Finished Project: Storage Bag for My Camping Stove

This project’s not especially glamorous or anything, but it’s definitely functional. Last year Chris and I got ourselves a camping stove to up our camping meal game. Until recently, we had just been storing it in the box it came in, but being cardboard, it started wearing out pretty quickly. I decided to make a custom case for it to keep it safe and easily transported.

I used a heavy duty canvas and several zippers to construct it. The pattern wasn’t hard to make – I just took measurements of the stove and drafted it from there. It was a bunch of rectangles, really.

Here it is on its maiden voyage camping in Western Massachusetts!

It has a zipper closure, as well as a zipped pocket on the front to keep the propane regulator so it doesn’t get separated. It came out just slightly roomy, but I figured that’s much better than too snug.

The stove is the cutest color!

This little pocket stores the regulator.

I took it on a camping trip over Memorial Day weekend with friends and it served its purpose well, much better than using the falling-apart cardboard box it came in.

From My Archives: Green Dotted Dress

This isn’t a new make, but it’s a make that even after 10 years I still love wearing. I dug it out because I’m submitting it to a local art show. It’s based on a McCall pattern that honestly I don’t even feel like digging out to find the number. It’s made of a comfy stretch poplin, and I just love the bright green.

The back is open at the bottom and has a skirt zip. Since the cotton stretches getting it on without a top opening is easy. I used a self fabric bias tape to finish the edges rather than a facing. I probably should have used an invisible zip rather than a flat zip, but here we are.

Anyway, I have a bunch of weddings to go to this year, so this will probably be in heavy rotation (after living in leggings and sweats for two years due to the pandemic).

Finished Project: Pleather Jacket

It’s been a while since I’ve managed to photograph a finished project. It’s not that I haven’t made any, it’s more that I’m so busy all the time I never remember to take photos.

I did finally manage to get photos of this pleather jacket, though. I’ve been working on it on and off for about a year now. I used the Evergreen Jacket pattern from Hey June Handmade. I also drafted a lining, for which I used a tiger-printed knit in the body and a plain black lining fabric in the sleeves. I also added an inner button to help keep the collar flaps in place.

Check out the little pink and purple tigers!

Other than that, I didn’t make a ton of modifications. I think if I made it again I’d shorten the bodice a bit, but other than that, I really like it.

Finished Project: 70s Inspired Flares

When I was a teenager (oh god do I sound like An Old?) flared jeans were what I LIVED in. In the past ten years or so I reconciled myself to wearing skinnies since that was the style, but I’m seeing people wear flares and wider leg jeans, and I’m absolutely thrilled to see it. This iteration is also high-waisted, which is great because there isn’t a danger of accidentally flashing my bits to anyone! So, of course, I did what normal people do, right? Made myself some new jeans.

I used Closet Core Patterns’ Ginger Jeans pattern, which I modified to have a flared leg. The fabric I got was from Nick of Time Textiles, one of the only places I could find a nice stretch light blue denim. The fabric was a little thinner than I had hoped for, but it still did the trick.

Reliving high school (just kidding, I’d never do that over)

The high waist is really flattering compared to the ultra-low-rise of the early 2000s

Finished Project: Denim Jacket

I finished something pretty complex recently: a new denim jacket. I haven’t had a denim jacket in years and suddenly really wanted one, so when Chris’ parents got me a gift card to Mood Fabrics for my birthday I went ahead and bought some nice denim to work with. I used Jalie’s 2320 pattern. I had to do a little bit of fitting to get it right, but not a ton. The directions, on the other hand, were almost impossible to follow, especially for the welt pockets! Welt pockets were definitely invented by some sadist who likes to see denim enthusiasts suffer. They look a little wonky at close inspection but I’m satisfied enough.

(The mask’s also a handmade!)

The pin is vintage from my mom’s jewelry box

This was the first time I successfully hammered jeans buttons in. I got a good technique going finally.

The interior fabric is a custom satin lining print from Spoonflower. I don’t even want to talk about how much I spent on a lining for a coat, but it looks pretty damn cool, doesn’t it? The pockets also have the same print but on a cotton fabric for durability.

The back features a patch featuring the Food not Bombs logo that I embroidered myself. I’ll definitely be sewing more patches on though.

Finished Project: Christmas Jammies for the Family

What’s cuter than a set of matching Christmas pajamas for the family? Honestly, nothing. Well, maybe my cat. But other than that, nothing.

This was used for our Christmas cards!

I used the Carolyn pajama pattern from Closet Core for mine, and, I don’t know, some Simplicity pattern for Chris’ (who cares, they’re pretty much all the same right?) For his shirt, I took a gray t-shirt and added a patch pocket. I even made a little jacket for Sansa, although its hard to see because we had to hug her pretty tight to keep her from squirming (she hated this).

They’re super warm and cozy too! Flannel is the best, don’t @ me.

Finished Project: Retro Goth Apron

So I had some adorable eyeglass print fabric to upcycle from an old project, and was in need of a non-Christmas-themed apron. Naturally, that meant I needed to make myself an over-the-top frilly apron to wear while baking bread in quarantine (yep, I couldn’t resist jumping on the COVID-19 bread bandwagon). The results:

Would it really be *mine* without something cat-related?

Of course, what good is an apron if you can’t grab a rolling pin and chase a man around the house with it?

The pattern is self-drafted; I used an eyeglass-printed quilting cotton and a lightweight black denim.

Finished Project: Cat Print Dress

One of my favorite spring and summer activities is walking around tag sale hunting. Last year, I came across one in my neighborhood in Albany, and found this vintage cat print sheet set for probably 50 cents. The pillowcases featured cats on roller skates, and the sheets had cats with kisses on their cheeks. I knew it was destined to be a dress, but I kept putting it off for other projects. Finally, during quarantine, I decided I would finally make the dress – and the results were just what I wanted!

I know you can’t really see the front of the dress in this one but….isn’t she cute??

This pattern is self-drafted, based very loosely on a BurdaStyle shirt pattern. It’s fully lined, since sheets tend to be a bit sheer, as well as for structure. I also used the lining fabric on the outside of the collar and the inside of the pockets.

Speaking of pockets….these loop pockets, which I found the tutorial for on Carbon Chic’s blog (check out her blog, it’s a great read and she makes adorable stuff!). They were extremely labor intensive but just look how cute they are! And they are real pockets – I can put things in them.

The buttons are also real. You have to unbutton them to get it on and off! It does have a side zip as well to make it easier.

I slightly elasticized the back waist to make it comfier.

Here’s two more with special guest Sansa – she is so precious!

Finished Project: Holiday Dress

Guess I’m kind of on a sewing roll for the time being, because I have another project I just finished – a velvet holiday dress.

I lucked out on the materials for this one. The fabric was on sale for less than $5 a yard at JoAnn’s because it was from a fall collection. I just had to buy a yard of stretch mesh for the yoke which is already pretty cheap, in addition to 2 yards of velvet, and it all came out to about $10 after the addition of a coupon.

I drafted the pattern myself, based on another self-drafted pattern I have used several times. I added a mock neck which I think was a very cool touch, and gave it a hook-and-eye closure back with an opening along the top center back.

One thing I would change next time would be to make both the waist and skirt a little longer. The waist is a little above my natural waist, which isn’t ideal, although I still think it looks good. The short skirt is fine with tights, which I’d wear it with anyway since it’s meant to be a holiday dress, but if I made a spring or summer version it would have to be a little longer.

I debuted the dress on a fun date with Chris. We went to Savoy, a local cocktail bar with vegan pizza options. I felt so classy and festive. Plus it looked really cute with my favorite handmade coat:

Overall, I am very happy with this dress. It’s comfortable, versatile, and looks really good, in my opinion, plus it cost next to nothing to make. What more can you ask?

Finished Project: Cozy Fuzzy Robe

When Chris requested I make him a robe to keep warm in the winter, I helped him pick the fuzziest fabric we could find at JoAnn’s. It’s a plush royal blue. I used a self-drafted robe pattern, based on a robe pattern I made myself a few years back.

Doesn’t he look cozy? It’s basically like he’s wearing a blanket. The fabric was a bit of a pain to work with – it did quite a bit of shedding in my studio too. But he’s quite happy with it and has been wearing it quite a bit. It’s so warm that when I offer to share a blanket with him he’s like, “nah, I’m good.” So, mission successful, I guess.

Lucky for me, Chris is a huge ham, and he loves to pose for my sewing project photo shoots. And doesn’t he look handsome?