Another cardigan type top

This was my project to test out using the serger for a whole garment. So I used the serger and only the serger for all the seams. I'm still not quite sure if this is "proper" with a basic 4-thread serger like mine (no 'safety stitch' or even 'mock safety stitch'), couldn't seem to get a straight answer from my web research. But anyway, I'm sure it will hold up to my use and I see it or something similar done in factory-made garments. I am very happy with my used serger purchase, got a janome 334. And it was much simpler to get it threaded and figured out and get serging than I thought.


I bought this men's XL shirt from a thrift store because it was lovely and soft and I loved the pattern. And since the sleeves were too short for Kev (look how short they are, I couldn't even get full length sleeves for me after cutting off the cuff), I cut it up and used the material to make a cozy casual shirt for me. Did a mandarin type collar again - just think that looks cooler than a regular round neck.

Short Sleeved Cardi

I saw someone the other day wearing a short sleeved sweater over a long sleeved T-shirt and I thought it looked cool. So when I came across this old sweater that I had cut the sleeves off for Henry's pants, I thought I could make my own. I have also been looking at lots of sewing blogs recently so I was full of confidence and inspiration.

I really like how it turned out. I always loved the pattern and colours of this sweater but never the fit, it was short and wide. So while I was turning it short sleeved I also took in the sides a lot. I used the bit I cut from the side seam to bind off the arm holes, I managed to eek out just enough fabric and then force my sewing machine to sew through the layers of thick fabric.

I think I will wear it this winter and summer - perfect!

Winter Skirt #2

I made a second winter skirt last week. I still like winter skirt #1 but this one is a bit more wearable without all that fabric, the circle skirt actually makes me feel too hot sometimes! And so you know I did try to iron the skirt but wrinkles just weren't coming out. I swear!


I was digging through my fabric stash and found these old pants and I just thought: I've never tried making a skirt from pants. For someone who loves making clothes from other clothes, it seemed like an important thing to try. And these pants were a lovely 100% wool material - perfect for adding to my winter skirt collection.

I was lucky that these were oversized and pleated so I didn't have to add a panel or anything (like here). I really just undid both inner leg seams and then sewed them together the other way, making a front seam and a back seam, leaving a little slit in the back for walking ease. And they already have pockets! 4 pockets to be exact! Skirts with pockets are even better than pants with pockets because putting your hands in skirt pockets just makes you feel really cool and hipster somehow. Or at least it does me.

I got Kevin to take a picture of me wearing my new skirt and decided I wanted to take more interesting pictures of me doing romantic things in the skirt a la Soulemama. I really wanted to be holding a baby and stirring a pot of soup while wearing the skirt but without a lot of setup this is what we came up with, not totally Soulemama but a little more interesting I think.

PS - I hope that didn't come out snarky, I really do love Soulemama. Even though I usually don't like 'life is great, look at all the simple wonders around us' type prose I just eat it up when Soulemama does it.

And this picture doesn't actually show the skirt but I am wearing it and I think it is totally Soulemama-worthy! Aren't we sweet.

Circle Table Cloth to Circle Skirt

I've been looking for a winter skirt for a while now. Ever since my other one got completely covered in burs and I don't have the patience to pick them all out. But I couldn't find one that was casual and flowy. But I did find this table cloth, a circular table cloth. So I thought I'd see how easy it was to make a circle skirt from a circle table cloth. It might not come up that often in life that you are in possession of a circular table cloth and are in need of a circular skirt but I thought I'd show the step anyway, just in case.

For maximium ease and maximum recycling I used the elastic waistband off these old yoga pants. (These had a proper elastic in a casing, the fold over type might not work as well, especially with heavy skirt material like this.) So here are my supplies, one circular table cloth and one pair of old yoga pants:


Now measure your waist, wherever you want it to sit and add 2 inches. Now divide that number by 2 pi or 6.28. And now you have the radius you want. (Since circumference = 2 pi r.) (My waist was 31 inches so added to to use 33 inches and divided by 6.28 to get a radius of 5.25 inches.)

Now fold the table cloth into 4 like so:

And use a ruler to draw several points at a distance of your radius number (5.25 inches in my case) from the point.


The dots will make an arc, now cut out that arc.

You can quickly try it on now to make sure you did it right, it should slip on very easily at this point. Now cut off the waist band of your pants, trim off a little extra to make sure you leave the casing intact.


Next step: pin the skirt to the elastic. Do this on the right side of the table cloth material. The skirt material should be bunching up, do your best to make it bunched up evenly. I found this easy to do if I put the first 2 pins in at the farthest points of the waistband and tablecloth and then kept dividing the distances in half for both materials, if that makes any sense.

Now sew. Use a wide 3 step zig zag stitch to keep the waist stretchy. Try to pull the elastic taut against the fabric as you go. This will ensure even bunching.


It should look like this:

And will look like this if you flip the elastic up. You could definitely just leave it like this and be done. I didn't because they totally mismatch and because my table cloth material is quite prone to fraying.

Now flip the elastice over to the inside of the skirt.
And sew around the waistband again to encase all your raw edges. Use a 3 step zig zag stitch again. It's not so important to pull the elastic tight this time.


And you're done. I also added a pocket made out of the circle I cut out. I think I will make a pact right now to always add pockets to things that I sew for myself. Why not? Here I am modelling my skirt.

If you're into a slimming look definitely don't choose a thick fabric like mine. But for me, I like it. And it is super warm, especially because I like to wear it with my wool longjohns. Here I am wearing it out in the snow.

Henry's Vest

In time for Christmas dos I quickly sewed up this little gentleman's vest for Henry yesterday. I just made it from an old sweater. Used the already finished bottom for the bottom and cut off some of the finished edges down the middle (it was a cardigan) and on the sleeves for binding the neck and arm holes.