Patterns for Knits now at Girl Charlee Fabrics!

We get lots of questions about where to find the perfect patterns for our knits so we are excited to announce that they are now available at Girl Charlee! We have just added a beautiful collection featuring independent designers Whimsy Couture, Fishsticks Designs, Figgy's Patterns, Greenstyle Creations, Bryanna's Clothes, Lillygiggle and Jocole.

These patterns are all tailored specifically for knit fabrics so you can sew beautiful clothes with ease. Take a look at some the designers and a few of their patterns below, then head on over to Girl Charlee to browse the entire collection.

Whimsy Couture 

Whimsy Couture Knit Tee Dress

Whimsy Couture's patterns are all about quirky fun and comfort. Each pattern comes with easy-to-understand instructions and informative tips on sewing with knit fabrics. Designer Denise Knapp makes sewing patterns and tutorials for women's and girls' clothes, but also has a few boys' patterns and even some for pets!

Figgy's Nituna Swing Coat

Figgy's Patterns

Figgy's Patterns sew up into beautiful, simple and modern clothes. Her patterns are professionally drafted with easy-to-understand instructions that have been tested by professional as well as non-professional sewists. The designs are cute and contemporary and are perfect for boy boys and girls.

Fishsticks Designs

Fishsticks Designs Patrick Curved Raglan

Fishsticks Designs patterns are unique, modern and practical. Designer Bonnie Ferguson wanted to sew for her children and teach other moms to do the same. The instructions come with pictured tutorials that are so easy to understand, it's almost like learning with Bonnie in her sewing room!

Greenstyle Creations

GreenStyle Creations Savannah Skirt

Greenstyle Creations' patterns are known for their casual and chic style. Designer Angie Bennett was inspired to make comfortable clothes for her daughters and began sharing her designs. Now others can also sew beautiful clothes with Greenstyle knit patterns.

LilyGiggle Secret Garden Dress Sewing Pattern

LilyGiggle

Lilygiggle sewing patterns include beautiful girls' dresses and clothing. Designer and owner Beth Gaffney began to sew and design clothes for her daughters years ago. Her patterns come with photographed tutorials to guide you through the sewing process. Now Beth's patterns help other passionate sewists with their own boutique sewing businesses! 

Jocole

Jocole Shoreline Knit Tank Sewing Pattern

Jodi Jean is the talent behind Jocole. She graduated with a degree in Fashion Design in 2002 as patterns have always been her passion. In 2009, she started selling PDF sewing patterns. All patterns are designed and handmade start to finish by her. They are hand-drafted, carefully scanned, and digitized into professional patterns. Each size is clearly marked for ease of cutting, and Quick Guide instructions are included with every pattern.

Bryanna's Clothes

Bryanna's Clothes Women's
Floral Scoop T-Shirt Pattern

Bryanna's Clothes patterns are designed by Bryanna Johnson, a wife and mother to three busy boys. Her inspiration comes from a desire to make modern and straightforward patterns for her family and herself. Her PDF patterns come with detailed instructions and color photos.

Are you a Pattern Designer?

Girl Charlee is dedicated to supporting independent designers and would love to hear from you! If you design patterns that work perfectly with our knit fabrics and want to see it in our shop, email gcblog (at) girlcharlee (dot) com and we will get in touch!

Keep sewing!

~The Girl Charlee Team

Skirt Week 2013 on CrafterHours

What are you sewing for Skirt Week 2013? We hope you are as excited as we are for this annual sewing competition hosted by Crafter Hours dedicated sew-ly solely to skirts! Until June 7, 2013, sewists will be submitting A-lines, Straights, Fulls, and Children's Skirts they have sewn for themselves or for a child.

There are 4 different skirt categories in this competition and LOTS of exciting prizes go to the winners. HINT: Girl Charlee Fabrics might be offering some of our own prizes. :)

Head on over to Crafter Hours for the rules and details. Entry is open now until June 7, 2013 at midnight EST or 9:00pm PST.

Check out the 4 categories for the Skirt Week competition, all happening on Flickr:

A-Line  |  Straight  |  Full  |  Children's

Girl Charlee have some of the best fabrics for skirts and we love to see what customers make with our knits! The Chevron Cotton Jersey Blend Knit Fabrics are super popular and look great as Maxis. Make a full or a-line skirt in a trendy tribal print or our gorgeous Tiffany Blue Damask Cotton Jersey Blend Knit Fabric. The Sweet Pink Stretch Ruffle Knit Fabric makes a fun and flowy skirt. 

Vintage Revival Chevron Cotton Jersey Blend Knit Fabric 

Black Tribal Print on Cream Cotton Jersey Knit Fabric

Tiffany Blue Cotton Jersey Blend Knit Fabric

Sweet Pink Stretch Ruffle Knit Fabric

Check out the rest of our Cotton Jersey Knits and Stretch Ruffles for more fabrics that are perfect for your projects.

Good luck and happy sewing!

~The Girl Charlee Team

Tutorial Tuesday: Jersey Dress by Ruby of Zaaberry

Can't get enough of dresses? Neither can we, and that's why Ruby's Jersey Summer Tutorial is perfect as the weather heats up! We love Ruby's tutorials because they are always so easy to understand and her handmade clothes are beautiful! Make the dress with some of our favorite fabric recommendations below and check out Zaaberry for the complete tutorial.

You will need a tank top that fits you well or you can draft your own pattern for the bodice. Threads Magazine has instructions on how to make your own tank pattern that you will definitely use again and again. The elastic waist gives the dress shape and comfort. Ruby binds the edges with contrasting fabric but you can use the same color for the binding if you like. We LOVE her color choices.

The dress works best in a medium-weight cotton spandex fabric with a great stretch and recovery. Our Hot Pink and Peach Stripe Cotton Spandex Knit or Navy Blue and Jade Green Small Stripe Cotton Spandex Knit Fabric sews up great for this project. Or make the dress with one of our solid cotton spandex fabrics, like the lovely Electric Red.

Hot Pink and Peach Stripe Cotton Spandex Knit

Navy Blue with Jade Green Small Stripe Cotton Spandex Knit Fabric

Electric Red Solid Cotton Spandex Knit Fabric

We love seeing our knits sewn up into beautiful clothes. If you make something with Ruby's tutorial and our fabrics, send your images to gcblog (at) girl charlee (dot) com and you might see it featured on our blog!

Happy Sewing!

~The Girl Charlee Team

KnitPicks :: Stripe Invasion!

Girl Charlee is not the only one who has been struck with stripe fever. It was so delightful to see KnitPicks submissions made with our favorite stripe knits that we are doing a bonus customer project showcase for May. Check out the clothes below before heading to your sewing station to make something with our fabrics. :)

By: Kari of Millie B. Designs

Fabric: Deep Turquoise and Blue Stripe Cotton Jersey Blend Knit Fabric

By: Beth of Beth Being Crafty

Fabric: Black Blue and Red Stripe Cotton Spandex Knit Fabric

By: Ruby of Zaaberry

Fabric: Mustard and Ivory Stripe Cotton Jersey Knit Fabric

By: Shannon of Shanni Loves

Fabric: Rainbow Stripe Cotton Jersey Knit Fabric

By: Alexis of My Sweet Sunshine

Fabric: Mustard and Ivory Stripe Cotton Jersey Knit Fabric

By: Shirley of Sewing by Shirley

Fabric: Bright Red and White Wide Stripe Cotton Jersey Slub Knit Fabric

By: Cindy of Siestas and Sewing

Fabric: Burgundy and Gray Wide Stripe Cotton Jersey Knit Fabric

Have you made something with Girl Charlee Fabrics? Send your projects to gcblog (at) girlcharlee (dot) com and you may have it featured on our blog! 

Until next time, keep sewing!

~The Girl Charlee Team

Customer Spotlight :: Meredith of Boston Creations

Girl Charlee Customer Spotlight for May is up! This month we are featuring Boston Creations, a Facebook and Etsy shop that sells fashionable infinity scarves. Even cuter, Boston Creations is named after owner Meredith Deschambeau's Boston Terrier, Bostrom, her biggest fan! When Meredith told us her touching story about sewing scarves and starting her own business, we were inspired to reach out to her and share it on our blog. Read about Meredith below and find out how to win an adorable scarf!!

About Meredith

Growing up with a mother and grandmother who are avid sewists, Meredith would "play around" with an antique foot-pumping sewing machine to make little pillows or bags under the watchful eyes of her mentors. She knew that one day she would follow in their footsteps, but didn't really find the drive to sew until recently. After dealing with certain tragedies, she searched for a kind of therapy to cope...and sewing was it! Making infinity scarves helped her heal from her sadness and grow her creativity, and now she can't stop!

A self-proclaimed girly-girl, Meredith LOVES to accessorize with bags, jewelry, and shoes. But when she walked into Anne Taylor one day, she was shocked at the price tag on the infinity scarves. She thought to herself, "I can make this!" And she did! 

Soon, teachers at the school where she teaches first grade were asking for their own infinity scarves. Thus, her little business was established and now she lists her scarves on Etsy and Facebook. She also enjoys sewing PJs, skirts, handbags, and doggy t-shirts--because dogs have to look cute too, you know!

Boston Creation Scarves made with Girl Charlee Fabrics ::
Mustaches on Bright Coral Cotton Jersey Blend Knit Fabric
Navy Blue and Deep Mint Stripe Cotton Jersey Blend Knit
Fuchsia Pink and White Big Stripe Cotton Jersey Slub Knit
Lime Green Chevron on White Cotton Jersey Blend Knit

Want to win a Boston Creations Infinity Scarf? Meredith is giving one away in a color of choice from those pictured to the right!

To enter the giveaway, "Like" Boston Creations on Facebook by May 31st. One (1) winner will be announced on Facebook.

~~~

If you would like to be featured as a Girl Charlee Customer Spotlight, email gcblog(at)girlcharlee(dot)com and we will get in touch!

Happy sewing!

~The Girl Charlee Team