Modes4u.com Online Fabric Store Review

A few months ago I bought some fabulous fabrics from the Hong Kong-based Modes4u.com online fabric shop.

Robert Kaufman zig-zag chevron fabric Remix Metallic

Black designer fabric Plume with peacock and flowers by Timeless Treasures

Brown poppy flower organic fabric by Birch Fabrics.

I love, love, love ... these fabrics and am planning to make skirts or dresses for my kids.

I received the package within 10 days of ordering as the modes4u team had already promised. Their customer service was excellent, and the quality of the fabrics is great.

My Next Tutorial Will Be...

Sailor collars. Yes, some of the readers have asked for this tutorial. and that's what I am working on now. As my baby sleeps more during day time and my elder daughter attends full-day senior kindergarten, I get enough time for sewing.

This is what I have done so far.

I am yet to finish the dress. The tutorial is almost ready. Watch out for the tutorial.

Here is the link for the tutorial: Sailor collar.

Thanks to all of you for encouraging me through your comments.

You can find lots of free PDF printable sewing patterns on this page on my blog. You can download and use them to create your own clothes.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the below links to browse through all the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

Our Bundle of Joy Has Arrived

A big hello to everyone! I have been waiting for almost three months to share the news that we have been blessed with a baby girl. She was born on June 1. She is cute and cuddly, and so sweet! I am spending most of my time playing with my two little angels.

I will soon meet you all with yet another sewing tutorial.

Have a happy weekend!

Free Pattern---A-Line Dress with Peter Pan Collar---Now Includes Sizes 4 and 5

Today I am very excited to post the free pattern for the A-line dress with Peter pan collar for sizes 3, 4, and 5 as per the request of some of the readers of my blog.

Here is the link to download the pattern. 


Please print the pattern at 100%. Do not scale. The pattern pdf contains 1 pattern assembly page + 12 pages of pattern pieces. I have already posted a three-part step-by-step tutorial here. Print the pattern on A4-sized papers.

Size Chart:

This is the size chart I used. Please take your kid's bust round measurement and compare it with the measurement in the size chart to find the right size for her.

Seam allowances are included in the pattern as shown in the tutorial. Pocket is not included in the pattern, however you can easily make one by following the tutorial. 

Please feel free to e-mail me at flora.flowers.boo@gmail.com, if you have any questions regarding the pattern or the tutorial.

Note: My blog's link in the pattern assembly page should read frillsandflares.blogspot.com, not frillsandflares.com. Am sorry for that. 

You can find lots of free PDF printable sewing patterns on this page on my blog.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the below links to have a browse through the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

Kids Clothes Week Challenge---Sleeveless Button-Down Shirt

I made a sleeveless button-down shirt for my little girl yesterday night to pair with the rainbow shorts I made earlier.
I didn't have enough time to take some snaps of my kid wearing the shirt. So, I laid the shirt with the shorts and took this picture. The fabric I used is a cotton eyelet fabric. I lined it as it was very lightweight.

I am happy that I was able to complete at least three projects. I had been procrastinating these projects for long. But now KCW challenge has helped me finish them all, so I can find no more reason to postpone any more. My thanks to KCWC organizers.

I made a skirt too, but the hem is not finished yet. So I am not posting it for the KCW challenge. 

You can find lots of free PDF printable sewing patterns on this page on my blog.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the below links to have a browse through the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

 

Kids Clothes Week Challenge---Tiered Ruffle Dress

I made a tiered ruffle dress following the tutorial at Mama Says Sew. Although this is not meant to be a project for the KCW challenge, due to the difficulty level of it (it involves making layers and layers of ruffles), I opted for it because I had already drafted the pattern I had cut the fabric pieces ready, and my daughter was very excited, and she kept on asking me when I will make the fluffy dress after I showed her the dress on Mama Says Sew website and told her that I was going to make one for her.

It took almost four hours straight for me to finish this dress. But the final outcome was worth the effort. I first thought of using white and two shades of pink. But my little one has many pink dresses, also when I searched my stash, I found some fabrics in blue shades. So I changed my mind and ended up using the same nautical colors as in the original. Also I liked the cool colors and my kid loved it too.

Her tutorial was easy to follow. The neckline was a bit tricky and needed some effort, but came out well.

You can find lots of free PDF printable sewing patterns on this page on my blog.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the below links to have a browse through the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

Kids Clothes Week Challenge---Kids' Shorts

I made a rainbow colored shorts for my daughter for the KCWC 2014. I self-drafted it for size 4. I am happy that it came out well and my kid liked it very much.

Some action shots:

I also made a ruffled frock and a skirt, but have not taken any photos of those yet. Will share it in my next posts.

You can find lots of free PDF printable sewing patterns on this page on my blog.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the below links to have a browse through the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

Kids Clothes Week Challenge April 7--13, 2014

I am all geared up for the Kids Clothes Week Challenge April 7--13, 2014. Here is a bundle of fabrics I have selected for this week's projects. I am planning to use some of the fabrics from this bundle. I have some more fabrics in reserve too, if nothing works out from this bunch.

I have not been much into sewing lately, but KCWC makes me do some work with my sewing machine, without searching for any excuses. Let me see how far I can go with this challenge. 

You can find lots of free PDF printable sewing patterns on this page on my blog. You can download and use them to create your own clothes.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the below links to browse through all the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

Tutorial---How to Draft and Sew an 8-Gore Flared Skirt

Recently I made an 8-gore flared skirt for my daughter. I am excited to share the pattern drafting and sewing tutorial for this twirly skirt.

If you want a free PDF printable pattern of this skirt in Kids' sizes 1 to 12 years, please click this link.

How to draft:

I developed this pattern from the A-line skirt draft (posted here).

The draft shows 1/4th of the entire skirt. Draw a line EF that divides the 1/4th skirt into two gore panels. Label them 1 and 2. Measure up from D at center front to a point from where flare starts (for example, 4 inches). DH = FI = CG. Draw a curvy line connecting points G, I, and H, which is parallel to the hemline.

Extend the hemline CFD on both sides. Let us add flare to the gore panel 2. Measure out from D the width of the flare (example 1.5 inches). Mark it K and connect with H. Repeat for the other side of the panel. Measure 1/8 inch (0.125 inch) from K and J and label them L and M, respectively. Join L and M. Trace panel 2 and add 1/4 inch seam allowances at the top and at the sides and add 3/4 inch hem allowance. Repeat this process for gore panel 1.

Now you have two flared gore panels.

Remember, these two panels are for the front right side. You will have to mirror these pieces to get the two panels for the front left side. And then use these four panels to cut the panels for the back of the skirt. Add seam allowances to each of these panels.




How to sew:

Use a serger or zig-zag stitch to finish the edges of each gore panel before joining. Join the front four panels with an 1/4-inch seam allowance. Open the seams and press well. Top stitch on both sides of the seams.

 
Repeat this for the back of the skirt. And join the front and back of the skirt.

Hem the bottom. Attach the waistband and insert the elastic into it (tutorial here). And you are done.

After finishing the skirt, I realized I shouldn't have used a fabric with bold prints (you can see in the image that the patterns do not match at the seams). So when you make a skirt like this, better go for solid color fabrics or fabrics with small floral prints.

You can find lots of free PDF printable sewing patterns on this page on my blog. You can download and use them to create your own clothes.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the below links to browse through all the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

Bye for now! Have a nice day!

--- Flora

A Beautiful Handmade Gift

My mom gifted my daughter a beautiful dress she made, when she came to visit us yesterday. She made this dress using the left over fabrics from three different projects. I love the color combination in this dress which I think is a little unusual.

This is dress front:

and this is the back:

The dress has so many details. A pintucked bodice front with ruffles on both sides and golden buttons on the center, a sash cinched at the center with a golden button, ties to knot at the back, and a gathered skirt.

Thank you mom for this lovely gift.

You can find lots of free PDF printable sewing patterns on this page on my blog. You can download and use them to create your own clothes.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the below links to browse through all the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials