Stitchin' in My Kitchen

I just completed the StyleArc Sharon jacket (or "sweat top", as they call it!)  The StyleArc Sharon is described as:  A fabulous weekend piece to have in your wardrobe, use contrast rib to give a point of difference to your top. The zip front makes this an easy throw on sweat top and the zip pockets are an optional feature. I ordered a size 8, which is my standard size for StyleArc tops. My fabrics were a pair of ponte knits from Mood Fabrics, in garnet and black. A rayon-polyester-lycra blend ponte with a bit of stretch. The style lines in this allow for some color blocking options, which I took advantage of, mainly because the black would be hidden (you'll see!) and I only had a yard of the red. But I like the effect. Sewing notes:  The instructions can be squirrely at times, especially for attaching the bottom band and the front facing; I think some steps may be out of order, so read them thru and think and pin before you do anything.  For example, if ...

This is not my first time working with Kwik Sew 3504 - I've made 2 muslins and 2 pair of shorts from it, but have yet to really be satisfied with the results. These are described as: " Men's jeans have fly zipper, waistband with belt carriers, back yoke, back patch pockets, front pockets, a coin pocket, and topstitching detail. View A legs are straight cut and View B are boot cut." Kwik Sew 3504 I have been sewing the straight leg version. My first attempt at pants was this Hot Patterns Disaster .  Let us not speak of it again.  I made a muslin of Kwik Sew 3504, size M, and it seemed to fit well. I got sidetracked, put them away for a while, and when Tim tried them on again, they seemed snug in the butt. So I thought I'd make a L back on a M front, and grade them at the waistband.  So the first attempt was this past summer, in a corduroy I bought from Fabric Outlet SF.  The results:  OVERSIZED!!  They were really huge in the waist, and luckil...

My Colette Ginger and Sewaholic Hollyburn skirts are my TNT skirt patterns, but I'm starting to have a closet full of them, so I'm trying to branch out. I recently ordered the StyleArc Gabriella skirt (with a few other patterns I can't wait to try) and just completed a wearable muslin. The Gabriella skirt is described as: This is on trend skirt of the moment. It has lovely wide Basque falling into a casual flip skirt. The back features a metal exposed zip. I ordered a size 10 - the pattern is quite simple, I didn't even read the instructions, but the muslin was for sizing purposes. I'm usually a size 8 bust/waist but a size 10 or 12 hips in StyleArc sizing, and I was nervous.  This patten can be made in a woven or a ponte, so I used a medium-weight teal polyester double knit I had in my stash.  As I said, this was easy to sew, you can use an exposed or invisible zip, there are two length options - easy! I sewed it up, basted in the zipper, tried it on - and i...

I've been very underwhelmed by new pattern releases lately, and not into the mad rush to buy, sew, and blog things that don't inspire me. So I had no plans to buy this pattern when I heard it was coming out. Then I saw it, decided it had potential, and ordered it. And I happened to have just received and washed some rayon challis, so I decided I was in the mood to sew it on Saturday. For knits and wovens I bought this because I love a knit dress, then ended up sewing it in a woven! Whatever.  My fabric is a rayon challis from Fabric.com (I bought it to spend enough for free shipping without any specific plans for it. But I liked the color scheme). Fabric.com It is 56" wide and I bought 2 yards; the pattern calls for 2 5/8 yards but I easily made it with 2. I cut a size S and made version 2, the shorter one. It is very easy to sew; I cut and sewed it in a few hours, in time to wear it out to dinner! I imagine the knit version is even faster, since you don...