I have a reason to break out this pattern, out-of-print (OOP) McCall's 7367. It's been in my stash since the early 1990s and I've made countless versions of view A over the past thirty plus years. I am hoping to make more.
I discovered that the back pattern piece is missing. Drats! Last time I made up this project was four years ago, I wouldn't even know where to look for this pattern piece. Thankfully, I was able to find another copy of this pattern. This made made me happy, it is such a cute onesie. Until it arrives, I can get busy pretreating some knit fabrics for this future project.
This is an important Canada Day as our country continues to be under threat. It's also a day to be grateful and to count our blessings.
Canada Day outfit: Red and white maple leaf print cotton top, OOP Butterick 6325, circa 2020 worn with a white cotton sateen pull-on skirt, The Assembly Line's A-line midi skirt, circa 2024.
I'm grateful that I live in a country that is kind and cares about others. I am grateful and blessed that I live in a democracy. I'm blessed to live in a diverse and generous country. Even though Canadians may disagree with each other from time-to-time, for the most part we're respectful and stand together as a nation. I am blessed to live in a country that cares about the environment and takes care of our national parks. I am grateful for a country that has healthcare. I am grateful for the community organizations that care of the poor, those without food and those that need help. I am grateful for governments and community members that work towards ending homelessness and affordability issues. I am grateful for the beauty that this country has to offer from it's vibrant urban centres to the rural and northern communities. I'm am grateful for clean water and a place to call home. I am blessed that I get to live in a country that has four distinct seasons. I am grateful that I get to enjoy the beauty of the first snowfall at the start of each winter season. I am grateful for Canada.
Clockwise from the top: cotton skirt (The Assembly Line, S:402 Tulip skirt), blue cotton knit t-shirt (OOP Butterick 6859) and cotton pullover top (The Assembly Line, T:202 High Cuff Sweater).
There were projects completed at the work table this month. All of these were first-time used patterns and turned out to be wearable toiles. I would like to re-visit all of them in the future when I can find some more free time. These June makes turned out to be some comfortable pieces that I often reached for throughout this month.
And there was also mending and alterations that received some attention. Bedroom curtains that needed some hem adjustments and various broken stitches that needed to be repaired were done.
It was twenty years ago that Fabricland stopped carrying Simplicity and New Look patterns here in Canada. And now Fabricland has started selling off these Big Four Five legacy patterns (Vogue, Butterick, McCall's, Burda and Know Me) at deep discounts.
It breaks my heart that these pattern companies are the latest victim of the convicted felon's tariff scheme. But according to an upbeat message by Mimi G, work at the Big Four continues. So what is going on? According to a reply to a question on the Mimi G video update, there are Fall Vogues in the works. Deep breath. It's heartbreaking to even think that the Big 4 may not survive the upheaval tariffs have created.
I did take advantage of Fabricland's recent pattern discounts and, with a heavy heart and elbows momentarily down, picked up a few patterns just in case it's my last chance.
Vogue 2115, Know Me 2076, Butterick 6745 and McCall's 8147 were recently added into the stash. And elbows are back up. The available stock at the store is low and many patterns found in the pages of the pattern catalogues are no longer available in the dwindling collection found in the pattern drawers. The times they are a-changin'.
National Sewing Machine Day
Another June presents us with another reason to celebrate our sewing machines. June 13 happened to be National Sewing Machine day. I am intrigued with what the future will hold with artificial intelligence and the use of sewing robots to help over populate the globe with fast-fashion. Yikes!
This month 5.6 metres of fabric, 7 spools of thread, 1 recycled zipper, 1 KATM sewing label, 1.5 metres of Knit 'N Stable and 0.8 metres of basting tape were used from the stash. There were four new patterns added to the stash.
This is The Assembly Line's T:202, High Cuff Sweater. This pattern may make it back on the cutting table sometime soon as this is one comfortable top and it's a well drafted pattern that was a pleasure to sew.
The plaid fabric is a 100% cotton and the ribbing is a cotton knit leftover from this project. Both fabrics were pre-treated with a tumble through the washing machine and dryer cycles before hitting the worktable. The plaid fabric was a remnant piece measuring 1.1 metres and if it weren't for shortening the sleeve length, I wouldn't have enough fabric. I did take Anna's suggestion of adding 3/4" to the length to the neckline band and I'm glad that I did. The shoulder and armhole seams were sewing with a 5/8" seam allowance. The side seams and bands were sewn with the recommended one centimeter seam allowance.
The waistband has a lovely curve that gives this top a nice fit in the back. The only change I might do on another version is to just shorten the sleeve length a wee bit more.
Sewing IS Political
This is the latest Canadian 🍁 made and tariff free project to emerge from the sewing machine during the convicted felon's economic war on the world. All of the supplies and fabric were found in the stash. The pattern is from The Assembly Line, a Swedish pattern company. The fabrics were found many moons ago at Marshall Fabrics, a western Canadian fabric outlet. The black Gütermann threads were pulled from the stash and were picked up from Fabricland, another Canadian fabric outlet.
Project details
Seams: 2.8 straight and knit (lightening bolt) stitches
Seam finish: Serged
Fabric: 1.1 metres of 100% cotton plaid and 0.6 metres rib knit
Pattern: The Assembly Line's High Cuff Sweater
Size: Large
Alternations / Pattern Modifications: Shortened the sleeve length and sewed a 5/8" seam allowance at the shoulder and armhole seams.
Additional Tools and Supplies: Cutting table, paper scissors, tailor's chalk (3 chalk colours were used to help identify the sides, front and back on the waistband), fabric scissors, pins, pin cushions, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers iron, ironing board and tea.
This top is made with a light-weight cotton knit and out-of-print (OOP) Butterick 6859. It's made as a wearable toile to test the fit before I proceed onto my preferred fabric choice.
I cut a size medium but I was worried if there was enough ease so I pinned the top of the bodice pieces at the neckline and pivoted away from the fold at the hemline.
I also have the larger size combination of this pattern. I thought I would start with the medium and see where I would have to go from there. The fit is great. If I didn't pivot at the hemline fold it would be a more fitted shirt.
I did end up straightening the hemline. From the side seam I removed about an inch and a half and removed the hemline curve. The hemlines were finished with Knit 'N Stable tape before serging the edge and topstitching with a one inch hem.
This is a lovely pattern. It's well drafted. I adore the gathering on the raglan seam of the sleeves. And I wouldn't mind making the sweatshirt version with a kangaroo pocket one day.
Sewing IS Political
This is the latest Canadian 🍁 made and tariff free project. Everything used to make this t-shirt was found in the stash.
I've made a few Tulip dresses in the past but this is my first Tulip skirt which has some of the best design elements of the Tulip dress. I am a fan of the front side pockets and the tulip shape of the skirt.
It is a comfortable skirt and I do recommend this pattern. I cut a size large knowing that it was going to be too big if I sewed the recommended seam allowance. I thought if I sewed 5/8" seam allowances I would come closer to the fit I need. In the end, I think I should have cut a size medium and could still have sewn a 5/8" seam allowance and achieve a good fit.
The length was shortened two and a half inches and there is an one and a half inch hem. The pockets were raised about an inch, three inches down from the waist cut edge.
The fabric is a medium weight cotton sateen with some stretch that I pulled from the stash. It was pretreated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer before hitting the ironing board for a steam pressing.
Sewing IS Political
This skirt is the latest Canadian 🍁 and tariff free make. Most of the material and supplies were found in the stash. Some of the threads were new for this project.
Let's count the ways that this lovely project did not contribute to the convicted felon's economy.
The Tulip skirt pattern is from The Assembly Line, a pattern company from Sweden. I picked up this pattern after I stopped shopping American products which sadly meant saying good-bye to any future Vogue patterns. I don't miss the American line of sewing patterns anymore, I actually found some beautiful patterns in queue from across the pond to keep me busy for the next while. This Tulip skirt pattern is one of those patterns.
The cotton sateen fabric was found in the stash and purchased before the convicted felon took office for the second time. I found it in the discounted section of Fabricland, a Canadian fabric store.
The scissors used to cut the fabric are Merchant and Mills, a company from the United Kingdom. They were purchased from The Workroom, a Canadian company.
This project was sewn on Janome machines, a Japanese company.
The zipper is a recycled 22" zipper from a previous project that was cut to size.
Some of the threads used in the sewing machine and serger were Gütenmann threads from Europe and were purchased at Marshall Fabrics, a western Canadian fabric store. There were some vintage spools of Ballet® brand threads found in Mom's thread box that were a close colour match and used in the serger.
The label is from Kylie and the Machine (KATM), an Australian company and purchased directly from them to avoid shopping on Etsy.
There hasn't been much sewing this month. I wake up with sewing time planned into my day and then life happens and sewing does not. I did manage to finish off one previously cut and started project that I stumbled across this month.
That's it. Other than cutting out the next sewing project and setting up the sewing machines.
Mending and alterations seem to take up most of my designated sewing time. There always seems to be the odd mending job that presents itself while I'm tackling the ironing.
Stash busting
There was 0.5 metres of cotton knit and 2 metres of elastic used in the only project that I managed to finish this month. Nothing was added to the stash.
Me Made May 2025
The final week of Me Made May finally arrived.
To recap the month:
What am I missing from my wardrobe? Technically, nothing. Although, one rainy day when I had to do some work outside, I wish I had a rain jacket to keep me dry.
Most worn me-made item(s)? Pajama sets (OOP Vogue 9217 and Butterick 6296), cotton knit underwear (OOP Simplicity 8229) and French terry undershirts made to wear under the scoliosis back brace (OOP Vogue 9057 and OOP Kwik Sew 2899).
Favourite me-mades? Those pieces made in natural fibre fabrics (cotton, linens and silk) and pieces that are easily pulled on or pullover.
Least favourite pieces worn this month? Those grass stained yardwork pieces. And pieces that don't have pockets.
