Mississippi Avenue Top and Ultimate Trousers - Sew Indie Month Pattern Bundle

Guess what is coming?  I will just tell you, September is Sew Indie Month, celebrating all the great Indie patterns out there.  What is Sew Indie Month?  It is a month long celebration, of indie sewing patterns where designers collaborate to bring you fun blog posts and informative tutorials.    It's accompanied by a sewalong contest with fantastic prizes. Since the patterns in the SIM Bundle 1 are mostly wovens, this sale gives you time to make muslins before the contest begins in September while supporting small women-owned businesses and raising money for charity.

 This year the Sewing Indie Month HQ will be Sew Independent, which Mari from Seamster Sewing Patterns took over from Donna, who decided to step back from the site. You can buy the bundle and keep up to date with the latest SIM news on  Sew Independent

To get everyone ready for SIM, Maria has put together 10 pdf patterns in a bundle but the catch is they are only on sale through today, August 12th.  So hurry over to purchase the SIM Bundle 1!  Not only do you get 10 great patterns but you are helping The International Folk Art Alliance, which provides education and exhibition opportunities to folk artists from around the world. Just a few examples of what the International Folk Art Alliance has been able to accomplish by helping artists create stable, year-round livelihoods includes helping shelter women from domestic violence in Ecuador, building a school for children in Pakistan, empowering women in repressive cultures around the world, and feeding villages in Niger.  

How are you helping?  Well, 20% of bundle proceeds will be donated to the The International Folk Art Alliance.
Let's talk a bit about the pattern specifics in  Sewing Indie Month Bundle 1

• Bonnell Dress by Dixie DIY
• Cookie Blouson by Waffle Patterns
• Cressida Skirt by Jennifer Lauren Vintage Patterns
• Melissa Dress, Blouse & Skirt by Muse Patterns
• Mississippi Ave Dress & Top by Sew House Seven
• the NEW Saltbox Top by Blueprints for Sewing
• the NEW Sorrel Dress & Top by Seamster Sewing Patterns
• Sugar Plum Dress by Lolita Patterns
• Sutton Blouse by True Bias
• Ultimate Trousers by Sew Over It

New Patterns:

The Saltbox by Blueprints for Sewing and Sorrel Dress & Top by Seamster Sewing Patterns are brand new patterns that are being released with the bundle. During the sale you can only buy them as part of the bundle. 

You might notice from the first graphic the pricing is tiered and here is the details.....

Pay what you want for the bundle! The more you pay, the more rewards you'll receive. 

• Pay $25 or more to get the Sutton Blouse, Cressida Skirt, Sugar Plum Dress, Mississippi Ave Dress & Top, and the Ultimate Trousers.
• Pay $32 or more to get the Cookie Blouson and Bonnell Dress.
• Pay $38 or more to get the Melissa Dress, Blouse & Skirt, the NEW Saltbox Top, and the NEW Sorrel Dress & Top.
• The 10 people who spend the most will get printed copy shop versions of the patterns mailed to them as a free bonus.

Mari very kindly asked me to be part of the blog tour for this  Sew Indie Month Bundle 1 and I went with the  Ultimate Trousers  by Sew Over It  and the  Mississippi Avenue Top by Seven House Seven

I knew right away what two garments I wanted to make, the Ultimate Trousers and the Mississippi Avenue Top would make a great combination.   The trousers are a slim cut, which I made a bit slimmer in the legs for a fitted ankle length pant.  As always, the fabric choice plays a very important part in fit.  My muslin was with a cotton twill but my pants in today's post are from a Mood Fabrics' stretch cotton.  I went down a size with the stretch in mind.  I love my new pants.   I did add 1" to the length and note the waistline is 2" below the navel.  I will lengthen the rise on my next pair.

Now for the top half of my outfit, the Mississippi Avenue Top made from a   Imagine Gnats' double gauze.  I knew the geometric print was going to be my pants and I wanted a black for the top.  The  description of the fabric talks about the beautiful drape and the fabric recommendations for the top states..

It can have a vintage look to it when sewn in a fabric such as rayon challis or something with some drape to it.  It can have a more modern look to it when sewn in a crisp linen or cotton.

Double Gauze is a bit thicker so I used some purchased bias binding to finish the arms and neckline. I I love this Mississippi Top so much, that I just need to hem a dress from this same pattern.  The neckline, fit and front panel all combine for such a fabulous look.  My only adjustment was to lengthen the bodice above the waist by 1".    I did omit the ties at the shoulders and do like this look, once again the thickness of my fabric was the consideration for the change. 

Don't forget to head over to purchase your bundle before the day ends, you will love all the patterns.  Check out the other participating bloggers to see the fabulous garments made from the patterns

• Almond Rock
• CarmencitaB
• Casa Crafty
• Girls in the Garden
• Grey's Fabric & Notions
• Handmade by Carolyn
• House of Pinheiro
• How Good is That?
• Idle Fancy
• Lucky Lucille
• Miss Crayola Creepy
• Pretty Girls Sew
• Scruffy Badger Time
• Sew Busy Lizzy
• Sew Sweetness
• Ten Thousand Hours of Sewing
• Thread Theory
• Workroom Social

My tip for the day.... On fabrics that are hard to tell right/wrong side, for example my double gauze.  I write on the pattern instruction sheet if it is RST or WST, using  a pen that disappears with heat (iron touches it).  I really like this especially when I start a project and don't get back to it for a few days.  Saves time and frustration!