Mix & Match Sew Along and Contest details

Are you ready for a Sew Along and CONTEST ?? I wanna see what *YOU* make with the Mix & Match Series patterns

Basic Empire Bodice, Sassy Dress Bottom, Sweet Flounce Sleeves
Metallic Slinky Knit from SpandexWorld.com

My FAVORITE thing about the Mix&Match series is how versatile they are.  Every time someone shares a picture of something they made with the series they are *always* different.  I just did the math and you can make 400 different dresses and tops with this series.  Talk about a BARGAIN ... it's like *endless* options.  I can always make something different ... or embellish it differently ... or change up something.

I've been wanting to DO something with the series so you lovely ladies can try them out and see just how much FUN they can be.  

So let's start with a GIANT sale ... are you ready?!  The *entire* Mix&Match collection of patterns will be HALF OFF *ONLY* on August 7th (ends midnight PST).  (**M&M Bundles excluded)

Available from nb-14 *and* xs-xxxl (23 different sizes) ... now *that* is a LOT of options !!!

Links to Purchase:

ALL Mix&Match Patterns

Bodices

Bottoms

Sleeves

Sew Along Schedule:

Below is the schedule we'll be following (so you can plan ahead).  Each day I'll be posting new things on the blog.  Tips & tricks ... new tutorials ... you just never know what  might show up.

Wednesday August 7th:

Purchase Mix&Match patterns for HALF OFF from jocole.com

Thursday August 8th:

Start planning out YOUR Mix&Match design.  

Order fabric from your favorite knit fabric sources (or purchase locally at your fabric store).

I *LOVE* the knits from GirlCharlee and from SpandexWorld

*twiddle your thumbs waiting for fabric!!  Make something from your fabric stash while you wait :)

Monday August 19th:

Print your pattern pieces, tape pages together and cut out desired size and length

     *bodice, bottom, sleeves

     *tape the bodice & bottom pattern pieces together as shown in the directions if you do NOT want an empire seam

Tuesday August 20th:

Start putting together your bodice ... finish your shoulders, neckline

Wednesday August 21st:

Add your sleeves (if desired) ... hem ... stitch up side seams

Thursday August 22nd:

Stitch up your bottom following your directions ... add to the bodice

Friday August 23rd:

Post your finished Mix&Match pictures in the album found **HERE** in the Jocole Patterns FB Group.

Monday August 26th:

Judging STARTS

Wednesday August 27th:

Contest winner will be announced

Introduction to the Mix&Match patterns from Jocole

I think I get asked questions about the Mix&Match Series ALL the time because it's still such a new concept.  

Here's the gist:  you can mix ANY of the patterns together to create endless designs.

Here's how to works ...

Step 1:  pick your bodice  (4 different options)

Step 2: pick your bottom (10 different options)

Step 3: pick your sleeves (10 different options)

(or leave it sleeveless)

yup, did you read that correctly?!?! ... 4 x 10 x 10 = 400 ... you can make four-hundred DIFFERENT dresses and tops using these patterns ... plus add in that they are available from nb-14 *and* xs-xxxl (23 different sizes) ... now *that* is a LOT of options !!!

At first they are a bit confusing ... but once you TRY it you'll love it and never want to stop.  You become the designer and can create something NEW every single time you use them.  

Step 1:  pick your bodice  (4 different options)

basic empire bodice

classy cowlneck bodice

racerback bodice

scoopneck bodice

Step 2: pick your bottom (10 different options)

radiant a-line bottom (2 lengths)

basic tee bottom

playful flounce bottom (can added at the empire line or at the bottom of the basic tee bottom)

horizon bottom (3 length options)

sassy tunic & dress bottom (2 length options)

Step 3: pick your sleeves (or leave it sleeveless)  (10 different options)

classic sleeves (3 length options, or 6 in the ladies)

flutter sleeves (plus a puff sleeve option)

sweet flounce sleeves (3/4 or long sleeve options)

petal sleeves

Racerback Tank, Basic Tee Bottom (spliced), Playful Flounce Bottom (with added ruffles)
Made by Fussy Gussy

Classy Cowlneck, Radiant A-Line, Classic Sleeves (cap)
Made by Caroline Critchfield

Scoopneck Bodice, Basic Tee Bottom, Playful Flounce Bottom, Flutter Sleeves

Classy Cowlneck, Radiant A-Line (tunic), Flutter Sleeves

Classy Cowlneck, Radiant A-Line (tunic), Classic Sleeves (long)
Photo by FortyToes
Modeled by Kori Leilani

Classy Cowlneck, Basic Tee Bottom, Classic Sleeves (elbow)
Made by MamaMia

Racerback Bodice, Basic Tee Bottom

Classy Cowlneck Bodice, Radiant A-Line Bottom, Classic Sleeves (cap)
Photo by Leah Teofilo

Classy Cowlneck Bodice, Racerback Tank Bodice, Basic Tee Bottom
Made by Harmony Marquardt paired with the NEW Basic Brief Bottoms

Knit Binding Tutorial

Hello everyone! I'm Harmony and I'm the designer behind 3Giraffes. I LOVE using Jocole patterns. They are fabulous. I also love using different techniques and adjusting patterns or adding to them to make something totally different and fun and new, but still have the perfect fit that the original pattern has.

Today is a tutorial on how to do a knit/stretch binding instead of using traditional elastic, fancy edged elastic (like picot or ruffle edged), or fold over elastic. This will be done using Jocole's awesome women's Basic Brief Bottoms pattern and some cotton lycra. You could most definitely use this tutorial for the kids undies pattern as well.

First cut out your underwear pieces out of your chosen knit fabric. Make sure to trim away a seam allowance since this will not be folded under. Then it's time to cut your binding strips.

First you need to know how wide of a seam you're going to have. Then you cut a strip 3x your seam wide x the length you need as if you are using elastic minus about an inch. In my case, my seam allowance is about 3/8". Which means I need my strips to be 1 1/8" wide. I made them about 1 1/4" wide because it can't hurt to have a little extra to work with.

After the crotch is sewn you sew on the strip with right sides together along one leg opening. Stretching as you go just like with elastic.

After its sewn on it looks like this. You see the right sides.

And like this on the inside.

You sew one side seam after both the legs have the binding piece sewn on. Making sure the seam is pointing down into the binding piece.

Then sew on the binding for the waist, then sew the other side seam with the waist seam pointing up into the binding and leg seam pointing down into the binding. It looks like this all together.

 

Then you make sure the seam is in the binding and fold the binding over top.

 

And I guess you should pin it in place...but I don't. I confess that I use pins as little as possible. This is what it looks like underneath.

Do a stretch/straight stitch right along the edge of the seam. Or in the seam if you can. (This is what is referred to as a "stitch in the ditch.") You can see a difference in the finished side vs unfinished side.

 

Then once it's all sewn down properly you trim off the binding on the inside.

Before trimming.

During trimming.

Super comfortable! And a fun way to finish off an edge when you run out of elastic or want to use a stretchy fabric instead of elastic for a different look.

Please excuse the awful pictures for this tutorial. If I knew it was going to turn into a blog posting I would have used my real camera instead of my awful phone! I promise next time will have better pictures. :)

Thank you so much Jodi for inviting me to come play here today!! You are awesome and I'm honored that you have asked me to contribute.

Yoga A-Line Skirt **Pattern UPDATE & Correction**

If you have had issues printing your copy of the Yoga A-Line Skirt you are *not* alone.  We finally found a solution !!  YEA !!  If you would like an updated version of the pattern, please forward your current copy to us a proof of purchase (attach the pdf to your email) and we will send you the updated version back.

The pattern piece or the instructions have *NOT* changed, the pattern has just been optimized for printing

Subject line: Update request for Yoga A-Line Skirt

Email to: jodijeanbaird [at] yahoo [dot] com

THANKS !!!  ~ Jodi Jean

** I'll be working on updates and edits for other patterns as well.  So keep your eyes out for when they are ready.

Crossover Tunic or Dress: Sew Along Day 4

There is *still* time to catch up ... if you already haven't picked up the pattern you can get the Girls Sizes HERE or Ladies Sizes HERE ... both patterns are available from Jocole.  These sew up SUPER fast and you're gonna love them.

Today we're doing Steps 11 through 19.

STITCH skirt pieces together along the side seams, RIGHT sides together.

HEM skirt pieces.

SLIP the bodice inside the skirt, making sure to align all the raw edges and match the side seams.

STITCH bodice and skirt pieces together.

TOMORROW: We'll be posting pictures!!!

Crossover Tunic or Dress: Sew Along Day 3

There is *still* time to catch up ... if you already haven't picked up the pattern you can get the Girls Sizes HERE or Ladies Sizes HERE ... both patterns are available from Jocole.  These sew up SUPER fast and you're gonna love them.

Today we're doing Steps 6 through 10.

STITCH side seams.

Align the bodice front pieces at the center front mark, BASTE in place 1/4" from edge.  Make sure to catch both ends of your binding.

TOMORROW: We'll be doing Steps 11 through 19.  Stay tuned ...

Crossover Tunic or Dress: Sew Along Day 2

There is *still* time to catch up ... if you already haven't picked up the pattern you can get the Girls Sizes HERE or Ladies Sizes HERE ... both patterns are available from Jocole.  These sew up SUPER fast and you're gonna love them.

Today we're doing Steps 1 through 5 ...

STITCH shoulders together.

BIND around the neckline and sleeve edges using the binding strips.  Complete instructions can be found in the sewing instructions included in your pattern.

 TOMORROW: We'll be doing Steps 6 through 10.  Stay tuned ...

Crossover Tunic or Dress: Sew Along Day 1

There is *still* time to catch up ... if you already haven't picked up the pattern you can get the Girls Sizes HERE or Ladies Sizes HERE ... both patterns are available from Jocole.  These sew up SUPER fast and you're gonna love them.

Today we're doing some preparation work.

If you have ANY questions the Jocole Pattern facebook group is a great place to ask them. 

Have you seen the FREE tutorials on modifying this pattern???
Adding Sleeves
Maxi Length Adjustment
Halter Adjustment

(1)     PRINT out pattern pages at 100%.  Make sure that page scaling is set to "None".

(2)     TRIM margins and TAPE pages together.  Matching triangles to create diamonds and lining up the 1" grid lines.

(3)     CUT out desired size along the corresponding line.

(4)     CUT out pattern pieces from FABRIC.  Make sure you cut out 2 opposite bodice front pieces.  You should have a total of 5 pieces: 2 bodice fronts, 1 bodice back, 2 skirt pieces.

 TOMORROW: We'll be doing Steps 1 through 5.  Stay tuned ...

Modification -- Maxi Length Adjustment

http://www.jocole.net/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_29&products_id=129

The Crossover Tunic & Dress is one of my FAVORITE patterns ... it's also my favorite to  adjust and make modifications and alterations to.  It's SO versatile.

This tutorial shows you how to modify the Crossover Tunic & Dress pdf sewing pattern into a maxi length dress.  You can use this tutorial for both the ladies pattern or the girls pattern -- it includes measurements for all sizes.

**This is NOT a finished pattern, just a tutorial on how you can modify the pattern from my shop.

This method and measurements will also work on the Radiant A-Line Bottom patterns from the Mix & Match Series.

Modification -- Adding Sleeves to the Crossover Tunic & Dress

http://www.jocole.net/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_29&products_id=130

The Crossover Tunic & Dress is one of my FAVORITE patterns ... it's also my favorite to  adjust and make modifications and alterations to.  It's SO versatile.

Have you seen this pattern in my shop and thought about purchasing it but decided against it because cap-sleeves aren't your thing?  You are NOT alone.  This has been requested ... a LOT.  I've  decided to write up a tutorial on altering the pattern to adjust for set-in sleeves.

This tutorial shows you how to modify the Crossover Tunic & Dress pdf sewing pattern for different sleeve lengths..  You can use this tutorial for both the ladies pattern or the girls pattern.

**This is NOT a finished pattern, just a tutorial on how you can modify the pattern from my shop.

You can use ANY of the sleeve options that are available in the Mix&Match series. 

This can also be used on the Easy Cap-Sleeve Tee pdf sewing pattern.

Modification - Crossover Halter

http://www.jocole.net/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_29&products_id=128

The Crossover Tunic & Dress is one of my FAVORITE patterns ... it's also my favorite to  adjust and make modifications and alterations to.  It's SO versatile.

This tutorial shows you how to modify the Crossover Tunic & Dress pdf sewing pattern into a halter top or dress.  You can use this tutorial for both the ladies pattern or the girls pattern.

Includes TWO different sewing instructions for completing the halter.

**This is NOT a finished pattern, just a tutorial on how you can modify the pattern from my shop.

Pair with the Ladies Leggings or the girls Ruffle Leggings in the short length to create a super cute tankinis for summer.

Crossover Tunic/Dress: Sew a Long Day 1

Are you ready for another Sew a Long??  I know *I* am ... yup I can't stop thinking about it.  The last one for the Leggings was just toooooo much fun.  It's like having a long distance sewing party with your girlfriends ... and then at the end we all share our creations and pictures.

I've decided to do another pattern with a HUGE size range ... I want to make sure everyone can participate. Let's do the Crossover Tunic and Dress this time around.  The girls pattern ranges from sizes 12m through 14 ... and the ladies pattern ranges from sizes xs through xxxl.

Links to purchase are below (the patterns will be HALF OFF tomorrow - Wednesday June 19th)... and I'll be adding more FREE tutorials on modifying the pattern.  Oh I LOVE this one.

Girls Sizes HERE

Ladies Sizes HERE

Below is the schedule we'll be following (so you can plan ahead).  Each day I'll be posting new things on the blog.  Tips and tricks ... new tutorials ... you just never know what might show up.

Schedule:

Wednesday June 19th:

Purchase pattern(s) for HALF OFF

Thursday June 20th - Sunday June 23rd:

Purchase fabric for patter if needed

Monday June 24th:

Print pattern, tape pages together and cut out desired size and length.

Tuesday June 25th:

Steps 1 through 5

Wednesday June 26th:

Steps 6 through 10

Thursday June 27th:

Steps 11 through 19

FREE Tutorials:

Sleeve Modification

Hi-Lo Skirt -- adjustment and modification

Hi-Lo skirts are ALL the rage ... instead of creating and selling a separate pattern I've decided to write up a quick tutorial on modifying the Ladies Yoga A-Line Skirt pattern from Jocole.  (Photo above courtesy from Nikki Luke).

I'm passing along the savings to YOU !!!  You're welcome.

First ... you'll need to purchase and print and tape together TWO copies of the pattern  (one for the front and one for the back). [BELOW]

 

Next you'll need to draw your new cutting line for the front (aka the "high" portion of the skirt) -- shown in RED.  [BELOW].

**These lines are shown on the largest size, of course you'll need to draw them on whichever size you are planning on making.

Then ... you'll need to draw your new cutting line for the back (aka the "low" portion of the skirt) -- shown in BLUE. [BELOW].

**These lines are shown on the largest size, of course you'll need to draw them on whichever size you are planning on making.

BELOW you'll see a close up of the front (RED) and the back (BLUE).

** You could totally use this concept on other patterns as well ... the basic idea needs to stay the same ... the front needs to curve up ... the back needs to curve down ... and the side seams NEEEED to be the same length

Maternity Skirt -- adjustment & modification

Did you know you can EASILY change the Yoga A-Line Skirt pdf sewing pattern from Jocole into a maternity skirt ... yup ... it's easy.  I promise.  Of course you don't HAVE to make the adjustment ... this is if you want to wear the skirt below your belly.  Above photo courtesy of Kirsten from Sugarplum Cuties .... isn't she the CUTEST pregnant momma ever??

Draw a new line for the FRONT of your skirt.  Start 3"-4"below the original waist and curve it up to the side seam (shown on a XXXL ... of course you would end on whatever size you are planning on making).  Use the original line for the back pattern piece.  You also will want to add 3" to 4" more length to the yoga waistband to help accommodate your cute growing belly.

D-O-N-E ... that's all it take ... so go get sewing.  These skirts are SUPER cute and sew up SO fast ... as one tester said ... they are like CLASSY sweatpants --- they are *that* comfortable.  Yup you're going to want to wear your new skirts EVERY day.

Pattern Testers Wanted -- Ladies Yoga A-Line Skirt -- CLOSED !!!

this testing is now CLOSED ... thank you so much !!!

I'm currently looking for people who are interesting in testing my "Ladies Yoga A-Line Skirt" (#12010) sewing pattern before making it available for purchase. IMPORTANT: I *need* the reviews back by May 31th!!

...

Description: Features a fold-over a simple straight yoga waistband.  Wear the yoga waistand up for more coverage and support (high rise), or folded down for a low-rise look.  Pattern includes NINE different length options (from above the knee to maxi).  (This is a pattern for *knit* fabrics, not wovens.)

Here's how it works (please do this all in ONE comment!!)

~ You leave your email in a comment and what size you would like to test.

~ In the SAME comment, please link to a picture (on a blog or on fb) where I can see samples or your sewing/photography. MUST be pictures of aduts, not children.  Photography plays a BIG part on who tests for me.

I need testers for the following sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL

...
Already claimed: NONE

...

PLEASE read the PATTERN TESTING GUIDELINES!!!

**I reserve the right to choose whomever I wish to test.  It will not be based on a first-come first-serve basis.  If you've tested before and did not return the results you are NOT eligible.... and you must have purchased pattern from Jocole before (yes I do check).

Pattern Testers Wanted -- Ladies Yoga Pants -- CLOSED

this testing is now CLOSED ... thank you so much ladies !!!!

I'm currently looking for people who are interesting in testing my "Ladies Yoga Pants" (#13012) sewing pattern before making it available for purchase. IMPORTANT: I *need* the reviews back by May 31th!!

...

Description: Slim trough the waist and thighs and then flares out below the knee.  Features a fold-over a simple straight yoga waistband.  Wear the yoga waistand up for more coverage and support (high rise), or folded down for a low-rise look.  Pattern includes short length, capri length and full length (petite, regular or tall) options.  These are not *just* for yoga ... you can wear these ANYWHERE !!!  (This is a pattern for *knit* fabrics, not wovens.)

Here's how it works (please do this all in ONE comment!!)

~ You leave your email in a comment and what size you would like to test.

~ In the SAME comment, please link to a picture (on a blog or on fb) where I can see samples or your sewing/photography. MUST be pictures of aduts, not children.  Photography plays a BIG part on who tests for me.

I need testers for the following sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL

...
Already claimed: NONE

...

PLEASE read the PATTERN TESTING GUIDELINES!!!

**I reserve the right to choose whomever I wish to test.  It will not be based on a first-come first-serve basis.  If you've tested before and did not return the results you are NOT eligible.... and you must have purchased pattern from Jocole before (yes I do check).