I really like to be able to support and purchase products from Canadian companies. I am often reminded (when I hear about another quilt or fabric store closing) that if we had supported our local quilt store or sewing business, perhaps they would have remained there for us to buy from?! It is so easy nowadays to just buy things online from who-knows-where and then we may wonder why our local sewing business cannot keep their doors open?!
So it is with great pleasure that I mention Jalie patterns which is a company based in Quebec and which seems to be growing in leaps & bounds. A few years ago I hardly knew or heard about these patterns. Now I see them in many stores within Canada as well as in the USA. No doubt Jalie patterns are available elsewhere too. I think I personally own at least 17 or 18 of them and many of them have been made up into garments many times over. They are rapidly becoming my very favourite garment patterns. Please check out their website where they may explain how they got started and grew to where they are now. I think it is a mother & daughter business team. Their website has pattern #’s and further details about patterns featured below + many more.
The maxi dress pattern which takes a little over an hour to run up on a Janome serger and Coverpro: Serger for the shoulder and side seams, coverhem for the armholes, neck edge and hem. It simply could not be easier! AND the bonus is that these is quite flattering + cool on a hot summer’s day. I have just sewed 2 for myself and plan on wearing them a lot before I have to bring out the fleece and jackets again – groan – BUT Jalie has many patterns for winter clothing too! I have 2 different coat patterns already cut out and ready to sew up. See pics below of the Jalie garments I have made recently.
Just loved this fabric and had to buy it when I saw it a few months back. I am happy with this dress except for the fact that the front neckline was quite low to so hitched up the shoulder seams which made the dress a little shorter than I would have liked. Plus I had to cut the armholes a little lower – which was, of course, fine. and easy to do. I wrote notes to myself on the pattern envelope so the next one I made (below) had the front neckline cut at least 3 inches higher and worked out much better for me.
What I really like about these patterns is that many of them are specifically designed for knit fabrics. As most of the garments I sew are made from knits (just because I love sewing and wearing knit fabrics of all types), these patterns are just “my cup of tea”.
I have made this drop pocket pattern several times in plain and printed knits and I will be making more!
My first drop pocket jacket.
And another one with plain black knit lining which also flips to the front to form the outer layer of the pockets. I do like the contrast/2 tone.
Jalie patterns are also hugely multi-sized: often from little kiddies right up to triple X adults. As always, we advise you trace off the size you need on the master sheet so that you can use it again an again for various sizes. Cut one size from the master and you are stuck with that size!
You can print the pattern instructions and the back cover of the pattern before buying if you wish to do that.
This is another of my favourites. I think I’m up to 3 dresses with this pattern so far. See pics below of the ones I have made.
I like that contrast colour on the band + armhole and neck edge finishes as it “breaks” the print
Coming in the months ahead: a post on how to finish those knit fabric neck, armhole and hem edges. Stay tuned for options for different fabrics + adding variety to your closet.
I made these Eleonor pants in stretch denim (traditional dark blue) and have another pair cut out in a rather nice black and beige stretch denim print. It is on the TO DO list for sewing to wear later in the year when it is cooler.
I recently bought this pattern after teaching a Jalie knit fabric class in Saskatchewan and plan to try it out before the Fall. 2 ladies in the class made this jacket and I was quite impressed with their finished garments!
What is your favourite type of garment sewing?
Do you have a pattern that you go back to time & time again – probably because we made a successful and comfortable garment and so it has become tried and tested as true!
Have you tried Jalie patterns yet?
Are you a lover of sewing with knit fabrics or do you prefer wovens?
And are you saving serious time and headaches by using your JANOME serger to whizz through seams on garments?
Don’t you agree with me that the JANOME CPX 2000 COVERPRO SERGER is the very best thing since sliced bread?? I simply could not manage at all without mine! Hems take literally a few minutes, are neat and don’t “pop” when they get stuck in the car door or when I reach up to the top shelf in my kitchen!
