You’ve got Mail: Marfy Patterns
You know the deal – if you can’t spend time actually physically sewing, then you’re either daydreaming about sewing, or buying more fabric and patterns (which you don’t have time to sew with). Because it’s the next best thing, right?!
A while back I decided on a whim (read: sewing drought) to order the 2013-14 Marfy Catalogue. I love their patterns, and I want to start sewing with them more, so having this as both a picture catalogue and a reference guide (their line drawings are incredibly accurate and very helpful during construction) should come handy. I was also frustrated that with their new website design that came online earlier this year, they seemed to offer a much smaller collection of their patterns online compared to releases from previous years. Many from previous years have disappeared even – although this could be because they’ve sold out. So it would seem I have completely succumbed to their ingenious business plan to sell more catalogues. They also had a half price special on their 2009 catalogue, the patterns for which are no longer stocked but from which you can still get if they have them in your size. So I got that too.
After a few pleasant evenings pouring through them both with some post-it notes to tag the ones I liked, I managed to weedle it down to those that I loved. This is what I ordered! FYI, the images below have been either scanned from the Marfy catalogues, or obtained from their website.
F1881
F1881 is a skirt with a corset-cut waistline. It reminds me of the stunning blue Burda skirt sewn by Marina from Frabjous Couture, and it also seems like a nice and easy start to try working with spiral steel boning.
F2034
F2034 is a halter-neck dress with gathers at the bust and waistline. Actually, what spurred me to purchase this is the fact that I think the bodice would translate fabulously into one-piece swimsuit. I even have the perfect fabric stashed for it… Are you seeing it too?
F3064
F3064 is a dress with a chiffon yoke and some really unusual asymmetrical seam lines, buttons and pocket detailing. I’m a sucker for patterns with interesting seam lines. The pose this sketched model is pulling off and her hair reminds me of Rachel from House of Pinheiro!
F3079
F3079 is a skirt will gills! That’s what I think of when I see it, anyway I love the detailing, but the uneven lengths not so much. As that’s easily drafted out of the picture, I’m cool with that. It could make a great high-waisted denim skirt paired with tights for winter…
F3148
F3148 is a serious contendor to be sewn up at Susan Khalje’s couture sewing school course later this year. I have a bubble skirt in a similar shape to the one here, and I rather like it on me.
F3152
F3152 has some seriously fabulous points of interest going on, and I think that with the right fabrics, could be made into a very wearable summer dress. We’ll see!
F3157
F3157 = Love. Also a serious contender to be sewn up at the couture sewing school course. Another addition to my fantasy wardrobe. Thank goodness I have a few weddings coming up to wear this fantasy wardrobe to!
F3158
F3158 is a really simplistic princess seamed sheath dress with a gorgeous v-neckline at the back. This could be a hugely versatile work dress (perfect for wearing with cardigans due to the lack of sleeves) for when I eventually transition back into a city-based office.
F2547
F2547 is a knit sheath dress with really cool sunburst style darts coming from the waistline. It’s going to be a goal of mine to find an appropriate border print knit and matching belt trim for this whilst in New York later this year.
F2940
F2940 will be the first thing I sew up from this pattern delivery (in fact, I’ve already started on it!) - it looks like a perfect winter dress and I’m considering it a bit of a palette cleanser after a few frustrating challenging projects, so here’s hoping this will be relatively easy. You’ll be reading more about this VERY soon.
F2758
F2758, a shirt-dress with a difference. Fabric choice would be paramount here to get the yoke fold to behave correctly, but it could be so amazing! I’m also considering this as a contender for couture sewing school….
F2745 (dress) and F2422 (Jacket)
F2745 and F2422 – I bought both the jacket and the dress for this combination, and I’m still tossing up whether or not to sew up this jacket over a dress at the couture sewing school. What, that makes for four things in the running? Something tells me I’ll make them all up in calico to take with me and decide the night before the class starts…
F9814
F9414 – I fell in love with this upright collar jacket the moment I saw it. I already have both fabric and lining for it, but doubt I’ll get the chance to tackle it this year. The single teeny tiny and grainy picture I have of it just doesn’t do it justice…
F2924
And the piece de la resistance – F2924 (from their Autumn/Winter 2012-13 collection) - to me this screams tailoring in a structural boiled wool, and it totally reminds me I haven’t one single sewing plan that involves tailoring this year. I also predict a glut of tailoring next year to make up for it.
Any favourites for you?
