Before I put this collage together (thank you Rachel, for the Mosaic Maker recommendation -- it saved me about a zillion hours!), I had it in my mind that I didn't sew much for myself last year. And compared to 2013 which clocked in at 37 garments, I definitely sewed less at 36 garments for 2014, especially since I didn't start sewing for myself until May in 2013. So overall, my sewing output has been decreasing, but 36 items of clothing is still a pretty decent number, and what was ... Read more

I know I'm knocking your socks off with this dark grey top. With its sleek, chic silhouette in monochrome, I dare you to tell me that you're not overcome with the desire to spend an hour (or two) making one for yourself too. What's that? You saw something strikingly similar at H & M for $5 at the Black Friday sale? Point taken. You'll see, though, that on closer inspection, this top has so much going for it that blows fast fashion out of the water. The lapped shoulders up the ... Read more

If you had told me last year that I'd be able to get the print of plaid fabric to match up for a button-down shirt, I would have laughed you out of the room. As it turns out, if I cut each pattern piece individually, I can get very, very decent results (i.e. cutting every piece from a single layer instead of folding the fabric to get two sleeve pieces at once, say). Not perfect, mind you, but pretty darn good. This is Simplicity 1538. And the cotton fabric is from Drygoods -- I hear this ... Read more

Happy Friday, friends! I try to be a stickler about my blog schedule and meant to post this on Wednesday, but you know how it goes. Though I had a completed shirt, with the waning light situation (and oh, it's so frigid these days), I didn't have decent enough brightness to get photos until yesterday morning -- I jumped out of the shower and snapped a few quick pix while I toasted a couple of slices of bread for breakfast. Details, details: Pattern: Pattern m from Basic Black ... Read more

Hudson, meet Renfrew. I'd planned on having these Hudson pants done last week as part of the Perfect Pattern Parcel #6, but I already discussed my land-of-the-unicorns approach to my sewing output level (read: completely fantasy-based). But here we are, just a mere seven days later and voila, the comfiest lounge pants known to mankind. And look, I'm branching out and trying a new position other than my usual awkward standing. I give you awkward sitting. I love wearing these because ... Read more