Elena | colorful sewing + knitting + outfits

Hiiii. 🐥💛🍌I thought this newly-sewn bright yellow coat was a good excuse to do a little re-introduction and to share that I’ll be (slightly) changing my Instagram handle to eb.stitch. First, in case you’re new to this sporadic series of sewing projects, outfits, and very specific fabric thoughts, welcome! A few things about me: 🍌 I live in Philly, where I am in medical school and also getting an MBA 🍌 I grew up in San Francisco and spend a lot of time there too 🍌 Medicine is my second career after working in business for all of my 20s 🍌 I originally learned knitting and sewing with my mom as a kid, and like many of us, got really into both in 2020 🍌 I have a rescue dachshund named Mickey who frequently sticks his nose in my sewing and other creative ventures 🍌 I’m really tall (5’ 11.5”) and lengthen almost every pattern 🍌 I think tulips and sour beers are both underrated About the coat: 💛 I am getting married at the end of the month and made this #novacoat for one of the pre-wedding events! This @papercutpatterns design is a great first coat for anyone itching to make outerwear— I made a wool version last year. In terms of mods, I lengthened the top front pieces to move the pockets down and overall made the coat muuuch longer. (More details on this in my coat post from Feb 2021.) Fabric is quilted #naniiro and light gray silk lining from @stonemountainfabric . Working with fabric that’s already been quilted made this a breeze! 🐣 Handle change — not much to say! I chose eb.stitch because it sounds like eb.jig but gives a better sense of what this account is about - sewing, knitting, and clothes stuff! Just hoping folks won’t be too confused when I switch things up 🙃 That’s all! If there’s something else you wanna know, just ask! 👋

Didn’t think I’d make it, but here is my ✨ 2023 year in review ✨ I hope this is catching you with a m/cocktail in hand or maybe you’re in Australia and it’s just disorienting for your sense of time 🥂 2023 felt like a slow year of learning and relearning what to make and wear while pregnant and postpartum. There was a major cognitive gap between what I imagined I should be making (a coat? Formal wear?) and what I did make: mostly tried and true patterns and pattern hacks. Despite feeling like I underachieved (on my hobby? Ha) I made ~50 items, 40 of which are organized into these collages (the rest are baby clothes or duplicates). Some reflections: (1) the pregnant-or-not wear: most effective for second trimester and warm weather, this collection of dresses and other pieces suggests I was more industrious than I remember being when it came to accommodating my changing body (2) Postpartum sewing: mvp is #pomonapants, most fun was my #srjuniper testing experience, most rewarding was the #truebiaslora . Looking back at these, I am once again proud that I was able to make comfy, practical, and stylish clothes to wear in my new size while very sleep deprived (3) @nycfrocktails at 8 weeks postpartum. Someone invite me somewhere I can wear this silver #novacoat again! The Pomonas were a quick sew and have been worn many times since (4) adult knits took a hit this year despite my giant yarn stash. I did make this too-big #ozettafielddaycardigan, two small scarves, and my favorite #sundayslipover. Also finished two long-time WIPs: blue hat and mittens. (5) Baby creations! I continue to love making baby sized #louisepullover and the #babysurprisejacket is just so practical. Hungry 🐛 costume was another favorite. Knit items stretch more than sewn items so I prefer investing in these even though they take longer. (6) Home! 🏠 A new category, and one I enjoyed. I may only be a one quilt per year person but I enjoyed it. I have tutorials in the posts for the pillow and the #alphabetwallart (7) Basics for Matt: another new category after I finally adjusted my serger to serge properly. More rewarding than I thought! We mostly use the #sagetee (continued in comments)

Black and white #memademay in an empty house. We are moving to another part of S.F. this summer! #esbelskirt #esmadebyme Love this fabric from @linenlab.co.kr

Wow so barely registering #memademay but inspired by all your posts to wear more of my handmades! Even though a lot of them don’t fit or don’t fit the same as they did. Here’s the #jeskalitop by @jestudiopatterns . I’ve made it twice!

You know you’re a second-born when your one baby cardigan arrives at the 2 month mark! Despite my tardiness, I love the #calendulababycardigan pattern by @agasalhosebugalhos for a no-nonsense garment that is available in a bajillion sizes. My bub is wearing the 3 month size, in @orkneyangora St Magnus, colorway sage, brought back from @looplondonloves on my husband’s work trip. Lovely yarn, but it does shed its beautiful soft fibers. Duck buttons are from a charity shop in Kingman, AZ. PS this blocked up in about 12h at my friend’s house in salt lake — low humidity is amazing!

I was catching up on sewing Instagram and was reminded to wear my #gingkopinafore ! @madswick_studio @linenlab.co.kr . Leo and I are showing off our matching sneakers :)

A quick upgrade to my #srwaterfalldress ! I rushed this make for a vacation in 2023 and didn’t put the elastic into the sleeves as recommended, so the cuffs were super baggy. Today while both little guys were napping, I finally added the elastic. Since my machine is near their bedrooms I did it all by hand: 1️⃣carefully opened the cuffs at the lengthwise seam within the cuff itself (no need to detach the cuff from the sleeve) 2️⃣threaded the elastic in, using the cuff as the channel 3️⃣sewed elastic together 4️⃣sewed the cuff seam back up 5️⃣scratched rhe sewing itch with minimal brain power required 🧠 🥱 #memadeeveryday #sewingtall #sewistsofinstagram #sewingtricks

It was a very hot and busy week! Wearing my Elizabeth Suzann Bel skirt in a black and white linen from @linenlab.co.kr + enjoying stacking earrings in my 9 month old second piercings. The secondhand beklina clogs are a fantasy — but I’ll wear them out again when I’m not chasing a toddler . T shirt search continues, with the Uniqlo crew neck t shirt being my new favorite for a closer fitting tee with a medium to heavy weight and smooth handfeel. Size up - this is an XL whereas I’m typically a large in mass market brands. . Husband is unexpectedly getting a wisdom tooth today; send any tips and all good vibes! We may just all drink milkshakes and watch Totoro a few more times

Maternity leave chronicles continued: I forgot how good bias cut is and I need to make another #clobiasskirt . I liked how this outfit was a little 90s. It’s hot here and Leo explored a new playground after school with his bestie.

I’m back! I had another baby and lost the will to sew for the last 9 months due to fatigue/nausea/back pain. But now that baby Cal (Callan) is here, maybe I’ll start sewing again! Either way I missed folks and wanted to say hi 👋🏻 and share some of my favorite pregnant & postpartum wardrobe choices / “hacks”??? Maybe it’ll be helpful for others. Keep in mind I’m a size L/XL when not pregnant so I size out of jeans pretty fast. And I’m tall. I didn’t take a ton of photos but you can swipe to see some of these pieces in action ➡️ . first photo - #roscoeblousehack and @universalstandard Carrie . Pregnant - Gap & Old navy make long inseams and have good size inclusivity. I bought one pair of Old Navy maternity jeans, one pair of maternity stretchy black cropped pants (style is called pixie) and otherwise used drawstring and other forgiving pants with taller rises (gap barrel parachute pants). - Oversize t shirts + the gap maternity crew neck - I did rent the runway to not get bored & to try bigger coats, sweaters, and fun body con dresses. I still don’t fit into most of their straight sizes in pants and they are always out of the things I like so I paused after giving birth. - Lululemon align is so stretchy and works while preg and after , I wear a 12 - nettle studios pants and state the label swayers, size up one size - Bodily high rise underwear - button downs, size XL , I buy gap big shirt in poplin on Poshmark - compression socks - for my healthcare peeps: high rise figs, size up (i didn’t buy their maternity stuff) Now: - target yoga pumping / nursing sports bra all the time - Bodily bras when I want something softer - Universal standard size 14, will exchange using their program if i go down a size. I like the Carrie (that’s what I’m wearing in the first photo) - rag and bone Miramar sweatpants denim with the racing stripe, sounds silly but I love them (see labeled photo) - any pants w secret elastic waist in the back - #pomonapants Overall I find sizing up on forgiving styles >> maternity specific styles for both form (more options!) and function (works postpartum and beyond). Hope this is helpful for some fraction of yall!!

Made it to second year of residency, Leo’s second birthday, and a second pregnancy — another little one due beginning of Feb. Not much sewing in the first trimester but if last time is any indication, it will pick up in the third & fourth. Photos are from last month in Spain and I’m definitely more pregnant now. Grateful for elastic & drawstrings!

Robinia sweater 💎 finally finished! I bought the yarn in Jan 2023 and cast on over Christmas six months ago. The nice thing is, it’s been so cold in SF that I actually got to wear it today! . I bought all the yarn @firebirdyarns and they were wizards with the substitutions. The anchor yarn for the blue is the colorway riptide by @seachangefibers , probably one of my favorite yarns ever. We went to andytown and I matched their wall / latte mug. . Details: This is the 5th size and owing to me misinterpreting the chart and doing an 11 stitch repeat instead of 8, I made the sleeves a little fuller. This sweater is thoughtfully designed and I really appreciated how short rows were used to shape across the chest and around the sleeve. . Pattern is @anneventzel who has so many great modern colorwork designs. . . #knitter #finishedobject #knittersofinstagram #robiniasweater #anneventzel #knitknitknit #iknitthis #bayareaknitter #colorworkknitting