Today I have three things to tell you about: a guest post, some jeans, and a giveaway (that's coming up tomorrow). But, back story first! Over a year ago, I sewed a pair of Ginger jeans from Closet Case Files. I loved them and wanted to immediately make another pair with a higher rise and even more of a retro look. And I didn't do it, as is so often the case when you get excited about something but then forget to make ... Read more »
Sweetheart cowgirl birthday dress
Happy birthday to meeeee!! In keeping with the tradition that I started for myself three years ago, I've sewn a dress for my birthday. It's my birthday cowgirl dress, featuring a Western novelty print and a sweetheart neckline, modeled in our Southwestern themed den! The pattern is Butterick B5748, a reproduction of their vintage pattern from 1960: I've had this pattern for ages but only got the impetus ... Read more »
Cropped Ten of Hearts cardigan
Last week, you got a look at the cardigan I'm sharing with you today. Aaand here it is again! I actually finished this two months ago, but had to wait to share it until I finished and photographed the dress I sewed to wear with it! This is actually the second time I've knit that cardigan pattern. The pattern is called Ten of Hearts, and is a vintage pattern from the 1950s that you can buy from Bex's Etsy shop. (My ... Read more »
For the love of checks
Aloha! I have a new dress to show off today! And technically a new cardigan too, but I'll save that for another post as I plan to yammer on a bit about this dress. ;) This dress has two things that make it special to me: first, some super dedicated pattern matching that I'm proud of, and second, a muslin that led me to a fantastic "aha!" fitting moment that will forever change how I approach a certain fitting issue ... Read more »
Bring on spring dress
Want a bright and floral dress that screams "Bring on spring!" at the top of its lungs? Well I've got one for you! I'm back with way more about the dress I sewed from Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book. (And psst, two days left for the giveaway.) As I explained in my review, the bodice of this dress is from the book. It's been so much fun reading everyone's excitement in the entry comments, and suffice it to say the majority ... Read more »
Review + giveaway: Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book (and a peek at the dress I made from the book)
Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book to review on my blog, along with a giveaway at the end of this post! This is Gretchen Hirsch's third book, which was just released last week. You may also be familiar with the "Gertie" name from her blog, her line of patterns with Butterick, or fabric with JoAnn Fabric (man, sooo many cute prints in her spring line). Anyway, ... Read more »
Sewing with Doctor Who
Today's outfit is just full of fun separates! I love trying out new patterns, and sewing things that are more in the 'on occasion' variety. For example right now I'm finishing up a collared vintage dress, and it's coming out great, I had an extremely crucial fitting "aha" moment in the muslin, but I don't wear dresses with collars that often, even though this has a great one, and the back of the neck collar was ... Read more »
Setting myself up for success
Recently, I bought something and then returned it: a coverstitch machine. I don't feel like writing up a long blog post about why I returned it... so instead I'm writing a long blog post about something tangentially related to it, ha ha. The short story is that I felt mine was probably a lemon. It was a Janome 900CPX and lots of people love theirs... and many people (experienced sewers) think they have duds, or they ... Read more »
Lady Agnes
Friends, sometimes you make something, and you've seen others make it too, and it's an easy enough project, and you're fairly confident it'll look pretty cute once you're done. This was not one of those times. Oh no, because I didn't make the above. I mean yeah, I eventually did. But what I actually made first was this. I think the faces sum it up. That white thing was my initial attempt at the Tilly ... Read more »
Turtleneck fit for a beatnik
Truth: I blame a lot of my fashion dreaming this early start to the year on Vera Ellen's wardrobe in White Christmas, from 1954. When watching it over the holidays (a yearly tradition), there were a few things that just spoke to me. I mean everyone's wardrobe in that movie is amazing, but Vera Ellen's wrap tops and her turtlenecks (and a turtleneck dress, even)... those fashion basics really grabbed me this time! She ... Read more »
Pattern hack: turn Butterick B6285 wrap top into a tuck-in surplice top
As I mentioned in my wrap/surplice top series introduction, I have two pattern hacks I've worked up for Gertie's Butterick B6285 pattern. Yesterday I showed you how to lengthen the wrap top bodice. But today's modification is my favorite: how I turned this wrap top pattern into a surplice top. Basically, it looks the same, there's just no wrap ties, and it's long enough to tuck it in! I adore the general fit and shape ... Read more »
Pattern hack: Lengthen the Butterick B6285 wrap top bodice
We've hit mid-week in my wrap/surplice top miniseries! Aaaand I'm supposed to sew up another surplice top for Friday but it hasn't happened yet, so we'll see about that. ;) But today's post is the first of two pattern modifications that I've worked out for the Butterick B6285 wrap top pattern. Pretty much everyone I've chatted with on Instagram or in comments on my blog who has also sewn up this top has had the same ... Read more »
Surplice tops for every day of the week
In yesterday's post, you saw my wrap tops sewn from Butterick B6285, and continuing in my miniseries, now you'll get to see my surplice tops! I'm really excited about these, if you haven't figured that out yet! And no joking on the post title, I could totally have one of these for every day of the week. And it's fully my intention to sew up an army of them. Let the rainbow of surplice tops commence! (See the stealth cat ... Read more »
My wrap tops (good and better)
Today is my first post in the miniseries I'm doing, that I told you about Friday. Let the wrap/surplice top week begin! outfit details wrap top - made by me skirt - made by me (vintage Simplicity 4812) shoes - Chase & Chloe, via Modcloth wood & resin bangle - Vintage Garage flea market, Chicago resin earrings - made by me This is Butterick B6285, from the "Patterns by Gertie" line for Butterick, by Gretchen ... Read more »
Next week: wrap/surplice top week of love (projects & mods of Butterick B6285)
Hello, friends! On Monday, February 1st, I'm going to kick off a little sewing miniseries on my blog! I came up with the idea out of the blue, because I have a sewing pattern I've been totally obsessing over for the last month and a half (if you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed!). I've sewn up 4 different versions (hopefully a 5th by the end of next week) and worked out two big pattern hacks/modifications, ... Read more »
Not forgotten: Cath Kidston inspired cardigan
A year and a half ago, I started and completed a cardigan. I never took photos, which is really unlike me with sweaters. It wasn't because I wasn't pleased with it, or didn't wear it, as I was and did (and do). I just never got around to it—until today! This is a total copycat cardigan. Case in point: Guess which one is mine... yeah okay, perhaps the Cath Kidston label and machine-knit stitch size gives it ... Read more »