TAUKO Magazine No. 9 is dedicated to the colour blue! The colour of the sky, seas and lakes has inspired a series of nine different sewing patterns by international designers. Serenity and tranquillity are very much in evidence in these designs, which include dresses, casual trousers, blouses and trench coats against the cold winter blasts. The size- and gender-inclusive designs also make great handmade gifts for loved ones! Artists and researchers talk about the importance of blue in the world of textiles in a variety of articles, providing plenty to read into the dark evenings.
Nordic T-Shirt
Lush in Sage Green Jersey Fabric with Tencel Lyocell Fibres
Mila Moisio, co-founder of TAUKO Magazine, created the NORDIC T-shirt pattern to enable you to craft one of the world’s most popular garments.
The NORDIC tee is a classic and timeless design with a straight cut that suits all body types and offers a slightly oversized fit. The pattern has three length variations that include a cropped top, a hip-covering tunic, and a midi-length dress version. It is the perfect beginner-friendly pattern that provides a canvas for you to experiment with different fabrics, colour blocking, and your own creative hacks.
Choose medium-weight knit and stretchy fabrics such as jerseys, sweater fabrics, wool knits, and Tencel knits.
Meet Milk Derby Ribbed Jersey Dark Navy with Tencel Modal fibres
Sunday Trousers
Deadstock Cashmere Blend Wool Suiting in Elephant Grey
The SUNDAY trousers are a collaboration between TAUKO Magazine and the founder of the Terhen brand, Terhi Ruutu. The SUNDAY trousers feel like the warm touch of a sauna session. Their looseness gives the skin room to breathe and recover.
The cut suits all body types and the legs can easily be adjusted to your desired length. You can use this pattern as a basis to reinvent trouser-making and the simplicity of the design leaves plenty of room for your choice of fabric.
Choose light to medium-weight woven or knit fabrics. The trousers work with jerseys as well as knit merino wool, soft cotton and linen, or draping viscose and Tencel.
Flow Denim Blue Viscose Linen Blend Fabric
Sauna Robe
Deadstock Knitted Reversible Wool Coating Fabric
The SAUNA robe is designed for a neverending feeling of comfort and luxury. The hem and sleeves come in maxi and cropped lengths and are easy to adjust. The long belt pieces can be sewn in, or you can make a separate belt. All seams are finished with flatfelled and French seams for a neat look, but you can always adjust the process to suit your skills and needs. This pattern is beginnerfriendly, beautiful, and easy to make.
Choose medium to lightweight woven or knit fabrics. The robe works with jerseys as well as knit merino wool, soft cotton and linen, or draping viscose and Tencel. Bold print fabrics are also a great option for this simple design.
Mind the Maker Oda Brush Viscose Linen Noil in Green Khaki & Dry Mustard
Meander Bag
Cousette Bright Blue Soft Cotton Denim
With a background in architecture and lighting design, Emily Klug enjoys the challenge of designing zero-waste garments and accessories. With every design, Emily strives to create sewing patterns that not only reduce fabric waste and consumption but also present an exciting project for the maker.
MEANDER is a flexible bag that you can take with you on the go. It transforms to fit the needs of your adventure, big or small. The zero-waste design features a gathered bottom that can be cinched to create a smaller bag or expanded to full capacity. It has two size options, each with a different closure.
Select a medium-weight woven fabric (6–9 oz/200–305 gsm) with a bit of structure: cotton or nylon ripstop, cotton canvas, twill, or denim. If you are using heavy fabric for the main body of the bag, use a lightweight fabric for the lining.
Bold Foliage Cotton Linen Canvas
Cousette Soft Velvet Cotton in Black
Shoreline Top
Eucalyptus Leaves on Sage Green Canvas
Natascha Chambers is a sewist of 20 years and a creative branding specialist for small businesses. She is based in London.
The SHORELINE top was inspired by wintery beach walks and 1970s leisurewear. The boxy shape is softened by the curved, raised neckline, and the volume is balanced by braceletlength sleeves. You can finish the garment with a zipper or a placket closure and optionally add a patch pocket. The pocket belt was inspired by the beautiful and practical tie-on pockets used by women in the 19th century. It brings a touch of whimsy to the SHORELINE top.
This pattern is designed for medium or heavy-weight woven fabrics with good body and structure, such as denim, canvas, coated cotton, corduroy, wool, jacquard, or cloque. If your fabric has stretch, we recommend using a medium interfacing on all facing pieces.
Jet Dress
Ex-Designer Autumn Checks with Lurex
Jenny Hassler is a compulsive sewist based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, USA. The JET dress started as an idea for making a pair of large jeans into a dress. Jenny doesn’t often wear pants, and she loves a bold frock. She also loves the crisp, cool look of topstitching on denim.
The JET dress has box pleats in the front and gathers in the back. You can also opt for gathers in the front, as we did with the gingham sample dress. This design has two options for the sleeves: You can make gathered sleeves with lots of ease at the hem or sculptural petal sleeves. The neckline is wide and deep enough to allow you to slip on the dress without a zip. The dress features zipped welt pockets in front of the side seams on both sides.
JET works best in non-stretch, medium to heavy-weight denim or canvas. Stiff fabrics are great for this piece as they can hold its voluminous shape. For a lighter version, choose medium-weight linen or cotton.
Bohemian in Black Cotton Canvas
Quincy Dress
Washed Denim with TENCEL Lyocell Fibres in Light Blue
Robyn Andrea Burgess, fashion designer and founder of Styles InSeams, began sewing because she couldn’t find clothes that fit. At 6'2"/188 cm, she longed to feel comfortable and confident while navigating her life and career in New York City. Robyn creates cheerful styles that adapt to creative and professional adventures.
The QUINCY dress is designed to keep you looking effortlessly good all year round. It was inspired by 1940s silhouettes and named after Robyn’s grandmother’s hometown in New England. The timeless dress style features tucks to loosely define the waist, a revere collar, and short sleeves. You can cut the A-line skirt above the knee for a relaxed look, or choose a midi length that’s elegant day or night.
Choose a medium-weight, non-stretch woven fabric without much drape. Denim, cotton sateen, Ankara cotton, linen, wool crepe, jacquard, faux leather or suede, and dupioni silk all work well for this design.
Silver Grey Pure Linen Fabric
Rayleigh Coat
Deadstock Crystal Teal Herringbone Lamb’s Wool Coating Fabric
Elina Vuorema is a Helsinki-based sewist and textile design student. As a fan of functionalism, she wants to create usable and long-lasting textile products. At the same time, she is interested in pushing the boundaries of art, textiles, and clothing.
The RAYLEIGH coat is a slightly oversized garment for all genders and body types. It has raglan sleeves, a detachable belt, and a collar that can either be buttoned up for cold, windy days or folded down for a more formal look. Whether you need a winter coat in wool with a full lining or an unlined trench coat for the transitional season, this pattern has instructions for both!
For the winter coat version, we recommend a medium to heavy wool or wool blend for the outer fabric and a light to medium voile, cotton, silk, or viscose for the lining. Our range of Elegance Viscose Poplin is ideal for lining. For an unlined trench, use a medium to heavy woven fabric, such as cotton canvas, oilskin, or denim.
Deadstock Italian Wool Coating Fabric in Toffee with Cashmere
Italian Wool Coating Fabric in Fuchsia
Optimatium Shirt Dress
Yarn Dyed Blue Cotton Checked Fabric
Liz Haywood lives in Australia and is a former industry patternmaker who enjoys home sewing. She came across zero-waste pattern cutting while reading about sustainable fashion and was instantly hooked. Zero waste is a constant influence when Liz designs her patterns. She sees it as a delightful challenge that forces her to think about pattern making in a different way.
You can wear the zero-waste OPTIMATIUM design as a buttoned-up dress or open as a flowing dust coat. It has in-seam pockets, a scooped hemline, gently pleated cuffs, and a high neckline. You can change the length of the dress and the sleeves without affecting the design’s zero-waste status, and you can add bust darts if you wish.
Use linen, cotton, chambray, quilting cotton, Liberty Tana Lawn, viscose, lightweight wool, or suiting. This design is not suitable for napped fabrics and directional prints. Stripes and checks work, but they must be balanced/even stripes and checks, and may require slightly more fabric to match at the seams.
Watercolour Spring Flowers Viscose
For fabric requirements and details of the fabrics used in the samples please see the Tauko website.