May in Review

Sewing, Mending and Alterations

There wasn't much new sewing this month.  A SD Patterns dress was on my wish-list since I made the first one.  Same goes for the sweatpants.  This month's makes were made using up scrap pieces of left-over fabric.  There were some new patterns to try and I did enter the stash and pattern contest over at Pattern Review but with the arrival of spring, I'm distracted with the thoughts of growing food, pruning fruit trees and yardwork.  And that didn't leave much time for sewing.  

Mending took up most of my limited sewing time this month as I tried to tackle the mending while putting away seasonal clothes.  The oddest mending project to jump queue was to re-stitch the Velcro straps on the back brace after they started to come apart post-fitting.  Along with researching how to adjust my sewing patterns for a better fit while wearing the brace.   

Me Made May

A selection of some of the me-made pieces pulled and worn over this year's Me Made May.  

Once upon a time, dresses ruled the closet selection.  This is not the case this month, pull-on pants, sweatpants or maxi length skirts, pull-over tops, t-shirts, and sweatshirts ruled Me-Made-May 2024.  Here was my pledge for the occasion:   

This year for Me Made May, I pledge to mend, care and wear my me-made items and the items that no longer fit into my life, I will refashion.  Sewing wise, I pledge to do my best to create fun and practical things with all those fabric scraps.  Hmmm, maybe another patchwork pajama set?  

Oh my!  That was an ambitious pledge.  Mending went well, thoughts of refashioning was on the ambitious side but yet not forgotten.  I did manage to sew with fabric scraps but no patchwork pajama set.  

This year was quite different than previous Me-Made-May inventories.  With the recent addition of a scoliosis back brace to layer between undergarments and my regular clothes, it proved to be a challenge in feeling comfortable in some of my old clothes.  Thank goodness I don't have to wear the brace twenty-four seven.  Thank God, all thanks to God, I do have this to wear.  It's a game changer.  So what if I will have to readjust some sewing patterns to achieve a better fit.  It's something that I'm more than willing to do.  The first pattern I would like to do alterations to would be OOP Butterick 5891, a favourite Katherine Tilton design.  We'll see how that turns out.  Fingers are crossed and Sandra Betzina's Fast Fit book is close at hand.  

Stash Busting and Additions

This month I added 2 packages of 3/4" wide elastic while sewing the sweatpants.  

Happy Sewing!  

French Terry Sweatpants: Vogue 8909

Ever since I made a pair of sweatpants using Vogue 8909, I wanted to sew another pair.  

The only thing that stalled this project was searching the stash for appropriate fabric.  There is some fabric that will work but the colours (light purple and yellow) are not ones I prefer for pants.  And then I found a navy coloured fabric scrap left over from this cardigan and these pants.  The sweet thing is that there was enough left-over fabric to sew myself another pair of sweatpants.  And it felt good to use up this last piece of French terry fabric.   

The fabric was previously pre-washed and ready to cut.  This French Terry, from Marshall Fabrics, was a joy to sew.  This fabric has more body than the bamboo terry used for the first version.  Both were wonderful fabrics for this project but they do have a distinctive look and drape.   Navy coloured thread was scarce around the workspace, but I made do with what leftover spools I could scrounge up.  Actually, with all the time spent threading the machines and filling bobbins I am surprised there was enough navy thread to complete the project.  Add that to the blessing list.  It was a struggle stretching the cuffs far enough to fit into the pant legs.  Instead, the pant legs were gathered to fit the cuffs.  Marshall Fabrics sells matching ribbing to go with their selection of sports knits.  I just didn't pick any up since the initial thoughts for this fabric was to use it for a Marcy Tilton dress and jacket, OOP Vogue 9358.  Maybe I will use the yellow French terry for OOP Vogue 9358?   

Vogue 8909 is a keeper.  The waistline on the first version was raised but that wasn't necessary.  I cut the pattern with this change and then removed all of the addition except for a quarter inch during the sewing process.  Love the fit, on me it does not sit below the waist line as described on the pattern envelope.  Add this to the blessing list as well.  The other change I made on the previous version was shortening one leg length.  Since I now have lifts for my footwear I won't need to make this length adjustment moving forward.  That leaves the question, what to do with all those hem adjustments on all those previous made pants?  But that is a for another time.  Moving on.  There's so much to appreciate with this design from the extended front seams, pockets and the fit.  It's a well-drafted pattern.  

Hmmm, I don't know what else to say about this project other than I know I will get a lot of use out of this pair of sweatpants.  

Project details

Seams:  Knit (lightening bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.6 metres

Elastic:  2.85 metres

Pattern:  Vogue 8909

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, measuring tape, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, thread clippers, measuring gauge, Janome serger, safety pins, iron and ironing board.  

Happy Sewing!

Me Made May 2024

 

This year for Me Made May, I pledge to mend, care and wear my me-made items and the items that no longer fit into my life I will refashion.  Sewing wise, I pledge to do my best to create fun and practical things with all those fabric scraps.  Hmmm, maybe another patchwork pajama set?  

Happy Sewing!

Long Sleeve Cotton Knit Dress: SD Patterns

 

This is the second time I'm revisiting this asymmetrical maxi dress by SD Patterns.  Sadly, this pattern doesn't appear to be available anymore on their Etsy shop.  I will admit that I'm not a fan of taping together PDF patterns but I'm glad I still have this one.  It is one comfortable dress.  

My favourite detail on this dress pattern is the small section of gathering in the front right side curve seam.  The original design was for a turtleneck style.  I omitted this design feature and lowered the neckline one inch at the center front grading to the original shape at the shoulder seam.  

The neckline was folded over 5/8" and cover stitched.  

The pattern is designed for someone much taller than I am, so the sleeves were shortened by two inches and have a one inch hem.  The hem length was shortened, a lot.  More than five and a half inches for sure.  

The navy fabric was found in the stash and the anchor print fabric was left over from this project.  Both pieces are cotton knits and were pre-treated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer before landing on the cutting table.  

Project details

Seams:  Knit (Lightening Bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2.5 metres

Knit 'N Stable tape:  0.2 metres

Pattern:  SD Patterns

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, extra set of table legs, folding table top, measuring tape, tailor's chalk, clapper and assorted heavy objects used as pattern weights, pins, pin cushion, measuring gauge, fabric scissor, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, Janome Cover Pro machine, thread clippers, threads, Janome serger, iron, ironing board and tea.  

Happy Sewing!