January in Review

Sewing Projects

Most of January's sewing projects have been gifted.  It felt good.  The face masks were made with the Aplat face mask pattern and a Japanese cotton.  The waterfall coat was made with Butterick 6422 and an embroidered bordered wool blend.  The men's shirt is a revisit with McCall's 2447 in a cotton stretch.  And the remote control caddy was created without a pattern and a 100% polyester home décor fabric that has been in the stash for way too long.  And the grocery bags are a scrap busting project.  

Stash Busting

My goal this year is to create with the materials and supplies found in my stash.  All the fabrics, notions and supplies to complete this month's makes were found in the stash.  And all the patterns used were tried and tested (TNT) patterns.  That also felt good.  

De-stashed this month:  8.3 metres of fabric, 13 buttons, 1 metre of elastic and 1 metre of seam binding (used for an alteration project not shown above) and 2 metres of grosgrain ribbon.  No sewing supplies or fabric were added to the stash.  

Upcoming Projects

I don't buy clothes anymore, for many reasons that I've listed in the past that still stand today.  I'm continuing on this journey.  I've been able to make just about everything that I need to wear.  There are exceptions such as ski-pants that were too expensive of a project so I abandoned that idea.  And socks, I'm not a knitter.  That is until I discovered that I can sew socks.  

I ordered a PDF pattern last year and I'm going to give it a try and add to my list of RTW Fast items that I won't be buying.  I'm currently in the process of reading the instructions and taping the PDF pattern pieces that I will need.  You would think it would be a quick process for socks but the file was actually thirty some pages.  Yup, not a typo.  After all the pattern prep work, hopefully, I'll have some new socks to replace the ones that are beyond repair.  

Now that spring is around the corner [laughing at that as I type those words], according to the Big Four pattern releases.  My thoughts are turning to another go at a jean jacket.  A denim jacket has always been my go-to jacket in the non-deep freeze months.  I know, I'm going to miss having one for layering when the snow starts to melt.  I would really like to maybe fix the jacket I started last year or see if there is enough left over black denim in the stash for a do-over.  

Stay Safe & Keep Sewing!  

Reusable Grocery Bags: OOP McCall's 4851

 

This project is a great way to use up small remnants of fabric and ribbon.  Both fabrics were home décor finds and left-over from other projects.  

The blue and white floral print is a 100% cotton.  It was found in the discounted home decor racks many moons ago.  These are the stronger bags of the bunch, the fabric is sturdy and strong.  I can carry potatoes and spaghetti squashes in these bags.  

The multi-coloured fabric is 100% polyester also from the home décor department.  The fabric has more drape and even though it is from the home decor department, it will probably be reserved for carrying baked goods rather than squashes or potatoes.  

The pattern, out-of-print (OOP) McCall's 4851 is my go-to pattern for grocery bags.  The generous size is perfect for multi-item carrying.  It's a great project for beginners as well.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.6 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2.4 metres

Ribbon:  2 metres

Pattern:  OOP McCall's 4851

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, sewing machine, serger, threads, scissors, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, safety pin and a break or two for a cup of tea.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Remembering Someone Who Played an Important Part of My Sewing Journey: Mr. Herb Wildeman

Many, many moons ago, I walked into a little downtown fabric store called The Sewing Gallery.  It was like no other sewing business that I have ever encountered.  It truly was a gem all because of the owners who ran the business.  They were so kind and cared about people.  Not because you were a potential customer, because you were a person worthy of kindness.  Period.  

This weekend, through the business that evolved from The Sewing Gallery, the new owners announced the sad news that Mr. Herb Wildeman is no longer with us.  God called him to become an angel.  He was one here in life.  

I bought my first Janome sewing machine from The Sewing Gallery when Mr. Herb Wildeman and his wife were the owners of the shop.  

It was the Janome Memory Craft 4000.  It was a computerized sewing machine with a needle threader, embroidery features, automatic buttonholer and so many decorative stitches.  And it was out of my price range, priced over a grand, back-in-the-day.  

It was through the enormous generosity and kindness of Mr. Herb Wildeman that I came to own the Janome Memory Craft 4000.  I didn't have the money at the time and like most of my jobs during my life, I wasn't working a well-paying job.  Mr. Herb Wildeman not only allowed me to only put this machine on layaway, he let me take it home that day.  I put a deposit on it and wrote post-dated cheques to pay off the remainder of the machine over several months.  

His kindness did not stop there.  Upon learning that I would be walking home, through the downtown, with this new machine, he offered to drive me and machine home.  No extra charge for the delivery.  There are not too many people who would go out of their way like that, not even thirty years ago.  But there was one and I was blessed to have met this angel.  I remained a loyal customer.  

I don't have the sewing machine anymore.  I donated it to a friend's daughter when I lost my sewing mojo and couldn't imagine that I could ever sew again.  I didn't have the heart to sell it even though I could have used the money.  It didn't seem right not to continue the kindness woven into the years of joy that machine gave me.  

I hope the joy and kindness associated with that machine live on as a tribute to Mr. Herb Wildeman through the new owner's sewing creations.  I send out condolences to all those missing this angel right now and hope they know what an incredible impact he made in a simple person's life.  Thank you for the kindness.  Rest in peace.  

Remote Control Armchair Caddy

No pattern needed to make this, just a measuring tape, scissors and a steady hand.  It's a remote control caddy that will fit over the arm of a couch or armchair.  One end tucks into the seat cushion edge and the other drapes over the arm of the furniture.  

The pocket is big enough to hold a book or newspaper and glasses.  People still read newspapers, right?  Maybe I should say it could hold a device that you would read the news on?  But I digress... 

Let's just say, it could hold almost anything you like.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.6 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1 metre upholstery fabric, 100% polyester

Additional Supplies & Tools:  Cutting table, measuring tape, pins, clapper, sewing machine, serger, walking foot, threads, iron and ironing board.  

Stay Safe & Keep Sewing!

Waterfall Coat: Butterick 6244

 

This project is to be gifted to a very special and patient lady who has waited over a year for me to sew this up.  It is made with Butterick 6244, circa 2015.  

I didn't change anything about this pattern except for switching flat-felled seams for serging the interior edges.  And switching the narrow hem for a rolled hem sewn with the serger.  

I like this technique for the simple fact that it avoids the bulk of a narrow hem and doesn't distract from the embroidered border of the fabric.  

This fabric has made an appearance twice on the blog.  I picked up this wool blend fabric when it went on sale and there was enough to make a cardigan and another coat.  To take advantage of the emboidered border, there was some creative folding and pattern piece placement on the cross-grain of the fabric.  

Project Details

Design Features:  Rolled hem, draped front extending collar, shaped front hemline.  

Seams:  2.4 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2.4 metres

Pattern:  Butterick 6244

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, measuring tape, scissors, clapper, iron, ironing board, sewing machine, serger, screwdriver, threads and a break or two.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

In Sewing News Today...

Happy National Hat Day!  

Source

This part of the world, tuques rule my winter wear selection.  If tuques are not your thing, there is good news:  Hats are on trend for 2022.  There are many styles to chose from and celebrate.  And if you're looking from something more up-and-coming Alex Kessler wrote a piece on milliners to watch for Vogue Club.  

Now, that I chopped off my hair into a pixie cut, I might have some fun pulling out the hat collection.  

I received feedback on the squirrel print cardigan.  

I failed on the fitting portion of the project.  Boo!  Which is kind of weird because I've previously make two versions of this cardigan / jacket and going by the bust measurement, I was able to get a good fit but for this one it turned out to be "too big."  It made me sad when I think that I wasted that beautiful fabric on something that doesn't fit the person it was made for.  I wonder if it could be fixed?  I have to reach out and offer.    

Sewing bloopers seem to be a thing around the sewing workspace of late.  

Maybe I need to step away from the machine for a bit? 

But there are items waiting to be sewn for others.  

Fingers crossed the upcoming projects are more successful.  

Well that's all in sewing news today.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!  

Still Sewing Face Masks: Aplat Patterns

Four more 3-layer face masks came off the work table and have been gifted.  For this project I revisited the Aplat face mask pattern, available here for free download.  They are made with a Japanese cotton that has been in my stash for many, many moons.  These actually have the wrong side of the fabric showing, as it was requested.  

The masks are not sewn as per instructions.  I opted for elastic instead of a cord and inserted the elastic after all the top-stitching, prior to folding, was completed.  The website does make a point about elastic deteriorating after washing but these will be hand washed.  

Easy peasy make and a comfortable fit.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.4 straight stitch

Fabric:  0.5 metres

Elastic:  0.7 metres

Pattern:  Aplat face mask

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, clapper, pins, tailor's chalk, scissors, sewing machine, thread, hand sewing needle, thread clippers, safety pin, iron and ironing board.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Alterations / Mending Project: OOP Butterick 5263

Many moons ago, an apron left the sewing work space and since then it returned for some alterations

It came with a request for a lowered neckline and an alternative to the stitched back.  I cut off the seam binding just below the top-stitching and reinserted another row of seam binding widening the width of the neckline.  

The original pattern calls for a buttoned closure but since this is a single layer of fabric a button and buttonhole closure was not the best option.   

A medium sized snap worked best for this change to an opening in the back from a pullover style.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Men's Shirt: McCall's 2447

This project, McCall's 2447, has been weeks months in the making.  Actually, it was coming close to a year.  The fabric was chosen and pre-treated last year, in the spring, and then it sat waiting to be pressed and folded so that it could hit the cutting table.  

McCall's 2447, circa 1999, is still in print and has been a tried and trusted pattern over the years.  Usual modifications as the last version with one addition.  

The addition of interior elbow patches.  

An outline of the edge stitching is visible on the right side of the sleeve.  

The shirt yoke has been sewn with the couture yoke method and instructions from my Reader's Digest sewing reference book.  If you interested in exploring this technique the more modern name for this is the burrito method and there are a bazillion tutorials to be found on the web.  Same technique, different names and reference sources.   

The fabric, oh what a fun print!  I found this stretch cotton at the local Fabricland store.  It was lovely to sew.  The fabric was pretreated in the washing machine followed by a tumble in the dryer and then a steam pressing before hitting the cutting table.  

Project Details

Design Features:  Front pocket, couture yoke, sleeve plackets, interior elbow patches.  

Seams:  2.4 -- 2.6 Straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  3 metres

Interfacing:  1.5 metres non-fusible

Buttons:  11 

Pattern:  McCall's 2447

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushions, measuring tape, measuring gauge, scissors, threads, hand sewing needles, thimble, thread clippers, sewing machine, blind hem foot, regular sewing machine foot, buttonhole foot, tailor's chalk, ironing board, iron, serger, tweezers, sleeve ham, cutting board, buttonhole cutter, clapper (I couldn't find the hammer), and some quality time with the seam ripper. 

Stay safe and keep sewing! 

Celebrating Strength, Resilience and Womanhood: Ribbon Skirt Day

January 4, 2022 marks the first Ribbon Skirt Day here in Canada.  And it is all because of the strength and courage of this young lady, Isabella Kulak that evolved out of an incident illustrating that as a country we have a long road to travel to get to reconciliation.  Isabella and her family are a light and guide for those who are willing to learn.   There is currently a bill receiving a second reading to commemorate National Ribbon Skirt Day annually.  

Source:  CBC News

I love that for the school acknowledgement of this day, Isabella wore a ribbon skirt that she created herself.  The school she attends teaches ribbon skirt making and her mother is one of the teachers sharing this knowledge.  

What a beautiful story of an inspiring young seamstress to begin the New Year.  Do you want to learn how to sew a ribbon skirt and the meaning behind it?  Check out this link.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!