Cross two things off my summer sewing to-do list: work out a hidden inseam pocket, and sew capris. Done and done! Frankly, I'm elated about these capris, even though they just appear to be a simple project at first glance. And technically they kind of are, but they signify a lot. Do you ever have sewing projects like that, where the project itself has a much more far-reaching impact than just the item you ... Read more »
simplicity
Change of coat making plans: now I’m doing a vintage pattern!
Hello, friends! No 2016 roundups or 2017 plans from me, although this is my first post of the new year. There's so much crap going on in the world that it's still sometimes difficult to focus on seemingly inconsequential things like sewing and knitting when you want to tear your hair out at the madness of it all. But when those things bring you great joy and pleasure and ease stress, to help balance out other things or ... Read more »
Black cats on parade!
Happy Halloween, my friends! There's a couple of holidays for which I'm interested in sewing, and Halloween is one of them! (It's a short list: the other is obviously Christmas.) Last year, I was in London meeting up with sewing friends on Halloween and sewed myself a theme-y blouse for the occasion. I used the same pattern as my recent Bye Bye Birdie blouse, and this year, I've used the pattern again! What can ... Read more »
Plaid flannel tie-front topper
Before Mel and I went up to northern Wisconsin for a short vacation earlier this month, I had grand plans for vacation sewing (as you do), but only got a couple of items finished. The first I'm sharing is this flannel topper! I found this great Simplicity pattern from 1949 at an antique mall for just a couple of dollars! I bought it purely for the tie-front topper. I thought it would be great sewn up in a cozy plaid ... Read more »
Wings of madness: the blouse I never wanted to sew again (but now I do)
Earlier in the week, I was waxing on about my Ultimate Pencil Skirt and how happy I was with it. Now, let's have a slightly less gushy sewing post, shall we? The blouse I wore with that skirt was one I sewed from a vintage pattern. (Woo! It's a bonus Vintage Pledge item since I already had reached my challenge of 5... actually I think there was a 6th floating around somewhere that I can't put my finger on.) It's ... Read more »
Seahorses wrap dress
This is my Seahorses dress. Otherwise known as the Watch Me Chase Decent Lighting Around My Yard dress. Or maybe it's the Dress That Doesn't Want to Be Photographed. It's also the Dress That Nearly Did Me In. It's a dress. It was a bitch to sew. The end. Okay okay, not really the end, obviously. You've actually seen me sew this pattern before, it's Simplicity 1523 from 1945. I used the bodice and front skirt piece to ... Read more »