Or, how to turn a quick 4 seam project into a considerably longer one. It all started when I decided to do some quick summer sewing. A sleevless knit tunic would be great in the scorching Texas heat. Pattern of choice: Sewing Workshop’s Anne’s Cardigan and Tank , released in 2011 . I’d already made the cardigan,… Read More Sewing Workshop Patterns – Anne’s Tank. #Summer Sewing
How many are too many of the same clothing item? I first made this pair of knit pants back in 2014 and was thrilled to bits when it turned out good looking, comfy and seemed to fit well. All in my opinion, of course. Since then I have made 4 more pairs. I still get… Read More Sewing a Pattern, Repeatedly
Occasionally, I will indulge in some unselfish sewing. This year’s unselfish project is this dress for my daughter #2 who now lives across the Atlantic. Those of you who’ve made things for recipients far away, know much better than I do, the process of long distance sewing when it’s a fitted garment. But that’s fodder… Read More Sewing Sarah’s Dress
Disclaimer: By trade, I am not a fashion historian or anything like that. I do love history of fashion in the western hemisphere, and love to track where the current trends in fashion originated. Because there is very little in fashion that is so new that there is no precedent. Well, let’s see about the… Read More Nothing’s New. Tracking the The Cold Shoulder Trend
….and can you spot the hidden feature I added? No one “dresses up” for travel anymore but we want to look somewhat chic and be comfortable in a plane or train full of strangers, and buses and automobiles. The Athleisure concept works beautifully for modern travel, I think. I want to share my efforts at… Read More McCall’s 6992. The Athleisure Look for Travel
After 3 Craftsy classes, numerous YouTube videos about installing a fly front zipper, a surprise win of the only knit jeans pattern (that I know of), and a few sewing hours, I am the proud owner of boot-cut, knit jeans. This pair is the ultimate in comfort jeans. The knit fabric upgrades this pair for the… Read More I Made Jeans. Ponte Knit #Jeans
So we continue, and finish the jacket from last week, Butterick 6253. I am quite pleased with the finished garment, despite initial misgivings about using leather for sleeves, facings and part of the hood. Quite pleased, despite the fabric stripes not matching themselves and going wherever they want to. I chose the version with unfinished… Read More Fashion Week Sewing, Fall 2016
With this project, I’m reaching out to my inner Manuel Pertegaz, via Katherine Tilton’s Butterick pattern. I am loving the A-shapes in clothing now since they accommodate my pear shape. This Butterick pattern designed by Katherine Tilton has a ruffly look without being sickly sweet. This project became another exercise in dealing with fabric shortage. Materials procurement… Read More Butterick Pattern 6253 – #WIP (groan)
The saga continues. At the end of the last post, my first faux fur garment had yet to be hemmed, sides sewn and lined. I plodded along, went through a little bit of ripping out the side seams (which was surprisingly easy, and did not ruin the fur), re-sewing the seams, etc etc. Lessons were… Read More Part Two: Do Not Fear the Faux Fur
I recently decided to make good on a long ignored item on the sewing list: a faux fur vest from this pattern, Simplicity 2285. No fabric is hard to sew if you know how. There are exceptions, of course; it happened to me once. The fabric in question was a weird wiry cloth and… Read More Do Not Fear the Faux Fur Fabric
