u/loquacious_avenger

This has been a work in progress for at least two years. I started by cleaning and sanding the original tray, the decoupaged some of the compartments with scraps of old newsprint and scrapbooking paper.

I finally got around to installing the hooks for earrings and necklaces this weekend. The thread spools were a curb find, and the cork board at the top was purchased a while ago but never used. It’s perfect for organizing stud earrings.

Everyone has a hustle, but please busk in the station where I can walk past you.

Fabric: cotton eyelet
Pattern: my design, details included.

To draft this top, I added length and a hip curve to the bodice of a dress pattern from a project last year (link at bottom)

The original pattern was based loosely on a 1950’’s design with darts. I used inverted box pleats instead because darts and this fabric don’t work. I also opted for bias binding instead of contrast piping.
To get that bias, I cut bias strips from the unembroidered selvage. It meant a lot of piecing but it’s not noticeable.

I extended the facings out to the bust points for stability and so I can wear this without a tank top.
Instead of snaps and decorative buttons, I tried out a new technique- I’d never heard of Spanish Snap buttonholes, but they are cleaner than other bound buttonholes and use less fabric.

To finish everything, I hand basted then topstitched the bias trim around the neck and at the sleeves. There wasn’t enough selvage to bind the hem, so I just turned it twice and stitched in down.

I used scraps from a recent project to cover buttons. The facing is secured to the main fabric with tailor tacks at the front darts, shoulders, and center back.

It was a lot of finicky work, but it looks like I thought it would and it’s breezy enough to wear in Madrid in the summer.

Link to the project that I drafted the pattern for: https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/s/f5oKOD7wKl

It’s the middle of summer, but I just bought this amazing fabric and want to start planning for cooler days.
I’m including a pic with a seam gauge to show how big this pattern is. It’s a 50/50 poly cotton upholstery tapestry and I want to make a coat with a bold color satin lining. I might use the buttons pictured or I might use primary colored buttons. I am considering a contrast piping to match the lining.

I don’t want too many seams, and I definitely want the lining to flash when I walk. I’ve found a few patterns that I like, but would love opinions of the ones pictured and/or suggestions for other designs.

I have two meters, and the fabric is 284 cm wide.

Fabric: polished cotton shirting
Pattern: drafted (details follow)

I meant to make a dress for a friend’s wedding in 2013, but I misjudged my calculactions and realized the night before that it was too small. I loved the fabric so I stashed the dress and scraps in a bag with the intention of adding strips between the gores “one day”.

I found the project again in a recent move and decided to pick it back up - as a top.
I salvaged the zipper then opened the side seams and laid out the front and back. I used the facing pieces from the Santorini tank as a basis for a pattern, because I know it fits me at the neck and armscye. I let the flare of the original dress take it from there.

I added a keyhole opening at the back, incorporating the opening from the original zipper.
I did a quick fit check before cutting facings (on grain).

The facings attached, I tried it on and found it was more circus tent than trapeze. It needed shaping.

I played around with darts, pleats, and pin tucks but with the way the grain is, everything was off. A partial belt seemed the best option but I need to control the gathers in order to avoid weirdness at the bust. I slept on it and decided to make casings with drawstrings tied at the side. The casings are on the bias to allow for the curved hem.

I wanted to anchor the drawstrings at the side front, so I attached them along with the casings then carefully did the topstitching to created channels without catching the strings.

Finally, I finished the center back with a continuous lap and hook & eye closure.
I’m really happy with the results!

Ignoring the button dilemma - how would you finish the sleeves and hem on this fabric? The last time I made this, I finished the sleeves with a contrasting trim and it was a dress.

Do I turn and stitch? Face with the unembroidered bit by the selvage? Cut around the motifs to get a scalloped edge?

The neckline and front will be faced with a skin tone fabric and I’ve adapted the pattern to remove the darts and extend below the waist.

Pattern: Drafted from sloper
Fabric: challis bandanna print

I tweaked my sloper to work with my fabric, since I had just 1.5m.  I started from the edits on an earlier project, where I drafted an overlapping yoke based on a pic I saw on Pinterest. I redrew the armscyes to make this sleeveless and cut it just below the waist. I used the border for the overlapping yoke. 

To bring the blue from the yoke forward, I used the last of the border to cut the collar and a contrast facing. I used some blue marbled buttons from my stash. 
The collar band, under collar, and yoke facing are all from the main black & white portion. 

I plan to make a pair of Protea trousers from the same fabric and wear them as a set.

Pattern: S8910
Fabric: Viscose/rayon challis

I love this fabric. It reminds me of flowy dresses from the 90’s, which were so very comfortable. 

Unfortunately I have very few patterns and no printer atm, so that makes sewing a challenge. Then I remembered that I have a dress I made from a favorite pattern but only wore once because it’s too crisp. 

That means I can do two things - get a copy of a pattern I really like and have a crisp fabric for a new shirt! 
I carefully took apart the dress and because it was so crisp, I was able to get accurate new pieces.

I’m working from memory and two examples, but thankfully this is a simple construction.

I am using facings instead of bias binding on this dress because I can’t imagine that challis would be any use as binding. Also, the percale will give structure at the neckline and sleeve edges, where the fashion fabric alone would just droop.

I’m also using my percale fabric for the pocket bags so that they will be strong enough to hold a phone. I laid a section of fashion fabric on the pocket ~5cm beyond the visible portion. 

I gathered the sleeve caps instead of pleats, and replaced the bust darts with gathers as well. I’ll keep the pleats at the waist because they are deep enough to fall softly.

I bound the waist seam with a bias strip of percale, and finished the skirt with a 10cm hem. 

I can’t wait to have a flowy rayon dress and listen to my Nirvana bootlegs again.

East side of Buen Retiro, near the library.

I love this linen, but it’s nearly sheer. To balance that, I made a shirt with front pleats to make it less revealing. It should be a nice top for the heat of summer. I’ll probably wear a tank top under it for work.

Pattern: drafted from sloper, details below.
Fabric: plain weave linen
Notions: vintage “vegetable ivory” tagua buttons

I used my shirt sloper to draft a pleated front. I’ve made variations on this sloper many times, so this was a fairly easy project since I know the pieces fit.

I first marked intervals on my pattern paper then creased on the lines. It took a few tries to get the pattern I wanted.

Once the paper was pleated, I laid my sloper front over the paper and traced it. Opening the folded paper gave me a new pattern piece.

I drew a yoke pattern and used the existing sloper piece for the lower back. I debated a row of buttons at center back, but decided an inverted pleat made more sense. The sleeves are the sloper sleeves, shortened.

First I pleated the front - time consuming but relatively easy. The loose weave demanded patience and a ton of pins. Next I assembled the lower back and attached it to the yoke. I used the “burrito method” to attach the fronts.

The most tedious part of this was the topstitching, but I really wanted to add some kind of structure to the top so it was worth it. I pulled the “tails” through to the back and knotted them to be sure the pleats don’t pull out at the waist.

I love how this tank pattern fits, so I converted it into a dress for summer. I bought the linen on my first fabric splurge in Madrid.

Pattern: Santorini by Itch to Stitch.

Fabric: linen blend shirting
Interfacing: percale cotton sheet

With only a few patterns on hand, I’m using what I have and getting creative. I’ve made the Santorini tank twice and really like the fit; it’s also easy to make. I laid out the front + side front at one end of my fabric, the back + side back at the other end, and extended the length of all four pieces until they met in the middle. The facings fit in the fabric left over with some creative piecing.

I did not account for the sheerness of this fabric. To avoid showing the full shadow of my legs and underwear, I cut a partial center front panel from a very lightweight linen in my skin tone. 

I was able to get this dress mostly done in a day. I had originally planned to add patch pockets but decided against it after my first fitting and opted for an inseam pocket instead. I had delusions of adding a left pocket but realized that I need to put a button there so this dress has one pocket. To prevent it from sagging, I sewed twill tape to the top of the pocket and secured it to the seams. 

I got everything assembled, leveled the hem, then paused for a late supper. I added the buttons and stitched the hem the next day.

Brown polka dots always feel classic.

Because life happens, last summer’s plan became this summer’s result - I finished sewing almost one year after cutting.

Pattern: N6632
Edits:
flared gores
short sleeves 
added facings instead of bias tape
side seam pockets
custom length

Fabric: Brown White Rayon Lycra Print Jersey Knit Fabric from Nick of Time

I got as far as cutting the fabric for this dress last June then boxed up my sewing room for a move. 

I could have done a better job of stabilizing and labeling the pieces, but since I’ve made this pattern many times it wasn’t a challenge to assemble. The hardest part was identifying the pockets vs scraps. 

Because the jersey is so lightweight, I used tricot interfacing on the facings and stay tape at the shoulders and pocket openings. 

I’m happy with the results - it’s not the perfect dress but it will be a fun summer staple.  

I switch between my Husqvarna Onyx and my Alfa 8707 overlock. I managed to mix up the foot pedals because I’m disorganized.

I know I can check the manuals to see which is which - but can I just use one pedal for both? It would make my life easier if that’s true.

Edit: I’m leaving this up in case someone else has the same question. Husqvarna support confirmed the 0.7 is for that machine and they aren’t interchangeable. I’ve labeled the plugs with electrical tape.

I have 2 meters of this cotton eyelet fabric and plan to make a short sleeve top. I have a few options for buttons - pearlescent, solid blue, and denim look.

Since the pattern is so busy, the top will likely be boxy and just at or below waist length with a simple band collar. I’ll use the unembroidered selvedge as interfacing for the placket.

Which buttons would you choose?

I’m going to a birthday party for a friend today and the only paper I have suitable for gift wrap is pattern paper. 

When looking for some ribbon I found this fabric that has been waiting in my stash for a decade. It’s two rectangular panels, perfect for a tote bag!

I cut one panel in half to make two squares then cut away the solid border for sides. I used the selvedges for flat felling. 

To finish, I added handles of blue webbing. 
I might have to make another from the other panel for myself!

Summer appears to be arriving, and I’m seeing a lot of women in striped trousers. I picked this fabric today and would love to make myself something breezy and cool for the warm months ahead.

Of course, stripes make everything more complicated. What is your go-to pattern for striped trousers?

I’m a size 12/42 and looking for patterns available in Spain. I have 3 meters of 148cm linen.

I recently moved continents and voltages, so I’ve been without a machine for way too long. On Thursday I picked up a new machine and today I was able to unbox it and start touching fabric again!

My first order of business is to take in a few garments, thanks to my new lifestyle of walking everywhere (I no longer have a car).

I made this Santorini top last summer out of a linen skirt that no longer fit me. It was a bit large then, and fit like a potato sack now. I took it in by a total of 14cm at the waist and 6cm at the bust. I’ll have to print it again in the right size for next time.

Original project post here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/s/dax4VKqiX1