Featured Blogger:: April Rhodes

[pullquote width=300 float=left]My dream is to provide simple garment patterns for beginning sewers and/or experienced sewers who want to quickly sew pretty things to wear. ​ – April Rhodes[/pullquote]

Screen Shot 2014-03-26 at 1.54.19 PM

Meet April Rhodes. She is a sweet and inspiring indie pattern designer. She recently was on the Modern Sewciety podcast, episode 018. I loved chatting with her because I think there are those in the industry that are really taking chances and pushing boundaries to make it better, more diverse, and accessible. She wants to see those that love to sew be happy making their own garments, happy to find fabric they love, and happy to share their projects. Did you see the quote at the beginning of this post… that is her mission. She wants everyone to be able to sew something they look fabulous in and love. AND she just added fabric designer to her resume. what?!?!?!

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 1.51.58 PM

Before we get to that lovely fabric she designed… let’s chat a minute about the shop, Sew to Speak, she and her mom have in Columbus, Ohio. It is a magical place where you can be inspired, take a class, mingle with others that have a passion for creating, and chat with the lovely Anita (mom) and April (daughter). How cool would it be to have a shop like this in your hometown. I would be in love. If you see something you like on their site or instagram feed you can always call them to find out more. They are only a brick and mortar shop but they welcome calls with inquiries about something you may need or want.

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 10.15.49 AM

So what happens with a pattern designer who also works at her family’s fabric shop is asked by the lovely Pat Bravo of Art Gallery Fabrics about making a limit edition collection… magic happens. I think the awesome thing about April’s collection for Art Gallery, Arizona, is that she wants her fabric to work for clothing, quilts, small projects, and all things creative. She really did awesome at making her collection speak to many different areas of the fabric industry. I can’t wait to make clothing, quilts and welllllll to be honest home decor items such as cork boards would be great these prints.

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 8.24.29 PM

The other cool thing about the limited edition lines are they will each have two prints in voiles and one in knit. I mean aren’t we always so happy to have a great knit?!?! And voiles are so much fun to work with too. They are so very soft and smooth.

 This is a limited edition fabric line and will only be available one time and once it is gone they won’t print it again. You will be able to get your hands on some yardage beginning in May 2014.

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 12.37.56 PM

The Riding Peplum or Party Dress Pattern by April Rhodes

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 12.38.26 PM

The Staple Dress Pattern by April Rhodes

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 12.38.47 PM

 

The Date Night Dress Pattern by April Rhodes

April has three dress patterns that are perfect for the beginning sewist. April helps take the fear out of garment sewing with clear instructions and pattern pieces. The one thing I love about indy patterns so much is they help take the scariness out of cutting up that beloved fabric. I love that April’s patterns are so wearable and will look great on so many different figures. I love that. I really can’t wait to make the staple dress… I have already bought some fabric with it in mind. So many of my beloved fabric lines would look amazing with April’s patterns.

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 12.41.24 PM

April has a cute post about Katy from I’m a ginger monkey making her first staple dress. Oh and they are also with the fabulous Melody Miller. I mean how cool is this picture??!!?!?!

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 12.42.42 PM

 

The riding peplum in Anna Maria Horner’s feather fabric. I really love the simplicity of the peplum and how it can be dressed up or down with ease.

Screen Shot 2014-03-29 at 10.15.09 AM

Sew to Speak just had a rainbows and unicorns birthday party to celebrate 6 years. April has a tutorial on this oh so cute rainbow unicorn. You so need to go check it out. I mean so cute.

Please take a minute to hop on over to April’s site and take a look around. Buy a pattern or three.