Gather sewing patterns: BlogBlog:2016-11-09T10:06:55ZCopyright (c) 2016, SandraExpressionEnginetag:,2016:11:07Fabric choices for The Azairetag:,2016:/blog/2.1882016-11-07T19:41:00Z2016-11-09T10:06:55ZSandrasandra@gatherkits.comWe’re talking about fabric choices today for The Azaire - the possibilities are endless!
We recommend using a reasonably lightweight fabric with drape - anything too bulky or heavy will make it harder to work with. We love a flash of colourful lining for the uneven hem of the peplum but you can also keep it simple and self line if your fabric is suitable. The yoke and front diagonal front seam lines can also be used for some really interesting colour blocking or why not play with texture; use a lace or broderie anglaise panel for the centre front.
To make it easier for you to decide we’ve rounded up some of our favourites that we think would work perfectly with the pattern.
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Keep it casual and wearable for the daytime in these lightweight fabrics
]]>Styling The Azairetag:,2016:/blog/2.1872016-10-23T11:27:00Z2016-10-31T19:25:24ZSandrasandra@gatherkits.comWe think The Azaire is our most versatile pattern yet - it lends itself to a huge amount of pattern hacking, playing with colour blocking and directional prints to completely change up the look and feel of the top or dress.
The top version looks gorgeous made up in a casual cotton, chambray or even lightweight jersey for a daytime look, paired with jeans or leggings. Keep it simple in one colour for an everyday staple.
Feel inspired? Go ahead and make your own version of The Azaire, and don’t forget to show us your makes!
]]>The Azaire & her pattern testerstag:,2016:/blog/2.1862016-10-15T10:06:00Z2016-10-23T10:57:42ZSandrasandra@gatherkits.comThe Azaire has only been out for a few weeks, and we’ve already had some fantastic feedback! One of the main reasons its going down so well, is thanks to our amazing pattern testers who helped us finesse the pattern, hone the instructions and ensure it was all perfect for release. So we thought to give these lovely ladies their dues, we’d do a round-up of their fantastic makes.
First up, we totally can’t get enough of Mady’s cheeky Azaire. She shortened the top and made a slightly bigger size to create her gorgeous lace version - so flattering!
Angela’s version couldn’t be more different. She made a super chic burgundy dress which she wore to a wedding, showing that The Azaire is perfect for dressing up for special occasions!
This cute blue Azaire was made by Alison, who removed the peplum to create an everyday top, perfect for her busy job as a teacher! (Love that colour on her!)
Sabina made such a sweet top with petal sleeves using bird printed cotton poplin. That fabric is so cute!
Clare used a slightly stiffer fabric to make a crisp, sophisticated top that would look great dressed up with a pair of slim-fitting capri trousers and some simple gold jewellery.
Anja’s colourful top would be perfect to wear on warm summer’s days, possibly with a cheeky glass of Pimms!
Neela used a flirty bright red double crepe de chine to sew up her Azaire dress, which just looks so stunning on her and shows how well The Azaire can work in a plain colour.
Winnie made a chic, crisp white version of the long sleeved top which shows off the shape of the garment to perfection!
It’s always amazing to see how differently people interpret the same pattern, and we absolutely love seeing photos of your makes. Our pattern testers not only helped us to refine the pattern itself, but also helped us to see all of the possibilities with The Azaire - loose, fitted, long, short, bracelet or petal sleeve, they’re all stunning! Thank you ladies!
]]>Introducing The Azairetag:,2016:/blog/2.1772016-09-01T21:26:00Z2016-09-13T18:28:07Zcarolinecaroline@gatherkits.com
We’re so thrilled to finally be launching our newest pattern, The Azaire! Made as a top or a dress, this has endless possibilities and is a real wardrobe staple.
The pattern features some interesting seam lines to the front, a lined, curved yoke piece and back darts for shaping. There are a couple of different sleeve options which can be mixed and matched with the top or dress, an invisible zip and lined peplum.
The Azaire works beautifully in woven fabrics with drape and movement - cotton lawn, silk, viscose or rayon are perfect but you could also use a lush velvet for a cocktail dress or chambray for a casual summer dress. The world (or the fabric shop) is your oyster! Play with the peplum and try pleating instead of gathering or leave it off altogether for a cheeky crop top. Try some colour blocking or using contrasting lining fabrics. Size up for a looser, more casual vibe to wear with your jeans. We’d absolutely love to see what you make with the pattern! If you post any pics, don’t forget to use the #gatherazaire hashtag so we can find it!
]]>New to the site - Mortmain kits!tag:,2015:/blog/2.1692015-11-11T09:59:00Z2015-11-11T22:26:49Zcarolinecaroline@gatherkits.comWe’re so pleased to finally be introducing our Mortmain sewing kits! We first launched them at Thread festival back in September where they were so popular they promptly sold out. We’ve managed to restock and get them on the site for those that missed out the first time round!
Choose from the chic Autumnal Mortmain, or the striking Botanical Mortmain, both perfect for winter wear. You now have the option to buy the kit with or without the pattern and both kits include 3 metres of fabric, a 22inch exposed zipper, Gutermann Sew All thread, buttons, elastic and interfacing.
We’ve also added two gorgeous new Buchanan kits to our range - great as Christmas gifts for mums, friends, sisters or as a treat for yourself! There is the vibrant Midnight Buchanan or the adorable Sage Floral Buchanan. As with all our kits now, there is the option to buy with or without the pattern.
To celebrate our new kits, we’re giving you £5 off all Mortmain and Buchanan kits on our site! Use the code WINTER5 at the checkout until Monday 30th November to take advantage.
And finally, with Christmas around the corner, you can now choose to have your Mortmain or Buchanan kit packaged in a beautiful gift box. The kits are nestled in tissue and the black and white luxury gift boxes are tied up with black ribbon - ready to go straight under the tree!
]]>Reduced international shipping coststag:,2015:/blog/2.1522015-03-21T12:06:00Z2015-03-21T12:39:34ZSandrasandra@gatherkits.com
We’ve got a little bit of good news for our overseas customers. We know that shipping costs can be a drag, so we’re really pleased that we can now offer cheaper international delivery. Yay!
From today, the following P&P charges will apply:
Within Europe
Any printed pattern or Tallis kit:
Was £4.70 Now £3.95
Any Buchanan kit:
Was £8.95 Now £8.50
Australia, New Zealand & Singapore
Any printed pattern or Tallis kit:
Was £6 Now £5.25
Any Buchanan kit:
Was £14.50 Now £13.95
Rest of the World
Any printed pattern or Tallis kit:
Was £5.75 Now £4.95
Any Buchanan kit:
Was £13.50 Now £12.95
So, why not treat yourself or a friend to pattern or kit? Go shopping!
]]>New Buchanan kits in stock (and a little mothers day discount!)tag:,2015:/blog/2.1512015-02-23T19:21:00Z2015-02-23T21:01:55Zcarolinecaroline@gatherkits.comHave you seen our newest Buchanan gown kits? We’ve added two more beautiful fabrics to the collection.
There is now a striking paisley print with a bold turquoise contrast.
We’ve also got another pretty floral print with a deep purple contrast.
Both kits come with the Buchanan paper pattern and a generous 3.75m of fabric in total, plenty to make the largest gown size. They also come with 2 matching Gutermann sew all threads which means you’re ready to sew straight away. They make a fabulous gift for someone you know loves to sew OR how about making one up for a special person… We’ve got a special discount on all our Buchanan kits this week - you’ve got until midnight on Sunday 1st March to get the kit for £30 instead of the regular £35. Simply use the code BUCHANAN30 at the checkout and the discount will be automatically applied. Go on, treat your mum!
]]>And the winner is…!tag:,2014:/blog/2.1442014-12-10T19:30:00Z2014-12-07T13:31:17ZSandrasandra@gatherkits.com
But before we pop the cork on the champers and eat ALL the mince pies, we have a little something to announce - the winner of the Best Party Outfit!
The fabulous Sophie of Sophie Loves Sewing made a BRILLIANT xmas Mortmain with some quite amazing Santa fabric. Chic with an nod towards the festive, this dress is perfect for both winter parties and Christmas day dinner with the family. We love it! Well done Sophie!
]]>How to make a sparkly leather Tallistag:,2014:/blog/2.1372014-12-04T19:26:00Z2014-12-04T19:36:16Zcarolinecaroline@gatherkits.com
When looking to up the sparkle factor there’s really no need to mess about - head straight for the rhinestones! I came across this amazing silver leather and decided to whip up a quick and easy Tallis collar with added Christmas sparkle.
Sewing with leather
If you’ve never sewn with leather before check out our guide to sewing with leather. It’s actually really easy and can be done on your domestic sewing machine with the right needle. The great thing about this project is the collar can be made using minimal amounts of fabric (and even less if you’re not making it double sided) so you can make it from large-ish leather scraps rather than investing in a large piece.
Making up The Tallis
The Tallis collar instructions suggest you cut 2 collars and sew them together, turning out and slip-stitching the opening. For this leather version I’ve simply cut one lot - it’s thick enough to sit nicely on the shoulders with just one layer and obviously it won’t fray at the edges. If cutting just one lot of pieces you’ll need to alter them slightly to remove the unnecessary seam allowance. We’re still stitching them together at the shoulder seams so leave those ones alone but you can go ahead and remove the 1.5cm seam from around the edges (because this version is a bit of a statement party piece I wanted it slightly larger so only took off the top seam allowance - I actually trimmed the bottom by about 1cm after sewing it up as it was a bit too big!)
Lay your front collar piece on the leather and draw around it (no pins!). Flip the pattern piece over (so you’ve got two symmetrical pieces) and draw around it again.
When it comes to your back piece, we’re not cutting on the fold as the pattern suggests so you’ll need to draw around it once and carefully flip it over so you’ve got a complete piece.
Cut your two fronts and one back piece out (not with your best fabric scissors, the leather will dull the blade) and we’re ready to sew!
Sew your front collar pieces to your back piece using a 1.5cm seam allowance.
As you’re not able to iron leather, I finger pressed the seams out and then put the whole thing under a couple of very heavy books for a while!
I then trimmed the seam down and topstitched it to keep it in place and keep the whole thing nice and flat. That’s it, we’re done with the sewing machine!
Affixing rhinestone sparkle!
I’m using hot fix rhinestones which can be applied with a snazzy tool if you have one but can just as easily be glued. Don’t use superglue as it will damage the underneath and show through. I used my old trusty Uhu Creative which is a brilliant craft adhesive, sticks to practically anything and dries clear. Squeeze out a little bit of glue onto a scrap bit of leather or paper and leave it for a few minutes until it’s tacky.
With a pin, apply a tiny blob to the leather (I stuck them down randomly - if you’re doing a pattern you might want to plan this out beforehand!) and then stick your rhinestones down, using tweezers to handle them. Any glue that squirts out the sides can be cleaned up with a cotton bud or clean pin.
Voilà! Some quick and easy sparkle to wear over a classic LBD. Buy The Tallis now to make your own!
]]>How to make The Mortmain party skirt!tag:,2014:/blog/2.1432014-12-01T19:57:00Z2014-12-01T20:03:21ZSandrasandra@gatherkits.com
This year, I’ve been coveting a sparkly, twirly skirt for festive get-togethers. Paired with a smart top, an over-the-top statement necklace, and some fab heels, I’m hoping for a classic, chic look to see me through party season. Having found some irresistible fabric, I thought a hack of The Mortmain dress into a skirt was just the thing. Add a lining, and you’ve got a luxe, bespoke skirt that’ll get you in the party mood.
To make The Mortmain skirt, you’ll need approximately 1 1/2 metres of fabric, 1 1/2 metres of lining fabric, corresponding thread and an 8” metal teeth zip.
It’s always best to prep your fabric before sewing, so give it a quick wash before you sew with it. The last thing you want is to wash your skirt after making it and have it shrink - disaster! You’ll then need to find the size of skirt that you want to make. Use your waist measurement and pick the corresponding size from The Mortmain instruction booklet. Now we’re ready to get started!
You’ll need to cut the skirt front and the skirt back, as per the pattern pieces, in both your fashion fabric and your lining fabric. We’ll be cutting a waistband later, so don’t worry about that now. Don’t forget to snip the notches - you’ll need these for your pleats.
Sew the skirt back pieces to the skirt front along the side seams, with right sides together. Do this for both your main fabric and your lining fabric. Finish the seams and press open.
We’ll be constructing the skirt pleats with the main fabric and the lining fabric as one. With wrong sides together, pin the top of the main fabric and lining fabric skirts in a couple of places to hold them both steady.
Then, fold your pleats and pin in place, as per The Mortmain instructions. We’ve got a further tutorial on constructing box pleats here. I decided to make mine by folding my pleats to the front of the skirt, but it’s up to you which you do. Baste the pleats into position.
Now we’re going to make our waistband, which will simply be a long rectangle - easy! Measure all along the top of the skirt to find out the width. We’ll be cutting the waistband on the fold, so half this measurement and note it down.
Then, decide the height of the waistband you’d like, and add on 3 cm for the seam allowance. I wanted my waistband to be about 7cm tall, so I made my waistband piece 10cm tall.
You’ll probably find it easier to make a paper waistband piece from these measurements first, so draw a rectangle, as so:
Then cut your fabric pieces on the fold - one main fabric and one lining. If your fabric is particularly light, then you may want to use interfacing to add stability. With right sides together, sew the waistband main fabric and lining together along the long top edge. If your fabric has a directional print, ensure that this is indeed the top to save unpicking later!
Press the seams towards the lining. To ensure that the lining doesn’t roll out and peek out the top of your waistband, understitch it in place. This simply involves sewing the seam allowance to the lining fabric, as close to the seam line as possible. Press the waistband flat. See - perfect!
Open up the waistband again, and press the lining fabric up by 1cm onto the wrong side, all along the bottom edge.
Pin and sew the right side of the waistband piece to the right side of the skirt top, using the standard 1.5cm seam allowance.
Grade the seam that sits away from the front of the waistband in order to reduce bulk. I did this using an overlocker, as my fabric was fraying hugely! But you can simply trim the seam. Press up onto the waistband.
Fold the waistband lining back to the inside of the skirt. The folded up edge of the waistband lining will sit neatly over the waistband seams. Press and pin in place. You can then either blind stitch the waistband lining into place from the inside, or you can move the pins from the inside of the skirt to the outside, and topstitch in place, which is what I did.
Using The Mortmain instructions, sew the back seam of your skirt and insert your zip. The technique is exactly the same as for the dress, you’re just using a shorter zip!
We’re nearly there! The last step is to try on your skirt and decide how long you want it. Hem as usual, I’ve overlocked the bottom of my hem and then blind stitched it from the inside, for an invisible finish.
]]>Christmas party outfit inspirationtag:,2014:/blog/2.1392014-11-26T19:52:00Z2014-11-26T21:06:03ZSandrasandra@gatherkits.comPlanning your party outfit is one of the most fun parts of Christmas season - all the more so if you’re making it yourself! Even EVEN more so if you’re entering your make into our competition to win LOADS of sewing goodies! We’ve rounded up just a few of the ideas that we’ve had for our virtual Christmas party - new makes, up-cycles, and DIY embellishments galore. Which to choose!?
The glitzy Mortmain
The great thing about making your own clothes, is that you can lust after beautiful designer outfits, and then channel the inspiration into your own makes. I love this chic Mary Katrantzou dress, but it’s WAY out of my price range (boo hoo!). But combo The Mortmain with a luxe deep wool and some glitzy embellishments and you’ve got your own gorgeous creation for a fraction of the price.
Upcycling an old make or RTW dress is a quick and easy way to get some party glamour happening. Another unobtainably expensive dress that I covet is this 20s inspired feather frock by Lanvin. Imagine perching on a bar stool, cocktail in hand whilst wearing this dress - swoon! Find that old basic shift dress in the back of your wardrobe, or whip up your own using a pattern like Sew Over it’s Ultimate Shift Dress, add some over the top ostrich feathers and there you have it - a dress to shimmy in.
We all love shoes, right? Even better when they’re glitzy dancing shoes. These Dolce and Gabbana lovelies are perfect for twirling in, and easily DIY-able. Some glittery rhinestones, a glue gun and hey presto, jazzy shoes for getting down on the dance floor in.
Of course, you want to look fabulous not just at the party, but also while waiting for your carriage home. A cosy collar can achieve just that. Just look at this Shrimps one - a fine line between bonkers and brilliant, I adore it! Using our Tallis collar pattern and some brightly coloured faux fur you could make an amazing version yourself to look suitably fantastic in.
]]>Sparkle! (and where to find the best stuff)tag:,2014:/blog/2.1422014-11-22T15:35:00Z2014-11-24T12:31:49Zcarolinecaroline@gatherkits.comWe’re delighted that Laura Stanford is joining us for our virtual xmas party! Without further ado we’re leaving you in her capable hands…
Sparkle. Could there be a more perfect way to customise at Christmas? For me, as a Designer, Maker and Author of all things lingerie, it is most definitely the season of sparkle!
It’s an absolute pleasure to guest post for Caroline & Sandra at Gather. I hope my hints and tips guide you on your way and my sources inspire and help you to find the style, colour and finish of sparkle that you desire.
Put your guilty pleasure for Strictly Come Dancing to one side and instead think of all the fabulous beading of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. Three decades which I have an unhealthy obsession with; the sparkle of sequins, the shimmer of glass, the shine of metallic! With such choice the creative possibilities really are endless. By emulating details from these eras you can sew simple embellishments around arms, hems or necklines. And if your fabric is printed or has a woven pattern you can create small areas of embellishment repeatedly along these edges. Either way, using tonal or matching colours of sparkle to your fabric will give a luxurious feel. And if you think it needs a little something extra, adding small pops of colour or a metallic will help.
Macculloch & Wallis is a particular favourite of mine for sequins. And the Creative Bead Shop & Beadworks offer a fantastic range of beads online. If it’s vintage you’re after then Hanson Stone Vintage are a superb Etsy seller, but they are based in the USA. However with so many vintage fairs and shops about, you may find a haberdashery stand selling salvaged beads or even an item of clothing beyond wear that you could use the beads from.
For the ultimate in luxury glass cut beads and crystals have a particularly illustrious history in fashion. We’ve all heard of Swarovski but Preciosa beads are also a fine choice and share a similar European heritage as Swarovski.
Having bought a lot of vintage in the ‘name of research’ I know that inevitably its rarity is sometimes reflected in the price tag. To make sure you are 100% happy, ask to have a small sample sent if possible, a couple of beads stuck to a card will suffice. And beware of vintage sequins from the 1930’s! Up to and including the 1920’s sequins were made of metal, but the lightweight versions of the 1930’s (before plastic) involved the use of gelatine. Although they are absolutely stunning, once in contact with water or warmth, they simply start to dissolve into mush!
If you are looking to add some simple, refined sparkle then adding touches of metallic thread could be just what you need. As a lingerie designer, I’ve collaborated with some of the most exquisite embroidery companies in Europe and believe me, metallic thread can look spectacular! In recent years the breadth of metallic colours has exploded on the professional market and these are now finally within reach for home sewers. If you are a beginner or haven’t experimented a lot with embellishment before it’s a simple option to consider trying.
Most haberdashery’s who stock a broad range of thread types will have metallic colours, such as John Lewis who sell both Gutermann and Coats. For the broadest choice you should take a look at Kreinik metallic yarns. In the UK Jenny Wren Crafts are a key stockist who also have a few really helpful pages so that you can confidently select the right thread type and colour. And Kreinik have standard thread colours that match each metallic, so if necessary all of the stitching on your garment can blend together beautifully.
As a word of caution these threads do need to be treated with care. Unless you are able to slow the speed of your machine I would suggest you use them to over-sew or weave through existing stitching by hand or hand sew top-stitching. If you fancy something more unique, why not stitch around elements of a printed fabric to create highlights or add French knots like polka dots.
Upcycling is practical and affordable but doesn’t always sound very glamorous, but that couldn’t be further from the truth when you’re working with jewellery to begin with. Re-imagining, shall we say, a use for a piece of costume jewellery can add style and charm to any garment, just remember ingenuity is the key.
Broaches and earrings in particular can make amazing statement features on shoulders and necklines or a mock fastening for fabric belt. And adding sparkle in this way means it can be as temporary or permanent as you wish.
If you want to go all out, combining various jewelled elements of differing shapes and sizes will give your garment a truly retro feel. Diamante chain lengths and individual gems or crystals from the likes of Kleins & Macculloch & Wallis can be used to connect the larger elements and therefore refine the overall look.
Ultimately, all embellishment adds character. So have fun, be playful and enjoy injecting your sparkling personality into your sewing creations.
Happy Christmas & Good Luck!
X
Laura Stanford, co-author of The Secrets of Sewing Lingerie.
]]>Yet more prizes!tag:,2014:/blog/2.1412014-11-21T18:15:00Z2014-11-23T13:26:45ZSandrasandra@gatherkits.comSo, we’ve told you what a fantastic haul we have up for grabs for the Best Party Outfit category. Today we’re going to round up the goodies for the winner of the Best Party Accessory category, and it’s another covetable selection of sewing loveliness! For a recap of how to enter our competition, read our Virtual Christmas Party blog post!
With £30 to spend at Sewbox, you could get yourself some beautiful fabric from their huge selection of Liberty cottons. Which to choose?! How about some of this gorgeous blue Bloomsbury Dance fabric which we used to sew up one of our Mortmains (a Mortmain that gets a LOT of wear!)? Or I love this deco-style lawn, which would make a lovely floaty top.
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Goodie Jar for The Tallis and voucher for The Mortmain class from Badger and Earl
Surely not much is better than a spot of sewing and a lovely cup of tea? Well, newly opened Badger and Earl obviously agree with their lovely sewing studio and cafe in the heart of Chiswick. They currently have a brilliant class to make kid’s Christmas pyjama bottoms, so you can make matching jim jams for the little ones in your life to wake up in on Xmas morning - cute! They’ve given us a goodie jar with bits and bobs to go with your Tallis collar, AND a voucher for one of their fabulous sewing classes to make The Mortmain. If you’ve already made up your Mortmain into a glittery party dress, then you can change it for another of their fab classes.
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Signed copy of The Secrets of Sewing Lingerie by Katherine Sheers and Laura Stanford
What could be more luxurious than waking up on Christmas day in beautiful lingerie that you’ve made yourself. And who wouldn’t like some chic handmade underwear as a gift in their stocking. Katherine and Laura’s beautiful book (signed!) shows you how to stitch sumptuous knickers, bras and camisoles. Oh la la!
On our Christmas party outfit Pinterest board, are the most bonkers, but brilliant tights completely customised with lots of little pom poms. That is an idea I just HAVE to try. To help you out, Berylune has donated this handy kit of Pom Pom makers, along with a sewing tin filled with goodies. SO much easier than the old school method of cutting out bits of card!
And along with everything listed above, we’ll also be giving you two of our printed sewing patterns of your choice.
So, with all these amazing prizes waiting for one of you to win them, what are you waiting for?! Maybe you’re going to make a pearl studded Tallis? Or customise an old pair of shoes with glitter spray? Whatever your party accessory, enter it into our competition for a chance to win ALL of the above.
]]>What do points mean? Prizes!tag:,2014:/blog/2.1402014-11-20T12:26:00Z2014-11-25T20:21:23ZSandrasandra@gatherkits.comNow, I don’t suggest you channel Brucie’s sartorial choices for your virtual Christmas party competition entry, but you can’t beat a good catchphrase!
So, we’ve invited you all to our virtual Christmas party, explained how to enter our competition (if you need a recap, see our blog post), now we should really cut to the chase and tell you what fabulous goodies we have up for grabs. And let me tell you, these are some blimmin’ great prizes!
There are two prize packages up for grabs, one for the Best Party Outfit category, and another for the Best Party Accessory category. Today we’ll roundup all the lovely things for the Best Party Outfit champ, tomorrow we’ll show you what we’ve got waiting for the lucky winner of the Best Party Accessory category.
£20 to spend at Guthrie Ghani? Yes please! They have the most AH-MAZ-ING sequin fabrics which would be great for a slinky party skirt. Or maybe a shimmery top? Totally party fabulous!
One for you Londoners! South of the river is Stag & Bow, a shop and workshop with a beautiful ethos. They not only sell haberdashery and vintage loveliness, but are passionate about the history of craft. Up to £40 to spend on one of their workshops will leave you inspired AND you’ll come away with a new skill. How about a new skill for a new year with a Tatting workshop? Or I’d quite fancy a sock knitting workshop - something I’m yet to master!
Now, I don’t know about you, but my sewing table is littered with odd and ends. Seam rippers, fabric pencils, tape measures, nippers - all sorts! What I need is something to contain them all in one place. Enter the Boxy Bag Craft Box - a sew it yourself kit with everything you need to make a handy lined bag, perfect for keeping your sewing paraphernalia in!
As well as ALL of the above, you’ll also get to choose any two of our printed patterns to make up your prize selection!
Phew! Well, I have to say, I’m just upset that I can’t enter! So, get sewing your Christmas party outfit and enter our competition yourself for a chance to win all of the above. Find out more about entering here.
]]>We’re having a virtual christmas party!tag:,2014:/blog/2.1352014-11-16T14:47:00Z2014-11-25T20:20:26Zcarolinecaroline@gatherkits.com
On Wednesday 10th December we’re having a virtual Christmas party and you’re all invited!
Lets face it, what’s the first thing you think of when you get a party invitation? What am I going to wear!
Well that’s where things get fun. We’re going to be making some sparkly party outfits and we’d love you guys to join in. As an added incentive (AS IF you needed one….) there are two rather special prize packages which some very generous people have contributed to, with goodies from the likes of The Village Haberdashery, Sewbox and Guthrie Ghani, amongst many others! There’ll be more details on the prizes to come, watch this space…
So we’re looking for outfits or accessories with some serious party flavour. You can use absolutely any pattern you like (although obvious brownie points from us for one of ours!) and customising or upcycling is also a-ok. There will be two categories for entries:
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1. Best party outfit
Maybe you’re making a fabulous going-out dress? Or a slinky party skirt? This category encompasses any handmade clothing item that you’d wear to spend an evening getting down on the dance floor in.
2. Best party accessory
Sometimes a FANTASTIC accessory is what you need to make your party outfit pop. Perhaps you’ve made a glittery Tallis collar, customised a pair of shoes or whipped up a fabulous clutch bag? If so, enter your make into this category.
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We’ll be posting a series of tutorials and plenty of inspiration for you on the blog over the next couple of weeks. We’ve also got a very exciting guest post from two professionals when it comes to sourcing your sparkle!
HOW TO ENTER
So how’s it all going to work? Simple. Let us know in the comments if you fancy joining in and then you can post your make online. You don’t have to have a blog - you can also post on twitter, facebook, instagram or pinterest! Remember to mention which category you’re entering your item into and use the hashtag #gatherxmasparty to make it easier for us to collate them all! You can also tweet us to let us know you’ve entered. You can find us on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
The deadline for entries is on Friday 5th December at midnight - after which we’ll round up all the entries on our blog and you can all vote on your favourites. The ones with the most votes for each category will win a lovely bunch of goodies!
PAR-TAY!!!
The winners will be announced on Wednesday 10th December when we’ll be having our virtual internet PARTAY! There will be cocktails and canapés and most definitely dancing… We’ll all wear our party outfits, but we won’t need to go anywhere - it’s all from the comfort of your own living room. So who’s in?!
a little extra something
To celebrate our party and to get you fully in the mood for sewing sparkle, we’re having a little flash sale on all of our printed patterns! Get 15% off The Mortmain, The Tallis and The Buchanan until midnight on Saturday 22nd November. Just use the code SPARKLE at the checkout to get your discount.
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From left to right: 7707, Kitty Silk Chiffon, Diamond & Spot Navy Silk 
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