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When we saw the Freja Vest released by Just Patterns we knew this was a pattern we wanted to make.  It came at a time when we had seen this style in many ready-to-wear collections.  

Freja Vest by Just Patterns

The Freja Vest by Just Patterns is a sleek, semi-fitted vest is a modern and minimalistic style. The sleeveless vest has princess line seams for a contoured fit. The front gently flares out from the waist stopping at the hip. The button front comes to the waist and then the open flares out to create the on-trend look.

The vest is fully lined and has separate pieces for the lining and front facing and back neck facing. The pattern has the option of welt pockets or patch pockets, we chose the welt pockets for this make.

Sacres Coupons Le Coin des Affaires

Lauren was in Paris at the beginning of 2024 and was on a fabric hunt with a friend, they visited Montmarte and came across Sacres Coupons Le Coin des Affaires. This is a fabric store that has precut lengths of 3 meters so there is no decision to be made about how much to get. This piece was a fine 100% wool in a beautiful navy with white fleck.

At first three meters might not sound like much but it was the perfect amount for the vest, wide-leg pants and including details like self-covered buttons from the offcuts. 

Vogue 1647

To pair with the vest Lauren wanted a wide-leg pant that had a flat front to showcase the line of the vest. The first pattern that came to mind was Vogue 1647, this is a pattern we have the jumpsuit version of but actually used the pants a few times for Lauren’s 2024 Derby Day, and Erin’s 2023 Oaks Day outfit.

To transform this pattern into pants we added a welt zipper at the centre back and created a facing to finish off the waist. 

Finished Freja Vest

We love this pattern and will definitely be creating another set for a summer look.

Photo Credits

Fabric: Navy Wool from Sacres Coupons Le Coin des Affaires
Pattern: Freja Vest purchased from Just Patterns and pants of Vogue 1647

Erin was nominated for ‘Law Student of the Year’, as part of the LIV: 14th Victorian Legal Awards. So naturally a new dress was in order!

The dress is a combination of the bodice of Gertie’s Charm Patterns Lamour Dress and the skirt of Vintage Vogue Pattern V1172 made from Spotlight fabric.

This dress must have been lucky, as the night ended with award in hand!

Erin pictured here with the Deakin Law School Dean, Professor Jenni Lightowlers.  A wonderful evening at the LIV: 14th Victorian Legal Awards!

The process of dress creation below…

First step, cutting out:

Second step, construction:

Third step, testing up the skirt:

Detail of bodice (Gertie’s Charm Patterns Lamour Dress):

For a little extra touch – we added zippers in the pockets which allows for all of your belonging to go in your pockets, no bag needed!

We are thrilled have been selected as a finalist in Dressmaker of the Year Awards, hosted by Make It Today – Dressmaker Magazine. The dress was part of the occcassion category for our pale blue silk evening gown. The dress was originally designed for Erin to wear to the 2017 Deakin Law Society Ball hosted at Crown Pelladium.

The design was sketched up after some serious sessions on Pinterest to bring together the elements. The bodice was drafted ourselves with toiles made to ensure final fitting before cutting the blue pale dupion purchased from Clegs (now sadly closed but stock acquired by Rathdowne Fabrics).

Constructed in two main parts – a straight strapless dress with an over skirt, the hem of the over skirt is adorned with a combination of vintage lace, existing and hand made flowers each hand sewn onto the skirt.

The belt was made by Buttonmania and bag purchased from Maude Studio with earrings from Little Core.

Congratulations to the finalists in all categories in the Dressmaker of the Year Awards for 2018. You can view their entries here.

Having finished the entry for the Tessuti Skyline Competition there was around a meter of fabric left… what to make… what to make?  With the rumor of Spring in the London air the opportunity to try the Avid Seamstress Drop Shoulder came to mind.

The first PDF sewing pattern experience was a great one!  With the comfort of printing on A4 paper at home, a sticky tape session and a quick cut later without the pressure of having to head back to the store if decided it needed to be a different size and the delicate nature of the tissue.

Pattern placement was key, along the same lines of the dress entry it was important to make a design feature with inspiration from the Up your Sewing Game podcast by Love to Sew Podcast the inside was hand finished vs a machine top stitch.

Some small alterations to the pattern were made to extend the bias neck to become part of the loop for the button and small side split with the step to the already shaped hem.

Ready for a casual Sunday looked styled with jeans and with canvas sneakers it could also be tucked into a waisted skirt of pants for a more formal look.  Already planning the next version of this top so stay tuned.

Tickets to the 100 years of jazz in the UK festival feat the Puppini Sisters with the dress code of “Waistcoats, flapper dresses, top hats, pinstripes, fascinators are all highly encouraged” and the comment “Don’t worry about feeling over dressed, people will be coming in all sorts of wow!” called for a new dress for the occasion.  

Turning to Pinterest for some inspiration searching out images of Downtown Abbey, Miss Phryne Fisher and the Great Gatsby the key features started to form – see the Pinterest board here. Inspired by the draped and handkerchief hems the fabric was ordered with a feature to be made of two beaded motifs with one on the hip and the other for a hair clip.

Working with no pattern meant mapping out approximate measurements and self fittings to gather the drape into the best position.  Edges were finished with the baby lock action on the overlocker due to the large length of edge added with front feature and back draped chiffon.

Set for a night in the historic Troxy Art Deco themed ballroom the night was danced away in a tribute to an era gone by.