Kitt & Juni: A Sewing Adventure

[kittandjuni]

A Tigeriffic Top

Pattern: Hansie, size 8 Designer: Seamwork Fabric: Lady McElroy, Tigeriffic, viscose challis lawn

This was a fun one!

My local sewing shop has a large format printer so when I went in to grab my print order, I spotted their basket of remnants and my eye was drawn to this super cool tiger print. $26 for a yard and a quarter, which was about exactly the right amount for this Hansie pattern.

Hansie, which is free(!) is just four pattern pieces: front, back, front neckline facing, back neckline facing. I had some light interfacing in my stash to line the facing pieces, and I pulled some leftover black bias tape from a previous project to finish the hem. This whole thing cost me $31 including the cost of printing the pattern.

Large format printing is a godsend, by the way.

Anyway, I was a little apprehensive about cutting into this fabric, but I took my time transferring the markings and carefully cutting out the pattern, and sewing with it was very satisfying. After doing the 16 darts on the Sorrel Bag, these two darts sewed up VERY easily.

Including cutting the paper pattern, pattern pieces, and sewing, I think this whole thing took about four hours.

It looks boxy on the hanger, but drapes better on the body. This will look cute with shorts this summer, or half-tucked into jeans with some accessorizing.

I might try this again in a neutral linen, but we'll see. I have some other plans for the next few projects before I can return to this one.

[kittandjuni]

A hat for baby

Pattern: None, just 75 rows on the circular knitting machine Yarn: Lion Brand Yarn, 100% cotton

This is one of those easy tube hats on the circular knitting machine (YouTube has tons of tutorials on how to make them). I have an Addi Express King Size with 46 needles and you'd think, oh that's too big for a baby head, but it actually works out when you fold the tube inside of itself to double it up and then cinch the ends together.

There is some unevenness on the tension and a few dropped stitches here and there, but there's a good reason: this hat was a group effort. My husband's brother and his wife had a baby, and my husband and son each cranked out about 20 rows so we could say it's from all of us. I started it, finished it, and secured it. It's not an heirloom piece, and I don't even expect it to last more than a couple of washes, but I thought it would be a cute idea, and they're getting real (store bought) clothing from us that will last. At least until they get caked in vomit or feces.

[kittandjuni]

An Upcycled Bag

Designer: Seamwork Pattern: Sorrel Tote Fabric: 100% cotton shower curtain

I'm in the middle of a bathroom renovation which meant replacing the shower curtain with something floor-to-ceiling length. That left this beautiful cotton, embroidered border print without a home or a purpose. How about a new life as a bag?

I bought this shower curtain around 2018 or so. It was from one of Target's Opalhouse collections. Apart from a few water stains and yellowing at the bottom, it has held up very well over the years. And despite heavy duty wash cycles, the magenta embroidery has never started to come undone. It's a good piece.

Seamwork just happened to release their free Sorrel Tote pattern this season and I thought the border print would look great, especially if I could manage to match it up between the front and back.

Not bad!

There was enough of the embroidery to make a pocket with, too.

I think it turned out great. My only gripe with it is that I tried to interface the shell because it's a very lightweight fabric, but the interface from my stash must have been old because it wouldn't adhere very well. It's stitched in there now, but it's not exactly "one piece," you know.

This whole thing only took a few hours. I didn't find anything particularly difficult about it besides following directions, but that's a me problem. The greatest challenge with this pattern, if you're not used to doing them, is the number of darts required. There are two fronts (shell and lining) and two backs (shell and lining), each with 4 darts. That's 16 darts. So if you're not good at them before Sorrel, you WILL be good at them by the time you're done with Sorrel.

I sent a few pics to my mom when it was done and she said she liked it, so she is now in possession of it.

Outtake: Sewing assistant Juni testing out the fabric.

[kittandjuni]

Designer: Tilly and the Buttons Pattern: Miette Wrap Skirt, size 4 Fabric: Robert Kaufman, Essex Linen Cotton Blend in Crimson

I needed some variety in my summer wardrobe and thought a bright red wrap skirt would add a splash of color and interest. And just practically speaking, my weight is all over the place, so a wrap style garment can grow or shrink with me.

I made this skirt back in 2014 in a navy blue polka dot quilting cotton and I have no idea what happened to it (probably tossed out in a KonMari fit at some point) but I always kind of missed it. It wasn't constructed the most carefully and the seams weren't the straightest (or finished), but it was definitely wearable. Maybe it would have fallen apart by now if I hadn't tossed it.

This one is better constructed and has lasting power. I actually finished the seams and the hem is more even than I can usually pull off.

Speaking of which, I lobbed about three inches off the bottom of this. I'm 5'7" and unhemmed it fell just below my knee which looked a little too "librarian" for my taste so I hiked it to just above the knee.

If I were to make this again, I would change two things:

Angle the ends of the ties. The rectangles need to be folded in half to fit through the hole in the waistband. I might go back and chop them at some point.

Finish the hem at the same time as the side seams of the back pieces so I could make a mitered edge. I'm not super happy with how the hem folds over the finished edge of the back piece but it's not noticeable, so I can live with it.