New Simplicity Patterns

2054

Photo: Simplicity.com

In a time when reusing and repurposing is so important to many of us, I’m always on the lookout for patterns that offer a lot. Either styles that are so classic I can wear them often and in various ways or patterns that I can use multiple times for the different views or fits offered.

Wear it again and again
Cynthia Rowley designs are categorized by simple beauty. They are fashionable and current while still having a classic silhouette and look. Her latest pattern, number 2054, is a simple knit sheath dress that is easy enough to sew up in one night and versatile enough to wear all season long. Choose from three neckline options, including a cowl collar, and three sleeve varieties—long, elbow, and a fashionable long sleeve variation with a slit elbow opening.

Day and night
This flattering dress, pattern 2053, is fitted with a multiple waistline pleats forming an interesting sunburst design. The basic silhouette is the same throughout the six views but sleeve/strap variations, hem length, an optional rosette embellishment, and your personal fabric choice makes it appropriate for day or evening wear. The suggested fabrics are extensive—such as damask, poplin, wool crepe, linen, or double knit—with such a varied selection we all could probably make this from a fabric found in our stash!

Make it for you. Make it for a friend.
Pattern 2058 is a new six-gored skirt in Simplicity’s Amazing Fit line. This pattern has separate pieces to accommodate a slim, average, and curvy fit. Also included are customized fitting instructions for each. Make a well fitting skirt for both you and your friends—all with various fit needs.

Sew a staple garment.
A coat or jacket is probably the most worn garment of autumn, winter, and even spring. So why not make one? Show off your sewing skills over every outfit. You can make a high-quality coat for the fraction of the price. Patterns 2057, from the Project Runway line, and pattern 2056, from the Suede Says line, are new outerwear options to consider. Both are classic styles with a variety of modern design options to make it up-to-date.

Check out these and the full Simplicity Autumn collection.

What do you look for in a pattern? Does the number of times you can reuse it or having multiple views matter to you?

Annie O'Connor, assistant editor
Posted on Aug 18th, 2011 in sewing, patterns, simplicity

Comments (7)

hookandstitch writes: I've just made Simplicity 2054 and as a beginner sewer, I'm thrilled with it. It's simple and cosy, as I made it in double knit jersey. It's also my first time sewing a simplicity pattern. It's great just to pull on and can be dressed up or dressed down. I'll probably make it in another colour.
Posted: 2:43 pm on September 23rd

Laurallb2 writes: Timeless treasures is what I look for in a pattern. It does have to have a style that will carry over more seasons than intended. I had a pattern for a shirt that I loved to make. Would love to find it again, but can't seem to find anything like it. The pattern had more than the shirt in it, lost this pattern in a house fire in 1986, the shirt had tulip sleeves. Still have the shirt passed down to my daughter. It no longer fits my fuller figure! Chest seems to have gotten bigger after the age of 30, now at 54 I have more time to sew again and would like to find some older patterns that my daughter has shown some interest in recreating. Any ideas on were I can find older patterns? Or if the pattern makers are revamping older patterns for today's sewers would be nice.

Posted: 6:56 am on August 26th

yousewsmart writes: New? What's new about any of them? Decades ago they were new and I have the old patterns to prove it. This season is just rehashed stuff. Nobody has original design ideas anymore. What a bore. Yawn.
Posted: 4:54 pm on August 24th

Mariesainte writes: I look for reuse potential for more than one season or year; whether it is likely to flatter my curvy and petite figure; whether it requires fabric I like to wear, or have already in my stash; and whether it duplicates a pattern I already own. Sometimes I also look for patterns I can complete in a hurry, as events sometimes come up faster than my advance planning has anticipated. Since I already have a large pattern collection, I am choosy about paying top dollar for unknown labels and designers, and wary of patterns illustrated with drawings rather than photographs. You do not want to read my catalog of pattern disappointments! I wish pattern companies would be more public about the shape of their basic mannequins to save customers' time and effort. Vogue patterns almost never work for me because I do not have a long neck, sloping shoulders, long legs, or a flat bosom, so I never buy them, for example. It is not worth my time to redraw the whole pattern, and the runway styles are usually too uncomfortable for my long commute, long work day, and the academic and rural communities in which I live. But, to end on a positive note, Simplicity patterns have been helpful for years, and many in my collection are still useful even though the originals have worn out, and I am sewing with treasured tracings!
Posted: 1:02 pm on August 24th

msewwhat writes: I look for a classic look that is not too complicated to sew. If I am going to spend valuable time sewing up a garment I want it to go through many seasons of wear.

I always look at the back of the pattern to find out how many pattern pieces it has. Lots of pieces usually means it will be more complicated to construct.

Price is definitely a factor for me. I wait until my local JoAnne's store has them on sale then I add a few I've been coveting to my collection.

I am "pleased as punch" that Simplicity has added a new line called "Sew Simple." The styles are timeless, simple to sew and cost only $1.99.
Posted: 9:37 am on August 24th

PiageMoore writes: Really nice pattern of these dresses.They are really simple and attractive in look.They are really appropriate for autumn season......
Posted: 8:28 am on August 24th

Keren_D writes: I like the 2053 dress with the multiple pleats. What I look for in a pattern:
- First of all, is it interesting but not overloaded
- does it look like something I would wear and would it flatter my figure
- does it contain a technique I would like to learn (knits, pleats, etc)
- I look at finished projects by other seamstresses and read their reviews - if many of the finished projects aren't flattering, I won't get it
- is it unique, doesn't look like a pattern I already own
- is it on sale (sorry, shipping overseas is so expensive, and McCalls/Vogue/Butterick have sales all the time, where I get great patterns for $4) - I would love to buy simplicity but haven't done so till now because of pricing.
- do I trust the sizing of this pattern company (do I face fitting issues with these patterns)

Regarding your questions:

Sometimes I am looking for a dress that I can wear everyday, and sometimes I want something unique that I will wear once or rarely, such as for a special occasion.

If the pattern has multiple views, that's nice and will increase the chances I would buy it solely because there's a chance I prefer one of the views over the others. But if I love a pattern, I don't mind if it comes in only one view.
Posted: 1:58 am on August 24th

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