Tilly and the Button's Ness Skirt

I hope you can see the purple top stitching thread!  I really got a lot of practice on top stitching with this Tilly and the Button's Ness skirt.  It is also made in the same stretch cotton twill from Mood Fabrics as the Cleo dungaree dress, so it's very stretchy and comfy, and the skirt fits me like a glove. 

I am wondering if I take away the pockets and do the top stitching in matching thread, I could try to make a skirt for work.  Something to ponder. 

Here is a close up of my top stitching work.  😊

 

Read More

Tilly and the Button's Cleo Pinafore / Dungaree Dress

 

This is Tilly and the Buttons Cleo pinafore/dungaree dress. I really wanted this to be very simple and not attention seeking, so I chose this stretch midnight cotton twill fabric from Mood Fabrics.  The website says midnight navy, but it's very dark so it looks black.

It's very comfy, and it was really easy to make-- except the top stitching part.  I really have to practice top stitching and go slowly.  Thank goodness I did it in matching black thread, so you can't see it.  😆

I used rainbow thread for my overlocker, so you can see some happy colors inside, but outside is very simple.  Only thing I changed-- I made the straps tiny bit thicker so that it would fit the buckle properly.  

Read More

Tilly and the Buttons Stevie Top

After making the Tilly and the Button's Indigo dress in this Liberty Tana Lawn fabric, I had some left over, so I made this Tilly and the Button's Stevie top.  It was really simple make and perfect for scrap busting.

Instead of a bow at the back, I decided to put a button so that if I wear a cardigan or a jacket, the ribbon doesn't get in the way.  I tried my best to match up the pattern in the back yoke, and I think it came out pretty well!

 

Read More

Tilly and the Buttons Billie Sweatshirt Dress in Two Ways

I made a Billie Sweatshirt dress for my mom a while back in blue organic cotton jersey from Fabricworm.  She loved the design and the fabric so much, she requested a couple more for summer.  This white version with ballerina portraits is perfect for summer.  It's the classic Billie design but just with a couple more inches added for length.  

I was really happy with the way the stretch edge stitching came out along with the overlock stitching around the neck line.

I also made a maxi version with a slit on the left side for easy movement.  This is also organic cotton jersey from Fabricworm.  Their cotton jersey is so soft and not too thick or too thin.  And the ballerinas doing their dance moves is so cute! 

Read More

Friday Pattern Company's Sagebrush Top in Cloud 9 Rayon

I saw Cath at MadebyCathCraft on Youtube make this Sagebrush top with Organic Cloud 9 fabric, and I had to make the same one!  The fabric is so soft and flowy, and Cath looked great in it, so I tried making one for myself too.  There is a ruffle detail in the middle which didn't come out so clearly in these photos.  I think next time I make it, I have to take the poofy-ness of the sleeves a bit down. I like the tie detail in the back.

This was my first time sewing with rayon.  It was very soft so cutting it accurately was a bit tricky but sewing it on my sewing machine was super easy.  

I think it will be really cute to wear with a skirt or even as a base for my work suits. 

Read More

Tilly and the Buttons Indigo Dress in Liberty Tana Lawn

I love everything about this dress!  This Tilly and the Buttons Indigo pattern is in my #makenine2021 list.   It has pockets; it has major swooshy factor; it is loose and comfy; and yet it's neat and tidy up top.  I made it with my always favorite Liberty London Cotton Lawn (Strawberry Thief in Grey), purchased from Duckadilly Fabrics.   

I really took the time to make sure all the birds lined up horizontally before cutting the fabric out.  That took a while, but I think it was worth the effort, as all the birds lined up perfectly.  😍

In the below photo, the birds kind of look like butterfly wings or cat eyes.  😄

 

Read More

Frugal Frocks 2021 Challenge: DIY Shirred Dress

I am participating in this month's #FrugalFrocks2021 Challenge by Frugalisama and The Yorkshire Sew Girl. 

The challenge is super simple-- sew a dress in March with fabric already in your stash and with a free pattern or by drafting your own pattern.  I chose the latter.   I really wanted to try making a shirred dress (a nod to Hill House Nap dress that seems to be super popular on Instagram), and after watching By Hand London's free instructions on their Instagram Stories, it seems very easy to make.  👍  Mine looks like a cross between this Hill House dress and By Hand London dress.

I just needed three rectangles (one for shirring/bodice making; and two for sleeves).  I had this beautiful pink cotton fabric in my stash from so long ago that I don't even recall when I got it.

Shirring was very easy.  I got some Gutermann elastic for bobbin and then regular pink thread to match the fabric and just had to play around with the tension on my sewing machine to get it right.  

The sleeves were just rectangles with 1/4 inch elastic inserted at both ends.  The top elastics make sure the sleeves stay on my shoulders, and the bottom elastics make sure the sleeves hold on to my upper arms.

The finished dress is very comfy. It is the queen of stretch because everything just fits according to the elastic parts.  When the weather gets warmer, I will be grabbing for this dress!   Thank you to the hosts for sponsoring this challenge! 

(Here is a sneaky peek of the shirring inside. I also finished all the edges with my pastel rainbow overlock thread)

Read More

Spring Flower Wreath

 

Spring is almost here!  To welcome spring, I got these ornamental flowers from Michael's.  I think they are meant to be for table decoration, but I separated them to put them in my spring wreath.  I kept the evergreen wreath background from my Christmas wreath, and all I had to do was replace them the Christmas decorations with the flowers. Very easy, super affordable, and also space saving since I don't have to put the entire wreath into storage for the rest of the year.  

•  Roses
•  Lilacs
• Tulips and white orange blossom flowers seem to be only available at the store. 
  

(See below for the Christmas wreath-- it also had fairy lights!)

 

Details of the Spring wreath.

Read More

Tilly and the Buttons Billie Top and Stella Joggers

Isn't this fabric just so happy?  I ordered it from Joann so that I could make a lighter comfy home wear.  I love the Stella Hoodie and Joggers I previously made, but they are a little bit like sweatshirt fabric so when the weather gets cooler, they may be too thick.  So this time, I used a lighter cotton jersey fabric from Joann.  (If you use a coupon, they work out to be $6 /yd-- pretty good deal!)  The fabric is super soft and light, but not see through at all.  It has a bit of stretch too.

I made this Billie top a little bit longer so that when the weather gets very humid, I can wear it as a dress.

 

Stella Joggers (from Tilly and the Buttons Stretch Book) are so comfy. I think I could make these over and over again.  I extended the length for about two inches, and it's the perfect length.  

 

 

Read More

Handmade Cath Kidston Tailor's Ham and Sleeve Roll

 

I've read and watched on Youtube that a tailor's ham and a sleeve roll are helpful for when pressing garment's curved seams or sleeves.  I did see some for sale (and some cute handmade ones for sale on etsy), but I wanted to make my own with Cath Kidston canvas fabric.   I used a free pattern from Elewa's Blog. and for stuffing, instead of crushed walnuts, I stuffed it with small scraps from my previous sewing projects.  I already used them for when I was making my Mimi Blouse, and they did make pressing curved seams so much easier.   👍

Read More

Tilly and the Buttons: Mimi Blouse in Liberty Tana Lawn

 For the past few years, I've collected a small stash of Liberty Tana Lawn Fabrics.  If I was standing on an edge of a cliff and someone forced me to pick my favorite fabric, Liberty Tana Lawn would be it.  (Side note: why would someone do that?  No idea)  Anyways, they are so soft, so sturdy, multi-functional (quilts, garments, curtains, bed sheets, etc), and they have a good combination of classic and modern designs.  

I've been saving this pink Liberty Tana Lawn Fabric (Tatum print) since I purchased it at the Liberty Store in London a few years back.   Initially, I thought I was going to use it for a quilt.  I wasn't sure what kind of quilt or anything, but it had pink flowers (✅) on pink background (✅) with more pink flowers (✅✅✅), so there was no question that I was going to leave the store without it. 😍 Is this what it means to be a Fabric hoarder/collector?  😆

So for my next #makenine2021, I thought it would be so pretty to make my Tilly and the Buttons Mimi Blouse with this fabric.  I thought it would be great for summer or spring, and I could also technically wear it with my suit for work.  I do love a pop of delicate top under a suit. 

I wouldn't say sewing this top was hard, but I wouldn't say it was quick and easy either.  The gatherings in the back yoke and on the front took a while to get them accurately, and the gatherings for the shoulders took a while to ease it in.  What took me the longest is making sure that when I was overlocking the seams, I had to triple check that there was no fabric caught underneath it.  Every step had to be done slowly and carefully unlike sewing jersey.  

 

But in the end, I think it was totally worth it.  It fits perfectly (I didn't have to make any adjustments), and I love the style too.   This was also my first time doing a french seam, and that was very neat technique to learn.

I made 1/2 inch cover buttons with left over fabrics.  It was a bit fiddly (note: cut a slightly bigger size fabric than recommended in the instructions), but I love how it looks on the blouse.

Nice detail that Tilly added to the sleeves.

Lastly, with the leftover fabric, I made a matching mask. More than a year into the pandemic, I think a matching mask is "almost" a necessity?  😁

Read More

Brightly Quilt Top with Squirrelly Girl Fabric

I could not resist the squirrels on this fabric. (It is Squirrelly Girl by Bunny Hill Designs from Moda Fabrics, and I ordered it from this etsy shop called, Crazy Quilt Girl). Orange is not usually in my repertory of colors, and I don't think I own anything that is orange in my wardrobe or at home, but these squirrels are just too cute, and I thought they would be perfect for a fall quilt or what I like to call, "seasonally appropriate decor".  😁   I love how these squirrels are integrated into different designs in the fabric.  Some are running around with acorns, some are playing with leaves, and some are even integrated into the scroll designs. 

I used Cluck Cluck Sew's Brightly Quilt Pattern, which was very easy to follow and very quick to sew.  I think after cutting out the fabric pieces, it took me about a weekend to piece the entire quilt top together.  The instructions are super easy, and after doing the first block, I was able to figure out how to chain piece them together.  I also used her diagonal seam tape.

After looking at the pattern and comparing it to the colors in my fat quarter bundle of this fabric, I was worried that it didn't have enough variety of colors to have the impact that the quilt in the original pattern has.  But I had already cut the pieces and there was no turning back, so I went ahead and finished the quilt top.  I am very happy that I just plowed through because I think it came out pretty well! 

Read More

Delphine Skirt, Agnes Top, and Lark Tee

Here is my second make from my #makenine2021--  Delphine Skirt from Tilly and the Buttons' Love at First Stitch book. It's an A-line black skirt made from Rag and Bone Black Stretch Corduroy from Mood Fabrics.  The fabric is soft yet stable to sew, which was what I definitely needed to master the invisible zip.  After watching Guthrie and Ghani's invisible zip instructions, I practiced on a piece of scrap fabric and just went for it!  I was worried that it might have a bump on the bum, but after some ironing, it came out pretty smooth.  👍

The skirt was more difficult to fit than I thought.  The waist is a little bit big on me even though I measured myself and tried it on multiple times during the sewing process.  In the end, I think it will be okay since it will just be more comfortable to wear. I did cut off at least three inches or so from the length, so I can wear it above the knee.  I am a big fan of the A-line of the skirt. 

 

 

After I made the skirt, I needed to make a cute top to go with it, so I opened up my Agnes top pattern which I've been itching to try.  I added the elastic accent from the pattern with slightly shorter sleeve.  It fits very well, so I think I have to make another top with this pattern.   It is made from Robert Kaufman Cotton Jersey called Hidden Canyon (Designer is Vanessa Lillrose & Linda Fitch for Wishwell).  It's 95% Cotton and 5% Lycra Spandex, so very stretchy and comfy. And I love the bright flowers.

And then I had some left over fabric, so I made the Grainline Lark Tee with the boat neck and 3/4 sleeve.  I left the length long on the Lark Tee, so I can wear it with leggings.  

I am finding it's easier to sew jersey (stretchy fabrics) because it is easier to fit.  But my next challenge is making a button down top, so we will see how it goes! 

PS- My Agnes top pattern was purchased from Brooklyn Craft Company.  Grainline Lark Tee pattern and Kylie and the Machine Labels are from Urban Sewciety. 

Read More

Megan Nielsen Darling Ranges Dress in Cotton Lawn

This Megan Nielsen Darling Ranges Dress is one of my first #makenine2021.  After making a number of stretchy comfy home outfits, I decided to challenge myself with buttons, button holes, and bias binding!   I've made a lot of bias binding for quilts, but this was first time putting it on a garment.  

The beautiful butterfly cotton lawn is from Rifle Paper Co. called English Garden Monarch.  The background is very dark green, and the butterflies have some sparkling metallic in them. 

 

Megan Nielsen's instruction was relatively easy to follow. I was a bit confused about how to place the bias binding and then around the placket, but reviewing the pattern again and marking the fabric correctly helped.  I used a button accordion (aka. SimFlex Expanding Sewing Gauge)😁, and all the buttons are properly placed.  The buttons are from my stash (they are Lori Holt buttons from the Fat Quarter Shop-- sold out now but similar ones here).  I choose to put different buttons in the same color to make it a bit funky.

 

 

I really like now the skirt puffs out from the gathers around the waist. And it has pockets! 

 

 I was initially thinking I should leave the sleeves without the elastic because I was worried that the elastic might be too constricting, but following the instructions, the elastics are just perfect.  Not too tight and keeps the sleeves down. 

Now, I just need to wait for when we can go out for a weekend brunch with the girls.  😊

Read More