Seasonal Sewing with Simplicity Patterns

Dear Simplicity Patterns . . . Your new website is garbage.  It has been months since it was “updated” and yet it has not improved one bit from the disaster that it initially was.  The search option is heinous.  This is incredibly frustrating.  McCalls recently did an upgrade as well, but that one works just fine.  What the heck?!  How do you expect to sell any patterns if no one can find them?

I am, however, enjoying some of these new designs.  And while I cannot image needing a swimsuit in the future (and I think this is probably a look best suited for lounging around the pool, and not actually getting in the water), this vintage reproduction is wonderful!  It feels very Jane Russell in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.  The jacket, certainly, needs to get in my closet immediately.  And maybe with a significant hem alteration, I could make the dress work for me.  It looks like there are bloomers under the swim dress, but how are they attached?  There is no waist seam, so does that mean that layer extends all the way to the underbust, or are they separate?  I am definitely going to check this out the next time I am at JoAnns.  And I would be very curious to see the original vintage instructions on this . . . does anyone have a copy?

My other big complaint is that the catalogs seem to be released in dribs and drabs.   The only reason I am aware of new designs is because of the independent pattern designers.

For instance, there were hints on the American Duchess instagram account and blog that there would be Outlander themed patterns in the next Simplicity catalog which is the only reason why I bothered looking at simplicity.com.  And the first few time I did, I got very frustrated because I could not find them.  

But I am so very thrilled for Lauren!  It also sounds like there will be quite a bit of information on her blog about making these patterns a bit more authentic than the limitations of a contemporary paper pattern would allow - I can't wait to learn something new!  I am not familiar with the Outlander books or the television series, but I have certainly seen images of the costumes.  This Bar Suit look-alike is so gorgeous!!  I think I need to find an excuse to start making costumes again - that, or figure out a way to wear panniers and bum rolls in everyday life!

This little bustier top has a very similar feel to Simplicity 1426, which I have made.  The pattern is very cute and it may have to come home with me.  I can see a lot of possibilities.

This dress has great bones.  I do love a nice princess seamed skirt!

And I am not sure about the above-the-bust seam on this dress, but it might be a fun experiment.  Is this flattering, or a horrible idea - it probably depends a lot on body type, but I would be afraid that the line would make it look like the dress is ill-fitting through the bust.   Proportionally, the shorter length looks best to me, which may mean that I skip this one.

McCalls has also released their latest Summer catalog.  I wish they would stop having so many different catalogs (Early Spring, Sping, Early Summer, Summer), just put out four of them, but make them more interesting, please!  I am not finding a single design that interests me, even after looking at the line drawings.  I guess the Archive Collection is gone.  Boo-hoo.  I guess I will just have to find something I like in my stash of patterns to keep me busy . . . which should not be all that difficult!