Rose/Shell sleeved top.

I'm not sure if this is a Rose or a Shell on the sleeve but it sure is adorable!

I was scrolling though instagram one day and came across a really fun sleeve tutorial and saved it with the intention of one day making a top with that sleeve. I save a lot of things with the idea I’ll make them one day and never do anything with them. I think it's a lot like collecting patterns that I like. I have them. I look at them but I probably won’t ever make all of them (although I do use a lot of them). Several months after saving the tutorial I was searching through my saved posts for something different when I came across this one and thought about how perfect the pink knit I had picked up on a whim would be for it.

I used simplicity #9930 from 1972 for the shirt base since I had the pattern and have used it many times, but I think any top with a sleeve would work. I drafted the sleeve as shown in the video. I think I watched it 50 times to really get the idea set in my mind.

I was thrilled that it actually worked, because I have tried tutorials that have failed miserably so it's always nice when something works out. I have noticed that a lot of times when something doesn’t work it's because the tutorial left something important out (I think it's that whole secret ingredient thing) . And while I wouldn’t say this is an easy to follow video, it does have all the instructions there. I just had to use some creative skills to get the curve right and pause it every few seconds to get the measurements.

bluejeans and blue floral shirt

I made this and took the pictures over a month ago, I've gotten very slow at posting things, but I thought it would be nice to post something to get my mind off everything going on in the world right now. so here is to sewing and dragon trees. actually I don't really talk about the tree, I just think it looks like a dragon.

I needed some new pants so I decided to give making blue jeans a try. I have made pants before and put in plenty of zippers so I was worried about it, plus I had some nice denim fabric just sitting around in my stash.

I used butterick pattern # #B5682 for the jeans. I had used this pattern previously to make some yellow plaid pants that I never blogged about, they were made out a very stretchy fabric, what I used for these jeans is an a hundred percent cotton with no stretch so they were very different. I wasn’t sure what size to make because of the fact they were non stretch and decided to go up one size just to be safe. this as it turns out was not a good idea. I had to take up every bit of the extra size. Which means this pattern is sized for non-stretch denim this is something good to know for future pairs.

The pattern was fairly straight forward but it seems like most of them are. I did read the directions which I am trying to do better at. I am so bad to simply cut out the pattern and get right to sewing. for the most part I can do this but I have decided maybe a quick overview of the pattern instructions is a good idea.

I did run into problems with the denim being too thick, which I was somewhat anticipating. my machine went through two layers with no problem and probably would have gone through three layers but it balked at four. I had trouble getting the waist band on with all those layers and decided to try lining the waistband with a light weight cotton rather than the denim. I had previously chosen a a brown with little flowers cotton to line the pockets with and went with that for lining the waistband as well. this worked like a charm and looks cute too.

for sewing the pants together I used regular thread but for the top stitching I used a heavy duty jean thread. my machine takes it well; I do have to adjust the top tension just a bit, and just to be safe I use regular thread on the bobbin. I am sure I could adjust the bobbin to work with the heavy thread but it’s not as easy to re adjust back as the top tension so I played it safe.
now putting on the belt loops on the other hand turned out to be impossible by machine. I did try it, broke a needle right away and thought no way I am ruining my machine by forcing it to do this. And put those on by hand which was not exactly easy but I managed.

the only issue I have with the finished product is they turned out a bit shorter then I would have liked. they look fine standing still but when I move they draw up a bit I just wish I would have made them an inch longer. But they’re still wearable and I do like them. They have become a staple to my wardrobe.



the blue shirt with the lace at the top is Simplicity pattern #8215
I did make a few changes on this pattern. I don’t much care for fold over collars so I ditched that idea and did just a small bias around the neck. I also added a band to the bottom of the sleeve because I thought that would look pretty. Other than that I followed the pattern . it was very easy and making the change to the collar made it all the easier to make. I do have to admit thought sewing with the light weight lace and the lining was a bit like sewing spider webs together. it took a lot of pins and sewing a bit slower than normal but it turned out so cute it was worth it.

both of these patterns where things I can wear for everyday wear and can be mixed and matched with other pieces I have. I really need to concentrate more on everyday wear so I wear what make to places like work. I love to wear dresses but they are not my friend at work (wheels and having to sit on the floor at times doesn’t bode well with dresses) so I need to wear more practical things like pants which means of course I really should make them.




* This blog is not to be used for training AI*

palazzo pants & a black shirt.

a friend of mine purged her stash in the spring, which means I added way more fabric then I have room for to mine. but really how can one say no to free fabric, and nice quality fabrics at that.
the moment I saw the brown stripe I knew which pattern I needed to make.

Vogue pattern #9301, this pattern was a give to me by a former co-worker a few years back. though it doesn’t appear she made it herself as her name is not on the pattern or she did make it but didn‘t sign it. I was drawn to this pattern for several reasons. 1: I like palazzo’s. 2: I thought is was really cool the people who made this pattern before had signed it, which means its rich in history. I have no idea who any of these people are but this pattern has been made at least 6 times, by at least 5 different people over the course of 44 years. 4 times before I was even born. and yet here it is withstanding the test of time.
the pattern itself is a bit torn here and there, its been cut in places for resizing, but its all still there.
the first date is 1975, underneath that name is Julie, and beside Julie’s name is the date 1980. so I don’t know if she made it twice 5 years apart or if 1975 person didn’t put there name on the pattern. underneath Julie is Susan 1981, then Patty 1983. and this is where it must have been put in a drawer and forgotten about, I know Palazzos went out for a while, but also came back during this patterns hiatus. they do seem to come and go as time goes by. the next name is Merideth 9/02, then me I made these for 2019.


the pattern was fairly easy except for the pockets, but that had to do with the matching of the stripes not the actual pattern. I think I would like to make these again but in view B, and with longer pockets. I mean what is the point of a pocket if its too shallow to put anything in? and with the trouble I had putting these in I wished I had opted to leave them out completely.

I thought when I cut the pants out that I had carefully matched the stripes into the pockets and it would be no big deal to put them in. I mean they are easy enough to install, very basic instructions nothing weird about it at all. however when I put them in and held them up the stripes did not match up in the least. I think I forgot to take into account the seam allowances when I was laying out the pattern and how it would actually be over 5/8inch from each cut line. sewing really does have a lot of math to consider in it. on a plain fabric the way the fabric is cut doesn’t matter nearly as much, but stripes and repeats certainly have a mind of there own. in the end I cut out five pockets before I was satisfied with the matching. and by that point it didn’t matter if I was happy with it or not, I was out of fabric. so its a good thing I cut it out right the last time.
I also added a half lining just to be on the safe side in case the fabric was a bit see through, though I think that may have been overkill.
they turned out cute and I think will make a nice pair of pants for the fall.

the black shirt is also made from my newly acquired fabric. its a really nice quality knit that sewed up nicely. I used Butterick #3391 View B. I wasn’t really happy with this shirt. it went together fine but the front ended up being a bit wonky. the pattern has you thread 1/4inch elastic through the neckline. I guess its to help stiffen it so it stays up, but the reality of it doesn’t work very well. there is too much fabric for the amount of elastic it calls for causing the fabric to gather, which I think makes it look odd, and have that look of “yeah I am homemade” and not in a good way. I tried adding a bit more elastic, but that made it gap really badly, so I messed with it and messed with it till I got it halfway decent. I ended up taking out a lot of the fabric under the arm, just in the front of the left side. at least it wearable now. though it still does gap at times and that drives me a bit crazy.

I was a little worried about the neckline being too low as it looks kind of low on the pattern picture, but its not, so I was glad I didn’t try to make it any higher then the original pattern called for. I have worn it a few times but I don’t love it the way I was hoping too. that’s okay though because I actually used something from the stash, and I have many more things to go.

my goal is use what I have, and only buy what I have too. no more just buying because its cute and I will use it one day. I have enough of that already, and one day needs to be now. however that being said. if I have a project in the works and I need to buy something I totally will, just no extras.







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falling hearts shirt

I came across this multi color heart fabric at a second hand shop. I very rarely bother looking for fabric at such places unless I want something for a quilt, as the pieces tend to be no more then scraps, but I was there so I thought I would give it a look see, and found this fabric. its a very soft knit, which I knew would make a comfortable shirt, and the print reminds me of ,and probably is something from the 1980’s.

it was about 1 1/2 yards of fabric, but 60” wide so the possibility of it being enough for a shirt were high enough I spent my $1 on it.
I had in mind immediately what I wanted to make, and was pretty sure I had a pattern to work with.
I wanted to make something that kept the idea of the 1980’s but not quite all the way 1980’s. so I used a... 1940’s reprint!
yeah, I know that doesn’t exactly make sense but I knew the pattern had the basic shape I wanted. I used simplicity 1692. a pattern I have used before when I made my Bamboo shirt.
I cut out view C extending the length by 1 1/4” and the sleeves by 1”. I only used the two pieces then made my own bands for the sleeves, bottom and neck line. I also extended the neck line a little so I wouldn’t have to add the buttons to get it over my head.

I cut it out one size bigger then my size so it wouldn’t be so fitted and didn’t add the pleats the original pattern calls for.
this shirt is really comfortable and I think it turned out really cute. definitely something I can wear for everyday wear.



* This blog is not to be used for training AI*