I’m feeling especially patriotic today. It’s my turn to post on the Canadian Pattern Designer blog tour. I am super proud to be Canadian and connected with this group of designers. This tour is an amazing showcase of great patterns! (Discount below + lots of prizes to be won! Keep reading!)

Ula from Lulu and Celeste has organized a great bunch of bloggers over the past few months and each of us gets to showcase a different pattern from our selected Canadian Designer. I was so fortunate to get to play with Victory Patterns! Kristiann Boos is well known for her patterns and I was dying to make an Ava. I seem to keep collecting dressy tops when I am part of these blog hops – maybe that’s a sign I need to get out more?!

My general impression of the Ava pattern was that it is SO professionally put together! I happened to have about 4 pattens that I was putting together at the same time a few months ago and this pattern stood out way over and above the others. The way it is written, down to how it prints out and the directions and ease of finding what you need. I really enjoyed working with it.

I made this peplum top in voile, which I have never worked with before. It was easy to sew, I didn’t have any issues with the fabric at all. To make the top more modest (read: not see through!), I cut two layers of each pattern piece and then sewed everything pretending they were one piece. It worked really well, aside from the peplum skirt having a bit more body than I would like. It stands out from the top quite a bit and I could likely have only used one layer there.

Oh my goodness, can I say how proud I am? I survived attaching binding smoothly for the first time ever! Binding and me have a long standing mutual hate for each other, I was super afraid when I saw the neckline and sleeves were binding bound on this top. My tip is to go slow, really slow – and pin, a lot!

The neckline did give me a bit of trouble, but I found an amazing post on how to sew it on the DIY Fox. Her post about sewing the Ava Sweetheart Neckline was really helpful. I was nervous because quite a few bloggers were saying the two sides of the neckline weren’t even when they stitched it. Again – slow and steady wins the race. Mine isn’t perfect, but I only know that because I made it!

Just to add a bit to the list, the bust darts finish too high. It’s my own fault – I made them a bit wider to take in more fabric (a la small bust adjustment) and shouldn’t have added to the height. Argh. I could take them out and fix them – but I was on vacation while I was sewing it… so they stayed put, mostly because it still fit and didn’t show that much.

**PATTERN REVIEW SUMMARY: Ava, by Victory Patterns, Version 3**

Fabric: Black Madonna Voile, unknown “French Chic” lining fabric (both from Fabricland)

Here are a few things I love about it:

Lots of proper notches and markings! This is a super professional pattern.
Cutting layouts and required fabric listing is super clear for all 3 versions.
The neckline! It’s so cute.
The sheer (or not) upper bodice. I’ve seen amazing versions with regular woven material in the top, as well as lace – so many options!

The fit & my alterations:

This pattern fits SO easily! This pattern fit the best (on my first muslin) out of any of the patterns I’ve made in the last few months.
To make it fit my non-average measurements I:
- took in a bit on the sides and widen the dart. (Basically a small bust adjustment)
- extended the shoulder up to a size 10, graded back to a size 4 at the top of the bodice and graded to a size 8 at the bottom and through the peplum skirt
- Since I am long-waisted, I added 1″ to the length of the bodice.

Things I changed from the original pattern:

Nothing save alterations to the fit.

Things I might change next time:

I really, really want to make one of these out of knit instead of woven – since I wear knits almost every day.
I’d love to try the sleeveless version as well.
I would not use a double-layer of voile in the peplum skirt, it gives it extra body which isn’t as flattering.

There are SO MANY prizes to be won along this blog hop! Enter for your chance to win a Victory Pattern below. Find out how to win the Grand Prize here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Victory Patterns is offering 15% off anything on their website using the discount code “CANADATOUR” from June 17 – 23, 2015. Thank you Kristiann!

Follow the Canadian Pattern Designer blog hop below. Link over to so much great Canadian information!

June 1 – 3 Gracious Threads – Interview : Creative Bug – The Wholesome Mama – stitched by crystal

June 4 – 6 Jalie – Interview: Shaffer Sisters – Call Ajaire – hibbadoray

June 8 – 10 Thread Theory – Interview: Handmade Boy – Rebel & Malice – Sew Out of Control

June 11 – 13 Audrey & Tiffany – Interview: All Things Katy! – Not Sew Fast – Conversas de Hermana

June 15 – 17 E+M Patterns – Interview: From-a-Box – Made by Sara – Climbing the Willow

June 17 – 19 Victory Patterns – Interview: Swoodson Says – Thread Riding Hood (that’s me!) – Sprouting JubeJube

June 18 – 20 FABulous Home Sewn – Interview: Create3.5 – Calm and Carrion – Stitches by Laura

June 22 – 24 Filles a Maman – Interview: Pattern Revolution – PhatQuarters – sewstarly – House of Estrela

June 24 – 26 Closet Case Files – Interview: gloria june – Rebel & Malice – Sew Far North

June 25 – 27 Elegance & Elephants – Interview: Sprouting JubeJube – AmandaRose – Mae & K

June 29 – 30 Lulu & Celeste: new makes and a round up post

July 1st Last day to enter Giveaways and Final Round up Post!

Reader Feedback: Have you made any of the Victory Patterns? How did you like it?

Thanks for reading. Follow along and join me for “thread ride”!

And what is a good post without a tiny photo bomber and her “new rock”?!

Disclaimer: I received the Ava pattern from Victory Patterns in return for this post. My opinions are always my own and I do not promote things I don’t love. Thanks for reading!

18 Comments

Lee on June 18, 2015 at 6:33 am

I love the design and your choice of fabric!
Elizabeth Rosario on June 18, 2015 at 9:58 am

Oh I love this. I have to get this pattern
Kaylee on June 18, 2015 at 11:15 am

That top is too cute! And thanks to you I now know Victory patterns is Canadian. For some reason, it was in my head that they were English. :/ Sorry about that. 🙂
Rena on June 18, 2015 at 11:54 am

Would love to try the Lola pattern
Amy on June 18, 2015 at 1:46 pm

The top is gorgeous and you look amazing – as always! And can I just say OHEMGEE your hair!! I’m in love!
- sherri on June 28, 2015 at 11:19 pm
  
  Awww… Thanks so much Amy! I’m glad you like it! I have already worn it multiple times it’s super comfy too!
Mirjam on June 18, 2015 at 3:36 pm

O, wow, I like this one! It looks so cute on you 🙂 I like the fabric you used for the upper part. (Is your hair turning pink, or is it the light in the pictures? 😉 )
- sherri on June 28, 2015 at 11:19 pm
  
  Yup… pink Mirjam, though I just dyed it again and it’s closer to the original purple… crazy how fast the roots grow in and show with short hair! 🙂
fenna on June 18, 2015 at 3:59 pm

love love this!
Sarah on June 18, 2015 at 4:27 pm

so cute! It’s really cool
Ula on June 18, 2015 at 10:45 pm

Looks fantastic on you! Thank you so much for taking part in the tour! 🙂
- sherri on June 28, 2015 at 11:17 pm
  
  Thanks so much Ula! Thanks for letting me play along 🙂
Katie on June 18, 2015 at 10:50 pm

thanks for your great review, gives me confidence to try it once all my sewing things are out of storage.
- sherri on June 28, 2015 at 11:17 pm
  
  Oh Hooray! I hope it really helps Katie. Go for it! 🙂
Heather on June 19, 2015 at 12:09 pm

Gorgeous!!! I love this top.
Cathy W on June 19, 2015 at 9:57 pm

Well done, it looks great on you!
Linda on June 20, 2015 at 6:52 pm

I love the top, and it looks so incredibly cute on you. I also love your new hair color! I wish I was as brave as you are. I don’t know what would happen if people (including my boss) saw this 68 year old with pick or purple hair….lol
- sherri on June 28, 2015 at 11:13 pm
  
  Thanks so much Linda! I am thankful I am my own boss and my family likes it, so I can get away with some crazy hair colours!