Sew Your Own ActiveWear (Melissa Fehr) - Pattern/Book Review

Last week I received a surprise early delivery of "Sew Your Own Activewear" by Melissa Fehr of Fehr Trade Patterns.  I had pre-ordered it, since I enjoyed sewing my own activewear and had purchased several Fehr Trade patterns over the past few years and always found them to be well-designed. 

If you don't already know, the book contains pattern blocks for tops and bottoms sized from XXS to XL.  Each of the designs in the book can be constructed by tracing and modifying the provided blocks. Normally, I do not like tracing, and I don't buy patterns that require it - ever. But I made an exception! (The book also contains info on general construction, fabric selection, garment care, etc.  Lots of good information.)

I made the Hoodie, which I'd had my eye on for a while.  I found some AMAZING merino/nylon/lycra fabric at a local specialty fabrics store, The Rain Shed. It is soft, and stretchy, and kind of spongey and I've never found anything quite like it before.  And it's perfect for the hoodie and would also work well for some of the other patterns in the book.
 
I cut a size XS for the top, based on the amount of ease I was going for.  The instructions for modifying the pattern blocks were thorough and clear.  Honestly, many of these patterns are a quick sew, so spending the extra time drafting the patterns didn't bother me too much.  

I don't have too much else to say about the construction. I used ribbing from my stash (originally from Mood) and foldover elastic for the hood facing (which turned out a little wobbly, but I haven't sewn much with FOE so that's just me).  I did shorten it by 3" to get the length I wanted - as drafted it would come down over your bum, for the average person.  I made it hip length. Results!!
 This is a pre-run photo. Post run my face is the same color as my shoes!

 The fleece and cuffs and FOE are all slightly different shades of black....of course!
I like the single kangaroo pocket!
I  messed up the junction of the hood with the zipper. It's not quite how it should be...However: Look how roomy the hood is! I have a big melon. Some hoodie patterns don't even fit over my head. This is roomy enough I could wear my woolie beanie under it if it were particularly cold and rainy.  

Side hood views.

If I have one feature worth noting, it's that this doesn't look great unzipped.  Behold:

It has a "go home you're drunk" look, doesn't it? But this is not a criticism: this is a book of activewear patterns, not athleisure.  When I'm running, I'm wearing this zipped. I wouldn't wear any hoodie flapping in the breeze, it's distracting and uncomfortable.  Just a note.

Overall, I like my new hoodie, and I'm looking forward to sewing more patterns from the book. (I like the other jacket! And the tights! And the top with the shoulder details!)  I would recommend it for those who already sew or are looking to get started sewing their own activewear. Happy Sewing!

Popular posts from this blog

A Carhartt-inspired jacket : (modified) McCalls 7638

Image
We recently received a catalog in the mail that contained a selection of Carhartt jackets, among other items.  Tim liked the look of this one: a sort of classic, basic mens' work jacket: So of course he asked if I could make him one!  He has a couple of handmade coats (a faux shearling from a few years ago and a Goldstream peacoat I made in early 2018) but wanted something a little more casual for everyday - but also warm enough for Syracuse winters. I found my fabrics first: Carhartt Expedition canvas from The Rain Shed with a faux shearling lining (from my stash, originally from Mood Fabrics.) For extra warmth, I tried something new: interlining the shearling with Thinsulate! I ordered a swatch set from the Rain Shed and chose CS100. The website information claims that "the Polyolefin microfibers trap body head and keep you warm even in damp conditions because its fibers absorb less than 1% of their weight in water." OK then! I couldn't really find a ...
Read more

Carhartt Canvas

Image
A version of this post originally appeared on the Cali & Co blog   I was beyond excited when I saw that Ron had listed Carhartt canvas in some 20 (20!!) colors on the Cali Fabrics site.  If you aren’t familiar with the brand, Carhartt is known for high-quality, premium-yet-affordable workwear in sturdy fabrics like denim and duck (aka, canvas). You may have seen their recent feature in Threads magazine, with a tutorial for the Detroit cuff. I knew this would be fantastic quality canvas and Cali Fabrics has it at a great price and it’s 69” wide! So, the fabric: the description online is very accurate. It is a 12 oz. heavyweight but it has a softer hand than you would expect – it isn’t stiff.  I washed it in cold water and tumble dried on low – this fabric really responds to a hot steamy iron especially when it is just a bit damp.  I recommend serging or pinking the edges pre-wash because it will fray a bit. The color didn’t fade or bleed at all ...
Read more

Boss Blazer - Pagoda Shoulder Jasika!

Image
Looks like it’s time for what has become my annual blog post! I thought I’d share some details of my pagoda shoulder blazer.  A little history? Pierre Cardin is the inventor of the pagoda shoulder. The name refers to the cornices of Chinese towers. Cardin created new shoulder silhouette that dipped from the collar along the shoulder line, before rising again several inches from the edge. They became popular in styles for both men and women. Pierre Cardin himself was known for wearing the bold shoulders throughout the 1980s.   Pagoda shoulders later became a signature for Alexander McQueen, particularly in his menswear, but they were more subtle than the Cardin style.   Today the pagoda shoulder may be most commonly associated with Balmain, who often uses a highly exaggerated and sculptural version of the design.   Which brings us to my jacket – the fabric is Balmain deadstock from Selvedge and Bolts, so I thought I would do something with some Balmain flair. I start...
Read more