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FibreMood Sewing Pattern Magazine Review and Preview!

Sew Sarah Smith

June 17, 2020

Hi sewing friends! Have you picked up a copy of the FibreMood bi-monthly sewing magazine yet? I’d seen good things about their designs and size range for a while but hadn’t got my hands on a copy until Issue 09. I was recently invited to preview their patterns ahead of each Edition hitting the shops and I was thrilled; I really think FibreMood might just be the pattern magazine I have been waiting for! Issue 10 is out today so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share my thoughts on the magazine overall as well as show you my first FibreMood project – I’m truly excited by this pattern magazine!

Fibremood Issue 10 — **FibreMood Issue 10**

Let me preface this, however, by underlining the fact that I have only ever regularly bought two sewing magazines; right back at the beginning of my sewing journey I picked up Love Sewing. As I outgrew that I began purchasing Burda instead – in fact, I have a decent sized stash of Burda magazines. Perhaps tellingly, whilst I find them generally inspiring and love flicking through them whilst necking endless cups of tea, I’ve never actually been inspired enough to actually sew one of their patterns! I confess this is mainly because I simply cannot bring myself to trace out and add seam allowances to the seemingly impenetrable configuration of pattern lines.

Enclosed within the matt pages of FibreMood are pattern after pattern after pattern of the like you would expect to see any of the most popular Indie sewing pattern designers releasing – to my mind, FibreMoods’ target audience is clearly today’s home sewer – one who doesn’t ‘just’ sew clothes but crafts modern, fashion-forward garments.

Sewing A ‘Block’ : Sew Over It Whitley Top

Sew Sarah Smith

16 comments

June 7, 2020

Hi sewing buddies!

I’ve long wanted a basic top pattern, an everyday easy-wear woven top that could act as a ‘block’ to be customised at will. I’ve tried a few over the years – some of which ended up taking so much redrafting, I basically lost the will to finish. However, roll of drums please, I think I may have found it, without much effort, in Sew Over It’s ‘Whitley Top’!

Fabric : **Lady McElroy Viscose in Heron Habitats**

It’s an easy and quick sew and helpfully comes with four different front pieces depending on your cup size (A-B, C-D, E-F and G-H), two neck finishes (round or ‘V’) and three sleeve lengths. It’s available as a stand-alone pattern or as part of an online course. It’d make a great beginner sew!

How to Pattern Match Complex Prints : Sewing Tip

Sew Sarah Smith

16 comments

May 6, 2020

Hi!

I’ve recently made a couple of tops using fairly ‘loud’ and complex prints. My lovely husband chose the fabrics and, not unsurprisingly, the issue of pattern matching said print never occurred to him. Which got me thinking : how often do we disregard a beautiful but complex print when purchasing fabric because the idea of pattern matching it puts us off? So I thought I’d show the foolproof (i.e. it works for me!) method I use for matching seams, so you too can be liberated in your fabric choices!

Pattern matching fabrics with a regular and repeating pattern, like stripes or checks is one thing – the pattern itself actually helps in the pattern matching process. Here I’m going to demonstrate using this busy, not quite so helpful, print at a centre-back seam. (I recommend you read through fully at least once before attempting to follow it in ‘real life’!)

(If you’re looking for guidance on pattern matching smaller areas, e.g. a two-piece/cuffed, patch pocket, I cover that here).

Lady McElroy viscose crepe in Jade – purchased from Minerva (see here)

Let’s start by taking a a look at the tools I find useful…

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