I made View A with a low rise waist, ankle length in a size small and still hemmed the length a bit extra. This pattern was quick and easy to assemble and the leggings were a breeze to whip up. However, when I make them again next time I will size up. This pair turned out a bit too tight throughout my thighs and waist and I ended up not even needing the elastic in the waistband. I have always envied my girlfriends' vibrant printed leggings and finally have a super soft pair for myself. And they're so comfy to travel in. I can't wait to make another pair!



Time estimate: 2-4 hours
Size: small
Material used: knit print, 97% rayon and 3% spandex
Care instructions: machine wash cold, gentle cycle, line dry, cool iron as needed

Cost to make leggings:
pattern - $12.00
fabric - $15.75
*thread from my stash
TOTAL: $27.75 plus tax

Mid-last week I was offered tickets to a red carpet viewing of the Oscars. It was late notice, but I was so excited for a formal occasion that I went straight to JoAnn Fabrics after work and bought a pattern, material, thread, and a zipper. I finally had the opportunity to make The Pippa Dress!


This was my first dress cut on the bias and my first time making raglan sleeves, which means it had the potential to be very time consuming. Again, I did not have much time, so I decided not to line the dress, only purchasing enough material for the outer dress. Or so I thought...


When I got home I cut out the pattern, laid it on the material, and quickly realized that I was a yard or two short. In my haste to start this project I misread the pattern envelope! I decided to cut out the pieces I could and make as much progress as possible before heading back to JoAnn's the next day.


The cowl neckline came together quickly and easily and looked amazing. After not having enough material this was the little pick-me-up I needed to keep working. The next step was attaching the skirt front to the bodice, which took a bit of effort to get the easing correct.


It took me a while to figure out how to finish the neckline since I wasn't going to line the dress. In the end I made my own facings with extra material and was happy with how well it worked. I also had to decide how to finished the sleeves since they weren't lined either and decided on a simple topstitch for speed and efficiency.




There are a number of little things I would have done differently if I were to make this dress again, starting with giving myself enough time to finish it, but I am happy with the end result and hope to have the opportunity to wear it again.

Time estimate: 16-20 hours
Size: 12
Material used: crepe back satin, 100% polyester
Care instructions: machine wash cold, line dry, warm iron when needed

Cost to make dress:
pattern - $2
material - $30
zipper - $2
thread - $2
*hook and eye from my stash
TOTAL: $36 plus tax

I am so excited to share my Blackwood cardigan from Helen's Closet with you. It was my first home run of the sewing season and will be perfect for the spring weather headed our way. I can't wait to make another version or two!

I purchased white, double sided brushed dty jersey from Mood to make this cardigan and love how soft it is. This was the first indie pattern I've purchased and the also the first .pdf pattern I've assembled. One of the benefits of using a .pdf pattern was the ability to turn off other sizes and print only my desired size. I can't seem to make myself cut down tissue paper patterns to my size so this was fun to try. On the other hand I didn't love having to print out, piece together, and tape the .pdf pattern. It took a fair amount of extra time not to mention additional overhead. And I'm still working on how to best store my .pdf patterns once they have been assembled.



I cut out this cardigan in an extra small with the desire to assemble the whole garment with only my serger. Since the material was cut so small I wanted to be careful not to take off too much additional material with my serger blade. I probably should have taken the time to remove the blade since I wasn't entirely finishing each seam and ended up having to use a small zig zag stitch inside of my serged edges to completely finish each seam.



Although this version is fairly small I envision wearing it to the office in the summer, mostly over cute sleeveless blouses, so the size shouldn't be a big issue. I love this modern style and found the pattern quick and easy to assemble. When I do make it again I will size up to allow for additional layers.

Time estimated: 4 hours
Size: extra small
Material used: jersey knit, polyester spandex blend
Care instructions: machine wash warm or cold, tumble dry low, iron low in needed

Cost to make t-shirt:
pattern - $14.00
fabric - $9.00
*used existing thread
TOTAL: $23.00

I have been looking for a basic brown, long sleeve t-shirt for far too long. After dozens of unsuccessful trips to a handful of retail locations I finally decided to take on my fear of knits and just make one! In fact, this was one of my early 2018 Make Nine selections.


I had some difficulty selecting a pattern and finally found this one. It is a bit more of a relaxed fit than I usually prefer but I decided it was worth a try. I grabbed this pattern and a warm, chocolate brown knit at my local JoAnn Fabrics and was ready to get to work.


I adjusted the pattern by removing two inches in length from both the sleeves and the body of the shirt. Very early on in the assembly of this t-shirt I ran into a problem. The pattern instructed me to turn the neckband under and top stitch it in place, hand whipping the v together and leaving six thicknesses of material inside to act as a makeshift facing. This seemed far too heavy for a simple, casual t-shirt so I struggled through a few different options before I was able to achieve this traditional t-shirt look.



If I had this neckband to do over again I wouldn't have clipped the seams as you can see in the picture above (an early instruction from the pattern) since that made top stitching the neckband in place more difficult. I sewed the side seams and armscye with a knit needle in a small zig zag. I also top stitched the hem of the shirt and sleeves with the double needle I originally purchased for the leggings I made last month.





I am happy to be adding a basic brown t-shirt to my wardrobe, but would not likely choose to use this pattern again in the near future. Do you have a favorite t-shirt pattern?

Time estimate: 6 hours
Size: 10
Material used: knit, cotton polyester blend
Care instructions: machine wash cold, gentle cycle; lay flat to dry

Cost to make t-shirt:
pattern - $7.00
material - $12.50
*used existing thread and iron-on stabilizer
TOTAL: $19.50

In my family quilts are both heirlooms and meant to be used. They are wedding and graduation gifts made together in a traditional quilting bee or by a single aunt. I'm not sure how I didn't learn to quilt while growing up, but I enjoy using these beautiful quilts and didn't want the family legacy of quilting to end with me. That's why I was so excited to participate in an introduction to English paper piecing class at my local quilt shop Crimson Tate this past weekend. It was AMAZING!


We were given a kit with all of the necessary tools, a helpful book for beginners, and allowed to select a few fat quarters. I can't say enough about how much I love these prints by Rifle Paper Co. and they are accented perfectly with this solid turquoise by Free Spirit Fabric.


In addition to learning a few basics like how to make a quilter's knot, basting techniques, and stitches I also learned that I am a "fussy cutter" with a clear sense of my personal style. I'm working on completing my first grandma's garden and am excited to see how my quilt grows. I might buy a few more matching fat quarters now just in case it takes me a while!