Muna and Broad Waikerie Shirt

I’m still catching up on the backlog of garments I sewed last year, by the considered system of ‘take a photo and write a blog post of a shirt as I wear it’. This is View B of the Muna and Broad Waikerie Shirt, a boxy shirt with yoke which features “an inverted box pleat at the back and a high-low hem with beautifully finished, mitered side splits.”

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.

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!

Yet another Burda shirt, and RIP Burdastyle dot com

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!

Burda Tie Front Blouse 10/2010 #118B

A few months ago, my friend Lauren from Instagram offered to send me some fabric from a dedicated craft op shop. Well, fabric and op shops are my dream combination, so I couldn’t say no! Lauren was very good at picking fabrics according to my preferences (natural fibres, brown earthy tones) and I’m grateful to her for her generosity.

Tessuti Patterns Ruby Top

Hello! This project was largely a trial to see if a certain garment shape (cut out shoulder tank top) worked on me. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t, but I still ended up with a top I like and will wear over summer.

This was really one of those “what am I doing with my arms am I a robot” kinds of photoshoots.

Three more Hemlocks

Just recently I was writing about sewing pattern repeats, and here I am sharing my fifth, sixth and seventh versions of the Grainline Hemlock Tee!* I wasn’t completely enamoured with it upon release, but it’s proven to be an easy to sew and easy to wear wardrobe staple.

Plaid Archer

I didn’t think I’d be one of those sewists making endless repeats of their favourite patterns, but here I am posting my third Grainline Archer Shirt (and I’m currently sewing my 5th, 6th and 7th versions of the Grainline Hemlock Tee!). When Jen gave me this beautiful red plaid shirting, I had good intentions of muslining a new popover shirt. But when the time came round to sew it, I just wanted something that I knew would work. So Archer it was!