Introducing "Pongo" for Simplicity #1061

I'm sorry to make you wait...

It's been really hard for me too. I am so excited for the debut of my new design created exclusively for Simplicity, and then named, numbered, and known by them as  #1061. My patterns are normally given a name, usually an association to the development of the design. for example, "Tia" is dedicated to my aunt who gave me the fabric that inspired the style (anyone know español?). 

Pongo from Gowns by Laura

Pongo from Gowns by Laura

Some of you will remember "Pongo" from my "Gowns by Laura" page. Designed several years ago, this dress with an asymmetrical skirt was a favorite in the many fashion shows I participated in. The classic style is still a favorite. 


Designed exclusively for Simplicity, #1061 is a charming jacket and dress duo with a swingy skirt and the same bodice and trims as the original. Paired with the so-cute bolero jacket, I think this fashion remodel is an across-the-board hit. 

Sew Chic design for Simplicity

Wearing this dress, everyone will look like a knockout, don't you think? It's got a tailored look with a cut on sleeve and a slightly dropped waist that adds definition while minimizing less-than-taut tummies. Plus, the flared skirt almost guarantees comfort and style. If the lack of sleeves on this photo scares you off, don't let it. For most people, the shoulder will be wide enough to call a cap sleeve. If not, my sew along will cure that! (KEEP reading;-)

Warm days or cool nights, add the jacket and you are dressed up for a summer wedding or ready for a cool night out on the town.  The three quarter lined bolero short jacket is quick to sew and easy to fit too, with just enough coverage and doesn't cover up important style details!. Match the jacket to the dress for a monochromatic look or bring the eye up to your face by choosing a contrasting color/fabric. There are two jacket versions, either with, or without a collar. Dress variations let you decide whether to include trim at the neckline and hem. 

The pattern recommends broadcloth, chintz, dupioni, shantung, faille, gingham, pique, sateen, and taffeta and cotton or linen types. Of course there are many many appropriate fabrics in between. The biggest difficulty is finding the right print! Light to medium-weight limp or crisp fabrics will maximize skirt movement, and don't forget you need that petticoat for structure!

  
As of this writing, the pattern is not yet available for purchase.

What IS available is the SIGN UP for the sew along! To kick start our alliance, I will be hosting  a sew along, to be delivered to your inbox once a week starting July 8. I ALSO have in my hand a copy of this Simplicity PATTERN to give away to ONE LUCKY WINNER. If you sign up for the sew along now, you'll also be entering yourself into the giveaway too. At random, one NAME will chosen from this sign up list and announced on the RELEASE DATE for this pattern, JUNE 12. The sew along will begin on July 8, which gives you a few weeks to buy the pattern and gather your supplies. Sign up here:

http://www.sewchicpatterns.com/simplicity.html

It's less than a week! Look for #1061 online and in stores wherever Simplicity Patterns are sold. I'd love to hear what you think of my newest release and can't wait to see how your Pongo turns out! 

Have a wonderful sewing day!

Laura

Sewing Contests and Pattern Giveaways

Dress Up Party already Underway!
Do you like reading pattern reviews and enjoy daily giveaways? Then this is for you. Every weekday until May 29th Sara Lawson from Sew Sweetness has organized this online party by arranging to have two guest bloggers share a pattern review. This review will contain info about the pattern, modifications and more. What a great way to get inspired! Sew Chic is proud to be a sponsor of this event. Entering is so EASY. Just scroll down to the end of Sara's giveaway post and click the "Enter this Giveaway" link. At the end of the event, any garment project made between May 4 and June 16th can be submitted for a chance to be a bonus prize winner too.
Click the link below to win 3 patterns (winner gets to pick the style!) you have only TWO DAYS to enter:

http://sewsweetness.com/2015/05/dress-up-party-pattern-giveaway-sew-chic.html

You can visit the schedule of the guest bloggers, contest rules with this post too:

http://sewsweetness.com/2015/05/dress-up-party.html

Next UP: Indie Pattern Month/Sewing Contest in June!

 Have you been meaning to start that sewing project? Well now you have a reason -- four weeks and four themes starting June 1st.

Hosted by The Monthly Stitch, this contest is sponsored by 21 Indie companies and encourages you to start (or finish) a dress, separates, try a new pattern maker or sew the "other" view. Sew Chic will be providing prizes in two categories: "Dresses" and "New to Me." I'm looking forward to seeing your fabulous posts with Sew Chic designs!

Read the rules and announcement here:
https://themonthlystitch.wordpress.com/2015/05/02/indie-pattern-month-2015-the-contests/
and the category rules are here:
https://themonthlystitch.wordpress.com/2015/05/01/announcing-the-june-challenge-2/

We are sponsoring both the DRESSES category

and the NEW TO ME category

Sewing and Stitchery Expo 2012 and GIVEAWAY

About 15 years ago, when Expos were a new thing and I was still in college, I went with an Aunt to the now famous Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington. At $2 a pop, we could take a class from any number of well known sewing educators. We left with notebooks full of information, agreeing not to return until we'd fully utilized the information we'd collected. That experience feels like a lifetime ago, and since then I've become an educator myself. It was time to make good on my commitment, so early this month Tricia and I took a drive up north to visit the show on Saturday where she and I were to participate in the ASG style show.

Because I would have a second change for the show, I decided to come ready for my first scene, wearing an embellished version of Southern Belle. Right away, Rhonda Pierce of Schmetz Needles introduced herself. I told her that my favorite needle is the Microtex, but I forgot to mention the double needle sewing on the yoke of this dress. Can you see it here?

 Then I stopped off at the WSU booth who introduced me to Rita Farro, who does the blogging, networking, and marketing for the show. She is a delightful person, and has a fabulous smile.



Soon it was time to line up for the fashion show. The runway prattle is made up from the questions I answered on the show application. My jaw dropped instantly when I heard "...and Laura has been sewing for 40 YEARS!" Everyone laughed. The MC added with a smile "I didn't write that!" I'm sure I look my age, but did they have to announce it? lol.


Being an avid Project Runway fan, I secretly hoped I'd get a chance to talk to Suede, whom we know from Season 5. He works for Simplicity now, and would be doing a stage presentation.You see, I would have liked to ask him what it was REALLY like to be on  Project Runway. I had applied to be on the show some years back, just about the same season he was there. It's just as well I wasn't accepted because the retro genre was not doing very well with the judges at that time. For a split second he looked at me and looked as if he would come my way, but thought better of it and turned away.  

Throughout the day I browsed the booths and stopped to talk with friends, acquaintances, complete strangers, giving away a few patterns of the Clara Bow Apron. It's incredibly easy to talk with people with a love for sewing in common. One really young girl, probably still in middle school, stopped me to say she liked my skirt. I gave her a sewing pattern. She looked at me in bewilderment. "But I only wanted to say I liked your skirt!"

1920's Clara Bow Apron

I have 5 Clara Bow Apron patterns that I'd like to give to you, my little dwindling group of followers here on blogger. (I suspect it's from severe neglect!) Hopefully this will make it up to you. This means that YOU have very good odds of getting a pattern. All you need do is:
1) be a follower
2) make a comment here about sewing topics you are interested in, OR the topic I've written about that you enjoyed most.
IF you want extra entry points, you can:
3) "like" on Facebook
4) sign up for the newsletter

Do it before April 4, 2012. I'll draw 5 names from a bucket on April 5th.
 Good Luck!

Post update: thank you for your entries, kind words, and suggestions. Best of all, Congratulations to the winners!