The pattern is perfectly drafted and the instructions are well written and illustrated. No complaints about the pattern, you can still count me as a TAL fan.
Saturday, 12 April 2025
Slow Sewing: The Assembly Line's Puff Sleeve Shirt / T:204
The pattern is perfectly drafted and the instructions are well written and illustrated. No complaints about the pattern, you can still count me as a TAL fan.
Monday, 31 March 2025
March in Review
Sewing, Alterations and Mending
Left to Right: Cotton Trapeze Dress, Merchant and Mill's; wool plaid scarf, no pattern used. |
March was a slow month at the sewing machine. The scarf was just a project that I made to use up the last bit of yardage from this skirt project. I've surprised myself with how often I've reached for this scarf as the weather warmed up and it worked well with this coat. The dress has a sixties vibe that I adore. I took it out for a spin pairing it with a turtleneck sweater and it's so comfortable. This may become my go-to summer dress. Although, I do like my Eva dresses and they will likely not be replaced.
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Home DĂ©cor Sewing: Foot Stool Repair
Now, I'm distracted by the piping on the upper edge that is starting to fray in some parts. Otherwise, the fabric is holding up on the foot stool. Although it had started to fray on the seat of the antique chair many years ago. I'm thinking that maybe I should attempt to make a slip cover for the foot stool? There is still some leftover upholstery fabric left over from this project. However, it would mean piecing together the fabric to cover the circumference of the foot stool. I can live with it, as is, by just throwing something on top of it until I made a decision otherwise. But it just might become a future sewing project.
Monday, 17 March 2025
Stash busting: Merchant and Mills Trapeze Dress
I do love a loose A-line style dress so when I saw versions of the Trapeze dress from Merchant and Mills popping up I was sold and wanted to make one of my own. I've been holding onto this pattern for sometime and finally can check this off the sewing wish list. I like the nineteen sixties vibe of this style.
There are also options for the centre back design. It can be made with a centre back seam or centre back button closures. I opted for a seamless centre back so that I didn't mess with the circular prints on the fabric and cut my fabric on the fold for both the front and back pattern pieces.
I did struggle with turning over the facing. I am not sure with what I did wrong. In the end, I cut open the neckline, ironed a narrow allowance on the facing and dress and then wrong sides together I hand stitched the neckline closed. I guess this wasn't such a simple design or I just needed a cup of coffee.
As far as the fit, I think I would have been okay going down a size. I didn't find the armhole opening to be too tight as others have described. There is good coverage in that area where undergarments are well hidden.
Sewing IS Political
This project is completely Canadian đ made đ and tariff free.
I don't know if you've been hibernating this winter and just emerged to the news that the convicted felon down south and his cohort have declared an economic war on Canada and other countries around the world. Right now the convicted felon has a global steel and aluminum tariff and Canada and other countries have rightfully responded with tariffs on American goods. That means if I go to the fabric store, many sewing and fibre art supplies are more expensive. I don't know if this was necessary since most Canadians are not touching, looking or buying American goods and add to that Canadians are not traveling down south like they did before. But I digress.
Thankfully, everything I need for this project did not originate from the United States and was already in the stash. The fabric is a Japanese cotton that I picked up a few years ago at a Canadian fabric store, Marshall Fabrics. The fabric scissors and sewing pattern are from a United Kingdom business, Merchant and Mills picked up via a Canadian fabric store, The Workroom. There were no Coats and Clark threads that touched this fabric, all threads used were GĂŒtermann threads. And my sewing machines are all non-American machines.
The Fabric
Project details
Seams: 2.8--3.0 straight stitch
Seam finish: Serged
Fabric: 2 metres
Pattern: Trapeze dress by Merchant and Mills
Additional Tools & Supplies: Cutting table, measuring tape, iron, ironing board, measuring gauge, pins, pin cushions, Merchant and Mills fabric scissors, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers, seam ripper, wrist brace, back brace, tea, and many breaks between episodes of sewing.
Stand Strong and Keep Sewing.
Saturday, 1 March 2025
Stash busting: Wool Scarf
There was enough leftover yardage from the latest skirt project to make a matching wool scarf. It is my latest Canadian đ made and tariff-free sewing project. This leftover fabric was purchased from Marshall Fabrics, a western Canadian fabric store. The threads and Fray Check used were in the stash before Canadians started boycotting American products in response to the convicted felon insults and economic threats towards my country.
Of course, once I finish the Coats and Clark thread and bottle of Fray Check, these items will not be replenished in the stash. I'm switching to GĂŒtermann threads from now on. As far as an alternative to Fray Check, clear nail polish will do just fine.
Project details
Finish: Machine rolled hem
Fabric: 0.4 metres wool
Additional Tools and Supplies: Fabric scissors, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, thread clippers, Fray Check, threads and tea.
Stand Strong and Keep Sewing!
Friday, 28 February 2025
February in Review
Sewing, Alterations and Mending
In Other Creative News
February marked National Embroidery Month. I haven't been big into embroidery since my younger, much younger days, a life-time ago. And I do not own an embroidery machine. So, it is not a big part of the textile arts that I enjoy now-a-days. But I do like the idea of embroidery mending. I've become more keen on mending in my twilight years. This jacket has another small hole appearing along the hemline. Even though it's nearly a decade old, I still wear it often. It made it to the work table for some visible mending.
Stash Busting
There were 9.8 metres of fabric, 3 buttons, 1 snap and 10 spools of thread were stash busted this month. No new fabric or notions entered the stash. The Vogue patterns used this month were all from the stash and from previous decades.
Sewing IS Political
There is a buy Canadian (anything really except American) movement happening here while the country on the other side of the southern border is engaged in economic warfare and disgusting rhetoric against Canada. I rather do without than buy any American produce at the grocery store and the same goes with sewing as long as the convicted felon and his republican cohort keeps up with the daily threats to hurt global economies and undermine Canada's sovereignty. We're certainly living in bizarrely disturbing times.
This is the first time I had no desire to even check out the new Vogue pattern release. There is no way I want to support the convicted felon's economy even it means giving up my beloved Vogue patterns. I'm doing this because I love my country more.
And it is playing a role in what I sew for sure. There is a white cotton quilted bed spread that I would like to turn into a quilted jacket. Trying to find a jacket pattern that is not a PDF version or American and that I want to sew has been a challenge. This might be something that I need to roll up my sleeves and draft my own pattern. Or do without.
Stand strong and keep sewing!
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Book Review: Sharp Notions, Essays From the Stitching Life
Friday, 21 February 2025
Done and Stash Busted: A New Blanket
Last year, I picked up a wool sweater knit from Marcy Tilton. It wasn't quite what I was hoping for and it just sat in the stash as I pondered what an alternative plan could be for this fabric. A few, more than a few brutally cold days and nights and it just seemed obvious that it should become a blanket.
This is my latest Canadian made and tariff free project. Although the fabric and serger thread are from American companies, they were in the stash before the convicted felon won the election and declared economic warfare against my country.
Project details
Seam finish: Serged
Fabric: 3.6 metres
Additional Tools & Supplies: Fabric scissors, pins, pin cushion, measuring tape, Janome AirThread 2000, threads, thread clippers.
Stand strong and keep sewing!
Sunday, 16 February 2025
A Wool Wrap Skirt: OOP Vogue 2327
This is my latest Canadian-made đ and tariff-free sewing project. All of the materials, tools and equipment used to make this skirt were pulled from the stash. The wool fabric came from Marshall Fabrics, a western Canadian fabric store. The pattern, although an American product when it originally came out in 1999, is a vintage and second-hand find purchased from Winnipeg Sews. The buttons are upcycled. The threads are a combination of GĂŒtermann and Coats and Clark thread, all from the stash. I'm clearing out the last bits of Coats and Clark threads and not replenishing them after they're cleared from the stash.
Project details
Seams: 2.8 straight stitch
Seam finish: Serged
Fabric: 1.8 metres wool
Interfacing: 0.8 tailor's interfacing
Buttons: 2--1" leather buttons + 1--1/4" button
Snap: 1--medium sized snap
Pattern: OOP Vogue 2327, circa 1999
Additional Tools and Supplies: Folding table, Merchant and Mills fabric scissors, thread clippers, ruler, measuring tape, pins, pin cushion, threads, clapper, buttonhole cutter, cutting board, measuring gauge, tailor's chalk, tailor's wax, hand sewing needle, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, vintage Brother sewing machine, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, mini vacuum, tweezers, lint brush, screwdriver, scrap pieces of fabric to test buttonholes, iron, and ironing board.
Stand Strong and Keep Sewing!
Saturday, 15 February 2025
National Flag Day: Wearing My Red and White Maple Leaf Top
Today marks National Flag Day in Canada. It was sixty years ago today that the red and white maple leaf designed flag was raised on Parliament hill for the first time.
Today also marks the day that all of our living former Prime Ministers are asking Canadians to raise the maple leaf in response to the economic war that the convicted felon and his republican cohort have declared on Canada.
Canadians are quietly patriotic but since the convicted felon down south won the election last year and started talking about taking our country by economic force a whole new level of patriotism has surfaced across the country. Not only has an organic buy Canadian movement emerged in the grocery store aisles, so has the merchandise that expresses how Canadians really feel about the disrespectful and hateful rhetoric coming from the United States politicians occupying the white house.
![]() |
Etsy seller: Ginger MacDesigns |
![]() |
Etsy seller: UnityBlockShop |
Friday, 14 February 2025
Happy Valentine's Day!
![]() |
Reusable grocery bags, OOP McCall's 4851 |
Coat, OOP Burda 7304 |
![]() |
Sweatpants, OOP Kwik Sew 3663 |
![]() |
Covid-19 era scrub caps |
Friday, 7 February 2025
A Sewing Guide to Shopping Local / Canadian Businesses
Tuesday, 4 February 2025
Four More Undershirts to Wear Under the Scoliosis Back Brace: OOP Vogue 9057
After discovering that out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 9057 works as an undershirt to wear under the back brace, work began on making some more. First, more fabric went in the wash for pre-shrinking and a tumble in the dryer. While waiting for the yardage of fabric to dry, the underarm padding pattern piece was enlarged for more coverage.
Four new tops were cut out with the neckline adjusted with an additional inch all around. The tops were cut in a size medium using view A.
The shoulder seams were sewn right sides together but the armhole and side seams were sewn wrong sides together. This is a feature that I found on RTW scoliosis undergarments to prevent the bulkiness of seams pressing against the skin. I recreated this feature with the tops to wear under my own brace. The hems were finished as I would have finished any other top, an inch top-stitched hem. Instead of sewing an neckline band, the edges were serged and folded over 5/8" and then topstitched in place.
These four cotton French terry tops are Canadian made and tariff-free. Since the United States of America declared an economic war on this country, I've been mindful not to contribute to the convicted felon's economy. Let's be clear, this is not all about drugs crossing the border or that American banks are not allowed to do business in Canada. The chronic liar and convicted felon and his republican cohort started talking trash about Canada becoming part of the United States and using economic force to make it happen. Piss off.
The fabric was purchased at a trusted Canadian business, Marshall Fabrics, and has been in my stash for awhile. It was at a bargain price and even though there were a few flaws in the yardage, this piece was flawless. No need for a label to cover up any holes. The fabric was pre-treated before hitting the cutting table.
The threads used in the sewing machines are a combination of GĂŒtermann threads from Europe and finishing off the last bits of yellow Coats and Clark threads still in the stash. These Coats and Clark spools of thread are old, wood spools old, and are labeled as an American product. I've been doing research into Coats and Clark business ties. In 2019, Coats and Clark was acquired by Spinrite, what seems like a Canadian company with its headquarters in Ontario. In fact, Spinrite is owned by American private equity investors; Comvest Partners and JW Levin Management Partners and was acquired in 2018. Needless to say, I'm clearing out the Coats and Clark threads from the stash and not replacing them while threats of annexation and tariffs still linger.
The fabric and paper scissors along with the pins used during this project are from Twain. If you're in the market for a new pair of fabric shears and want to support a Canadian business check out LDH Scissors, a company from Ontario. Their scissors are manufactured in China. But if you want my recommendation (I haven't tried LDH Scissors), I have a pair of Merchant and Mills fabric scissors and I couldn't be more pleased with them. Merchant and Mills is a British company and you can source their products via The Workroom, a Canadian company from Ontario and they do deliver. I highly recommend this Canadian business, all my interactions with The Workroom have been positive. Merchant and Mills also carry pins.
The pattern, OOP Vogue 9057, is an American product. This pattern was previously used many times and has been in my stash for a decade. I am using what I have in the stash and not replenishing the sewing supplies with American pattern and sewing products during this economic wartime. There are many Canadian, Australian and European businesses that deserve support rather than supporting the convicted felon's economy.
These tops were sewn on Japanese made Janome sewing machines. Bernina sewing machines are from Switzerland and are also wonderful sewing machines. I do have a vintage Brother sewing machine, this is also a Japanese made sewing machine. No Singer sewing machines (American) are part of the sewing tools used here.
Thank you God for a stash to get me through this economic wartime and a sewing hobby that provides a bit of escape, even if for only a brief moment, from these surreal times.
Project details
Fabric: 4 metres, 100% cotton French terry (there was enough left over pieces from the previously top to cut some of the pieces used here).
Pattern: Previously used OOP Vogue 9057, circa 2014
Seams: knit (lightening bolt) stitch and serged seams.
Seam finish: Serged
Additional Tools and Supplies: Folding table, fabric scissors, paper, paper scissors, measuring tape, pins, pin cushion, fine tip marker, measuring gauge, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, iron, ironing board, and time listening and watching news reports.
Stay Strong and Keep Sewing!
Slow Sewing: The Assembly Line's Puff Sleeve Shirt / T:204
This is my wearable toile made in a chambray cotton with some stretch. It took weeks to complete, not because it is complicated rather I wa...

-
I do love a loose A-line style dress so when I saw versions of the Trapeze dress from Merchant and Mills popping up I was sold and wanted t...
-
Sewing, Alterations and Mending Left to Right: Cotton Trapeze Dress, Merchant and Mill's; wool plaid scarf, no pattern used. March wa...
-
It was about twenty-five to thirty years ago I had this piece commissioned after spotting a similarly shaped foot stool in an Eaton's ...
-
This is my wearable toile made in a chambray cotton with some stretch. It took weeks to complete, not because it is complicated rather I wa...
-
Actually, never press velvet ! Sounds crazy when you think about the fact that there is actually such a thing as a velvet press board. ...