I made a dress!

After ages I made a dress for myself again! I keep buying clothes patterns on Etsy but always hesitate to start. I used to sew my own dresses back when I was in college and then again after I got married, I tried a couple of times making dress for myself and for my sons. Afterwards, I just stopped and recently I've been itching to start making again. 

Lovely pink & purple block print fabric

The fabric is block print cotton from my ETSY Shop. 

The pattern is from Aura Patterns on Etsy . I make size XL which turned out very airy. Maybe I will make L size next time. 

 

With my rustic dress making skill, I'm happy with how it turned out! Here's my review about this dress pattern: 

1. The photo on the pattern and the actual pattern is different. The actual pattern is for a drop sleeve dress. Which I love! 

The pattern: 

2. Another adjustment I made is the neck line. I found the neck line is too wide to my liking. The bodice  pattern is completely different then what's shown in the pattern photo! 

Neck line as per the pattern

My adjustment 

3. The pattern is easy to understand but there's no actual photos. There are only very simple diagram. Some instruction, like attaching the pocket, I find it's lacking. If you follow the instruction, you will end up with puckered pockets. Luckily there are many tutorials on Youtube like THIS ONE that I can refer to.  

4. The sleeve turned out good and the length is just perfect. I love the airy sleeves especially in this hot and  humid weather. 

I wish the pattern had more detail photos or diagrams in the instructions. This pattern is good for someone who already know how to at least read a pattern and make adjustment if necessary. If you're a newbie, I'd suggest to look at others who provide video tutorials. This particular pattern shop, don't have any social media presence or video tutorials. 

I'm happy with my first trial of the pattern and want to make another one but with a few adjustment, like the bodice length and also the pocket depth. I've been watching and learning from a lot of YouTube Videos. Let's see.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Have a nice day,

Elvira

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Finished 2 Table Runners

 

Hello, 

It's already the end of August and my boys are getting ready to go back to college. Summer breaks came and went pretty fast. In between, me and my younger son, we went to Indonesia to visit my family. It was rather unplanned trip, as we saw the Malaysian Airline ticket was pretty reasonable, we quickly book the tickets just a few days before we left. Alhamdulillah, I can meet my mom, my sisters and their family in Indonesia even though it was a short visit. I met a few friends from my working days in Jakarta and few college friends too. It's always nice to be able to meet and catch up with family and friends personally, even though we keep interacting via Whatsapp or social media. 

NSCB International Airport - Kolkata

KLIA Terminal 1

My new fave passport cover & wristlet

And of course I went fabric shopping in Malang and Jakarta! Luckily our tickets includes 25 kg baggage allowance, so I can pick up few fabrics! 

Some fabrics from Ratu Busana Jakarta

After I came back home, I can't help feeling "guilty" for buying so many new fabrics! So the next best thing I do is taking out one charm pack from my stash and make them into table runner!. I always think of making more table runners for my small quilt shop in Etsy. I barely get any time to refresh the shop hence the sale does not happen every month! But I love making small quilts and put them in the shop. Many I ended up gifting them to my family and friends :). 

I also finished the block print table runner! The plan was to start quilting a few UFO that I already basting, but I always end up doing something else.

This time, I am happy with the result. I quilted them in my Husqvarna Viking machine using my fave serendipity stitch lines! 

This modern table runner size is 14" x 39" which is prefect for kitchen table or even long coffee table. 

Modern Table Runner

Block Print Table Runner

I used cotton batting for both runners and it turned out very soft, especially the block print one. The skinny block print table runner is finished at 9” W x 37” L  (23 x 94 cm). It's great for those narrow side tables or foyer tables. 

The block print fabrics are from HERE  

I made a few patchwork placemats too before leaving for the Indonesian trip, I'll write about it in my next post!  

Thank you so much for visiting my blog, I hope you enjoy reading my blog. 

Have a nice day!

Elvira

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US Tariff and Great News for my US friends

Black and white block print fabric

According to recent updates on U.S. tariff regulations, the de minimis rule will be eliminated effective August 29, 2025. This rule previously allowed low-value shipments to enter the country without incurring import duties and taxes. With its removal, all imported goods—regardless of their value—will now be subject to applicable tariffs and taxes. 

But the good news is CHEZVIES' shipping partner always ship in DDP Mode (Delivered Duty Paid), which means no surprise customs fees or taxes when your package arrives!  We handle it all for you so you can just sit back and wait for the happy mail! 

Big Floral Cotton Fabrics

Small Wallets

I know how frustrating it is to receive unexpected customs charge after you have already paid for your order. I experienced this myself several times. With the DDP mode, I hope it will make your shopping experience smoother and stress-free. 

Triple Zipper Multi Purpose Bag

Thank you so much for supporting my small business and for being a big part of my creative journey. I am looking forward to sending more happy packages your way - now with extra peace of mind :) 

Best regards,

Elvira

New Fabrics

In the past few weeks I've been busy with updating the website and my Etsy Shops. After the Etsy glitch which resulted hundred of my listings were made expired, I decided to take this as a chance to refresh my listing photos and optimize the listings. 

It's not an easy task especially since I am working solo, but I am happy to be busy! 

I group similar fabrics together in one listing, which previously I listed individually, to save some listing fees. Etsy sellers in India have to pay quite a lot of fees, beside the listing fee. And on top of that the conversion fees too. 

So without further ado, here are what I have put up in the fabric shop recently. 

Off White Based fabrics

Lovely Ikat motifs

Geometric  Motifs

Unique Animal and Tree Patterns

Popular Mughal Floral Pattern 

The fabrics are sold by half yard increments, but in case you want fabric bundles, please send me a message on Etsy. I'd be happy to create custom bundles for you! 

Here a few inspirations (AI generated) what you can make with these beautiful fabrics: 

 

Yellow Floral fabrics

Mint Green Hand Block Print Fabric

If you love fabrics with a little personality, block print is where it’s at! This super old-school printing technique—where artisans carve patterns into wooden blocks, dunk them in dye, and stamp them onto fabric—has been around for centuries. And honestly, it’s still one of the coolest ways to get unique designs. It’s also pretty eco-friendly. Unlike mass-produced prints, block printing uses natural dyes and minimal machinery, making it a more sustainable choice.

If you're looking to bring some handcrafted charm into your style or space, block print fabric is a fantastic choice. Embrace the artistry, support skilled artisans, and add a touch of timeless elegance to your wardrobe or home décor!

Visit the SHOP to see the full collection from Indigo  to handwoven fabrics. 

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy your visit. 

Have a nice day,

Elvira