While I was making my latest pair of jeans, I hatched another idea that I started working on slowly: a pair of overalls. And boooooy am I ever happy with them! It started like this. I really wanted to try a scooped out front pocket on a pair of 1950s style jeans. I mentioned that dilemma in my last jeans post of doing the slash pockets and some gaping. So while I was in a jeans mood, I wanted to try scooped pockets ... Read more »
finished projects
I just needed a sweatshirt
Do you ever just drop everything you're working on to sew a quickie project? I almost never do. But I did recently, and can understand why people do it sometimes! In the middle of my latest jeans project I suddenly had the urge to try out a pattern I've been thinking about non-stop since finishing my Carbeth pullover. The cropped shirt in Butterick 7557, from around 1956. Meant to be more of a sweater, or a ... Read more »
1950s-style cuffed jeans (and informal video extravaganza!)
I made more jeans! And then I have some good news, and some bad news relating to that. The bad news is I've been saying since last summer that I was going to do a vintage jeans sew-along. And I... can never get to it. Friends, if you've followed me awhile, and if you've ever read any of my tutorials, they are intense. They can take me weeks to put together just one tutorial. I rarely even do them these days because ... Read more »
Tale of two blouses + a different way to construct a short cut-on sleeve
The latest two items I sewed over at the Mood Sewing Network are these blouses. Two blouses, entirely different fabrics, same pattern. Love/hate results. Okay not quite so strong as love/hate... maybe love/feel-vaguely-underwhelmed-about would be closer. ;) Both of theses blouses are versions of Butterick 6223, one of my tried-and-true 1950s blouse patterns. I've made it a few times at least, but a different view. My ... Read more »
Spring green batwing sleeve bolero
Didn't I tell you I was going on a bolero kick? I wasn't kidding. Here's my most recently completed one, and I have another well under way, and trying to plan another. Sometimes I make a sewing or knitting plan and never execute. But sometimes I do! My second finished bolero of the year is a completely different shape than my first one, and feels like wearing... well, like wearing a chic blanket. It looks chic, but ... Read more »
Perfect 1950s cropped pullover, by way of modern knitwear design
I'm someone who has a pretty distinctive style generally speaking, but there's always room for trying new shapes and lines. And that's something I enjoy doing now and again. It doesn't always work out. Case in point, I made a dress last summer that I loathed as soon as it was done and it taught me I don't like straight dresses with no waistline, but belted at the waist. I've had other fails, too. But many times, it works ... Read more »