Floral 6 gore skirt

 Floral panelled skirt

This floral skirt is for my young friend C. She chose the fabric some time back.

I adapted a 4 panel skirt pattern to fit the pattern repeat. Then cut out 6 panels and added big side pockets and an elasticated waist.

There was a partial motif left over so I added a little drawstring bag. The rest of the scraps can go for recycling now.

Drawstring bag

This is a drawstring bag I made for a friend using parts of her late father's shirts and lined in plain cream cotton.

the pale blue shirt used for one side

the pale yellow for the other side
 

I'm going to hand it to her today and hope she's pleased.

Canada Colours #10: Red, Black and White Cardigan

Canada Colours :Red, Black and White 

This is the logo of the Klahoose Wilderness Resort in the typical colours used by the First Nations in the areas of British Colombia we visited. 

It didn't seem appropriate to copy the designs, so I've allowed myself to be inspired by the colours. I was reminded of a remnant of printed sweater knit, bought on another holiday in 2015, which wasn't large enough for a garment. I put this with another remnant left from a different project and adapted the Harper cardigan.

The body is a little longer than the cropped length, the sleeve cuffs are extended and I even had some suitable buttons to hand!

I am so pleased with how this came out, and that it enabled me to make something with a treasured remnant.

Canada Colours #9: Red Fleece Zipped Jacket

This is some red fleece I bought from Pound Fabrics. I wanted to make a fleece jacket which fits me. I only really needed 1.5m but its a standard 2m cut so I have a bit left.....

This is my 4th fleece using the Windbreaker pattern from Ottobre Magazine (Ottobre Woman 5/2014 model 17) with rectangular pockets, an open ended zip down the front (bought on holiday in Spain) and slightly darker red zips for the pockets (not noticeable in my opinion).

It is made in the same way as the Wine Fleece jacket from February 2025.So click onto that post to read about the pockets! For this version I caught the pockets into the topstitching but not the zip itself, and finished the sleeves and hem with the Coverhem machine. I had to hand wind over the really thick bits though....

Canada Colours #8: Red Cardigan

Still loving the RED! This time a longer length cardigan with silver button and nice big (if rather droopy) pockets.

This is the same sweater knit as the two sweaters (and the item I cut out first as it uses the most fabric).

The pattern is the Kinder Cardigan by Wendy Ward. I traced it from the book, but you can buy it as a downloadable PDF as well.

I like the way the shoulder of this cardigan is at the natural shoulder but the sleeves are wide. For this version I did the cuffs on the sleeves and my own style of pockets, which still are rather droopy, but that's the very fine sweater knit!

I decided to use a little bit of lightweight interfacing in the lower section of the front band so I could add buttonholes and buttons.

I didn't have any suitable red buttons though so went for silvery ones in the shape of rather worn Roman coins, and rather like the outcome.

Canada Colours #7: Red Sleeveless Sweater

More Canadian Red inspiration, this time a sleeveless version of yesterday's sweater.

This is the same sweater knit as the long sleeved version and the same pattern, but with the sleeves omitted. I finished the armscyes with a strip of sweater knit the same width as the neckband, and slightly shorter than the opening.

I plan to wear this over the silk blouse I made last October as I feel a little self conscious about the position of the flower in the print :-)

over the silk blouse

Canada Colours #6: Red Sweater

Continuing with the Canadian 'Red' inspiration I switched to more seasonally appropriate pieces.

This is the knit top from New Look 6351, altered to fit my pear shaped body and with the sleeves lengthened to full length. The fabric is a lightweight sweater knit from t9fabrics.co.uk

When worn it just looks like a plain V neck sweater you could buy in any shop, only it fits my body. I wore the version I made in November 2025 in a dark burgundy plum colour a lot, so am adding more colours in the same style.

Canada Colours #5: Red Upcycled Tee

Continuing with the Canadian 'Red' inspiration I've up-cycled a tee I bought on the discount rail of a local charity shop.

The original top was very straight in the body and a very large size. I cut the sleeves off and up the sides, leaving the shoulders, neckline and hem intact. 

I recut the body to be more shaped and a better fit for my pear shape. I unpicked the double layer balloon sleeves, hemmed the outer eyelet layer and reinserted them as gathered sleeves, discarding the plain red cotton sleeve linings.

I didn't manage to find if I'd taken a before photo, but did find it on the retailers website (in a smaller size) see below.

In reality the sleeves stuck out from the body a lot more!

This is a summer only top as it's very hard to get any normal layer over the sleeves.

Canada Colours #4: Red and White

 Here's my fourth project inspired by the red and white of the Canadian flag.

Culottes adapted from New Look 6438, with my crotch curve, an elastic waist and front side pocket with a small slash opening.

The fabric is a linen mix bought from Boyes, with some plain white used for the pocket facings.

Not sure if the weather is warm enough anymore to wear these, but they'll be ready for the Spring!

Canada Colours #3: Red and White

Here's my third project inspired by the red and white of the Canadian flag. Some Polka dot and floral print PJs for me.

I had only bought 2 metres of the red polka dot fabric, originally planning to make a blouse, but decided against it. So added in a remnant white and red floral where I had 0.8 metres of narrow fabric left from making a dressing gown (travel robe)

Kwik Sew 3553 was my starting point though I made lots of changes to cut it from the fabric amounts I had, piecing the legs and the sleeves, adding a back facing, replacing the grown on waistband with a separate one and adding pockets. I also put a pocket in the back of the trousers.

Here's the original travel bathrobe I made in December 2023.

Fabric Purchases

 

My most recent order from Pound Fabrics

Top Left - 2 metres of red fleece for a jacket

Bottom Left  - 5 metres of red stripe jersey

Top Right - 4 metres of Country Roses Viscose Challis in turquoise

Bottom Right - 3 metres of viscose poplin in duckegg

I also got some Prym Fray Check and 1 metre of Insul Bright wadding (which I used in the Place mats)

Canada Colours #2: Red and White

 Here's my second project inspired by the red and white of the Canadian flag.

I got creative with some scraps from previous projects and tweaked a pattern I'd taken from a RTW top years ago.

For this version I made quite a few changes.

The front is all one piece but a little narrower at the top and with a slight V neck.

The back has a centre seam. The front hem is a little shorter than the back and the sleeves were cut a lot shorter but then have deep cuffs.

Here's more detail on how I created this simple pattern.

https://ruthieksews1.blogspot.com/2018/02/pattern-traced-from-rtw-top.html

Some new Patterns (Big 4)

Hobbycraft have been selling off their Big 4 patterns. I ordered online and picked up in store.

Simplicity S3069, so I can try the Barrel Leg Trend.

Simplicity S9645, a new knit top pattern.

Simplicity S8843, Anorak to make a causal coat (or two).

Butterick B6862, a Palmer Pletsch Advanced pattern for a smart jacket.

Vogue V2016, an Average difficulty pattern for a jacket (but I'd need to swap out the sleeves!)

Butterick B6497, an Average difficulty pattern for a coat.

Have you made any of these patterns, how did you find them?

Canada Colours #1: Red and White

Here's my first project inspired by Canada, and a fairly literal one.

Placemats with a map of Canada!

The fronts were a panel I bought at the Cloth Shop on Granville Island, Vancouver.

https://theclothshop.com/

I used some backing from my quilting stash and bought a metre of Insul-bright wadding to use in the placemats. I thought that'd help protect the table from hot dishes.

I did two rows of stitching round the edges and also on the red bands at the sides. Then made shapes inside some of the provinces to secure the layers in the centre section. I can always add more stitching later if I think it needs it.

They are not perfect, but they are good enough and will be in use this evening for our meal!

Holiday Purchases

The holiday in Vancouver and Vancouver Island was wonderful. I'm still getting over the jetlag.

I made a few small purchases along the way, but will share the sewing related ones.

A purchase from the Cloth Shop on Granville Island, Vancouver, panels to make up a set of 4 tablemats. I've found some suitable co-ordinating fabric in the stash for the backing and have some insulbright on order.

And right at the end of the trip, when we were back in Vancouver before we flew home, I had a lovely time in Dressew where I bought 2 lengths of fabric and some haberdashery items.

I had an amazing time on the trip and took lots of photos as well as writing notes. There may be a series of  'Colours of Canada' sewing projects based on the inspiration from the trip.