Drafting an over-sized sweater from scratch. When I was little, I loved to wear big sweatshirts. Like large, adult sized sweatshirts. They were comfy, of course, but mostly I adored how the sleeves would billow and blouse. I've always wanted to reclaim the joy of those sweaters. The perfect fabric has been waiting in my... Continue Reading →
Garnet: the bishop blouse
Drafting a bishop sleeved blouse with a split hem. Each season, I make a list of projects I'd like to accomplish. Inevitably, there are items that roll over into next season (or next year). Designing a blouse keeps emerging list after list, perpetually shuffled over to the next one. I designed a boxy blouse in... Continue Reading →
Tips for a Practical, Everyday Handcrafted Wardrobe
I was looking through past photos for a 2018 year in review, but instead I got inspired to share tips for making your handmade clothes work for daily wear. Although I never made a formal pledge, I've hardly bought any clothes since I started sewing a few years ago. Exceptions are: graphic tees, leggings, and... Continue Reading →
Givre Dresses & Shirts
Givre has been the unsung hero of my wardrobe since it's release over a year ago. I've made 5 shirts and 2 dresses, with 1 failed tank thrown in. Givre is a body-con and can be super sexy or low-key depending on your fabric choice; your figure can take center stage in a solid fabric... Continue Reading →
Goodnight, RTW Jeans
My poor, tired, old jeans are ready to retire. They started as skinny jeans and are now relaxed fit. I feel like I need to hang them from the rafters like a retired hockey jersey. It's time to make more pants! Over the summer, I drafted a pair of pants which was super exciting. After... Continue Reading →
Ogden Cami – the skeptics review
It seems like everyone has made an Ogden Cami. Its's achieved platinum status in the Indie realm. This of course made me very interested and very skeptical of the hype. The Ogden is famous for using very little fabric - allegedly under a yard! I have many scant yards of remnants in my stash, so... Continue Reading →
Melilot by-the-book
Confession: I've never made a proper Melilot shirt. I always change the rounded collar and cuffs to square ones; I forgo the hidden placket, ignore the pocket, and sew the bottom hem out of order. But I must have been feeling mighty proper recently, because I finally made one as Eleanor intended! Never having made... Continue Reading →
Tales from the Machine: the blunder years
Next week, I will have a fresh garment to post but for now, here's a tale of sewing gone wrong! We all have hits and misses, and this one is a real doozy. For this stitch-tingling tale, we're taking a trip all the way back to last century, to ye olde 1998. Home-ec introduced me... Continue Reading →
Linden Sweatshirt
After a challenging project, like my winter coat, I usually turn to a simple one as a pallet cleanser. It helps to clear my mind of the residual buzzing thoughts that come with a complicated project. There is something relaxing about sewing someone else's pattern -like floating down a lazy river, letting the instructions gently... Continue Reading →