Looking Back Local 2011

-April

Looking back on last year I wanted to share some tidbits about 2011.

We are so very lucky to have such talented folks live in and around this fine city of Portland. Not surprisingly some best selling items of last year were from locals.

The most popular pattern of 2011 was The Crepe dress by Colette.  (Pause for applause and joyous cheering)! This dress can be sewn up in so many different combinations very dressy to totally casual. I think that is a sign of a great pattern when it can be so versatile……always a hit. 

Four other Collette Patterns were among the top sellers of 2011, including Negroni, Violet, Sencha and Ginger. Most of those patterns are labeled as beginner, and we think that is great that so many beginning sewers are taking the plunge into garment sewing. We look forward to seeing some of those finished garments uploaded onto our flicker pool, or shown off in person.

In the books category Modern Log Cabin Quilting by Susan Beal got the top pick among our local bunch.  The interview with Susan was one of my favorite posts on Bolt’s blog last year. I love to see the studios and get an insight into other sewers spaces and places. 

Another contender was Elizabeth Hartman’s A Practical Guide to Patchwork  (Elizabeth is coming out with another book Modern Patch Work this year that is on our radar). In case you did not know Elizabeth is one of the stellar teachers down at our sister shop Modern Domestic. You could learn to quilt from the author herself.

If you feel like 2012 is the year you are going to do more sewing, or learn to sew, any of these titles would be a great place to get started.

If you missed out on any of these great patterns and books, stop by and see what your missing.

Happy Sewing in 2012!