Have you ever browsed through Peppermint Magazine Sewing School? They have a bunch of rad patterns made by indie pattern designers available for free!* I’ve made the In the Folds Wide Leg Pants before, but they were a snug fit. This time, I altered the pattern to make them elastic waisted and much more generously sized.
Continue reading “In the Folds Wide Leg Pants, take two”
After a long hiatus from sewing, I decided I needed to ease my way back in with a simple project. Naturally, I ended up sewing a winter coat made from a check wool which used a binding technique unfamiliar to me.
The pattern was the Muna and Broad Grainger Coat, and the fabric a fabulous check wool blanket whose orange-yellow tones called to me from the linen cupboard. It was originally made in Warrnambool, and I think I bought it at the op shop for $2? I’m usually opposed to chopping up perfectly good woollen blankets to make tacky coats, but my desire to basically wear a wool blanket all winter won out.
The Grainger is a fairly simple sew, for a coat: it’s unlined and calls for quilted fabric (either pre-quilted or DIY’ed). Obviously, I skipped this route, and a lining, as the wool was beautifully soft on its own. The edges are bound with your choice of binding, as are the from patch pockets. I chose to use a 25mm natural cotton twill tape, after spending far more time than I care to admit in the Lincraft trim section.
Continue reading “A wool blanket coat – Muna and Broad Grainger”
Nothing like the end of year for some slapdash posting about the garments I made in 2020. To be honest, I didn’t sew or knit that much: between my concussion, other family member’s debilitating health concerns, a massive relapse and living in a society with people who value their desire for a monthly holiday over Disabled people’s right to live, my brain and body were in no state for any kind of demanding motor/mental task.
Anyway, I made a few things, including these tops. Like many others, this project was born of a need for a specific garment in my wardrobe: a long sleeved turtleneck top, semi-fitted, with the collar close enough to keep me warm, but loose enough to allow room to breathe. Particular, I know! I looked and looked for patterns but didn’t find any that fit the bill, so turned to a TNT (tried ‘n’ true) t shirt pattern for a base. Continue reading “Yes, Virginia, I sewed this year: Sort-of self drafted turtleneck tops”
Have you ever had one of those projects which hibernates in a pile somewhere because you just can’t bring yourself to start it? That was this project.
I received this beautiful mascarpone satin from The Remnant Warehouse as a gift many years ago, and instantly knew it was destined to become a Style Arc Dotty Blouse. However, I let it linger as I didn’t trust myself to work with tricksy polyester satin (after a particularly bad experience with some nasty Spotlight satin), and I wasn’t sure I could convert the pattern to work with one-sided fabric.
Continue reading “Style Arc Dotty Blouse, Gillian Anderson style”
Recently, the Sewcialists announced a mini sewing challenge – Sew Your Birth Year. I didn’t have the time nor energy to sew a whole outfit in a week, but as I love dressing up and I especially love the 90s, I was all in for a dress up session!
Continue reading “Sewcialists Mini Challenge – Sew Your Birth Year”
2019 was a hard year in many, many ways. My sewing and knitting production slowed down significantly – I made 11 garments compared to 29 the year before, and probably more the year before that. This was largely due to health reasons.
Continue reading “Top 5 Reflections of 2019, or, a Year in Review”
Last week I shared my Top 5 Hits of 2019, here’s my Top 5 Misses and Unsures! (The reason I categorised them as such was because I only made 11 garments this year, so it was easier to just rate them all rather than do a Top 5 Hits & Misses and leave 1 out. Plus I don’t have enough Misses!) Continue reading “Top 5 Misses (and Unsures) of 2019”
2019 was a funny year – I only blogged 11 creations, so doing a Top 5 Hits and Top 5 Misses like I usually do would seem a little forced. With so few makes, I think I can probably just sort them into categories of “Hits”, “Misses” and “Unsure”. Without further adieu: Continue reading “Top 5 Hits of 2019”
Note: I’m still catching up on my creations from 2019 – so bear with me, I think this is the last one!
What’s there to say about a pattern you’ve made over and over again? Well, about 1000 words, judging by this blog post! I’ve been sewing less lately, but in a more focused manner – creating those garments I’ll get a lot of wear out of, instead of one off fantasy items (Regency Gown and bonnet excluded!). This means button up shirts! Continue reading “Yet another Burda shirt, and RIP Burdastyle dot com”
When I shared my Pride & Prejudice inspired Regency gown project, I said I’d go over making my bonnet in more detail. I can’t claim to have come up with the idea myself – I directly followed the instructions from Stephanie Johanesen’s YouTube tutorial, and the accompanying blog post from Better Dresses Vintage who also followed the video.
