Backlog Sewing: Filling a Request for Kids Face Masks

Of all the face masks that I have sewn this year, I've only sewn one for a small child. I don't do a lot of sewing for wee people. I don't have a model near by to try on items. When it comes to sewing kids clothing I tend to error on the large side and hope they grow into it and they do usually while their parents blink.  

Sewing a face mask for a wee person is a different story. I'm kind of working blind here and hoping that these will fit. These are going to pre-school age kids. The blue ones are an extra-small and the white print are a small.  

No clue how long to cut the elastic either. Some websites say to avoid elastics around the ears for kids. I'm just going to ship these with enough elastic for their aunt to make a final decision with fingers crossed that they will be well-recieved.  

Have you sewn face masks for kids?  Do you have a favourite pattern?  

I really like the fit of the Dhurata Davies face mask pattern.  The chin and nose darts make it one of my favourites.  It sits on the face without too much shifting or sliding out of place. Although, the orgami face mask is pretty sweet too.  Decisions.  

Even though the Dhurata Davies pattern is more work with all the darts and the pain of pressing those small sections I think it was worth the work.  As long as they fit.  For  that time will tell, right now they're at the post office awaiting delivery.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.2 length

Seam Finish:  Raw

Tips:  Details like darts matter even if it's more work than other face mask patterns.  This design is worth the extra effort.  

Fabric:   0.6 metres

Elastic:  3 metres

Pattern:  Free Downloadable PDF Dhurata Davies Face Mask pattern

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Computer, printer, paper scissors, tailor's chalk, cutting table, fabric scissors, thread clippers, pins, iron, ironing board, sewing machine, measuring gauge, safety pin and tea.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!

Oh, Yes I Did!

Oh, yes I did match a face mask to one of my dresses.  

This is the Dhurata Davies face mask pattern. I discovered this pattern through Peter's blog post where he compared two face mask patterns. I'm in agreement with Peter, I do like the fit in the chin area and even though I haven't taken it out for a test run yet, it seems to fit over all better. I really like that it has greater overall coverage than the Craft Passion face mask. The Craft Passion face mask has a nicer finish on the casing and I did borrow the technique for this one.  

Oh and the dress...

A bit matchy-matchy? I made the dress about two years ago and I still have quite a bit of the fabric left over. It's a 100% linen and I used the same fabric for the lining. This face mask doesn't have an underlining as I just wanted to test out the fit. 

The mask is made in a size medium. I think I could go down to a size small but I'm also comfortable with the fit of this size. I will likely make a couple more for myself with this pattern. I don't know if I match them all with my wardrobe.  

{Source}

The Stats

Fabric:  0.20 metres

Cord:  1 metre

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, scissors, thread clippers, safety pin and tweezers.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!

Me-Made-May 2020: Part II

Day 8

Friday, May 8, 2020

No, I didn't spill my morning coffee over my first outfit. A quick run to work followed by some errands meant that there is a change of clothes when I got home. These were the me-made items I wore and used today:  Blue cotton sateen skirt circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 1247), cotton maple leaf face mask circa 2020 (Dhurata Davies face mask pattern), grocery shopping bags circa 2020 (OOP McCall's 4851), cotton striped wrapped shirtdress circa 2018 (Simplicity 8687), cotton flannel pajama top circa 2019 (Butterick 6296), cotton flannel pajama bottoms circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 9217).  

Day 9

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Me made items worn today:  Pullover top circa 2019 (Simplicity 8529), Linen face mask circa 2020 (Dhurata Davies pattern), cotton pajama bottoms circa 2017 (OOP Vogue 9217), cotton pajama top circa 2017 (Butterick 6296), underwear circa 2017 (Simplicity 8229).  

Day 10

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Me made items worn today:  Cotton floral dress circa 2020 (Assembly Line Tulip dress), cotton flannel pajama top circa 2019 (Butterick 6296) and cotton flannel pajama bottoms circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 9217).  

Day 11
Monday, May 11, 2020

Today's me-made items:  Chain motif cotton shirtdress circa 2019 (created with mixing these three patterns:  OOP McCall's 7546, Vogue 1503 and OOP Vogue 8934), cotton flannel pajama bottoms circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 9217), cotton flannel pajama top circa 2019 (Butterick 6296) and cotton denim face mask circa 2020 (Craft Passion pattern).  

Day 12
Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Pajama day!  Cotton flannel pajama top circa 2019 (Butterick 6296), cotton flannel pajama bottoms circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 9217), embroidered silk pajama bottoms circa 2020 (OOP Vogue 9217) and embroidered silk pajama top circa 2020 (Butterick 6296).  

Day 13
Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Today's me-made selection:  floral cotton dress circa 2017 (Tessuti's Eva dress), cotton knickers circa 2017 (Simplicity 8229), white cotton pajama top circa 2020 (Butterick 6296), white cotton pajama bottoms circa 2020 (OOP Vogue 9217).  

Day 14
Thursday, May 14, 2020

Today's me-made picks:  shirtdress circa 2020 finished this morning (vintage OOP Vogue 1606), embroidered silk pajama top circa 2020 (Butterick 6296) and embroidered silk pajama bottoms circa 2020 (OOP Vogue 9217).  

Day 15
Friday, May 15, 2020

Today's me-made items:  cotton knit t-shirt circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 1306), not shown striped linen pants circa 2019 (Vogue 1642), cotton flannel pajama top circa 2019 (Butterick 6296), cotton flannel pajama bottoms circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 9217).  

Update on the MMM challenge:  A decision on fabric has been made and there should be some fabric cutting coming up this long weekend.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!

World Mask Week: Keep On Wearing and Caring

 

This week (July 12 to 18, 2021) is being marked by the global campaign promoting the continued use of wearing a face mask, handwashing and physical distancing even after being vaccinated.  Do it to protect the population that have not yet been or can not be vaccinated and those who still do not have access to the vaccine.  

In the meantime, if you're looking for a recommendation and want to keep on sewing face masks here are my favourite face mask patterns.  

The Alpat Face Mask pattern.  

Dhurata Davies Face Mask pattern.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!  

Back to School Face Masks

These polka-dot cotton face masks are to be gifted as part of require back-to-school gear. Not much to say except, of course, I revisisted the Dhurata Davies face mask pattern. This pattern has become my go-to pattern for sewing face masks. It's a bit more effort than the Craft Passion face mask but the fit makes it worth the extra effort.  

The outer fabric is a quilting 100% cotton recently picked up for this project.  Two masks are lined with white 100% cotton pique fabric left over from this project. The third mask is lined with 100% cotton fabric, left over from this project. All fabrics were previously pre-treated.  

The Stats

Fabric:  0.40 metres (for 3 face masks)

Elastic:  0.7 metres

Pattern:  Free Dhurata Davies 

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, pins, tailor's chalk, measuring gauge, iron, ironing board, sewing machine, serger and tea.  

Stay Safe, Be Kind and Happy Sewing!

Holiday Gift Ideas #2: Face Masks

I'm actually surprised that I am still getting requests for face masks.  A request for one more came this week.  It's easier than a year ago to source supplies so that is positive.  It makes sewing this project an easier task.  The Dhurata Davies face mask pattern is one of the best fitting face mask patterns I've come across.  And even though it requires nine darts across three layers, it is worth the effort.  

I only made one change to the pattern.  I extended the length at the casings for the elastic.  It give the face mask more coverage and a tighter fit across the face.  Coverage and fit are key.  

With news emerging today from the World Health Organization about Omicron, the newest variant of concern, it looks like face masks will continue to be an essential piece of our wardrobes.  

So why not add a couple new ones into the Christmas stockings this year?  It's a perfect way to use up remnants / scraps of fabric.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

Another Shirdress & Matching Face Mask: Vintage Vogue 1606

It didn't take long for vintage, out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 1606 to hit the cutting table again. To be honest, I thought I might be making the pullover dress that reminds me of the new Vogue 1691 before another shirtdress. But here I am showing my latest shirtdress. 

 

Goodness, this pattern is beautiful. The only thing it was missing were pockets and on this version I put in-seam pockets instead of patch pockets like on the first version. Otherwise, it was basically the same changes that were seen on the first: switched the sleeve placket and cuff details, lengthened the dress this time by three inches and shortened the sleeve length a wee bit more. I think I can still shorten it a bit more.  

And the matching face mask is created with the Dhurata Davies pattern, left over fabric for the lining as well and it's interlined with cotton knit. I really like the fit of this pattern. The only adjustment that I make to the pattern is how the casing is sewn.  

I did stray away from Vogue 1606 pattern instructions. And I got myself in a tangle when it came to inserting the sleeves. I should have starting with sewing the sleeve and sides but instead I sewed the sides and godets first. It was actually kind of comical how I had to maneuver and sew the sleeves.  Thankfully, it all worked out. I just mention it because Betty Jackson and Vogue patterns have a well-thought out plan laid out in the instruction sheets when it comes to piecing this project together. Stick with their plan, it's a good one.   

The fabric is a beautiful medium-weight, printed, 100% cotton that I scored at Mitchell Fabrics back-in-the-day when they were open. I do miss that store and the selection of fabrics they used to bring in. But I digress... This narrow width cotton that was pre-treated with a tumble in the washing machine and dryer before a steam pressing. 

I really like the print with "France, Fashion Wear, 100% Cotton, and Handmade Clothes" printed on the fabric. It's perfect! Although olive green with the navy blue text is not my go-to colours it was the print that had me sold on this one.  

The buttons were what I could scavenge out of the button collection. The two-hole 12 mm brown buttons were used in the front. There are four-hole perfectly matched green buttons used for the cuffs. I was only able to find six of these ones. I don't mind that there are two different buttons found on the shirtdress as I don't think anyone will really notice. I'm just thrilled that I was able to recycle the buttons.  

The Stats

Fabric:  3.7 metres (115 cm width)

Buttons:  13 - 12 mm 

Pattern:  OOP Vogue 1606 and Dhurata Davies Face Mask pattern (free downloadable)

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, pins, pin cushions, clapper, tailor's chalk, thread clippers, sewing machine, serger, threads, hand sewing needle, walking foot, buttonhole foot, tweezers, screwdrivers, serger sewing machine needle, seam ripper, buttonhole cutter, wooden chopping block hammer, iron, ironing board and coffee.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!

In Sewing News Today...

This weekend there are some declaring that we reached the 2 year mark in the global pandemic.  

If it feel longer than that, you're right.  

And there are some who are declaring that we're no longer in a pandemic rather an endemic and that we just have to "learn to live with the virus."  

Aplat face masks, circa 2021

Mask mandates are being dropped in two days in this part of the world.  

I'm not thrilled about this new phase of public health announcements, the lack of testing and vaccine inequality.  

I feel that the latest lifting of health measures is to bow down to the anti-maskers who were recently and aggressively occupying strategic locations across the country.  

But I won't be giving up my Dhurata Davies or Aplat face mask patterns anytime soon.  

Mask mandate or no mask mandate, I'll still be wearing a face mask.  

It's hardly an inconvenience when I know I'm protecting others.  

Added bonus, not one cold, flu, or sinus infection since I started wearing the hottest fashion accessory of the past two + years!  

Seriously.  

Face masks have been a blessing.  

Yup, this is one fashion trend I'm not giving up anytime soon.  

✄✄✄✄

The table runners for the church are off the sewing and cutting table, pressed, hand-stitched closed and delivered.  

They turned out better than I hoped.  

Fingers are crossed that they are well-received.  

Actually, they were well-received when I delivered them.  

That was before they were unwrapped and used.  

I guess, I'm just waiting to see how they look on the tables.  

✄✄✄✄

Currently, I've been spending my free time taping my sock PDF patterns together.  

I'm not a fan of PDF patterns.  

And taping.  

I just want to get these cut out and see if the pattern works for me.  

I'm starting with the Going Rogue Socks pattern.  

At this rate of procraftination it might take awhile to show you a completed pair.  

I hope not.  

We'll see.  

Well, that's all in sewing news today.

Stay Safe & Keep Sewing!

In Sewing News Today...

Esther Perel on Peace {source}

My heart breaks for the world. Tears fill my eyes and flood my heart when I watch the news. This past week has been a horrible week. If it's not the callous comments that Alberta's premier says about Covid-19 and the elderly to what is happening south of the border, what's been going on for far too long. 

This past week there was a Sewcialist post about some of the disturbing and very troubling events that occurred in the United States where comments questioned why it would appear on a sewing page. There were comments that demonstrated an unwillingness to listen and learn from other's view points and personal experiences. These stories are part of our everyday lives if we want to admit it or not and I strongly believe that they do belong on a sewing page.  

British fashion designer Betty Jackson responded to a 2016 interview question on what inspires her as a designer.  

"Fashion designers respond to social, economic change, it's a reflection of what's happening, really, in the world."

Thank God technology allows for stories to be retold by citizen journalists from the lies and misrepresentation presented by the American president and his administration. It is not just a U.S. story, there are many places in the world where examples of how words can give permission to horrific actions. I watch the news and my thoughts turn to the pages of Left to Tell, Immaculee Ilibagiza's memoir while seeing parallels to this modern day tragedy. 

Positive change will come if only we can listen with empathy, kindness and an open heart. I know I don't share the same experience of fear as Immaculee and other minorities who have been targeted and judged simply by their appearance and the words that have made them a target of unjustified judgement, treatment and murder. My heart aches for the world and I long to understand and educate myself so that I'm brave enough to stand and protect others from these injustices in the world and to understand the powerful structures that have created the privileges I experience living in a first world county as a person who is not overtly judged by the colour of my skin.  

We all have the opportunity to finish writing the next chapter of this story that plays out in our own neighbourhoods every day by actively listening with empathy, kindness and open heart so real change can occur in ourselves. God willing. And if it starts in a sewing page on Instagram, so be it. I think the Sewcialists Instagram page and the sewists who share their lived experiences should be applauded for having the courage to open up dialogue and share resources. Listening and reading stories are part of, hopefully, understanding. Of course, it has a place on a sewing blog or page. It is part of our daily lives, just as sewing. Just like a garment can not be complete without all the pieces, so is a story. It is not coherent if all the pieces are not put together with care.  

Needless to say, my sewing mojo has taken a hit. It's hard to find joy in sewing right now. The sewing I'm doing right now is to take my mind off things when the images and words on the news on the radio are too much. I'm sewing for others right now. I have more scrub caps for nurses at a care home to send off and other little projects on the go. I feel a need to sew for others and to feel like I'm helping someone in some way.

But it doesn't mean that I'm capable to take on anything thrown my way, with the diminished sewing mojo, there are limits to what I'm able to take on. Someone I care about asked me to do an alteration project this weekend. Something made out of velvet. I said that I'm not the best person to tackle this request, velvet is challenging to work with and alterations is not my sewing super power. My words fell to the side lines. ~sigh~ Why is it so hard for people to listen?  

This weekend, I made a soccer ball print face mask, it's my missing the 2020 Euro Cup games face mask. They're postponed until 2021. For the face mask, I used the Dhurata Davies pattern, quilting cotton for the outer and lining fabric and interlined with a cotton knit. 

Well, that's all in sewing news today.  

Stay Safe, Be Kind and Happy Sewing!  

I Can't Help Myself!

Sometimes you just need to be a little bit silly to get through all this pandemic stuff. I made another matching Dhurata Davies face mask.  Since I knew I like the fit, I went ahead and sewed a cotton knit interlining to this mask. It gave it more bulk and fogs up the glasses more than the two layer linen version previously made.   

The Stats

Fabric:  0.40 metres

Pattern:  Free downloadable Dhurata Davies Face Mask

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, washable marking pen, thread clippers, sewing machine, walking foot, measuring gauge, iron and ironing board.  

Stay Safe & Happy Sewing!

Me Made May 2021: Days 3 and 4

I'm a day late but I was out for the count for much of yesterday.  

So, I was feeling pretty good when I woke up, thinking that I escaped any of the side-effects from the vaccine. I ended up back home and in bed after lunch. 

For a few short hours I tallied four me-made items:

Cotton shirtdress, circa 2020, out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 1606.  At work I wear two face masks, a medical grade mask under a reusable face mask, circa 2020, Dhurata Davies pattern. And most of my day was spent in flannel pajamas, top, circa 2019, was made with Butterick 6296 and the bottoms, circa 2018, with OOP Vogue 9217.

Yes, today I wore two coats. This morning I was out on patrol duty when it was minus seven and when you're standing there in an open parking lot for fifteen minutes I was going with something warmer. My coat of choice this morning, circa 2018, OOP Vogue 8934.  By recess duty I was out without a coat and by the end of the day the wind picked up and I went to the trunk of my car to grab the spring coat, circa 2019, Vogue 9367.  

My dress of choice was a French terry knit turtleneck dress, circa 2019, OOP Vogue 8939. Since I need pockets at work and the dress doesn't meet this requirement, I topped it with a light-weight top, circa 2020, OOP Butterick 5891. Face masks worn at work were a disposable medical grade mask topped with a disposable KN95 mask.  

And sleepwear was is a repeat of the set worn yesterday.  Details are above.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!  

Year in Review: The 2021 Edition

What a year!  Goals are meant to be changed, right?  Well, that has been the theme of 2021 for sure.  Of my sewing goals (another pair of jeans, car coat, denim jacket, vest, twist front top and a linen shirt), yeah, I've got nothing to show.  This is what did come out of the sewing workspace this past year.  

 January

Most of my sewing time in 2021 was dedicated to sewing for others (minus the dresses that fits for moi).  All of these makes were created with tried and trusted patterns.  The Littlest Studio tuque (free downloadable pattern), scrub caps (free downloadable pattern), Simplicity silk slip and The Assembly Line's Tulip dress.  

Covid-19 continued to be an presence in our lives as the roll-out of the vaccine started in North America a few weeks earlier.  The first to receive their vaccines are people living in long-term care facilities and those working in health care.  There is a sense of hope at the beginning of the year that was quickly diminished later in the month when it was discovered that a B.C. couple jumped the Covid vaccine queue.  Some people didn't get the memo that claims we're in this together.  

Face masks remain the top fashion accessory of our times despite the anti-maskers who are not too keen on this fashion accessory.     

February

February's sewing projects were about work clothes, dealing with weight gain and the fact that I'm not comfortable winter driving while wearing a big heavy winter coat.  McCall's reversible winter jacket, Closet Core dress, Vogue t-shirt and Vogue turtleneck dress.  

Pandemic life is not pretty.  Pandemic pounds and the Covid-15 are more than catch phrases that sum up the physical toll the pandemic is having on the world's population.  Knowing that I am not alone is not helping.  I was at an unhealthy weight before the pandemic and now it's worse.  There are winter clothes in my wardrobe, packed away because they do not fit.  Wool pants that could keep me warm this winter are unwearable because they don't fit.  I don't even want to think about sewing but I need something to wear with more ease if I'm going to get dressed for work.    

March

March's sewing was dedicated to practical sewing and sewing for others.  More scrub caps for nurses working in an Ontario health care facility and reusable shopping bags for me.  

Pandemic pounds are extinguishing my desire to sew anything new for myself.  The roll-out of the vaccine is slowly marching along.  (Unintended pun)   I'm still waiting my turn.  In the meantime, I'm sewing and sending off more scrub caps to nurses in Ontario.  

April

I was starting to feel burnt-out with pandemic life.  One of these projects were all about trying to find my lost joy in sewing, the other project was about having something to fit my obese frame.  The Assembly Line's Oversized shirt and McCall's little girl's dress.  

Pandemic sewing is starting to bum me out as I watch case number increase and anti-vaccine protesters dropping unwelcomed literature in the mailboxes around the neighbourhood.   

May

Nothing sewn this month.  

June

Tessuti Patterns' Eva dress.  Only because I no longer fit into my other versions of this dress and hot weather is coming.  This one is made with a cotton stretch and pockets.   Stretch fabric to the rescue.

Double masking has become a thing as case number increase and schools move into remote learning for the last month.  

July

July was all about catching up on projects that I've either neglected or have been talking about for quite some time.  Simplicity panties, Vogue pajama bottoms, Butterick pajama top, Vogue wool pants.  

The anti-mask and anti-vaccine protests that are popping up at busy intersections around the neighbourhood are disheartening.  I just want to hibernate in my pajamas.  

August

This year I didn't make myself birthday dress.  Pajamas seem to be more appropriate for pandemic birthdays.  McCall's little girl's dress, kitchen curtains, Butterick pajama top and Vogue pajama bottoms. 

Anti-mask and anti-vaccine protesters are taking their protests to the Federal election campaign in a very ugly way.  It makes one not want to venture out at all.  I need something to take my mind off the ugliness and anger I've been witnessing both here locally and on news clips following the campaign trail.  

September

I need to do some more charity / gift sewing to feel like I'm doing something positive.  

It's a mad, mad world out there!  Anti-mask and anti-vaccine protesters block the entrance to a local hospital restricting entrance to patients and hospital staff.  

October

There was more charity sewing and I've dipped my toes back into sewing for myself--not pajamas, believe it or not.  The Assembly Line (TAL) Box Pleat dress, Free downloadable bib pattern, and a Vogue top.  Along with some sewing bloopers that made me abandon a jean jacket project.  

I'm starting to drop some pounds, slowly.  TAL dress is too big.  I wear it a few times because I love the print but I really do sew to have clothes that fit.  The dress has plans to become grocery shopping bags instead.  

November

It may look like my sewing was all over the place. There was some charity and gift sewing, kitchen items, and dresses.  Oh my!  The turtleneck dresses are keepers.  The wrap dress has me thinking, what was I thinking?   No pattern used for the microwave cozies, Simplicity top, Burda dress, Vogue wrap dress, Dhurata Davies face mask, Vogue dress and no pattern used for the reusable coffee filters.  

I'm trying my best to eat healthier, decrease my coffee intake (I made that decision after sewing the reusable filters) and get more exercise.  It's paying off because I'm starting to fit into winter clothes that I had packed away last year.   There is a sense of hope as the Advent season begins.  

December

Burda turtleneck dress, vintage Simplicity robe, Butterick cardigan and McCall's tote bag.  

The presence of the omicron variant sucker punched the whole world and just highlights that we're not in this together as long as vaccine inequality remains.  It's not the corona virus, rather it's greed that will take us down if vaccine inequality is not addressed.   

Face masks continue to be the hot fashion accessory of the season.  KN95 masks that were readily available previous months are now more difficult to find in the stores.  I'm starting to receive more requests for homemade face masks.  The Dhurata Davies pattern has become my go-to despite being more work to create, it is the best fit.  Even though it is the holiday season, it is disheartening to watch the news that health care workers are being threatened around the world.   What happened to the hope we had in the beginning of 2021?  Hope was found at my presser foot of my sewing machine creating something as an expression of kindness.  We need more kindness right now.  

Stay safe and keep sewing!

Me Made May 2021: The Weekend Edition, Days 14, 15 and 16

 

Friday was one of those days that I had nothing to wear. It happened on the day that students were learning about hyperbole in their poetry class. 

My body was revolting at the thought of anything too tight and everything was too tight. It didn't help that my loose fitting pieces of clothing were sitting in the laundry. Even my feet and ankles were in pain and swollen by the end of the day sending me straight into my pajamas, circa 2020 (top, Butterick 6296 and bottoms OOP Vogue 9217) as soon as I got home. I squeezed into the only knit skirt, circa 2020, Vogue 1730 that would go with an oversized shirt, circa 2021, The Assembly Line T:205.  

Saturday was all about catching up!  It was my day to catch up on errands hindered by long pandemic response line-ups at grocery stores, punctuated with desired-items no where to be found and sky-rocketed meat prices.  It looks like it's going to be a vegetarian summer.  Thank goodness I like lentils.  But I digress...

On Saturday, I wore a too-snug RTW black pullover knit dress and leggings, hidden under a loose-fitting cotton knit sweater, circa 2020, OOP Vogue 9215.  My me-made face mask, circa 2020, a Dhurata Davies free downloadable pattern, was worn over top a disposable face mask.  And I brought me-made grocery bags, circa 2021, OOP McCall's 4851, to the store.  Sleepwear consisted of the top part of a pajama set, circa 2017, Butterick 6296 worn with RTW yoga pants since the bottoms have recently been turned into rags.  There are plans to sew another pajama bottom in a navy cotton sateen that I have in the stash. One day when my sewing mojo returns.  

Spent some time cooking and tending to the outdoor plants after switching over my closet to spring summer clothes and removing the items that no longer fit.  The feet are doing better today and I was happy I was able to slide them into a pair of runners.  A simply comfortable shirtdress, circa 2018, Simplicity 8687. Silk pajamas, circa 2020, top Butterick 6296 and bottoms, OOP Vogue 9217.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!

In Sewing News Today

I do like soccer and that even spills over into my sewing but not recently even with the World Cup in play.  The last time I made something soccer related was this Euro Cup dress a decade ago.  And a soccer print face mask during the pandemic.  Both pieces of clothing are no longer in rotation.  

This mask was made with the Dhurata Davies pattern.  Highly recommended pattern but hopefully we won't need to sew these again and our pandemic era is behind us all.  

I made this knit dress, a Marcy Tilton design, out-of-print Vogue 9130, in celebration of Portugal's advancement in the 2016 Euro tournament.  But this year, I'm not really into watching the tournament after Ronaldo's surprising visit to the White House, even though there are three co-hosts of this year's tournament.  There is just something about this year's soccer festivities that doesn't excite the sewing mojo of previous tournaments.  

There is still sewing going on.  Last summer, I cut out several versions of another Tilton pattern, OOP Butterick 6784 and I didn't get around to sewing the final version.  An orange linen version before the seasons changed.  I think it's about time I got to work on this latest version.  Besides, 

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

Me Made May 2021: The Long Weekend Edition

 

Friday marks the beginning of the Victoria Long Weekend here in Canada and in some much warmer parts of the country this might be considered the "unofficial start of summer."  Not here in the prairies which is a good thing considering that this province is currently the Covid hot-spot in the country.  Maybe all the needed and welcomed rain and thunderstorms will make people finally stay put and keep others safe.  One can only hope.  

To take the chill off from working in air-conditioning and the few moments outside I layered up in all the wool I could get my hands on.  I even wore gloves for an outdoor duty today.  This boiled wool jacket, circa 2020, Butterick 6244, was in between the layers of RTW items. Sleepwear this evening had to be the cotton flannel pajama set and the cooler rainy day made me wish I had some flannel fabric in the stash to sew up another pair.  

Woke up early Saturday morning to a much needed thunderstorm.  So thankful for the rain even though it meant the risk of being rained on while lining up to get into the store for groceries. This meant dressing in layers.  Jeans, circa 2020, Butterick 5682 worn with a cotton knit floral top, circa 2017, Vogue 9028, a RTW denim jacket.  That's right, I wore a Canadian tuxedo.  And just to cover up this fashion faux pas I threw the boiled wool jacket, circa 2020, Butterick 6244 over the denim jacket. 

Continuing on the theme of layer dressing, I also double-masked while in line and grocery shopping, a Dhurata Davies facemask, circa 2020, against my face and a KN95 disposable face mask over top. I changed clothes when I came home from grocery shopping into a pair of wool pants, circa 2019, Vogue 1642, cotton knit t-shirt, circa 2018, OOP Vogue 1306, and a sweatshirt fleece hoodie, circa 2015, Butterick 6253.  Sleepwear was a cotton knit nightgown, circa 2020, vintage Butterick 5517.    

Lockdown Sunday was all about staying in and spending time at home.  This cotton canvas weight dress, circa 2020, vintage Vogue 1606 was worn during the day followed by a cotton knit nightgown, circa 2020, vintage Butterick 5517.  

Today is a long weekend, woohoo!  It was nice to have another day to catch up on things.  I threw on the same dress I wore yesterday to start my day outdoor tending to the plants. (Details above), I'm not dressing to impress here and since we're now considered the Covid-19 hotspot not only in Canada, also the U.S., I really didn't care about getting dressed today.  I was so disappointed waking up yet another news story of people ignoring Covid restrictions.  It really has become the wild west of the pandemic in this part of the country.  Sigh.  After enjoying some outdoor time, listening to the birds singing, I came in looking forward to spending time in my pajamas, circa 2018-19, and taking care of indoor chores.  

Tomorrow, I'll have to get dressed.    

Me Made May 2020: Part III

Day 16

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Today's me-made picks:  cotton knit dress circa 2017 (Vogue 9268), cotton face mask circa 2020 (Dhurtala Davies pattern), cotton flannel pajama top circa 2019 (Butterick 6296), cotton flannel pajama bottoms circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 9217).

Day 17

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Me-made items worn today:  linen brassiere circa 2020 (Simplicity 8510), cotton shirtdress circa 2020 (OOP Vogue 1606), cotton flannel pajama top circa 2019 (Butterick 6296), cotton flannel pajama bottoms circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 9217).  

Day 18

Monday, May 18, 2020 

Victoria Day Long Weekend

Me-made picks:  Yard work required comfortable picks:  striped linen pants circa 2019 (Vogue 1642), cotton / linen blend shirt circa 2017 (Butterick 6026).  Changed into a wool shirtdress circa 2017 (McCall's 7546, Vogue 1503 and Vogue 8934) to combat the air conditioned environment.  Slept in cotton flannel pajama top circa 2019 (Butterick 6296), cotton flannel pajama bottoms circa 2018 (OOP Vogue 9217).  

Etc., etc., etc.  

The 2020 pandemic edition of Me-made-May is basically a repeat of the same old thing. I'm going to stop doing photo collages of my me-made wears because it's basically a repeat. I'm working from home, thanks to God! I'm one of the lucky ones who can do this. I know how blessed I am to be in this position at this time. Self-isolation, less walking up and down stairs and walking in general at the workplace, means pandemic pounds have creeped on and I find that most of the me-made clothes that I was able to wear last year don't fit as well this year. If it weren't for the pandemic and staying home to save safe and save lives I would have certainly have worn my spring coat and other me-made jackets but there hasn't been the need. If I venture outdoors for a grocery run, I'm more likely to throw on a hoodie that I can immediately throw in the wash when I get home. Dressing up is not top of mind right now. Not even my cork handbag has made it out of the closet.  

I did complete the MMM challenge I set out for myself. I made a brassiere. I could use some neutral colour two inch wide elastic if I revisit this project but I'm not willing to go to risk a fabric store trip. It's not that essential. So it looks like this will be it for a while. 

I will still continue to wear me-made items everyday not just for the remainder of May. And most of my everyday and sleep wear are me-made so that's easy. I just won't be documenting it with photographs for the remainder of the month. Enjoy the rest of Me-Made May.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!