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Harlene Gardening Dungarees
For a long time, I have wanted a pair of overalls to garden in—something I didn’t mind getting dirty in, was comfortable to wear, and didn’t involve me constantly hiking them up so that the neighbors wouldn’t see my butt crack when I bent over—basically a knock off pair of Carhartts. This past spring, I finally made them! I used the Merchant and Mills Harlene Dungarees pattern and a beautiful 10 oz. Organic Duck Canvas from Blackbird Fabrics. Details Pattern Merchant and Mills Harlene Dungarees There are many overall patterns out there and I even have at least one other one, but I wanted the most classic looking overalls I…
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Seamwork Audrey Jacket
Ready-to-wear jean jackets have never fit me right. Being on the pair shaped side, they are often too big in the bust and too small at the waist and then don’t button up very well. I had been wanting a well-fitted jean jacket for a long time and last fall, a friend of mine—who was just getting into sewing garments—was planning to sew the Seamwork Audrey (I know, ambitious project, right?). She asked me if I would like to do a little sew along with her via Zoom. I still had some of the free denim in my stash that I had scored when I worked at the photo studio…
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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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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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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…
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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…
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Tie Dye Sallie Maxi Dress
It’s sort of become a tradition for me to sew myself a dress for my birthday. By sort of, I mean I do it about every other year. With a big party out of the question this year, I didn’t even think about sewing a dress until just a few days before my birthday. It just so happened that I had this awesome tie dye knit fabric in my stash (courtesy of @melizzamakes) that was perfect for sewing up a quick Closet Core Patterns Sallie Maxi Dress! Details Pattern Closet Core Patterns Sallie Maxi Dress Fabric Fabric scored at a Seattle Sews Fabric swap (back when we could do that…
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Buffalo Check Archer Button Up
How have you all been? Has everybody still been sewing? Lately, I have been motivated to make things that I need, but it is also a nice escape sometimes. It probably goes without saying that these last few months have been unlike anything any of us have ever experienced in our lifetime. I remember thinking it was weird that people were saying things like “new normal” only a couple of weeks into the pandemic, but now that I am four months into working from home, it makes more sense. That said, in an attempt to return to some sense of normalcy—or at the very least, routine—I am finally getting back…
