June in Review

Sewing, Alterations and Mending Projects

It was a slow month at the sewing table, more dreaming about sewing than actual work.  With the appearance of warmer weather yardwork certainly monopolized my time and cut into my sewing time.  L to R:  Orange cotton dress (Simplicity 9744), cotton pull-over top (McCall's 7630) and navy cotton sateen pull-on pants (out-of-print Butterick 6717).  

I guess all the projects were items I need, pullover easy-to-wear clothes.  The orange print dress ended up in someone else's closet but there are plans to revisit this pattern.  

And there was some mending.  But would you believe a fitted sheet?  I do love my flannel so of course when my flannel bedding required some tender care, it became a priority project.  Other than this the navy pants that I made this month quickly ended up on the mending pile to have the back elastic waist tightened.  

Stash Busting 

This month I managed to stash bust 5.6 metres of fabric, 2 buttons and 0.75 metres of elastic.  I did enter the stash busting contest over on Pattern Review but did not make anything that qualified to be entered.  This year there was a twist.  Contestants had to have both a piece of fabric and a pattern that was in the stash prior to 2023.  I only met one of the two.  By the time I would test a pattern, using fabric from the stash it would disqualify the entry because the pattern was already used, so I mentally dropped out of the contest not wanting to enter a toile.  The other two projects I was willing to cut into fabric that would have qualified were paired with a TNT pattern therefore disqualifying the entry.  

Upcoming Plans

I'm not really thinking about summer wear.  This year with all the smoke from forest fires and dealing with allergy symptoms I'm not all that keen on venturing outdoors.  I am thinking ahead to when the weather cools down and that I will need sweaters due to some stubborn weight gain over the last couple of years.  But I digress.  I've been on the search for a copy of the Toaster Sweater pattern by Sew House Seven but the only copies I can find are from international sellers and the shipping.  Oy!, the shipping costs are putting a halt to those plans.  

We'll have to wait and see.  

Happy Sewing!

An Unexpected Turn of Events: Simplicity 9744

Simplicity 9744 caught my eye with that front pleat and button placket.  This will be easy to put on for sure and that makes this design a win and a pattern that I wanted to give a try.  

I haven't made a dress for myself in almost a year so I was looking forward to giving this pattern a try.  I chose an orange and beige 100% cotton that I found discounted in the home décor department.  It was picked to make what I hoped would be a wearable toile.  And it is a wearable toile but it's been gifted after I shortened it too much.  It's back to the drawing board if I hope to have my own version of Simplicity 9744.  

This is basically straight out of the envelope with the exception of adjusting and readjusting the hem length and raising the side pockets three inches.  I lengthened the hemline on view C by six inches but then decided to cut five inches and sew a one inch hem.  And then I felt it was too short.  Maybe lengthening it four inches instead of six would have been fine?  The placement of the side pockets were fine.  

I would just like to add more ease to the dress back.  It was supposed to be cut with a center back seam but I placed it on the fold instead.  I would do the same but fan out the dress back pattern piece to give it some extra ease in the hip area.  The front with that lovely pleat is perfect.  

The fabric was pre-treated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer.  It was steam pressed before hitting the cutting table.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2.5 metres

Label:  1 - KATM sewing label

Buttons:  2 -- 20 mm (3/4")

Pattern:  Simplicity 9744

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, measuring tape, spring-hinged fabric scissors, measuring gauge, iron, ironing board, Janome sewing machine, buttonhole foot, walking foot, threads, Janome Air-threader serger, buttonhole cutter, cutting board, small hammer, hand sewing needle, tailor's wax and many breaks along the way.  

Happy Sewing!

Do You Use Home Décor Fabrics for Sewing Garments?

The home décor section at the fabric store is often overlooked when looking for fabric for a new garment.  Take a stroll down the aisles and you might be surprised with the inspiration that can be found.  You can find silks, cottons, linen, velvets and so much more that can be utilized into garments.  Okay, you might be thinking that the fabrics will be too stiff or treated with coatings that may make them uncomfortable to wear, but just take a stroll.  

Linen found in the home décor department is often marketed as textiles for kitchen ware, think beautiful linen kitchen towels or even curtain fabric.  I found that it also made for lovely linen pants that were more opaque than the fashion linen offered on the other side of the fabric store.  And they were very comfortable to wear.  

Silks from the home décor department have made it into my sewing work space over the years.  I was often smitten with the textures and prints on these silk fabrics, unseen on the other side of the fabric store. 

Cotton fabrics from the home décor department have been my favourite fabric finds.  I'm all about the bold prints!  The first garment made from a cotton home décor print was the red and white skirt, shown top right.  At the time a fellow shopper questioned what I was planning on making with the bolt of fabric I was inspecting and when I said a skirt she tried to talk me out of the project.  But sometimes you just have to go with what brings out joy and creativity and home decor fabrics certainly fill the bill.     

Cotton home décor fabrics are typically stronger, heavier and often come in wider widths than cotton fashion fabrics.  I can wear many of these cotton garments through the cold prairie winter.  

Other home décor fabrics have made it to the cutting table and these at times have been fabrics with man-made fibers.  

My personal preference is for natural fiber fabrics but sometimes the texture, embroidery and prints are irresistible.  Or in most cases, when home décor fabrics go on sale, they just happen to be more economical that the fashion fabrics and even muslin on the other side of the fabric store.  Perfect for testing out a new pattern.  

Have you found some fabric gems in unexpected places while at the fabric store?  

Happy Sewing!  

From the Mending Pile

The most recent pair of pants made were sent to the mending / alteration pile after taking them out for a spin.  The elastic felt too loose.  

It was a quick fix, after opening the center back, I shortened the elastic by three inches and then stitched it closed.  Easy peasy.  

Next up, a fitted bed sheet that is almost frayed through.  I didn't even notice this was happening until the white mattress cover was peeking through a worn-through area.  Otherwise the fitted sheet is fine, just this one spot was in need of repair.  

I used some cotton flannel plaid that I had in the fabric stash to make a large patch.  

Once the outer edge was stitched, the patch was quilted into place.  

Happy Sewing!

National Sewing Machine Day

I'm celebrating National Sewing Machine day writing a silly little poem.  I didn't have any time to actually do any sewing today.  But I dreamt about it.   

I dream of time, sweet precious time,

spend at a sewing machine wrapped with thread.  

I dream of fabric, prewashed and laid out for cutting

in all sorts of colours; blue, orange, pink and red.  

I dream of patterns, well drafted and perfect

Void of alterations, if only in my head.  

I dream of sewing, without seam ripping, 

Seam ripping.  Oh, the dread!  

I dream of full bobbins, 

that keep the machine well fed.

I dream of the possibilities of fabric stitched 

with a sewing machine and thread.  

Happy Sewing!

Sew What You Need June: Pullover Cotton Top / McCall's 7630

 

This is my latest top made with McCall's 7630.  About five years ago I made a couple using this pattern.  This time I made a few changes to fit my current physique.  There is added ease achieved by pinning the center at the top of the front and back pattern pieces and fanning out from the hemline.  There was also four inches added to the length (view B).  The hems are top-stitched with a one inch hem.  That's about it.  

The fabric was a one metre length so there was some creative pattern placement to make it work.  Luckily, it didn't interfere with the grainline placement of the pattern pieces.  I found this 100% cotton in the home décor department at the local Fabricland store a few years ago.  It was pre-treated with a tumble through the washing machine and dryer before hitting the ironing board for a steam press.  

Update

The next morning the top ended up back on the sewing worktable for a patch pocket addition.  Thankfully, there was enough scraps to cut a pocket and facing piece.  This will be perfect for holding my keys.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.6 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1 metre

Interfacing:  0.4 metre

Pattern:  McCall's 7630

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, spring-hinge fabric scissors, measuring tape, pins, pin cushion, pencil, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, Janome serger, threads, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, heating pad and a few breaks.  

Happy Sewing!

Sew What You Need June: Pull-on Navy Cotton Sateen Pants / OOP Butterick 6717

For "sew what you need June" another pair of pull-on cotton pants was on top of the list.  And out-of-print (OOP) Butterick 6717 is my current go-to pants pattern.  

These are super comfortable and there are no dislikes with this well-drafted pattern.  I did leave off the side pockets since I usually carry a bag.  And I shortened the length three inches, I should have left half inch to give an inch hem.  These have a half inch top-stitched hem.  The left leg is shortened an additional half inch to address one leg being shorter than the other.  Otherwise there were no other adjustments.  

The fabric is a navy cotton sateen that has been in the stash for years.  It was pre-treated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer followed by a steam pressing.  

Project details

Seams:  2.6--2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2.1 metres

Elastic:  0.7 metres

Label:  1 - KATM label

Pattern:  OOP Butterick 6717

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, clapper (used a weight), spring-hinge fabric scissors, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, blind hem foot, Janome serger, threads, screwdriver, thread clippers, safety pin and a few breaks.  

Happy Sewing!