#MMMay18 … and a bit of tidying up! …

Hello All! 👋😁 I’m back! I had a lovely week off work during which I got a lot of “work” done!

I signed up for #MMMay18 this year and now that it is pretty much over I thought I’d give you my version. The last time I signed up for #MMMay15, I took frantic photos every day of my me-made garments. This #MMMay18, I decided to not take photos every day, but to learn what I had in my closet and what I should make. Are my sewing plans on track?

I did #MMMay15 around the same time I started my RTW fast. For three years I have only purchased things that I can’t sew – like footwear, undergarments, socks, knitted things …

When I analyzed my wardrobe this #MMMay18 I found at least 60 me-made items. You’ve seen them all here before. You don’t have to see them all again!

Instead, I wanted to analyze what’s needed … I took everything me-made out of my closet and tossed it on the bed. (The cats loved it! 🐈🐈) Continue reading →

I learned something …

… even though there really wasn’t much sewing this last week. There was a lot of reading and exercising, but not much sewing. I did learn something though!

I participated in the “Makers for Fashion Revolution” daily themes organized by @inthefolds on Instagram. The daily themes made me think seriously about Fashion Revolution Week (April 23 – 29th). Some of the daily themes were easy to interpret and display on my Instagram @nicedressthanksimadeit, for example: “I made my clothes”. Other daily themes took a lot of thought, for example: “Natural Fibres”. As soon as I saw that one, I realized that, although I know the names of many fabrics, I do not know how most are made or which ones are really “sustainable”!

I researched and found a couple of interesting articles on “1 Million Women” and “The Guardian“. Continue reading →

#sewtogetherforsummer Wrap Dress

I’m done! Just in time for the sunshine too! This was an easy pattern to make. I love it! I’ve made a Sewaholic Yaletown before here. It was even easier this time as I already had the pieces traced and was very familiar with the pattern. So when @rocco.sienna, @sewsarahsmith and @sewing_in_spain announced their Instagram #sewtogetherforsummer Wrap Dress Challenge this year I was happy to make another Yaletown Wrap Dress.

I made sure I cut and matched my stripes/Chevron print carefully – pinning each stripe every few inches.

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Sometimes I get distracted …

I am almost finished my #sewtogetherforsummer Wrap dress, which you might have read about last week. Due to some careful pattern/stripe matching I am happy with how things are turning out.

This Sewaholic pattern, the Yaletown, has been a joy to work with. This is my second Yaltetown, my first one was made with a woven fabric, not a knit. So second time around, sewing it up has gone pretty smoothly. The only changes I made to this pattern, just like the first time it was made, was to make the bodice slightly larger as I love the loose, comfortable feel of it. I also lengthened the bodice just an inch.

I’m not sure how it happened but I did manage to have a closely matching thread in my stash!

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Waiting impatiently …

Perhaps you remember from last week that I asked for some help in choosing my fabric for the #sewtogetherforsummer Wrap Dress Challenge? Well I have my answer now, thank you Kind Readers! It was a pretty close race!

First choice, although it was close, was … the blue Chevron! (for lack or a better description)

Second choice by just 3 votes was … the orange Chevron!

So I have decided to sew both fabrics up … with few slight changes …

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What do you think?

We had a lovely Easter long weekend here – the weather was even acceptable! I hope you had a lovely Easter too.

I didn’t get much accomplished though, but I did manage to browse through some sewing blogs and IG feeds. I discovered @rocco.sienna @sewsarahsmith and @sewing_in_spain have organized #sewtogetherforsummer on IG again! I think this year I’m going to organize myself and my sewing and join in!

Last year the theme for #sewtogetherforsummer was Shirt dresses. I didn’t manage to sew up a Shirt dress, but I have been collecting Shirt dress patterns ever since.

I also managed to recently buy some lovely Shirt dress fabric, 3 meters of 100% rayon. I’m one step closer!

This year I am not missing #sewtogetherforsummer. If you would like to read more about #sewtogetherforsummer you can check out all the details here, but basically:

a. I have to sew a Wrap dress; and

b. by June 21st, I have post it on Instagram, tagging and following properly, of course.

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The Day and Night Dress Challenge, Part 2

I did it! I completed The Day and Night Dress Challenge organized by Elizabeth Made This! You can read about her Challenge details here. I completed my Day dress – my “Coffee” dress last week. I used New Look 6803 and this 100% rayon. It was an easy pattern and I would happily make it again.

I finally had a chance to take some photos. It is too cold outside still so we are stuck with these inside shots.

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The Day and Night Dress Challenge, Part 1

Where has the week gone! We had a holiday on Monday (“Family Day”), which I spent watching movies and sewing … then it was back to work and not knowing what day it was – pure chaos!

But I have finished 1/2 of my Day and Night Dress Challenge – the “Day” part – it’s time for “Coffee”! If you would like to learn more about the Day and Night Dress Challenge, head over to Elizabeth Made this … right here!

It will be interesting for me, making two dresses so close together, to discover which pattern I enjoyed making more and which dress I enjoy wearing more! (There are always favourites!)

So to refresh you on last week’s post, the “Day” part of my Challenge is made with New Look 6803 in this 100% rayon fabric.

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But I can do this!

I was all set to cut and tape my Itch to Stitch Lisbon Cardigan. You probably know the one. Almost everyone has already made one!

I was all set to cut out this beautiful knit print that I purchased last August. Yes, it’s a few months old, not my oldest fabric though! This is called a Topaz Print – 85% polyester, 10% rayon, 5% spandex. I have high hopes for this combination of Lisbon Cardigan pattern and fabric – hopefully this project turns out so well I will never purchase another knit cardigan again – another win for my RTW fast!

Then I realized that it is February … and February is popping over at “Elizabeth Made This” because it is time for her Day and Night Dress Challenge, Coffee & Cocktails edition! #dayandnightdresschallenge on Instagram @elizabethmadethis

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A simple, but necessary project! (And my #reSEWlutions!)

Perhaps you have seen these photos on my Instagram account? It seems I can’t crochet in peace – Simon will steal my ball of yarn away and Sophie will play with the length of yarn. This calls for a simple, but necessary project!

Perhaps you have seen this advertisement on Facebook or Instagram? This is an excellent idea, unfortunately I couldn’t get past the upside down trees on the zipper side of the bag.