Sewing Vortex

Never again will I feel the need to wear one of those ill-fitting, marshmallow silhouette-making, store bought sweatshirts.... If we are not having a snow storm, then it is 40 and slushy outside. Either way, layers are my friend these days, and my new Orono Top , the latest pattern release from Itch to Stitch , is a great addition to my warmer layer selection. When it's super cold, I wear it around the house at as a sweatshirt. When it's 40 and slushy, I can throw it on, instead of a jacket, to run my errands.  Pattern Details & Design Features Orono Top will keep you warm without sacrificing style or feminine shape. The pattern is intended for medium to heavy knits with good structure and a minimum amount of stretch. Sweatshirt fabrics, double knit and ponte are solid choices.  Orono Top has several lengthen/shorten lines so you can achieve the correct proportion for your body. On the bodice, there is one at hip level and one at rib-cage level. There...

Sometimes we need a little nudge to kick-start the inspiration. For me, that was the October Hoodie Along Challenge in the Sew Alongs & Sewing Contests group .  I've been hanging on to an old tee shirt for a long time now. I'd worn it so often that it was soft and faded. Sadly, it sprouted a hole in an unfixable spot. Usually, these garments of mine end up in the donate bin, but this tee has a bit of sentimental value for me. So, I tucked it away, as any sewer worth her salt would do, telling myself that one day, I will find a way to wear it again. Project Pieces I was important to me to use quality materials for my Lufisto tee shirt upcycle. If I were going to take the time to turn it into a whole new garment, I wanted to make one that will last. Luckily, I already had the perfect things in my stash.  The Fabric  I bought 3 yards of black French Terry from Simply By Ti fabrics at their Birthday Sale last April. It's one of those fabrics that yo...

Today, I am sharing my first "Official" Simply By Ti Fabric Ambassador project! The Event: Bridal Brunch for my soon-to-be sister-in-law. The Patterns:  Nottingham Top and Lindy Petal Skirt , both from Itch-To-Stitch Designs . I've sewn the free Lindy Petal Skirt a few times over the last couple years, refining the fit and length to be just right for me. This is a really quick and easy project that looks great. It has an elastic waistband for comfort and the faux wrap, curved fronts make a perfect feminine detail which doesn't expose too much leg. Nottingham Top is a really new addition to the ITS Shop . I made 3 versions during testing a few weeks ago, and blogged about them HERE . I was so inspired by the floral versions that came out during the test that I decided I needed to make one of my own.   The Fabric:  Black Denim Jegging and Ivory With Pink And Blue Flowers Double Brushed Poly , both from Simply By Ti Fabrics . A denim je...

I call this hairstyle: Sea Salt Spray Failure.  I do not look beachy-fresh.  I look slightly frazzled.  Fortunately, my new top is fabulous! This is the Sienna Drawstring Knit Doloman Top from Sinclair Patterns . The Sienna was free for about a month or so with a code in the Sinclair Patterns FB group, and naturally, I snatched it up.  Pattern Details   Sienna is a casual top with cut-on doloman sleeves in 2 lengths: Short like mine, or 3/4. It also features a banded neckline, cuffs and some crazy fun side tie rouching.  This pattern has been getting tons of love in the Sinclair FB Group, and there was a video sew along for it recently as well. I won't reinvent the wheel here; you can pop into the Sinclair Sew Alongs Group and find the videos by searching #SewSienna.  Along my journey to fine-tune my self fitting skills, I've discovered that I have a small shoulder joint and that I often benefit from shortening tops betwe...