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.  

 

 

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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.   👍

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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?  😁

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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! 

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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. 

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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.  😊

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Tilly and the Buttons: Stella Hoodie and Joggers in Organic Ribbon Fabric

At first, I was intimidated by a slightly more complicated version of joggers (i.e. putting in the pockets) and of the top (i.e. constructing in the hoodie) but after watching Sewing Bunny's Youtube video on Hudson Pants sew along, I gained some confidence to tackle Tilly and the Buttons' Stella Hoodie and Joggers from her Stretch! sewing book.  

I had this beautiful organic jersey fabric from Fabric Worm in my stash.  I was saving it for a while because I love this print and wanted to make something special.  But being home so much these days, I thought I deserved a super special, comfy, cozy, home wear.  So I  decided to cut it up for a hoodie and jogger set.  

 

And it's just perfect for home wear.  It's bright; it's pink; it has bows all over it; and it's super soft inside.  I did think for a second, "should I break it up by mixing it with monotone fabric?" But the answer was "Nope, go big or go home".  😁    

I was very proud of the hood section where the ribbons were facing all the right direction. 👍

 

The joggers were super easy to sew once I figured out the pockets.  The pocket directions turned out to be quite similar to Hudson Pants (by True Bias), and Sewing Bunny had just released her sew along vlog on Hudson Pants, so that was very helpful.  I guess I am more of a visual learner. 

This pattern also challenged me with putting in button holes.  The cords on the hood and around the waist go through button holes, so I practiced tons on my pink Eversewn 30 sewing machine with pink Gutterman thread.  After I felt sure I could do it with out making a mistake (i.e. remember to put interfacing on the part where button holes go in), I did it on the actual pattern fabric, and it worked!  

 

Last couple of points-- I made the cords out of left over jersey fabric that I made my mom's Billie sweater dress (which was also from Fabric Worm, so the color matched perfectly), and I did lengthen both the top and the legs because I wanted full coverage.  Sometimes, the ready to wear joggers are a bit short for me, so I made it about 2 inches longer in the legs, and it's perfect.  

Now, I can be a big ball of happy ribbons inside my house.  😁

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