Category: sewing

We got word last week that the company is going fully remote, so all the dresses and blazers I was pondering for a hazy “maybe I go to the office sometimes” future don’t really need to get made now. (Note to self: You absolutely cannot buy any more fabric for things like that.)

But I still want to sew–because what else would I do with myself–so now what? I think it’s either tailored coats and quilts (both time-consuming) or I lean more into technical outdoor gear. I am working on a faux-Patagonia pullover for Doc using a pattern from Green Pepper and they have a reversible insulated vest that I know I’d wear a lot (I even sourced actual down insulation!):

Looking for knockoff Patagonia patterns led me to this vest from 5 out of 4 Patterns, and this would be fun to do in a print: 

And I found Waffle Patterns, who is making beautiful outerwear patterns with an astonishing number of functional, professional pockets, like this cargo vest:

I mean, I’ve never even considered making a hood that zips into a collar before. That would keep me busy, right?

If you recall, this time last year I made a shirt-jacket (or SHACKET) out of some plaid wool blend from JoAnn:
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I really liked the shape but as I’ve pulled it out of the closet and put it back again over the last year, I’ve realized: It’s so itchy. The older I get, the less I can tolerate wool, and that wool/acrylic blend looks nice but feels terrible.

It’s also just kind of blah, color-wise…which is why I’m pondering in re-making it in THIS:

It’s also from JoAnn, but it’s cotton on the outside and cozy poly SHERPA FLEECE on the inside:

It feels a little excessive to make something twice, but if I do Shacket 2.0, maybe I can find a home for 1.0. Then everything gets worn and it’s a happy ending and not wasteful at all, right?

We finished the last of the construction in the bathroom Saturday–but I did decide to paint an accent wall after all, so it’s not 100% done yet. (But wow is it nice! Like being in a hotel every day!)

But I took a break from remodeling and just sewed all day Sunday and it was lovely. I’m working on the gray zip hoodie and it’s not as boring as I thought, mostly because Jalie patterns ask for so much detail:

Welt pockets! Topstitching! If you ever wonder why you need a cover stitch machine, just sew a Jalie pattern and it’ll pay for itself.

Last fall I saved an outfit from Australian brand Gorman, which features wonderful bright prints and very expensive items and shipping:

I was just getting into matching sets for WFH Winter (I made a few; they never got blogged) and that bright print and contrast ribbing stuck with me. Fast forward a year and I found some tropical French terry and contrast rib from Jumping June Textiles and it call came together:

I don’t think this will end up being a “look for less”–that European fabric is $$, but it also won’t pill after three wears like the cheap blends I used last year. I have a zip hoodie and some throw pillows in line ahead of this but soon I’ll have my bright set!

I don’t own a zip front hooded sweatshirt, just a pullover one. I’ve been making the pullover one work as a gym layer when the mornings are cold, but getting my short hair back for the gym is pretty precarious and pulling something over my head kind of destroys everything I just scraped back.

So do I make something as basic as a gray or black hoodie? On one hand, anything “fancy” I want to sew won’t get worn outside the house for who knows how long, so basics are a good use of my time. On the other hand, I get pretty bored sewing basics in solid colors.

But it wouldn’t be hard–Jalie makes a pattern for a zip sweatshirt with a really designer-looking hood:

And I could get some deadstock sweatshirting from Cali Fabrics for under $20:

Or even some remnant “sweater look” PolarFleece from Mill Yardage (or curly fleece from the Rain Shed):

And I could put in zip pockets so my ID stays put and top stitch it all with the cover stitch…. hm. Sounds like I’m going to be making a hoodie.