2022 Summer Sewing Plans Amended

I'm part excited, part flabbergasted to find that we are already halfway through 2022. Part excited because I'm officially done with the classes in my graduate program and part flabbergasted because of course I thought I'd get in some more sewing time than I actually have. At the moment, the fitting issues around Simplicity 7031,…

Me Made May: Week 4 and Wrap-Up

Well, I did manage to wear one me-made a week, but I did not manage to complete my other goal of finishing my summary posts from last year. My last official me-made wear was this wristlet that I made at the Chicago School of Shoemaking and Leather Arts back in 2014. I wore it out…

Completed: McCall’s 5779 Blouse (1961) and Me Made May Weeks 2+3

I've actually made two things from a single pattern! I love the idea of these wardrobe patterns, and have always wanted to make all the pieces of one, so I'm now 2/3 of the way there-just the shorts left to go. This particular wardrobe is a "sports" wardrobe. This doesn't mean it was intended as…

MMM Week 1 and a Slow Sewing Project Update

For week 1, my one me-made outfit was my McCall's 6436, completed in 2019. I put a lot of time into getting the fit right with this pattern, so I should really make some more of them since I like sleeveless shirts. Photo by author. As for Simplicity 7031, my Slow Sewing Project, things are…

Me Made May 2022 Pledge

Being in the throes of trying to finish grad school, April swept by me before I remembered that Me Made May was on the horizon. If you followed along last year, you might remember that I started to do a retrospective of my past participation in MMM. I did this in two ways. First, when…

A Slow Sewing Project: Tracing and Cutting Tools

Last week I posted about my latest project, Simplicity 7031. Photo by author. This week I worked on tracing off my pattern and cutting out my fabric. I always trace off my vintage patterns to reduce handling and better preserve the originals. I use Wawak's Dotted Marking #15 Pattern Paper. It is an expensive purchase…

A Slow Sewing Project

Much to my chagrin, I did not complete my thesis on time to graduate this spring semester. I am now aiming for a mid-July defense. One problem that has popped up though, is the issue of what to do in that hour or so between dinnertime and bedtime (we eat late) when my brain is…

Completed: New York 1445 (1952)

Photo by author. I recently completed this for a baby shower gift. I rarely make baby/kids clothes, so it was a fun change. I've had the pattern and fabric in my stash for a long time, but never knew what to make with either. Once I started working on it, though, I knew this was…

2021 Review/2022 Plans

I did so little sewing in 2021, and what with being in my last semester of grad school and having no sewing time, so I decided to put this all in one post. 2021 Sewing in Review I made...3 whole projects, not counting many, many more face masks. One of the projects wasn't even a…

New Pattern Acquisitions Part 2

Part 1 Here Advance 7011 (1955) is another rare one that often gets up there in price when it does appear. I assume it has to do with the fact that it is both associated with Gloria Swanson and it is a rather lovely design. Most sellers and buyers don't really seem to understand what…