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.

More travel items

 Just a quick post with a few more things I made for my travel capsule

Cardigan (based on The Kinder Cardigan By Wendy Ward)

Cargo pants a mash up of Style Arc Delta Cargo pants with New Look 6216 and some extras of my own

Shirt in usual Prima pattern in cheese cloth/seersucker fabric

The Super Basic Tank from Halfmoon Atelier

The Super Basic Tank from Half Moon Atelier. 

The body is a remnant someone gave me and the bands/pocket scraps left from another project.

The main fabric is quite thick cotton tubular knit but has no recovery, so it's too hot for a tank and might be distorting the fit? 

The fit is not good on my body. The neckline is too wide and the underarms stick out, but the tummy/hip area is fine. 

I probably need to grade from one or two sizes smaller at the upper area out to the size I have lower down. I'm pretty sure this isn't worth trying to fix, so will add a label and donate. 

The little pocket is my own addition to try to tie the two fabrics together. I also curved the back hem down to be a little longer(the pattern is straight across)

It's a free pattern - https://www.halfmoonatelier.com/blogs/news/super-basic-tank-top-tester-round-up

I just cut a pocket shape from a suitable scrap because I loved the little bird.

I might try this again, with a smaller size at the top, and in a lighter weight fabric.

Floral blouse in cotton lawn

Cotton lawn blouse with pattern matching across the front placket and front patch pockets.

This will also be for my travel wardrobe, but pretty to wear at home afterwards too.

The fabric is a John Louden Superfine Digital Lawn, very lightweight. I bought it for £4.50 a metre at Boyes in the centre of Nottingham.

I used one of my TNT shirt patterns Prima shirt dress pattern from 2020, shortened to shirt length, changing the placket and cuff and adding pockets.

Delta Cargo Pant

 This is my version of the Delta Cargo Pant by Style Arc. These are also for my travel wardrobe.

I had made some changes to the pattern before I sewed it up, but once I had sewed them up I still needed to remove the waistband, reshape the front and back crotch some more and remove excess width at the front and back.

This has resulted in my losing the mock front fly and also moving the back pockets down a bit (the markings do not match the illustration above).

They are now wearable, and I have also added belt loops.

The main thing to note about this pattern is that it is very straight up and down, so if you have a curvy bottom you'll need to make some changes.

I might be better using the pockets and adapting my TNT pattern to look more like this style.

The fabric is Mocha bengaline Stretch Fabric from T9 fabrics.

Shorts for my travel wardrobe

Khaki stretch woven shorts

These shorts have replaced a similar style pair which are now worn out. In an improvement over the old pair I added zipped pockets into the side seams.

In these shorts I inserted a zipped pocket in both sides, but I often only put one in the right side (as I'm right handed).

How to Install a side zipped pocket when sewing trousers/shorts etc

1. For each zipped pocket you need one concealed zipper and 2 pocket pieces. If you have front slash pockets, construct these first.

2. Finish the side seam of the garment and the matching area on the pocket pieces (as you won't be able to do this later).

3. Open the zipper. With right sides together install the zip into the side seam using a concealed zipper foot. Check the zipper works!

4. With right sides together sew one pocket piece to each side of the zip using a standard zipper foot. Leave the bottom 2.5cm (1 inch) unsewn.

5. Close the zipper and lay the garment face down on a flat surface with both pocket pieces towards the front. Due to the zip tape width they will not line up perfectly, this is how it should be. (I find it easier to cut two identical pocket pieces and then offset them, rather than having different sizes and remembering which way to put them!)

6. Pin the pocket pieces together and stitch round the pocket, turning back the seam allowance of the piece underneath (use a zipper foot for the tricky bottom bit), then neaten the edges.

7. Sew up the rest of the side seam, up to the point where the concealed zip was sewn in. From the top stitch down about 2.5cm (1 inch) to make sure the zipper tape doesn't show there.

8. Stitch the excess zipper tape to the side seam.

9. Finish constructing the garment.

These are a bit fiddly to do, swapping between the concealed zipper foot, zipper foot and standard foot, but I love having both types of pockets, especially when travelling.

The pattern used was the trousers from New Look 6216, shortened to knee length.

Planning a Travel Wardrobe

DH and I have an exciting upcoming trip to Vancouver and Vancouver Island in Canada, so I've been planning my travel wardrobe. 

I like to have a limited colour palette so that whatever is still clean and weather appropriate can be worn.

I bought a new raincoat in a greeny blue colour and have shoes in olive and sand.

I'm still refining the casule, but these are the current picks.

We've only got 2 and a half weeks until we go, so not loads of time for sewing new things. So I'm trying to use my head and not get carried away!

P.S.

If you live in the Vancouver area and want to get in touch about the trip you can contact me at 

sew DOT ruthie DOT style AT zoho DOT eu