Paul wears button up shirts at least six days a week, but has trouble finding a shirt that is slim enough for him. I was so glad when I saw Simplicity 8753, with a slim fit view and picked it up right away. As soon as I saw this gorgeous Italian cotton on super sale at my local fabric shop I just knew it would be a perfect match for the S8753 and I had to have it for Paul.

Thankfully, I had recently taken the Palmer Pletsch Tissue Fitting button up shirt course with Evelyn and was able to implement those techniques to make a perfectly fitted shirt for Paul. I started by taking his measurements and learned that Paul was a size 38 in the chest but a 34 in the waist. I cut out the tissue pieces in the larger size, pinned them together, and had Paul try it on. I ended up bumping the side seam out to a 36 to allow him more room to move and breathe. I also shortened the sleeves by an inch, then cut out the fabric. Although this plaid is a repeating pattern it is not a balanced plaid so I took extra care in cutting out each piece.

Paul got another fitting once I had the fabric pieces cut out and pinned together. At this point I made a few additional changes, letting out the side seam a bit at the hip and thinning the sleeves by one inch. Then I was ready to sew!


I had the opportunity to try two new-to-me sewing techniques with this pattern, sewing sleeve plackets and flat felled seams. I can't say enough good things about the instructions in this pattern, which led me to gorgeous results and I was thrilled to add a few new sewing skills to my repertoire. One additional thing I really appreciated about this pattern was the additional pattern piece to help aid with button placement - no more wonky button placement! I know this will become a tried-and-true pattern in my collection. If you've been thinking about purchasing this pattern, or own it but haven't made it yet, I can't encourage you enough to give it a try!

The fitting and pattern matching took as much or more time than actually sewing the shirt. I have been practicing slower and more intentional makes and found this one extremely rewarding. Thankfully Paul loves it too!



Time estimate: 20 hours
Size: 38
Fabric used: 1 7/8 yards, Italian cotton
Care instructions: machine wash, tumble dry low

Cost to make
Pattern: $15
Fabric: $16
*used thread from my stash and buttons from my mother's stash
TOTAL: $31

P.S. Check out my Insta stories, @Sew_Help_Me, to see the fitting process step-by-step!

Photos by K.Willerick Photography

You know how much I love replicating royal looks, and this time I had the company of a sewing friend! When I saw Shannon, from Indoor Shannon, also recreating royal looks I reached out and asked her if she would like to work on a project together and she said yes!

We soon landed on recreating the Scanlan Theodore Garnet Crepe Knit Wrap Jacket Meghan wore to the 2018 Invictus Games. We each chose our own pattern and fabric. You can read all about Shannon's make on her blog here.



The bones of this wrap top pattern were a great starting point for the look I wanted to recreate. The main things I needed to tweak were adding some fullness to the skirt front and shaping the front to slightly curve upward. I started by tracing the original pattern piece off, cutting the new pattern piece at the waistline, and slicing and spreading the bottom portion in a few pieces making sure to avoid the dart. In each place where I cut the pattern I left about a millimeter attached so I could spread the pattern while keeping the seam length the same.

I rounded the right, front skirt of the wrap, while leaving the left side full length to more accurately copy the original garment. I also needed to shorten one of the ties and add a few hidden snaps for the final look. I really like how my replica turned out, but wish I had added a few more inches in width to the skirt portion of the top.

I used a stretch knit crepe from JoAnn to create this look. I hadn't sewn with a stretch crepe before and wasn't sure what to expect. It was easy to work with, had a fair amount of structure, and formed to my body well. It had the texture of a crepe fabric and a slight stretch like a sturdy knit.

I finished this top just in time for the holidays and enjoyed wearing it for a number of occasions. Shannon and I would love to see your royal replicas so make sure to join us in tagging your pieces #replicateroyalty #sewmeghan and #sewkate!




Time estimate: 8 hours
Size: 10
Fabric used: stretch knit crepe, pomegranate; 95% polyester, 5% spandex
Care instructions: machine wash gentle cold, nonchroline bleach, line dry, cool iron

Cost to Make
Pattern: borrowed
Fabric: $23
*used thread and snaps from my stash
TOTAL: $23

P.S. I also made the shirt he wore in our family photos. Stay tuned for that post coming soon!

Photos by K.Willerick Photography

This year I made a goal to sew nine specific items in a #MakeNine format. I planned to make:

• Simplicity 1801 designed by Cynthia Rowley - purchased the pattern
• Named Clothing's Sointu Kimono Tee
• Patterns for Pirates' Wiggle Dress
• Colette Patterns' Moneta Dress - made the dress!
• Closet Case Patterns' Sasha Trousers
• Grainline Studio's Morris Blazer
• True Bias Patterns' Ogden Cami - made two camis!
• Closet Case Patterns' Charlie Caftan - purchased the pattern and fabric
• Sew Over It's Pussy Bow Blouse - made the blouse

I only made three of the items I originally intended to make. I wish I had prioritized making a few more of these pieces and will try to make most of the remaining pieces in 2020, although the Morris Blazer isn't the style I'm currently looking for in a blazer and I don't want to take on a project that demanding right now. I'm not sure how I got distracted from my #MakeNine goals, except for finding patterns I liked better or wanted to round out my wardrobe. I find that I don't wear the Moneta Dress much, but get a lot of wear out of my Pussy Bow Blouse and Ogden Cami.

I also prioritized making a few replicas of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's best looks and have the patterns and fabric for one additional replica. I think these makes were some of my favorite and brought me the most joy. I will certainly be making more duchess look-a-likes.


After two full years of blogging my sewing makes I can see a measured improvement in my sewing skills and I have a much better understanding of my personal style. I have also learned that I prefer to have a bit more freedom in my sewing and do not plan to make a traditional #MakeNine plan this year.

I would like to start my 2020 sewing by focusing on patterns and fabric I already own, really like, and want to have the opportunity to wear. 2020 is the year of sewing my fabric and pattern stash! What are your 2020 sewing goals?

When I was a little girl I spent every Christmas Eve at a candlelight service with my family, then we would come home and open a few presents from my Auntie and Uncle David. I remember one special year very fondly; Auntie had gotten my sister and I each a new set of pajamas with a matching nightgown for our Barbies. Barbie and I went to bed and woke up to find Santa had come with new toys for each of us.

I was excited to learn about #SewFamilyJammies and join in making a set of matching Christmas pajamas for my husband and I. I think this is the first time my pajamas have matched someone else's since that Christmas Barbie and I shared a matching set!

I chose a classic red and black buffalo plaid snuggle flannel for our pajama pants and a black rayon spandex blend for our shirts which I purchased at JoAnn on Black Friday for 70% and 50% off! With such little time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year I was only able to finish the pajama pants before Christmas, but I do plan to make our shirts soon. I used the same pattern to make a tank top for myself earlier this summer and know I like the fit.


Since I was sewing a plaid I wanted to try to "out smart" the pattern, which had a separate front and back piece, by combining the two pieces at what would be the side seam. In my mind, this would eliminate pattern matching and some work by removing a few seams. However, the pattern was slightly rounded at the hips, so I needed to cut each piece separately. This pattern didn't come with pockets, but since the pattern does have a side seam it would be easy to add them.


I used the sewing pattern markers to make sure the plaid was aligned on the front and back pieces, then I laid one set of front and back pieces on top of the fabric, matching plaids, to cut the next set of front and back pieces. The snuggle flannel is only 42" wide and as it turns out I didn't get enough fabric for two sets of pajamas. I cut a size medium for Paul and a small for myself, after going on an extra fabric run!


I stuck to the pattern instructions, only deviating to hem the pajamas to our height and "stitch in the ditch" to tack the elastic at the side seams. I just HATE when elastic waistbands roll and wanted to prevent that. We love how they turned out.



Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Time estimate: 4 hours total
Fabric used: 100% cotton
Care instructions: machine wash gentle; no chlorine, bleach or fabric softener; tumble dry low; cool iron

Cost to Make
Pattern: gifted from my mother
Fabric: $16
*thread and elastic from my stash
TOTAL: $16


To follow the rest of the #SewFamilyJammies blog tour, visit these blogs too!

 

I simply love this dress, from the perfect color palette to the tailored fit it is sure to be a staple in my wardrobe. I took my time tissue fitting this dress and love the results. It reminds me to slow down and enjoy the process because I will love my finished garments so much more. What a hard lesson that has been to learn!

You can read about my fitting process and see more pictures of the finished garment on my recent Minerva blog post and purchase the same fabric while you're there!