Stash busting: Neck-to-Back Heating Pads

In less than two weeks, my copy-cat version of a neck-to-back heat pad was in need of mending.  The serged edge closing the top of the bag opened and started spilling some of the filling.  Since that happened until the time I found some free time to repair it, I went without.  And that is how I ended up making three back-up neck-to-back heat pads.  

The fabric is a medium-weight 100% cotton denim.  It has been in the stash for years.  The filling is what I would find on hand, a mix of rice and lentils.  The fabric was previously pre-treated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer.  The pattern is a copy of the original Magic Bag.  

Project details

Seams:  2.8--3.0 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.0 metre

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, pins, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers, seam ripper and tea.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting: New Batch of Panties / OOP Simplicity 8229

This batch of panties will replace the previous batch made about sixteen months ago because the elastic feels like it is cutting into my leg.  These are made in a lighter cotton knit than the previous batch.  The fabric will be more comfortable to wear.  The other cotton knit has less stretch and was a bit thicker.  And the elastic will be a little looser in the thigh area.  So for now, it's back to the cutting table with out-of-print (OOP) Simplicity 8229.  

The pattern has been a keeper and a go-to for making panties.  Looking back at previous posts for this pattern, it first made an appearance at the worktable in 2017.  It's a great pattern.  The 97% cotton / 3% spandex knit fabric has been in the stash for quite awhile, same with the elastic.  Years already.  It's nice to finally have this want-to-make project done.  There was enough fabric to cut out six pairs of panties.  That wasn't the case for the elastic, two pairs were sewn with an ivory coloured elastic whereas four have matching pink elastic.  

Sewing IS Political

This is a Canadian made and tariff free project.  All of the supplies used to make these were found in the stash and did not contribute to the convicted felon's economy.  The out-of-print pattern, Simplicity 8229, is a U.S.A. product that has been in the stash for years.  The fabric has also been in the stash for years and came from Fabricland, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The picot elastic is from Marshall Fabrics, another Canadian fabric outlet.  The fabric scissors used to cut out this project were made in Tiawan and were purchased at Fabricland.  The threads are an assortment of various shades of pink and purple pulled from the stash, some from Woolworth's which was a retail store from back in the day.  Since it's underwear, I didn't feel the need to run out and pick up matching thread and just made do with what was found here.  

Project details

Seams:  Knit (lightening bolt) and zig-zag stitches

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2 metres

Elastic:  14.4 metres

Pattern:  OOP Simplicity 8229

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, thread clippers, pins, Janome 4190 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, a lot of thread, tweezers, heating pad and tea.    

Good tunes:  Bad Bunny.  I became a fan huge fan the other night.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.   

The Hidden Story Behind the Heated Rivalry Fleece

 

Lately, it seems like a fleece jacket is all the rage since it appeared on an episode from the show Heated Rivalry.  Last night a local sewing business, Lilax Studio, was featured on the news for offering classes for sewing the fleece.  And last month this fan of the fleece created her own version.  I've never watched the show or read the book which the show is based on and I'm not into leisure sports garb.  But what I find it interesting all the attention this simple zip front style fleece is getting in the media lately.  

Photo source

Even the Prime Minister of Canada has been photographed in the fleece.  It's that popular and the question lingers who is behind this pop cultural moment.  Is it the actor who modelled this garment on the show.  Or does the credit go to the show's Toronto costume designer, Hanna Puley, who has been credited for designing the fleece?  Not so fast.  

Kuwalla Streetwear brand is behind the fleece design, a Canadian label based in Montreal whose clothes are available in Simon stores.  It was a Kuwalla-Tee Bonded Sherpa fleece jacket that was decorated by the show's costume designer to look like an Olympic jacket for the show.  Yet, nowhere in all the press coverage or celebration of this jacket is it mentioned that this is a Kuwalla Streetwear jacket.  So why is Province of Canada, a Toronto based fashion line releasing the jacket.  Not cool.  

Hey, I've been known to sew copy cat designs at the sewing table.  Most recently, a couple of days ago I copied and made my own Magic Bag heating pad.  It was another great Canadian design but I didn't try to hide the fact that I'm copying someone else's design ideas.  That's the part that is not cool.  It would have been cool if they worked with Kuwalla to re-release the jacket.  Is this another Montreal vs. Toronto rivalry?  Oh, the drama and heated rivalry of these two Canadian fashion brands.

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting: Neck to Back Heat Pad

The Magic Bag Heating Pad that I've been using has been hitting the mending pile recently.  And when the latest patch work started to open again, I decided that it was either time to buy another (these are a Canadian product) or sew a new one.  I decided to save some money and sew my own.  

I cut open the straight edge and removed the filling, saving it to reuse in the new bag.  I used the old Magic Bag as my pattern and cut out the fabric, a medium weight 100% cotton fabric.  

I transferred the topstitching line on one side and folded it over to transfer the design on the other side.  Then I topstitched the lines before filling the bag.  The bag was closed with the serger.

Project Details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  0.4 metres

Pattern:  Old Magic Bag

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, pins, tailor's chalk, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, thread clippers, iron and ironing board.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting: Raw Silk Pullover Top / OOP Vogue 9246

This project is all about stash busting this beautiful piece of raw silk.  There was a struggle to find a project worthy for this fabric.  You see, with only 1.9 metres to work with the plan for Vogue 1899 didn't work as there wasn't quite enough width for the 114 centimetre wide fabric to accommodate the corner of the sleeves.   But OOP Vogue 9246 worked out for this small piece of silk.   

OOP Vogue 9246 has a super easy pullover top to sew.  It is an excellent project for a beginner.  It's a well drafted pattern.  I made it in a size large and there is ample ease, I could have gone down to a medium at the neckline and yoke seams.  The neckline and yoke were cut as a size large and the side seams and length on the sleeve is cut as an extra-extra large.  It's big on me but I will be able to wear this over the back brace and that is a good thing.  The bodice hem was increased to two inches and the sleeve is finished with a three quarter of an inch hem.  The neckline was finished with seam binding.  

The fabric is a medium to heavy weight silk noir in a beautiful raspberry colour.  It was an absolute pleasure to sew.  I wish that fabric like this were easily found in the fabric store aisles, but I believe this is a fabric from bygone days.  I picked it up at Winnipeg Sews when they acted as a fabric reseller.  It was pretreated before hitting the cutting table.  Going forward, this will be a hand washed garment.   

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian made and tariff free project.  Everything needed and used was sourced from the stash.  The fabric is a second hand find from Winnipeg Sews, a now closed down Canadian fabric outlet.  The pattern, OOP Vogue 9246, is a made in the U.S.A. product that was in the stash prior to the convicted felon's tariff war against the world.  The fabric scissor is from Merchant and Mills, a U.K. company and were purchased from The Workroom, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The paper scissors were made in Taiwan and were purchased at Fabricland, another Canadian fabric outlet.  The threads used were from Gütermann Threads, a German company.  There are labelled as made in Greece and were purchased from Fabricland, a Canadian fabric outlet.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.9 metres

Pattern:  OOP Vogue 9246, circa 2017

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, measuring tape, pins, pin cushion, fabric scissors, paper scissors, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, tailor's chalk, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers, lint brush, canned air, iron, ironing board, tailor's ham, sleeve ham and tea.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting: Scoliosis Brace Cover / Tube Top

This is basically a tube top for my scoliosis brace.  But let's call it a brace cover.  It is for the original brace, the one that I wear during the day and especially when clearing snow.  Since it's winter, I would like to wear sweaters but I'm scared to damage them with the Velcro straps on the brace.  I took inspiration from Brace Buddies and made a brace cover and it works like this top, just without sleeves.  

It's currently a little snug but it works.  I'll take it out for a test run before I make more or changes.  The fabric has been in the stash for many years.  To be honest I'm not sure when it entered the stash or if it came from Mitchell Fabrics or Marshall Fabrics.  All I do know is that you don't see cotton knit like this in the fabric stores now-a-days.  The last time I used some of the yardage was for this top about five years ago.  It is a medium weight cotton knit.  And it was previously pre-treated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer before returning back to the stash and making it onto the cutting table for this project.  

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian made and tariff free sewing project.  Everything used to create this project was sourced from the stash.  The beefy knit has been in the stash for decades.  I do not remember where I bought this but I know it wasn't Fabricland, it was either Mitchell Fabrics or Marshall Fabrics.  Anyway, all three mentioned companies are all Canadian.  The scissors used to cut out the project are from Merchant and Mills, a U.K. company and were purchased from The Workroom, another Canadian fabric outlet.  The threads were all pulled from the stash and are a mix of Gütermann and Coat's and Clark threads.  

Project Details

Seams:  Knit (lightening bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1 metre

Pattern:  None

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, pins, pin cushion, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, threads, thread clippers, and the Janome AirThread 2000D serger.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting and Revisiting a Favourite Issey Miyake Pattern: OOP and Vintage Vogue 2334

This top will see a lot of wear.  The fabric is a wool overlay on a knit, it's beautiful and warm.  I could really use some warm pieces right now.  The pattern is one of my favourites, a vintage Issey Miyake design, that is making a reappearance on the cutting table.  

This is a fun project.  It has some basic shaped pattern pieces that drape into an unique style.  The band on the bottom is off centre creating draping to one side.  There is more volume in the front to help with the draping effect created by the neck hole being cut on the back piece and having the circle piece drape over the shoulders into the front.  

The fabric is a black wool overlay with some lace like designs on top of a white knit.  I used the dryer and damp towel method to pre-shrink this fabric.  This fabric is warmer than the sweatshirt fleece fabric that I used on the first version.  

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian made project.  Everything used to sew this project came from the stash.  The fabric originally came from Marshall Fabrics, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The pattern in a vintage and previously used item pulled from the stash.  It was sadly a tariffed item after the convicted felon started a tariff war with the world.  I have since learned my lesson about not jumping off the boycott wagon even for an Issey Miyake pattern that I was searching for over the past few years.  It is not a mistake that I will repeat.  The scissors are from Merchant and Mills, an U.K. company and were purchased from The Workroom, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The sewing label is from KATM, an Australian company.  The threads were from Gütermann, a German company and were made in Greece.  All of the threads were purchased at Fabricland, a Canadian fabric outlet.  

Project details

Seams:  Knit (lightening bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  partially serged

Fabric:  2.1 metres 

Pattern:  Vintage and out-of-print Vogue 2334, circa 1989

Label:  1--"circa 2025" label by KATM (I'm trying to use them up)

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, cutting mat, pins, pin cushion, measuring tape, measuring gauge, tailor's chalk, tailor's ham, fabric scissors, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, threads, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, tweezers, thread clippers, canned air, seam ripper, iron and ironing board.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Monday's Mending Pile

Lately, it seems like I've been spending more time mending than sewing something new.  This past week it was all about altering curtains.  Two sets of kitchen curtains required some additional length so there was some quality time with the seam ripper to open up the upper casings and to add length by adding a facing and new casing.  Not my favourite type of sewing but I'm happy that it is off the list of things to do.  

My heart broke a little when I found this fraying at one of the edges of this duvet cover.  I wasn't sure how I was going to mend this one.  In the end, I just used some linen fabric to make a patch and hand stitched it in place.  

I would like to go back to this and do some decorative stitching.  For now, it's covered up and safe to put away.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep mending.  

Monday's Mending Pile

So, the first day that I wore these pants, this happened.  This is the second pair that recently required this type of repair.  

This time the crotch seam broke in three sections.  Thankfully, the seam is serged and I wore a hip length jacket avoiding any cold drafts or exposure.  Just a run through the sewing machine with a 2.6 straight stitch to repair the stitching.  

The corner edge of the patch pocket on this pajama top was starting to expose a hole in the fabric.  This mending job called for some hand stitching and strong thread.  

Talking about jobs that require strong thread, the winter work gloves finally received the attention it needed before the cold weather returns.  The original stitching was in brown thread, and the first mending was done in black, this latest fix is done in the ivory coloured thread.  They're not the cleanest looking mending job and I'm okay with that as long as they can get me through a few more winters. 

My heart sank a little when I pulled this 100% cotton duvet cover out and discovered this rip in it.  It's a nine inch by 2 inch fraying on the underside of the duvet cover near the edge. I thought, for a brief moment in time, that it might become fabric but I really would like to keep this as a duvet cover.  And that is how it ended on the mending pile.  

The question I need to answer is if this will be a hand mending project or do I turn to the sewing machine for help?  Until I decide on the method of repair, I will be trying to find a solution.  I'm open to suggestions.  

These 100% wool pants had three small holes in need of repair at the back crotch seam.  This was a hand stitching job and going forward I will choose a longer shirt / sweater to wear and cover the area of repair.  Hopefully, I can get another winter out from these pants.  

Besides crotch seam fixes, seam breakage is also common around the armholes.  This robe needed repair in this area, a quick fix with the sewing machine.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting: Wool Pin-striped Vest / Butterick 6745

This vest will match the recently made pants.  

Unfortunately, it does not fit.  I just have the buttons and buttonholes left to do, but I'm not going to proceed.  I'm writing this as a proceed with caution post.  

I can't close the front at the waistline regardless that my waist measurement is two inches less that the written measurement on pattern piece 10, front.  The bust fits at the front princess seam but is too large at the sides and the armhole is too big,  This is not a good fit at all.  I can wear this by closing the top with a brooch and leaving the bottom open.  But I wouldn't wear it with the pants made in the same wool suiting fabric, it's just too short for my liking.  Maybe, over a dress with the brooch?  Oh well, not all sewing projects work out as planned.  This is the first time sewing Butterick 6745 and it's likely the last time.  

Sewing IS Political

This is another Canadian made and tariff free sewing project.  All the supplies and equipment used to sew this vest were from the stash and did not contribute to the convicted felon's economy.  

My heart again broke watching the news this past week, like most days.  That's wrong, watching on the news what happened in Minneapolis and the callous rhetoric that followed, my heart was crushed. Sewing did not comfort me, it is a distraction and a poor one at that.  Keep protesting peacefully and safely, keep boycotting and most of all keep taking care of yourself and others.  

The fabric used to make this vest came from the stash and had been there many years.  The British 100% wool suiting fabric is the same used for these pants.  It came from Mitchell Fabrics, a Canadian fabric outlet that closed down many years ago.  The 100% silk lining fabric was found in the home décor department of Fabricland, another Canadian fabric outlet.  The fusible interfacing from the stash, was found at Fabricland as well.  The designed and printed in the U.S.A. pattern, Butterick 6745, entered the stash when Fabricland was selling off their stock of patterns when they were sold into liquidation due to tariffs.  It was an elbows down moment that I do regret.  The fabric scissors used to cut the wool and silk fabrics are from Merchant and Mills, an United Kingdom company and were purchased at The Workroom, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The fabric scissors used to cut the fusible interfacing was made in Tiawan and were found at Fabricland.  The Gutermann threads were made in Greece and were found at Fabricland.  

Project details

Seams:  3.0 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1 metre

Lining:  1 metre

Interfacing:  0.6 metres

Pattern:  Butterick 6745, circa 2021

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, measuring tape, fabric scissors, thread clippers, measuring gauge, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, tweezers, iron, ironing board and water.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Stash busting: Wool Pin-striped Pants / Butterick 6717

One more pair of wool pants to start off my stash busting year.  

Butterick 6717 hit the cutting table for one more pair of pull-on pants.  This pattern makes a comfortable pair of pants with the leg wide enough to wear a knee brace without looking overly wide.  This pair of pants, again, has side pockets, something I left off many of the earlier makes with this pattern for no good reason.  Butterick 6717 is a tried and true (TNT) pattern, a pretty basic and easy to sew pattern.  

The inner leg notch marking is off slightly but if you line up the crotch and the bottom hem, it all works out to being the same length, just ignore the notch.  I didn't follow the pattern instruction in the order they are laid out.  I was on board for steps 1 to 6 but I skipped to step 9 to 11 before sewing the pockets and side seams and then I went to topstitch the front facing in place.  

The only change, other than the instruction order changes, was to shorten the length of the hem and then shorten the left leg length another 5/8" to address the havoc scoliosis tries to cause with my sewing projects.  The hem was sewn with a machine blind hem instead of topstitching.  

The fabric is a lovely British wool suiting fabric which has been in the stash for too many years.  I will admit to being scared to cut into this as my collection of 100% wool suiting fabric is dwindling and it's becoming harder to find quality all-natural fibre fabrics like this now-a-days.  It was pre-treated before it hit the cutting table.  

Sewing IS Political

This is the first Canadian made and tariff free project in 2026.  Yes, the boycott continues.  Thankfully, everything used to make these pants were found in the stash.  There were no new purchases nor any funds supporting the convicted felon's tariff war or to businesses that support his administration.  

The British wool suiting fabric was from Mitchell Fabrics, a local Canadian fabric outlet that closed down years ago.  Butterick 6717 is an American product, circa 2019 which entered the stash in 2022 and did not contribute to the convicted felon's tariff economy in either of his terms.  The fabric scissors are from Merchant and Mills, an United Kingdom company and were purchased from The Workroom, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The threads are from Güterman threads, a German company and were made in Greece.  The threads were purchased from Fabricland, a Canadian fabric outlet.  

This year, I hope to source all my supplies, fabric and patterns from the stash to the best of my ability.  I can check this one off as my first stash busting project of the year.  

Project details

Seams:  3.0 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2.1 metres (150 cm wide)

Interfacing:  0.60 metres 

Elastic:  0.5 metres

Pattern:  Butterick 6717, no longer in print, currently only available in PDF format

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, measuring tape, tailor's chalk, measuring gauge, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, blind hem foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, tweezers, fabric scissors, seam ripper, safety pin and decaf coffee.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Monday's Mending Pile

It seems like the pile of mending never ends.  It's like once something is placed back into wardrobe rotation, another item finds its way to the mending pile.  

This weekend, I was going to wear these jeans only to have someone notice that the back end needed some re-stitching.  And this is why I prefer longer shirts.   A quick fix that only required a thread change on the sewing machine. 

These wool pants required some quality time with a seam ripper and some new elastic after having a less than pleasant wearing experience out and about.  The elastic was too loose and since I couldn't find newer one inch elastic, I used some recycled elastic.  The first time wearing them out, I felt like I had to be constantly pulling them up.  I longed for a pair of suspenders until I could get back home.  

There was a bit of time dedicated to fixing these pants that was made easier with this little tool.  The best gift for someone who likes to sew.  

After the elastic waist was fixed, the hem required some attention.  Thanks to the scoliosis, I deal with asymmetrical hips and the left leg is about 5/8" shorter than the right leg.  The left leg hem required an adjustment to at least make the hem look even when these pants are worn.  

Next up, a pair of winter gloves that will have to wait for some free time later this week.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

What's Coming Up...

Did you hear about the 2026 Colour of the Year, "cloud dancer"?  

It's white.  Okay, seems a little odd, doesn't it?  White can convey a message of purity or peace or death or sadness or the sense of austerity.  Pantone Colo[u]r Institute's executive director describes it as a discrete hue needed in a time of transformation adding that the cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming.  Oh, so this is meant to be an ironic colour.  

I can't say that it sparks any creative thoughts at the sewing table.  Although, I wouldn't mind if a white shirt came off the sewing machine in 2026.  I think there might be a cloud dancer in the fabric stash.  

What's coming up, or what I hope will be coming off the sewing machine in 2026.  

1.  A pair of fleece pull-on pants.  Nothing exciting but something I hope will keep me warm this winter.  I will pull out out-of-print (OOP) Butterick 6859 for this project.  

2.  Some more charity sewing.  The church is asking for donations of socks, tuques and mittens.  

3.  More joy.  I hope that this year will bring less back, knee and wrist pain and more joy at the sewing machine.  That would be sweet.  

4.  I would like to revisit OOP Vogue 2334.  

5.  A coatdress made with OOP McCall's 2465.  

Top of the list would be to stash bust both patterns and fabric.  Here's to having a wonderful sewing journey this new year.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.