Sew Essentially Sew
Tuesday 23 April 2024
Cotton Summer Dress: Butterick 6784
Saturday 20 April 2024
Lowering the White Flag: The DVF Reissued 50th Anniversary Wrap Dress / Vogue 2000
I have to admit, I do like this DVF wrap dress that Vogue patterns re-issued earlier this year. I'm just sad that this one doesn't fit me very well. I made a size 14 and the bust dart sits too high and there is not enough coverage in the front to feel comfortable to wear it out into the public sphere. I finished it because I found someone who likes it and it will soon be gifted to them. I'm glad it's going to a good home.
I did pick up another copy of the pattern, this time in the larger size range. And I do intend to make another version that I hope I can fix the fitting issues I had with this one. Last month when I posted about my wrap dress woes, Victoria commented with a link to an article on raising the neckline on a wrap dress. Thank you! I'm going to keep these tips in mind for the next one.
Happy Sewing!
Friday 19 April 2024
Stash busting: Pullover Skirt / OOP Butterick 5790
Do I need another pull-on maxi skirt? Not really, this project is all about stash busting this small piece of cotton knit fabric with a tried and true pattern, OOP Butterick 5790. I know that I will get lots of wear from this skirt over the summer, it's comfortable and it will go with tops already in rotation. It's a win.
Thursday 18 April 2024
Wool Winter Coat: OOP Vogue 8934
I know it's officially spring and we didn't even feel like we experienced a winter here this year. And yet I've been busy sewing a winter coat. This has actually been months in the making. This wool coat is made with a favourite Marcy Tilton design, out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 8934.
Fabrics
The fashion fabric for this coat is a previously owned 100% wool coating from Winnipeg Sews. It's a gorgeous, thick and warm, wine coloured wool. And it was a fraction of the cost of the wool blend options found new at the local fabric store. There is no comparison of this fabric to the coating options found in the fabric stores this past winter. This fabric is of superior quality and is a gem. It was a pleasure to sew.
Care was taken with the placement of the pattern pieces as this wool fabric has a nap. The other kind of nap may or may not have contributed to the lengthy time it took to complete this sewing project. But I digress.
The coat is lined with a black cotton back satin and underlined with a wind breaking fleece. Both of these fabrics were in the stash for many moons.
Project details
Seams: 2.8--3 straight stitch
Seam finish: Serged lining pieces. Wool did not require serging.
Fabrics: 6.7 metres
Buttons: 5--1 inch buttons
Sewing Label: 2--1 "Vogue Patterns Designer Original" and 1 KATM "Bespoke" sewing labels.
Pattern: OOP Vogue 8934
Additional Tools & Supplies: Cutting table, fabric shears, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, measuring tape, measuring gauge, hand sewing needle, threads (coat thread for hand stitching facings and buttons, polyester threads for the serger and cotton thread for the sewing machine), Janome sewing machine, walking foot, screw driver, buttonhole foot, cutting board, buttonhole cutter, small hammer, Janome serger, iron, ironing board, clapper, tailor's ham, sleeve ham, procrastination and tea.
Happy Sewing!
Sunday 31 March 2024
March in Review
Happy Easter!
Photo from the 2024 Easter Parade in NYC {Photo Credit: Joanna Moriello, New York Daily News} |
This is a scene outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. No such festive sights in this part of my world but I do appreciate looking up photos from this annual event. I hope you are all enjoying a blessed Easter season no matter where you are or how you're celebrating, Happy Easter.
Sewing, Mending and Alterations
Top L to R clockwise: Feather print cotton knit pajama top (Closet Core / Ebony), feather print cotton knit pajama bottoms (OOP McCall's P349), pink and gray cotton knit t-shirt (Closet Core / Ebony), polka dot cotton foam block cover (no pattern used), gray and white cotton knit t-shirt (Closet Core / Ebony), rusty brown merino wool cardigan (OOP Kwik Sew 4192). |
Stash busted and Stash Additions
Stash busted this month:
- 13.5 metres fabric (includes the fabric used for the yet-to-be finished Vogue 2000)
- 1.5 metres interfacing
- 1 -- 55 cm invisible zipper
- 1 package of seam binding
- 1 sewing label
- 1 metre elastic
- 1 metre basting tape
- 5 spools of thread
- one second-hand cover stitch
- 15 metres fabric
- another copy of the re-issued DVF wrap dress pattern, Vogue 2000
- 35.3 metres fabric
- 4.3 metres interfacing
- 6 invisible zippers
- 2 metres Knit-N-Stable tape
- 6 metres trim
- 4 sewing labels
- 4 buttons
- 3 metres elastic
- 11 spools of thread
- 4.3 metres of basting tape
- 14 spools of thread
- 7 sewing patterns
- 10--20 mm buttons
- 7.8 metres trim
- 15 metres fabric
- 1 cover stitch machine
Saturday 30 March 2024
Stash busting: Pajama Bottoms / McCall's P349
These are the pajama bottoms I made to go with this t-shirt.
Wednesday 27 March 2024
Stash busting: Cotton Knit Tee / Closet Core Ebony
This is the third version of Closet Core's Ebony t-shirt pattern and it's my favourite one. There were small subtle changes to the hemline that made it so. I trimmed a small piece from the back after laying the pre-hemmed top on the table and using the front centre length as a guide. As I tried to press the hem up I noticed that the side seam at the hemline could use a bit of trimming as well. That eliminated the hi-low hem that I was trying to avoid. Hi-low hems seem to work on a taller frame than mine. This version, I did not cut two inches shorter as I did on the second version.
The sleeves were kept the same length as the first and second versions, lengthened nine inches. The hems have a one inch allowance and have been finished with a coverstitch machine.
Ebony is a keeper, right after I transfer the hemline changes to the pattern pieces. It's well drafted and a wonderful pattern for beginners, highly recommended.
The fabric is a cotton knit from Northwest / Marshall Fabrics. It is the same print and fabric used for this dress, just a different colour. It was pre-treated with a toss in the wash and dryer before hitting the ironing board for a steam press.
Project details
Seams: Knit (lightening bolt) stitch
Seam finish: Serged
Fabric: 1.7 metres
Pattern: Closet Core Ebony
Additional Tools & Supplies: Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, fabric scissors, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, Janome Cover Pro, screwdriver, Janome serger, threads, thread clippers, iron, and ironing board.
Happy Sewing!
Cotton Summer Dress: Butterick 6784
Ever since I made this version of Butterick 6784 last summer, I was smitten over this kAtheRine Tilton design with its Lagenlook vibe. I ...
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Ever since I made this version of Butterick 6784 last summer, I was smitten over this kAtheRine Tilton design with its Lagenlook vibe. I ...
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I have to admit, I do like this DVF wrap dress that Vogue patterns re-issued earlier this year. I'm just sad that this one doesn'...
-
I know it's officially spring and we didn't even feel like we experienced a winter here this year. And yet I've been busy sewin...
-
Do I need another pull-on maxi skirt? Not really, this project is all about stash busting this small piece of cotton knit fabric with a tri...
-
Happy Easter! Photo from the 2024 Easter Parade in NYC { Photo Credit : Joanna Moriello, New York Daily News} This is a scene outside St. P...