A Burda top you can make in an afternoon and Dior Exhibit

February 8, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

A Burda top and Dior….a lovely combination, eh? First, the Burda top…..My box of precious fabric bits and lacy remnants is overflowing these days, so I’ve adopted a new ‘tidying up’ rule. If I can’t find a use for a remnant within six months of adding it to the box, it must go. So, I […]

My #Sewing Top Five Misses 2018

January 3, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

Each year, I enjoy a review of my #Sewing Top Five Misses almost as much as my best top five. I always learn so much from my mistakes. So without further ado, here they are!. Vogue top – Okay, when I made this, I felt pretty clever because I constructed this top from odds and ends […]

An Anthropologie Inspired Burda Top

December 17, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

If you ask me, the November and December issues of Burda Style magazine were so great, they more than justified the hefty price of U.S. subscription. This Anthropologie inspired make is from the November issue, and it’s just one of five patterns that I marke to trace. Yes, I always dread the task of […]

Blackwood Cardigan vs. McCalls 6844

November 10, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

You can never have too many cardigans. I feel quite certain about that. That’s why, each Fall, I find myself yearning for a new one…or two. I’ve made several in the past (here and here) but today I want to talk about the two cardigan patterns I reach for time and again – – the Blackwood […]

Burda Style Raglan Sleeve Dress

August 16, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

It’s been so hot and smoky here in Oregon. Heavy wildfire smoke has settled over Portland, a depressing reminder of last summer’s fire catastrophe in the Columbia Gorge. But today, things are looking up! The wind is clearing the smoke away, the outside temperature is moderate and it’s safe to be outside again. It’s the […]

Vacation Countdown: Skirt and Vintage Wrap Top

August 10, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

It’s vacation countdown time at my house and I’m sewing like a mad woman as I plan my travel wardrobe. These new ‘makes’ scored high in the versatility category, so I’m sure they’ll both find a place in my suitcase. When I first saw this Simplicity top, I was taken with the vintage look; the peplum […]

Vogue 9313: Ruffled wrap dress

July 27, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

We’re experiencing a heat wave in Oregon, and the humidity is so high, my hair flips and frizzes, no matter what I do :). When it’s this hot, only a cotton dress will do, and this wrap dress is perfect for these sweaty days. I became a fan of wrap dresses when I made this one […]

A New Top to Add Some Drama

May 31, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Me-Made May is winding down, but not without a few more revelations that are worth mentioning. I used to wear solids and very few prints – – Not so anymore! My wardrobe is dominated by prints and textures. There isn’t anything bad about this, but I miss the drama that solids bring to the table. […]

Three Versions – Simplicity Waist-Tie Top

May 12, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

Packing for a trip always points out the flaws in your wardrobe, don’t you think? A planned visit to the already muggy east coast made me realize – I have very few easy-to- wear, easy-to-pack tops that are humidity friendly. Enter Simplicity 8601 – – An ‘easy-to-sew’ top with lots of variations. Version 1; Rayon […]

Remnant Buster– Vogue 9301 three ways

April 4, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

When it comes to fabric shopping I can be my own worst enemy. Last year, I was in a frugal mood. Unfortunately, this didn’t keep me from buying fabric – – it only kept me from purchasing enough. So, I found myself short by a half a yard on several projects. Now, in 2018, I seem to […]

Elle Gee Makes

Category: stash busting