July in Review

Sewing, Mending and Alterations

The end of the month has arrived and there are no sewing projects to show.  There has been sewing, lots of sewing and hand stitching that has kept me busy this month.  But this month's sewing project is not quite yet finished.  Mending and alterations have taken a back seat to the month long sewing project.  

In Sewing News

This month Vogue released another vintage DVF wrap dress pattern with the new Fall 2024 patterns.   

This latest one is Vogue 2060, originally released as Vogue 1548 in 1976.  I'm intrigued with this design because it "can be worn forward or backwards."  Even though I am intrigued, I do have Vogue 2000 to revisit.  

Yesterday, sad news arrived that Winnipeg Sews will be shutting down at the end of the year.  Even though there continues to be articles that sewing is making a comeback, it is hard to believe when businesses that cater to the sewing community are changing focus or shutting down.  Winnipeg Sews is the latest local victim to follow this trend.  Fabricland recently shut down one of their local stores and Instagram messages continue to pop up with additional Fabricland closures happening across the country.   And then throw into the mix how inflation has also hit the fabric store aisles.  Could this signal the end of the sewing revival?   

Stash busting

I won't actually count the fabric used until I finish the project I've been working on.  I did pick up five toggles for the project.  

Happy Sewing!  

National Thread the Needle Day!

 

Today, I'm literally threading a needle in celebration of National Thread the Needle Day.  I'm currently working on out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 2571 and there has been a lot of basting and hand stitching involved.  It's worth all the hand work and time involved with this project.  Maybe in another week or so I will have more to show.  Until then carry on celebrating National Thread the Needle Day!  

Happy Sewing!

National Tape Measure Day!

The tape measure just might be the most important and least celebrated tool in my sewing basket.  I use it every time I'm laying out a pattern on top of a yardage of fabric.  It's essential for making sure the pattern pieces are placed on the grain.  I use it to check the yardage of a piece of fabric before deciding if it's going to work on a project.   And I certainly use it to check body measurements and make alterations.  

Source:  Moschino

Then there is the measuring tape motif that can certainly be added to a design.  A walk through the notions section of the fabric store often offers measuring tape print ribbons.  

Source:  Etsy

Or how about a measuring tape printed fabric?  There are so many ways to celebrate National Tape Measure Day!  Which way will you go?  

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!

Cotton Pullover top: Closet Core's Ebony

 

First, before anything else, let's talk about the fabric used for this project.  It's a light-weight cotton sateen with some stretch.  Yes, I did use a woven fabric for this latest Ebony top.  I figured since this is a loose-fitting tent style top that it could work in a woven fabric.  And I'm thrilled with how it turned out, it's very comfortable.  

The fabric has been in the stash for decades and it was previously pre-treated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer.  It did hit the ironing board for a steam press this morning before moving to the work table for cutting.  

The pattern is absolutely a keeper and a quick project to put together.  Perfect project for beginners.  Since I was working with a woven, there wasn't enough stretch for the neckline piece to stretch into place.  A trip back to the cutting table for a new piece.  This time I cut it on the bias and extended the length a wee bit.  If there was some navy ribbing fabric in the stash, it would have been perfect.  But now that I'm thinking about it, there is some cotton knit that would have worked perfectly.  Oops.  

Project details

Seams:  2.8--3.0 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.7 metres

Pattern:  Closet Core's (formerly known as Closet Case) Ebony

Additional Tools and Supplies:   Cutting table, tailor's chalk, measuring tape, pins, pin cushion, fabric scissors, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, thread clippers, Janome serger, threads (cotton thread for the sewing machine and polyester threads for the serger), sleeve ham, iron, ironing board, back brace, heat pad and a smoothie break.  

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!

Cotton Sateen Skirt: The Assembly Line S:403 / A-line Midi Skirt

This skirt was made to go with the kAtheRine Tilton top I finished yesterday.  It's the A-line midi skirt from The Assembly Line.  

This is a basic elastic waist pull-on skirt pattern with the most wonderful front pockets.  These are pockets that you can actually use, not dainty little pockets that won't even hold car keys.  Love that.  Also love the raised waistband and wide elastic.  It's one comfortable skirt.  

The pattern comes with variations for the skirt waistband and hem options.  I went with the basic A-line design, but now that I've tried the pattern, I wouldn't mind making the paper bag waistband with the belt loops one day.  

The only changes were to shorten the hem four inches before sewing a one inch hem, I omitted the center front and back seams by cutting on the fold and opted out of top-stitching.   I think this is a wonderful pattern for beginners.  

The fabric has been in the stash for well over a decade, actually it's left-over from this project.  And there is maybe enough for a pair of shorts?  But I digress.  It is a lovely medium weight cotton sateen, one of my favourite fabrics to sew.  It was previously pre-treated and ready for the cutting table.  

Project details

Seams:  2.8 straight stitch, 3/8" seam allowances

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  

Elastic:  1 metre

Pattern:  The Assembly Line (TAL) S:403

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, fabric scissors, paper scissors, tailor's chalk, pins, pin cushion, thread clippers, cotton thread, polyester serger thread, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, blind hem foot, screwdriver, Janome serger, safety pins, iron, ironing board and coffee.  

Happy sewing.