My husband lovingly pointed out last night that I haven't updated my blog in weeks! I really didn't think it had been quite that long, but there it is, my last post on January 29th. Have I really not blogged since then? I have been sewing, and posting on Instagram, but my poor blog has once again been neglected. I am currently out at our country place at the lake, and had planned to do some great blog photos here, but then I forgot to pack the makes. I don't know where my brain was at really, I think I was just envisioning wearing warm and comfy clothes and thought I could probably make anything that I had forgotten. I didn't think I'd be wearing cropped boyfriend jeans and pretty short-sleeved tops this time around. Oops! So you'll have to settle with whatever photos I have on my phone (sidenote - not last night, but the night before I dropped my phone in the toilet!! Ugh!! I was actually cleaning, and had bent over to pick up the garbage can to empty it and as I did, my phone slipped out of my hoodie's pocket and straight into the toilet. I fished it out, dried it off and it is now sitting in a bag with a rather large Silica packet that came in a box that John had just unpacked. I checked on it this morning, and it's working but the screen appears to be screwed. I'm taking it in to my nearest "Apple Authorized" Servicer tomorrow. Fingers crossed something can be done.)
Anyway, let's get on with what I've been sewing:
1) A second pair of Carolyn Pajamas.
I made these with an adorable pug - boston terrier printed quilting cotton I've had in my stash for about 2 years. I would have loved to have made the pants version instead of the shorts this time, but I had barely enough fabric to squeeze out the shorts. Head's up 3 yards is j-u-s-t enough to make this version of the Carolyn pajamas if you are a size 12 (which is what I made) or under, and you shorten the top by 2 inches. ;) I love these jammies! They turned out exactly as I had hoped and are super soft and comfy. I used pre-made piping and had a much easier time constructing the notched collar the second time around. My first pair are awesome too, but made out of a more slippery rayon which made the collar a bit tricky. I'm sorry you don't get to see me in them but they look very much like my last pair, and I assure you, my legs are still just as white.
2. I made 2 tops from Marilla Walker's Roberts Collection. The first one is made from a beautiful viola print fabric (Caroline called the flowers pansies, but I think they look more like violas which are one of my favourite garden flowers) from Blackbird Fabrics. It's so pretty that I bought it in two colourways, this one and the navy. It's a poly crepe and it is soft and drape-y, and it was nice to work with. This top is a size four and I left out the cool back seaming detail as I thought it would be lost in the busy print.
For the second one, I did a button down version inspired by Katie, and I LOVE it. I had a small 1 metre piece of this beautiful Liberty print (I think it's called Castile, but I'm not sure) I bought at Shaukat (what's the deal with Shaukat? I don't know, but I tend to think if they weren't at least "under the table authorized", Liberty would shut them down, don't you?), and it wasn't quite enough but luckily, Marilla added this cool seaming detail that I could use to my advantage. Thanks Marilla!
The tencel denim I used for the back, is from, you guessed it Blackbird Fabrics (I'm a Blackbird Fabrics addict!). Anyway, I really love how this top turned out and I have already worn it a ton.
I won't say too much about these because I do want to do a full post on them. But I really like them. I've had this pattern in my stash for a long time, but never made it up. It was pretty easy sew, and I distressed them a little too. I did end up using a stretch denim when it called for non-stretch. Non-stretch denim just isn't very comfortable! Also, I don't usually have my sweatshirt high up like that, that was just so you could see the rise in the photos.
4. Secret sewing - I've been doing some pattern testing and I can hardly wait until I'm able to share my makes with you. That's all I will say for now, but here's a bit of a sneaker (hopefully I don't get in trouble for this).
5. T-Shirts!
I have had the Hey June Union St Tee pattern for a long time, but have never sewn it up, so a couple of days ago, I went to town and made 3. For the first one (the tye-die looking one), I made the elbow length sleeves with a scoop neck in the medium. I liked it at my initial try on, so I went ahead and made 2 more (both mediums again but shortened by 2 inches and shortsleeved). Once all 3 were done, I tried them all on again and was kind of meh about them. I actually think they are too big, at least in the shoulders. I think it was a mistake starting with such a busy fabric as it distracted me from the fit issues which really showed up in the two lighter colours. Also I think the lighter ones are just a bit boring for me. I really love the fabrics, but maybe on the lilac one I should have done contrasting sleeves and neckbinding or something like that. They both feel a bit, dare I say, old-ladyish on me. Anyway, the pattern was fine and the instructions were great, I just don't think it for me.
So onwards and upwards as they say, I've set off to sew a Lark this afternoon. I'm starting off with a size 6 (I know right?) and at the initial try-on, it looks pretty good. I'll be sure to let you know what happens.
I was going to include some other things that I've been up to, non-sewing related, but I think this post has gotten long enough, so I'll save that for another day. I hope you are doing well on this lovely Thursday.
What's on your sewing table?