Introducing Cake Patterns!

I’m pleased to announce Cake, finally!   Some time ago, frustrated by my pattern-digitizing skills and the limitations of self-published pdf patterns, I decided to research putting together a paper pattern company.   I always put “start a pattern company” in my Too Hard Box along with “climb Mt. Kilimanjaro” and “tame a wild colt.”  Funny thing, the more I researched, the more I thought I could do it.  Make patterns, I mean.  The mountain will wait.  Once I gave myself permission to work on it, Cake progressed faster than I imagined possible.

So what’s Cake?  There’s been some chatter on sewing blogs about sewing “cake” vs. sewing “frosting.”  It’s a sweet way to describe the difference between sewing frothy, fun or “out there” statement pieces and sewing the basic underpinnings of a good wardrobe.  I love frosting, I sew plenty of frosting myself, and some Cake Patterns will totally feature a thick layer of frosting.

But frosting melts when it’s left on its own.

Cake is a pattern line devoted to having fun while sewing wearable basics suited to a busy woman’s lifestyle.

This is the first Cake Pattern in production- Tiramisu: a knit dress with a surplice front, underbust gathers and kimono sleeves, midriff section and half-circle skirt with side seam pockets.  Cake Patterns will always have pockets.  I’m delighted with the pattern work- choose the bodice by your high bust measurement (high bust 30″, 35″, 40″, 45″, 50″), choose the front bodice by cup size, and the rest by your waist measurement.  I have a team of happy testers in Brisbane of various shapes and sizes, I think y’all will like this.

I like stripes, so Tiramisu has handy stripe-matching guides printed on the pattern tissue.  Naturally, the pattern is also suited to plain fabrics and color-blocking!  Tiramisu will also work with knit fabrics of various weights- this one is a very lightweight cotton jersey, but it also works with heavier knits.  The cutting layout leaves very little wasted fabric.

It’s been very, very tough the past few weeks not blogging about Cake, but I just can’t keep it to myself anymore!  Not talking about it was giving me the Dreaded Blogger’s Block.  I have some great sewing series planned, as well as writing more Hacks, sharing progress on Cake, and re-organizing 3 Hours Past to include a pretty pattern store and downloadable supplements to Cake Patterns.  And giveaways!  I haven’t been able to do them for a while, but I do have some humdingers planned…

Tiramisu is currently in production, I’m aiming to release her by November 5th with two more separates ensembles hot on her heels.  I still have some details of The Process to iron out, but Cake Patterns will be a reality by November!  If you’d like to receive emails about Tiramisu and other pattern releases, click here.

Mikhaela at Polka Dot Overload (and her talented husband Masheka!) are working on the art, envelope design, and instructions for Cake.  It’s so exciting to be working on Cake with such a fantastic artistic team, and even MORE so since Mikhaela also sews and blogs.  We’ve been exchanging epic emails and documents, and last week we spent an hour and a half skyping about Cake.  It was midnight my time, but I was wide awake!  Next time, I’ll show you our *first* collaboration, and a closer look at the ideas we’re playing with.

There we are.  Cake.  What do you think?