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Caftans and Cocktails: A Palm Print Charlie Caftan
Last year, I discovered the value of a good sewing challenge with the “Sew Bibs” challenge. It made me realize that deadlines motivate me to get sewing projects done. It’s also super fun to share your completed garment with a bunch of people sewing the same thing at the same time. Nowadays, anything that can make being stuck at home a bit more fun is appreciated, such as the Werk from Home Along challenge and most recently Caftans and Cocktails, hosted by Meg of Cookin’ and Craftin’ and Loni, of Havin’ Sew Much Fun. Deciding what to make for this challenge was easy, as I already had the Closet Core…
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2025 Year in Review
So much has changed since I started this blog back in 2012. That was the early days of indie pattern designers such as Colette (now Seamwork), Closet Case (now Closet Core), and Grainline Studio. It was the heyday of blogs—sewing blogs for me—and discovering them felt so special. I’m so thankful for the sewing community I got to become a part of; the real friendships that formed out of it and all of the opportunities to attend sewing retreats with Camp Workroom Social or at Maker’s Hideaway. But online, it’s a different landscape now. If you aren’t monetizing somehow, it all seems like a lot of work (and expense) to…
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2020 Year in Review
It’s taken me a couple of weeks to figure out what I want to say about 2020. Previous year in review posts pale in comparison to this one and I’ve had some crazy years! The year started normal enough, but no one (except maybe Bill Gates) expected what would soon come. Unlike previous years, I don’t need to tell you what happened. We were all there and it’s still is happening. Fortunately, both Matt and I have stayed employed since the start of the pandemic. We had brief periods at the beginning where our hours were either reduced or non-existent, but as safety measures and plans for moving forward were…
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Black Tencel Twill Pietra Shorts
It’s been a summer of new silhouettes for me, first with my Sallie Maxi Dress and then my Charlie Caftan. In keeping on the Closet Core train, next up (and possibly my last make of the summer) was a pair of Pietra Shorts in a perfect black tencel twill bottom weight from Stylemaker Fabrics. I have never been much of a shorts person, but I made a wearable muslin of the Carolyn Pajama Shorts last year and I love the way they fit. If they didn’t look like pajama bottoms so much, I would probably wear them out of the house. Enter the Pietra Shorts! Details Pattern Closet Core Patterns…
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Blog Break
My goal when I started this blog was to average a post once a week (since that is what is realistic for my life) and I think I have done a pretty good job of sticking to that. Through all the ups and downs of the last couple of years, through my mom’s illness and death, I somehow managed to keep blogging. It gave me joy, the routine of it was good for keeping me going and it has given me a place to talk about things. I certainly have not gone this long without posting though, but there was another death shortly after my last post (my beloved dog Charlie),…
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Spring Garden Explosion
I’m breaking the rules already. I tried to work in the garden and Charlie was so upset that I left him in the house, so I had to bring him outside for a little bit. I put a towel down for him and took his cone off for a minute. Look how much happier he looks! Charlie convalesces. I have been gardening for years now, but I am still amazed when stuff actually grows and when it seems to grow quickly. Everything has exploded in the garden recently! Take a look!
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Palette Challenge update: Crepe dress
We’ve been having some pretty nice weather in Seattle lately, so I’ve been doing more gardening than sewing lately. My dog Charlie, is usually my garden helper. He likes to sit out in the garden with me while I work, or just roll on his back in the grass. He’s nine now and starting to get lumpy, as Labs tend to do. So we just had to have one of his bumps removed. Since Charlie is recovering and can’t really go outside much right now, I have a good excuse to stay inside and catch up on some sewing. Now Charlie is my sewing helper! My second project for the Colette…
