Black Vogue Cardigan Jacket

This is the 4th black jacket. I used a floral black sweater knit with horizontal stretch but no vertical stretch to make the jacket from Vogue 2989

Black New Look Jacket

I made another black jacket. This one uses the scraps leftover from making a jacket and skirt for my friend C.

To fit the pattern onto the scraps I played a little with the orientation on the front. I also drafted and added some 5 sided patch pockets, as the pattern doesn't include pockets.

The pattern is New Look 6481

Here's the jacket and skirt I made for C

Black Boucle Clef Coat

This is  the Love Notions Clef Coat (more of a jacket IMHO) in a black wool mix boucle. The fabric was purchased back when I wore suits and separates to the office, but worked quite well in this more casual style.

This has a funnel neck, rather than a fitted collar. I generally prefer it worn open.

It's a fairly simple sew, though I've made a few small changes.

I rotated the pocket piece when I cut it out so that the enclosed area is slightly larger and can hold something like a phone whilst still being OK for putting your hands in.

I positioned the pocket piece slightly higher up to avoid it being too near the hem..

I've drawn the hem onto my pattern pieces as my printout didn't have the hem marked (maybe I turned too many layers off). I've put elastic into the wrists, but not yet into the main hem. I may go back and add this in later.

I couldn't find any indication of where the buttons should go, so made up my own spacing. I interfaced the front bands but nothing else.

Style Arc Rowe's Top/Tunic

Many years ago I bought some Style Arc pdf patterns, printed them off but didn't get round to sewing them all. One of them was the Rowe's Top/Tunic.

I decided to make the top in black black viscose jersey as a bit of a test to see how much I liked the pattern. 

I decided to lengthen the sleeves as much as my fabric remnant allowed and drafted a shaped cuff for the wrist.

It's quite a relaxed fit and the neckline is quite wide and low. They give an option to interface the neckband which I didn't do, so maybe that would control things a bit more. It seems quite stable compared to some viscose jersey but the weight of the body and sleeves has pulled it down.

Maybe another version in a cotton jersey would be quite different.

The neck band is made from 3 shaped pieces which might be a handy thing to remember when using scraps. I don't always have enough width to cut a straight neckband.

At one point I dropped a piece on the floor and was a bit baffled as to where it went back so might do more marking another time!

As this is an older Style Arc patterns there are written instructions and a single diagram. It is not suitable for beginners, but perfectly achievable for a more experienced sewist. 

Newer Style Arc patterns have more detailed instructions and are easier to follow.

This could be a good scrap buster project due to the pieced neckline and back yoke.

Spring Lamb - well a sheep anyway

For our latest online family Crafternoon, the theme chosen was sheep/lambs.

I took a slightly bobbly fleece blanket and some offcuts of dark denim and made a sheep shaped cushion.

I used these free instructions from the Bernina blog.

Sew cuddly toy Sew a cuddly toy with this free pattern for a plush sheep - available in two sizes » BERNINA Blog

The only alteration I made was to add a long strip with rounded ends between the two sides so the feet are separate.

Black Ponte Metra Blazer

 

Black is not in my 'Sophisticated' palette but is useful for choir events and traditional funerals, so I dug out some black fabrics from the stash and have started making a few cardigans and jackets for such occasions.

The first one is a Metra blazer from a black ponte remnant.

Sadly I found a fault on the back when I was part way through construction.

So added a stitched down half belt detail to cover that area.

Pink Floral Blouse

 A shirt for me from a floral cotton poplin, using my TNT shirt pattern (adapted from Prima Mar 2020)

I've added front patch pockets with buttoned flaps.

And found some bright pink buttons in my button drawers which worked well. I sewed them on with matching thread.

For those in the UK, this fabric is still in stock at Pound Fabrics - its called Flower Heaven Cotton Poplin in colour White.

Flower Heaven Cotton Poplin Fabric | Pound Fabrics

I really like this fabric its nice to sew and lighter weight than some other cotton poplins I've used.

I like to have shirts with pockets for travelling as well as everyday wear.

White blouses for a friend

I've just finished two white blouses for a friend. They are both from my TNT shirt pattern, traced off in her smaller size and slightly altered.

The first blouse was made from an organic cotton duvet cover (cotbed size) which I bought new from a charity shop. I used some vintage broderie anglaise (eyelet) lace trim which someone had given me in a box of saved pieces of lace. A some little pearly buttons also rescued from something else.

I think this is such a beautiful blouse.

Lace trim before I pressed it.

The cotbed size duvet set

The second blouse was made from pure white cotton poplin from Boyes. For this version I made a self frill for the collar and cuffs, 2 1/2 inches wide and 3 times the length. The buttons are a brassy gold half sphere

My friend hopes to wear these with her steampunk outfit, but also with other clothing too, as a pretty white blouse is always handy!

Aubergine and navy joggers and a bonus

 I'm just about finished on Aubergine

Monsal lounge pants from a remnant I bought on holiday in September 2024 (its the middle one)

Its a purple ponte with a navy abstract print over the top.

I used a different fabric for the inseam pockets as t was a small remnant!

Monsal Lounge Pant pattern from the Wendy Ward Book "A Beginner's Guide to Sewing with Knitted Fabrics".

After the repairs

Before the repairs

I also repaired some cord trousers I made many years ago (2015). I'd put a not very well matching zip in the wrong side and clipped rather close resulting in fraying. Plus they were too long.

Sew Ruthie Style: Giant (but comfy) corduroy trousers for gentle critique

I unpicked the waistband and the zip and the opposite side seam. I put in a nicely matching invisible zip in the correct side and re stitched the waistband , which is now slightly narrower. I unpicked the stitched hems, cut 2 inches off, and re-hemmed. 

I can now wear them again.

If I add these into the Aubergine Collection it looks like this

I have 4 tops, 2 in knit fabric and 2 woven shirts.

I also have four toppers  - a fleece, a button front cardigan, a zip front lined jacket and lapel collared cardigan jacket.

And four pairs of trousers - wide leg border print, plain which match the zipped jacket, corduroy with side zip and ponte joggers.

Dark Burgundy jacket for #BHMPatternDesigners25

 I'm a bit late, but I've finished my Khaliah Ali Collection Simplicity 4375 jacket.

#BHMPatternDesigners25

Sew Natural Dane is encouraging the sewing community to sew patterns designed by Black Pattern Designers.

Her website contains a huge list of current Black Pattern Designers and other black owned sewing businesses.

#BHMPatternDesigners — SewNaturalDane

What is #BHMPatternDesigners?

The Black History Month Pattern Designer Challenge (#BHMPatternDesigners) was established in February 2019 by Nateida of SewNaturalDane. Nateida decided to created this challenge due to the lack of representation she saw in the sewing community that highlighted Black Pattern Designers, as well as black owned fabric companies and knitting designers. February is Black History Month in the United States and it’s also Nateida’s birthday month!

#BHMPatternDesigners25 on Instagram