Christine Haynes's Blog, page 15

Holiday Shipping Dates

I'm leaving on holiday later this week, but don't worry, my shop will remain open while I'm away! There are a few things to note though:

First, I will not be selling my books while I'm away, as I sign them to order and as I'll be away, I won't be able to sign them.

Second, my pal Haley will be taking over the shipping while I'm gone, but please note that unlike the usual 3-day turnaround time, Haley will be shipping on specific dates, so please plan your purchases accordingly! See below for the schedule:


Regular Delivery (Pink):
Orders placed from now - end of day May 28 will ship May 29
1st Delivery Period (Green):
Orders placed from May 29 - end of day (PST) June 4 will ship June 6
2nd Delivery Period (Yellow):
Orders placed from June 5 - end of day (PST) June 11 will ship June 13
3rd Delivery Period (Orange):
Orders placed from June 12 - end of day (PST) June 18 will ship June 20
4th Delivery Period (Aqua):
Orders placed from June 19 - end of day (PST) June 28 will ship June 30
5th Delivery Period (Purple):
Orders placed from June 29 - end of day (PST) July 5 will ship July 7
Regular Resumes (Pink):
Orders placed from July 6 forward will ship as usual with a 3-day turnaround

Thanks all for your understanding and thanks to Haley for being my stand-in shipper!

Sewing Indie with Craftsy: Flirty meets Sassy part I for Sewing Indie Month

Hi readers! As you know from my previous posts, this month we are celebrating indie designers during Sewing Indie Month! Today I have a guest blogger on my site and I think you're going to love this! So without further ado, I give you Flirty meets Sassy!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hello Everyone! My name is Laura Nash. I am the owner, designer, and pattern maker at Sew Chic Pattern Company where you will find modern patterns with vintage style. Since Christine and I both teach on Craftsy.com...
   The Sassy Librarian Blouse
 Sewing Vintage: The Flirty Day Dress
.... I thought it appropriate that my tutorial for Sewing Indie should focus on our Craftsy Class projects. Pairing Flirty with Sassy makes for one adorable outfit, perfect for spring! So here we go with Sewing Indie with Craftsy: Flirty Meets Sassy Part I


Via this tutorial, Miss Sassy has become a jacket, perfect for warding off cooler weather, or a room with too much air conditioning!

This jacket adds some great color to match the dress trim in a fabulous vintage silhouette.

Miss Flirty, also known as Tia #1312, got a make over too! Adapting the trim to mirror the collar and incorporating rows of tucks down the front with a couple of cute covered buttons is perfect!


I've even included some cross tucking on the pocket just for fun.  To get all the details on how to take on the Tia dress adaptations, head over to my blog at It's Sew Chic, but stay right here for the Librarian Blouse make over.

Turning your Blouse into a light weight jacket is really easy, and only requires a few pattern changes. I always start with the top at the front and make my way down the pattern. Always mark on your pattern the changes you made from the original to guide you if ever come back to this pattern and wonder what you did!

Transferring the new neck line to pattern frontBecause I knew the neck would be too high for my liking, using the pattern front without the tucks, I lowered the neck at center front by 1/2"redrawing a new line from the shoulder. (I used that pattern to keep all those tucks from getting in my way.) With the tucks closed, I transferred that new line to the view with the tucks.
Cutting this one into a short jacketUsing my bust point as a guide for length, I decide to cut off  7 7/8" from the bottom of the pattern. I am using my grid to draw a cut line perpendicular to the grain line. Draw a line 1" above for your hem mark.

Matching the side seams, front to backMark your back pattern in the same manner, and then close the side dart and check to make sure that your side seams will match up.

Cut the pattern  Now it's safe to cut away the extra.

Add additional to the collarBecause I lowered the neckline, I know I'll have to add some additional to the collar pattern. To know how much, I have to walk the collar to the back and front pattern pieces. I had to add 3/8", and if you lower your neck the same amount that measurement will be the same for you also. Size will not matter.

Add length to the sleeveNext, I added 8 3/8" to the bottom of the sleeve, which also includes 1" for the hem. You may need more or less length depending on your arm.

Copy these changes to the facingBe sure to make the same changes to your facing piece. Lay your pattern right on top matching the edges and trace those off.

The facing now matchesTrimming away some of that neck front left that edge a little bit sparse, so I reshaped that curve on my facing. If you wanted to line your jacket, you can cut a lining from the front without the tucks, but you'll still need to use this piece to cut an interfacing. 
Now that your pattern is ready to cut out, let me share with you a few tips to get those tucks perfectly aligned and sewn without measuring.
Clip into the fabricFollowing the pattern markings, clip into the fabric at the top and bottom of each column. You can clip both, but the fold line is the one you need to keep track of.  

Press the fabricHolding your fabric at these ends, fold the fabric in half along these clips. The grain will help you line these up perfectly. Press each fold line before ever sewing a stitch.

Set your guidePut your pattern under the sewing machine and put the needle down into the stitching line. Using a guide, set the distance to match the fold perfectly. Tape is only a poor substitute. These guides work better than the bumper rails at the bowling alley!

Thanks for joining me in this Flirty Meets Sassy tutorial! If you have questions you can find me on Facebook, and Twitter: @sewchicpatterns. Now head on over to part II http://sewchicpatterns.blogspot.com/2014/05/sewing-indie-with-craftsy-flirty-meets_25.html

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thanks Laura! I appreciate all your work on this project and look forward to reading part II! 

Sale Orders Shipped + Emery Still in Stock!

Thanks again for all the orders during the sale! I have finally stuffed and labeled all the packages and they have all hit the post office, so if you ordered a pattern in the last week, it is on the way to you!

Also, just after the sale my webshop had a small glitch and the system thought that due to the number of sales that the Emery was out of stock, but in fact, it is fully in stock! So if you were looking to buy it during that window, never fear, it is here and ready to go!

Happy weekend, and for those in the US that have Monday off for the holiday, happy long weekend to you!

Fancy Tiger & Sew it All Colorado Trip Recap!

Ellen March & mePhew! Time sure is flying right by! It feels like my trip was last weekend, but that was a different trip. Man, I have some recapping to do! But first, let's recap my amazing Colorado trip from a few weeks ago...

flying over the mountains - dinner in downtown Golden, COThe original reason for flying out to Colorado was to shoot an episode of Sew it All for season 8! I shot the show once before for season 2 and it was such a blast to be back with Ellen March and the whole crew. The taping process is a total rush and moves so fast that before you know it, you're done! They shoot it all in one take and all you can do is hope that you don't mess up, because if you do, you have to start all over. After a few attempts at the intro, we nailed it.

the set at Sew it AllSince I was coming to Colorado, it only seemed right to drop into Fancy Tiger and I was so thrilled that their lovely staff welcomed me to teach a weekend workshop of my Emery Dress pattern. I had 10 lovely ladies who worked their tails off and completed the entire dress in two days! Seriously, these ladies worked hard and I am so honored that they chose to spend their weekend with me sewing. Two of my students even flew in from the LA area just to do it!

patterns at Fancy Tiger - their two sewing classrooms the gorgeous shop at Fancy Tiger - an impressive board of upcoming events! my hard working students sewing sewing sewing... 10 brand new Emery Dresses!!!! While we were in town, I had to visit some of my old haunts, as I lived in Denver and Boulder for a large part of my 20's. I hadn't been back in many years and wasn't sure if things had changed much. Lucky for me, some things had, and some things hadn't. A stop was made at The Market, a cafe I worked at in my early 20's, and it's like time had stood still. Nothing was different at all!

the MarketWhile in town we rented a house near Washington Park, and it was such a delight to live there again. I've had such good Air B&B experiences, and this was yet another. It's so nice to be able to cook and walk around and live in a home while visiting instead of living in a hotel.

our home away from homeAfter the class and shooting was over, we stayed a night in Boulder and visited more old haunts, old friends, and some new spots too. All in all, it was an amazing trip and for those that didn't get a spot in my class, don't worry, I'll be back for sure! Probably this fall... :)

The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art - one of my old jobs from my 20's Lucile's - a favorite haunt that hasn't changed a bit! Boulder Creek Path our hotel view - Mountain Sun Brewery - Fabricate fabric shop Nederland, COHuge thanks again to Ellen March and the Sew it All team; Jaime, Amber, and the whole staff at Fancy Tiger; and all my amazing students. You all made my trip so memorable and fantastic!

Interview with Me at Pauline Alice

Continuing with Sewing Indie Month, the lovely Pauline Alice has posted an interview with me on her blog! Go check it out, and while you're there, scope out her beautiful patterns!

Wowza With the Orders = Slightly Longer Shipping Time

Good golly ladies! You all have blown my mind with all the orders last week during my 30% off sale! Seriously.... we're talking about hundreds and hundreds of patterns going out the door!

So with that in mind, please forgive me that my usual 3-day turnaround time is going to be a wee bit longer this week! But don't worry, if you placed your order during the sale, they will all go out by the end of the week! Just forgive me for the slightest of delay!

And seriously, THANK YOU!!! You all rock!
xoxo

Last Day of the Spring Sale!

Don't forget, tomorrow is the last day of my 30% OFF spring sale! Everything in the shop is discounted, so go get to it before midnight tonight when the sale ends!

In Depth with Tilly and the Buttons! A Sewing Indie Month Interview

As you may have heard, this month we are celebrating Sewing Indie Month! And as part of the celebration, the indie designers participating are hanging out on each other's blogs, doing tutorials, interviews, and giveaways. And aren't we lucky, today guess who's hanging on right here on my blog? The one-and-only Tilly! 
Yep, Tilly, of Tilly and the Buttons and The Great British Sewing Bee is my guest here today for a little chat. Want to get to know her better? Read on for our interview where you'll learn about her book, the origin of her French-inspired look, and her favorite food (which I gotta be honest Tilly, totally grossed me out!). 
I was lucky enough to get to hang out with Tilly last year during my visit to London, and I can honestly say that she is just as nice and sweet as she appears here on the web. She's delightful and I couldn't be happier for her successes. May there be plenty more! Okay then, on with the interview!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hi Tilly! Welcome to my blog!
Thanks for having me, Christine!
First off, congratulations on the new book! It looks absolutely adorable and is such a clear extension of your existing brand. How did you decide on your color scheme and style of your brand?
Aw thank you! As you know, Christine, it’s very exciting – but also seriously nerve-wracking – to put something that you’ve worked on so intensively out there into the world, so it’s lovely to hear that you like the book.
I wanted my brand and book to look fresh and modern, with graphic prints and primary colours as an unexpected change from the florals and pastels so often associated with the craft scene. Nouvelle Vague cinema of the 1960s is a big influence on my style (I used to live in Paris and have a master’s degree in film history), so it was only natural I looked to these movies for inspiration. In particular, I love the bold use of red, yellow and blue in Jean-Luc Godard’s Le Mépris and Made in USA– the style still looks contemporary today. The filmmakers who were part of the French New Wave were young people who took a new approach to cinema which didn’t play by the old rules – I like to think they have something in common with the new wave of makers who are getting into sewing today and doing it their own way.

All of the garments in your book and pattern line are classic mix and match pieces. Do you have a favorite item of clothing to make and wear?
I wanted to design wardrobe staples for the book that can be made again and again in different styles - there are lots of variation ideas outlined in the book - and worn again and again too. Personally I have a particular penchant for making and wearing Breton tops and denim skirts. I can’t get enough of them!
Your style is clearly French-inspired. How did this develop? Have you spent much time in France?
Oui! I lived in Paris in my early twenties, and decided to start dressing like the stereotype of the Brit-living-in-Paris, ie. stripey tops, neck scarves and berets, hahaha!

You talked a great deal on your blog about the development of your book, but for those that haven’t read it, can you give us a recap on how it came to be?
I shared the full story of how I got a book deal on my blog in case it’s helpful to anyone who wants to get published. The short version of the story is that two years ago I was approached by a couple of different publishers who read my blog and liked what they saw, but unfortunately those leads didn’t work out. I began working with a literary agent who encouraged me to write a proposal and got me meetings with eight more publishers, and in the end I went with Quadrille, who are ace. It took a while to come to fruition and there were disappointments along the way, but it all worked out for the best!
Your rise from amateur sewer to UK TV star to full time seamstress/pattern maker/author seems so quick from the outside. Can you tell us a bit about how that path came to be? What were you doing for work before all of this happened?
Does it? From my point of view, I feel like it’s taken aaages – I’ve been working hard on my blog for nearly five years now, and took months to pluck up the courage to quit my job!
I spent nearly a decade working in education and training in the cultural film sector - in my last job I was responsible for the professional training of the UK’s independent cinemas and film festivals. So it was only natural that, when I got into sewing, I was thinking of ways to make the learning process easier for the younger generations who’d never been taught to sew at school. In particular, I felt there was an urgent need to translate the technical jargon of sewing patterns and to demonstrate the steps in photos, which is what I started doing on my blog, and later with my sewing patterns.
At first, sewing was only a hobby for me, but the turning point came a couple of years ago when I was a fellow on a year-long development programme for emerging leaders in the arts world. The process of introspection (I’m going to stop short of saying “finding myself”!) led me to realise that that I’d become more passionate about making things and encouraging other people to make things than I had about working in the film industry.
So I started to take my sewing blog more seriously and, as if by magic, various opportunities presented themselves – from publishers getting in touch to teaching opportunities to getting through the Sewing Bee auditions. I also began sharing my self-drafted sewing patterns as digital downloads and had a great response, so recently took the plunge into printed patterns. I’m a cautious person, so built business up slowly and finally handed in my notice at my job when I got my publishing contract. I’m now my own boss and loving it!

Speaking of the TV show, how has the Great British Sewing Bee affected things for you? Do people come up to you on the street and recognize you?
Not really! When the show was on, I was taking the tube into work every day and would sometimes see people reading an article about the show in the paper and then peering at me over the top of the paper, but it’s quite rare that someone comes up to say hello – Londoners don’t talk to strangers! Unless I’m at an event with crafty people, in which case, yes, I meet lots of people. All very nice, I must say.
Are you still in touch with all the other contestants from the show? And was Patrick as much of a dreamboat in real life?
Yes, I still speak to Stuart every so often, and Lauren has become a good friend. She’s hosting a jolly for my book this Thursday at her gorgeous haberdashery, Guthrie &Ghani. And yes – Patrick is totally gorgeous, although at the time I was too busy sewing to notice!
What’s an average day look like for you these days now that you’re a full-time seamstress?
That’s funny you call me a “full-time seamstress”, because I rarely have time to sew! Every day is different – and exciting! Today I’ve been busy doing press interviews, processing orders from my shop, dealing with business finance stuff, and preparing for Makegood, an event I’m doing at Selfridges at the end of May. I’m trying to cover pretty much all aspects of my business at the moment, but I can feel burn out coming on so I’m planning to hire some help soon – phew!

Can you give us any insight as to what’s next for Tilly & the Buttons? A new pattern perhaps?
At the moment I’m working towards my pop-up shop at Makegood on 30th May to 1stJune – come along, everyone! After that I really need to take a holiday, as the last year has been so intense with very few days off. And after that? Well, I have pattern designs on the brain…
Okay, now some rapid fire questions!
Favorite color: Yellow
Favorite food: Spaghetti with tomato, chilli and sardines OR crispy duck pancakes, please
Do you have any pets? I wish I were surrounded by kitties, but my man is allergic, boo. Luckily there’s Pinterest, yay!
Favorite French movie? La Jétée
Any chance you’ll come to the states?I hope so! My brother lives in Chicago so I’m over there every so often. And my book is published in the US in October, so who knows?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thanks again Tilly! I hope you all enjoyed getting to know this kind and hardworking lady! Now go get yourself her book!

London Party and Emery Dress Contest!

I can hardly believe this is true, but trust me, it is true! The lovely ladies at Ray Stitch in London are throwing me a party! Woohoo!!! So if you're in the area, please save the date of Friday, June 13 from 6-9pm!

Ray Stitch has promised us cocktails, snacks, as well as a store-wide 10% discount (what!!!), and wait for it... an EMERY DRESS CONTEST! Aw yeah! I will be bringing prizes for Emery Dress contest winners, so ladies (and gents - hey, who am I to say can wear an Emery Dress?!), consider this your one-month warning to get those sewing machines fired up and moving!

Need to get the Emery Dress pattern? Not to worry! Ray Stitch is fully stocked, and there are other lovely UK people selling them as well, plus you can also get it from me (and hey, there's a sale going on!), so there are plenty of places to get your hands on an Emery pattern in time. So get to it!

I cannot wait to meet all the amazing UK people that have been so incredibly supportive to me and my patterns. Seriously, I joke all the time that everyone in the UK must own my patterns by now with the number I've sold there. It's not that big! But man, you all have nearly outsold everyone else, so well done!

Mark your calendars and do please come to say hi! Hope to see you there! Yay!!!!

Colette Book Giveaway Winner & SALE Announcement!!!

Who wants a SALE?!!! Well you got one!!!

Visit my webshop this week and celebrate spring with 30% off everything in the shop! This is a lovely time to stock up for your spring and summer sewing plans, and if you want my first book, this is your last chance warning to get it signed from me until I return from holiday in early July!

The sale runs until midnight PST on Sunday, May 18. So go get some goodies!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Also, I'm excited to announce the winner of the Colette Guide to Knits book giveaway! The winner is:

Aimee May 7, 2014 at 7:50 AM  My first time working with knits I was sewing up some Renfrew tops by Sewaholic Patterns, and I loved how they turned out. I realized that knit fabrics were pretty much an everyday staple in my wardrobe and I'm planning on making a ton of light weight summer dresses that this book would be helpful with. Additionally based on the picture of the chart above she outlines tons of different knit fabrics besides just jersey and I know that would be helpful as I branch out and continue sewing. I can be contacted at aimee.ortega@colostate.edu Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who entered and if you didn't win and you want to sew knits, I highly suggest you make the investment and pick up the book for yourself! It's going to answer all those questions you have when sewing with knits, so go get it!

Thanks all and happy Monday!