Our Birthday window display and the g&g team makes

This simple design is easy and satisfying to make yet very elegant, especially in a viscose fabric that has lots of drape, like this one. It has a roomy fit and cap sleeves with wide elastic cuffs. It does have a centre front seam, which you could easily omit but removing the seam allowance and cutting out on the fold.

This timeless midi-length dress is lightly fitted dress features a V-neck and a button closure. The elbow length sleeves have an elastic channel part way up which gives a nice frill type detail to the hem of the sleeves. The curved waist seam runs below the bust at front, and the gathers at the bust and centre back give volume and shape to the bodice, while the vertical seams of the skirt flatter and contour the body.

For her version of the pretty Patina blouse, Helen chose the higher neckline option and opted to size down after looking at the finished garment measurements.

She was thinking the sleeves might be too full for her usual style but the way they are gathered into the cuffs works really well and it looks really lovely and just the right proportion of fullness for a floaty light weight fabric like this viscose. She looks lovely!

For her version of the Wren blouse, the same pattern used for one of the outfits in the window display, she picked the recommended size for her body measurements but straightened off the shoulders to take a little fabric out of the front.

She also used the pattern piece for the long sleeve and put elastic in the hem instead of a cuff. It looks really amazing!

For Charlies Olive dress she sized up for a looser fit and to make sure it would be nice and easy to pull on and off over her head, but next time she would make it to size as it does come up quite roomy.

She found inserting the V panel a little tricky in the viscose, but suggests that sewing it in two separate sections rather than trying to pivot at the V will make it a bit easier.

It looks great on her - so swishy!

Becca sized down a size and a half for a more fitted look on this wrap around cardigan. She also added an inch to the length, as the pattern comes up quite cropped, so she could wear it on its own with high waisted jeans. She recommends checking the length of the neckband and lengthening it as well if you lengthen the bodice. She used the ribbing on the cuffs but kept the main fabric for the neckband, which gives the colourful print full impact. She looks great!

For Alisons version of the Evelyn skirt, she lowered the slit down a bit - a super easy adjustment to make as you sew the garment as you just need to sew those two panels down a bit further.

It's such a lovely style to pair with tops and tees - she looks fantastic in the combo with a version of the Helens Closet Gilbert shirt in a cotton double gauze fabric.

The Saguaro Top, part of a set that comes with wide leg trousers, is a great pattern for really showing off a pretty print like this one.

Naomi has worn it back to front for a different look that works really well if you prefer a higher neckline at the front - so looks great!

Sophia (my now almost 7 year old!) wanted to join in the fun too and insisted that she have the same style as the Nicks tunic top that has the gathered peplum. I used the I AM patterns cassiopée dress (for kids) as a base. I had made it for her before so know what size fitted. I cut the back bodice out on the fold, changed the shape of the front neckline and then bound it in the same way you do for the Nicks Top - catching the little loops in to make the button closure.

She looked super cut in it and has been wanting to wear it almost every day since!