TL; DR – Not a beginner pattern, but I figured it out. I got caught in the rain the other day; the husband appropriated the compact umbrella I carried with me in my purse, so I ended up having to take an Uber rather than get absolutely soaked in the rain. It was time –…
Tag: Woven
Pattern Review: Bryson Bomber from Styla Patterns
TL; DR – Why do I insist on not following fabric recommendations? I’ve wanted to make a bomber jacket for a while. I thrifted a Missoni for Target shower curtain (I absolutely love this print) and thought that the polyester-type fabric would be perfect for a bomber jacket. So I bought and downloaded bomber jacket…
Pattern Review: Cinch Me I’m Dreaming by Forest and Thread
TL; DR – I’m too old to wear shorter dresses. Thankfully, a longer option exists! I love testing for Forest and Thread. I don’t know what it is about her patterns, but I always end up pushing myself to do the cleanest finishes and focus on detail. So I jumped at the chance to do…
Pattern Review: Milla Wrap Dress from Designer Stitch
TL; DR – Maybe leopard isn’t so bad? You know my trials and tribulations with the Atlas Dress. So when I saw that the Milla Dress pattern from Designer Stitch HAD MULTIPLE LENGTHS, I jumped on it. It’s almost identical to the Atlas Dress, except that it can be longer or shorter. It also has…
Mary Quant Mini Dress, Take 8
TL; DR – I love this pattern and it’s versatility. Another day, another Marimekko shower curtain, this time one that I got from our local buy-nothing group. This was particularly challenging because it had some bleach stains at the bottom. The pattern, however, lends itself nicely to be able to cut the back in two…
Rowan Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – Much simpler when you don’t line it! I made a Rowan Dress SOOOOOO long ago. It was one of the early dresses where oh, wait, I have to figure out how to line something and do a hidden zipper? OOPS. I started teaching undergrads again, and I, of course, needed a new…
Free Pattern Review: Spearmint Corset from Mood Fabrics (and more!)
TL; DR – This corset, at least, wasn’t too hard at all! The daughter was going to her first Renfaire and needed an outfit. We found this gorgeous silky floral print at Joann’s and made the Spearmint Corset from Mood Fabrics and the Freshly Squeezed skirt from Sew Daily (it was free in the magazine…
Pattern Review: Judy Dress by Notch.
TL; DR – Fabric matters, also make sure you have big enough pieces. From my local buy-nothing group, I got these large(ish) pieces of fabric that were used as table clothes at a wedding. They were grey with white polka-dots, grey and white stripes, and navy checkered. They are 100% cotton, but of the heavier…
Tie Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – I’m in my summer caftan phase apparently. You know when you find a fabric online and you buy a quantity, but it shows up not as one continuous piece, but instead the yardage is made up of smaller cuts? You know how you planned a dress with that fabric but now it…
Pattern Review: LUMI Top from Tauko
TL; DR – Sometimes you gotta just do what feels right. I once again was invited to do a make and share for Tauko Magazine, issue 12. I chose the LUMI top, which is supposed to be a sweatshirt. It’s a million degrees here and the last thing I wanted was a sweatshirt. I also…
Pattern Mash-Up: M8286 and Rosalie
TL; DR – I might be getting the hang of this! I loved my first m8286, but it was missing something. So I decided to see if I could hack it together with the Rosalie dress’s flair bottom. IT WORKED PERFECTLY. This is an ankara fabric I’ve had for a while, and it was perfect…
Annecy Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – LOOK AT THE CUTE LITTLE DOGGIES! Seriously, just look at them. I got this fabric from my Christmas Mood Mystery Box. It’s a really light shirting fabric, and Annecy was a perfect match! Still super-simple, still comfortable and flattering. Woot. Or, woof.
Pattern Review: M8286
TL; DR – I made this harder than it needed to me. It looks complicated but it quite simple and satisfying. Look, you offer me a shirt dress that also wraps? YES PLEASE. I have a bit of a history with this pattern; I bought it a long time ago in the wrong size range,…
Aida Dress, Take 4
TL;DR – My god I love this pattern. Can you believe this was a shower curtain? I had to make the back out of two pieces instead of on the fold, and the fabric is a bit more stiff which made the sheering a bit more complicated, but even then, BEHOLD! I love this dress…
Harmon Tee, Take 3 and 4
TL; DR – The prefect scrap-buster pattern. I can’t believe I didn’t write about making my previous Harmon Tee, taking a scrap of this lovely floral fabric, and pairing it with this rich orange fabric, but not having enough, so made it “reversible”. And then, I found that I a few scraps of this gorgeous…
Pattern Review: Box Pleat Dress by The Assembly Line
TL; DR – I’m still trying to figure out if oversized is my style. BUT, pattern is super-straightforward. Oh, The Assembly Line, how I love your patterns. Simple, but always with one feature that makes it unique and interesting. I decided to make a Box-Pleat Dress out of this stretch woven fabric I got when…
Abingdon Dress, Take 2
TL;DR – Still a great pattern, not sure about the final result in this case? I’m a sucker for the gingham trend. I don’t know why, but I’m in a yellow mood right now. Found this sweet, yellow gingham and thought it would make a cute Abingdon dress. And it did! Except I’m not sure…
Léonie Dress, Take Three
TL; DR – POCKETS! More fun with DVF x Target. This was a duvet cover (the other side is leopard print that I literally have no idea what to do with), and I wanted a pattern that really focused on this lovely print. So I made a Léonie dress. LOOK AT IT! I LOVE IT…
Tie Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – Sometimes you have to repurpose a garment into another one. It’s (still) #memademay, and I tried on a dress that I had made and decided I didn’t like it anymore. But, I still loved the fabric. I had a little bit left over, and so I decided to make a Tie Dress!…
Helena Wrap Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – [Insert swear words here] It’s #memademay! My goal this year was to reach for garments I’ve made that I don’t typically reach for, or haven’t reached for in a while (aka all my summer garments). I decided to reach for my green Helena wrap dress, and I was reminded how much I…
Pattern Review: Tie Dress from Sewing Therapy
TL; DR – A lined bodice doesn’t have to be hard. I had the pleasure of testing the Tie Dress from Sewing Therapy that just launched today! It is a straightforward sew, ideal for lighter fabrics. It can tie either on the sides or front/back, and it can be worn (like I am) with the…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 7
TL; DR – Make even more Zadie, now with more prints! What do you get when you cross a Zadie jumpsuit and sheets from the Target x DVF collab? Y’all I am HYPED about this jumpsuit. I used pre-made white bias tape because I don’t have time/patience to make my own matching for this. Anyway,…
Pattern Review: Penny Dress from Lore Piar
TL; DR – I’m starting to really dig a variety of shift dresses! I got to test the Lore Piar Penny Dress, and I wasn’t disappointed! Wait, you might be saying if you clicked on the link and noticed there is a wrap option for this dress/top, aren’t you all about the wrap? You are…
Pattern Review: Annecy Dress from Styla Patterns
TL; DR – I love this shirt dress pattern. I had the pleasure of testing the Annecy dress from Styla Patterns. Look, I won’t say no to a shirt dress pattern. And I was thrilled with this one, especially because it has a grown-in sleeve option. I made it out of this lovely vintage fabric…
Pattern Review: Dyad Reversible Wrap Dress from Tauko Magazine Issue 11
TL; DR – What’s better than one dress? FOUR DRESSES! Look, y’all know I love a good wrap dress. So when Tauko Magazine was looking for people to make the new DYAD pattern from Issue 11, I knew it was meant to be. What’s great about this pattern is that you don’t get just ONE…
Rosalie Shirt Dress, Take 4, NOW WITH A TUTORIAL!
TL; DR – Here’s how to finish the front plackets. Target did a collab with DVF. I didn’t particularly like the dresses, but I did love the sheet-sets. So I got some, and I made another Rosalie. I really think that this is an amazing beginner pattern, but it really isn’t clear how to finish…
Pattern Review: Susan Shirt Dress from Fibre Mood
TL; DR – So. Many. Buttons. MOAR SHIRT DRESSES! I loved the slit up the sides and the cut and length of this dress. I wanted a long shirt dress pattern for these totally groovy sheets that I thrifted, so here comes Susan from Fibre Mood. I’ve made so many shirt dresses and shirts that…
Pattern Review: Jenna Shirt by Closet Core Patterns
TL; DR – LOOK AT THIS FANTASTIC SHIRT I’ve made a lot of Kalle shirts/dresses. So when Closet Core (who makes the Kalle) come out with Jenna, I was all over it. I had JUST enough fabric left over from a Kalle I had made (and gave away) to make this shirt, and OMG I…
Kalle Shirt, Take 2
TL; DR – I finally figured this pattern out. I got this table cloth from the local buy-nothing group. I had been seeing algorithmically served-up ads on my FB of a clothing line that entirely looks like this table cloth, and when it popped up, I was so happy that it was gifted to me….
Rosalie Shirt Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – OMG designer fabric really IS different, in the best ways possible. I’m trying REALLY hard not to buy more fabric. Like REALLY REALLY hard. But I can’t resist looking at Joann’s when there’s a sale (which is, to be fair, all the damn time). And then I saw this designer fabric by…
Kalle Shirtdress, Take 4
TL; DR – You can make this with 2.1yrds of fabric. More Mood mystery box goodness. I decided that I would use contrasting fabric for the collar, front placket, etc, but it turns out, I didn’t need to! I managed to squeeze in all the pattern pieces in only a little more than two yards!…
Pattern Review: Leah Jumpsuit from Fibre Mood
TL; DR – Why can’t I still figure out how to do zippers? Y’all know I love jumpsuits. But I had yet to make a proper boiler suit or flight suit type jumpsuit. I have had the Leah jumpsuit from Fibre Mood for a while now, and finally got around to making it with a…
Pattern Review: Wave Top from TAUKO Magazine
TL; DR – I love a simple top with an interesting detail. I once again participated in TAUKO magazine’s make and share, this time for issue 10. I chose the Wave top, a decision I do not regret. It’s just three pieces, with an interesting deep should pleat detail on both the front and back….
Pattern Review: Vienne Coat from SIZE:me
TL; DR – I MANAGED TO MAKE A LINED COAT! After my first (and only) lined coat disaster from my early days of sewing, I stayed away from sewing anything with a lining. But I fell in love with the Vienne coat from SIZE:me, and decided to give it a try. I cut it, and…
Mercer Top, Take 3
TL; DR – Didn’t mess this one up! First make of 2024 (that I can share right now!). I was digging through my leftover fabric pile for a different project and found this not-insignificant amount of leftover fabric from the Allium Dress I made a few years ago. (Side-note: I still love that dress, and…
Jasmine Skirt, Take 3
TL; DR – This pattern still slaps. As soon as I pulled this fabric out of my Mood Mystery Box, I knew it was going to be made into something for my daughter. I managed to squeeze out another Jasmine skirt for her by making the waist band out of multiple. pieces, as well as…
Mercer Top, Take 2
TL; DR – HOW DO I STILL MANAGE TO MESS UP SLEEVES?!?! I got a Mood Fabric Mystery Box for Christmas from my Dad, which is perfect, because it’s a surprise and also exactly what I wanted – MOAR FABRIC! You can check out my Instagram Story about the whole haul (and seeing how much…
Pattern Review: ME2008 by Know Me Patterns
TL; DR – Easier than you would think, especially because there is a sew-a-long video. I have been following Mimi G for a while now, basically since I started sewing a few short years ago. She has made it her life’s work to diversify the Big Three patterns (although I have no idea where burda…
Free Pattern Review: Sam Apron
TL; DR – This is a really good apron pattern. It’s almost Christmas, and I didn’t have a gift yet for my step-dad. My mom let me know that he needed a new apron for cooking and if I had time to make one for him… I had this leftover denim from the Ludlow I…
Ludlow Jumpsuit, Take 3
TL; DR – Thank god I write this blog so I can remember how I overcame my own inability to read directions. More winter weight jumpsuit action, this time with a grey denim. I forgot, once again, how to do the sleeves on the Ludlow Jumpsuit, but thankfully, I wrote what I did the first…
Pleats and Thank You Jumpsuit, Take 2
TL; DR – How many times do I have to tell myself not to get cocky? Ok, so you know how I said I was making a wardrobe for our trip to Italy? Yeah, the thing about winter weight jumpsuits is that they are REALLY BULKY to pack. So none of these new jumpsuits make…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 6
TL; DR – I still struggle buying and choosing fabric. We’re about to go to Italy for a family vacation, so of course I have to make an entire new capsule wardrobe lol. I wanted a “winter” Zadie, and I had this…look, I am terrible at keeping track of my fabric. This fabric is thick…
Pattern Review: Shoalhaven Shacket from Muna and Broad
TL; DR – you’d think I was new at this the number of stupid mistakes I made. I’ve wanted to make a shacket-type coat for a while. That’s what I was trying to do here, but it was an epic fail. I bought the Shoalhaven Shacket from Muna and Broad a while ago, but was…
Pattern Review: Zero Waste Bog Coat by The Sew Sew
TL; DR – So much quilt guts, but super-simple pattern, why didn’t I do this one earlier? I was supposed to be a pattern tester for the ZW Bog Coat by The Sew Sew, but my life got chaotic, and I just couldn’t. And then I got intimidated by the fact that there isn’t a…
Pattern Review: Mercer Top from Sewing and the City
TL; DR – Someday, I might get sleeves. Maybe. You know I love a good Marimekko print, and I happened to find two aprons in this lovely print on super-sale (not wanting to spend upwards of $60/m for the fabric). I decided to make a Mercer Top (curvy version) from Sewing and the City with…
Pattern Review: V1524
TL; DR – I will never, ever sew a knit-and-woven combo again if it can be helped. The daughter wanted a jumpsuit for Homecoming. I am so grateful for The Fold Line FB group who helped me find the right pattern, V1524 (which I managed to get on sale!), and helping me figure out how…
Pattern Review: QUINCY by TAUKO Magazine
TL; DR – Boobyliscious. I’ve been a reader of TAUKO Magazine since the beginning. I loved the layout, I loved the themes, I loved the patterns. Except…I cannot for the life of me figure out to to trace the damn patterns that are all overlapping and I just go cross-eyed. So when I saw a…
Pattern Review: Abingdon Dress by Styla Patterns
TL; DR – Shirring is still easy and yet also hard, as well as working with silky fabric. I was so happy to get to test the Abingdon Dress by Style Patterns. It’s a super-simple dress with shirring at the waist and sleeve cuffs. I made the maxi version (although it has different lengths) with…
Pattern Review: Pleats and Thank You Jumpsuit by Forest & Thread
TL; DR – BEHOLD! I don’t know what it is about my and jumpsuits with interesting shoulders, but here we go, I love it. I’ve done testing for Forest & Thread before and I love their patterns, so when I had the chance to test the new Pleats and Thank You jumpsuit? YES PLEASE THANK…
Free Pattern Review: Carya Shirt Pattern from Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – [Insert swear words here] After I made my daughter the mushroom skirt, she insisted we go back, get more of the same fabric, and make her and her BFF matching button-up shirts. She chose the unisex Carya shirt pattern from Mood Fabrics for their shirts. OK, so there are a confluence of…
Pattern Review: Lilja Dress from Named Patterns
TL; DR – I so needed a woven version of the Kielo dress. I love this dress. Y’all know how much I love the Kielo wrap dress pattern. And when Named Patterns came out with the Lilja dress pattern (which can also be a pinafore or shirt), I jumped on it. And when I found…
Pattern Review: MVP BD Shirt by Forest & Thread
TL; DR – So. Many. Yokes! And I love being able to rescue a garment to make another garment. I tested the extended sizing for the MVP BD Shirt by Forest & Thread. I repurposed a Liberty of London cotton from the Mitchell Dress I made a few years ago but didn’t fit me anymore….
Jasmine Skirt, Take 2
TL; DR – Still a winner. Look at this fabric. I know you don’t know my daughter, but this fabric just SCREAMS her aesthetic. And she wanted another tiered skirt with it. She even cut the fabric for me while I worked on another project. She loves it, it looks great on her, and, well,…
Patter Review: Hanbok Dress by Sewing Therapy
TL; DR – Finally found a wrap dress that didn’t work for me. Doesn’t mean it wouldn’t work for you. I had the pleasure of testing the Hanbok Dress from Sewing Therapy. I used this deep, heavy silk that I got from our local buy-nothing group (I still have like 10yrds of it). I was…
Free Pattern Review: Jasmine Skirt from Georgette Patterns
TL; DR – You don’t really need a pattern for a tiered skirt, but it helped me, and this one is great. So I was wandering around Joann’s while the daughter went crazy two stores over at Micheal’s with all of the witchy, Halloween dropping and I came across this fabric. This fabric is EXACTLY…
Pattern Review: Alma Jean Dress and Blouse by Artifact Patterns
TL; DR – Don’t I look like a party? A+, no notes. I jumped at the chance to test this lovely dress pattern, Alma Jean by Artifact Patterns, when it came across my instagram feed (oh hey, I have a dedicated sewing insta account now – give it a follow!). It was the perfect dress…
Pattern Review: Madison Blouse by Foxy Patterns
TL; DR – I feel pretty, oh so pretty! And, the best tester community experience, ever. The Madison blouse is another pattern I was invited to test by a new indie pattern company, Foxy Patterns. I got this dainty vintage floral print on my local buy-nothing group, and I thought it would be perfect for…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 5
TL; DR – If I slow down just a little and take my time, I can get this pattern cut and sewn in an afternoon. I have had this fabric for ages; I don’t even remember where I got it. And, I’ve been wanting to do a Zadie jumpsuit with a print for a while….
Pattern Review: Cameron Wrap Dress from Sycamore Road Patterns
TL; DR – I still needs to figure out interfacing, symbols or letters for pattern sizes rule, and GIANT SLEEVES. I had the pleasure of being a tester for the Cameron Wrap Dress by Sycamore Road Patterns. I missed the deadline to get feedback in because I got stuck in Atlanta on my way home…
Pattern Review: Autumn Dress by Style Arc
TL; DR – DO NOT DO THIS PATTERN IF YOU ARE A BEGINNER. ALSO, LINEN SHEETS ARE ROUGH TO SEW WITH. My mom asked me a while ago to find a pattern and make her a dress that looks like this: So I asked in the The Foldline Facebook group, and was recommended to find…
Pattern Review: Olivia Button-Up from Sycamore Road Patterns
TL; DR – LOOK AT ME EMBRACING A TREND Another tester patter. I’ve been hesitant to try the oversized shirt trend, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up. I made the Olivia shirt by Sycamore Road Patterns out of some sheets, and it turned out fantastic! The construction of the yoke/collar was…
Pattern Review: Vera Dress by Ploen Patterns
TL; DR – Pattern testing is fun! Sometimes you need a bottom ruffle Another pattern I tested: the new extended sizes for the Vera dress and top from Ploen Patterns. I really love testing patterns when the pattern designer is working to extend the size-range because I want to support these efforts. I made the…
Pattern Review: The Asteria Dress from Jennifer Lauren Handmade
TL; DR – This is a lot of dress, but what a lovely pattern it is! I’ve been sitting on this one for a while. I was a tester for the new extended size range for the Asteria Dress from Jennifer Lauren Handmade. I have to say that I was really excited to test this…
Ludlow Jumpsuit, Take 2
TL; DR – OMG THIS JUMPSUIT IS STRAIGHT FIRE, do not get cocky, check that you sewed it correctly before “serging”. I bought two fabrics when I went to Mood Fabrics in NYC, and this one is the second. Pink is ALL the rage right now (BARBIECORE, BABY!), but plain pink fabric did not fit…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 4
TL; DR – I LOVE THIS PATTERN I reprinted the Zadie jumpsuit in a size that is more reflective of my current body. I am so thankful that I can still wear my old ones with a tank top underneath, but I wanted to see how one that fit…would fit. This is a chambray sheet…
Free Pattern Review: Aida from La Maison Victor
TL; DR – Woo for v-necks that actually cover things up, don’t get complacent about shirring. I got this African wax print (which isn’t actually African, it’s Dutch, because colonialism – learn all about it) a while ago and have been waiting for the right pattern to use it, and settled on Aida from La…
Free Pattern Review: Crisa from La Maison Victor
TL; DR – Either I don’t understand French as well as I thought I did or I still can’t read sewing illustrations all that well. Probably both. I was browsing through my collected list of free sewing pattern resources and noticed that suddenly, there were a lot of patterns by La Maison Victor that were…
Rosalie Shirt Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – I LOVE THIS DRESS. I don’t know how long I’ve had this adorable cherry blossom print. It’s from a Danish fabric company which is probably why I jumped on it (Skalllerup is Danish). I thought it would be adorable as a Rosalie Shirt Dress, and I wasn’t mistaken. I did the pockets…
Léonie Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – I love this pattern. It’s another make from a Marimekko shower curtain! I made this one shorter than the first Léonie dress I made, and instead of making the back out of just one piece, I made it out of two pieces to take into consideration the dimensions of the shower curtain….
Free Pattern Review: The Rosalie Shirt Dress from Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – Can a pattern be a simple beginner pattern and super-tricky at the same time? YES IT CAN APPARENTLY. I’ve been wanting a one-piece (ie – not a separate bodice and skirt) shirt dress that flairs out FOREVER. When Mood put out their Rosalie Shirt Dress pattern, I downloaded it right away and…
Atlas Wrap Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – I have a broad back! Clever patterns can be really challenging to modify! When I made my second Atlas Wrap Dress, as fantastic as it looks, I didn’t particularly like the fit. And, as I am coming to terms with my new measurements, I realized that I probably needed a different size….
Pattern Review: The Ludlow Jumpsuit from Sewing and the City
TL; DR – Thank goodness for 5/8″ seem allowances, I finally understand how to use the stitch-in-the-ditch foot, long live heavy dark lines and large fonts! I cut the fabric for this jumpsuit out a year ago, before I realized my body had changed. As soon as I saw the style of the Ludlow Jumpsuit…
Atlas Wrap Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – That went better the second time but still managed to be weird? Have you seen some of the dresses on H&M lately? Don’t you find they look a little (A LOT) like an Atlas Wrap Dress? For example: I was like, I finally don’t have to HUNT for a pattern to match…
Pattern Review: Akinori Dress from Wardrobe By Me
TL; DR – I might be getting the hang of this sewing thing, and doesn’t this dress look AMAZING?!?!? I have followed Katie Kortman on Instagram for a while now, and have always loved her colorful patterns and fabrics. As Fabric.com was being subsumed by Amazon (which, UGH, but also I don’t get those FLASH…
Kalle Shirtdress, Take 3
TL; DR – I did this in one afternoon! I love the Kalle shirtdress pattern. And I love making dresses out of Marimekko shower curtains and sheets. I got this new shower curtain on clearance for Black Friday sales, but was wondering what I could do with the GIANT CIRCLES. I hadn’t made a Kalle…
Pattern Review: Léonie Dress from Liam Patterns
TL; DR – I needed a lot of Dopamine Dressing, why can’t I remember that seam allowances matter, and finally learn TO REINFORCE THE NECKLINE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I had long admired the fabric by Julia Allisson Cost, and I got a gift card to buy some for my birthday. I settled on…
Pattern Review: Isca Dress by Marilla Walker
TL; DR – [insert multiple swear words here]. Some days I really hate being neurodivergent. Y’all know, if you’ve been following my sewing journey, that I love a good a) wrap dress and b) shirt dress. The Atlas wrap dress is kinda a platonic ideal for me, but when I saw the Isca Dress by…
Pattern Review: Atlas Wrap Dress By Masin
TL; DR – Man, it feels good to be sewing again. I like a good, clever pattern. Jebus, how long as it been? As I said in my previous post, I spent all my time this summer printing and putting patterns together. Between changing sizes, a hectic summer of driving my daughter to work, traveling,…
Mary Quant Mini-Dress, Take 5
TL; DR – You’d think after four times making the same dress, I’d know what I was doing, but you would be wrong. Anyway, I improvised and it turned out just fine. Also, I finally understand the physics of the burrito method. My kids’ summer swim team’s colors are orange and blue. I bought bright…
Peacock Wrap Dress, Take 4
TL; DR – It’s after Memorial Day, let’s wear white. Uniqlo had their cooling sheets on super-sale a while back, and so I bought a white one, intending to make a dress out of it for summer. So I did. It’s white. It’s slippery. Also, holy crap my hair has gotten long. And, hey, look…
Pattern Review: I AM IRMA from I Am Patterns
TL; DR – Sometimes you just have to consult with a different tutorial and a YouTube video to sew something. I have long loved the I AM PATTERNS look. It’s French, after all. But they are not particularly size-inclusive (also a very French thing). I AM IRMA has SO much ease that I could make…
Mal Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – It’s shockingly hard to cut straight lines on a grid fabric. Look, what can I tell you, when big floofy-poofy dresses fall out of fashion, I don’t know what I’m going to do with these Mal Dresses I’m making, but I’ll have LARGE rectangles of fabric to work with. Gingham is also…
MOAR WRAP DRESSESSSSSSSS
TL; DR – Sometimes you just need to sew something relatively simple in gorgeous prints so that you can use sewing as therapy and finally control something ANYTHING in your life. Excuse the language, but shit’s been shitty around here lately. I hadn’t been sewing, I hadn’t been writing, I was barely making it through…
Pattern Review: Helena Wrap Dress from Just Patterns
TL; DR – Thank goodness for color photograph tutorials, but sometimes it would be nice to see the larger context rather than a close-up. Remember the green dress that inspired my Wildwood Wrap Dress? Yeah, I finally kinda have one! Since my body has changed, and my neurodivergent brain refuses to reprint and retape patterns…
Pattern Review: Tie Tee from The Sew Sew
TL; DR – Fantastic, simple make, size-inclusive, no notes. I am always wary of garments that could potentially show a lot of back. Unlike some, I have to wear a bra (and not the cute, fun kind that looks cute peaking out of a top), and thus am always a little cautious about patterns that…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 3
TL; DR – SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA BE EXTRA EXTRA I’ve had this shinny linen fabric that I impulsively bought (twice) from Mood for a long time now. I’ve been wanting to make something extra-special with it, and finally settled on this super-extra Zadie jumpsuit as a Mother’s Day gift to myself. I remember how challenging…
Pattern Review: Peacock Wrap Dress from The Sewing Revival
TL; DR – Simple pattern, beautiful silhouette, will make again. After the visual nightmare that was trying to make the wrap dress from Takuto and ultimately giving up, I was on the prowl for a wrap dress that had the bodice and skirt attached. I also have wanted a summery yellow dress because it’s EVERYWHERE….
Pattern Review: Tie Dress from The Maker’s Atelier
TL; DR – LOL I do not look good in the oversized style. I’ve wanted to make a (sigh) pussy bow dress or blouse for a while now, and I’ve long wanted to make something from The Maker’s Atelier. I found this GORGEOUS Liberty viscose fabric on sale, and it was a match made in…
Free Pattern Review: Emma by Tiana’s Closet
TL; DR – Hey, pay attention to your measurements, wearable toiles are fantastic, and maybe I’m finally figuring out how to do a V detail. This isn’t my first make from Tiana’s Closet; I point you to A Giant Comedy of Errors. It wasn’t a fair review, because I didn’t take accurate measurements. Or rather,…
Kielo Wrap Dress, Take 5
TL; DR – Woven is different from knit! Tracing patterns from magazines is HARD! I bought a second-hand Marimekko comforter cover and pillow cases off of eBay. I love the giant flowers and was struggling to find a pattern that worked to not spoil the motif. I initially wanted to try the Freedom wrap dress…
Free Pattern Review: M7969 for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – I finally understand the importance of stay-stitching the neckline. Minerva was giving you a digital copy of McCall’s M7969 if you signed up for their newsletter. I really liked the faux-wrap front and the V neckline. I had this gorgeous Liberty print that I thought would make a lovely dress. Folks, I…
Free Pattern Review: Mal Dress from Mood Fabrics for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – I still don’t get sleeves. As soon as I saw this free pattern drop on the Mood Sewciety blog, I knew I had to make the dress, and I knew I was going to use this Nerida Hansen fabric. The Mal dress isn’t zero-waste, but it is minimal waste, which I would…
Free Pattern Review: Allium Dress from Mood Fabrics for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – I still suck at setting sleeves, tiny rolled hems are HARD. I had a dress like this from Victoria Beckham for Target, and I’ve always wanted another one. The Allium Dress from Mood Fabrics is a dead ringer (other than having sleeves) for it (although I could have hacked a sleeveless version)….
Free Pattern Review: Avery by The Fabrics Store for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – I did gathers! Struggling with ease! Still fun! I got a whole bunch of vintage fabric from my local buy-nothing group, including this kinda beige, muslin-type fabric with a lovely floral embroidery at the bottom. It was a narrow fabric, paired with the large motif, it made it hard to know what…
Free Pattern Review: Pleated Summer Dress by In The Folds for Peppermint Magazine #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – LOOK AT ALL THE FLOWERS, still not sure how much ease is the right amount of ease, pleats are fun. EVER MOAR MARIMEKKO! These are the iconic flowers, cut from a king-sized flat sheet. I’ve often waffled back and forth about the (deep breath) Pleated Summer dress by In The Folds for…
Free Pattern Review: Donna from Fabrics Store for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – ARGH, freaking trying to get an elastic through is always harder than you think it should be. Man, I’m sewing up a storm! This is more Marimekko shower curtain, and I was tired of making Mary Quant Mini-Dresses. So I decided to make this lovely and simple Donna dress, free from The…
Mary Quant Mini-Dress, Take 4 for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – MOAR MARIMEKKO SHOWER CURTAIN. I figured out sleeves. I bought a Marimekko shower curtain on super-sale from Belk (which will only resonate with people living in the South). OK, I bought multiple Marimekko shower curtains and bedding on super-sale from Belk, but for this post, it’s the black circle pattern one I…
Mary Quant Mini-Dress, Take 3, for #sewfrugal22
TL;DR – I hacked another pattern and I might never go back to the old way of sewing this dress. I’ve made the (free) Mary Quant mini-dress twice, with mixed results. It seems to do better with structured wovens, rather than more drapey ones. I also still can’t properly sew a zipper. And I was…
Free Pattern Review: Wrap Top from In The Folds/Peppermint Magazine for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR: I can hack patterns now, wrap tops are fun, just like wrap jumpsuits and wrap dresses. I have an aesthetic lol. I found a gorgeous black linen on super-sale online. I thought, ZADIE JUMPSUIT! and ordered the appropriate amount. And then they only sent me one stinking yard (don’t worry – they only…
Pattern Review: Georgie Pinafore from Jennifer Lauren Handmade
TL; DR – How is it I can do hidden zippers so easily but continually mess up regular zippers? I didn’t think I’d like a pinafore but here we are, and I am getting more confident and can make adjustments without completely ruining the garment. Full disclosure: I was gifted this pattern in order to…
Pattern Review: Gone Rogue Skirt by Forest and Thread
TL; DR – I got this pattern for free as a tester, it’s a challenging skirt that I made more challenging with my fabric choice, but the results are stunning. I saw the call from Forest and Thread for pattern testers as they expand their size range, and now that the pattern is available for…
Kalle Shirt, Take 1
TL; DR – You can make a pattern any number of times, and you still learn something. I’ve already reviewed this pattern, so I’m going to indulge in a little bit of storytelling, the kind that drive people nuts on cooking blogs and that drive me nuts on sewing tutorial videos. We were visiting friends…
Free Pattern Review: Big Blue Ikea Bag by Miss Make
TL; DR – Sometimes making something simple for your dog is therapeutic and even though he doesn’t care, you spend the time on finishing. My dog loves bags. If there is a bag, my dog will work his hardest to climb in it and then fall asleep. He is a bag dog. It’s amazing. And…
Pattern Review: Farris Jumpsuit from Jennifer Lauren Handmade
TL; DR – I may actually love jumpsuits, I just may have been too ready to judge drawstring waists harshly, testing patterns in FUN! Now that the Farris Jumpsuit pattern from Jennifer Lauren Handmade has officially been released, I can share my review of the pattern and my adventures in being a PATTERN TESTER. I…
Pattern Review: Harmon Tee from Sew So Different
TL; DR – Dedicated cutting tables are awesome, press your damn fabric before sewing, and stitch-in-the-ditch is hard, yo. I needed something simple to ease me back into sewing, before I plunged into two test patterns that would require grading, etc. I had wanted to make the Harmon Tee from Sew So Different since they…
Elodie Wrap Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – LOL MASSIVE FAIL BUT TIM GUNN WOULD BE PROUD BECAUSE IT WAS A REAL MAKE IT WORK MOMENT. You’d think that by now, the third time, it would be a charm. LOL NOPE. So, I ended up sewing the skirt together wrong, attaching the panels middle-middle-side-side instead of side-middle-middle-side. And I only…
Elodie Wrap Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – I got nothing on this one, the pattern is still great and I learned my lesson to slow down, read (and re-read) the directions. Just look at how adorable this dress is. The facing isn’t quite right on the inside, but I’m not sure what I did differently from the other Elodie…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 2
TL; DR – Twill is lovely but SUCH A PAIN NEVER AGAIN, for the love of all things holy read the damn directions, buy a huge role of bias tape you will be grateful. Before I understood the difference between 45″ and 60″ fabric, I bought entirely too much purple twill in order to make…
Mary Quant Mini-Dress, Take 2, or How I Made a Dress Almost For Free
TL; DR – Even quilting cotton can make a great dress, don’t get cocky and read the damn directions. There are lots of places to get fabric. Your local fabric store. Internet fabric shops. Facebook destash groups (OH GOD BE SO CAREFUL). Goodwill (they are usually curtains, but yards of fabric for cheap are yards…
Kalle Shirtdress, Take 2
TL; DR – DO NOT GET COMPLACENT, transfer the pattern marking onto the fabric FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. This is my second Kalle shirtdress. I did my first one early in my sewing journey, and it took some time, given all the various skills I had to learn (collar, placket, bias tape hem). This…
Pattern Review: Zadie Jumpsuit from Paper Theory
TL; DR – Different doesn’t always mean hard, I love this pattern so much. I’m not, as my husband says, a jumpsuit person, despite my efforts to the contrary. I asked in one of sewing FB groups what jumpsuit pattern they would recommend for this relatively short, busty, short torso, thick-waisted sewist. They all came…
Pattern Review: Elodie Wrap Dress from Closet Core Patterns
TL; DR – Don’t be afraid to grade between sizes, fabric matters. The Elodie Wrap Dress from Closet Core Patterns in a another pattern that comes up again and again and again when you google “best woven wrap dress patterns”. It goes up to a size 30, the instructions are really well-done, and there is…
Pattern Review: Mitchell Dress from Paddleboat Studios
TL; DR – Don’t fear the floral. I wanted a pattern like the Keilo Dress and Jumpsuit, and I spotted the Mitchell Dress and Jumpsuit Pattern from Paddleboat Studios on someone on Instagram. It was exactly what I was looking for. Being in so many British sewing groups made me envious of all of the…
Free Pattern Review: Rowan Dress from Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – Polyester lining is a pain, the tools you use matter, fun fabrics are fun. Ever since I saw the Rowan Dress on Mood Fabrics, I knew I had to make it. And because of my ADHD, I have trouble seeing a dress in any other form than the one presented to me…
Free Pattern Review: Mary Quant Mini-Dress from Alice & Co.
TL; DR – Practice does make you better, read the instructions before cutting your fabric so you don’t waste fabric, cut fabric when the mood strikes you as it makes it easier to sew later (sometimes much later). This Mary Quant mini-dress comes courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum in the U.K. and Alice…
Free Pattern Review: Whimsical Bow Dress from Fabrics Store
TL; DR – The tools you use matter, and I still can’t quite properly pair a pattern with the correct fabric. It was time. I had done a number of complicated and complex sewing techniques, and now I was ready: I was going to sew something with a zipper, and a hidden one at that….
Pattern Review: Hannah Dress from Victory Patterns
TL; DR – A well-drafted pattern with well-written instructions is worth it’s weight in gold, there’s nothing more frustrating than pattern companies that aren’t size inclusive, why can’t I learn to follow the fabric recommendations, I really enjoy challenging myself. When I found the drapey knit dress, I became obsessed with finding dresses with the…
Free Pattern Review: Augustina Top from The Fabrics Store
TL; DR – Sometimes you have to sew something super-simple in a lovely fabric to get your sewing mojo back in order, know the difference between 60″ and 45″ wide fabric, and why am I still doing facings for my collars when I can be doing a bias tape finish instead. When I got my…
Pattern Review: Wildwood Wrap Dress from Sew House Seven
TL; DR – Sometimes wovens are not, in fact, easier then knits, collars remain a challenge, and if there is a video tutorial/sew-a-long WATCH IT. It started when I saw this dress from a Chinese knock-off place that was algorithmically fed to me on my FB: Anyway, it was dirt cheap but even the 3XL…
#BHMPatternDesigners Pattern Review: Anna from Style Sew Me
TL; DR – Support Black pattern designers, this pattern is awesome, but neck and collar facings still SUCK. I’ve leaned in heavily to this whole sewing thing. I’ve started listening to the podcast Stitch, Please and it has been a delight. I’ve bough pattern weights from Thanks! I Made Them! which are gorgeous and amazing….
Free Pattern Review: Hazel Coat by Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – Learn how to do finished garment measurements when you aren’t provided them. Using a lighter fabric for the outer coat and a heavier fabric for the lining is a recipe for disaster. I wanted a coat that I could wear in a open field and imagine myself on the cover of Taylor…
Pattern Review: Indira by Fibre Mood
TL; DR – Sometimes the pattern directions make assumptions about your knowledge, in-seem pockets are harder than you think, and I still haven’t found a good tutorial for them. Choose the right needle for your project. I wanted a shirtdress with brushstrokes. I found the fabric at Mood, and got the Indira pattern from Fibre…
Pattern Review: Kalle Shirtdress by Closet Core Patterns
TL;DR – FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST SHOW ME HOW TO DO THE DAMN THING I AM WATCHING THIS VIDEO TO LEARN. I love a good shirtdress. I found an amazing burgundy pinstripe shirting fabric. And I then I found the Kalle Shirtdress and Shirt pattern from Closet Core Patterns. With it came a…
