Robin just turned me onto this site. Lisette is a blog and a pattern store and it's (rather intelligently) teamed up with Jo-Ann (a big-box sewing store in the US) to sell the very fabrics in which its season's patterns are modeled. Talk about taking the guess-work out of things.
Of course, seasoned sewists may want to do their own thing, but for a new stitcher - one of those modern-generation crafters who's just trying to get into the swing of things - the patterns are adorable (and simple), the styling retro-relevant, and it's one-stop shopping.
As a test-subject on behalf of y'all, I just spent a reasonable 12 bucks on a pattern - plus an absurd $8.00 in shipping (they are ripping off the international crowd) - to purchase this:
I bought it for dress C - which I'll make with snaps, thank you very much. No doubt, it will be an FBA-experience, but I do think it's adorable.
Has anyone else checked out this site? What do you think of the concept?
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I have 3 of these patterns already. I haven't seen (or felt) the coordinating fabrics yet at Jo-Ann's yet. I love the concept.
ReplyDeleteI've made a few of the garments in this collection (a dress, a jacket and a shirt) and I bought several of the fabrics as well. The patterns were well put together and I found the instructions useful, although I changed a few things here and there. I love the fabrics - different styles and weights, interesting prints - and they go on sale at Joann's pretty often so they end up being fairly cheap.
ReplyDeleteInteresting marketing concept. I recently bought all the patterns (on sale at Hancocks, I'll spare you the details). I haven't made any yet, but as one of those seasoned sewists you mentioned, I'll probably do my own thing, but I do think choosing fabric can be daunting, and can make or break a project, so it's not such a bad thing to be spoon fed at first. For me, it kind of takes the fun out of it though. I didn't realize the actual fabrics were available at Joanns.
ReplyDeleteLAP: Great to know!
ReplyDeleteGauss: Thanks for your feedback. I wish I had a Jo-Ann's to check out...
Elle: So you have them too! I think it's great for newbies to have some fabric choices that they can count on. But I agree, it's fun to find the perfect fabric for a project.
I think it's a fantastic concept. For me, fabric selection has been the hardest thing to learn.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of beginners are frustrated with their sewing projects, not because their skills are bad, but because their fabric choice didn't suit the pattern and so the garment doesn't hang right.
I'm not impressed with the fabric quality at Jo-Ann's, but it is a very convenient and non-intimidating place to shop, so I think it's great that they can market things in a way that will encourage people to get sewing.
They are fantastic patterns. I bought the 4 Lisette patterns when Simplicity patterns went on sale at Fabricland for $1.99. I haven't tried that one yet, but made some of the others. I was lucky enough to be in the US in March when the fabrics came out in Jo-Anne. I only bought one of them - i didn't really think they were as nice in person as the pictures, but the cotton lawn was pretty.
ReplyDeleteMs. M: There you go... I wondered if the fabric photographs better than it looks - or feels. But it's very helpful to finish with a product that matches the pattern envelope. Of course there are many variables which impact fit - even when you choose the prescribed fabric - but it takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation.
ReplyDeleteFarah: I didn't even know about this till yesterday - I could have checked out the fabrics when I was in NC. And I had no idea that FabricLand put them on sale...
I have a couple of Lisette patterns but haven't made them up yet. I saw the fabric at Joanns but it wasn't the type of thing I like to sew with -- wrong colors, for starters -- so I skipped it. I think it sold out quickly because I haven't seen it in a while.
ReplyDeleteThe fabric selection thing is a major challenge. I was at the Fabric District in LA yesterday and spent a large part of the morning just walking around feeling things -- I can't identify the fabric, but I would think to myself, "This is for dresses. This for skirts. This is probably swimsuits or leggings," et cetera. I do find I'm getting better with the identification part as I sew more.
I think this is a fabulous concept. I don't know what I would think of the fabrics, but I can go take a look. The patterns look good though.
ReplyDeleteLSCG: I actually feel that my biggest sewing strength is understanding how drape factors into a pattern - of course, I'm not jinxing myself :-) But, if this were the thing that flipped me out, I'd be so happy to have someone choose cute fabrics on my behalf. In the right colour scheme, though.
ReplyDeleteMardel: If you find them, tell me what you think. I think it's a great idea too.
It's hard to believe the shipping costs almost as much as the pattern itself.
ReplyDeleteYour knitting work looks lovely to me.
Susan: Isn't it insane?? Then Farah told me she got them locally for 1.99 and I felt doofy. Mind you, I want to have the international experience :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the knitting encouragement. Oh, I need it.