I launched Workhorse Patterns with a LOT of help from my family and friends. It took a year from the Ione pattern concept to launch.
The Ione had a few iterations…of which I don’t have photos…lucky you. I bought the Robert Kaufmen “essex yarn dyed metallic rainbow” the second it was available. I’m not sure it’s even available anymore, but I knew I wanted it boxy, I wanted it 80s, and I wanted a square neckline. I’ve worked with a lot of RK’s linens & linen blends, and I know they soften up really easily and get super malleable.
The lurex in the linen made it so that was not going to happen. This fabric is stiff, and not at all forgiving…and I tried to make a side-cinched dress…think Blondie and way too short. Instead, it looked more like a dryer hose.
Not my best design moment. So, I chopped off the bottom and put it on a pile so I could get to work on Portland Frocktails for a few months. Then I came back to it, and played with the hem line. You won’t believe it, but I drafted that curve the first time I cut it. Kismet.
Then I got busy with the Sewcialists. That is a lot of work. Gillian owns that site, and I’m just an editor, but I don’t know how Gillian did it on her own for so long…it’s so much more work than….yeah. It’s a lot. It’s incredible, and inspiring, and omgtheressomuch. The Instagram account alone is both awesome and…well, it’s the original, real definition of awesome. It’s so big and so fast, slightly chaotic and very time-intensive.
So, that slowed things down a bit but I finally did get it out for testing in the fall. I was thinking “great piece for layering on turtlenecks ala Mary Tyler Moore & Rhoda!” It was even named on my desktop for awhile: RhodaRachelRuth.
Testers were really cool, all very good, and I had a great sampling of the population. Doing a broad size offering and being an unknown made that kind of impressive IMO. (Again, a lot of help from Gillian, Chloe, and the sewing community. Even a few local “big” designers were whispering loads of support from the sidelines.)
Anywho….it’s launched. While it started out with a square neckline, it seemed silly not to add a scoop and a v-neck option as well.
I’m certainly not breaking the bank or moving any mountains at this point…it’s slow going – but honestly, I did this for 2 reasons. 1. To see if I could. I was talking with another designer who asked if I could do this…and I thought, well, theoretically, sure. Technical illustrations for print is my original professional skillset… and 2. I really LOVE the sewing community. So much inspiration and support, it really feeds me to add to the community.
Here she is. The original square.
The scoop.
And my lovely daughter modeling the v-neck.
I’ll have some hacks & illustrated instructions for said hacks soon that will completely change the look of this shirt. I’m also hoping I can get my mom (HI MOM!!!) to model a dress version for me soon (MOM, THAT MEANS YOU. I KNOW YOU’RE READING THIS.) I love the #sewover50 hashtag on IG, the ladies that run the @sewover50 account are so incredibly sweet, and my mom is drop-dead gorgeous. Win-win. Speaking of Instagram, the WorkhorsePatterns account has a few of the tester shots, including these side-by-side size comparison shots:
3 different bodies, 2 necklines, 2 sizes, 3 different fabrics (lawn, quilting cotton+voile, rayon challis, respectively)
One I haven’t put measurements on yet Chloe’s latest V-neck…she made a size 18 too, but she’s 6 feet tall (granted, she added 2″ length.) Makes for a different look entirely, plus, she made it in silk!
Sigh. It’s nice having such amazing friends.
Speaking of, I’m off to edit another post…but more Workhorse Patterns are on the horizon. What do you think should be next? (MOM, you can answer that one too <3)