Prairie Girl Knits (and sews... and bakes... and cooks...): Sew Beautiful

Showing posts with label Sew Beautiful. Show all posts

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Sew Beautiful : Carlsbad Cardigan

I'm back again today with another make from the soon to be released "Sew Beautiful" book by Kennis Wong of Itch to Stitch designs.

If you've followed me on social media at all, or know me in person, you've probably seen this cardigan a million times over because it is one of my ultimate favourites! I knew it was going to be on heavy rotation in my wardrobe as soon as I tested the pattern and I wasn't wrong. It's the perfect layering piece.

Sew Beautiful : Carlsbad Cardigan Side View

Mine is made from a lightweight viscose blend jersey knit that was purchased from Minerva. It's got a great drape and was the perfect weight for the Carlsbad! I like that it's lightweight enough for warmer temps when there's a bit of a chill in the air, but with the cascading fronts I can wrap myself up in it when it's suddenly chillier than expected. I've seen a few testers that made longer versions and I'm eager to try that for myself too! (I do so love a long cardi!!)

Sew Beautiful : Carlsbad Cardigan All Wrapped Up

At first glance I thought the front corners would be hard to do, but I quickly realized they're not at all! The whole cardigan goes together so easily and quickly just like all the patterns in the Sew Beautiful book!

Sew Beautiful : Carlsbad Cardigan Front View

Have you pre-ordered your copy yet? It's gone straight onto my Christmas wish list! As I mentioned the other day, there are eight patterns to make (from sizes 00-20) and most have more than one variation. They're all designed with a beginner sewist in mind, with no zips or closures to worry about, but more advanced sewists will enjoy the designs as well!

It's on pre-order through Amazon in Canada as well as many other countries around the world!

Here are all the links to pre-order:

For US purchasers:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-Wear/dp/1645671364

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sew-beautiful-kennis-wong/1135569821

Books-a-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Sew-Beautiful/Kennis-Wong/9781645671367

Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781645671367

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Sew-Beautiful-Kennis-Wong/9781645671367

For non-US purchasers:

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-Wear/dp/1645671364

Brazil: https://www.amazon.com.br/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-Wear/dp/1645671364

Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-Wear/dp/1645671364

France: https://www.amazon.fr/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-wear/dp/1645671364

Germany: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Kennis-Wong/dp/1645671364/

India: https://www.amazon.in/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-Wear-ebook/dp/B082RT3JWF

Italy: https://www.amazon.it/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-wear/dp/1645671364

Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-wear/dp/1645671364

Mexico: https://www.amazon.com.mx/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-Wear/dp/1645671364

Netherlands: https://www.amazon.nl/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-Wear/dp/1645671364

Spain: https://www.amazon.es/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-Wear/dp/1645671364

UK: https://www.amazon.co. YYC uk/Sew-Beautiful-Handmade-Stitch-Wear/dp/1645671364/ref=sr_1_1

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Sew Beautiful : Taktsang Dolman Wrap

You all know how I love Kennis Wong, the designer behind Itch to Stitch's, patterns right? Did you hear the exciting news?? She's got a brand new book about to be released! Sew Beautiful is available for pre-order right now (release date is December 8th!!). You can click this link to order it in Canada, but it's available all over the US, Europe and beyond! It would make the perfect Christmas gift for the sewist in your life (ie: ME!!! Just in case my hubby is reading this...) Sew Beautiful features eight easy to sew patterns in sizes 00-20 and most designs have more than one variation.

I've felt really honoured to be able to test several of the designs over the last year (although it's been so hard to keep them secret because I really love them!). I'm always so impressed with the Itch to Stitch designs and the attention to detail that Kennis puts into them.

Today I want to show you my version of the Taktsang Dolman Wrap. This pattern is so versatile! You can sew it in a woven or stable knit. Choose a heavier weight fabric for a snuggly warm outwear piece or a lighter weight fabric for a great alternative to a cardi, or an even lighter weight fabric for an alternative to a blouse. I chose to go super floaty and lightweight and use some silky polyester I've had in my stash for approximately forever.

The pattern is super simple to sew - front and back bodice pieces, facings and a tie and belt loops. That's it, that's all. I cut mine out one evening before bed and sewed it up in a couple of hours the next afternoon. It's an almost instant gratification type project.

Mine doesn't have belt loops because, well... I forgot to cut them out and I tossed all my little scraps I had left. Because I was using fabric from deep within the stash bins, there's no way I can get more, so I had to leave them out. I'm thinking about doing some sort of thread chain belt loop using embroidery thread maybe just to wrangle that tie a bit better, but really it was fine without them. I was just annoyed with myself. I NEVER throw out scraps until I'm finished a project and even then I'm such a packrat that I normally keep anything larger than microscopic. I've no idea what possessed me to suddenly be all minimalist in my fabric hoarding.

I like wearing it closed over a cami (The Itch to Stitch Cartagena Cami* makes a perfect choice!). As I mentioned earlier it makes a great alternative to a blouse! But I also love to wear robe style tops as a fancier alternative to cardigans so I wondered if the Taktsang Wrap would work that way too, and it turns out I really like it open as well!

So congratulations to Kennis and Itch to Stitch Designs for getting her first book published! It's such an exciting accomplishment and I know it will be well received by beginner and advanced sewists alike!