Hey, it's my turn for the Make It Perfect tour! Toni designs comfortable and good-lookin' styles, and I was so excited to try out her patterns. She sent me the paper version of the Coastal Breeze dress, and oh, I love not having to piece together PDF sheets. I seem to always screw up when aligning PDF patterns and various sheets wind up completely off-kilter. Does that ever happen to you? Anyway, I'm a fan of Toni and Make It Perfect! This dress is fantastic. Really, I'm already planning ... Read more
Monday Outfit: Tennis (or Badminton) Whites
Good morning! Despite the rain, we powered through with our Fourth of July barbecue, and it was a jolly good time. We pitched in with the neighbors for a community ping pong table, which was a big hit at the party as expected. So today, I'm sharing an entirely self-drafted tennis dress I've been plotting for a while. K is starting tennis camp this week, and it seemed imperative that I make an appropriate outfit. Tennis holds a very special spot in my heart; about five billion years ago as ... Read more
Sewing for Me: McCall’s 6751
Ikat. Something happens to me when the temperature rises, and I long to wear ikat. That's a pretty nifty back, right? Can I just tell you that I continuously bias bound the entire top portion all the way around the neckline and the cross over straps and arm holes, and I believe that bias tape was at least 6 feet long? It was taller than me, at any rate (I'm 5'4"). From the front, it looks like a plain ole tank, made in a lovely chevron-patterned ikat that I got from here ages ago: I'm ... Read more
Sewing Plans for K
Now that both K's and my wardrobes are entirely DIY'd (incidentally, am I the only one who has trouble saying DIY aloud? I always want to pronounce it "Dee-Ee-Why"), I find myself sketching a lot of potential sewing projects. I deviate from my plans more often than not, especially with K's stuff, but it's helpful to consider the holes in her wardrobe so that I'm not spending time on yet another linen dress that will never see the light of day. What she needs are shorts, and lots of them. All ... Read more
Monday Outfit: Scraps Tank + Matcha Shorts
Good morning! At last, I have something made from scratch that's K-sized to share -- it was getting to the point where even K was starting to wonder when I was going to make clothes for her again. Oh, I shouldn't forget to mention that K made that necklace with fake pearl buttons and a bell, and is so very pleased. I think she might be starting a trend. A bonafide Monday Outfit this week: I wanted to sew from this knits-based book, and I was specifically looking for an A-line tank. It would ... Read more