I'm thrilled with my new Lily Ski Pant, but boy was it a journey getting to the finish line! In the spring of 2018, just after starting my sewing blog and associated Instagram account, I was selected as a winner of Style Arc's "International Women's Day" giveaway and won two free patterns of my choice. I love the style lines of Style Arc patterns, but didn't know they were notoriously thin on assembly instructions until after selecting a few very detailed patterns to try.

With minimal instructions, I was afraid to cut into my pant leg to insert the false zip pockets. I ended up taking the whole project to an open sew at my local fabric shop, The French Seam, where my instructor helped me decipher the instructions and encouraged me to take the necessary steps. With her help I was able to insert both of the false pockets and the yoke, the first time I had done either!


Even though I was happy with the progress I had made I was overwhelmed by the project and set it aside for well over a year. I'm so glad #thegreatmodulesewalong came along and encouraged me to complete this unfinished project, because I love these new pants. And the gray and black knit coordinates with nearly everything in my closet.

The pattern calls for 3/8" seam allowances, so when I pulled the project back out I pinned the remaining leg seams together at 3/8" and tried the pants on. They were extremely comfortable so I decided to proceed without making any adjustments in the width. I hadn't inserted a zip fly for many years, and couldn't have done it without this Tilly and the Buttons instructional video. It was a lifesaver! I decided to hand sew the interior waistband and needed to reduce the pant length by 4".

As I said above, I just love the Lily Ski Pant. Made from a forgiving knit they were easy to fit and are extremely comfortable to wear. I could certainly see myself mastering this pattern and making a variety of Lily Ski Pants. However, I would not recommend this pattern of beginners.



Time estimate: 24+ hours
Size: 8
Fabric: Knit ponte fabric "tweed"
Care instructions: cold wash, hang dry

Cost to make:
pattern: gifted to me, ($9.23 value)
fabric: $25
zippers: $7
*used button, stabilizer, and thread from my stash
TOTAL: $32

P.S. Stay tuned for my full module, coming next week!

I've wanted a black circle skirt for far too long. It is such a classic wardrobe staple and, simply, fun to wear! After grabbing a stack of stable knits from JoAnn I was set to make some new bottoms for the autumn of 2018. You heard me right, I started this skirt in 2018!

I was trucking right along, following all the pattern instructions, when I realized that I although I liked the functionality of the front patch pockets, I thought they looked like appliqued oven mitts on the front of my skirt... Sadly, I had already sewed them into the side and zipper seams as well as the waistband. I was so overwhelmed with the amount of unpicking I would need to do the whole project got set to the side.

My 2020 sewing goal is to only make garments that I already own the fabric and/or pattern for, and finishing an unfinished projects fits that bill perfectly. Thankfully #thegreatmodulesewalong came along and gave me the inspiration I needed to finish this skirt. It is one of the two bottoms in my module, which you'll be able to see at the end of the month. So stay tuned!


There are numerous blogs and vlogs online designed to help anyone make a circle skirt from scratch. I liked using the Veronika circle skirt because, in addition to being free when I signed up for Megan Nielsen Pattern's e-newsletter, it also gave me something concrete to use for a pattern. I inserted an invisible zipper, although I could have probably gone with an elastic waistband instead. I'm currently enjoying this longer length and can also shorten it later if I'd like.


Time estimate: 8-10 hours
Size: small
Fabric used: 2 yards solid refined ponte knit fabric black, 50% stretch
Care instructions: machine wash cold, line dry

Cost to make
Pattern: Veronika circle skirt, FREE
Printing and shipping: $4
Fabric: $28, JoAnn
Stabilizer: $3
Zipper: $2
*used thread, hook and eye from my stash
TOTAL: $37

So, I may have been living under a rock until very recently. Let me explain...

When I received this lovely Lady McElroy stretch crepe from Minerva I asked my Instagram followers what I should make with it. My sister thought I should make a Fashion Nova leopard tank dupe. Can you believe I hadn't heard of Fashion Nova before?! Thankfully, I new exactly which pattern to use - the Ogden cami!

The main elements I wanted to make sure to implement from the inspiration piece were the double straps for visual interest and the length so I could tuck in the cami if desired. I lengthen the Ogden cami front and back pattern pieces by 1 1/2" as well as lengthening the interior shell pieces 1 1/2" so they fell past my bust. I made four of the standard straps and tried to sew them in at a slight angle allowing them to fall away from each other. I had a bit of difficulty with the thickness created by adding an additional strap to each side, but love how the final garment turned out.


The neutral colors and hints of blush pink and slate blue will make this cami a staple in my wardrobe. I had enough fabric to make both this basic and additional top, coming to the Minerva blog soon, and this Lady McElroy stretch crepe became the staple of my #thegreatmodulesewalong. I can't wait to show you may whole module later in March!



Time estimate: 3 hours
Size: 4
Fabric used: Lady McElroy stretch crepe fabric in tan, 25% stretch
Care instructions: cold water wash, tumble dry low

Cost to make
Pattern: Ogden cami, from my stash
Fabric: gifted, remnant
*used thread from my stash
TOTAL: FREE

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