Anna has been asking me to teach her to sew for quite a while now – more so when I was sewing at any chance I could. Blogging has sort of taken over the sewing spot in my life for right now! But, when I told her about this review, her eyes lit up and she wanted to get started right away! I can’t tell you how much I cherish training my girls to be sweet little women and I have really been looking forward to start sewing with them. This was a great opportunity to put down the computer and pick up the fabric and thread!
But first, a word about the company – Sense and Sensibility. You can visit their website at www.Sensibility.com – but beware! If you love vintage clothing and looking at all those old photos, you had better grab a cup of coffee and venture over to the site when the kids are in bed or safely playing – you’ll get lost in all the beautiful photos.
(Not that I speak from experience or anything. I was just doing the proper research for this review. Yeah, right! By the way, if you click on the link I provided, then click on the red writing at the very top of the page, that’s where you’ll get lost in another era!)
S&S has patterns from so many different era with simply gorgeous clothing! From the Regency era to the Romantic to the Titanic to the Swing era, there are many breath-taking patterns. There are also tons of sewing tips and tutorials on the site – some specific to a pattern, some just general sewing tips.
Jennie started the business as a newly-wed with six years of sewing and pattern creation experience under her belt. She started her website in 1997 and things boomed from then on! (Some of my blogging buddies will sigh with me at the thought of being established on the web for 12 years already!!! What an accomplishment!) Although Jennie has retired from creating her beautiful patterns, she hosts a Young Designer’s Contest to encourage the next generation of designers. She now has three children and is a homeschooling mother as well!
Now, on with the review!
The pattern we were given to review is the Girls Edwardian Apron pattern. We also received the corresponding class for this pattern. It is a pdf file that includes lots of photos and videos which walk you through the process of creating this dress.
I’ll show my amateur “era knowledge” by saying that, when I signed up to review this product, I thought I would be seeing a kitchen apron. I thought it would be a very simple thing to teach Anna to do. I didn’t realize that it was actually the top layer of a dress! Once we are done sewing it, I’ll have to make sure to find a dress that will go underneath it. (I occurred to me that an easy solution to finding a dress would be to buy a white t-shirt, attach some white fabric as a skirt with maybe some ruffle at the bottom. Completely avoiding even the closest brush with having to sew a sleeve!)
The Edwardian Era was a time of too-tight corsets, lots of boning in the bodice, lace, ruffles and more lace! What beautiful garments they wore!
I have sewn before, but never from a pattern that I downloaded from the internet and printed on my own computer on sturdy paper. So, this was definitely a learning experience all the way around. Jennie really makes sure to walk you through the process baby step by baby step. Although I wasn’t always sure of what I was doing, it turned out right because her directions were so thorough. She included several pdf files to help layout and piece together the pattern.
I used the files from the class every step of the way - it looked like a Power Point presentation that took you through each step in the process with lots of photos. At the end of the class, there are links to three videos which show Jennie sewing a few of the harder to understand steps in the process, such as sewing the binding on the pocket. 
First, I read through the directions and watched all the videos with Anna. It helps tremendously to have those videos – it’s like having an expert seamstress right at your side for some of the process. Then, I printed the test sheet to make absolutely sure the pattern would print correctly. I also printed the sizing chart so I could make sure of the sizing for my girls. Finally, I printed the pattern.
The pattern amounted to 25 pages altogether. These then needed to be pieced together, margins trimmed off, and taped securely. 
This is certainly a long extra step when considering whether or not to sew a garment. At first, I was a bit turned off by it – but when I considered the availability of nice-looking, modest clothing out there, these really does seem worth it. Another benefit I thought about in regard to printing and taping your pattern is that you don’t have to figure out how to cut out a size and salvage the rest of the pattern for future sizes. You can just reprint it!
- Details
- Pattern retails for$12.95 via mail or $7.95 for instant download.
- Class retails for $19.95 alone or $24.95 with the pattern.
- Includes sizes 2 through 14.
- It is NOT a kitchen apron!
- Pros
- I like having a pattern easily accessible! Because I was able to download this, I never have to look through a huge bag of patterns to find this one. This is a much more efficient way to store patterns.
- As I mentioned above, I like being able to cut out the sizes I need and not worry about how to save the pattern for the next sizes my girls will need as they grow. I can just reprint the pattern.
- I do like having the pattern on regular computer paper instead of that really thin brown pattern paper.
- I love all the beautiful, modest clothes that are available from Sense and Sensibility in addition to this pattern.
- I think the instructions and photos that were included with the pattern made for a much shorter learning curve.
- I really love how the dress turned out!
- Cons
- Compared to having a pattern that you buy from the store, the extra step of printing out the pattern and taping in together before cutting out your pieces does add extra time.
- There were a few spots in the direction where I felt a little confused. (I don’t think I have ever figured a pattern out perfectly on the first try, though!)
Overall, I would definitely order additional patterns and classes from Jennie at Sense and Sensibilty! It just makes … sense!
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for posting this! The apron turned out great. I am going to go check that website out right now.
I love Sense and Sensablilty. I am sort of craving to buy the Jane Austin peroid clothing and making a dress for myself like that.
I think it’s adorable, and glad Anna had a great time making it with you.
It is an apron! What you’re referring to when you say kirchen apron is a half-apron. This is a full apron. Both are suitable when working in the kitchen. A full apron protects your tops from spills, too