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Mid-rise Ginger Jeans
Jean-making is one of things where you just have to jump in and go for it. I made jeans four years ago at the first Camp Workroom Social and had been hoarding enough Cone Denim (from the White Oak Mill before it closed) to make three more pairs, but for some reason was stalling on actually making them. I basically waited until my original pair—and any ready-to-wear pairs I had— were completely worn out. I was faced with a decision; break down and get some new Levi’s or finally cut into that sweet Cone Mills denim. That’s the thing about having the skills and the supplies to make your own…
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Pattern Testing: Maeve Makes Pooze Pouch
Fanny packs are one of those things that people seem to be divided on. You either love em’ or you hate em’. Most of the people I know are pro-fanny pack and I definitely stand on the side of, “What’s not to love?”. To me, they are both functional and fashionable! So when Maeve Blessing of Maeve Makes asked me to pattern test her new Pooze Pouch pattern, I was ALL IN. Pattern Maeve Makes Pooze Pouch Materials Used Speckled denim for the main fabric Cotton and Steel Welsummer – Kitchen Kitsch – Light Blue Unbleached Cotton fabric by Kim Kight for the lining Both were purchased from Pacific Fabrics…
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Sew Bibs Challenge: Tilly and the Buttons Cleo Dress
There are so many sewing challenges now—and that’s a good thing—but besides Me Made May and Sewvember, I haven’t really participated that much. It’s not for any particular reason, it usually just has to do with time (like not enough of it), but the stars actually aligned for me and the Sew Bibs Challenge! If you don’t already know, Sew Bibs is a challenge centered around sewing overalls, dungarees, pinafores or anything with a bib, hosted by Heidi of Handmade Frenzy, Jessamy of Jessamy B Makes, Meg of Cookin’ and Craftin’, and Teri of Fa Sew La. I had been wanting to sew the Tilly and the Buttons Cleo Dress for a…
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Striped Oslo Cardigan
One of the things I love about sewing is that once you’ve made something successfully, the second time you make it is so much faster! I am a tracer of patterns (vs. cutting the pattern itself), so the first time I make something I trace my size onto Swedish tracing paper (and often it’s graded between sizes), cut out the traced pieces and only then I can move on to cutting the fabric. There can also be muslins involved before I even start sewing the actual garment, so that’s another time-consuming step. The idea is that by the second time I make something, that is all out of the way…
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Clarke Pullover
I just realized that (according to Ravelry) I have been knitting for over six years now! You would think I would have gotten faster in that time, but for some reason I’m still a pretty slow knitter. I must be getting slightly faster though, because I knit a Clarke Pullover by Jane Richmond in less than my normal average of a year! It’s probably only partially the speed at which I knit, but also the frequency. Lately, I have been sewing more than I have been knitting, so that could be part of it. Anyway, as I always say, ain’t nothing like a deadline, and camp is always a reason…
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Red Plaid Carolyn Pajamas
It’s a Merry Day after Christmas for me! I’ve had some time off for the holidays, so finally had the chance to photograph a few garments that I’ve made recently, including my most recent pair of Closet Case Patterns Carolyn Pajamas! Like I said, it’s the day after Christmas, so that’s why there are no presents under the tree. In our house, we are allowed (let’s be real, it’s a rule I impose) to enjoy the Christmas tree until New Year’s and then New Year’s Day, down it goes. If you celebrate Christmas, how long do you leave the tree up after Christmas? I am always so curious to know…
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Nautical Birthday Emery Dress
It’s become a tradition for me to make myself a dress to wear at my annual chicken bingo birthday party and despite how busy I have been this year, I decided I couldn’t break tradition and should sew a dress about a week before the party (this should sound familiar to a lot of you). Thanks to ye old stash, I already had some summery nautical Michal Miller border print fabric in my stash that I had purchased specifically to make a Christine Haynes Emery dress. Details Cut a size 8 at the shoulders and graded to a 12 at the waist. Took shoulders in 1″ Brought up armscye 1/2″ Lengthened bodice…
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Polka Dot Chambray Archer Button Up
I sewed my first Archer Button Up last year and it has quickly become a frequently worn wardrobe staple. I was so happy with it, that I knew I wanted to make more. When I was in NY last fall, I picked up a beautiful piece of polka dot chambray with plans to make another Archer. I don’t usually sew the same thing back to back, but with the way I organize my patterns, the pattern pieces stay out on a hanger while I am working on a project and I only have room for so many patterns to be out. When I start a new project, I usually file…
