Amy

@elbe_textiles #rundledress #memademay2026day4 And it’s Honeybee’s 6th birthday today. She’s a smart dog, but can be slow in some ways… I think (?) she’s finally figured out it’s best to leave the honeybees alone.

The #chiseltop launches tomorrow @alamain_studio 🙌 This is such a well drafted and interestingly designed asymmetrical-collared semi-fitted shirt. I was lucky to be a tester for the pattern. I decided to make the long sleeve version in a 9 oz organic cotton hemp with 40% stretch. I used the projector file and made a size 18/Range 1 with no mods. I’m wearing it here with the @alamain_studio #spindleskirt - I’ve made 3 long versions and working on one mini version. The Spindle Skirt is so great too! Since one of the views is a circle skirt on a fitted yoke, I used an embroidered table cloth I found at an estate sale for one version. And used fabric from @fluidplusdrape for the other version I show here. I also used size 18 Range 1 with no mods for the skirt. Alexia’s directions, order of operations, videos (and pockets) were very good for the skirt, which is one reason I applied to test the top. For the top… One of the tweaks Alexia made after testing was with wording around when an FBA might be appropriate depending on your measurements and fabric. My thicker, less stretchy fabric and my measurements would be a good candidate for an FBA, I think. She also has since tweaked the pattern to bring the armhole closer to the body for a better fit across the shoulder. That being said, knit is very forgiving and I’m very happy with the fit and style overall, pre-tweaks to the pattern… I immediately got a compliment within the first five minutes of wearing it out - the true test of greatness 😃 For my next version, I’m thinking of modifying the pattern to make a short sleeve (elbow length) version in a lighter weight fabric, using snaps 🤗 It was nice working with Alexia! Her tweaks based on testing were smart and made the pattern more versatile - like making the facings a little longer so they stay tucked when the top is worn fully open (how I’ll mostly wear it, or just with just one button). And I was happy to see she added directions for snaps. Really enjoying Alexia’s patterns :) Happy Launch Day tomorrow 🚀

A few years ago on a trip to S Utah, I picked up a brochure about Scenic Byway Hwy 12, as we were driving it, thinking I’d want to go back and explore it more. Luckily my family’s down for such adventures and we went back to the area a couple weeks ago to check out what’s around that next corner 👀 My husband’s been making fun of me lately for needing to make an outfit for specific situations - but isn’t that what sewing for yourself is for? Don’t I need a boiler suit in brushed cotton twill with action pleats to prune our fruit trees? So for our desert trip, knowing we’d be hiking 7-8 miles in 90 degree sun into slot canyons, I needed a specific outfit - right?! The deep pocketed roomy #botanytunic from @elbe_textiles went to the top of my cue. I made it in a linen that I picked up from @fluidplusdrape last year and paired it with the #rtsharper from @ready_to_sew in an another @fluidplusdrape fabric. This lightweight airy pink tiger organic cotton fabric is perfect for these new-favorite bloomer pants, of which I plan to make more for summer - maybe in silk 🤗 I also paired the Botany Tunic with the #lanepants @hisydgraham that I made a couple years ago from a Robert Kaufman cotton. Another good match. I’m here to say I nailed my Scenic Byway Hwy 12 outfits 🙌

I recently made the #horizonhoodie by @roadtrippatternco in a thick ribbed wind proof Polartec I picked up on sale from @surgefabricshop . Second time working with this hoodie pattern and it’s becoming a favorite - along with their Cascadia Joggers🧵✨I used the same ribbed Polartec to make a #betabeanie with another @roadtrippatternco pattern. And peeking out 👀 is my striped merino wool Base Camp long underwear from RTPC too - I guess I’m a Road Trip Pattern Co fangirl 🤷🏻‍♀️😁 I also made the #pacecardigan from @daughterjudypatterns using a fabric I’ve had in my stash for a while from Le’toffe Fabrics, back when their shop was still in Springfield. I lined it with a wool Polartec from Ripstop by the Roll. It’s become my winter house-and-walking-the-dog coat. I have another WIP Pace Cardigan cut out in a thick wool from a cape my mom gave me a while back that I wasn’t wearing ♻️ I haven’t been posting much lately. I go back and forth with mixed feelings… being self-conscious about IG posing/bragging versus giving back to the IG sewing community with some inspo from me - since I get a lot of inspiration from so many here ❤️ - and giving props to rad indie pattern and fabric companies.

My winter uniform = jogger pants, hoodie, jacket. I underlined my #cascadiajoggers by @roadtrippatternco with Polartec Alpha Direct with Wool from @ripstopbytheroll (last pic). The outer is stretch taslan from @saltlakesewciety . I’ve made two of these joggers this year - the other I wore on a backpacking trip this summer. The only mods I had made on my summer pair was moving the knee dart down 1” - they fit perfectly. When I sewed up the same size with this thicker/2 layers of fabric, the front and back landed too low (before adding the waistband) and I had to compensate by adding 2” height to the waistband. It worked out well but if I use a thicker fabric in the future I’ll add length to the rise. It’s mentioned in the directions to go up a size when working with thicker fabrics but I noticed that too late. I used a ponte knit for @saltlakesewciety for the cuffs and waistband. The Horizon Hoodie by @roadtrippatternco is also a new favorite. Made from a French terry I bought while traveling through Vancouver BC @oursocialfabric . I like this hoodie pattern so much I just finished another in a windproof Polartec. The cuff method was new to me. I basted them to first to make sure I had it right… I did… trust the process! Lastly, is the #sylvanjacket by @sewliberated . I moved this project up in my cue prompted by a challenge from a member of my sewing group @elleinadxc :) The outer is heavy weight linen twill I recently bought from @lyricalfabrics and the inner is organic cotton canvas I bought a couple years ago in Portland at @boltfabricpdx . My favorite thing about this pattern was learning a new (to me) underlining technique that gives clean finishes to the interior. Even though I’ve been sewing for over 12 years now, I still learn something new on practically every pattern I make. #sewover50 #sewin

Soaking in the early autumn sun, in a smoky haze 🔥😔 Here’s another beautiful fabric from @juliaallissoncost - printed from her paintings of local Maui flowers arranged in her family vases. I picked this fabric when I was in her studio this summer because I couldn’t choose just one flower print and I’ve always loved the colors of antique bottles. I made it up as the #reynoldstop by @helens__closet I’m also wearing Heatwaves in S’mores, a linen/cotton fabric from @fluidplusdrape made up as @matchymatchysewingclub #apronpocketpants - as shorts - and the #studiotee. I hand-stitched the studio tee on my flight to ATL this summer 🪡

Really like these @ready_to_sew #rtshadid. I’ve had some tencel twill from @saltlakesewciety for a while that I couldn’t figure out how to use since it’s a little shinier than I usually wear. When I saw this adidas hack track pants pattern, I thought it would be a perfect match. I’ll be making more… a striped Meetmilk tencel twill could be fun with the pleats 🤔 I used my hip size for sizing and made no modifications. I’ve been having luck with Ready to Sew patterns lately so will continue to explore their catalog.

Hello @sewover50 and #triedandtruepattern25 👋 For my September TnT pattern entry I chose the #raypinafore by @papertheory . I’ve made it 5 times as a dress and once as a shirt. Here are my reasons: - uses 2 yards of fabric - no pleats or ruffles so beautifully showcases a special fabric, or highlights pretty topstitching - you can make it in a range of light to heavy weight fabrics -you can wear a tight or loose fitting, short or long sleeve, or light or heavy shirt or blouse under - it has generous side splits so it’s easy to step up, over and around every obstacle and turn - it’s fun to make - the pockets are generous and strong - it’s a dress that you can change up - color and texture - by what you wear under or over - it can be an all seasons dress -you can hack it into a shirt (I made, but haven’t taken a photo yet)

For our Maui trip this summer, I made @elbe_textiles #somerfieldcoat in a liberty lawn I found at my local materials exchange store. Size F. No mods. Fits perfectly. I basically lived in it - and my swim suit - the whole trip 🙌

Wearable toiles of @daughterjudypatterns #ramatop in a lightweight cotton (?) from my sewing group’s give-away pile, along with the @alamain_studio #spindleskirt in a linen (?) from my local materials exchange store. No modifications for either. I went with my bust size for the Rama Top and my waist size for the Spindle Skirt (my hip size would put me 2 sizes smaller). I’ll be making more of both! I tried the Rama Top with t-shirts and blouses underneath and found that it works like a vest, so my next version will be in a mid-weight. And I already started working on another Spindle Skirt in a lightweight fabric. I kept seeing skirt patterns where one thing or another wasn’t appealing to me (elastic, gathers, pleats) until I saw this one! The pockets are made the same way as the Ray Pinafore (which I’ve made numerous times) just a little bigger and French seamed, so that was a nice surprise while I was making it. Based on my success with this pattern (the drafting, instructions, fit) and her design style, I plan to buy all 4 of her patterns - a capsule. Excited to see what else @alamain_studio comes up with.

I brought back a little bit of Maui with me… Wearing tropical fruit while I eat the tart apples falling in my backyard… At the end of our Maui trip last week, I realized we were staying 10 minutes from @juliaallissoncost studio. I’ve been following her for a couple years on IG, inspired by @iusedtobeacurtain 👋 It was so cool to find out more about how she paints the world around her and then prints it on fabric. She also showed me her children’s book - which I bought. Her book was like no other - a beautiful wordless story that is fully imagined and painted from the colorful island world she lives on. Most definitely the most meaningful souvenir I’ve ever purchased… I brought back and wear the oranges (and flowers and tiny wardrobes) that got their start on the slopes of a tropical volcanic island mountainside 🌋🤯 This, again, is another #raypinafore by @paper_theory and a #jacksontee by @helens__closet The fabric is cotton poplin and is called #sweetsummerbluestextile

This is a wearable toile of the @sewhouse7 #tumalojumpsuit - shorts version. I made a straight size 14 with no mods. Perfect fit and super fun! I’ve had 2 fabrics in my stash for years that I think should work well. I love when I don’t have to make any adjustments on a new pattern. Also lately I haven’t used my serger for knits. I find it easier and have more control with a narrow zigzag (1.5 width, 2.5 length). I’ve discovered that switching to a plastic foot - instead of my regular metal foot - glides over the cloth better and I get less waviness at my seams. I might use my twin needle to topstitch when I make the next versions, but I used the same narrow zigzag for the topstitching on this one too because of it being faster and I don’t mind how it looks. I’m also wearing an @alabamachanin #ezracoat that I made 10 years ago. It was a little chilly this morning. #sewover50 #tumalojumpsuit