Stash busting: Instead of Curtains...

This morning it was back at the sewing table to make a narrower width of the curtain.  This one will fit more like a panel over the window.  The final decision of gathering or not is for someone else to make.  Although I do have an opinion on which one I prefer.  This is purely a gift sewing project so I'm leaving it to the gift receiver to make.  I'm done at this stage, I just have to finish the bottom hems once a decision is made.  

Project details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  left over piece from yesterday's project

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers, fabric scissors, iron, ironing board, tailor's ham and coffee.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting: New Silk Curtains

There was some more home décor sewing happening this afternoon.  This curtain panel was made for a tall narrow window.  It is seventeen inches wide and eighty-eight inches long.  The fabric is a home décor silk fabric that I found in the discounted section many, many moons ago.  Held up to the window, it did let more light through than wanted so this was double for more coverage.  Another easy peasy project.  

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian made and tariff free sewing project.  The fabric was pulled from the stash and entered before the convicted felon started his trade wars with the world.  This beautiful silk was found at Fabricland, a Canadian fabric outlet.  No pattern used but there were rulers and measuring tapes utilized and were from the stash as well.  The fabric scissor used to cut this project are from Merchant and Mills, a U.K company.  They were purchased from The Workroom another Canadian fabric outlet.  The threads were all pulled from the stash and were likely picked up from Fabricland.  

Project details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2.3 metres

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, tailor's chalk, straight ruler, measuring tape, pins, pin cushion, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, regular presser foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers, seam ripper, iron and ironing board.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Refashioning the Wrap Dress Into Something I Will Actually Wear

Many moons ago, I scored the original copy of a DVF wrap dress pattern, vintage Vogue 1610.  Today, you can find a copy via Vogue patterns as many DVF patterns are being re-released.  This re-released wrap dress design is now listed as Vogue 2040.  It's a lovely pattern and if you do fancy yourself a wrap dress, I would certainly recommend it as a pattern to try.  

My wrap dress wearing days are behind me, due to scoliosis, this is not a flattering look on an asymmetrical body no matter how loud fashion influencers and fashion writers claim it's a miracle garment design.  It's pretty darn close though.  But I digress.  Other than to say, wear whatever you feel good in.  The wrap dresses are not so much doing it now-a-days.  Even so, I could not let the dress go.  It was the fabric.  That gorgeous cotton knit that came from Emma One Sock many moons ago.  Swoonworthy is the fabric.    

I got to work deconstructing the dress to see if I can salvage enough of the fabric to make something that would actually work in the wardrobe these days.  And I came to the conclusion that I need want  another sleeveless polo neck (turtleneck) top.  I cut the pattern pieces so that I could keep the hem from the dress and everything worked out nicely.  I did add a bit more ease to the polo neck (turtleneck) pattern piece and added as much ease as I could at the sides, centre front and back.  That's about it, easy peasy.  

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian made and tariff free sewing project.  The fabric came from a company in the U.S.A. before the convicted felon started his trade war with the world and made fabric shopping from the U.S.A. crazy expensive, unless you're a billionaire.  I am not, so no more EOS shopping has been happening the past few years.  The vintage pattern is also a product of the U.S.A. and I'm happy to report it contributed to the local economy.  It came from a Canadian reseller.  The fabric scissors 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.  The sewing label is from KATM, an Australian company that now ships from Canada so that we can avoid paying tariffs.  Thank you KATM!   

Project details

Seams:  Knit (lightning bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  Serged and cover stitched

Fabric:  Skirt portion of one wrap dress

Label:  1--"me made" label

Pattern:  Vintage and OOP Vogue 7323, circa 2000.  

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, seam ripper, fabric scissors, pins, tailor's chalk, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, regular walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, Janome 1000CP coverstitch machine, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, hand sewing needle, silk thread for basting, clips, pin cushion, pumpkin spice latte and a wee little break.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Sunday's Mending Pile

During the seasonal wardrobe changeover, I've been pulling out the jumpers (sweaters) and making sure they are ready to go when the cooler weather arrives.  

This, years-ago thrifted and vintage, cashmere polo neck (turtleneck) jumper (sweater) made it to the ironing board to have some surface pilling removed.  That is when I discovered two small holes and my heart sank a little.  One hole is on the inside of the hem and the other is on the front near the hem.  I did take some time to think how I was going to take care of this hole.  I thought about using the serger to do some visible mending like on this jumper (sweater).  

In the end, I just gathered up some cotton thread to mend the holes.  It worked out fine and if it didn't this is just my go-to turtleneck for snow clearing.  No one will admire my handy work while wearing this jumper (sweater).  

Next up were these trousers with the need to have a crotch hole closed.  They are one of the few wool trousers made years ago that still fit and I can wear these with the back brace.  It was an important piece to get back into rotation.  It was an easy fix, just needed to change the thread on the sewing machine and get to work with a length of straight stitching.  

In my fantasy wardrobe, I would still be reaching for wrap dresses to wear.  Now that I'm wearing a back brace and the scoliosis curve is more noticeable in tight fitting clothes, wrap dresses don't look good on me anymore. I'm not sure that they ever looked good on me but they were sure comfortable to wear.  This wrap dress has been in the donation box but I am having a hard time to let go because of the lovely cotton knit fabric.  I picked it up from Emma One Sock many moons ago.  

The skirt was cut off at the waistline seam and there seems to be enough fabric to sew another sleeveless polo neck (turtle neck) top.  I recently finished one with OOP Vogue 7323 and plan to make another one with the wrap dress fabric. 

Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, assorted objects for weights, curved ruler, fabric scissors, threads, hand sewing needle, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, regular presser foot and pumpkin spice chai.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting: Knit Stirrup Pants / OOP Vogue 7630

Last month I made a pair of stirrup pants to wear while doing yardwork and hopefully prevent tick bites.  Yeah, that is a thing now.  But I digress.  The stirrup pants are so comfortable, I've been wanting to make another pair but not for yardwork, just for everyday sort of wear.  

This time around, I used a cotton knit fabric.  I like how they turned out, they feel like they have more ease than the first pair which was made with a non-knit fabric.  I could certainly tighten up that waistband elastic but I'm waiting to try these with the back brace on before I commit to cutting down the elastic.  The pants were shortened just like the first pair.  I did reshape the ankle side widths, used a machine blind hem along the edges and then added the elastic.  

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian made and tariff free project.  The fabric has been in the stash for many years, well before the convicted felon started threatening the world.   It came from Marshall Fabrics, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The Very Easy Very Vogue pattern is a made in the USA product but did not contribute to the convicted felon's economy.  It was a vintage find, circa 1989, purchased from a Canadian reseller.  The label is from Kylie and the Machine (KATM), an Australian company.  The scissors used in the making of these stirrup pants are from Merchant and Mills, a U.K. company and were purchased at The Workroom, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The threads and elastic were pulled from the stash, purchased at Fabricland, another Canadian fabric outlet.  

Project details

Seams:  Knit (lightening bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.8 metres

Elastic:  0.8 metres

Label:  1--"me made" KATM label

Pattern:  OOP and vintage Vogue 7690, circa 1989

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, measuring tape, scissors, thread clippers, canned air, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, regular presser foot, threads, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, safety pin, clips and warm milk with honey.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash Busting: Pull-on Wool Pants / OOP Simplicity 2372

This pair of wool pull-on pants has been gifted.  They are made with out-of-print (OOP) Simplicity 2372.  I don't know what to say about them because there have been a few versions made over the years.  I will mention that I had to go back to the very first pair made with this pattern and copy how the elastic waist was created.  

The first pair did not work out in that the waistline was too short.  I made a waistband to hold the elastic on the first pair and increased the height to fix the issue on other pairs that followed.  But it appears that the first pair was the most comfortable of the bunch.  So, instead of a casing for the elastic made by folding over and stitching, there is an attached waistband for the elastic.  I left off the side pockets like on the first pair as well.  

The only difference is the quality of the fabric.  It is a beautiful wool suiting fabric from another era.  I would be hard pressed to find, let alone afford wool suiting fabric of this quality now-a-days.  It really was a joy to sew.  The fabric was pre-treated with the towel method in the dryer (on the delicate setting) followed by a steam pressing before hitting the cutting table.  

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian made and tariff free sewing project.  The beautiful wool suiting fabric was picked up at Mitchell Fabric's closing sale about a decade ago.  Mitchell Fabrics was a Canadian Fabric outlet.  The Simplicity pattern is a U.S.A. product that has been in the stash since 2012, pre-boycott.  The fabric 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:  3.0 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2 metres, 100% wool suiting fabric

Elastic:  1.2 metre

Sewing label:  1--"YOU CAN'T BUY THIS" label

Sewing pattern:  OOP Simplicity 2372, circa some time in the 2000's.  

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, measuring tape, tailor's chalk, pins, pin cushion, measuring gauge, fabric scissors, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, regular presser foot, blind hem foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clipper, iron, ironing board, tailor's ham, pressing mitt, safety pin and tea.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.   

What The Fudge, Nike and Converse

I'm not going to repost the disgusting and sickening ad that has Converse shoes in the news.  If you want to read about it, here is a link to an article.  It is racist and is worthy of a boycott and should also call for Converse's President and CEO, Aaron Cain, to step down.  Their so called apology is as equally as insulting.  

And it feels, as it should, as empty words.  The ad is out there, people around the world have seen it and are rightfully horrified that such an image made it into the world.  Karina, a South Korean member of a musical group called Aespa is featured in the ad.  How did she even think that this was appropriate?  I have no words.  My heart aches for those living with generational trauma and were hurt by this ad.  Everyone should be hurt by the callousness of this ad.  

And now I confront my own shoes, newly washed and worn in.  They are comfortable and disgusting to look at.  I have no desire to slip my feet into them again.  Let along walk around and advertise these brands with each footstep.  Nike and Converse are American brands and there is a boycott already happening due to the annexation rhetoric and tariffs from the convicted felon but this boycott is something that will last longer than the tariff war.  As for the shoes, they're going in the trash.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.