Saturday, June 22, 2019

You Had Me At Floral

Hello all!  Here I am again already.  Just a quick drive by post again to let you know I'm back on the Minerva Crafts blog today!

Minerva Crafts is definitely one of my favourite fabric shops (maybe you could tell...). I love the huge selection, the prices are always really reasonable and shipping is phenomenal so I have shopped there for several years now.  I really appreciate having the opportunity to be a part of the blogger network, even if I sometimes feel ridiculously out of my league when I see the other sewists that are featured.

Anyway, enough rambling!  Today's post is featuring a gorgeous cotton lawn that is, of course, floral. (was there any doubt it would be?  LOL) When the list of fabric choices came out, I saw it and that was it.  No need to ponder over any other choices.  They had me at this one.  I think we all know by now a pretty floral fabric is my weakness.


I used mine to make none other than Selkie Pattern's debut London Dress!  I hope you'll hop on over to the Minerva Crafts blog to read all about this latest project!






Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Adventures in Trouser Making!

Hello again!  I told you I'd be back on the blog really soon and here I am!

Just a super duper quick drop in to let you know that I have a new post up on the Minerva Crafts Blogger Network this morning.

Ultimate Trousers Front View


I decided to use the stretch cotton sateen, that was generously provided to me by Minerva Crafts, to make the Sew Over It Ultimate Trousers.  I've been wanting to sew up a pair for a few years now and since this somehow seems to have become the season of sewing pants for me I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Head on over to the Minerva Crafts Blog to read about my adventures in trouser making and see all the pattern and fabric details!

SOI Ultimate Trousers back view

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Hermosa Shorts

Hey!  It's been a bit since I've posted.  June is flying by at break neck speed and somehow here we are  less than two full weeks until the end of the school year here.  I'm crazy busy at work trying to get all the books back and shelved so I can inventory them before I leave - I'm transferring to a different school in our division this August to a permanent position (YAY!!!) - so I want to make sure I leave everything tickety boo for whomever will be coming into to replace me in the fall.  The little boys were also back in a football training camp the last few weeks which adds to the busy.  Life has been, as per usual, chaotic.  Good, but definitely chaotic.  I've been employing my new method of sewing in snippets instead of waiting for larger chunks of time and it's been a total game changer.  (And realistically the only way to get things accomplished right now! LOL)

It's going to be a bit of a busy week here on the blogsphere for me!  Today I want to tell you about a new pattern that is being released, then I've got a couple of blog posts coming up on the Minerva Crafts Blogger Network as well, so you'll probably here more from me over the course of the next few days then you normally do in the span of a couple of months!

So onto that pattern release I mentioned!  Full disclosure : I tested this pattern.  Spoiler alert : It's Itch to Stitch*, so I probably don't even really need to tell you that I really like this pattern.  Has there been any ITS pattern I've made that I didn't like?  I don't think there has to be honest.  It's part of why I love testing for Kennis.  I know that her designs are super wearable, often need minimal altering to fit me and the attention to detail is always there.  So without further ado, let me introduce you to the Hermosa Shorts!


These, admittedly, were a wee bit more challenging than the last pattern I tested for her, which was the Samara Pants (that I've now made three versions of and have no plans to stop).  Where the Samara's were loose and flowy, so minimal fitting was needed, the Hermosas are closer silhouette so need a bit more attention paid to the fit.  The pattern itself is not hard and there is lots of information to be had online about fitting to your particular body shape if need be. There's lots of top stitching which does make sewing them a bit more involved, but very much worth the effort if you ask me! Designed for fabric with a touch of stretch for comfort, the pattern has three length options, large patch pockets and your choice of button or zipper fly.  I chose to do the button fly and medium length option for mine!


My denim fabric was a bit lighter than I had wanted for this pattern, more like a chambray weight and I feel like they wrinkle if you look sideways at them, but they are pretty comfy and I'm sure will see lots of wear this summer.  I really want to re-visit this pattern when I have the time to make another pair in a heavier twill.


If you want to try out the pattern for yourself, you can grab it on sale right now over on the ITS site! I highly recommend these as a summer wardrobe staple!