Elbe Textiles Cornell Shirt and Style Arc Brooklyn Knit Pants

Hello friends! It’s been a long time since I posted sewing content, largely because it’s been a long time since I sewed anything. Prior to contracting COVID in January, I sewed up a heap of shirts (yet to be blogged). But post-COVID, with Long COVID seriously affecting my health, I knew sewing was just too much for me.

Muna and Broad Watermelon Waikerie Shirt (and Common Stitch Loungewear Pants)

I’ve been mostly sewing button up shirts lately, but haven’t been able to share them with you without a tripod to take photos. I finally bit the bullet and bought one, so now you can enjoy my awkward poses when I have no one to direct me.

This is my latest creation, the Muna and Broad Waikerie Shirt. I actually made the long sleeve version of this shirt first in a lovely linen/cotton blend, and enjoyed wearing it so much I wanted to make another.

Ready to Sew Julien Chore Jacket

As I’ve been working through my fabric stash, I made my way to a checked flannelette I bought from Spotlight last winter. I think I intended to make a long Named Esme Cardigan from it, but the “cool reddish check” pattern on the roll looked a lot more like “grandma’s tartan pants” when laid flat, so I put it aside.

When I revisited the fabric this year, I decided that a button-up, chore style jacket / “shacket” might tone down the check pattern a bit and make for a comfy winter addition to my wardrobe.

In the Folds Wide Leg Pants, take two

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.

A wool blanket coat – Muna and Broad Grainger

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 It was originally made in Warrnambool, and I think I bought it at the op shop for $2?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.

Yes, Virginia, I sewed this year: Sort-of self drafted turtleneck tops

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.

Please enjoy my truly atrocious COVID self-haircut.

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.

Style Arc Dotty Blouse, Gillian Anderson style

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.

 

Sewcialists Mini Challenge – Sew Your Birth Year

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!

Top 5 Reflections of 2019, or, a Year in Review

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.

Top 5 Misses (and Unsures) of 2019

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!)