Experiment with different color combinations and kinds of yarn for different seasons–it’s an economical gift, too! Worked entirely in the round with an adjustable head size and a period correct wide brim, it varies enough for interest and works up quickly. Special techniques are clearly explained; skill level is Easy. Designed by Kristen Stoltzfus just for Sense & Sensibility customers!

Side view

Topside view

Note for European and Australian customers: Some crocheting terms are different from the US. Thanks to customer Antonia L, who shared a great link to translate terms from American to British (also used in AUS): http://crochet.about.com/od/conversioncharts/a/termtranslate.htm

I was able to send home a trunkload of these iconic East African fabric panels last month, and I’ve finally gotten them all listed in the S&S Etsy shop! Kanga (CAHN-ga) cloths provide a lot of the beautiful color of East Africa and also preserve a unique cultural heritage. They are used to make tunics and skirts, baby slings, head scarves, hand bags, shawls, tablecloths, and more. You also see Kangas hung on the wall inside a house like works of art, made into pillows and blankets, and even decorating the outdoors while flapping gorgeously on clotheslines.

Included with each purchase is a history of the Kanga and a “Kanga Patterns” PDF with a gridded wrap skirt pattern, plus instructions for an A-line, side-zip skirt:

Wrap Skirt

A-line Skirt

Note that there are three types of Kangas available at three different price levels:

• Lightweight cotton Kangas (similar to voile in weight, though the weave is not as fine) for $15.95
• Cotton-poly Kangas (80/20 blend of a weight similar to American muslin) for $19.95
• Thick 100% cotton Kangas (the highest quality and similar to polished cotton) for $24.95

Each double Kanga measures 44″ wide by 112″ long, so you get two full panels joined in the center. Each panel contains a Swahili “jina” or saying. You’ll receive a PDF with the English translation of the phrase on your Kanga (these are also shown in the listings on Etsy).

With clever cutting, you can also make adorable girls’ dresses that use the border for fantastic sleeves and hemlines:

Girls' 1950s-style shirt dress

Pattern coming soon!

All proceeds from the sale of these Kangas go to fund the Forever Grace Sewing Guild, which partners with Hosanna Revival Church in Nairobi’s Kibera slum to provide work for widows, single mothers, and other needy women. The ladies who work with Forever Grace receive free instruction in pattern cutting, sewing, and marketing. They are treated as independent contractors and are able to work from home on their own time schedules (no sweat shops!).

The first sewing class!

Over time, we hope to help these ladies develop a line of clothing with a marketing plan for in-country sales and export to the US and other markets. Thanks for helping to launch Forever Grace and enable these ladies to care for their own children while working from home. Be sure to follow Sense & Sensibility Patterns on Facebook, as we’ll post photographs from the sewing guild from time to time and showcase the work these ladies are doing!

Ladies walking in their Kangas

Fit to wear to a costume ball, it’s also light and warm and practical, easy to wrap around your arms or shoulders when the evening grows chill. It’s crocheted in short rows with the fleur-de-lis staggered in rows separated by an easy chain mesh and no separate edging except at each end. It works up quickly; special stitches are clearly explained. Skill level: intermediate. Designed by Kristen Stoltzfus of Joys in Stitches just for Sense & Sensibility customers.

Note for European and Australian customers: Some crocheting terms are different from the US. Thanks to customer Antonia L, who shared a great link to translate terms from American to British (also used in AUS): http://crochet.about.com/od/conversioncharts/a/termtranslate.htm

I used the wonderful Beatrix Potter Walking Skirt pattern and Edwardian Shirtwaist to make this outfit to celebrate our school centenary. The entire school, staff and parents dressed up and went to Beamish open air museum, and it was a lovely day. The collar on the blouse is an original Edwardian Irish crochet lace, found on ebay for £3.99!!! Thank you for such lovely patterns Jennie!

Kirsten

Stunning ensemble, Kirsten! I absolutely love it all from top to toe. Thanks for sharing your wonderful work … and the fun celebration!

Hello Mrs. Chancey!

The first time I saw the 1940s Swing Dress pictures, I fell in love with the style! I had been planning for a long time to buy the pattern, and when a wedding came up that my Mom was to sing at, it was the perfect opportunity to make the dress! I originally made the dress for her, but due to some fitting issues (the sizes on the pattern, we found, make a smaller dress than modern sizes), it became my dress! The pattern did not arrive until a day before the wedding, so I spent many hours sewing the night before! We found a gorgeous, vintage-style turquoise print at Jo-Ann’s, and because we got the very last of the fabric, we made the cummerbund out of chocolate brown. I also omitted the sleeves to give the dress a more sun-dressy feel. I love how it turned out and will definitely be making more of these in the future! Thank you so much for these beautiful patterns!

Hannah A.

Darling, Hannah! I love the color combination — you remind me of a Tiffany’s gift with a chocolate brown bow. What a sewing marathon you must have had to meet that deadline! Well done. As far as pattern “sizes” go, I always remind ladies to go by actual measurements rather than sizes, because many modern patterns have tons of “ease” added in, which means the final results can be two or more sizes too big. For tailored garments like this one, you want to go by what you measure (particularly in the bust and hips on this pattern) and ignore “size.” I’m three sizes–all depending on what area I’m measuring!

Dear Mrs. Chancey,

First, I will begin by thanking you for all of your gorgeous patterns! There is really no place like Sense and Sensibility. I love historical clothing, and making it with your patterns is so much fun. I just wanted to share these photos with you of the dress I made from your Romantic Dress pattern. It was so much fun to work with, and so easy to follow. I love floor-length hemlines, but for practicality I shortened it a bit. The sleeves were also adjusted for a different look. I loved the collar option; I just had to use it, and the white crochet edging really made it stand out beautifully.

I am nearly finished with the jumper version of this pattern as well, and I also made the romantic blouse to go under it. Hopefully I will send pictures of that ensemble when I finish it! Thank you again for such a wonderful resource for gorgeous patterns! I can not wait to see what new patterns you come out with next!

Blessings,
Elizabeth M.

Wonderful work, Elizabeth! I love the variation you made on the sleeves — bracelet-length is so flattering and looks wonderful. The lace-trimmed collar is also lovely. Superior work all ’round, and thank you for sharing! I look forward to seeing what else you make.

Dear Mrs Chancey,

As promised (better late than never), here are some pictures of some of the dresses i have made from your Elegant Lady’s Closet pattern . I find the pattern very versatile and have made over 30 dresses from it. Most I made for sale, but I have made a good half dozen for myself. In some cases I altered the pattern (I made 2 open robes, a chemise a la reine, and a flat fronted puff and slash sleeved ballgown) to achieve a different effect, but in most cases I used the pattern as-is.

Enjoy!
Julia B

Wow! These are simply amazing. Thanks so much for sharing your gorgeous work, Julia!

When choosing a design for my flowergirls’ dresses, your Girls’ Romantic Dress pattern was perfect – it had the fitted bodice and full skirt I was looking for, without a neckline that belongs on an adult. The only change I had to make was to lengthen the skirts. The green dress also has a waistband, because I forgot seam allowances when lengthening the skirt, but I think it makes it look a little more ‘grown up’ since Jade is 4 years older than her next cousin. I also added belt/sash loops to Milla’s cream dress, so they can change the look with different coloured sashes. The dresses made up beautifully in cotton sateen, and were just as easy to make as your Regency pattern, which I have used before.

I was most grateful for your advice on sizing, as my nieces are tiny. Jade (9) ended up in a size 4, though we had to enlarge the armscye, Alice (5) wore a size 2, Amy (2) got size 1, and little Milla (6 days shy of her first birthday) also had a size 1 but with bigger seam allowances, and a shorter skirt. My nieces all love them – Alice was thrilled to get a purple dress, and kept asking if she got to keep it, while her sister Amy (in blue) now wears her ‘wedding dress’ all the time – if she’s not wearing it, it’s because it’s in the wash, she’s asking where it is.

Katie L.

Your nieces are adorable, Katie, and I can tell they loved wearing their dresses. The littlest one in her vintage carriage is utterly darling! Thanks for sharing!

Note for European and Australian customers: Some crocheting terms are different from the US. Thanks to customer Antonia L, who shared a great link to translate terms from American to British (also used in AUS): http://crochet.about.com/od/conversioncharts/a/termtranslate.htm