When I did my wardrobe clean-out last month, I was making notes on gaps that I needed to fill and patterns that I should so again. One of my “opportunities” was to sew a couple of tops to go with one of my pants. It is a lovely Japanese cotton with a little bit of texture. The warp is black and the weft is a rusty colour. Continue reading “Butterick 5988 Floral Top”
This is the same pattern as in my previous post, but this time with twist. The fabric is one of those tech hiking fabrics, supposedly with moisture management and UV protection, that I see so often in RTW hiking shirts. It’s been in my stash for ages and I’ve always had plans to use it make a hiking shirt with all the bells and whistles. Continue reading “Pattern Hack: Hiking shirt with armpit and back vents”
Am I the only one who doesn’t like sewing buttons on?
I made this shirt almost 6 weeks ago and have only just got around to putting the last couple of buttons on. It’s such a tedious job at the best of times when it’s only the front placket that needs doing, but this shirt has an extra eight ( pocket, sleeve tab and 2 on each cuff). But I got there in the end, mainly as I wanted to wear it on the weekend. Continue reading “Striped hiking shirt”
In my zest for cleaning out my pattern drawer, I managed to lose my TNT jeans pattern. (Insert sound of whimpering here). It was based on a Knipmode (Jan 2011) pattern for boyfriend jeans that had been laboriously tweaked into close-fitting jeans than I’ve made over and over (easily 20 times). And it’s gone!!! Waaaa!!! Continue reading “Pattern Review: Cashmerette Ames Jeans”
I’ve known about Unicose patterns for a while now and having been wanting to give them a try. Their designs are quite extensive – the usual fair plus quite a lot of menswear, activewear and complex jacket designs. In the past, I’ve drafted a couple of items inspired by their designs. Recently, I plucked up the courage to purchase a few patterns to try.
Recently I drafted a pair of cycling bib shorts and have found them so great to wear. They have become my favourites and wear them in preference to the elastic waist type shorts. That’s my excuse to make another pair and a tank top to wear with them. Continue reading “McCall’s 7446 Tank Top and Self Drafted Cycling Shorts”
This swimsuit pattern would have to be my favourite. It is Merckwaerdigh BAD24. I love the design, especially the ‘flow’ of the black bands, and is very flattering. It would also have to be one the most comfortable suits I’ve worn and is my favourite to wear kayaking – lots of freedom of movement in the shoulders.
Continue reading “New swimsuit : Merckwaerdigh BAD24”
This paisley print has been sitting in my stash for almost a decade, never quite knowing what it wanted to be. Too short in length for a long sleeve shirt for which it was intended to be, and never quite suiting the summer shirt patterns that I tried to match it with.
Continue reading “KwikSew 3026: Paisley woven polo shirt”
I’ve been wanting to draft my own pattern for cycling shorts for years. And I’m not talking about leggings here. Real bike shorts designed to work with the shape of your leg while cycling, not standing. I decided to go the whole hog and draft a pattern for bib shorts as well as a raglan jersey. Here’s the story…. Continue reading “Self drafted cycling jersey and bib shorts”
The Tour de France started last week and I’ve been staying up until 1 or 2 in the morning to watch the live stages. It’s the perfect excuse to set up the cutting table in front of the TV each night and get some serious sewing time in. Continue reading “Cycling jerseys and other stuff”
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