I reckon I’m a little late to the game this year with my wishlist (honestly, I’ve been having a bit of a bummer month so I haven’t really felt much of the ~Christmas spirit~ if ya know what I mean. Not a sob story, just statin’ facts!), but better late than never! There’s sooo much good stuff out there this year that I’ve got eye on; the hunt is almost as fun for me as actually receiving something! Take a look…
THE PATTERNS:
Ever since Jen released the Portside Travel Set, I’ve been dying to make my own! I don’t know what the deal is, but something about having matching luggage just makes me so, so happy. I would make mine in this striped cotton twill with accents of organic cotton twill. Well, that’s a safe version – have you seen some of the awesome twills on Mood Fabrics, lately?? Check out this
crazy Art Deco print and this paisley twill.
One thing I really want to explore this next year is trying some new pattern companies! I love the indie offerings we all obsess over, with their lovely packaging and clear instructions, but I also really want to try something that’s a little less spoon-fed, just to stretch my sewing muscles. I have heard a lot about Marfy Patterns, over the years and even through some blog comment encouragement, and I’ve been casually browsing the offerings and really falling in love with some of the patterns! Check them out –
Marfy 2758, the glam coat dress.
Marfy 3015, the pintucked Redingote coat
Marfy 2240, the ruffly-collared riding coat
Aren’t they beautiful?? True, I’ve been put off by Marfy for many years (the patterns don’t include instructions, seam allowances, multi-sizes, etc), and part of me is slightly concerned that the smallest size is a little too big for me (I should be wearing a size 40 according to their size chart). But, I want to try them! 2014, let’s make it my year!
Another pattern company I’ve been lurking on lately is Stylearc. Some seriously cool, seriously fashion-forward (lolz, like I’m a fashion-forward kind of dresser. WHATEVS). They’re pretty expensive when you factor in shipping, but they reviews are pretty much raves across the board. And there are definitely some styles I don’t see anywhereeeee else. Check them out:
The Alisha Dress, a beautiful lace sheath with a matching slip pattern. Like I need more excuses to get my lace on.
The Ziggi Jacket. GUYS IT’S A MOTO JACKET, GUYS I WANT IT.
The Stacie Jean Jacket. Gah, I’m dying over this one. I love denim jackets but I can neverrrr find one that fits the way I like. I altered an old one I had laying around, but the construction is subpar at best and, honestly, I want to just make one. This pattern looks fabulous.
I really love these 1940s dresses, like Simplicity 3514. I don’t even care how twee they are – I’d even go the extra mile and make it SUPER TWEE with some Marc Jacobs daisy print fabric because, yes.
I also love this jacket pattern, McCall 7319 (what is it with me and jackets lately? IT’S NOT EVEN THAT COLD HERE). I could totally see this made up in a lovely charcoal alpaca wool, lined with a plaid wool (!!!) flannel.
THE FABRIC:
I was recently gifted the Aubépine dress from Deer & Doe and I’ve been having a lot of fun looking through my fabric options! Wouldn’t it look lovely in this Marc Jacobs dotted cotton/silk?
Another contender is this floral cotton silk voile. A bit summery for sure, but could easily be layered up for the current season.
Wouldn’t this floral velveteen be perfect for a pair of Chataigne winter shorts? Also in my lurk: mink solid velvet. YUM.
Love this leopard stretch cotton twill, I can imagine it made into a pair of skinny stretch jeans. Just need to find me some new boots!
Soo, I reckon y’all have seen By Hand London’s newest pattern, the Georgia dress, yes? I have a copy burning a hole in my pattern cabinet, and I’m DYING to make it up, but I haven’t settled on a good fabric yet. Something glittery or brocade-y (or even sequin-y, for the masochist sewist in me) is high on my list for a fun party dress. Then I discovered this stretch buffalo plaid. Amazing! I need all the plaids, all of them.
I’m really digging this Marc Jacobs star cotton fabric. Couldn’t you see this made up in a woven skater dress?
Mood actually has this navy zigzag sweater knit in several other color combos, but the blue is my favorite. The perfect little knit wiggle dress!
I also can’t get enough of all the gorgeous special occasion fabric I have been seeing lately. Like this Carolina Herrera rose brocade
And this Italian metallic brocade
And ESPECIALLY this Oscar de la Renta polka dot silk taffeta. bleeechhhhh get in my life!
Gingham jersey? SHUT THE FRONT DOOR.
THE OTHERS:
Still obsessing over Jamie’s jewelry. I recently got this peacock necklace, but that doesn’t stop me from checking out the other goodz she has available. Love this Rooster necklace! You know I would totally turn wearing that into a neverending dirty joke 😉
Why don’t I have one of these expanding sewing gauge doohickeys?
My current iron (a Rowenta that’s more than 6 years old) has been slowly dying over the past year – the shut offs are more frequent, and the water reservoir doesn’t hold for shit. A new pressing tool is definitely in the future, and I’ve been eyeballing this gravity feed iron for what seems like forever. Fingers crossed that Santa heard my wishies!
File this under things that I really really want but can’t afford – a coverstich machine! I know, there are other brands that are equally loved, but I’m a Babylock girl when it comes to my sergers and the like. I’ve tested this machine in the past, several years ago (yeah, I guess I’ve been lurking on this for a while!) and it’s fucking amazing. Totally deserves a spot in my sewing room.
Hey, putting this post together was really fun! Like shopping without actually spending money (or getting product, but let’s not think about that right now). I love it!
A couple more things while I have your attention!
First, I owe y’all a giveaway winner. Random number generator says….
Lauren Talley! Congratulations, Lauren! Great name 😉 hee! Expect an email from me soon!
For everyone who inquired about the sewing prints being in Joanna’s shop… I believe they will be offered soon, but give her a couple of weeks because she’s in the process of getting married 🙂 So sit tight!
Finally, can I ask a tiny favor of my local/Nashville readers? I have a friend who is doing some research for a local fabric store (and I swear, this is not a thinly disguised “friend” who’s really me, or anything like that. Promise!) and she needs a few more opinions. If you’re in the Nashville/Middle Tennessee area, or come here frequently to buy fabrics, she would loooove your opinion to help her research. Click here to take survey. Again, local people only, please! I love you all but your buying habits on the other side of the country are not relevant for this particular purpose 😉
Ok, I guess that’s it! Now let’s get back to the fun part: PRESENTS. What’s on your wishlist this year?
LLADYBIRD 
Reading my mind, eh? I have to proof mine and I’ll post. 😉 I bought Jen’s bag pattern, and the fabric . . . I’m waiting on my webbing to arrive and the holiday break to make it. 😉 And, those coat patterns are going on my list (along with some stupidly expensive cashmere coating).
Stupidly expensive cashmere coating is always worth it!
Did you see it? It’s like 80 a yard . . . yea, I’d need like four yards and I don’t see random anonymous gifts (which happen sometimes) and ad revenue buying that right now. 😉
I swear, our lists were like long lost twins this year.
Hahaha!!! Oh my gosh, you with that necklace would be the best running joke of amazing wrongness ever! Legendary innuendos like the world has never seen before!! 😉
Have you checked out Marfy’s free patterns to get a sense of how their sizing will wear on you? I’d love to see you review them.http://www.marfy.it/our-patterns/free-sewing-patterns/
I didn’t even consider the free patterns. Thanks for the suggestion!
I can assure you, your life will be a better place for having a gravity feed iron in it. Trust me. No likey normal household irons. My Naomoto is AMAZING.
Also, having recently acquired on of those expanding guagey things, I can safely say, pretty bad ass do-hickey!
I have plenty of sewing related things on my (Pinterest) wishlist, but I never get any… My family doesn’t seem to realise that my biggest interest is sewing… 😦 Better luck with yours! Happy holidays!
You should start leaving post-it note suggestions all over the house. That’ll show ’em 😉
Your fabric wishies are making me drool, even though I JUST got back from Paris last night with some new fabrics (will post sometime today). The fabric for those deer and doe shorts is a match made in heaven, I hope you make those and soon!
I hope you have been a good girl this year so Santa can bring you that overlock machine, it looks pretty dreamy !!
I have the sewing gauge and find it useful for quick and easy marking. Sorry to hear things have been a little difficult and wishing you all the best in 2014!!
I bought a Stylearc pattern for the Susan u-neck T-shirt. Not made up yet. (The packs are certainly lovely and in December you get a free Lulu top pattern with purchase.)
As a newbie, I bought some fabric and bits and bobs and told my husband not to buy me a gift this year, just to pay for my sewing things. He looked relieved at the time. I don’t think he knows what he’s let himself in for…
My wish list item would be a lamp or desk light to sit next to my machine.
I’ve loved reading your blog and hope the New Year is a good one for you.
Speaking of awesome jewelry-smithing, have you ever checked out Anomaly Jewelry? Her designs are adorable and quirky, and some make me think of you…I especially love this deer necklace (which was called “standing fawn” when I bought it a couple of years ago): http://www.anomalyjewelry.com/products-page/necklaces/deer-necklace
Ooh, all her necklaces are super cute!
I would love a couple of patterns from indie designers as I haven’t tried any yet and a big stack of fabric. Sadly I am not going to be getting ANYTHING this year as me and my guy bought a puppy a few weeks ago in lieu of Christmas presents. He is a bit of a handful though so maybe sewing treats would have been better – ha! They tell me it gets easier…
Oh man, you got a PUPPY? You win at Christmas.
By the way, save your nickles for the new serger . . . while yours would have the button to press for threading (phsaw!) the cover stitch changes your life. Mine has it, and I’m having fun playing with the setting and features. 😀
I already have the Babylock Imagine serger. Just need the coverstitch to round out (start?) my little Babylock family 🙂 Those self-threading machines are a gift from the gods. I will never go back to a manual threaded serger, ha!
Tell me about it. Thread number four usually comes undone, but three threads sew fine. Guess who usually just lets the damned thing sew on three threads? Yup, this lazy person.
Yes! I want all those patterns! I’m sorry your having a bumm-y December. Hope the new year brings you lots of cheer!
So. many. links! I love it and you have my wheels turning. Marc Jacobs fabrics… and then that Deer and Doe pattern. When did they come out with that? It’s a bombshell!
It’s from a couple of months ago. Winter shorts! I love it!
I asked for a seam roll for christmas. Not the most exciting of gifts, but I never get around to getting one for myself, and my ham was lonely :P. For my birthday a few months ago I got all the sizes of clover bias tape makers, it was magical. why do the dritz ones suck so much? and how did I manage with only two sizes of mediocre bias tape makers for so many years?!
Those Clover bias tape makers *are* magical. I’m mad at myself for even buying the Dritz ones in the first place, such a waste of money.
You always have the most inspiring ideas! Thanks for te link to Sewarc that’s a new one fr me. Love the buffalo plaid but can’t find any on the uk.
Great list! I really like the moto jacket, those quilted shoulders look amazing! Putting that on my maybe-sometime-in-2014 list!
Style Arc sizing/ease is close to RTW and Marfy sizing is about the same as Burda so I think the smallest size there would be fine for you. On Marfy you will need to muslin anyway, but the pattern will be pre-cut (by hand believe it or not) and that saves time. On a first Marfy project a dress would be a good choice, the coat patterns are gorgeous but also complex. You are more than ready to tackle both!
Thank you for your encouragement. I think I am ready, just need to pick a pattern and fabric and get started! 😀
Lauren: I have a couple of yards of that Marc Jacobs’ star fabric and I am happy to gift it to you. I bought it on serious discount at FabricMart and I’m never going to use it. Email me your address.
Aw, Colleen, you’re so sweet! I’ll totally take you up on that as long as you’re ok with letting it go 🙂 emailing you now!
A new to me sight, http://achallengingsew.typepad.com/my-blog/2013/12/a-january-marfy-sew-along-and-some-thoughts-on-3201.html is hosting a Marfy sewalong next month featuring the free patterns. Also, I am a Babylock serger & coverstitch gal – absolutely the best way to go!
Awesome, thanks for the link-up!
I love love style arc! I basically don’t have to alter them at all. And, when I wondered how to alter one of the dresses, I emailed Chloe, the owner, and she sent me 4 ideas. 🙂
Expandable sewing gauge doohickey! Where have you been all my life? That thing looks awesome. I’m so with you on that coverstitch. I’ve been using a Janome and I highly suggest you wait until you can afford a Babylock. This past weekend I got a used Evolution at a pretty good price, and I’m planning to sell my Enlighten if I like the Evolution. I’d prefer two separate machines, but I don’t coverstitch *that* much, plus I honestly don’t have the room. Babylocks are definitely worth every penny if you can scrounge up enough pennies to afford one!
Oh yeah, I have the Babylock Imagine and I will neverrrr go back to threading my own serger! Ha! Just my two cents, I really recommend getting two separate machines if you want the coverstitch… my mom has the Evolve and while it’s really fun to sew on and does amazing stuff (every time my serger is in the shop for it’s ~yearly cleaning~ I borrow hers haha), it is a pain in the ass to switch from serger to coverstitch. You have to completely unthread the machine and reposition the needles. Although I guess this is kind of a moot point since you already have the Evolution, hopefully the threading is a bit more user-friendly now 🙂
Haha! I love your GINGHAM JERSEY STFD… I’d be well into that too… I would make leggings/capri looking pants!