It got hot this summer. So hot that I was craving a long, light, loose-fitting maxi dress. I saw this gorgeous embroidered viscose poplin from Blackbird Fabrics and I immediately thought of making a maxi version of the Orla dress (previously made here and here). Modifying the Orla was easy. I…
Short sleeved men’s shirt
Button up shirts are one of my least favourite things to make. There are just so many parts… and so many buttons. They aren’t difficult, they’re just time consuming. With that said, I keep volunteering to make them for my husband and others so I must not hate them as…
Orageuse – Londres Trench
It got cold this month and I realized last week that I didn’t have a coat that would work with my wedding dress if I ended up needing one. Everything is done for our wedding. We are fully prepared. So of course I decided the weekend before to make myself…
Named Ninni Culottes – Version #1
I don’t wear pants much anymore. My favourite are skinny jeans but they hurt my knees (because of my chronic injury) when I sit so I’ve stopped wearing them. Wide leg pants won’t put pressure on my knee caps but I’ve always thought that I’m too short to wear them…
Makes during Me Made May
I haven’t been sewing much this month because it’s Me Made May and I’ve been busy taking photos and documenting my outfits on Instagram (learn more on Instagram #MMMay18). That’s not to say I haven’t been sewing anything though! Here are a few recent makes: I made a second French…
Seamwork Veronica – Sewing Fail
Sometimes I make something that just doesn’t work. The Seamwork Veronica is one of those makes for me. It doesn’t look as bad in these photos as it did in person… but I did only keep the best of the best images. I wish I had kept some of the…
French Navy – Orla Dress #1
I’ve seen so many gorgeous Orla dresses on Instagram but I wasn’t sure it was a good style for me. Then I found out the pattern (by French Navy) was free decided it was worth giving it a try. I was a bit worried about the length of the bodice,…
Tessuti – Lois Dress #2
Immediately after I made my first Tessuti Lois Dress back in January , I made plans to try it again. I loved the fit of the top of this beautiful, simple dress but the hips ended up far to large on me. This isn’t surprising since I am very much…
Colette Penny Shirt Dress
I put the Colette Penny shirt dress into my 2018 “make nine” because I wanted to force myself to make it. I knew I might back out otherwise. I’ve been leery of shirt dresses since I tried a few in my 20’s and found them very unflattering on my figure.…
Sew Over It – Nancy Swing Dress
This dress was an experiment. I knew heading in that an unfitted empire waist probably wasn’t the best choice for me. I also took a chance on the fabric which is much bolder than my usual choices. So, as I said, this dress was an experiment and I’ll say right now…
Tessuti – Lois dress toile
One of my #makenine2018 is the Tessuti Fabrics Lois dress. I fell in love with the deep V-neck line on this dress. Empire waists aren’t usually my thing but this one sits flat across the stomach and also tucks in nicely at the small of the back making it quite…
Seamwork Mesa #2
After the success of my first try, and how much I ended up wearing it, I decided another Seamwork Mesa was in order (although if you read my last post, you know I already had this fabric cut out before I even wore my first one). Whatever the order was,…
Alice and Ann Kendra Dress #1
Before I start, a quick disclaimer: this blog post will contain too many exclamation marks because I LOVE THIS DRESS SO MUCH!!! I am numbering all of my blog posts recently and it is so nice to be finding patterns that I really love. This one, the Alice and Ann…
Megan Nielsen Sudley Blouse
It was love at first site for me for both this pattern and this fabric. The pattern is the Megan Nielsen Sudley Blouse and the fabric is a viscose poplin from Blackbird Fabrics. Neither are winter appropriate and I really should be focusing on my holiday sewing but, as I said,…
Seamwork Mesa #1
When I title a blog post with the #1 at the end, it means I’ve found a pattern I like. I have had Seamwork Mesa in my pattern stash for a while and I decided to give it a try with a black ponti di roma remnant from Fabricland. I made two…
Pauline Alice Quart Coat – Modified
This coat has been a vision in my head for well over a year. Green wool. Black faux leather sleeves. Double breasted. I bought the wool from Gala Fabrics last winter but I just couldn’t find the right pattern for it so it sat waiting in my stash. Then I…
Vogue 1537 Cocktail Dress
When I found out that I was going to San Francisco for a Christmas Party this year, I knew a new dress was definitely going to be needed. I’ve been focussing more on practical makes and, with the exception of my lovely summer party dress, my closet is rather lacking…
Sew Over It – Pussy Bow Blouse #2
My first Pussy Bow Blouse is one of my favourite things in my closet. I knew I wanted to make another but I am on restricted fabric purchases (self-imposed) right now while I work through my stash so I thought I was going to have to wait a while. Then…
Helen’s Closet – Blackwood Cardigan
The Blackwood Cardigan by Helen of Helen’s Closet has been all over my Instagram feed this year and Helen is a fellow Canadian so I knew I had to give it a go. I had trouble finding a fabric that I wanted to use for it though, that is until…
DIY Scuba Pencil Skirt
This summer I really enjoyed wearing elastic-waisted, knit pencil skirts. They look professional but, unlike their woven siblings, are also incredibly comfortable to wear when sitting all day at a desk. Knit fabric tends to cling to tights though so I thought I had to leave this favourite style behind…
Seamwork Georgia in Faux Leather
I love this dress! I had to get that out of the way right at the beginning because I do, I really really do, but it took a bit of trial and error to get there. Let me introduce you to the Georgia dress by Seamwork. I knew I might…
Sew Over It – Wool Tulip Skirt
Just a quick post today to show my my second Sew Over It Tulip Skirt. I am between sizes 10 and 12 on Sew Over It patterns so I normally cut between the sizing lines. I decided to go down to the 10 on this one because I ended up…
Sew Over It – Heather Dress
When I found a beautiful piece of heavy, rich, cranberry, 4-way-stretch ponte at Value Village this summer, I knew I needed a cosy and comfortable fall dress pattern for it. Enter the Sew Over It Heather Dress. Fitted but not tight; large built-in pockets; it looked like the perfect fall…
Seamwork – Astoria Sweatshirt
I just made my first Seamwork pattern – the Astoria cropped sweatshirt (even though it is still far too warm out to wear it). I’ve had this pattern for a while but wasn’t sure what material to use. I ended up going with a creamy white Ponte di Roma that…
Ultimate Shift Dress – Crop Top Hack 2
After I made my first Sew Over It Ultimate Shift Dress crop top hack, I knew I’d be making more… and I have. I picked up this breezy blue and white rayon from Fabricland for 70% off last month and it is perfect for the summer that just won’t quit…
Sew Over It – Silk Pussy Bow Blouse
I finally made my Sew Over It Pussy Bow Blouse (also available from Indiesew)! It took me a while to start on this project for a couple of reasons. First, the fabric I used is a gorgeous, soft silk that I purchased in a remnant sale from Gala Fabrics. I had…
Ultimate Shift Dress – Crop Top Hack
I sense a theme in my recent makes… I’ve made so many Ultimate Shift Dresses lately that you would think I was sponsored by Sew Over It (I’m not, but wouldn’t that be great?). Anyway, I had a teeny bit of fabric left over from my last Ultimate Shift Dress…
Sew Over It – Ultimate Shift Dress #2
I couldn’t help it. I had to make another Ultimate Shift Dress. My first one turned out sew awesome (pun intended), I just had to give it another go. This time I chose a border print rayon that I picked up for 70% off at Fabricland and decided to go…
Sew Over It – Sleeveless Ultimate Shift Dress
I told you how much I loved my first Sew Over It pattern last week. I couldn’t wait to try my next one so I jumped straight into the Ultimate Shift Dress. (Sorry these photos are so dark. I’m working on the lighting situation in my condo so they should…
Sew Over It – Tartan Tulip Skirt
I’ve followed Sew Over It on YouTube for a while and during Indie Sewing Month this year, I finally picked up my first Sew Over It pattern. The Sew Over It Tulip Skirt is a lovely little skirt that can be made both knee length and mini length but even…