Throwing up the White Flag: Simplicity 9372

Simplicity 9372 came into the stash because I was smitten over the look of the wrap shrug.  And then it sat waiting for me to decide on the right fabric.  This cotton lace knit was just the fabric to motivate me to give this pattern a try.  

I will admit that I wasn't impressed with the pattern as soon as I slipped it out of the envelope.  The first thing I noticed is how thin the instruction sheet paper was to the touch.  Not a big deal just something I noticed.  It wasn't the quality or weight of older pattern instruction sheets.  It was more of a cultural nod to shrink and skimp-flation.  And then I unfold the pattern paper sheets and noticed that the printing was non-existent at certain spots across the sheets of tissue paper.  I was not at all impressed.  How a printed pattern ended up in a pattern envelope in this condition is beyond me, where's the quality control?  Oh yeah, we're living in the age of shrink and skimp-flation.  

I'm not so smitten with this wrap shrug now that it's all sewn up.  It's a meh item that ended up in the donation box.  I cut the bodice piece as a size small because I'm not tall and thought it would be too long.  That was a mistake.  I wish it was wider, it could have been if I cut a large.  The picture on the envelope looked wider than the one I made.  But don't let my experience with this pattern discourage you if you're into the nineteen nineties revival that seems to be trending now-a-days, then maybe give it a try.  Who knows, you may have a better experience with this pattern.  

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian made and tariff free project.  The fabric came from Lilax Studio, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The pattern, Simplicity 9372, was released prior the convicted felon's global tariffs.  It was purchased from Simplicity's website and has been sitting in the stash until I could decide on a fabric for this project.  The scissors used to cut this project are from Merchant and Mills, a U.K. company and were purchased from The Workroom, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The threads were pulled from the stash and were purchased at Fabricland, another Canadian fabric outlet.  

Project details

Seams:  Knit (lightning bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.2 metres

Pattern:  Simplicity 9372

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, paper scissors, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers and tea.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep on sewing.  

All Set in the Sock Department

I know that most of the country is dealing with heat warnings and wildfire smoke but all of these weather conditions just make me long for winter while no summer sewing has captivated my sewing mojo.  I'm counting down the days to hurry up and get to that first snow fall when forest fire, tick and mosquito season is finally and officially over.  

So, I've been busy in preparation of those glorious days of winter.  The final three pair of tights were refashioned into knee high socks.  They were cut at a desirable length and finished with a machine rolled hem on the serger.  I'm officially all set in the sock department.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep on sewing.  

Stash busting: A New Blanket

More practical sewing has hit the worktable, this time a new blanket.  This fabric entered the stash last year and a bit of it was used to make this skirt.  And then quite a bit a whole lot of yardage sat in the stash.  It was on sale, in the bargain section.  But I digress.  There was once a thought to make this Pace Cardigan to match the skirt and then plans changed.  The skirt has since been donated.  And the fabric sat in the stash until today.  Yes, that's right, in the middle of summer during heat warnings, I decided to turn this fabric into a blanket.  

When cooler temperatures arrive, this one will replace this blanket that I made last year which has not held up well.  We'll have to wait and see how this new blanket holds up.  

Sewing IS Political 

This is a Canadian made and tariff free project.  All the tools and supplies used to make this project were found in the stash.  The fabric and threads came from Fabricland, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The clips were made in Taiwan and purchased at Lilax Studio, another Canadian fabric outlet.  

The scissors used on this fabric are from Merchant and Mills, a U.K. company and were purchased at The Workroom, a Canadian fabric outlet.  

Project details

Seams / finish:  Rolled hem 

Fabric:  4 metres

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, fabric clips, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

A Toile: OOP and Vintage Vogue 2447 and Vogue 9286

I'm trying to make a toile of an extra long close-fitting pullover top that I can wear under and over the scoliosis brace.  Bonus, if I can make it with short sleeves.  

I thought that the tank top included in Vogue 9286 might be a starting point.  I liked the lower cut neckline in the front.  I cut a size medium and extended the length by ten inches, I might add a couple more inches.  It didn't quite work out as I planned.  It is too wide in the lower section.  I will have to take it in quite a bit if it's going to stay in place when I lift it over the brace.  

I borrow the short sleeve pattern from vintage Vogue 2447 and to my surprise it worked out, fitting without any struggle.  I did lengthen the sleeve an inch and wouldn't mind a bit more length, not much. 

My toile fabric is a lightweight cotton knit and it's not the best option.  Also, I didn't cut this on the cross-grain, something I noticed is done on the Brace Buddies t-shirts, camisoles and body sock.  I will be doing this when I fit the pattern and find a suitable cotton knit fabric.  This won't be a wearable toile, just trying to figure out the fit.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting: New Cotton Knit Slip / Kwik Sew 3645

Another cotton knit slip is hot off the worktable.  After some much appreciated feedback on the toile, it is time to make another.  

Out-of-print (OOP) Kwik Sew 3645 turned out to be a perfect pattern for this project.  The request was for a undershirt / tank top style strap.  The pattern is designed as sleepwear but it also turned out to be perfect option for sewing a slip.  The changes made on the toile were repeated here; shortened the shoulder seam by three-quarters of an inch, straightened and shortened the hemline and added about two inches extra ease from the hemline by pivoting from the centre back and front neckline points.  I transferred all the changes to the copied pattern piece.  The pattern pieces were cut two inches shorter and three quarters of an inch at the shoulder seam.  Now the pattern can be considered a true and tested pattern.  

The armholes and neckline were finished with Knit 'N Stable tape, serged and then folded over and top-stitched using the knit stitch on the sewing machine.  The hem was turned up an inch, basted and cover stitched.  

This fabric has been in the stash for decades and was purchased at the same time as the floral print knit used for the toile slip.  I bought them together thinking that they would be the fashion and lining fabric for a wrap dress and then plans changed.  It was nice to finally stash bust this fabric and at the same time a bit sad because working with it, it became obvious that this is a fabric from a by-gone era.  They don't sell cotton knit fabric of this exceptional quality now-a-days.  ~sigh~  I was careful to set aside the remnants with plans to cut underwear pattern pieces for a future sewing project.  But I digress.  The fabric was previously pretreated with a spin in the washing machine and dryer before hitting the cutting table.  

Sewing IS Political

This is a Canadian made sewing project.  The fabric came from Fanny Fabrics many moons ago prior to the global tariff war.  Fanny Fabrics is a now closed Canadian Fabric outlet.  The pattern, OOP Kwik Sew 3645, was recently purchased from an American Ebay seller.  The original copy of the pattern that was in the stash is lost.  And sometimes when you are sewing for someone you love, you just sometimes have to forget the boycott for a moment.  There was a search for a Canadian seller who might have this pattern listed but I came up empty.  I tried.  The threads used in the machines and for hand basting were all found in the stash and were purchased at Fabricland, a Canadian fabric outlet.  Same with the basting tape.  The fabric scissors are from Merchant and Mills, a U.K. company and were purchased from The Workroom, another Canadian fabric outlet.  

Project details

Seams:  Knit (lightning bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  Serged and Cover stitch

Fabric:  2.0 metres

Knit 'N Stable tape:  2.2 metres

Pattern:  OOP Kwik Sew 3645, circa 2012

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, paper scissors, pencil, fabric scissors, pins, pin cushion, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome CoverPro 1000CP, Janome 2000D serger, threads for the machines and basting, hand sewing needle, screwdriver, tweezers, thread clippers, iron, ironing board and ice tea.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Refashioning: Slips

A cotton full length slip no longer works as such, so it made it onto the cutting table for a quick refashion.  It was all about saving that lovely cotton knit fabric.  It is really comfortable to wear.  

It was cut just above the waistline, serged and then onto the ironing board to press down a one inch casing.  It was finished by inserting a three quarter inch elastic.  Easy peasy.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Refashioning: Tights

So what would you do with a whole bunch of tights that you no longer wear?  

Personally, I wouldn't mind some knee high socks.  

Cut them at the desired length and 

finish the edges with a rolled hem stitch.  And there you have it, new socks.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.