Sewing Myself Comfy – the Linden Sweatshirt / Hudson Pants loungewear combo!

October 18, 2019.Reading time 10 minutes.

Hi sewing friends!

Long-term readers may well have noticed that I took something of a break from sewing / blogging over the summer (welcome to all of you that continued to sign up over summer, thank you!) There was no onerous reason for taking a break, other than I wanted to dedicate my summer wholly to my family. And it was glorious! I also learnt how to knit socks and finally found the time to write a book of family recipes for the kids. That said, whilst I wasn’t actively sewing, I was planning upcoming makes like crazy…creating a spreadsheet and a Look Book and stocking up on fabric and supplies. It also gave me a good opportunity to really consider how I want to take this blog forward since it’s grown beyond anything I imagined at the start. (I’ll talk about that more in a minute!)

So, once the kids went back to school, my sewing space got a dust off and sewing began again in earnest! I’ve been pattern testing this last week but thought I’d come back to the blog with my first makes.

As always, my new season sewing has begun with the basics; this for me means loungewear / sleepwear. If I don’t have to leave the house, I don’t get dressed; it’s that simple! What I wanted then was sleepwear I’d be happy to lounge around the house in (and by ‘lounge around the house’ what I really mean is running after the kids and doing seemingly never ending housework!) And I don’t know about you, but I always find after taking a sewing break that I want to come back to something that I know wont be too taxing to sew but will produce something I’ll get lots of wear out of. PJs is always the answer!

I decided on the Linden Sweatshirt / Hudson Pants combo which I’ve seen so many great versions of on my Instagram feed. I’ve sewn the Linden a few times (see here) but the Hudsons, though long in my stash, were a ‘new-to-me’ pattern.

#sewtogetherforsummer 2019 – The Sponsored Gifts!

April 12, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Thank you all, yet again, for so enthusiastically and overwhelmingly embracing this years’ Challenge! (If you’ve missed what the Challenge is all about, you can read the Launch Post – which also contains discount codes on selected patterns and fabric – HERE). In essence, it’s about supporting and encouraging your fellow sewists whilst you all #sewtogether a Jumpsuit – or a Romper, Dungarees, Overalls – even a Catsuit if you fancy it! At the end of the Challenge, our fantastic Sponsors will send out a whole host of amazing gifts to randomly selected participants worldwide! Sound good? Read on to see exactly what our Sponsors are offering!

We’ve tried to include companies big and small that represent the diversity and vibrancy of our sewing community; they’ve all been fantastically generous and it’s quite an extensive list; there’s over 30 sponsored gifts! I present them in no particular order :

(if you want to find out more about any sponsor, you can click on their graphic to visit their site) :

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#Sewtogetherforsummer 2019 is here – and we’re ‘Jumping’ for Joy!

April 10, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

My goodness I can’t believe we’re back for the third year of #sewtogetherforsummer – in previous years we’ve had the Shirtdress and the Wrap dress but the garment that has got us quite literally jumping for joy this year is, you guessed it, the Jumpsuit! And not just the Jumpsuit; the Challenge includes all-in-ones like Dungarees, Overalls, Coveralls, Playsuits & Rompers to full on Boiler Suits! (Read on; we’ve got some amazing discount codes on many popular patterns, as well as fabric, for you too!)

So why the Jumpsuit? There are so many people responding to the fact that Jumpsuits are everywhere this year, from the Catwalk to the High Street whilst, for others, stylistically it may be pushing them out of their comfort zone! Sewing pattern companies have picked up this trend; they’re are soooo many great sewing patterns out there from both Indie and the Big4 pattern companies; we’re convinced there is a style and pattern out there for everyone!

We believe, there’s a All-in-One style and pattern out there for everyone – Woman, Man and Child – and for every season
#sewtogetherforsummer2019

So what is the Challenge?

A Crossback Apron – The Maria Apron by Maven Patterns

April 8, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

Hi! I’ve got a new ‘Sewing Uniform! Quite frankly, the amount of times I’ve rushed out of the door, after sewing to the very last available minute, only to discover too late that my clothes are covered in thread and bits of snipped fabric! It’s not a good look on the school run, when a fellow Mum stops to pick the lose threads off your clothes! And not only that, you return home to find you’ve shed them all over the house!

So whatever was left of my dignity called ‘Time’ on that and went on the hunt for a suitable Apron pattern…

My #2018MakeNine Sewing Review…err, it’s not quite as good as I thought!

December 23, 2018.Reading time 13 minutes.

Hello! I thought it timely to do an end of year review of my #2018MakeNine makes, since I’m planning my #2019MakeNine Sewing! In short, this year my plans seem to have started with a flourish, gained some solid middle ground and then, surprisingly, dwindled to absolutely nothing, as we shall see! Unlike the previous year, I still stand by #2018MakeNine plans; what I haven’t sewn yet, I’m absolutely sure I’ll sew at some point soon. Gah! I was absolutely convinced I’d nail these projects but, in fairness, I think I’ve good reasons for not doing so yet. Reasons? Or Excuses? You decide!

Anyhoo, in no particular order, let’s start with the projects I did complete…

The Melilot Shirt by Deer & Doe

I’ve made two, quite different, versions of this top – the one in this picture is in a cotton lawn and I’d class it as a shirt; the other I made in some soft viscose which is more ‘blouse’ like – is the only difference between the definition of a women’s shirt and blouse; the fabric it’s made in? Does anyone know or shall I ask Alexa?!

Of the two, I prefer the look of the lawn one but much prefer the feel and wear of the viscose one. I think what I’m saying is, my ideal version would be this print in a viscose! You can read my full post and review of the pattern HERE.

Next up, we’ve got…