Shopping Denim in NZ

If you spotted the Jeans Sewing Pattern Roundup Blog and then thought ‘fine Jess, but where do I get fabric from in NZ?!?’
…. well this blog is for you.

What kind of denim do you want? Your project will inform the weight of the fabric, the stretch (or lack of stretch) of the fabric and also whether or not you can buy narrower selvedge denim.

Shops to start your search

Miss Maude
Always a good place to start your search, Miss Maude always has a lovely curated selection of fabrics, and the denim situation is no different!

Backstreet Bargains
Often the first place I look, especially when I’m hunting for toile fabrics. Backstreet separates their denim offerings into stretch denim and non-stretch denim categories

Fab Fabrics
The Auckland-based Fab Fabrics has frequent sales, with the codes heading out through their email newsletter. At the time of writing they had 40% off denim!

Fabric Box
Want coloured denim? Fabric Box in Auckland have you covered with a large range of 9oz coloured denims (and the usual indigo denim too)

Shops with less selection

The Fabric Store has a small selection of denim fabrics (including Liberty denim), as does Moreland Fabrics. The Fabric Shop in Otara has some excellently cheap selvedge denim, and Nick’s Fabrics has an interesting stretch denim that’s a different colour on each side. Drapers Fabric always stocks selvedge denim, and Revology has 2 lovely Merchant & Mills denims which have a great texture.

Across the ditch?

A+R Fabrics near Melbourne has a great selection of rigid and stretch denims, Maai Designs often has denim and currently has a great range of heavy drill in nice colours. Potter & Co is based in Perth and has a decent selection of denims to choose from.

Jeans sewing patterns!

Denim blue is basically a neutral which fits in with your wardrobe, no matter what your signature colours are and as colder weather rolls around here, jeans are on my mind!

You can go all out, adding top-stitching and rivets and the rest, or you can keep it low-key and skip all the extra steps! Today I’ve rounded up some jeans sewing patterns for you, some are more ‘classic jeans’ than others!

“The Garden at Bougival” by Berthe Morisot

Noice Jeans

The Noice Jeans from Muna and Broad come with a wide-leg view and a ‘mum jean’ view (left)

If the sizes are too small to include you, this will be graded up at no extra cost.

“Villa with Orange Trees, Nice” by Berthe Morisot

The Worker Trouser

Made famous in Christchurch by Naomi, the Worker Trouser from The Modern Sewer

“The Garden at Bougival” by Berthe Morisot

Claryville Jeans

The Claryville Jeans from Workroom Social

“Villa with Orange Trees, Nice” by Berthe Morisot

Heroine Jeans

The Heroine Jeans from Merchant & Mills

“The Garden at Bougival” by Berthe Morisot

Square Pants

The Square Pants from Stokx Patterns are gender neutral pants

“Villa with Orange Trees, Nice” by Berthe Morisot

Marilyn Jeans

The Marilyn Jeans from Charm Patterns

“The Garden at Bougival” by Berthe Morisot

Calamint Jeans

The Calamint Jeans is a free pattern from Mood Sewciety

“Villa with Orange Trees, Nice” by Berthe Morisot

Getaway Jeans

The Getaway Jeans from Sewing Workshop

“The Garden at Bougival” by Berthe Morisot

Jordan Jeans

The Jordan Cropped Jeans from Studio Calicot

“Villa with Orange Trees, Nice” by Berthe Morisot

Ultimate Jeans

The Ultimate Jeans from Sew Over It

Work Pants

The Azuki Work Pants from Waffle Patterns

Jeans for men?

Shopping denim? Check out this blog on where to shop denim in NZ

Want to get printing?

Email your files through to hello@chchsews.com to get started!

Cotton Lawn Projects!

Inspired by the current sale of Liberty Tana Lawn at TFS, I thought I’d round up some sewing patterns which would look great in Tana Lawn!

Cotton Lawn makes great summer PJs, would make an excellent robe, makes for lovely crisp shirts, and looks especially good when it’s gathered! With that in mind, here’s some ideas which may or may not get your creative juices flowing.

The Huon Shirt and Dress from Muna and Broad is available up to a 64″ bust and a 71.5″ hip

If their sizes are too small for you, Muna and Broad will grade this pattern up to your size for no extra cost.

“Villa with Orange Trees, Nice” by Berthe Morisot

The Block Tee

from Paper Theory Patterns (previously of Dunedin)

A modern, oversized t-shirt, designed to look relaxed and feel easy to wear in a woven fabric.

The body is much wider than a regular t-shirt and the sleeves are longer than normal, sitting just above the elbow, with the angular square armholes being its hallmark feature. The neckline has a hidden binding to complement its minimalist design and the hem turn ups are extra deep to emphasise its boxy silhouette.

The Collins Top from In The Folds (in Sydney) is a loose-fitting trapeze-shaped top designed for woven fabrics. It is A-line in shape, perfect for hot summer days. There’s also a version with sleeves!

“The Garden at Bougival” by Berthe Morisot

The Waikerie Shirt and Dress Collection from Muna and Broad is available up to a 182cm (71.5″) hip

This ‘cup-size flexible’ shirt has multiple views, sleeve-lengths, and even collar options through Patreon.

M&B will grade this pattern up to your size if their size chart is too small to include you.

The Phen Shirt from Pattern Fantastique

Shirt-weight fabrics like washer cotton from The Fine Cloth Company, shirtings from Miss Maude, and linen from Fabric Box would all be great.

The Cornell Shirt from Elbe Textiles (formerly of Christchurch) is a gender-free pattern with a drop shoulders and a classic grandpa collar.

“The Garden at Bougival” by Berthe Morisot

The Bloom Shirt & Dress from Make by TFS comes with options!

With 3 different collar options, just like Muna and Broad, TFS will grade this pattern up to your size if their sizes don’t include you.

Available up to 149.5cm (55.7″) bust and 159.5cm (62.8″) hip

The Cashmerette Springfield is a woven shell top with multiple cup sizes and multiple views.

The Spinifex PJs and Medlow Robe from Muna and Broad

Available in the standard M&B range of 102-162cm bust and 105-182cm hip, these patterns bring ‘classic sleepwear’ and add comfort and functionality for plus-size bodies.

Want more?

Check out the other pattern roundups on the ChCh sews blog

The Melody Dolman from Love Notions

Available from 84-146cm bust and 90-151cm hip, has a camp-style collar, and a shirt-tail hem.

The Gosling Shirt from Mimi G Style is a slim-fit shirt with great features.

The Agnes PJs from Paper Theory

Available from 80-142 cm bust and 86-146cm hip, the Agnes come with short and pants-length options.

Of course, Liberty Swim Fabric is also on sale, so it might be time to revisit the roundup of swimwear sewing patterns!

Want to get printing?

Email your files through to hello@chchsews.com to get started!

Recent patterns printed

I’m always very interested in the patterns which come through for printing, and I thought you might be too! Here’s a roundup of some goodies that have popped out of the printer in the last wee while, and I’ve also included some recommendations for NZ-based places to shop for fabrics which would be a good fit!

The Steele Pinafore from Elbe Textiles

Perfect for medium weight woven fabrics with good drape.

Check out tencel from TFS, linen from The Fine Cloth Company, or rayon from Fab Fabrics, and from Aussie there’s silk noil from A+R Fabrics.

The Medlow Robe from Muna and Broad

Designed to be sewn with a wide variety of woven fabrics, this would be perfect in licorice silk satin from Fab Fabrics, cupro from The Fine Cloth Company, or silk crepe de chine from Hawes and Freer. Make it cosy with sherpa fabric from Minkylicious, or shetland flannel from Jet Greytown.

The Kimball Bomber Jacket from Cashmerette

In NZ, shop ribbing for bombers at Miss Maude, Fable Fabrics, Backstreet Bargains, Fabric Box, or Jones & Taylor.

The Phen Shirt from Pattern Fantastique

Shirt-weight fabrics like washer cotton from The Fine Cloth Company, shirtings from Miss Maude, and linen from Fabric Box would all be great.

The Winslow Culottes from Helen’s Closet

These versatile pants would be great in linen from The Fine Cloth Company, tencel from Fabric Box, or viscose from Miss Maude.

The Gracie Wrap Pattern from The Bold One

Designed for woven fabrics like linen from Miss Maude, seersucker from Fab Fabrics, patterned linens from Drapers Fabric, and washer cotton from The Fine Cloth Company.

The Hexham Dress from Muna and Broad

Great in cotton lycra from Backstreet Bargains, merino from The Merino Collective, jersey from Fable Fabrics, and ribbed cotton from Nellie Joans.

Want to get printing?

Email your PDF pattern files through to hello@chchsews.com to get started. A0 printing is $6 per sheet and postage within NZ is available

Sewing Swimwear

It’s heating up in Christchurch, so today we’re rounding up sewing patterns for swimwear!

A swimsuit can be a super satisfying make, which can make you feel extra-smug at the beach (or at He Puna Taimoana)!

Do you have some Tried-and-True PDF swimwear patterns that aren’t listed here? Or maybe you’ve hacked your T’n’T undies patterns for swimwear? Let us know in the comments!

The Seabright Swimmer from Friday Pattern Company is available from a 32-54″ (81-137cm) bust and 34-57 (86-145cm) hip

The Banksia Swim Expansion from Muna and Broad is available from 38-64″ (97-162cm) bust and 41.5-71.5″ (105-182cm) hip

The Ipswich Swimsuit from Cashmerette comes with cup size options and is available up to a 62″ hip

The Riri from Mimi G is available up to a 47″ bust and 49″ hip

Want more?

Check out my list of activewear sewing patterns on the blog.

The Beckham Swim Trunks from Sew Sew Def would look great sewn up in these non-stretch swimwear fabrics from The Fabric Store

The Laminaria Swimsuit from Tuesday Stitches is available from a 32-52″ high bust (81.5-132cm) and 35-55″ hip (89-139.5cm)

This Bikini Sewing Pattern from ShaktiSwim is available from a 33-41″ (84-104cm) bust

These Boardshorts for Boys and Men from Jalie bundle both size ranges into 1 PDF pattern!

Sewing Patterns for kids?

In addition to the Jalie patterns above, which bundle the kid and adult sizes together- swimwear for kids can also be found at:

Where to shop swimwear fabric in NZ?

Any Nylon Spandex will be suitable for swimwear, and you can source chlorine resistant fabric if you’ll be doing most of your swimming in chlorine, but you can also use standard elastic (which is a bit easier to sew with and cheaper to buy too). Online stores which sell activewear fabric will probably also sell swim fabric. Check out some more recommended stores in Aus and NZ here.

Want to get printing?

Email your PDF pattern files through to Chchsews@gmail.com to get started. A0 printing is $6 per sheet.