Hello hello, 

Anna here and I’m very excited to be introducing my new range of Sewing Patterns For Children’s Clothing!

They’ve been a long time coming…..I’ve been working with Millie Moon for over a year now and I’ve often been asked when people see my little dresses in the shops ‘Do you have a pattern for that?’ or during workshops ‘Can I buy a pattern?’ and the answer is now YES!!

My mission was to create an easy to follow, multi sized range that was simple to sew at home and that you can buy all the lovely materials you need to make at Millie Moon. There’s 3 styles to fit ages 1-5 to start with - a very cute Party Dress with a full skirt, a versatile sleeveless Pinafore Dress and an A-line T Shirt Dress with built in sleeves.

They’ve been a challenge to put together, I had to use my, somewhat rusty and self taught, CAD experience and call upon some of my lovely friends for their help - huge thanks to Chris at Wing’s Art and Design Studio and Aran at Latitude Photography for their skills, and everyone at Millie Moon for their        enthusiasm and patience.

I hope you enjoy making the patterns as much as I’ve enjoyed putting them together - all feedback would be much appreciated, I’d love to see photos of your finished dresses and hear your suggestions for the next additions to the range.

Please note…….All my patterns are clearly marked Not For Commercial Use, this means they are for home use only by Mummys, Aunties, Nannys etc making for their friends and family NOT for business or any other monetary gains/sale. As simple as the patterns and instructions look they have taken me a long time to develop and I also design and sell handmade ready to wear dresses. Copyright law exists to protect designers who risk sharing their ideas and I hope people understand and respect this. Thanks x

GIVE AWAY TIME

So, 3 styles, 3 samples, 3 Millie Moon shops, I thought what better excuse for a little introductory giveaway! There’s 1 free pattern up for grabs at each Millie Moon store - simply pop in as soon as possible, have a look at the sample dress and enquire:

 ‘Do you have ANNA's pattern for that?‘ 

to claim the hot off the press 1^st editions…… 

remember - Just one pattern per shop - first come first served

 I’m also aiming to cover making all the little dresses as workshops at Millie Moon, starting with the Pinafore Dress on 9th February in Keynsham and 27^th April in Frome - these workshops include all materials too, bargain.

Anyone for tennis?

What a year for celebration!  We've had the Diamond Jubilee, it'll soon be the London Olympics and in the meantime Wimbledon starts on June 25th.  


Now, I've not got the best record with tennis, my friend Lisa and I used to spend our PE lessons hitting our ball into the outside swimming pool.  My Mother In Law is coming to stay this week and loves to watch the tennis tournament on TV.  I usually just dip into it through the Sports News headlines at 10pm.  I prefer the cultural traditions that occur such as; the queues around the block, the crowds singing in the rain, applauding the rain covers being removed and play being stopped by an errant pigeon- to the actual games!  I'm not so good at sitting still doing nothing during the day because I have a little haberdashery devil sat on my shoulder telling me I could be sewing!  I think a good compromise might be for me to keep the elder Mrs. F company  watching Wimbledon using appropriately themed fabrics and trimmings such as these juicy little numbers we have in store.  Mmm, strawberries, now that's something I can get excited by!

Pretty lace trim bias binding

strawberry bias binding

lots of strawberry printed cotton fabric

By Vickie, Fromemaid

50s style skirt workshop with "Make me a dress"

Sunday 19th February was Millie Moon's first workshop with local Dress designer of 'Make me a dress' Alexandra King. This dress by Alexandra is an example of her beautiful work in one of the fabulous fabrics by Martha Negley, that we stock at Millie Moon.

50's style skirts was the make of the day. 

After deliberating with the fabric choices, all the ladies finally chose fabulous Michael Miller prints. Alexandra set about the demonstration and made it all look so simple.

     

Alexandra at the machine

Adding the contrasting bias binding

                                              

Then it was the turn of the ladies to have a go. Using 2 metres of 44" fabric and no pattern, the ladies cut out their skirt and quickly began sewing.  They all actually found out it was as simple as Alexandra had made it. The no pattern skirt had pockets, bias binding and a zip. So many skills learnt and applied in such a short space of time.

Emma and Amanda concentrate on the binding  

    Pleating the waistband

        

The 3 hours flew by and there were 4 beautiful 50's style skirts perfect for dancing the night away!

putting in the zip    

  Lucy in her cherry print skirt

                                                     

Alexandra has put the DIY Tutorial for the skirt making workshop onto her blog for you all to have a go

makemeadress.blogspot.com

More workshops with Alexandra "makemeadress' coming soon to  Millie Moon