Sewing Vortex

Quick. Easy. Versatile. Feminine. Wardrobe-builder.  Spring is springing here in Michigan. I recently went through my closets and pulled out all my warmer weather wear. Sifting through it, I'm realizing I have mostly pretty closet orphans. What I really need to make is some better-than-basic basics. This is where Isidro Top from Itch to Stitch comes into play. Isidro is quick to make, feels great to wear, can be worn a million ways, has great feminine details, but is still basic enough that you can have many, and not look like you are wearing the same top over and over. That's kind of a magical balance. Pattern Details Isidro Top is drafted for knits with 50-75% stretch. Most sizes/views need only 1 yard or less fabric! (only the larger sizes with sleeves need a smidge more... like 1.25 yards) Testers used everything from DBP (like me) to rayon spandex and even light French terry. With some cute details, it's a quick but not boring make that can coordinate wit...

With the completion of my dress this morning, I now have 2 versions of Melrose Top & Dress  to share with you in this post!   When I have a hard time fitting sewing into my schedule, it's important to select patterns that give me a big impact without needing too much in the way of fitting and that don't have complicated techniques demanding my concentration. That's where I'm at lately and so Melrose Top & Dress , the newest release from Itch to Stitch Designs , is just the pattern I needed this spring!  Pattern Details Designed for wovens, Melrose Top & Dress has just the right amount of ease to be a comfortable dress without overwhelming my frame EVEN though I'm large busted. (No tents here!). Because this is a minimalist design with a modern silhouette, you have the potential to create everything from an elegant and classic garment to something super impactful depending on the fabric you choose.  Design Features -Drafted for A, ...

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...

I don't live out in the wilderness, nor do I call the Urban Jungle home. To be honest, I don't even like outside. Yet, I was drawn to making the Envigado Vest from Itch to Stitch ...  This was one of the most fun projects I've done in a long time. I found the rose embossed nylon/poly mystery fabric in a bag of stuff my aunt gave me last summer and then planned/purchased the hardware to coordinate. There are a number of interesting details, including the option to bias bind your seams, which elevate this item from just a core-warming-weather-shield to a fashionable layering garment. Pattern Details Envigado Vest is an unlined vest with a lined hood option suitable for light to medium woven fabrics. Closely fitted with front/back princess seams, a drawstring waist and bust cup sizes, Envigado maintains a feminine and flattering silhouette. It is full of details that add up to a garment people will think you purchased at a store. The pattern instructions are inc...