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Friday, November 13, 2020

Sew Beautiful : Fortuna Joggers

Well, its another day and another pattern being featured from the upcoming Sew Beautiful book by Kennis Wong of Itch to Stitch*. 

Sew Beautiful cover photo

Today's pattern is the Fortuna Joggers and Shorts.  Back when we were initially testing the patterns for Kennis, I sewed up the shorts version.  I made them in a heavier ponte and wasn't sure how I really felt about them at the time because of my fabric choice, but come summer I wore them quite often.  They never got photographed and probably won't because they were my favourite shorts for gardening in this summer and as a result aren't in the best condition anymore.

Anyway, Wednesday turned out to be quite cool.  The unseasonably warm spell was quite obviously gone and I was so chilly all day.  So that afternoon I grabbed some french terry I had in my stash, my Fortuna pattern and my scissors and got to work.

Full length view of the Fortuna Joggers

This pattern, like all the patterns in the book, goes together quickly.  There's a few special details, such as the finishing of the pocket edges with a woven fabric that take them up in interest and skill level from a basic elastic waist jogger, but they're certainly not an overly involved project.  They are pants though, so of course I had to do some fine tuning in the fitting, but they're joggers, so it wasn't too bad.  Just the basic swayback adjustment of taking a wedge of out center back, scooping out the back crotch curve to eliminate some under the butt weirdness, and taking in the thighs a smidge. Nothing too labour intensive or crazy at all and I didn't let myself get dragged into the rabbit hole of overfitting. So in fact by the time I went to bed that night I had a new pair of joggers to my name. 

I did leave off a few details - I didn't put in a drawstring (Kind of regretting that now - the drawstring would have been a nice touch) and I didn't do back pockets because I simply didn't have enough fabric.  I'll let you in on a wee secret - even my front pockets are pieced together on the inside from smaller scraps, I was that short on fabric.  Try as I might there was no layout in the land that was going to result in enough fabric for all the pattern pieces, so something had to go and the back pockets were the only logical thing that could.   I suppose I could have skipped the cuffs at the ankles and used that fabric for the pockets, but I really, really wanted cuffs. Also I really only had enough length for the pattern pieces as drafted so without cuffs my joggers would have been too short, so to me it was a no brainer and no back pockets.


Fortuna Joggers seated view

These joggers are so comfy and cozy.  Not going to lie... the minute I got in the door from work last night I changed into my Fortunas and I'm pretty sure that's going to become a fairly standard routine for me this winter.  Now I understand why joggers are so popular. 

I paired them with my Carlsbad Cardi that I told you about yesterday, one of my Isidro tops and my favourite Manitobah Mukluks moccasins because did I mention the comfy and cozy factor???  

Sew Beautiful Carlsbad Cardigan and Fortuna Joggers

I hope you've enjoyed my glimpses into Sew Beautiful!  If you're wanting to pre-order it, I've provided all the links below for you.  And if you missed my other projects from the book you can find the Taktsang Dolman Wrap here and the Carlsbad Cardigan here.

Here are all the links to pre-order:

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Sew Beautiful : Carlsbad Cardigan

 I'm back again today with another make from the soon to be released "Sew Beautiful" book by Kennis Wong of Itch to Stitch designs.

Sew Beautiful Cover Photo

If you've followed me on social media at all, or know me in person, you've probably seen this cardigan a million times over because it is one of my ultimate favourites!  I knew it was going to be on heavy rotation in my wardrobe as soon as I tested the pattern and I wasn't wrong.  It's the perfect layering piece.  

Sew Beautiful : Carlsbad Cardigan Side View

Mine is made from a lightweight viscose blend jersey knit that was purchased from Minerva.  It's got a great drape and was the perfect weight for the Carlsbad!  I like that it's lightweight enough for warmer temps when there's a bit of a chill in the air, but with the cascading fronts I can wrap myself up in it when it's suddenly chillier than expected.  I've seen a few testers that made longer versions and I'm eager to try that for myself too!  (I do so love a long cardi!!)

Sew Beautiful : Carlsbad Cardigan All Wrapped Up

At first glance I thought the front corners would be hard to do, but I quickly realized they're not at all!  The whole cardigan goes together so easily and quickly just like all the patterns in the Sew Beautiful book!

Sew Beautiful : Carlsbad Cardigan Front View

Have you pre-ordered your copy yet? It's gone straight onto my Christmas wish list! As I mentioned the other day, there are eight patterns to make (from sizes 00-20) and most have more than one variation.  They're all designed with a beginner sewist in mind, with no zips or closures to worry about, but more advanced sewists will enjoy the designs as well!

It's on pre-order through Amazon in Canada as well as many other countries around the world!  

Here are all the links to pre-order:


Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Sew Beautiful : Taktsang Dolman Wrap

 You all know how I love Kennis Wong, the designer behind Itch to Stitch's, patterns right? Did you hear the exciting news??  She's got a brand new book about to be released!  Sew Beautiful is available for pre-order right now (release date is December 8th!!).  You can click this link to order it in Canada, but it's available all over the US, Europe and beyond! It would make the perfect Christmas gift for the sewist in your life (ie: ME!!! Just in case my hubby is reading this...)  Sew Beautiful features eight easy to sew patterns in sizes 00-20 and most designs have more than one variation.  

Sew Beautiful Cover Photo

I've felt really honoured to be able to test several of the designs over the last year (although it's been so hard to keep them secret because I really love them!).  I'm always so impressed with the Itch to Stitch designs and the attention to detail that Kennis puts into them.  

Today I want to show you my version of the Taktsang Dolman Wrap.  This pattern is so versatile! You can sew it in a woven or stable knit.  Choose a heavier weight fabric for a snuggly warm outwear piece or a lighter weight fabric for a great alternative to a cardi, or an even lighter weight fabric for an alternative to a blouse.  I chose to go super floaty and lightweight and use some silky polyester I've had in my stash for approximately forever.  


The pattern is super simple to sew - front and back bodice pieces, facings and a tie and belt loops.  That's it, that's all.  I cut mine out one evening before bed and sewed it up in a couple of hours the next afternoon.  It's an almost instant gratification type project.

Taktsang Dolman Wrap seated view

Mine doesn't have belt loops because, well... I forgot to cut them out and I tossed all my little scraps I had left.  Because I was using fabric from deep within the stash bins, there's no way I can get more, so I had to leave them out.  I'm thinking about doing some sort of thread chain belt loop using embroidery thread maybe just to wrangle that tie a bit better, but really it was fine without them.  I was just annoyed with myself.  I NEVER throw out scraps until I'm finished a project and even then I'm such a packrat that I normally keep anything larger than microscopic.  I've no idea what possessed me to suddenly be all minimalist in my fabric hoarding.  

Taktsang Dolman Wrap

I like wearing it closed over a cami (The Itch to Stitch Cartagena Cami* makes a perfect choice!). As I mentioned earlier it makes a great alternative to a blouse!  But I also love to wear robe style tops as a fancier alternative to cardigans so I wondered if the Taktsang Wrap would work that way too, and it turns out I really like it open as well!




So congratulations to Kennis and Itch to Stitch Designs for getting her first book published!  It's such an exciting accomplishment and I know it will be well received by beginner and advanced sewists alike!