious design to date; being a complex arrangement of diagonal and asymmetric lines, pin tucks, folds and overlays, and hemline that dips low at the back and shows off your legs at the front… We absolutely love it; its unique style, structural lines, its comfortable fit combined with a (we think) quite elegant silhouette … and we hope that you do too! It is quite an advanced sew, but one that we think is well worth the effort.

Quick description; the Karijini is a comfortable summer dress with very interesting style lines… Technical description; the Karijini is a loose-fitting sleeveless asymmetric dress; with partial overlays both front and back. Features include generous inseam side pockets and asymmetric pin tucked hemlines across front and back. Skirt hits above knee at the front and tapers off to calf length at the back The dress has no closure but is designed to be slipped on over the head.

Some more important technical info;

I know, I know; the descriptions always sound so flat, but I promise this is not a flat design at all! I first made and profiled this design this design back in 2018 and, in the process of fine-tuning the construction procedure and writing the instructions I have made many for myself and more than a few for others too! The final pattern – well, my size anyway, of course not counting the grading – is practically identical to the first iteration, because I really was completely happy with that one straight off the bat. The only changes were to improve the construction and finishing techniques a little bit.

The name? well the Karijini National Park is in upper/middle Western Australia; and has always been one of our favourite places in WA. The gorges are absolutely beautiful, with waterfalls, rocky stratifications and layers at all angles .. all of which went towards inspiring the style lines of our new design.

following photo from the website;

the Travel Guide to Karijini National Park, WA – Tourism Australia

To showcase the design on a group of different ages and sizes, we have once again roped family members into modelng for us … I’m not kidding when I say this is one of our favourite aspects of doing the patterns! For our previous pattern, the Meelup skirt, we asked our niece/cousin Tiffany to model for us, this time it was her sister Jacinta who honoured us with her modelling skills.

My lovely mother/Cassie’s grandmother; was our other model, and both our photo sessions were such fun family events!

Jacinta’s dress was made in a softly “antique-y” blue floral from Spotlight, and Mum’s was made in a dark chocolate linen/cotton from the Morrison clothing fabric sale from a few years back. I love how the structural lines of the design are showcased in the solid, dark coloured fabric; as well as how soft and pretty it appears in the floral.

Cassie also made one for herself in two contrasting fabrics; a large scale blue check and plain white cottons… doesn’t this look so cool?!

As a reminder, here are some of my previously made versions of the Karijini;

the original, ochre linen version…

this green sparkle version…

this striped version… I have received many compliments for this one over the years!

this large scale check version… I have since dyed this version dark blue, and it looks quite different! At some stage I will take a photo and upload it here to show…

To celebrate the release of our newest pattern, we are currently offering 20% off the price for one week only, until Sunday 24th March… this apples to all our patterns in our Etsy shop here. Discount applies automatically at checkout, no code is needed. We hope you enjoy the sale, and our new Karijini pattern!

Posted in: sewing, Uncategorized \ Tagged: Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co, Cassie, dress, Karijini dress, Mum, own design, pattern

the Pinjarra twinset

31/07/2023 8:00 pm \ 4 Comments \ Carolyn

At last! Cassie and I are thrilled to release our latest pattern in the Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co oeuvre… please welcome the Pinjarra twinset!

A twinset? What on earth…?! you may be thinking/asking! Well, the Pinjarra twinset is specifically, a cardigan with a long necktie/collarline, and a long sleeved T-shirt/tee/skivvy with two collar options, one a higher loose turtleneck and the other a more scooped neckline with a skinny band to finish. A little wardrobe concept that once upon a time was called a twinset! This particular set of designs is a pattern I’ve used for myself over and over and over again and wear it very frequently; so I can confidently attest to its usefulness and versatility as a really good basic.

And as a special introductory offer we are offering the new pdf pattern with a 20% discount for the first week of its debut; that is until Monday 7th August! It is currently available in our Carolyn and Cassie Pattern Co Etsy store, here.

Although I have quite a few already I made a new Pinjarra cardigan to celebrate the pattern being finished and ready to release… I bought this very beautiful pink double merino jersey from the Fabric Store in Melbourne when we went there for Harry Potter. It’s so beautiful! Incidentally I’m wearing a new skirt with it too; this is once of my favourite patterns the Paprika Patterns Jade mini skirt. I’ve made this stacks of times too. This is a cotton jersey from Le Stash, of course… 🙂 The ivory tee underneath is another early Pinjarra, made a couple of years ago.

This turtleneck neckline is one I have been making the longest and I absolutely love it for winter.

I made a set for Mum too! using a black cotton jersey and some of the blue/grey cotton jersey for the neck tie… I think the contrasting necktie is very chic! A variation that gives it a slightly different look, even a little more formal looking, perhaps?

Cassie made a striped Pinjarra cardigan, with shorter sleeves, thanks to not quite enough fabric! This looks so cool, in my opinion! She is wearing it with the grey maternity skirt I made for her recently, using Burda 7023…

And here she is wearing my yellow Pinjarra cardigan, the pink Pinjarra tee I made for her last year, and the navy blue Burda 7023 maternity skirt that I made recently too. How lovely is this combination for work? I think she looks elegant and professional 🙂

The following is a little history of the Pinjarra evolution, which may or may not be interesting at all. But this is my blog which I think has all this documented over the years anyway, so why not summarise?

As I’ve long documented here; my original go-to T-shirt pattern was a Burda pattern that didn’t fit so I fine-tuned it to better fit me (blogged about here). Then I switched to the Closet Core Nettie pattern, that was pretty good but I eventually started improving the fit of that one too, until it ended up completely different from the pattern, with absolutely zero of the original seamlines left. At some point I rediscovered my modified Burda pattern and overlaid it with my modified Nettie and it was pretty interesting to me that my modifications were nearly identical! Anyway, long and short was that I now started to think of and use this as my personal custom fit T-shirt block and it became my basis for all stretch fit bodices.

the earliest iteration of the cardigan design, 2015

My first cardigan prototype appeared back here in 2015, although that one is of course quite different from this final, far more polished design. Every time I’ve made it I’ve twiddled with the design and I now feel like it’s a really nice robust cardigan with a good construction procedure.

I got the idea to make the two of them a twinset pattern back when I made the above marigold yellow, matching two piece set, blogged here. The tee’s final neckline is a little lower that this one as I thought this one a little high. Yes; I have thought long and hard about these little things! At this point I started working on the two necklines, grading the pattern, and writing instructions. And Cassie of course did her essential digital part. Et voila! the Pinjarra twinset is now here!

The name? Well, “twinset” has always sort of suggested to me, rightly or wrongly, the kind of thing a grandmother would have worn regularly once upon a time; since actually both of my own grandmothers did. And Cassie’s grandmother lives in Pinjarra. So it felt like a good fit. And having a pattern named Pinjarra seems fair since my mother, Cassie’s other grandmother, lives in Bridgetown and we’ve already used the name Bridgetown in our Fridgetown handwarmers pattern.

But I honestly think the Pinjarra is a pretty cool design and not particularly grandmother-ly one way or the other either. More like a really a good basic that absolutely anyone could wear!

another early iteration of the cardigan….

The pattern is currently available in our etsy shop, here. Remember that 20% discount for the next week! We hope you enjoy making and wearing either or all parts of the Pinjarra twinset as much as we have!

Posted in: sewing \ Tagged: cardigan, Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co, Cassie, Jade, Mum, own design, Paprika Patterns, pinjarra twinset, skirt, top

the Booragoon skirt and Booragoon top

02/07/2022 9:24 pm \ 5 Comments \ Carolyn

phew… I’m beyond exhausted, but also absolutely thrilled to announce the release of our latest two patterns… the Booragoon skirt and the Booragoon top!

So; here’s the story -yes, there’s always a story. That’s what a blog is for, right?!

For our niece’s 21st last year, for which I made this bumblebee cake; Cassie made a self-designed skirt for herself. It was a seriously cool skirt and brought forth many oohs and aahs and the inability to keep oneself from checking it out. Fortunately, not only did Cassie welcome the checking out part, but also excitedly declared on the spot that we should most definitely make it a pattern. So the horses were out of the gate and we were off! Of course, it did not proceed as swiftly as hoped; not only did work get in the way like a great big ol’ nuisance (not like it pays the bills or anything) but Cassie also returned to work after maternity leave was over, which slowed things down a little too.

And while Cassie’s skirt was beautifully made; she had done a massive amount of hand stitching to make the zip insertion and design lines work; which I knew would have be worked on before we could even think of releasing it.

See; the top tier of the skirt has a sharp edged, right-angle panel encircling the waist; very architectural in its genesis; that incorporates the waistband and a front panel. The front panel folds down to hide a zip closure; and the waistband has an attached, very long and skinny tie to further pull it all together. Sounds interesting? It is!

It took a bit of experimentation and fiddling, but I eventually worked out the zip insertion; so you could do it all by machine.

The top is one I’ve made for Cassie many times before; and we both decided the top really complemented the skirt very well; so we decided to release the patterns as a set. But of course you can always buy them separately as well. Actually; while I would rate the little jersey top as an Advanced Beginner level of pattern, the skirt really veers into Intermediate-Advanced level, thanks to the difficulty in mastering those nice sharp angles.. I would never tell anyone not to give it a go, however, Honestly; if I’d been scared off by Advanced ratings in my early sewing days I reckon I never would have got anywhere! I’m a big believer that’s it’s a good thing to push yourself. At the same time, the skill level thing is there for a reason!

We are offering a special, release day sale on the new patterns; the Booragoon Top, the Booragoon Skirt, and the Booragoon Top & Skirt are all 20 % off for the first 5 days, starting today. You even get a little special, and permanent discount for buying the set of patterns, as opposed to separately.

All three options re listed for sale in our Etsy store; here.

Is this a good time to mention that the skirt has a pocket? It’s just big enough for a phone and some small things, and it’s surprisingly unobtrusive. I’ve got my phonon my pocket for all my photos and it can’t be seen at all!

My lovely daughter-in-law Lainey agreed to model for us again; and the set I made for her is an all-in-one colour set; so it gives more of a dress vibe: for this one; I bought cotton from Spotlight for the skirt, and the cotton jersey for the top was a lucky match from Mum’s stash.

This next set is one of my earlier attempts; it was not particularly well made because I was still working out the zip at this point; but I really liked the skirt-over-a-dress look of it so saved the idea for my “real” one, above! Cream cotton jersey inherited from Mum’s stash, brown gabardine leftover from a long-gone pair of jeans/trousers I made for myself years ago.

And this set is playing with a dress-over-a-skirt look, just for fun. Both fabrics inherited from Mum’s stash.

All these different looks are achieved simply by different combinations of self and contrasting fabrics, and I really love this kind of versatility in a pattern!

Working on this pattern also contributed substantially to my #use30 challenge, for which I am quite grateful too, hehe. Thanks for that, Booragoon skirt and top!

Oh, the name? Booragoon is a local suburb here in Perth, and the location for a very popular shopping mall, which was actually both mine and Cassie’s introduction to department store shopping, for me dating back to my childhood years. Well, for Cassie too; but I mention for me in particular just to illustrate how long the mall has been there. It is also where my Dad had his practise for many many years; so when we went shopping we were always popping in to visit him while he was there. So “Booragoon” just has sentimental memories for us both; being a place “to shop” if you like. And we thought the Booragoon skirt and top was that kind of outfit that you might put on in order to sally forth for a day of genteel shopping and maybe a cup of tea and piece of cake to fortify yourself during the ordeal. Aaah, memories!

Posted in: sewing \ Tagged: Booragoon skirt, Booragoon top, Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co, Cassie, Lainey, own design, skirt, Theo, top

Cassie’s work wardrobe; finished!

30/01/2022 4:41 pm \ 8 Comments \ Carolyn

Phew! I’ve finished the capsule work wardrobe that I’ve been making for Cassie over the past few months…! Most of these things have been previously blogged, and I’m just rounding up here with the last three pieces…

item 1; limoncello top; based upon NewLook 6483, with widened shoulder line, and slimmed down body. I did have a small amount of leftovers that I hoped would be enough to get a skirt out of, but actually it wasn’t… *sad face* but hey, the plan was just for a top and it is a pretty one after all! Fabric from Spotlight, button from stash.

I finished the armholes and neckline with pink cotton voile cut on the bias, simply because I had no yellow or even yellow-ish fabric that would do… The same pink voile was used to make the little skinny button loop in each of these two tops.

item 2; pale pink top; same NewLook 6483 pattern, but a narrower shoulder line, same body as pattern. Fabric from Spotlight and the same pink cotton voile used to finish the armhole and neckline edges. btw, I did a tutorial on how to do a bias binding finish like these, here

item 3; pink “banksia” skirt; based upon my heavily modified Vogue 8363. I know I always cite this pattern, but I think I really shouldn’t because I really have modified it so extensively that you couldn’t make this skirt using the pattern, actually. Fabric is a beautiful Jocelyn Proust print from Spotlight, and it’s lined using a pink lining fabric from my stash.

We bought these fabrics together last year, back when we first started planning her back-to-work wardrobe as a new Mum, and I estimate that with the lining, and not including a small amount of leftovers that I *think* I can squeeze a little skirt out of, or maybe “something”: I used 2.5m to make these items; bringing my yearly total up to 4m at this point;

but in addition to that….!

Cassie and I are working on a new pattern right now, and I have used another extra 4m of some of my “junky” fabrics recently in sewing samples and testing garments. I may or may not actually wear some of these at some point, but I hope to wear them a few times, at least! Anyway; even though I haven’t blogged those things, my real “fabric used” total is actually up up to 8m and in my #use30from stash challenge: I have 22m to go!

Thoughts! I have some… this is more like a diary entry, more than anything else… so I know this is besides the point really; but I popped into Spotlight the other day to pick up a zip and was sorely tempted to buy some fabric! It was really hard to just walk out with my zip! but I’m determined to use 30m first. Ideally; I would love to get my stash down to a very small amount of beautiful fabrics that I’m really excited to use, rather than being full of donated fabrics that I didn’t choose for myself, or buy, and really don’t “want” to use at all, to be perfectly honest. I don’t want to just toss things out willy nilly though, and am really keen to use the 30m from my stash gainfully.

That’s it! See you soon!

Posted in: sewing \ Tagged: capsule wardrobe, Cassie, New Look 6483, skirt, top, use30, Vogue 8363

some more stuff…

29/12/2021 12:50 pm \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

just a few more things! I’m trying to get everything that I’ve made this year, also blogged this year, and so far there have been a few things that have fallen through the cracks!

I made another romper for Theo recently. It’s the same design as the previous few I’ve made for him, just sized up a bit so he can wear it through into autumn.. Seems only fitting, given the very autumnal themed fabric, don’t you think?

Oh! The fabric! it’s very special! It is designed by Cassie herself, called “Autumn tree swirl” and is one of the suite of autumn designs that she has in her Spoonflower shop, here. This is the organic cotton jersey.

I also made another top for Cassie’s new work wardrobe, that I’m working on for her… the fabric is the same inherited vintage suiting as the skirt I made for her recently, here. and the pattern is NewLook 6483. Such a great pattern, I’ve made it loads of times for myself and she has a copy of the pattern for herself too. She wanted an oversized look so I cut a size 12, but I think it turned out a bit too oversized though… so will go down to a 10 next time,I think 🙂

I made her skirt too previously; using my heavily modified V 8363 and crackle printed cotton drill from The Fabric Store in Melbourne, bought during one of our girly trips over there… aaah, happy times. I wonder if we will ever do something like that again…??

Posted in: sewing \ Tagged: Cassie, New Look 6483, own design, romper, Theo, top

Yallingup, with sleeves!

19/12/2021 6:06 pm \ Leave a Comment \ Carolyn

Hello! Just a quick post today… for those of you who wished our Yallingup pattern had sleeves, well Cassie has designed one! We’ve made it available as a free add-on to the pattern currently in the shop… if you’ve already bought the pattern and are unable to access the add-on through your Etsy download then please feel free to get it here from my blog as well.

CAROLYN_CASSIE_Yallingup_sleeve_addon

SuperMum mode; activated!! I love these pictures of her!

Cassie used superhero cotton fabric from Spotlight; it’s pretty cute, eh?!

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co, Cassie, maternity, top, yallingup

work outfit pt 2, blueberry crepe cake

11/11/2021 10:57 am \ 2 Comments \ Carolyn

Phew! I’m currently feeling like the Red Queen! in that I’m running as hard as I can just to stay in the same spot… anyway, a bit late, but here are some more random things I’ve made recently.

Items 1 and 2; new things for the little work capsule-wardrobe I’m making for Cassie… and btw, WHY am I making so many capsule wardrobes lately?! Actually it is kinda fun, so I’m not complaining 🙂

The pistachio green cowl neck top is similar to the previous, avocado green one that I made for her, with a few improvements… I made it from the leftover cotton jersey that I made Theo’s little panda romper from… so they have a matching mother/son ensemble, should they want to wear something like this!

The mint green skirt is from fabric that I inherited from Mum’s stash, when she cleaned it out… it’s a really lovely suiting fabric and we have enough leftover for a little top too, which I’m planning to make next #spoilers

The skirt is another heavily modified Vogue 8363, and lined with mint green lining fabric from my stash; this is an absolutely perfect colour match which is nice! It’s the exact same fabric that used to the blue skirt I made for her recently. Again, the only new thing I bought for this outfit is the invisible zip, yay!

Item 3; I rarely post cooking/baking projects here, but this one was kinda… out of my comfort zone, should I say! I recently came across the Cooking Tree on YouTube and quickly became slightly obsessed with her beautiful creations, her beautiful videos and was completely inspired to give it a go. I picked something super easy, haha; the Blueberry Crepe cake; and for my first crepe cake I’m quite pleased with how it turned out. The mixture was supposed to make 21 layers; my crepe cake has 20 layers because my first crepe was a fail which means there is absolutely zero excess for spares!

Anyway, it was quite yummy and I really enjoyed the challenge of making it, so I’m definitely going to have a go at some other of the Cooking Tree’s recipes 🙂

Posted in: crafty stuff, sewing \ Tagged: cake, Cassie, own design, skirt, the cooking tree, top, Vogue 8363

some cute new work clothes

10/10/2021 6:20 pm \ 5 Comments \ Carolyn

I actually finished these things a little while ago but have only just now had the chance to photograph them… also I have a new policy with regard to making things. I’m planning to alternate making things for others in between making things for me from now on, well for a while at least! I’m really, really trying to get my stash down, and so I’m sewing like a madman lately! Hopefully my blogging will keep up with it all too!

So, a few months ago, Cassie and I helped each other go through our entire wardrobes and make brutal decisions with regards to what should stay and what should go. It was heaps of fun! and we also identified a few things that Cassie needed to go with her existing pieces and just generally refresh her working wardrobe. She selected a few pieces of fabric from my stash, and she also had a few of her own too… and this new skirt and top are the latest things.

The top is kinda selfdrafted, loosely based upon a bodice piece from a really old NewLook dress pattern that Cassie keeps as her “block”, and the cowl neckline is a hack, she got the idea for it from a Pattern Magic pattern book tutorial. The avocado green merino knit is leftover from a long sleeved tee I made for myself, originally bought from The Fabric Store. I did a binding finish on the back neckline, and the armscyes I did by rolling and invisible slip-stitching by hand, because you know; I’m a glutton for punishment.

The lower edge was done with my twin needle, and a not quite matching green thread. All inside raw edges are finished with navy blue overlocking thread, because I do not have matching thread and I’m really determined to buy the absolute minimum in my quest to use up my stash!

The skirt is a heavily modified V8363 – honestly, not even the same pattern by now – and I lined it with a beautiful sea green lining fabric (stash). The skirt hemline is bound with pale pink poplin, itself leftover from some mask lining fabric I bought at the beginning of the pandemic for such a purpose; pale blue button from my stash too. Cassie supplied the blue cotton fabric, I think it was given to her by a relative of D’s who was cleaning out their stash.