As promised, today’s review is about Cotton Friend Spring 2013 edition.
A quick peek at the projects included in this editon. Tops, bottoms, dresses, Outerwear, Accessories, bags etc. All for the price of one magazine!
I love this dress on the little girl. The dress looks nice on the “Mum” too but I’m not sure if I could pull this school-girly look off myself 🙂 Would love to make this dress for my girls.
A variation of the first dress but a ribbon instead of buttons on the front and without the puff sleeves.
The how-to-make pages are convenient located right after the photos, and they are mostly in colored diagrams like the one above. The shading helps with identifying the right and wrong side of fabrics, which I think is pretty helpful in visualizing the process.
The Spring Sewing Special is separated into 5 main sections.
The first section is projects designed by NANATONE. Have you heard of NANATONE? The designer – Ms Megumi Aoki (who models the outfits herself by the way) designs comfortable clothes for sale in her own online shop. She has also published her own pattern book that I will be reviewing later on. Very simple, casual pieces.
The next section is all about projects made using European style printed fabrics from Tilda.
Step by step photos!
Section 3 is about knits. With patterns for matching Mother+Daughter tops.
Step by step photos again, with clear pictures on how to use not just an overlocker, but a cover stitch machine as well. I don’t know many people who have cover stitch machines though. But the rest of the step by step photos are very useful if you are a beginner for knits because it really shows you in great detail how to sew up a long sleeve top using an overlocker.
Section 4 is about simple sewing for adults. Like the dress above with a pleated neckline. The pattern comes with different variations for a long sleeve version of the dress as well as shorter versions to be worn as tops.
More simple sewing for adults – gather tunic and its variations.
Section 5 – All about skirt and pants with tucks. Each basic pattern comes with 3 variations.
The next section is really interesting. It’s about garments made from straight line patterns. I love this because it means no tracing of patterns!
Simply follow the cutting diagram dimensions, and make openings as directed in the instructions.
The short cardigan on the right (picture above) looks really simple and the best part is, no hemming is required 🙂
Do you remember my book review on Handmade wallets? The wallets above are actually pretty similar, and come with diagrams that look similar to those in the book. You get this pattern together with this book. The diagrams show you how to construct a proper wallet with dividers and a zipper coin compartment.
There are lots more patterns for bags, pouches and accessories in the magazine that I haven’t been able to cover here. I love magazines, such value for money! 😛
That’s all for today. Next week I will show you what’s in the Spring edition of Sewing Pochee! See you then!
