Pattern Testing- CC Off-The-Shoulder Top from Petite Stitchery and Company

As many of you know, I am thrilled about the 52 Week Sewing Challenge.  It gives me inspiration and motivation to sew every week.  I love the suggested weekly themes and the freedom to not follow them if I have something else in mind.

The other things that inspires and motivates me is pattern testing.  I feel luscious in the new Comfy and Cozy (CC) Off-The-Shoulder Top from Petite Stitchery and Company that I had a chance to test, and I can’t wait to share with you!

This pattern comes in long sleeves and can be sewn with either a banded or hemmed bottom.  Choose the band option and you can make this entire garment with a serger.  This is rare, and totally awesome!  I made this black version with a thin sweater knit from a local shop here in Los Angeles.  I am gravitating towards all the sweater knits this season.  I made a bunch of Lulu Dolmans out of them, which is another dreamy pattern from PS+Co.

 

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The cowl can be worn off the shoulders or on the shoulders, depending on your personal preference.  I love it slightly off the shoulders with a tank underneath for a little more modesty.  The large cowl is nursing friendly and the pattern even gives you an option for a smaller cowl if that’s more your style.

I made my second stars and stripes version out of Double Brushed Poly (DBP) and cotton lycra.  Word to the wise- use the suggested fabric with appropriate stretch if you want to be able to wear your cowl off the shoulders, I LOVE this stars fabric I got from a mystery box at RP Customs (the same amazing company that the Vroom Vroom rounds came from), but this cotton lycra cowl doesn’t have QUITE enough stretch to stay off the shoulders, but I’m okay with that. (Plus, lesson learned for next time, you know?)

 

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I love being able to use contrasting fabric for the cowl and arm cuffs, it really gives you great opportunity to mix and match fabrics.  I’m not confident with my print matching yet, but I figured the colors in these stripes and stars were similar enough to make it work, plus what goes together better than stars and stripes!

 

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Although this generates one problem I’m going to have to address later.  One of our 52 Week Sewing Challenges is to sew with stars, and this was the only star fabric in my stash!  I guess it’s off the fabric store again!

Get your own copy of the Comfy and Cozy top here, and if you are joining us for the 52 Week Sewing Challenge I can’t wait to see which week you sew it up for.

Until then,

Kelsey

*As always, this blog post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase an item using one of these links I may receive a small commission, which only fuels my sewing habit!  Thank you.

Kelsey’s 2018 Sewing Goals

• Sew a Cowl √
• Sew a Wrap Dress
• Sew a Pair of Jeans
• Sew a Zipper
• Sew a Button
• Sew a Christmas Tree Skirt
• Sew a Matchbox Car Mat (or two) √
• Create a handmade wardrobe
• Sew a Bra
• Sew a Drawer Full of Underwear
• Sew a Maxi Dress
• Sew a Blazer
• Sew a Pair of Tights
• Sew a Button Up Shirt
• Sew a Purse
• Sew a Lunchbag
• Sew From a Paper Pattern
• Open up an Etsy Shop with Embroidery Patterns

#2018MakeNine

Apparently there is this hashtag going around Instagram called #2018makenine, a low stress challenge designed to help you set creative goals for 2018.  I first learned about it here.  Well just like the 52 Week Sewing Challenge, I’m all about setting goals.

So I decided to create my top 9 sewing goals with you for 2018, and I hope you’ll do the same.  Now don’t judge yourself by my goals, everyone’s sewing journey is different.  Some of these projects might be too easy or too hard for you (many are probably too hard for me) but I’m being ambitious.  I have been actively sewing on and off for around 5 years but more regularly for the last 2 and while I feel confident in some things, I know I have a long ways to go.  So without further ado, here is my #2018makenine list for this year.

P4P Boundless Dress

1. Liana Jeans from Itch to Stitch

The Modern Tomato

A real pair of honest to goodness jeans is on the top of my #2018makenine list this year.  These are the Liana Jeans from Itch to Stitch who won me over when I got a chance to test the Bellavista Top earlier this year.  Why are these at the top of my list?  Buttons. Zippers. Wearability Factor.  I am scared yet excited to tackle this project in 2018.

2. Gazelle Ladies Footed Tights

The Gazelle Ladies Footed tights from the Wolf and the Tree are on my #2018makenine list because I went a little crazy at the fabric store last year and have a ton of stretch lace in my stash.  And while this pattern can be made with 2 or 4 way stretch and a variety of fabrics from sweater knit to cotton lycra, it’s the stretch lace that I think gives it the wow factor.  I think this would probably be my husband’s favorite on the list if I had to guess.

3. Maxi Dress

P4P Sunshine Dress

P4P Boundless Dress

 

In 2017 I made these two beautiful dresses, the Sunshine and Boundless both from Patterns for Pirates.  They are great summer staples and there are even hacks on the P4P Blog on how to add sleeves, but I kind of want something else.  Something with sleeves yes, but also something new and different. I’m hoping one of the designers I test for will have a maxi dress this year than I can fall in love with.

4. Bra

Making a good fitting bra might be one of the most technically difficult things on my list.  I may take Beverly Johnson’s Craftsy class for this one.  It has good reviews and I feel like I might need a little hand holding to get me through.  But if the end result is a perfectly fitting bra, sign me up!

5. Riki Blazer George and Ginger

George and Ginger has been seriously revamping their pattern line and moving to a more modern women’s only fashion line.  I have been watching her retire some of the older patterns that don’t fit the updated model and was lucky enough to snag up the Riki Blazer before it retired. However, don’t be discouraged as she has a new testing group and big plans for 2018 and I bet something even better is on the way.  I’m excited to sew up a woman’s blazer in 2018 and this is so far my top pick.

6. Drawer of Underwear

I have made one pair of Scrundlewear (aka Scrundies) from Stitch Upon a Time for myself, and they are not very hard technically.  Now that I also have access to a coverstitch machine, I can finish the seams rather nicely.  What has been hard for me is finding the time to make a whole drawer full. I’m thinking about 20 new pairs of these and their Bunzies pattern and I can toss all my old tired and ill-fitting underwear, which is exactly my goal in 2018.

7. Purse

Swoon Harriet from Pinterest

Shopping for a new purse in 2017 was annoying and nightmarish, so in 2018 I want to make my own.  The requirements are a closure on top, handles to fit comfortably over my arms and enough space to fit my wallet, cell phone, sunglasses, chapstick, matchbox cars, diapers/wipes, changes of clothing, random chocolate for emergencies and all those goldfish crumbs I can never seem to get out of there.  Okay maybe it needs to be biggish.  The Harriet from Swoon seems to fit the bill.  I’m thinking brown and navy for colors or some of the leftover #vroomvroom fabric from Rikiwear that I used to make that huge carmat/pillow here. I’m definitely going to need to do some research for materials and support on this one.  Luckily the Swoon FB page is very active and supportive so I”ll probably be spending some of my 2018 in there.

8. Button Up Shirt

I need to learn how to make an honest to goodness dress blouse with buttons.  The Mila Shirt from Itch to Stitch might be a good choice for this goal.  I like how it only has buttons down half of the front but I also might be persuaded to try a pattern with buttons completely down the front as well.  This is another type of pattern I would love to see more of in 2018.

9. Lunchbag

Alright Simplicity says it is easy so it must be true!  I have this sad and tired lunchbox with a broken zipper that I’ve been lugging around the lunchroom for way to long, and it’s time for an upgrade.  This pattern from Simplicity itself might not be a huge challenge, but I’ve actually never used a paper pattern in my adult life (gasp!) so the challenge or new thing here will be to tackle a paper pattern.  If I’m smart about it I’ll find some good PUL in my stash from the days of making cloth diapers for my kids for the lining and this will make the lunch bag wipeable and washable which is a necessary if you ask me.

P4P Boundless Dress

So I hope you liked my #2018makenine list, and I can’t wait to see what’s on yours!  If you would like some support, motivation and inspiration come join the 52 Week Sewing Challenge on FB and we’ll get you sewing up your 2018 goals in no time!

Until then,

Kelsey

*As always, this blog post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase an item using one of these links I may receive a small commission, which only fuels my sewing habit!  Thank you.

Kelsey’s 2018 Sewing Goals

• Sew a Cowl √
• Sew a Wrap Dress
• Sew a Pair of Jeans
• Sew a Zipper
• Sew a Button
• Sew a Christmas Tree Skirt
• Sew a Matchbox Car Mat (or two) √
• Create a handmade wardrobe
• Sew a Bra
• Sew a Drawer Full of Underwear
• Sew a Maxi Dress
• Sew a Blazer
• Sew a Pair of Tights
• Sew a Button Up Shirt
• Sew a Purse
• Sew a Lunchbag
• Sew From a Paper Pattern
• Open up an Etsy Shop with Embroidery Patterns

 

52 Week Sewing Challenge- Challenge Accepted!

I had this idea earlier in the year…

…I could sew one item a week and gift it to someone in my life.  I thought it was a great idea.  I got off to a good start.

Ellie and Mac’s Double Handkerchief Dress

The Boxer Shorts by Wardrobe by Me

Dragon Tails by Running with Scissors

Created with Embrillance Software

And then doubt set in about how would I always get that person’s measurements and choose the best fabric to best represent them as a human being.

And then budget set in when all of the custom fabric I had envisioned them in started adding up in cost.

And then, since I kind of wanted to document this endeavor, I could blog about it. And that was scary.  In fact, this first blog post has been in the works for awhile. I’m embarrassed to tell you for how long.

And then life and chasing two boys around took over and I put my idea on pause.

 

Until  I read a post on  Patterns for Pirates (P4P) of a woman who asked about starting a 52 Week Sewing Challenge, and an idea was hatched.  When she gave me her blessing to start a Facebook page, I never envisioned how excited people would get and how fast it would grow!  With an instagram page, a team of admins and a year’s worth of sponsors on our side, 2018 is going to be the best sewing year ever!  

I created weekly themes for inspiration but wanted to keep the challenge as open to people as possible, so members have full range to ignore the weekly challenges and do their own thing!  I’m hoping the weekly challenge inspire some creativity, at least for me if not others.  Check out the files on our FB page for all of the weekly themes.

I still don’t know that I will gift each creation from 2018, but I’m definitely going to try as much as I can. I’m happy that our initiative is hopefully going to inspire many people to create many things.

We start in less than a week, and I hope you’ll come join us on our 52 Week Sewing Challenge FB page.  In the meantime, enjoy some of my favorite creations from 2017!  I can’t wait to sew with you!

 

Until then,

Kelsey

*As always, this blog post may contain affiliate links.  If you purchase an item using one of these links I may receive a small commission, which only fuels my sewing habit!  Thank you.

Kelsey’s 2018 Sewing Goals

• Sew a Cowl
• Sew a Wrap Dress
• Sew a Pair of Jeans
• Sew a Zipper
• Sew a Button
• Sew a Christmas Tree Skirt
• Sew a Matchbox Car Mat (or two)
• Create a handmade wardrobe
• Open up an Etsy Shop with Embroidery Patterns