• sewing

    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…

  • pattern testing,  sewing

    Pattern Testing: Grainline Studio Augusta Shirt

    Back in April, I had the pleasure of pattern testing the Grainline Studio Augusta Shirt & Dress. This was early on in the pandemic, so while it was (and still is) a strange time, I remember it being a welcome distraction to have something else to focus on. Using pattern testers is a way for the designer to work out any bugs in the pattern before releasing it, such as issues with grading, missed markings, instructions that may be unclear, etc. I have pattern tested a handful of times before and often don’t see the pattern before I agree to participate, so have no idea if it will even be…

  • pickling,  preserving

    Garlic Dill Refrigerator Pickles

    The last few years, I have finally gotten growing cucumbers down to a science. Ever since we got some trees removed, the front yard gets plenty of sun now, so my yields overall have improved. With cucumbers specifically, I have gotten better at remembering to continually harvest, so that the plant keeps producing. What that means, is that I now have cucumbers coming out of my ears! I love garlic dill pickles and have tried several pickle making techniques; canning and fermenting among them. In my experience, the crispiest, tastiest pickles have been the refrigerator pickles I’ve made. The only ingredients you need to make delicious garlic dill refrigerator pickles…

  • sewing

    Zebra La Brea Tee

    I have begun to reach for the knit items in my wardrobe almost exclusively after months of working from home. As the weather has warmed up, I have also started to get sick of wearing the same couple of knit tees over and over again, so I realized I needed more knit t-shirts. Stores have started opening back up recently, but when I decided I wanted my next make to be the Halfmoon Atelier La Brea Tee, most were still closed. If there was ever a time I was grateful for my fabric stash it’s now. I had just the fabric for it in my stash. Even better is that…