Book Review: Happy Hats and Cool Caps (and Happy National Hat Day!)

Happy Hats and Cool Caps to Sew for the Whole Family

Authors:  Anne-Mette Hermansen and Tina Elnef

Published:  English Translation 1998 by Lark Books

Original Publication:  Huer Og Hatte Til Born Og Voksne, Borgens Forlag, 1994 (Denmark)

Translator:  Robin Orm Hansen

Editor:  Dawn Cusick

ISBN:  1-57990-026-7 (Paperback) / 1-5799-075-5 (Hardcopy)

This vintage book was found in a second hand book sale and I have to admit that I'm quite thrilled to have stumbled across it.  

Last year I sewed some tuques to donate to those in need of winter protection.  I used The Littlest Studio's free tuque pattern.  And it was mentioned by a member of the church community that the one-size-fits-all tuque pattern didn't really fit all sizes.  There was a request for an assortment of hat sizes.  I'm not going to use that pattern this year when sewing winter gear to be donated.  This year I will be utilizing the patterns found in Happy Hats and Cool Caps.  The book offers kids to adults hat sizes and information on taking your measurements.  

If you look beyond the dated photographs from the 1990s, there are some great options for winter gear within the eighty pages.  As mentioned, there are patterns for wee little people to adult sizes.  And the added bonus, there are patterns for mitts too.  All patterns for the hats and mitts shown in the book are included as pull-out sheets in the back.  

Once I find time to trace out some of the patterns, I will start with sewing mitts and head bands.  Stay tuned.   

Happy National Hat Day!  

National Dress Up Your Pet Day!

When it comes to celebrating, do you include your pets in the festivities?  Well, today happens to be National Dress Up Your Pet day.  Of course, not recommended if your pet is not into the fête fun.  But if your pet companion is game, there are some sewing pattern options to consider for dressing up for the occasion.  Or just celebrating them any day.  

What about feline friends that want to get in the action?  The Big Four pattern companies seem to be dog lovers.  But the web is full of feline fashion options.  Have you been busy sewing something special for your furry friends?  

Happy Sewing!

Scrap busting: Reusable Grocery Bags / OOP McCall's 4851

I should have enough reusable grocery bags to keep me going but here I am restocking this item.  Some have been gifted and others have found new homes.  And then others are being used for storage of food items in the freezer.  So, it's back to the sewing table with this project.  

The pattern is my go-to for this project, out-of-print (OOP) McCall's 4851.  It is a generously sized bag pattern and perfect for carrying groceries.  

The fabric is leftover pieces from this dress project.  With a little patch work, I was able to cut enough to sew three bags.  The fabric is a 100% cotton canvas from the home décor department.  It was previously pre-washed about six months ago so I was able to just get to work on the project.  The straps were made by stitching together some cotton rooster printed trim.  This trim has been in the stash for a really long time.  I picked it up cheap thinking that it would make a cute finish on a set of kitchen curtains.  Plans change more often than not.  Anyway, it worked out great for these bags.  

Project details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.5 metres or so 

Trim:  6 metres

Pattern:   OOP McCall's 4851

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, spring hinged fabric scissors, pins, pin cushions, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, thread, Janome serger, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, Jean-a-ma-Jig®, insomnia (there was some early morning sewing) and coffee.  

Happy Sewing!

No More Polyester!

There is a new Fashion Revolution Canada campaign, #NoMorePolyester, starting up.  You can read about it here.  

I have, over the years, made abundantly clear what I think of man-made fibres that are overtaking the aisles of fabric stores and are mixed with natural fibres.  So this challenge is one that I can totally get  behind.  In case you want a recap,

1. "Polyester is the worst fabric you can buy," according to bodyecology.com and I happen to agree.  Unless you like your fabric decorated by pilling.  
2. It doesn't keep you warm.  
3. Greenwashing polyester doesn't make it environmentally better because it's still polyester.  
4. Polyester and allergies, is there a link?  

I can go on and on, but I won't.  You get the gist, right?  

So since I make my own clothes, I will be tweaking this challenge to reflect my lifestyle and clothing source.  It will be a challenge, there is still some polyester yardage lurking in my fabric stash.  Regardless, I'm going to give it try this year.  So far, all the me-mades this year have been natural fiber fabrics.  So far, things are on the right track.  

Happy Sewing!  

Stash busting: Pullover Top / OOP Simplicity 2372

There have been more than a few versions of tops, dresses and pants made from out-of-print (OOP) Simplicity 2372 over the decade + some.  What can I say?  It's a great pattern.  

And here is the first 2024 version of OOP Simplicity 2372.  I won't promise that it will be the last.  I'm just letting the fabric stash dictate the 2024 project list.  

This pullover top pattern went through some changes to get to this point.  

1. The center front and back seams were removed and cut on the fold
2. Hem length was shortened
3. Sleeve was changed into a long sleeve style.  

The fabric has been in the stash for about as long as the pattern.  I believe this was a Mitchell Fabric find from back-in-the-day.  The original idea for this fabric was to sew a button front shirt and then Covid happened and sewing face masks became all the rage.  That's when the fabric was cut for the lining of face masks.  And then there wasn't enough for the shirt plans.  So plans changed and with the left over cotton fabric I was able to make a pullover top. 

Project details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1 metre

Interfacing:  0.3 metres

Label:  1 KATM label

Pattern:  OOP Simplicity 2372

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, pins, measuring tape, ruler, tailor's chalk, pin cushions, measuring gauge, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, cotton thread, Janome serger, tweezers, polyester serger thread, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, hand sewing needle, tailor's wax and a few breaks.  

Happy Sewing!  

Flannel Pajamas: OOP Vogue 9217 and Butterick 6296

Another winter's arrival along with thoughts of sewing another pair of flannel pajamas.  This new pair will replace this one that recently became drying rags for my automobile.  Once again, I turned to true and tried (TNT) patterns to make this set, out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 9217 for the pajama bottoms and Butterick 6296 for the top. 

The Patterns

The pajama top, Butterick 6296, was cut in the shorter length with the front pockets near the front hemline.  I would like to say that it went together without a hitch especially after sewing a few versions in the past, but I can't.  I did sew seam binding to the edge of the front facing before I applied the fusible interfacing.  And there was the mistake from back in October when this project was originally cut.  I accidently cut the wrong cuff pattern piece.  Oops!  Thankfully, there was enough fabric to recut these pieces.  

I made an extended back facing piece and finished the facing edges with seam binding.  The sleeves were shortened and other than that, no other changes were made.  The buttons are vintage and sourced from the stash.  

The pajama bottoms, out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 9217, are not an actual pajama pattern.  They are a pull-on, elastic waisted pants pattern that are comfortable and that's all that counts when it comes to sleepwear.  The pattern has a dolphin hem that was changed to a full length leg and adjusted to fit my petite height.   Since there are two front pockets on the pajama top, pockets on the pants were omitted on this pair.  

The Fabric

This is the Ojibway Floral fabric designed by local Canadian artist Jackie Traverse.   It was a lovely surprise to find that Marshall Fabrics is carrying her fabrics.  This is a 100% cotton flannel.  It's soft and full of joyful colours.  And there are other Jackie Traverse fabrics and prints to be found at Marshall Fabrics in quilting cotton and satin.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.6 -- 2.8 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  5 metres of 109 cm wide flannel

Interfacing:  1 metre

Buttons:  4 recycled buttons

Patterns:  OOP Vogue 9217 and Butterick 6296

Label:  1 - KATM "BESPOKE" label

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, measuring tape, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, fabric scissors, Janome sewing machine, cotton thread, walking foot, buttonhole foot, buttonhole cutter, cutting board, thread clippers, hand sewing needle, tailor's wax, Janome serger, polyester serger threads, seam ripper, iron, ironing board and tea .  

Happy Sewing!

Looking Back at 2023: Plans for 2024

 

Butterick and Simplicity pattern use made up about 50% of the list of 2023 sewing projects.  There was a time when Vogue patterns ruled in the sewing workspace.  Not last year and I predict it will continue into 2024.  I can't really say that new pattern releases from the Big Four pattern companies have been inspiring me to try something new.  Throw in inflation hitting everything sewing related and not, the decreased discount with the Fabricland membership on patterns and the out-of-control shipping costs from ordering online, it all adds up to making what I already have work.  Most projects were sewn with repeat-use patterns or second-hand store and vintage patterns.  

Tops and pants were the most sewn items in 2023.  I didn't have a need for dress up clothes.  Twenty twenty-three was a low-key year.  

A majority of the projects sewn in 2023 were natural fiber fabrics.  Although, there is some room for improvement in the journey to move away from petroleum based fibers.  

There was a drop in charity sewing projects in 2023 from previous years.  Most of the sewing projects for moi reflected a weight gain issue.  And then thanks to Covid, I lost weight by the end of the year.  Sewing for others remains the most rewarding sewing projects of the previous year.  

So, what does this mean for 2024?  Other than finishing some projects already cut out and ready to sew, only God knows!  We'll just have to wait and see.  

Happy Sewing!