Sewaholic ‘Minoru’ Jacket – Sewing my first fully lined coat!

December 9, 2018.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hi!

Thanks for joining me…I’m so excited to share this make with you as I’m incredibly proud – and somewhat relieved – to have made it! Making a fully lined coat has been on my ‘skills list’ for ages. Y’see, to my mind, it had always seemed like one of those highly impressive and unfeasibly difficult sewing projects; something only a ‘real’ sewist makes. And now I’ve done it, I’m happy to report it’s really not that hard at all! We can all make one! This is the ‘Minoru’ Raincoat / Jacket by Sewaholic...

Making the Deer & Doe ‘Luzerne’ trench coat recently, which is finished with bias binding internally, gave me the hunger to step up and tackle a full lining. No handstitching, I wanted to learn to do it all by machine. The Minoru Jacket seemed like a good option as it has also has some other great features, most notably the hood which can be hidden inside a zipped compartment in its high dramatic collar, as well as having inside breast pockets. Unfortunately…

Easy Pull-On Jeans – the Eleanore Stretch Jeans by Jalie

December 6, 2018.Reading time 11 minutes.

Hello…I feel like I’ve been mentally writing this post for sooo long, having sewn up four pairs of these Eleanore Jeans by Jalie since the earlier part of this year; a pair for my young daughter and three pairs for myself. If you’re looking for an intro to sewing trousers, or jeans specifically, I think this faux fly pattern is a really good place to start. The pattern has a lot of standard jean details, like the yokes and the finish of the inside leg seam. If you’re simply looking for a quick sew that results in a pair of pants you’ll wear constantly – if you’re anything like me – then you’ll also find this pattern a winner!

The pattern size range is extensive – starting at a child’s size 2 up to a women’s size W 44″ H 53″ – and calls for a denim or twill with 20% cross stretch. I’m quite sure I will make many more of these just as long as I can get my hands on …

Designer Label -v- Design A Label : My garment sewing comes of age!

November 25, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

Hello sewing buddies!

I’m sure you’ll agree, Labels can be contentious things; from the ones we assign ourselves and the ones society places on us to the ones we’re told we should aspire to buy. I can be labelled ‘Mother’, ‘Wife’, ‘Middle-Aged’; as a ‘Sewist’ and ‘Maker’; an ‘Introvert’ and ‘Bookworm’ for example but can these labels, singularly or together, give you the whole picture of who I am? Of course not. (As far as labels go, I like ‘Human’ best ;-)) And, as someone who sews my own clothes, I’m rarely swayed by Designer clothing labels either.

That all said, admittedly, there is one Label I have been desiring for years; my own self-designed woven label to sew into my handmade garments!

And now I have them and I couldn’t be happier! Friends, I also have a 15% discount code for you too, should you want to whisper in Santa’s ear! …

The Weight is Over : Crafting Sewing Pattern Weights & an iPad Holder!

November 12, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Hello again!

Do you have a sewing process you actively dislike? For me, it’s cutting out. Or rather, its the thought of the cutting out process that puts my teeth on edge; imagining it as a laborious obstacle to be gotten through before I can get on with the, y’know, actual sewing. My aim then was to speed up the process and make it more appealing in any way I can; crafting my own pattern weights, something I’ve aimed to do for a long time, seemed a good place to start.

So the question was, how many pattern weights can I get out of one metre of fabric?

Well, quite a lot as it happens.

Which all had to be cut out. Oh the irony!

Well, that Was a Surprise! The Brigitte Top by Tessuti

November 4, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

Hello hello hello!

I’ll start with a confession, I wasn’t overly enthusiastic at the start of this project. One, I was itching to crack on with another coat but knew I should hold off until I had more time to dedicate to it. Secondly, because I really love this vintage-y vibe stripe jersey I’d earmarked specifically to make a top to wear under the pair of Jenny Overalls nearing the top of my sewing queue. I just couldn’t decide on a pattern for it!

And I didn’t want to buy a new one. I had thoughts about revisiting the disaster that was my Paola Turtleneck Tee , routing through my pattern stash to pull it out. Turns out I’d binned it in a fit of pique. Rather than print it off again, I took it as a sign to sew something else. I came across and pulled out the unsewn Brigitte Top by Tessuti instead; I’d forgotten I had it. I felt a bit dubious. Why? Well, … Read More