Luna Pants {Pattern Review}

May 23, 2016May 23, 20162 Comments

It’s all about the “jogger” pant these days and even as a stay-at-home-mom, I try to be somewhat hip. The yoga-pant rut is easy to fall into (rightfully so!) but voile pajamas disguised as the new athleisure look? Uh, yes please!!! This is a trend I can definitely follow 😉

When I saw Made by Rae‘s new Luna Pant pattern, it was exactly what I wanted in a jogger….because it was designed for more drapey wovens like voile, lawn, and rayon. By making these pants myself, I could slim out the silhouette to tailor to my short stumpy legs. I am thicker in the thigh area and there are many ready-to-wear jogger styles out there that really accentuate the hips. Nope, that is definitely not for me!

The Luna pattern is currently only available as a digital PDF, and as someone who would rather buy the one-piece printed version, this wasn’t so bad taping together. I love how Rae has several different registration marks on all sides of the printouts to help you match up the pattern.

Based on the pattern measurements, I was at the higher spectrum of a small. I read some other reviews that the fit is pretty generous, so I was comfortable cutting out that size. After initial fit, I definitely wanted to taper the leg in a little more. I eased from the hip/pocket into toward the leg about 1/2″ all the way down to the ankle.

It’s kind of hard to see in this shot, but the right left has been taken in and I had already shortened both legs to fit my 5’3″ frame. I used a basting stitch at the bottom hem to see how the pant would gather around my ankle.

To make sure I had that athleisure look and not a pajama one, I used 1.5″ elastic around the ankles and ended up using the same for the waistband. The thicker ankle gather just looks more on trend to me.

I sewed all the seams on my regular Juki TL-2010Q and finished the raw edges on my hand-me-down Singer Serger. Changing the threads on my serger is such a pain, but to have the right matching colors, is SO worth the effort. It really makes the garment look professional.

I love the contoured waistband which really allows for a nice gather. There is room around the seat, but not so much that it would give a saggy rear-end. You can adjust the gathers around however you like and make a few stitches along the side seams to keep them in place.

These pants are just magical and so incredibly light. The Yucca organic voile in Arbol by Leah Duncan for Cloud 9 Fabrics is just amazing for the warmer months ahead. They can be worn with flat sandals (Merona) and a cute jacket (J.Crew) for just running around town.

With this black and cream design, the Luna Pants can also be dressed up with heels (Nine West) and this loose tank (Merona) for a jumpsuit look without the jumpsuit hassle (a la having to take off the entire outfit to use the restroom…no thanks!)

The styling possibilities are endless for my secret pajamas! I’m excited to wear them all summer and make a few extra pairs for lounging…errr…being fashionably hip 😉 What do you think about the jogger trend?

Hugs and Stitches,

Cristy

Moss Skirt {Review}

May 9, 2016

With all of this great warm weather, I’ve been thinking about adding some new pieces to my wardrobe and skirts are definitely included. Coincidentally, it is also #MeMadeMay where you show off your handmade clothing on social media all throughout the month. So…I obviously needed to make one rather than buy one 😉

I’ve been casually looking over designs for a few months and wanted a clean silhouette without an elastic waistband. Although the thought of a zipper scared the bejesus out of me, I still selected Grainline Studio‘s Moss Skirt. The instructions and pictures are well done and I love how there are great resources on Grainline’s blog in case you get stuck (which of course, I did.) I also love the two variations with a short mini and knee-length options.

I chose this beautiful Robert Kaufman black denim for my skirt. It has a lightweight structure and has pretty classy look and feel. Who can knock the bonus slimming effects of black as well?

The body of the skirt came together pretty quickly. I used a combination of my Juki TL-2010Q to sew the straight seams and then finished with my Singer 150 Anniversary 14T948DS Serger. If you make a lot of garments, I highly recommend a serger to really make your seams look professional.

After I got the body and pockets complete, it was onto the zipper insert. Since this was my first one (ever!) I couldn’t wrap my head around the pattern’s instructions. Luckily, Grainline has a ton of supplemental resources under “Tutorials” to help.

After looking at the blog’s additional pictures and instructions (about 10 times,) I finally dove in and added the insert. Instead of basting, I used my favorite Sewline Glue Pen to keep the zipper and fly pieces all in place. I’m so proud of how this came out…who knew it actually pays off to take your time? 😛

I like fun little details like adding this metallic fabric inside the waistband. It is Remix by Ann Kelle for Robert Kaufman and really adds some flare. This button is extra special – It is from my mother-in-law’s stash which was passed to me when she moved to a retirement home. I wanted to make this skirt for Mother’s Day and it was really nice to have something from my MIL because we couldn’t spend the day together. I think it maybe from a coat because I have about 5 of these pretty gem-like buttons.

Before adding the waistband, I adjusted the waist measurement at the back yoke. (My backside is one size and my waist is another.) Next time, I’ll wait to serge the center-back seam until after I tailor it in…just for clean seam. What I completely forgot to do, was to slightly curve the yoke back down after the adjustment. You can see the slight fold in the yoke right below the waistband….that should be smooth.

The other change I made was to decrease my seam allowance to 3/8″ for the waistband to make it slightly wider. After kids, I enjoy a mid-rise and wider waistbands to keep “everything” in it’s place…hehe.

If you read other reviews, there is a mix of people who are able to use the waistband as written, and others who come up a little short. I’m still a newbie to garment construction and I fell into the latter group. Since I adjusted the back yoke, my waistband was only about 1″ too short. I added the extra length to line up with the fly shield and you would never know there was an issue. Fortunately, I did not cut my interior waistband facing yet and could adjust to match.

The pockets on this skirt are great. Since I’m a bit more curvy, ready-to-wear pockets tend to poke out and it looks like little wings are flapping out of my hips. I would have to sew them shut to look somewhat normal, but then have to sacrifice functionality. These pockets hug to the body and I’m so glad I can actually use them!

I opted for View B of the Moss Skirt to wear this out to slightly more conservative places, but changed the band to hang only 2 1/4″ down since I’m a shortie (5’3″.) There are definite plans for some more casual versions with View A for the summer. Let’s hope I have the time to get them complete before autumn hits!

I really love the clean look of this skirt. Since I used denim, I debated top-stitching all of the pieces like a pair of jeans, but I’m glad I held back. This skirt looks really polished as-is and I highly recommend this pattern if that’s the look you want.

Has anyone made this pattern yet? What is your favorite skirt pattern?

Happy Stitching,

Cristy

Out & About Dress {Pattern Review}

April 27, 2016

‘Nothing like having some crazy beautiful weather to push me to finally make my Out and About Dress. (Anyone else getting snow in April, then full sun and 70* the next day?) I’ve had this pattern since Black Friday when Sew Caroline had a great sale, but like most selfish sewing plans, this was pushed to the side. Once the weather warmed, I knew I needed to add some more pieces to my me-made wardrobe.

I chose Plumage Poppy knit by Art Gallery Fabrics which is just amazing. It’s bright, springy and just feels so soft and good too. Best part is I picked up this from my little quilt shop (LQS) Sew to Speak…on sale! Doesn’t that always make a project feel even better? 🙂

Garment sewing can be intimidating…especially with knits, so I want to show you how I finished my dress with a bunch of close-up shots.

I have a serger and it’s a god-send when it comes to knits. The knife cuts a nice even edge and the overlock stitch helps tie up everything so beautifully. There is a nice stretch which I chose to use here in the sleeves. This pic was taken before I tacked the cuffs into place to hide the seams.

For the bottom hem, I used a ballpoint double-needle for this professional look. This allows for a decent stretch but not as much as the serging. With this being a loose dress, I am not worried about the stretch in the skirt….I’d rather it just look good! Ha.

Around the neck, I serged the neckline onto the dress for a clean look on the hanger. But for that professional look, I added two top-stitch seams while tugging at the knit a little bit. A coverstitch machine would probably do the same but I don’t have one (It IS on my ultimate wishlist though.) The size of the head opening is large enough that I’m not concerned with having to really stretch it out, so the top-stitching works. It’s always good to test your stitches on a scrap piece to see how much stretch you need.

This was more simple sew than anticipated…even with the pockets! So, I know this won’t be my last Out and About Dress. It was true to size, but since I’m 5’3″ I took about 4″ off the hem to hit just above the knee. I may have to attempt a hack for a tank version. Let’s see how long it will take me to make one!

Have you made anything new for yourself lately?

Happy Stitching,

Cristy

Fundraiser Sewing

April 11, 2016April 10, 2017

Whether you sew for hobby, for business, or for necessity, it’s always nice to sew for a cause. I’m a stay-at-home-mom who has to continually stretch a buck, so I like to help how I can…and that means through sewing. These past few weeks have provided me a few opportunities to use these skills to help some great local organizations.

My boys go to the same preschool and the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) asked me to contribute a few items for a big auction event. Of course, I said yes. I love this school and am so happy my boys do too. Although I know I won’t generate a ton of money, I know every little bit helps. I get to help the PTO and get a little local publicity so it’s win-win for me.

Last year I donated gift certificates to my Etsy shop and this year I decided to make a few items to possibly generate more money once the bidders can touch and feel what they are receiving. With a GC, there is a finite value, but with custom made, hand-sewn products, there is more more perceived worth…at least I hope!

It’s always so hard to choose fabrics for someone, never mind someone you don’t know. But since this is a school fundraiser, you can’t go wrong with simple patterns in the school colors…so yellow and black it is. I used Quiet Play’s Geometric letter pattern and Noodlehead’s Wide Open pouch pattern to show some hometown love.

The Crimson and Clover Train Case by Sew Sweetness is one of my favorite patterns. Its so versatile in it’s usage….whether to hold makeup, toys, or other treasures. I used Cotton and Steel Black and White fabrics with the typewriters being a play on the school and added little yellow accents. The shot of yellow piping is definitely my favorite.

Each of my son’s classes is also responsible for putting a large basket together. There is a theme and the point is to have all the families contribute a little something in order to make a sizable basket worth buying. One class has a “Lego” theme and the other has “Books.”

Instead of just buying a box of Legos, I knew I wanted to sew something to hold all the toys. I’m constantly stepping over Legos in my own house and I made some see-through vinyl drawstring bags to combat the mess. I thought I would make one for the basket but then after browsing Quiet Play’s Craftsy shop, I saw the Lego man. Hello!

The Lego head pattern is free (yay!) and I used Noodlehead’s Open Wide Pouch again. It’s design is so perfect for little hands to reach in and out easily. I added a little embroidery to make the Lego Man’s face and (hopefully) this bag will help keep all of these little pieces off the floor.

For the “Books” theme basket, I knew right away I would make a library bag. My boys have cute canvas ones they love to fill up and I figured one of their schoolmates would too.

The bag is made with Art Gallery Fabrics Denim Studio so I didn’t need any interfacing to give it structure. I used a very simple tutorial from Skip to my Lou and altered it so I could incorporate this super cute book paper-piece pattern from Patchwork Please! by Ayumi Takahashi.

Besides all these PTO donations, I was asked to contribute some items from my Etsy shop for a Pelatonia fundraiser. This is one of the largest bike races in Columbus and generates millions of dollars…all which toward cancer research. Some large companies have donated money to cover administrative expenses so that 100% of rider fundraising will go to charity. How awesome is that?

I donated a full set of baby travel items with arrow fabric since the Pelatonia logo is also an arrow. The group I’m assisting is bringing in a whole cross-section of items and I’m crossing my fingers that these pull in lots of money!

Have you donated some sewn items for fundraising? How did they do?

Happy Stitching,

Cristy

***This post may contain affiliate links which help me on the back end to fund this site. Compensation is only through your own purchase.

Sewing Room {Pattern Organization}

April 4, 20162 Comments

It’s funny when I’m asked what kind of sewist I am. Quilter? Bag-Maker? Garments? Well….I tell everyone, “I am all of the above.” I like to dabble in everything — to challenge myself and I just love being able to make as much as I can with my own hands. With this variety in my sewing repertoire, comes a TON of patterns!

I have a mix of both digital and paper patterns. If given the option, I almost always take the full printed pattern. As much as I love the instant gratification of downloading a digital pattern, the extra taping is a bit annoying and I have more difficulty tracing with printer paper. I know…it’s nice to always have a back-up of a pattern on my computer, but be rest assured, I always make copies. I trace garment patterns onto muslins and I create cardstock templates of bag pieces. Which type of pattern do you prefer?

With all of the patterns and their print-outs…and the traced muslins…and the instructions…how do I organize them all? As much as I would love a one-size fits all solution, it just doesn’t work for me. I have three different methods of organizing my sewing patterns and maybe one, two, or all three of them may work for you.

Classic Filing Method

This has place from my former corporate office days. It also was my first method when started sewing. Having all the supplies on-hand didn’t hurt either. I had a stack of file folders, a desktop tiered rack, plastic file boxes and even a metal cabinet.

I use this method to hold my digital patterns and printout of free tutorials on-line. (Thank you fellow bloggers!) These are all categorized by my most frequent sews as shown.

Shelf Method

Most physically purchased paper patterns are about 6″ x 10″. They can easily get lost in regular shelving and other paper storage containers. For awhile I had mine in cute little wire bins…but the patterns were quickly outgrowing my bins and I couldn’t see them well.

Fortunately, I had a friend who wanted to get rid of a DVD shelf…and it was nice solid piece. (I bartered a toddler dress for this…score!) This DVD shelf not only is the perfect size for paper patterns, but it holds fat quarters perfectly. I love how I can see everything and my patterns are in easy access.

Art Portfolio

So we tackled, letter-sized patterns and instructions with the file folders and the smaller printed patterns, but what about the big stuff? For awhile, I folded all the taped pdfs up in those file folders and even used a large binder with those clear plastic sheet protectors, but they didn’t last long. The patterns were all poking out and the folders got too full too quickly. I needed something bigger…

When my kids started to bring home arts and crafts from school, I wanted to save all their cute projects. So I picked up a smaller size art portfolio from my local big box retailer. I use them to organize each year of school for my guys. Then….it dawned on me one day that I should use one for my big paper patterns.

This 11″ x 17″ portfolio size is perfect for my needs. All of my patterns fit with only one or two folds without needing advanced origami skills to get them back into original form. I love how it also holds my muslins and the clear pockets allow me to quickly identify what patterns are which.

How do you store all of your patterns?

Have a great week!

Cristy

Love You Sew

Handcrafted from the Heart

Category: Uncategorized

Moss Skirt {Review}

Out & About Dress {Pattern Review}

Fundraiser Sewing

Sewing Room {Pattern Organization}

Classic Filing Method

Shelf Method

Art Portfolio