I have 2 of these and I’m surprised by the amount of use that they get! Even if I’m eating at the table, I use my cosy to protect my fingers on the way to the table!
You can love an indoor pursuit like sewing and also enjoy the great outdoors. But, you can also be an inside cat and sew for the folks in your life who love the outdoors! Are there some goodies in here that are perfect for gifting? Absolutely!
There’s a mix of free and paid patterns in here- if they’re free, it’s specifically stated!
This drybag pattern from Sew Outdoors comes with 10 different sizes of dry bags!
This relatively new sewing pattern company even makes some great suggestions here on what outdoor accoutrements will fit into each size bag.
Wood Carrier
This Wood Carrier Pattern from Noodlehead looks like a very straightforward pattern where you can sink your teeth into hefty fabrics and webbings.
Cycling Hat
This free tutorial steps you through sewing a cycling hat
Activewear?
Are you (or are they) the kind of outdoors person who appreciates activewear? Checkout the roundup of Activewear Sewing Patterns on the blog, which also includes a list of some places where you can buy activewear and outdoors fabric in NZ.
The Stitchback LP
The Stitchback LP looks super outdoorsy but also looks like the kind of pattern which is just asking to be made from primary colours!
Pretty high up on the things I’d never though one could sew for themselves… is this free tutorial for a DIY camping hammock
Stitchback Chalk Bag
The Stitchback Chalk Bag is intended for climbing dust… but I see it and think ‘snacks’! Fill it full of dog treats for walkies, or snacks for yourself!
This Balaclava pattern from Grasser (one of several different pattern options)
Camp Ditty Bag
This free Camp Ditty Bag Pattern gave such a goreous final product that it didn’t really matter that I had no idea what a ditty bag was for!
Apparently it’s a small bag for your personal effects and important bits (like if you’re a scout), and the idea is that you keep things in one place close at hand.
Trail wallet
This free trail wallet pattern is designed for carrying only the essentials!
Want to get printing?
Email your PDF pattern files through to hello@chchsews.com to get started. A0 printing is $6 per sheet.
In the spirit of giftable items, here’s a project that I made a little while ago, but which has taken some time to make it onto the blog as a tutorial…
A waterproof backpack cover that’s great for rainy days cycling or hiking but which also has reflective tape which makes it extra handy for evening safety!
Materials
Waterproof fabric (like ripstop) I used 1m but it depends on your bag measurements
Round elastic, to thread through casing
Toggle to fit elastic
Reflective tape, enough to extend past the edges of your bag
I used fluro ripstop and I sewed on the reflective tape and didn’t bother doing anything to seal the back to make it super waterproof. I based the construction on this pack cover, which I snuck into the store and looked at, in person.
The piece of fabric that I cut out, ended up looking like this. I basically made sure the backpack was as full of stuff as it ever would be, and then I measured the length, depth, height, etc. all round. Basically, I wanted to create a shape that would kind of mirror the backpack, and leave enough for me to fold over the hem to add elastic to.
Below, the red dots indicate the top and bottom extremities of the bag, with the 16″ being the top and the 22″ being the length of the sides (ish)
I did make a toile to make sure that it fit, by cutting fabric out according to the scheme and sewing up the 4 sides (no proper finishing). I decided that I was happy with that, so cut into my ripstop fabric. I actually just serged the 4 corner parts together (with my matching fluro overlocking thread) and then I turned back a hem, then folded that under and used the overlocker (with the blade still engaged) to basically cut and re-attach the hem as a casing.
That sounds confusing to explain, but I had the bag on the table, right side facing down. I folded back the hem (so the hem was facing me), and then I flipped that underneath, so that it was facing the right side. This meant that when I was overlocking, I was feeding 3 layers in, overlocking the edge where the red overlocked section is above.
This made a casing where I threaded through some round elastic/stretchy cord, which I threaded through a toggle and then knotted and burnt to seal off.
Before threading the elastic through though, I sewed on the high-vis reflective tape (that stuff is strangely expensive). I had intended to leave the middle part open so that a bike light could be slotted right there for peak visibility, but I was informed that that was unnecessary. Stick on tape could have been an interesting thing to try out (but would have made it harder to leave a loop open for the theoretical bike light.
Result?
This cover is now over a year-and-a-half old and it’s held up well to use during the rain and also during the colder months when the sun sets early (the reflective tape makes it extra safe at night), although it could do with a wash after getting a bit grubby from gross wet days cycling on the mucky road.
It’s the time of the year where I start to think about sewing projects for other people! So, in honour of that, here’s 10 bag patterns or free tutorials for you!
It’s that time of year when you’re maybe thinking about stocking-stuffers to buy for yourself.. But maybe you can just send the link to this page to your nearest and dearest and hope they take the hint?
Here’s a roundup of things which are mostly from NZ (with a few Aussie shops thrown in), which concentrates on small businesses. What’s a great makers gift that I’ve forgotten to include? Let me know in the comments!
If you’ve read these Dupe posts before then you know they’re really just an excuse for me to dump a heap of info all in one place, and also a thing I use to justify how I’m always looking to find the exact fabric that has been used to make clothes!
In this episode, I also tell you where to find double gauze in NZ and drop some links to what might be new-to-you fabric stores!
Duplicate these looks
The Matilda Dress from Cool Stitches would be a lovely dupe for this summery dress.
Dupe this cornflower blue silk top with the Barons Dress from Daughter Judy Patterns or the LB Pullover from Paper Theory.
Cornflower silk from The Fine Cloth Company would be a great match but I also recommend Fab Fabrics, who frequently has 40% off their silk if you’re an email newsletter subscriber.
Use the Belemnite Dress from Marilla Walker and silk crepe de chine from Hawes and Freer in Auckland or the silk cdc from The Fine Cloth Company in Wellington to replicate this sage green dress.
For a cheaper fabric, a tencel twill from The Fabrics Shop in Otara could work.
Some fun new patterns have come through the printer in the last wee while, so here’s a roundup of some goodies that looked particularly interesting! I’ve also included some recommendations for NZ-based places to shop for fabrics which would be a good fit for these projects.
Mitchell Trousers
The Mitchell Trousers is a new pattern from Closet Core in Canada. They’re available in 2 size ranges, the largest up to a 160cm (63″) hip.
Pleated trouser with a fly front, they have deep pleats and a tapered and wide-leg view.
The Millicent Wrap Dress from Aussie-based StyleArc is available up to 154cm (61″) hip and comes with elbow length and bracelet length sleeve options.
Lightweight summery fabrics?
Check out my blogpost on ‘Seersucker in NZ‘ and the range of lovely cottons from The Fine Cloth Company in Wellington (I the Washer Cotton would make a great dress)! As always, Miss Maude has a delightful selection of shirting weight fabrics.
Matilda Dress
The Matilda Dress from Cool Stitches is available up to 153.7cm (60.5″)
This new-to-me pattern company has some great fashion-forward sewing patterns.
Classic Shirt
The Classic Shirt from Modern Sewing Co is available up to 119cm (46.8″) hip, which is smaller than the size range available on some of their other patterns.
PDF Sewing Patterns from NZ? A roundup of Indie Sewing Patterns from NZ? A collection of New Zealand Sewing Patterns? Yes- I’m back with more!
Sylvie Knit Top
The Sylvie Knit Top from Forget-me-not Patterns is a drapey design with options, including a cowl neck, flutter sleeves, and more understated sleeveless and round neck views.
Peggy Top
The Peggy Top and Dress pattern from My Keeper has a wrap top and a non-wrap dress both of which have butterfly sleeves.
Isobel Dress
The Isobel Dress from Paper Doll Patterns is one of the new-ish women’s patterns from a designer that’s already released quite a few children’s designs!
Chloe Maxi
The Chloe Tiered Maxi Dress from Makyla Creates is a tiered maxi dress that screams of summer, but could also be layered under a turtleneck for ChCh summer.
It’s official, I’m a sucker for seersucker! That delicious texture, that purposeful scrunch- I can see much more of it in my future now that the weather is warming up.
You know I love to shop local when I can, and that I’m also forever keeping up with what’s-in-stock locally, so I thought I’d round up a few of the seersuckers that I’ve spotted recently!
The Fabric Store currently has slim pickings for seersucker options, but I suspect that will change as the weather warms up!
Drapers Fabrics currently has quite a few seersucker options at the moment- lots of stripes!
If you’re after textured fabrics but searching for ‘seersucker’ brings no joy, you can try searching webstores with phrases like crinkle, self stripe, textured to see if you get fabrics with similar qualities.
Fab Fabrics in Auckland has 2 seersucker options, including the rich red to the left!
Valley Threads has this lovely cotton lawn seersucker among their shirting-weight fabric offerings.
Spotlight has some seersucker options in stock, including the fabric that I used for my hack of the M&B Melba Dress that I added a gathered skirt to.
Seersucker is a woven fabric that’s generally made from cotton, linen, or a blend of the two. Here’s a few roundups of patterns, many of which would be perfect for using with seersucker!
Welcome to Dupe This episode 3, you can catch episode 2 and episode 1 on the blog.
The dupe in this means duplicate rather than to be tricked by. Although, I suppose if the pattern and fabric match I recommend is a good enough match then you might trick people into thinking you purchased this exact look, thereby duping them?
Maybe it works both ways!
Wrap or Faux Wrap Dress
This dress pairs a great printed woven fabric with a wrap (or faux wrap bodice that’s finished with a self-fabric bias binding. There’s a casing around the waist for ties (which seem to tie in the back or the side) and the sleeves are elbow length with a slight blouson that’s gentle gathered into cuffs.
If what you love about the jackets above is the bold colours, check out the range of Canvas & Drills at The Fabric Box in Auckland. They have fabric in that bright Yves Klein blue!
V-neck Dress with ruffles
This dress has a v-neck, dropped shoulders with gathered sleeves. There’s 2 tiers of fabric gathered into the bodice. The fabric used brings a decent amount of structure which lets the sleeves sit out from the body rather having them drape down the arm.
A cotton shirting will be the best fabric to replicate the look of the shirt on the left (poplin, lawn, etc). A chambray or shirt-weight denim will replicate the shirt on the right.
Dupe the fabric
If you’ve been on the ChCh sews email newsletter you’ll know that I LOVE finding garments made from fabrics I’ve seen online. I spotted these dresses that are made with silk check from TFS! I love how this simple silhouette lets the fabric shine.
I’d say that with the round neckline and welt pockets the closest pattern match would be the Tamarack Jacket from Grainline Studios. However, this jacket has a dropped shoulder and a much more relaxed fit than the Tamarack, and if that’s what you like then perhaps the M&B Grainger Coat is for you.
