Ladies Swing Pocket Skirt

When I released of the Girls Swing Pocket Skirt I had so many people request a ladies version.  I am excited to announce the Ladies version has been created and it made its debut at the Houston Quilt Market 2016 recently.

  

The Ladies Swing Pocket skirt will have you stepping out in style. This beautiful skirt features a drop waist with comfortable elastic back. Ric Rac detailing and asymmetrical pockets swing freely from the waist and hip to complete this eye catching skirt.




One of the major requirements I had when creating this pattern (thanks to your lovely feedback) is that it would cater to the 'tweens'.  The Ladies Swing Pocket Skirt comes in a variety of sizes:   XS, S, SM, M, ML, L (Australian size 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) and the elastic back makes it perfect to adjust if required.

 
One of my favourite things about sewing is that different fabrics can give you a completely different look.  I love this fabric Fantine by Lila Tueller for Riley Blake Designs  from the 2016 collection.

Below I used Posy Garden by Carina Gardner also for Riley Blake designs. 

I am so happy with this pattern and hope you like it as much as me! 

You can find the Ladies Swing Pocket Skirt pattern available in many stares across Australia and overseas.

The Ladies Swing Pocket Skirt is also available for wholesale through Creative Abundance,  or Checker distributors in the US    
If you make this or any of my Clare's Place patterns I would love to see them :)

Christmas Toy Sacks

Is anyone else feeling like Christmas is just around the corner or is it just me?

This year I am determined to be more organized and here is why.  Last year (the day before Christmas) I decided that I NEEDED to make my girls a Christmas Toy Sack each.  I had made one for my eldest way back for her first Christmas

so only had to make two.  It shouldn't be too hard right?  Well when you are going out catching up with family having a wonderful time and working out the design specifics and measurements for the first time making two was a bit much.  I managed to make one and our youngest daughter was able to 'borrow' daddy's from when he was a child.  Santa doesn't come to adults in our house anyway ;p


When it came to the design I knew exactly what I wanted to make.  The design had been in my sketchbook for a.g.e.s.  Like seriously - embarrassing ages!  Every year I think 'I really need to make that Toy Sack pattern' then the time gets away from me and before I know it Christmas has come and gone and it is too late.  No one would want the pattern in the February (am I right?!).  So this year when I saw the gorgeous Christmas fabric line Pixie Noel by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake Fabrics I fell in love and knew it was the perfect fabric for the Christmas Toy Sacks.  What better motivation did I need.  So I got to work and am very happy with the end result and I hope you are too.

The Christmas Toy Sack is very spacious 25 1/2" (65cm) tall and 13" (33cm) wide and 

comes with four beautiful applique designs to choose from to personalize the Christmas Toy Sack. 

You can find the Christmas Toy Sack pattern available in many stares across Australia and overseas.

The Christmas Toy Sack is also available for wholesale through Creative Abundance,  or Checker distributors in the US  

 
If you make this or any of my Clare's Place patterns I would love to see them :)  

Swing Pocket Skirt

I'm back with another pattern to share with you.  This is the very first clothing pattern that I released and is such a fun pattern to sew.  

The instructions include many diagrams to help you through the sewing experience and make it as easy as possible for you to follow.  Not only this but it comes in a large range of sizes including 2,3,4,5,6 & 7 all in the one pattern!

The Swing Pocket skirt is sure to have your little princess stepping out in style. With gorgeous ric rac detailing and asymmetrical pockets, which swing freely from the waist and hip, this is a modern and stylish addition to any little girl’s wardrobe



My Girls love wearing their skirts and are always collecting little 'treasures' in the pockets.  You know rocks that are really 'jewels', shells and flowers ;p  

These skirts are made from a fabric collection designed by Melly and Me called Wildflower Meadow for Riley Blake Designs. (Swoon)  It is getting hard to find now but is still a favourite of mine.

The Swing Pocket Skirt makes a perfect gift for those who like to add a handmade tough to their wardrobe.

 I hope you like my first clothing pattern as much as I do!

You can find the Swing Pocket Skirt pattern available in many stares across Australia and overseas.

The Swing Pocket Skirt is also available for wholesale through Creative Abundance, Millhouse Collections  or Checker distributors in the US

Whale Tale

Hi there!
I have so much to catch up on with this blog and honestly it is a little too overwhelming so have not done it for that reason but I am determined to catch you up on all the patterns I have released and not yet updated you on here.

So today I wanted to share this awesome quilt I designed a little while ago.  I was pregnant with my twins when I made it (which seems like ages ago and yesterday all at the same time).  It is quite special to me for that reason.  I remember my big pregnant belly getting in the way as I pinned the rows together.  Do any of your quilts or craft projects take you back to the time you made them and what was happening in your life then?  I digress.

So when I designed the Whale Tale pattern I wanted to design something that was perfect for twins and could be unisex depending on the colours and fabrics you chose to use.  After opening my sketch book I came across the whale sketch I had done some time earlier and the design evolved into what it is now.

I love incorporating different materials into my designs when possible and the Riley Blake Jumbo Ric Rac was perfect to create 'waves' for the whales to go swimming along. 

The quilts finish to be 41 1/2" x 51 1/2" (105.5 x 131cm) when quilted.  The Beautiful Sarah Fraser of Patchworks Plus quilted these two for me in a nautical design for most of the quilt but changed up the design  to mimic the water where the whales are.  These quilts were made using Riley Blake Basics which are so soft and lovely to work with and as the name suggests they are a perfect basic to build up your fabric supply.

I love these two quilts and hope you love them as much as me!!!

You can find the pattern available in many stares across Australia.

Whale Tale is available for wholesale through Creative Abundance or Checker distributors in the US

New Pattern... Blast Off

Send your little boys off into space with this cool quilt and matching softie!  Blast Off is the perfect size to fit on a cot size bed and the simple modern piecing and raw edge applique not only looks fantastic, it is easy to do! 

The quilt measures 38 1/2" x 44 1/2" (98cm x 113cm) so is the perfect size for a cot.

The matching rocket softie is approx 9" x 8" and is perfect for little ones to let their imaginations run wild with. 

I have fussy cut the windows to feature the sweet little robot and used a combination of ribbon and ric rac for the tags.  These rockets have been a huge hit with my little girl :).  She has been racing around the house counting down (or rather up) 1...2...3 blast off and then zoom zooming them into space racing around the room.  

I hope you like this pattern as much as I do.

Fabrics: Rocket Age by October Afternoon for Riley Blake Designs.

Quilted: Sarah Fraser of Patchworks Plus

If you would like to purchase this or any other Clares Place pattern contact your local quilt store and ask them to get one (or more) in for you.  If you are interested in stocking Clares Place

Whale Tale is available for wholesale through Creative Abundance , Millhouse Collections or Checker distributors in the US

Pattern Release: Gridlock & Giveaway

Giveaway now closed:  Winner selected randomly by my eldest:

Anonymous said...

The quilt is beautiful Clare!

Leeah

Please contact me Leeah  with your postal address so I can get the pattern to you asap!  (I will redraw a new winner if the prize is not claimed)

 I am SUPER excited to announce the release of my latest pattern called Gridlock.

'Gridlock was inspired by a beautiful window. After playing around with ideas, the design evolved and Gridlock was created. Gridlock comes in two different sizes.  The small size is suitable as a baby quilt or large table topper. The large size is perfect for a single (twin) bed. Choosing masculine or gender-neutral fabrics ensures the quilt is versatile enough for everyone!'

 What is most exciting for me is that it was shown on the Riley Blake booth at Houston Quilt Market and also here in Melbourne (beyond excited).

This pattern is my new favourite but it didn't come without it's challenges.  You see Gridlock and I have a love/hate relationship- keeping it real here.  I Love the design but hate how long it has taken me to write the pattern (all part of being a pattern designer really).  You see I had the pattern completely written and did a test with some scrap fabrics and decided the construction could be simplified so rewrote the whole pattern (diagrams and all).  Did another test and found yet more things that could make the pattern easier to follow and the quilt easier to put together.   Finally I had written the pattern to a point where I was prepared to cut into the beautiful 'Enchant' fabrics (no one wants to waist beautiful fabric!).  Now I am so very happy with how the quilt is constructed and absolutely love the final design - just not the time it took to get to my end result. 

I love how these Willow fabrics give the quilt a completely different feel.

 A HUGE thanks to my mum who was beyond awesome in helping me to capture these photos of Gridlock.

If you would like to win a copy of this pattern just leave a comment on this post by the 12th December.  Be sure you leave a email as a way to contact you should you be the winner.  

Fabrics:  Enchant designed by Natalie Lymer - Cinderberry Stitches for Riley Blake Designs.

Willow for Riley Blake Designs.

Quilted: Sarah Fraser of Patchworks Plus

If you would like to purchase this or any other Clares Place pattern contact your local quilt store and ask them to get one (or more) in for you.  If you are interested in stocking Clares Place patterns in your store please contact my distributor Creative Abundance.

Website: www.creativeabundance.com.au

Email: nel@creativeabundance.com.au

Also if you would like a kit of this pattern get your local quilt store to contact Mill House Collections (The Australian Riley Blake Distributor) and order one in for you as they will be kitting it with the exact same fabrics I used :)