October in Review...

Quilt pattern from this site

Well, I guess I should start off with wishing all the trick 'n treaters a safe and happy Hallowe'en this evening.  Did anyone spend part of their October sewing costumes or decorations?  Not I, but there was some spookiness going on... 

There wasn't a lot of success in my sewing this month.  I know, SCARY!  

The one dress that I made was several sizes too big.  Even though I've been losing some weight, I didn't lose that much.  The SCARY part is that I cut a beautiful cotton instead of sewing a toile.  And it was the last of the bolt, so there is no going back for more.  Oh well.  The other sewing was a charity / gift project that was not well received and that broke my heart.  My intention was good even though they are sitting unused and untouched.  And there were more sewing bloopers as well, as a jean jacket project was abandoned and still haunts me.  lol, I couldn't resist.  I promise, no more Halloween puns.  

And then some strange witchcraft happened:  

Yeah, a successful sewing project.  Happy Halloween indeed!  

Output

Fabric:  12.60 metres and 6 towels (October)  + 64.2 metres and 1 recycled skirt (previous months) = 76.8 metres, 6 towels and 1 recycled skirt.  

Zippers:  0 (October) + 1 - 20 cm regular zipper and 1 - 55 cm invisible (previous months) = 2

Buttons:  2 (October) + 35 (previous months) = 37

Seam binding:  24.6 metres (October) + 10 metres (previous months) = 34.6 metres

Knit 'N Stable tape:  0.05 metres (October) + 9.5 metres (previous months) = 9.55 metres

Elastic:  0 (October) + 19 metres (previous months) = 19 metres

Twill tape:  0 (October) + 0.5 metres (previous months) = 0.5 metres

Thread:  1 - 1 200 metres (October) + 4 100 metres (previous months) = 5 300 metres 

Sewing machine needles:  0 (October) + 6 (previous months) = 6

Hand sewing needles:  0 (October) + 1 (previous months) = 1

Sewing Labels:  5 (October) + 1 (previous months) = 1

Sewing patterns:  3 (October) + 3 (previous months) = 6

Input

Fabric:  5 metres (October) + 57.1 metres (previous months) = 62.1 metres

Elastic:  0 (October) + 4 metres (previous months) = 4 metres

Buttons:  0 (October) + 22 (previous months) = 22

Sewing patterns:  2 (October) + 9 (previous months) = 11

Seam binding:  18.25 metres (October) + 3 metres (previous months) = 21.25 metres

Stay Safe, Happy Halloween and Keep Sewing!  

Pullover Top: Vogue 9317

Hello, Vogue 9317!  How this pattern sat in the stash this long I don't know.  Oh wait, lost sewing mojo, that's right.  I should have known that a quick, easy and cleverly designed Marcy Tilton pattern would jump start my sewing mojo.  And it's comfortable too.  

Added bonus, I've lost enough weight to revisit these wool dress pants, out-of-print Vogue 1325, and it goes perfectly with this top.  Win!  I love it when that happens.  

Back to Vogue 9317:  this is one well drafted pattern and I really like how the tucks found on this design are just a suggestion.  Marcy Tilton encourages you to be creative in her instructions to add them or leave them off.  

I kept only one tuck on the front.  There is enough ease to add them all but I found my fabric choice to lean towards the less is more dial.  Sew, I kept it simple.  If my fabric was a knit or had more drape I would have added more tucks on the front.  

On the back I stayed with the suggested tucks as I like the shaping it achieved.  

The fabrics are a combination of a city scape printed panel (two panels were used) and a taupe coloured linen fabric.  I found the panel pieces at Northwest Fabrics and the linen is from Fabricland.  If I had a third panel I could have pulled off a city scape printed top.  I'm glad I didn't because I do like how these two fabrics mix together.  

I originally planned on sewing sleeves and cut out the pattern pieces out in the linen, but as it came together I decided to go sleeveless.  The neckline and armholes were finished with store bought seam binding.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.2 to 2.8 straight stitch

Seam Finish:  Serged interior edges, seam binding on armholes and neckline.  

Fabrics:  3 metres (2 panel pieces and 1 metre of linen)

Seam binding:  2 metres

Pattern:  Vogue 9317

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushions, tailor's chalk, measuring tape, measuring gauge, ruler, sewing machine, serger, threads, tweezers, scissors, thread clippers, mini vacuum and a nap.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Box Pleat Dress by The Assembly Line: D:101

 Sometimes, you just need some colourful fabric to try and cheer yourself up.  

I picked up the last bit of this 100% canvas fabric from the home décor section of the fabric store for the only reason that I was smitten of the print and colours.  Too bad I didn't test out the pattern before I cut out this project.  I certainly could have gone down about two sizes!  

This is the Box Pleat Dress by The Assembly Line and considering that it is the third pattern that I have tried from their line I should have known better.  Sizing aside (I made this one in a size large), this pattern is lovely.  No complaints.  Only praise!  

My favourite part of this pattern, besides the fact that it has pockets, is the construction of the back box pleat.  The engineering behind the scenes is clever.  

Next version, besides cutting out the correct size, I would like to narrow the width of the sleeves.  Maybe something like the sleeves from the Tulip Dress pattern.  And I'll keep in mind that raising the height of the pockets was a good idea.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.6 straight stitch

Seam Finish:  Serged, neckline was finished with seam binding

Fabric:  2.1 metres

Seam binding:  0.6 metres

Pattern:  D:101, The Assembly Line

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, thread clippers, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, ruler, measuring tape, measuring gauge, weights, seam ripper, sewing machine, threads, serger, tweezers, mini vacuum, iron, ironing board and TED talks.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!  

It Wasn't Meant to Be (Blooper After Sewing Blooper): Butterick 6376

I'm waving the white flag on this one.  I give up.  There has been too many sewing bloopers associated with this project.  My heart is not into it anymore.  

Interfacing was an issue.  I didn't want to go out and pick up new interfacing in light of everything under the sun being affected by pandemic influenced inflation.  My first thought was to utilize cotton fabric that I had in the stash until Bunny reminded me in the comment section that interfacing should be similar in weight to the fashion fabric.  She's right.  I then deep dived into my interfacing stash and found enough of a remnant piece of fusible horsegrain interfacing for the job.  With some creative and careful placement of the pattern pieces I was able to cut what was needed.  

The problem with the interfacing was actually not a problem with the interfacing rather an error with my cutting and measuring.  And then throw in that I used a fusible interfacing. ~sigh~

Not only did it make for challenging pressing, the bulk of it all looked horrible on the right side.  

Did I mention the miscalculations and mess I made with attaching the collar?  Oh boy!  

I clipped one side of the collar at the wrong spot not once, twice.  

I'm not happy with how it looks and I give up.  I'm not going to trash this fabric.  I'll try to salvage what I can, maybe use it for bag making.  Who knows.  But as far as a new denim jacket, this project is shelved.  

I think if I return to the cutting table, I'll be looking for something simple.  Hopefully in bright colours.  Something happy, I could use a happy satisfying project.  I need to find the joy that been missing at the sewing workspace.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Has the Pandemic Changed What We're Sewing?

Eighteen months into the pandemic and with many of us working from home at one time or another, we all know that we've changed the way we've dressed during this time.  Comfort has ruled king.  Has the pandemic changed what we sew as well?  

Personally, I've managed to sew six pajama sets / nightgowns during the pandemic.  And more facemasks and other PPE items that I care to count.  It was never in-the-plans, life just threw us all a curve ball and a detour happened in my sewing journey.   

When I did sew clothes during this time, it was to accommodate the pandemic pounds that creeped on.  I know I wasn't the only one battling and sewing my way through the quarantine fifteen.  

A recent CBC article, The Pandemic has Changed the Way People Dress.  Should Office Wardrobes Change too? addresses the fact that those lucky enough to work from home adapted a "comfortable clothes like leisure wear, sweat pants, leggings, sweaters and other casual items" (CBC News).  And sewing pattern designers were attune to this desire and need for comfortable clothes.  

Vogue 1833 is a perfect comfort option with elastic waist pants and skirt.  And throw in the loose-fitting pullover top, it's a winning combination for the working from home look.  I don't know if the office world is ready for this look.  It's kind of like paying workers a living wage, nice in theory, but few in the corporate world are quick to embrace it.  

Vogue 1828 sample in white dressed up with heels and maybe covered up with a tailored blazer, Butterick 6862, could make it past security without raising an eyebrow in the corporate landscape.

Simplicity 9383 is another casual option offered by Simplicity patterns this fall.  I agree with the CBC article that highlights when we dress comfortably we preform better.  I'm not sure the corporate world is ready to let go of some of their dress code standards.  But then if we've learned anything in the past eighteen months, stranger things have happened.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!  

Sewing for Others: More Bibs

There is some good advice over at sewing.org before starting this project.  Before cutting keep in mind that, "the bibs must withstand many types of food spills and many washing and choose fabrics accordingly."  

The decision to use cotton terry on one side was not even debatable but became an issue when considering the cost.  Have you seen the price of fabrics lately?  Natural fibre fabrics not that polyester blend stuff?  Online prices vary from in-store, but it became evident that I would have to look for an alterative.  Ah, towels!  This pandemic-has-made-everything-so-expensive era calls for plan B.  

The reverse sides are various 100% cotton fabrics found in the stash.  This yellow and white printed fabric is a quilting cotton I had once-upon-a-time picked up for microwave cozies.  

The only polyester found in this project is found in the store-bought seam binding.  I was trying to save time and get this project done in a timely manner.  If I can part some advice when picking up store-bought seam binding, not all packages marked 3.65 metres are actually 3.65 metres.  I was relieved when this shortage happened that I had picked up an extra package.  An angel must have been looking over this charity project.  

There were six made and are ready to deliver.  The banana print is a quilting cotton left over from a face mask project and the blue chambray is left over from a shirt project.  

There are two yellow and white printed quilting cotton (one not shown here with white seam binding) and two spiral print Japanese cottons.  I hope they will be well received once they are gifted.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.6 to 2.8 straight stitch length

Seam finish:  Seam binding

Labels:  Handmade

Fabric:  5 metres + 5 towels

Seam binding:  18.35 metres

Pattern:  Free

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, pins, pin cushion, sewing machine, thread, tweezers, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, love and coffee.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing

In Sewing News Today...

This weekend, CBC's Marketplace episode was another glimpse into the impact of fast-fashion.  

This is a screen shot from the episode.  And that little red purse contains "over five times the amount of lead..." [Yup, I typed lead.]  "that Health Canada considers safe in children's products."  

The show really just scratched the surface suggesting that this is a online shopping phenomena.  It would have been interesting as well if the show storyline also tested items found in regular stores.  I wouldn't be surprised if the same would be found at in-person shopping venues.  I found what U of T professor, Miriam Diamond had to say about the impact of toxic materials not only on the consumers who purchase the items brought in for testing but also the health consequences of the workers producing these products and impact on the global environment.  I really wish the interviewer followed those pieces of information that Diamond shared.  

For more on this topic check out this Tedx talk as well.  

And how exactly does this relate to sewing news you might ask.  Easy, sewing our own wears provides us with quality control that is missing from fast-fashions.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Sewing for Others: Bibs

The latest project to come off the sewing machine is an item to be gifted.  I found this pattern over at sewing.org under their charitable sewing and craft projects section.  

It's a feeding bib, and I really like the length on this one because it covers the front and down to the lap.  I used the pattern as a guide for the neck opening and the velcro closure idea.  The width I was inspired to adjust based on the width of a towel I used.  It was only slightly wider.  

The other side is a layer of 100% cotton and the two fabrics were attached with seam binding.  I couldn't find any white seam binding in the stash, so I just went with what I had on hand.  

I'm defiantly go to revisit this pattern and make some more.  I'm not sure how many towels there are to sacrifice for the project but I'll check what other suitable fabrics might be hiding in the stash.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.6 straight stitch length

Seam finish:  Binding

Fabric:  1 towel + 1 metre 

Seam binding:  1 package / 3.65 metres

Pattern:  Free

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, pins, tailor's chalk, sewing machine and tweezers.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!