When I saw Sue’s versions of the Amarena dress and blouse, I knew we needed to hear more! Today Sue shares her inspiration, customizations, and styling of the Amarena dress and blouse. When the pattern testing opportunity came out for the Amarena Dress and blouse, I was thrilled to be able to do so and jumped right into maker mode as this was the perfect style! Liesl & Co’s aesthetic fits so well into my wardrobe & lifestyle. While I committed to the View B V-neck dress in a champagne rayon blend jacquard shirting for testing, I decided to create a toile as a blouse with the View A col ..read more

How about a handmade holiday this year? To inspire you to do some sewing this season (or to inspire you to stock up on patterns for sewing in the new year!), we’ve got a great sale for you this week. When you use coupon code HOLIDAY2023 at checkout, you’ll save 40% off the retail price of all Liesl + Co., Lisette, Oliver + S, and Straight Stitch Society patterns. Paper and digital patterns are included. And, as a special bonus, we’re including the Oliver + S Building Block Dress book in this offer. If you’ve been wanting to create your own designs and haven’t yet purchased a copy of this book ..read more

Can you believe we’re in the middle of November already? Here is a little project I posted to Instagram and thought I would share with you here as well. Some inspiration for your fall sewing and dressing. Let’s start with this glamorous but practical look. Not a typical blazer, but something a little more elegant, I think. A cardigan is great for cooler weather, and this one worn alone looks a little dressier than worn over a shirt. Plus, the A-line skirt is so classic and timeless. What’s easier than slipping on a fluid dress to start they day? Give it some shape and styling by adding a si ..read more

Shelley, @lightningmcstitch, is here to tell us more about her Amarena dress and top. When the tester call out for the Amarena dress hit my inbox it was winter in Australia and I knew I wanted to make the long-sleeved View B to wear over a skivvy. But I also adored the collar of the View A dress, so I had to make both! For my View B dress, I carefully chose the colours I wanted to use and economised on fabric by cutting all the pieces on the cross grain. The fabric, at 150cm wide, was wide enough to get the length of the dress across the fabric from selvedge to selvedge. I cut each front and ..read more

Asmita joins us today to talk about her latest Liesl + Co project. The fall pattern release from Liesl+Co is always something that I look forward to because even though I live in a country where we have very few cooler months, I find the fall patterns versatile enough to style for all-year wear. This year is no different, and I am excited to make all three newly released patterns. But first, the Amarena Dress. Sizing: My body is going through several changes right now, and my measurements can vary a lot. The way I start, if I have made a few patterns from the same designer, is to go with the b ..read more

The fitted bodice and inverted box pleat make the Kyoto Dress such a flattering silhouette.  Many of our testers were inspired to sew the short-sleeved version in a variety of gorgeous prints. Melani and Jamie both opted for striking black and white prints. Rhythm looks lovely in her striped cotton Kyoto Dress. The turquoise print Kiran chose really pops! Shelley paired her Kyoto Dress with booties.  As the weather gets chillier, I can see this outfit transitioning to winter with tights and a sweater. Sue’s back with another beautiful dress in the perfect print for this garden se ..read more

The Amarena Dress was a winner with our testers. Melani liked the flattering neckline and ease of wear. Rhythm has done some pattern-matching perfection in sewing up this printed rayon dress. Erica looks stunning in this deep red, and Maria played with a contrasting collar fabric. When our testers sewed up the Amarena dress it included long sleeves for view B.  Based on the feedback, the sleeves were shortened to ¾ length. Although you won’t see that length in our test photos, I think we can agree the testers did an amazing job! I love how Jamie and Shelley played with color blocking ..read more

Our pattern testers had fun playing with the new Antwerp Pullover pattern. Alice’s daughter will stay cozy in this plaid pullover, while Kiran opted to make her daughter a lighter version that will surely be a great layering piece. Allison’s button plackets on the sides add a little extra detail, don’t you think? Shelley added a contrasting hood lining to her wool pullover and opted for snaps. Erica made her Antwerp Pullover out of denim, Maria opted for a jersey knit, and Kari selected a wool plaid. You can read more about the Antwerp Pullover pattern right here. You can get your own co ..read more

I introduced you to our Kyoto Dress the other day. Here is the post in case you missed it. Today I’m here to talk about fabric and styling ideas to help you get started! This pattern works best with light- to medium-weight woven fabrics with a little drape like linen, rayon, soft cottons, and sateen. But it’s quite versatile, as I showed the other day. I used a very lightweight silk/cotton satin for the peach-colored View A dress, and I’ll be honest: it wasn’t the easiest to sew. Satin shows every little pucker and fold, and every time I choose satin for a pattern cover I regret the decision ..read more

I’m back with fabric suggestions and styling ideas for our new Antwerp Pullover which I introduced to you the other day right here, if you missed it. This pattern is designed for woven fabrics but it can also be used for stable knits, so it’s quite versatile in terms of fabric. I’ll talk more about that below. How to wear this style? Well, it’s a really easy pullover, and it looks good over almost anything! Jeans, trousers, skirts, sweatpants. You name it, it probably works–especially because of the boxy, slightly cropped shape. But of course you can also add length if you want to wear it ove ..read more