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.
Tilly and the Button's Ness Skirt
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Tilly and the Button's Cleo Pinafore / Dungaree Dress
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
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.
Tilly and the Buttons Stevie Top
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
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!
Tilly and the Buttons Billie Sweatshirt Dress in Two Ways
Monday, May 24, 2021
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!
Friday Pattern Company's Sagebrush Top in Cloud 9 Rayon
Friday, April 23, 2021
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.
Tilly and the Buttons Indigo Dress in Liberty Tana Lawn
Saturday, April 17, 2021
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. 😍
Frugal Frocks 2021 Challenge: DIY Shirred Dress
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
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!
Spring Flower Wreath
Friday, March 26, 2021
Tilly and the Buttons Billie Top and Stella Joggers
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Handmade Cath Kidston Tailor's Ham and Sleeve Roll
Friday, March 12, 2021
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. 👍
Tilly and the Buttons: Mimi Blouse in Liberty Tana Lawn
Thursday, March 11, 2021
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.
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? 😁
Brightly Quilt Top with Squirrelly Girl Fabric
Thursday, March 4, 2021
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!
Delphine Skirt, Agnes Top, and Lark Tee
Saturday, February 20, 2021
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. 👍
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.
Megan Nielsen Darling Ranges Dress in Cotton Lawn
Saturday, February 13, 2021
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.