Have you heard? This year, May is Sewing Indie Month!
It’s no secret that I love indie patterns – they’re by far the closest a home sewist can get to RTW fashion without self-drafting, and it’s fantastic to see so many new patterns popping up all over the world, whether it’s downloadable PDFs from fellow sewing bloggers like Sew Caroline and Dixie DIY or gorgeous packaged goods from the likes of By Hand London. Many of them are also available in plus sizes, which earns them a *high five* from the Curvy Sewing Collective (and to those who aren’t yet… we’re waiting!). Sewing Indie Month brings together a wide range of independent pattern designers ranging from Tilly and Buttons to Thread Theory, Garmenter to Kate & Rose, Fehr Trade to Dixie DIY – see the end of this post for the full list.
Anyhow, Mari Miller of Seamster Patterns asked me if I’d like to host one of the Sewing Indie Month sewalong contests, and I jumped at the chance!
The Cashmerette theme for the month is… everyday casual. Yep, that’s secret pyjamas, folks. In the frosting —> cake continuum I’m firmly a cake lady – I mostly sew what I like to wear on a daily basis, which means lots (and lots) of knits, “throw it on with a pair of boots/flats” dresses, and simple tops paired with colourful jeans. I firmly believe that you don’t have to look schlumpy when you’re comfortable (what is it with all the college sweatpants, Boston ladies?!), and I hope this month I can help you continue to build a stylish, but dreamily comfortable capsule wardrobe for wearing every day.
- Jenny at Cashmerette: Everyday Casual
- Wanett at Sown Brooklyn: An Indie Love Afair
- Laura at Lilacs and Lace: Dressed to the Nines
- Rhonda of Rhonda’s Creative Life: Pattern Hacking
Here’s how it’s going to work:
CONTEST RULES
PRIZES!
The winner of the Everyday Casual sewalong category will win these cool prizes:
A Bonus Winner randomly drawn from all the sewalong participants will win the following prizes:
Sewing Indie Month designer prize pack: PDF pattern of your choice from Waffle Patterns; PDF Wardrobe Builder Pack by Thready Theory; paper pattern of your choice from Kate & Rose, Sew Chic
HOW TO APPLY
Use the InLinz widget below to link to your blog post, Pattern Review or Kollabora post.
Remember, you need to make something (at least one bit of your outfit) from one of the participating companies – it could be a pattern or tutorial! Click on the “add your link” button and follow the instructions!
***UPDATE (June 4) Please note that any submissions for patterns that are not from the list of participating designers aren’t eligible for the competition, and will be removed before voting
***UPDATE (June 5). Hold tight for voting! Mari, our fearless organizer, has arranged two rounds. The first will be a round of voting by the pattern companies and blog hosts to create a shortlist. Then, the shortlist will be voted on by everyone on my blog! Questions on the process? Email howdy@seamsterpatterns.com
You can also grab button below for your blog, and don’t forget to head over to the other Sewing Indie Month hosts.
- By Hand London
- Christine Haynes
- Closet Case Files
- Dixie DIY
- Fehr Trade
- Garmenter
- Kate & Rose
- Lolita Patterns
- Maria Denmark
- Seamster Sewing Patterns
- Sew Caroline
- Sew Chic Patterns
- Sewn Square One
- Sinbad & Sailor
- Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Patterns
- SomaPatterns by Sylvie P
- Stepalica Patterns
- Pauline Alice
- Thread Theory Designs
- Tilly & the Buttons
- Waffle Patterns
Oh yay! I literally just finished a Mission Maxi at like 2AM, so I am *totally* submitting it. Hmmm who knows what else I might whip up before the deadline? 😀
YOU”RE IN!
Thanks for your enthusiasm Mary!
Because of the months of hard work the participating companies put into making Sewing Indie Month the best it can be, only patterns from participating companies qualify. You’re welcome to pair your Mission Maxi with a pattern from a participating company for an indie fab outfit! But only the pattern by one of the participating companies will count for your entry.
My henley pattern from Thread Theory just came in so I think the hubs is going to score!
Just an FYI– I don’t remember which page it was on, but at least one of the sponsors has a lovely image of indie patterns to promote Indie month. The image includes a number of pattern companies NOT sponsoring the event. When I saw that image, I did get an impression that I could sew Cake, Colette, and Sewaholic for this competition/ sew along.
Ah, alas. Well then, I believe I’ll have something else sewn up this month by a participating company. ^_^
SECRET JAMMIES!!! I’m am always there for that!
My whole sewing life is basically one long quest to find things made out of jersey with no waistbands….
I finally got up the nerve to learn to sew and bought a Moneta pattern and they aren’t on the list. Hmmm. Gotta see what else is out there, I guess! 🙂
Ah bum! You might want to try Dixie DIY’s Ballet dress – it’s a similar knit style, but without the gathered skirt, and it will qualify for the contest!
AWESOME!! I literally just finished a dress that totally fits the secret jammies description – haha! I’ll be entering for sure, and I have another project almost finished that I can enter too – YAY! 😀
Aweeesome! As long as it’s from one of the participating companies, you’re golden!
So awesome!!! I’m definitely taking part!
Yee ha!
I’m tempted…
Do it do it!
Girl you are unstoppable. Can’t wait for your sewalong!
I will probably keel over in my sewing room soon… ENTER MY CONTEST! You will see a little bit of Katy inspiration in the next post 😀
So exciting!! I love so many of the indie designs sponsoring this – now, which ones do i ‘need’ before the start of June! Thanks for hosting! 😉
Oh boy you are going to be busy!!! That’s a really cool initiative!
Fabulous idea, and I’m definitely Team Everyday Casual! But what to make….
Here’s my first cake, I love secret pjs!
http://griffinfoodandsewing.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/another-coco/
Cool! You can enter the competition by clicking the “Add your link” button above and adding your link!
I tried to add my link but I can’t seem to find the ‘Add your link’ button?
Hi! It’s just above where it says An In Linz Linkup. If it’s not appearing, try in another browser (eg Chrome)!
I”m finding the link up thing confusing, too!
It’s working now!
This is awesome! I have the Dixie Dyi summer concert tee in my stash which I’ve been wanting to have fun and colour block with…perfect incentive 🙂
Hi everyone – sorry the inlinkz doesn’t seem to be working for everyone but I’m looking into it. Am just on my phone while abroad so trying to fix it!!
Aaaaand I managed to fix it on my phone at Bangkok airport 🙂 are you proud of me? I am!
Just tried to add a link and it looks like it’s not working again :(. Or am I doing it wrong?
Oops, nevermind, I think it was me – my link is up now! 🙂 Sorry about that!
Hiya! I managed to add a link on Rhonda’s page, but over here it’s saying that the registration is closed… I tried two browsers, but no luck. Help! (When you’ve got time! 🙂 Thanks!
Hey Gillian – inlinkz seems to be sporadically working but right now the link is active and accepting applicatopns
Yay, thanks! It’s worked!
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What if it’s something I started today?
Hi Chris – it needs to be completed and submitted by June 4!
Are my Coco-Renfrews okay? They are mostly Coco, and therefore Mostly Tilly!
Hello! I can’t really figure out how we vote the links.
Voting hasn’t opened yet!