Category: Tuesday Project Roundup

I hadn’t made a shirt for my brother since 2020 and I had nothing but time those first couple weeks of funemployment; ergo, that’s what he got for his birthday this year. He recently bought himself a vintage Caterpillar D2 tractor so I went looking for Caterpillar fabric and found a surprising amount, from designer Riley Blake–definitely more options than John Deere fabric.

I went with one of the more subtle options, which could be a stripe if you’re far away and you squint. But I had fun playing with the stripe direction and went with some Western details too. (Looking through the archives, I almost always use pearl snaps for my brother? Must be because we grew up with Mom’s relatives wearing cowboy shirts.)

I used the McCalls M6044 that I usually use for Doc–I have the paper pattern in two sizes now so used the smaller one for Alan. At this point in my shirt making career, it didn’t take long at all.

I have a freelance project going on this week and a few more in the pipeline, but for the first couple weeks of funemployment (pre-cats), I was desperate for stuff to do. So I sewed a lot! Hooray for an enormous fabric stash.

I got this quilt print fabric for Doc when I bought the fabric for my river shorts, with his approval.

If I had discretionary income, I would absolutely have ordered some black-on-white labels instead of using the white-on-black that I have, but they work.

 

And with white thread in the serger, I sewed up a little vest top with some fabric I got earlier this summer from Harmony. This is the Elova Top from Open Studio Patterns and it was a fun sew. I decided to do the welt pockets because I had the time 🫠 but somehow got the welt pattern upside down.

I’m not too mad about that because the fit around the armholes ended up a little gaping, which is what happens when you don’t make a muslin. But it’s still cute.

I finished a pair of jeans last week–my first button fly and a wearable test of a pattern designed for selvedge denim.

I didn’t do any fitting on these and overall, they’re working OK–there’s a little room to get more swole but that just means they’ll fit longer than 6 months. Plus, my denim here is an 11 ounce weight; most selvedge denims are 13-15 oz so I think if I ever make these as intended, the heavier weight will help smooth these out just a little. (Of course, the nature of a straight side seam and long fly means it’s always going to wrinkle from wearing ease–thanks to The Crooked Hem for explaining that so well!)

Since these were just a test, I didn’t want to order (or shorten) a custom-length zipper, so I used the pattern option for a button fly. I’m a complete button fly convert now–you make the buttonholes first thing so they’re easy; you don’t have to worry about hitting the metal zipper at the bottom of your fly topstitching; and you can use your RIVET PRESS.

I also used up a label from my stash of patches and labels, because why not?

I wore giant pants all through high school in the late 90s and lo, the wheel of time is turning back to not having any of my body discernible beneath swaths of fabric.

Seeking more giant pants, I sewed up the Awl Trousers from Alamain Studio as a wearable muslin in 7.5 ounce twill. I used soft elastic for the waistband and the combo of the heavy fabric and wimpy elastic makes the drawstring not optional, but–for a pant with 8 inches of ease at the hip–I think they’re kind of chic?

I also whipped up a giant top to fully reject the male gaze. This is the free Jesse Tee from True Bias and my fourth attempt at an easy knit top in the last 6 weeks. (I made Top 1 too big, I didn’t like the style on Top 2 after I finished it, and Top 3 was just bad drafting so I didn’t finish and will repurpose for some undies in the future.) Thankfully this easy knit top worked out.

I finished my new active shorts in time to take them up to the river last weekend! Here they are doing what I love the most, Getting In The Water.

 

These are the Road Trip Pattern Co. Sierra Shorts. This is my second RTPC pattern and I’m a fan–professional instructions and drafting and I didn’t have to modify the fit. (However, I did go up a size based on the finished garment measurements, because I’m in my Giant Pants Era: I measured a 12 but as drafted that only had 1.5″ of ease, so I went up to a 14.)

The pattern has nice details, like the front cargo pockets that are big enough to hold a phone and instructions to use a mesh lining for the main pocket backing. I added a key loop to one front pocket and velcro to the back pocket so I don’t lose anything if I fall in the river.

The pattern would be a convincing Patagonia dupe if made in a solid color, but I found some print microfiber boardshort fabric from Fashion Fabrics Club to test the pattern with. I added a belt and belt loops because in my experience, wet elastic and cargo pockets means your shorts are going to fall off.

I put the belt and pocket lining to the test with a quick cold plunge and these were as comfy as cold wet shorts can be.

Remember those barrel-leg pants I made back in November? They remained very snug; then I saw these RTW pants in the spring, so I remade them in a size up in khaki and now I kind of love big pants?

But the real star here are the EMUS, of course. This is fabric from Doops Designs that I’d been sitting on since 2021 or so. I only had a meter but cropping the Willow Tank by three inches and using commercial bias binding made it work.

If I had a leave-the-house job I’d wear the hell out of these pants with a little top (here I’m dressed up for a therapy appointment, lol). But the EMU TOP will work with any pants on Zoom, so it’s a win-win outfit.

At this point in my life, I like what I like and I have enough of a blog record to prove it. Case in point: Colorful stripey fabrics and big pants, as discussed in 2019 / made a few weeks ago.

I took Sunday afternoon off from garage work and hid from 109 degree heat (!) in the basement, sewing up another pair of Elizabeth Suzann Florence Pants  (lengthened by 4 inches again; I also upgraded my pocket addition to be anchored in the waistband and they’re so much nicer). The fabric is a Kaffe Fassett stripe from Harmony and the colors are so good.

I had about 1.5 yards left from some block print fabric I got for a dress a few years ago and wanted something easy to throw on for Zoom calls, so I made a Grainline Willow Tank again for the first time in a long time.

Every past Willow Tank I’d made was way too tight so I re-measured and ended up going up 3 sizes. I think I look mostly the same after 7 years of lifting but if you want actual proof of progress, the measuring tape doesn’t lie–I have an extra 2 inches of muscle around my back and chest now. (Jeah, bro!)

I generally like a collar on my Zoom tops but when it’s 100 degrees out and the AC is struggling to keep up in the upstairs office, I just can’t do it. The Willow still looks put-together enough but is nice and breezy, so I might be making a few more.