First up, last week’s puzzle, revealed….. I want to thank everyone who responded here and on Facebook with highly educated guesses! Some of your guesses were spot on! This jacket is from another leaflet from Coats and Clark company in the 1930s. Titled “The Gay Flannel Jacket” the leaflet crams all the basic, important information… Read More Puzzle Revealed: Jacket Pattern, circa 1935
Now that I’ve sewn up 5 pairs of these pants in recommended ponte knit, I thought I would throw caution to the wind and make a pair in a stretch woven fabric for the 6th pair. Although they’re both stretchy, the ratio is very different in the two fabrics; my stretch-wovens did not stretch in… Read More Vogue 1411 in Stretch Woven #Denim
This is a dress for waving to the huddled masses. This election year I’m in a constant state of that “bad-taste-in-my-mouth” feeling. But let’s move on – to the dress worn my Mrs Trump (right) at the RNC. Those sleeves!! Pure, sartorial drama. Then I came across this!! Joyce Beatty (left), Democratic Congresswoman from Ohio… Read More Dress Detail of The (Election) Year
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
Hi readers, fellow sewers and fashion enthusiasts! I’ve been vacationing across the Atlantic, had fun, and then came home and suffered some post-travel doldrums – jet lag, sore throat and all that. I’m still recovering, but enough about me…. As promised, I’m revealing the secret in the sleeve of this sweatshirt style tee. If you… Read More Secret in the Cuff
….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
Refashioning a cheaply made item goes against my grain, but sometimes it is OK to do so. This is a beach cover up by the Banana Republic brand, bought years ago from the company’s outlet store. I can see why it was in the outlet; can you spot the flaw in this picture? If not,… Read More #Earth Month Post #3: Cheap Fashion Upcycle
I love the “finished” look of sport elastic (aka multi-channel elastic) applied to appropriate clothing! One just needs to be mindful of a few things. Where it works: Children’s playwear, adult and kids’ pajama pants, boxers or lounge pants, loose, wide leg flowy women’s pants. If they’re dressy, I hide the waistband with an untucked… Read More Sport Elastic, 3 Ways of Installing
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)
