My girls and I were thrilled to see Sense & Sensibility Patterns on the new Homeschool Crew vendor list, and we were quick to volunteer when they asked who was interested. We've drooled over Jennie's website and patterns for years! Although I have sewn dresses for my little girls in the past, I'm not the best (or most detailed) seamstress. I've always chosen very simple patterns, and the Sense & Sensibility patterns looked complicated to me.
We received the e-pattern for the Girls Edwardian Apron, and the Girls Edwardian Apron e-class. I've never used an e-pattern before, and I admit that I put off the process of taping it together for awhile. After a couple weeks, I finally got out my card table and started piecing it together. Lining up the pieces went fairly quickly, although I had to work harder in a few areas and not expect a perfect match all the time. Sometimes I would have to tilt one paper a little to line up in multiple places, but in the end it didn't affect the cutting or sewing at all.
The e-class was helpful in walking me through the steps of sewing the apron, although I opted to buy packaged bias tape instead of creating my own. The pattern was actually very simple, and I was able to sew it together over the course of one evening (after the kids went to bed) and a final half hour the next morning (before the kids were up). I was able to surprise 10 year old C with her apron as soon as she woke up.
We had chosen a 100% cotton print fabric from my fabric collection, but I would love to sew another apron from a light denim or twill fabric instead. I am planning to make my 3 year old daughter a matching apron, and I think I have enough fabric left to do so. Next time, I'll use it to teach my daughters more sewing skills.
10 yo C loves her apron. She wore it all day that first day, and she still puts it on before helping to make lunch for herself and her siblings. Although I feared the pattern would be complicated, and I had never used an e-pattern before, it was actually a simple pattern. We love the feminine princess seams and the pockets! I think we're going to have to buy the adult Edwardian Apron pattern so the older girls and I can each have one, too.
If you haven't used an e-pattern there are a few different ways to use them. Once you print them from your computer, you piece together the papers and tape them. At this point, you can either use the pattern as is, cutting to the size you need ... or you can trace the pattern onto interfacing, creating a re-usable pattern like you would buy at the store (folding to the size you need.) I cut the pattern paper to the size 10 for C, and will cut down from there for my younger daughter ... getting two uses from the same printing.
The positive side of e-patterns is that you can print them over and over, and you don't have to store them in a box somewhere in your house. Also, if a pattern starts to wear out, just print a new copy. The downside is the process of piecing the pattern together after you print it.
E-patterns also save you money. The Girls Edwardian Apron e-pattern is $7.95, which is $5 less than the printed pattern and doesn't cost anything additional for shipping. The Apron E-class is available to download for $19.95, or with the e-pattern for $24.95 (saving money on the e-pattern, as well.)
Sense & Sensibility's website declares this is an easy and forgiving pattern, perfect for beginning sewers or teaching daughters to sew ... and it is! I wasn't disappointed at all, and I'm looking forward to trying more Sense & Sensibility patterns (like the Beatrix walking skirt.)
10 yo C loves her apron. She wore it all day that first day, and she still puts it on before helping to make lunch for herself and her siblings. Although I feared the pattern would be complicated, and I had never used an e-pattern before, it was actually a simple pattern. We love the feminine princess seams and the pockets! I think we're going to have to buy the adult Edwardian Apron pattern so the older girls and I can each have one, too.
If you haven't used an e-pattern there are a few different ways to use them. Once you print them from your computer, you piece together the papers and tape them. At this point, you can either use the pattern as is, cutting to the size you need ... or you can trace the pattern onto interfacing, creating a re-usable pattern like you would buy at the store (folding to the size you need.) I cut the pattern paper to the size 10 for C, and will cut down from there for my younger daughter ... getting two uses from the same printing.
The positive side of e-patterns is that you can print them over and over, and you don't have to store them in a box somewhere in your house. Also, if a pattern starts to wear out, just print a new copy. The downside is the process of piecing the pattern together after you print it.
E-patterns also save you money. The Girls Edwardian Apron e-pattern is $7.95, which is $5 less than the printed pattern and doesn't cost anything additional for shipping. The Apron E-class is available to download for $19.95, or with the e-pattern for $24.95 (saving money on the e-pattern, as well.)
Sense & Sensibility's website declares this is an easy and forgiving pattern, perfect for beginning sewers or teaching daughters to sew ... and it is! I wasn't disappointed at all, and I'm looking forward to trying more Sense & Sensibility patterns (like the Beatrix walking skirt.)
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Trusting in Him,
April
