5.27.2013

you sew, girl! and have a prize while you're at it.

update: all right y'all, i've got my cocktail handy and will announce the winner shortly!  bonne chance, peeps...


happy memorial day, all!

some time ago, probably when there was still snow on the ground in new york (which actually could mean any time at all, couldn't it?) brilliant gal sewist nikki of you sew, girl! asked me if i might like to have a peek at some of her garment patterns, but most importantly her book, to celebrate its northern american release at the book depository.  nikki has always been a favorite blogger of mine, so i gleefully accepted...

OH HAI PRETTY BOOK.  you want one???  read on...


yes spiral binding.  THERE MUST ALWAYS BE SPIRAL BINDING.  and look at that, there's a wee kalkatroonaan running around in a tutu!!  almost enough to make me sew up some girly clothing for a child or two...


what's that you say?  I DO NOT SEW FOR CHILDREN?!  you are (mostly) correct, my friend!  luckily it's an equal divide for the over-21 set as well.  (and i'm not above making a tutu or two for myself.)  

after comprehensive chapters on equipment, skills, and techniques, we begin sewing with all-ages-access to accessories.  tutus, belts, hats, bags-- let's talk bags.   confession:  i am sore afraid of making a purse.  did it once: a diaper bag for a new mom, to be exact, and when it was done, i was certain i would never ever never make one EVER NEVER EVER again.  the hate mail i wrote in my head was long and stupendous, pages of it, had they ever materialized the pattern company would have drowned in my novela, never to be seen again.

but nikki's drafting desk would get no such mail!  she holds your hands and your eyes with detailed, calmly worded steps, which is great for visual learners like me.  i've been slowly purchasing carefully selected parts for a go at the City Shopper.  or maybe the Bus Stop Bag.  (and speaking of parts, i read every bit of this lovely book, although i assumed i'd know most of the 43 page "skills" section.  i did not.  learned a thing or seven, including using a dowel for tubing.  MWAH.)


the book finishes with garment goodies, both adult and kid sized.  nikki's approach now takes a different path than the structured accessories: here, you need a sense of adventure, a pencil, and some well explained diagramming.  patternless!  i LOVE this, obviously.  and this isn't "sew-two-rectangles-together-and-call-it-a-couture-top."  you're instructed to use everything you've learned in the previous chapters, and really think about the shape of the body, the shape of the fabric, how they jigsaw together, and let fly.  and you've already gone through bagmaking sans terror, so obviously it's time to wing a cowl top.  

(you can also see how her garment brain works in her draped t-shirt dress pattern, which i tore through for tempest's bowie sewie.  i have three of them now and they are in HEAVY rotation.  i like to stare at the line drawing like it's a television show.)

appetite whetted?  want a copy of this gem?  nikki would love to give one away!  we all know shipping is a bear between the hemispheres (dude, we need a teleportation device STAT) so this giveaway is a happy dance meant for northern america.  if you call usa or canada home, to grab your chance, hop over to nikki's blog and have a peep at her three delicious bag patterns, then come on back and tell me which is your favorite in the comments here.  or, if you're garment minded, peep her line and lemme know which pattern floats your boat. (of course, feel free to say hiya to nikki while you're browsing the goodies.)

the winner will be drawn a week from today... if you just can't wait that long, you can snag a copy at the book depository or on amazon.  good luck, and thanks for the giveaway, superstar nikki!

this book was provided to me by Nikki in exchange for an honest review!

58 comments:

  1. City bag or the baguette! Can't decide!

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  2. I love the Sling! I grew up in Japan (Dad was in the military), so I'm a sucker for cherry blossoms, plus I like the slouchiness of it:)

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  3. hello, had the honor of having Nikki for the day, in Oregon, she is fabulous!! She taught the Day Bag, we love! I also loved the draped knit T dress, going to sewing room to dig out knit stash and make one to wear to work tomorrow!! Thank you Nikki! J

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  4. I really like the Sling and all the variations of it! I'd want to make them all! So cute!

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  5. Laptop. Because my whole life is digital media. (And the pink TV print is just too much.)

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  6. I really like the sling, would be so much fun to make! I also like the draped T-Shirt dress pattern too.

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  7. Ohhhhh, the sling! I used to have a purse very similar that was stolen... I don't think I've ever quite gotten over it!

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  8. I really like the Hobo bag. It's so classic! AND, I can't wait for Nikki's book to be released next year on bag making!!!!! She just told us about it in a class I had from her over the weekend. I'm sold!

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  9. The Day Bag is my current favorite. I'm almost finished making it now. Nikki's pattern instructions are so clear, well detailed, and easy to follow. Next I want to make the t-shirt dress.

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  10. I really like the laptop bag. The book itself looks divine! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

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  11. I'm waaaaay too far away (UK!) but what a lovely book - good idea to have spiral binding too, much more practical when you're trying to follow a pattern!

    www.mancunianvintage.com

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  12. The laptop bag. I'd love to win the book!

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  13. I love that draped tee dress pattern. I also peeped at her purse patterns. I've always wanted to make a frame purse.

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  14. yes, yes, YES! I've also been terrified to make a bag... But I do like that laptop bag....

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  15. Awesome giveaway! I'm loving the draped T-dress. It seems so versatile and comfy!

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  16. Definitely the laptop bag! Great giveaway Oona!

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  17. I love the t-shirt dress too! Thanks for bringing her site to my attention! I will be perusing often!

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  18. I just got one of her patterns (but haven't sewn it yet) so . . . yes! yes! yes! Great give away! I hope I win :-)

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  19. Oooh, I like the laptop bag! Thanks for introducing me to the Nicole's site.

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  20. Oh, please include me in the giveaway for the book. That would be wonderful - and I love the bag patterns, I think the laptop bag would be most practical ad useful for me. Thanks for sharing. Deby at So Sew Easy

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  21. It's gotta be the Sling Oona! Boy could I pack that thing full of stuff!

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  22. Love love love the draped tee dress. Would love to get inspired by this book.

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  23. Since I've been sewing clothes like crazy lately I would have to say the A-line skirt...now gimme that book Oonaballoona! LOL ;)

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  24. Laptop for sure, it would be great for bike commuting!

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  25. I like the sling but the laptop is nice. I can be reached at msyp1@aol.com

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  26. the "best dress" is too cute! The kids clothes are all really cute; I'd love to snag a copy!

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  27. I'm thinking that Laptop bag would be mighty useful. Thanks for the link to her site!

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  28. The sling! What a great book :)

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  29. I love the draped T-shirt dress! Great giveaway!

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  30. I have had my eye on her A-line skirt pattern for some time!

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  31. I love the laptop bag! And man, are you good at getting me excited about a book. thanks!

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  32. I love You Sew Girl's a-line skirt pattern(and I love the laptop bag. Thanks for a preview of the book!

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  33. I like the laptop bag. The prints she used are adorable. But I think a bag like that is versatile and could look good in so many prints.

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  34. I'm all about the sling! I've been working on making bags lately and it's a challenge, but I'm becoming a better seamstress due to facing these challenges. Although I wish I had the money to make cute dresses more often.

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  35. I'm torn between the Sling and the Hobo. Both are great, as long as I can make the strap long enough so the bag would be a cross-body!

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  36. Holy cow I love the mock croc beach bag.

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  37. I Love a GREAT giveaway!! I simply adore the sling bag, perfect for summer time shopping at flea markets or at the ocean on the boardwalk!

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  38. I bought the A-line skirt pattern and it is on my "to do" list. Would **love** the book :)

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  39. I like the Sling and all the variations of it! Please enter me for the giveaway.

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  40. Nikki's designs are so great! I'm especially loving the panel bag and the baguette.

    Thanks for a chance to win her gorgeous book!

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  41. I love her patterns! I have the City Bag and the Sling. Thanks for the chance to win her book!

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  42. Wow, I'm a fan of all. Would start with the sling though. Then move on to the t-shirt dress! Just found her site, and I'll be back! I'm applying for some luck here.

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  43. I think the laptop bag is great! Thanks for the chance to win the book!

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  44. I love the hobo bag and the A-line skirt. Would love to win the book.

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  45. Love the laptop bag. Need one for my Lattitude, it's an odd size so I'd probably call it the Attitude.

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  46. I love the hobo! It just suites me!

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  47. Sling me! Love this bag! Have you noticed how hard it is to find an honest-to-goodness shoulder bag lately??? More often than not the purses are handbags ... but I love me a shoulder bag! Thanks for the give away!

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  48. i like laptop!!

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  49. I LOVE her beauty case pattern!!

    Tiffany

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  50. I've always liked the look of her Laptop bag (sooo professional), but I think if I made up the Sling I would use it to death.

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  51. I'd love to make the sling bag. Can never have too many bags! I admire the detail that goes into Nikki's patterns.

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  52. Hobo bag in hot pink leather! Yes! Nhi of Lolita patterns has made some of the cutest bags ever from Nicoles patterns, but I would need serious hand holding and would LOVE that bag.

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    1. Love that BOOK - the hot pink leather hobo bag has taken over my brain

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  53. I like the City bag--no, I NEED the City bag!

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