Me Made May 2025: The Second Week

Days 8 to 16:  

Top row L to R:  purple bamboo and cotton pullover top (OOP Vogue 1247), 100% cotton denim skirt (OOP Vogue 1247), black and white front buttoned top/jacket (OOP Vogue 8709), cotton knit skirt (OOP Butterick 5790) and 100% cotton pullover dress (Butterick 6784). 
Middle row L to R:  pear print pullover dress (Eva dress by Tessuti patterns), 100% cotton pullover dress (Trapeze dress by Merchant and Mills), reversible apron (OOP Butterick 5263). 
Bottom row L to R:  Butterfly print cotton knit t-shirt (OOP Vogue 9057), cotton knit skirt (OOP Butterick 5790), cotton and linen pullover top (OOP Vogue 9317), wool suiting pull-on pants (OOP Vogue 1642) and cotton pullover dress (Eva dress by Tessuti patterns).  

Can you believe that we're half way through Me Made May?  This week threw me from my typical May wardrobe choices.  At the start of the week we had some uncharacteristically warm hot weather.  It reached plus thirty-seven degrees Celsius (98.6℉) on Tuesday.  Sleeveless options, unless I'm wearing it with a t-shirt or turtleneck, are typically unheard of in May.  But here we were digging through summer time clothes.  Things have since cooled significantly and we're having some much needed rain.  

Here are some observations during the second week of Me Made May, 

1. Adding a rain jacket or coat would be nice.  Maybe something upcycled from a vinyl tablecloth?  I've watched some videos where that was done and they've turned out well.  Maybe I can turn a shower curtain into a rain coat?  I could do without as well, it's more of a fun project than something I need.  
2. I've started seriously thinking about that sports bra project after I stumbled across a pattern on sale.  The Pika 2679 by Jalie patterns is currently sitting at the work table.  I need to trace it out and adjust the pattern.  It will be nice to have a comfortable custom-made option to wear under t-shirts.  
3. I'm making more cotton undergarments with OOP Simplicity 8229.  The last set of panties had the elastic sewn on with the cover stitch machine but it didn't hold up as well as the earlier versions sewn with the zigzag stitch on my sewing machine.  I going old school with this new batch.  
4. I've noticed that I'm reaching for older pieces during Me Made May.  And I'm spending more time repairing and mending these than spending time creating something new.  Most of my sewing has been behind the scenes and often involves hand-stitched repairs.  Poor sewing machines are collecting dust.  

Well that's the latest Me Made May update.  Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

What Was I Thinking in 2024?

Hello, it's been awhile.  

Boas Festas (Happy Holidays) to those celebrating the season.  I haven't been sewing, still taking a break.  I thought I would pop in with a look back at some of 2024's sewing bloopers.  

I started off 2024 with this top which ended up being gifted.  It was way, way too roomy in the bust and arms.  I have hips so I was okay in that region.  I don't know what I was thinking after all the reading all the reviews that recommended going down a size or two with Vogue 9330.

What was I thinking when I drafted this foam cover?  Good grief!  The first sewing blooper of the season was this self-drafted foam cover.  

Another project, Vogue 2000, that I started out making for myself but ended up gifting because it didn't fit.  What was I thinking when I decided to cut my good fabric without sewing a toile first?  

What was thinking when I made this denim gardening apron without pockets?  And why did I make it so long?  Maybe if I remove some of the length and make a pocket I might get more use from this next gardening season.  The pattern was from Tessuti patterns.  

What was I thinking when I made these sleeves so short?  I tried to use this make as a pajama top but I found that my arms were always cold.  And then I just stopped reaching for this top.  And this cotton knit fabric was too heavy for this Closet Core pattern.    

What was I thinking when I made these barrel leg pants for my short petite sized legs?  The pattern used was vintage and out-of-print (OOP) McCall's MP349.  

What was I thinking when I made this dress?  Oh yes, I wanted to use up the last of the nautical print fabric but there wasn't enough to make another top.  But it didn't turn out as I envisioned the project.  It looked like a nineties throwback and not at all my style.  Made with SD Patterns.  

 

What was I thinking?  I really wanted to make a caftan and that it might be something I could wear over the scoliosis back brace.  In reality the armhole openings were so big that it didn't hide the brace.  Even though it didn't get worn as intended, I did enjoy wearing the caftan at home.  The pattern used for this project was McCall's 8516.  

What was I thinking when I thought that a cotton sateen version of the Closet Core top designed for knits would be a good idea?   I thought that it could be worn under the scoliosis back brace  

What was I thinking when I broke my 2024 promise to sew no more polyester?  This was my last sewing project of 2024 and I never wore it.  It quickly ended up in the donation bin.  Made with a satin back polyester crepe and OOP Vogue 1730, a pattern designed for knits.  Everything about this project was just wrong. 

Happy Sewing!

June in Review

Sewing, Mending and Alterations 

Top L to R:  navy cotton sateen pullover top (Closet Core's Ebony), cotton caftan (McCall's 8516), denim gardening apron (Tessuti apron).  Bottom L to R:  cotton shirt (OOP and vintage Simplicity 7840), cotton butterfly print shirt (Butterick 5891), cotton sateen pull-on skirt (The Assembly Line S:403).  

This month I've been working on summer-time appropriate garments but it feels like we have skipped summer and went straight into one fierce mosquito season.  Locally, the area has seen a lot of rain, perfect conditions for mosquito breeding and hanging out indoors at the sewing machine.  

Mending wise, broken stitches were repaired on pajama tops.  No alterations, although the gardening apron was made from a recycled skirt that no longer fit.  

Sewing Challenges

This month I participated in #sewcaftan2024.  I actually picked up Vogue 1886 a couple of years ago and then never made it after reading a pattern review that advised it wasn't suitable for petite sized women.  And then McCall's 8516 came on the scene and I thought since it has a shorter version that I might give it a try.  At first, I wasn't sure about it until I put it on and now I'm a caftan convert.  It's very comfortable.  Now I want to give the Vogue caftan a try.  

Stash-busting 

Stash busted this month:

• 12.1 metres fabric + recycled skirt
• 16 buttons
• 1 metre elastic
• 2 sewing labels
• 4.3 metres interfacing

Stash-busted totals for 2024:

• 58.5 metres fabric
• 8.6 metres interfacing
• 6 invisible zippers
• 2 metres Knit 'N Stable tape
• 6 metres trim
• 8 sewing labels
• 25 buttons
• 5 metres elastic
• 14 thread spools
• 4.3 basting tape

Total additions this year:

• 14 thread spools
• 11 sewing patterns
• 10--20 mm buttons
• 7.8 metres trim
• 15 metres fabric
• 1 cover stitch machine.  

Happy Sewing!

Denim Apron: Tessuti Apron Pattern

This denim gardening apron is made from recycled and fabric scraps.  

The lower part of this apron is recycled from this skirt project.  The straps and upper portion are made with scrap pieces left over from this jeans project.  This project was all about using what I had around the worktable.  

The pattern is Tessuti's free PDF apron pattern.  It's the second one that I've made.  The first version was created without any changes.  This version was extended six inches and the back lower corners were curved.  There are currently no pockets, I'm still deciding on the style and placement of pockets.  The edges were not finished with a roll hem, instead I left the edges serged.  This pattern comes in only one size.  

Project details

Seams:  2.8 straight seam

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  Recycled

Pattern:  Tessuti Apron 

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, fabric scissors, thread clippers, seam ripper, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, Janome serger, threads, iron and ironing board.  

Happy Sewing!

February in Review

Sewing, Mending and Alterations

Clockwise top L to R:  Tessuti Apron (free download), two cotton sateen dresses (OOP Simplicity 2372), foam block cover (self-drafted pattern), raw silk dress (OOP Simplicity 2372), foam block cover (self-drafted sewing blooper).

Mending projects kept me busy this month.  There was a small tear and undone stitches around the pocket and elastic openings of my pajama bottoms that needed some attention.  These black wool pants were hanging out in a pile of clothes that didn't fit until I lost some weight, tried them on and welcomed them back into the wardrobe.  They just required a new hook and eye stitched back in place.  This dress has been only worn once so far and ended up having two inches removed from the hem.  I hope to get more wears out of it now, it's a very comfortable dress.  And another fitted sheet had the elastic replaced.  

2024 Challenge

I can not call my pledge to sew #NoMorePolyester a win this month.  I still have quite a bit of thread and zippers that contains polyester.  And these were used in some of my projects.  Fabric wise, it was cotton and silk that ended up on the cutting table.  

Stash busting and Additions

Stash busted this month:

• 8.8 metres of fabric 
• 0.9 metres of interfacing 
• 5 --- 55 cm invisible zipper
• 3.30 metres of basting tape

This month's additions were:  

• 10--20 mm black buttons
• 4--1000 m spools of blue thread
• Hannah Top and Dress pattern (PDF) by DG Patterns and the re-issued DVF wrap dress (Vogue 2000) were added to the pattern stash

So, that means that the total stash busted counts this year are

• 21.8 metres of fabric
• 2 metres of Knit 'N Stable tape
• 6 metres of trim
• 2.8 metres of interfacing
• 3 sewing labels
• 4 buttons
• 2 metres of elastic
• 8 spools of thread
• 3.3 metres of basting tape
• 5 invisible zippers

And the total additions this year to the stash:  

• 10--20 mm buttons
• 9 spools of thread
• 6 patterns
• 7.8 metres of trim

Happy Sewing!

Stash busting: Tessuti Apron / Free Downloadable Pattern

It is rare that I pull something from the stash and transform it into a project that I first envisioned for the fabric.  This is such the case.  

The fabric, originally thought of for a dress, turned out to be perfect for this apron project.  It is an 100% cotton canvas from the home décor department.  It was pre-treated with a spin in the washing machine and dryer before hitting the ironing board for a steam press.  

The pattern is a free download from Tessuti Patterns.  It is also available as a hard copy for purchase.  The instructions are well written and photographed.  The project is easy and well suited for a beginner.   

Project details

Seams:  3.0 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.1 metres

Label:  1 -- "You Can't Buy This" label from KATM

Pattern:  Tessuti Apron Pattern

Time:  3 hours spent cutting fabric, sewing and pressing; 1 1/2 hours for printing and taping pattern, plus the time spent pre-treating fabric.  

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, clapper (used as pattern weight), a lot of paper and tape, printer and ink, fabric scissors, pins, pin cushion, iron, ironing board, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, Janome serger, Jean-a-ma-Jig™, threads, thread clippers, tailor's chalk and a few breaks.  

Happy Sewing!

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

The weather is all over the place and so are my clothing choices.  The only consistency in the first part of the Me-Made-May has been a selection natural fibre fabrics and a lot of pull-on clothing items.   

The wrap dress was chosen because of its easy access (no zips or buttons) and short sleeves since I woke up with the cast.  Thankfully, it came off today!  The sweater was worn under a RTW denim jacket because it was cool this morning and only a high of plus ten (Celsius) today.  Once I realized that it was windy, I regretted the decision to wear the wrap dress.  Thank goodness Diane Von Furstenberg designed a dress with ample skirt coverage even for a windy day.  And flannel pajamas because they are just too cozy.  

Wow!  I didn't expect my hand to feel as sore as it did today which surprised me while getting dressed.  Although, it was great not having choice limited to what would fit over the cast. It was all about choosing items without zippers and buttons and dressing in layers that could be peeled off as the weather warmed up throughout the day.  

First time it felt like summer this year!  And that sunshine, woohoo!  No jacket or coat needed today.  Although, I did wear a sweater this morning.  Today's clothing choices were all about avoiding zippers and buttons.  Easy comfortable pull-over or pull-on pieces ruled as me-made picks.   

Spring cleaning and going through the closet to assess what needs fixing or needs to become something new.  Not these me-made pieces, they were perfect to throw on and get to work.  

Today's me-mades were all about being comfortable for a pretty low key day at home and running errands.  

This is not the whole picture.  This morning was dedicated to yardwork and for that I wore RTW clothing (jeans and a sweatshirt).    

It was another low key day close to home and running errands.  I wore a RTW jean jacket when out-and-about but it did not feel warm enough for the cloudy day.  Rain is in the forecast for the next few days and the warmth of the sun is already missed.  The Tulip Dress is the only item worn this week that has a back zipper.  Thankfully, it is not needed.  I can wear it as a pull-on dress.  

Rainy and cold day calls for flannel, tweed and a sweater.  

What I've discovered so far?  I want another pair of flannel pajamas in the mix.  And I really would like to have another pair of Vogue 9246 pants maybe in a wool suiting fabric.  I'm not sure when I will find the time to get on those wish list items though.  Right now there are a couple of projects for others on the worktable.  But only time will tell.  

Until then, Happy Sewing!  

  

Me Made May 2022 Editing (a Replacement Piece): Eva Dress

This version of Tessuti Pattern's Eva dress is a replacement for this version I made back in 2017.  This pattern is one of my favourite dress patterns.  I love that it's a pullover dress and the lantern shaped skirt.  The only reason I'm replacing the yellow silk version is that it shrunk in the wash and it's snug in the sleeves, pulls across the back and had been in the mending pile for seams that had given out in the past.  It was time for some editing.  

The fabric is what makes this dress.  It is a pear print cotton stretch fabric from Fabricland.  Counting this version, I currently have three Eva dresses in the wardrobe all made with cotton stretch fabrics.  Last year, I made this version when I gained weight and the first one I made became snug.  Since this time, I've lost fifteen pounds (many more to go) and the lemon print version is now too big and the red floral print version fits again.  That kind of explains why I think a cotton stretch fabric is the cat's meow.  

The pattern is a favourite and honestly, I've made more versions than the four mentioned here.  I highly recommend this pattern and believe that it's a good beginner's project as well.  There are no darts or zippers and this pattern is well drafted.  I was able to sew this up in an afternoon.  

There were some minor changes made to the pattern.  The hemline was shortened, pockets were raised by an inch, and the waistline seam was taken in an additional half inch.  The hems and neckline were finished with single fold seam binding.  Oh, and I sewed the seam allowances at 5/8" instead of the 1/2" recommended with the pattern.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2.8 metres

Seam binding:  3 metres

Pattern:  The Eva Dress

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

Stay Safe & Keep Sewing!

National Dress Day

Over the years, I've sewn a lot of dresses.  And I wear them too.  I find them comfortable to wear.  I would rather throw on a dress than pants no matter the weather.  Some have been gifted.  And some have been refashioned into other things.  Here's a look back at the dresses I've sewn over the past year. 

The Eva Dress, Tessutti Patterns

The Eva Dress pattern has been a long time favourite.  It's all about the comfort of a pullover dress that is easy to wear.  And it has pockets.  Gotta love a dress with pockets!  Right now this cotton dress is packed away waiting for warmer temperatures to arrive.  

Little Girl's Shirtdress, OOP McCall's 8548

I first came across McCall's 8548 about a quarter century ago when I made a version of this dress for my niece.  So, it was with an enthusiastic sense of nostalgia that I revisited the pattern.  

 

Sweatshirt fabric made a toasty warm winter-ready dress,
OOP Burda 8848

I do love a turtleneck dress and I really wanted to try this pattern for it's raglan sleeve design.  Of the two versions of this pattern I made, I prefer this one all because of the fabric, it has kept me toasty warm during a bitterly cold winter these past months.  

Wool turtleneck maxi dress, OOP Vogue 8939

Have I mentioned how much I like a turtleneck dress?  I imagine a winter without one.  

Seersucker Girl's shirtdress, OOP McCall's 8548

I couldn't resist to make another wee little dress.  Just the cuteness of it make it worth all the work.  

Box-pleat dress, The Assembly Line

Yeah, sometimes I don't get the fit right and a dress ends up as a reusable grocery bag.  

Is it really a wrap dress?  OOP Vogue 8827

It wasn't the wrap dress that I hoped for and the fabric choice was not a good one.  It was gifted and found another life as a robe.  

Can you have enough turtleneck dresses?  OOP Burda 8848

This version of Burda 8848 goes to demonstrate that fabric choice affects the fit.  This one is made with a cotton knit and fits much looser than the sweatshirt fabric version.  

Or enough wrap dresses?  OOP Vogue 1610

Oh my goodness, I found the perfect wrap dress pattern in Vogue 1610.  No wonder Diane Von Furstenberg's version has propelled to iconic status since it first appeared in the late 20th century.  She nailed the fit.  

Take 2, OOP Vogue 1610

Even though the fit is sublime, I am not of Vogue model height.  I shortened the bodice and played around with the sleeve length.  

Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress meets Mondrian inspired print,
OOP Vogue 1610

And that is how I came to sew my favourite dress of this past year.  Do you have a favourite dress pattern that you like to sew?  

Happy National Dress Day!  

Easy Peasy: The Eva Dress

  

Temperatures are expected to hit the high thirties (Celsius) in the next while and I'm desperately lacking summer clothes that fit.  I need an easy peasy pattern that I could whip up in no time.  And Tessuti's Eva pattern was perfect.  However, this dress took me weeks to prep the fabric, cut and sew.  Free time has been scarce. 

I've made a few versions of this dress but only two remain in my wardrobe.  One is made out of silk and is too tight at this moment.  The first version I made in a stretch cotton is snug but with the stretch, it's actually wearable.  So the time has come for a version with more ease.  

I cut the same size as the others, a medium but added 1/2" at the side seam allowances for a total of one and a half inches of extra ease.  The calculations work out this way because the pattern calls for 1/2" seam allowances and I sewed this project with a 5/8" seam allowance.  In the end, it was too much ease and I trimmed another 1/4" inch off each seam edge after basting and before stitching.  I ended up with 1/2" total ease around the dress.  Of course, I didn't need the extra ease in the skirt portion because this pattern has a lovely lantern shape, it was just easier to continue down from the bodice piece.  

Other changes were made to the length.  I shortened the length at the waist taking off another 1/2" from the bodice and upper skirt.  The lower skirt is shortened two inches.  

The neckline is treated with Knit 'N Stable tape and finished with single fold seam binding.  The sleeve and skirt hems are finished with the single fold seam binding.  

The fabric is a fun lemon print that is part of this year's Fabricland collection.  I picked this one because it is a cotton fabric with stretch.  And from the first time I spotted it, I patiently waited until it went on sale.  It's pre-treated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer before hitting the ironing board for a steam pressing.  The fabric handled this process well and it was a pleasure to sew.   

Project Details

Seams:  2.6 straight stitch

Seam Finish:  Serged, neckline and hems are finished with seam binding

Fabric:  3 metres

Seam Binding:  3.5 metres

Pattern:  Eva dress by Tessuti patterns

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, pins, pin cushions, measuring tape, measuring gauge, sewing machine, serger, threads, iron, ironing board and many breaks.  

Me Made May 2021: Day 12

 

It's starting to feel like spring so I wore the typical spring look, a floral dress, circa 2017, Tessuti Eva dress pattern. Sleepwear was the cotton pajama set, circa 2020, top Butterick 6296 and bottoms OOP Vogue 9217.   

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!

Day 7: Me-Made-May '19

It finally feels like spring!  Break out the floral dress.

Today's statistics:  50% me-made, four out of eight items.

This floral print dress is made with Tessuti Pattern's Eva dress pattern and a 100% cotton fabric. It's been in the wardrobe for almost two years. And there is nothing to complain about here, it has been worn a lot and it has held up well. I don't even think it has made it to the mending pile yet.  

All of the other me-made items were previously mentioned in previous me-made posts. These include the cork handbag (McCall's 7851), cotton knit knickers (Simplicity 8229) and my nightgown (Butterick 5667).  Ready-to-wear items were other undergarments, cotton cardigan and a denim jacket. 

Happy Sewing!  

Orange is my New Dress!

This is my version of the Lily Linen Dress by Tessuti Patterns.

I made it in an orange coloured linen fabric because like Frank Sinatra once famously noted, "orange is the happiest colour."

And check out the pleating details at the hemline. It was the reason I was drawn to this design. I'm really happy with how this pattern turned out because this is the first try at this pattern. I know, a toile made out of linen, crazy! Thankfully, it worked out and I ended up with a wearable toile.  

I adore everything about this pattern from how it was packaged, it's perfect drafting, and oh my goodness, the fit! This is one comfortable dress. And can I just add that it's nice to make something without an armhole that is dropping a quarter-way down my arm? It came together easily, even though I didn't closely follow the instructions. Tessuti patterns call for a half inch seam allowance. I sewed a 5/8" allowance at the shoulder and side seams but used the recommended 1/2" allowance at the armhole. It worked out fine.

I also made my bias binding into a seam binding instead of folding it in half and opted out of stabilizing the neckline before I sewed the seam binding in place. The pockets were cut but as I was sewing the dress together I left them off. I know, I can't believe I just wrote that either. I figured the patch pockets gave it a more casual vibe and I wanted this dress for work. The last change to this pattern was the length. The pattern pieces instructs an additional two inches to be added to the hemline. Also omitted considering my height. On me it looks a little longer than on the model's photograph but I'm good with it. It's a very comfortable dress. Gotta love that even if it doesn't have pockets.   

The Stats:

Fabric:  2.5 metres

Pattern:  Tessuti Fabrics Lily Linen Dress

Additional Tools, Supplies & Distractions:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushions, scissors, tailor's chalk, thread clippers, sewing machine, walking foot, regular presser foot, iron, ironing board, seam binding maker, Burda tracing paper, pencil, ruler, measuring tape, seam gauge, audio book playing in the background and occasional breaks to fit in some housework and errands.  

Happy Sewing!  

My Top Ten Favourite Makes of 2017

Oh, who am I kidding?  I can't pick ten. Here's my top eleven sewing patterns / makes of 2017.

1.  Hands down, the most enjoyable sewing project of this year would be the little girl's coat. I was really pleased with how it turned out and I found the cutest blue and silver buttons which matched the colours of the fashion and lining fabrics. This pattern, Vogue 9219, is so adorable and it was a fun make.  

2.  I can't forget this top.  It's Vogue 1503, a Rachel Comey design. It took some time to get it done and it was all worth it and I felt that it was time well spent. And those pockets! I'm in love with those pockets and it's French seamed. I would love to revisit this pattern and create another version of this design. Maybe a colour blocked version with the raw silk I have in the stash.    

3.  and 4.  These two pieces are part of a set but came from two different patterns. The classic pyjama top (shown above) is Butterick 6296.

And the bottoms are made with Vogue 9217, a designer pattern by Kathryn Brenne. Her designs are quickly becoming one of my favourite, easing the pain the Vogue patterns no longer carry DKNY patterns. Back to the pants, these made the perfect bottoms for my pyjama set, it has a comfortable waistband and the cutest dolphin hem.  

5.  This is made from an out-of-print skirt pattern, Vogue 9951 (circa 1998) and I have to say, I quite like how this fits. I wasn't sure if I was going to ruin this project by breaking the rules and using a stripe but I have to admit, I'm glad I did.

6.  Simplicity 8529 will go down as my favourite sweater pattern of 2017. It's worth every penny. This is one of two versions made this year.  

7.  I made this jacket for Mom and I put my heart and soul into making this one. It is a cardigan style jacket made with OOP Vogue 8916. She already has several versions of this jacket but none like this one. It is made with 100% wool and lined with silk. I was tempted to keep it but my love for Mom won out.  

8.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on this Kathryn Breene dress pattern, Vogue 9268, when it first appeared. And I do love this dress even though I'm not wearing it at the moment because I made this version in a polyester ITY knit and well I'm on a natural fibre kick at the moment. I made a copy of it in a medium weight cotton knit but it really does work better in something with more drape. I'll revisit this pattern soon.   

9.  The Eva dress by Tessuiti patterns has to be one of the most comfortable dresses in my wardrobe. I've made about four versions and even made a couple for friends. The pattern is still available and Tessuti re-issued it in an additional size.  

10.  This is one of two copies of Butterick 6026, a Katherine Tilton design. The pin-tucks are hidden in this print but they add some really nice shaping.  

11.  I told you I couldn't keep it down to ten. How can I sign off without mentioning Simplicity 8229? This pattern will go down as my most used in 2017 and I'm sure there will be more to come.  

Happy Sewing