Pattern Pyramid Parcel (yea!)
I actually ran to the door before the mail-lady knocked- *spider sense tingling* (not really, I heard the front gate click). Well, I knew it was a Pattern Pyramid ParcelTM from Karen (yes it’s a thing now) but I had no idea what was inside.
Turned out it was this:
*Not to scale.
You all know how it goes (this being the fifth one of these things to go live and all): leave a comment specifying which item you’d like and in a week I’ll pick a random winner to receive the entire set, keep the object of their choice, and set up their own giveaway for the rest. This means you need to have a blog to participate (as a side-effect it’ll deter the hoarding evilbay rejects discussed earlier).
In the interests of keeping the chain going for as long as possible while channeling the don’t hoard shit you can pass on philosophy I waxed lyrical on last week, I made up the pattern I liked, and gave it a bit of a paint job. Then I put the pattern back into the pool. So if it’s the pattern you were dying for blam blam – it’s yours if you win (which one is it? Big reveal tomorrow if the sun comes out).
In order to increase the odds of your sewing up an actual garment from whatever you win I’m displaying all the items so you can Google up reviews etc and get yourself all psyche’d up to sew. Clockwise:The nameless pattern at upper left is Bestway Pattern C454 which is pretty darned fragile and has no printed markings on it (bust size 34), followed by Burda 7694 (Eu sizes 34-42, instructions on lower left tab; no it’s not reviewed on PR at the mo but you can change that!), Vogue 1046 Anna Sui (sizes 6-12), the Burda magazine browse-through is here; the skirt I made from this issue was traced back when I lived near a library that stocked some Burda issues (i.e. don’t email me asking to borrow it/ buy it/ trace patterns for you out of it). Next up, vintage Simplicity 3385 ( size 12, bust 32), and Polynesian patterns Wikiwiki (Med bust 34-36), Unfortunately there is no pattern for deflecting bullets with your wrists, it’s more..a state of mind. I’ve included it here as inspiration.
Re: Getting this stash out to the maximum number of sewists, how about if we trace and/or make what we like and put the pattern back in the pool? This can easily be done in the time it takes to run the giveaway (I received the parcel yesterday afternoon, sewed up my make yesterday and spent today painting it. The giveaway runs for a week so..easy peasy). That way at least a couple of people will have had a chance on each item (the magazine alone has 20+ patterns- I’d rather 20 people get to make one pattern each rather than one person sit on all 20 because they need it in their stash). This would also be in keeping with Karen’s generous gift to the sewing world (booming 1950s sci-fi, sky-announcement-voice) philosophy.
What do you guys think?
All images remain copyright of their respective owners and are used for purposes of discussion/ review. Giveaway ends 26th July, 2012.




Wowee! You’ve already made something from one of the patterns? That’s AMAZING. I can’t wait to see the big reveal. How generous of you to put the pattern back in the giveaway. I must get my wrists ready to deflect bullets!
That sounds awesome! I love that Polynesian pattern and it looks like it would be super easy to trace and throw back in the pool.
Wow I would love to see what You have made already!Just a bit more patience on my part then!
I love the idea of putting things back into the pool! I always trace my patterns so me and my local sewing friend can swap and make even more! I am glad others do this as well!
Please enter me into the giveaway
I can’t wait to see which you’ve made! That Anna Sui pattern is pretty cute, but the polynesian one just looks fun. I don’t know if I’d be as fast as you to trace and sew so quickly though
Sweet! I didn’t trace it-with envelope patterns I usually just weigh down the pattern in the middle and put my scissors under the line for my size (under the see-through pattern paper) and cut. XD
Can’t wait to see which one you’ve made either – can’t believe you got it done in a day! Amazing!
I think your idea sounds great so I’m in!
Oh, Ana Sui is calling to me, can youi hear her?
Good idea! This pattern pyramid could be neverending! I’m in, I this I like that Burda jacket but I bet there must be something for me in the magazine as well.
Great idea! I trace anyway, so if I win I pledge to trace and re-circulate the pattern I choose!
How very cool! I don’t want to be entered into the give-away, just commenting because it’s such a neat idea. I’m looking forward to seeing what you made.
very cool to trace/use & put back into the pool
i’d be all over that first one (although with a bit of a mod to the neckline so i don’t feel like my dress is choking me!)
I’d love to join in! I’ve never had a Burda magazine, so that would be fun to check out. I’d be open to adding one of my patterns into the stash to keep this moving on to more people. (Take a pattern, add a pattern?) Can’t wait to see what you picked to make.
Yea I was thinking to do that too (add patterns) but it’s already over the weight limit for base international parcel (which is very expensive in Australis XP) so I sadly, put that aside. You should totally go for it if the postage is do-able wherever you are though!
I do need an incentive to start destashing patterns. You’ve always done a lot to share knowledge, ideas and your creativity.
I think that’s a great idea. I trace all my patterns do that’s no big deal and some many people want to be part of this it makes perfect sense. Good thinking McGoo.
There are some great patterns in that collection!
It’s a great idea to trace off a pattern and put it back into the pool! I like the Anna Sui one, but I bet there is
something in that Burda Book that is fab too.
I’ve linked the browse-though so you can see what’s in it.
What a lovely haul! I’d love the Vogue Anna Sui or the Burda magazine. Fingers crossed!
What a good idea. I haven’t heard of this before. I like the Polynesian pattern but it would look disastrous on me! I think I would go something from the Burda mag or the Anna Sui Pattern. All traced of course! I’m looking forward to seeing what you made.
Oh you have great ideas and I really like this one. I don’t want to be in on this either as I’m too glacial slow to keep the pace going. Keep it for the kiddos who are keen to jump in boots and all.
It’s a fantastic idea, but don’t include me because, really, I’m too slow to be up to the mark. I shall admire from afar.
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I think that is a good idea! If I win one of these giveaways, I will do the same thing AND put in some new patterns (oh snap). It would be like a never ending pattern swap. Which actually sounds like a good idea…hmmm
Great idea! I’d be game to give it a go!
I’m up for re-pooling! I may even add… Anyhow as you can probably guess, I’m up for this!
I’d love the one on the top left! And I’d totally trace it out and send it on.
Sounds like a great idea. I love the Vogue Anna Sui dress.
I really think sewing bloggers are just the best people in the world, and you’re really reinforcing this theory. I’d love to try out the polynesian pattern!
Brilliant idea! I’d totally trace and re-pool. Or, if I didn’t, add something to pass on. Please count me in for this round!
Please count me in!
Hm, it’d be enough to just see the pattern that inspired the Scarab dress! Count me in.
Hello! Count me in!
I’m in. The Polynesian pattern is pretty wild, but there’s got to be something fantastic in that Burda.
Yes, and you can check it by clicking on the browse-through link I’ve provided. =D
The re-pooling idea is fantastic!
And the dresses you made – they just have the most amazing style to them!
Thank you. It’s just the one dress though. I made it reversible.
I love to win this!!! Fingers crossed!
Awesome, could you provide a link to your blog so you can be in the running?
Oh – I love the burda pattern and I love your dress! Amazing. g
Thanks. Which Burda pattern?
Please count me in the draw
What a great idea to put the pattern back in or even add one from your stash you already have , it keeps it fun and exciting and helps someone get a new pattern that they would not of found in their area. What a amazing thing this is I would love to be apart count me in.* i have lots of patterns I can toss in the pile*
Ohh! Isn’t that the issue of Burda the pleated skirt pattern is in? I’ve been trying to hunt that one down, after seeing the pics of the blue one you made.
Yes! And I’ve mentioned that and linked the browse-through in the text XD
Indeed! That’s what I get, for browsing from my phone. At any rate, it’s a beautiful skirt, and a great giveaway.
Great idea! I love the paint work you did on that blue dress!!
Please count me in! I’ve never had a Burda magazine before, only looked at them in the shop and been intimidated by the bazillion lines on the pattern sheet
Great tracing idea. I love what you did with that Anna Sui pattern, but I would like the Bestway pattern.