Over the past few years we’ve received many, many requests from you for women’s patterns, and I’m so pleased to say that–at long last–we have developed a small collection in response to your requests! And, best of all, they are available for you to purchase in digital format starting today.
Last spring you might remember that we quietly released our Woodland Stroll Cape pattern under the Liesl + Co. brand. We’re now adding three more digital patterns to that collection, and I really hope you’ll like them!
These are styles that are flattering on a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Our testers loved them, and they’re designed to be quite versatile. They’re also very quick and easy to sew. These styles are slightly relaxed in fit and are designed to skim the body rather than hug, so you don’t need to worry as much about getting a precise fit. I think that takes a little bit of the pressure off when you’re new to sewing for yourself, don’t you? I’ll talk more about this soon, but each style is forgiving so you have a much better chance of actually wearing it rather than feeling uncomfortable or stressing about what you did or didn’t do perfectly. Our testers all loved these patterns, no matter what size they wore, and I hope these will become the wardrobe basics you’ll reach for again and again.
And most importantly (from my perspective, anyway), the sewing instructions are written in the same style as our Oliver + S patterns! In fact, we’ve included instructions for adjusting to your bust size as the first step in the two top patterns, since with women’s wear that’s the most crucial component in getting a good fit. From there, we include our usual detailed sewing instructions, with tips and tricks along the way.
I’ll tell you more about each of these styles in greater detail over the next few days, but since the patterns are available right now and you’ve been really eager to get them (I’ve been giving a few hints and sneak peaks along the way), here is a quick summary of each pattern.
The first style is one you may already know, now with a nice new cover: the Woodland Stroll Cape. This pattern is quick, easy to sew, fully lined, darling for fall or spring, requires a minimal amount of fabric, and doesn’t make you feel like a superhero wannabe when you put it on. This cape is like a mash-up of a jacket and a cape, so the name capelet would be appropriate, I guess, but I prefer to say cape. This style is so hugely popular right now. I’m seeing capes all over New York! And now the pattern has a pretty new cover just in time for fall cape-wearing weather.
Next up, the Weekend Getaway Blouse + Dress. This is a pull-on style (no closures) with a flattering V-neck, an architecture-inspired facing/placket detail, and a kimono sleeve. This pattern works exceptionally well in drapey fabrics like rayon, silk, linen, and wool challis (my favorite). It also makes a fantastic dress! Between the blouse and dress lengths, a really interesting pocket detail, and a three-quarter sleeve pattern piece, you’ve got tons of options with this dress. And yes, the dress looks great belted, too, for those of you who prefer a cinched waist.
The Late Lunch Tunic is another kimono sleeve pattern (don’t you love that there are no set-in sleeves for these patterns?) with a great-looking collar and placket and a gently gathered empire waist that’s flat at the sides to give a smooth silhouette, with no added bulk. The subtle high-low hem gives a little extra coverage in the back. This tunic is really cute in stable knits (best if they’re not too stretchy) as well as lightweight woven fabrics like quilting cotton, chambray, etc.
And the final pattern is our Everyday Skirt, which really is as versatile as it sounds. This is the grown-up equivalent of the Lazy Days Skirt, made to flatter grown-up bodies (because the Lazy Days Skirt really isn’t so flattering once you have hips). It includes nearly-hidden front pockets, a flat side panel (again, no extra bulk for a smooth silhouette) and an elasticized back waist so you don’t have any fancy closures. This makes a great summer skirt in linen or cotton, but it’s also fantastic in fall and winter, and it dresses up beautifully in wool, worn with tights and boots or flats.
I had so much fun designing and developing these styles, and I’m so pleased that I can introduce you to sewing for yourself with low-stress, easy-fit patterns. Who knows, maybe we can develop this collection and include more involved styles while simultaneously growing your skills and confidence as we go. I think we’d all like that. Right?
I’ll tell you about each of the styles in greater detail over the next few days, so stay tuned and I’ll try to answer any questions you have. I can’t wait to see what you make with these patterns!