Year in Review...

January

The year began with speculation if 2023 would become the year that Covid-19 is declared an endemic.  Hopeful speculation as it came to light that 2022 was the most deadly year for Covid in Canada.  Yet the public sphere would illustrate otherwise as many citizens ignore this January 30, 2023 Government of Canada advice, "[a]s Covid-19 activity continues and hospitalizations remain elevated in Canada, layers of prevention, including keeping up-to-date with Covid-19 vaccinations and personal protective practices remain our best approach to reduce the risk of developing severe illness and limit the burden on the health system."  Face masks, once the hottest fashion trend, are not part of the 2023 everyday wear as provincial governments drop restrictions and Covid updates are erased from newscasts.  

Sewing projects continue to reflect pandemic life and trying to avoid the public sphere as much as possible and stay healthy.  No need for dresses or going out clothes.  Most of this month's sewing were gifted.  Only a sweatshirt toile as I tried to work on an oversized sweatshirt.  

February

Global inflation continues to be found in every aspect of daily life.  Even sewing.  Dreams of a 100% cotton sweatshirt fabric are out reach when I spotted it priced at $45.00 / metre.  Looking to make something to keep me warm, I reached for a boiled wool fabric that I picked up for $5.00 / metre many moons ago for my oversized sweatshirt fabric.  I couldn't be happier with how it turned out and used up all the scraps left over from other projects as well to make a second version.  God had a different plan and it was better than mine.  

March

A wrist fracture put a halt to sewing activity this month.  It actually took four weeks to detect the fracture because the x-rays were obscured with the arthritis in my hand.  I might be coming to terms that my sewing days may be numbered?  

April

As spring is fast approaching and my wrist is still in a cast, the need for pull-on clothes rages on.  But my sewing ability is limited.  Thankful that I managed to sew a pair of pull-on pants.  

May

Remember that fracture diagnosis last month, it was actually a misdiagnosis.  A CT scan confirmed that I should not have even been in a cast!  The doctor is now calling it a sprained wrist and shoulder.  Sewing is my physio as the doctor's instruction is to "work through the pain."  It's just nice to be free of the cast.  Sewing projects reflect another recent weight gain as I stopped walking while in the cast resulting in need for more ease in my clothes.  

June

Yardwork has been taking over my free time that I hoped to devote to sewing.  It's surprising there was even yardwork done along with these sewing projects!  Physio exercises also monopolized my free time.  The sprained shoulder is taking awhile to get back to pre-fall condition.  

July

Last month the weather was hot, like July hot.  But this July, the temperatures are on the much cooler side.  Early July felt like autumn was in the air and my sewing thoughts did turn to cooler-weather wear. 

   

August

Celebration was in the air this month as the sewing machine was busy stitching together two dresses for a very special occasion.  

And with some left-over fabric, I was able to refashion my "Every Child Matters" t-shirt into one that I can fit into.  

September

September sewing was motivated by sewing for others and trying to sew comfortable items to accommodate weight gain.   

October

October sewing came to a stall when the serger went in for repair.  Thankfully, there were a few items that came out of the workspace.  

November

Once upon a time, people sewed clothes before home-use sergers.  The pinking shears came to the rescue this month.  And then Covid stalled worked at the sewing work table.  

December

People need to stop saying that the latest "it" variant of Covid is "mild".  It's not.  Not for some of us.  On the positive side, I did manage to lose ten pounds while dealing with Covid and now can fit into my wool pants that I thought I would have to refashion. 

This past year, despite all the start and stops in the sewing workspace, there were 27 items made for moi and 14 items sewn for others.  There were two household items, 1 outerwear garment, 15 tops, 5 undergarments, 6 pull-on pants, 3 skirts (+ 1 refashioned), 4 dresses, 1 cardigan and 3 sleepwear pieces sewn this year.  One top and dress didn't work out and were donated.   

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Me Made May 2023: From the Me-Made Collection (Part IV)

 

I'm not feeling my best and when it comes to picking out something from the closet I'm just looking for loose fitting items.  

It's getting hot  outside with plus thirty temperatures.  If I didn't have a follow-up doctor's appointment regarding my wrist I would stay indoors the whole day.  

Another hot day calls for loose-fitting shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt (RTW) to run out for a physio appointment.  Still not feeling great and after physio and errands it was into a robe and early to bed.  

I did manage to get in a short walk this morning and then the rest of the day was spent still not feeling my best.  Another early-to-bed day and rotating the heat pad from various body parts.  

Don't be fooled with the wool cardigan, it was another hot day that I spent in an air conditioned environment.  

I managed to get a walk-in appointment and yup, still not feeling well.  Thankfully, I was able to fill a new prescription and will soon be on the mend.  And then maybe my me-made picks won't be so boring?  I feel like this little exercise has become Me-Made-Jammies instead of Me-Made-May.  

Most of the week they are calling for rain and thunderstorms so this morning looks like my chance to get some grass cutting done.  RTW jeans and an old me-made t-shirt (not shown) to do yardwork before changing into these me-mades.  

Well, so much for those thunderstorms the weather channels and evening news were predicting.  It was a sunny hot day spent indoor in the air conditioning.  My clothing choices reflect the need for loose-fitting comfortable pieces rather than dressing for the heat.  

May in Review...

Sewing, Alterations and Mending Projects

There was some sewing!  Top L to R:  Cotton pullover top (I AM CLOHETTE by IAMPATTERNS), cotton sweatshirt fleece robe (out-of-print 7018), cotton t-shirt (out-of-print Vogue 9057), cotton / polyester Henley style men's shirt (McCall's 6973), cotton / polyester men's sweatpants (out-of-print Kwik Sew 3663), pink wool pull-on pants (out-of-print Butterick 6717).  

Remember that silk noir top that I altered last month?  It shrank.  ~sigh~  It happened when it accidently ended up in a regular load of laundry instead of the delicates.  It's back on the alteration / mending pile to be cut up and see if I can save some of that beautiful fabric.  

Stash busting

There were 10.4 metres of fabric, 2 metres of elastic, 4 buttons, 1 -- 22" invisible zipper, 5 spools of thread and 2 labels stash busted this month.  As well, one and a half metres of fabric were added and used this month.  

Me-Made-May 

The Me-Made-May challenge was to re-think my me-made items into something more suited to my current stage of life.  Pull-on and easy accessible clothing are my dream pieces to wear.  There wasn't anything Me Made May revealed that I wanted to add to my wardrobe.  But it did reveal that there are items hanging in the wardrobe that shouldn't be there because they don't quite fit my body and current lifestyle.  Items that can be refashioned into something more suitable.  Stay tuned.  

Happy Sewing!   

Pullover Pleated Top: I AM -- CLOHETTE

This top is made with a new pattern from a French pattern company called I AM PATTERNS.  It's a new-to-me pattern company.  This is their CLOHETTE top. 

This is a simple yet well-drafted pattern.  It fits and that is key.  Another version may very well make it to the cutting table.  

Likes:  

1. Body measurements listed on the pattern include height and finished sleeve length.  
2. It is a quick and easy project to sew, this pattern is well suited for a beginner.  
3. The sleeve bands are cut out of knit fabric whereas the body pieces are cut from a woven and this gives it a relaxed t-shirt vibe.  
4. An IAM pattern label is included.   

Dislikes:  

1. This pattern requires tracing as the pattern pieces are overlapped on one sheet of paper.  

The fabrics used are a cotton knit from the stash for the sleeve and neck band.  The lemon print is a cotton stretch fabric recently found in the discounted section at 70% off.  It is the same fabric, although different colour, used for this project a few years ago.  It's a lovely fabric to sew.  The fabric was pre-treated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer before hitting the ironing board for a steam pressing.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.6 straight stitch and knit stitch for bands.  Seam allowance of 3/8".  

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.5 metres

Knit  'N Stable tape:  1 metre

Pattern:  I AM -- CLOCHETTE

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, measuring tape, clapper and button tins (used as pattern weights), pins, pin cushion, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, threads, Janome serger, thread clippers, iron, ironing board and tea.  

Happy Sewing!

• Save