Men's Button Down Shirt McCall's M6613

This project was a long time coming, but I finally finished it a few weeks ago. I think I bought the pattern LAST October, completely inspired by Katie of Handmade Threads. She has sewn her husband a whole bunch of these shirts. (Also, jeans. Her sewing is amazing.)

The pattern is McCall's 6613. I made A.J. a size large. After a lot of measuring and even tissue fitting, I added length to the sleeves. In the end I'm calling this a "wearable muslin" because the sleeves are too long and the front and back could actually use another inch for his taste. He is 6'6" for reference.

Poolside Tote in Paper Bandana

I've had the Poolside Tote by Noodlehead on my to-sew list for a long time. I love Anna's patterns and I consider her instructions really well written and illustrated.

I used Cotton and Steel fabrics from Alexia Marcelle Abegg's Paper Bandana collection, all purchased from Hawthorne Threads. The outer fabric is "paper cuts sky" canvas, and the handles are "add it up navy" quilting cotton. The accent fabric is "panda bebe turquoise," also quilting cotton.

Floral Grainline Maritime Shorts

I made my first pair of Grainline Maritime Shorts, a pattern I have been wanting to sew for a while.

I made a size 6 with no alterations and I am very happy with the fit.

First Communion Dress

Louisa celebrated her First Communion on Saturday, and somehow or another I managed to make her dress.

I used the Oliver + S Fairy Tale Dress, view B, size 7 bodice, size 8 skirt. I added some pintucks to the bodice and lace to the arm binding.

Black French Terry Hudson Pants

Over the winter I had my first go at the Hudson Pants pattern by True Bias. I used some black french terry from imagine gnats. It was a little shinier than I expected/wanted, but I figured I'd make them as a wearable muslin since I had never sewn it before.

I made size 6 with zero alterations, mostly on my serger.

Sommer Hummingbird Dress

I made this quick Hummingbird Dress to go with Lottie's Easter jacket, from the same Sarah Jane sommer fabric line. As it turned out, the maxi skirt doesn't really work well with the jacket. But the dress looks cute on its own, and the border print is so sweet.

 

My Favorite Oliver + S Pattern

Hi friends! I'm over at the Oliver + S blog today rounding up my Sunday Brunch Jackets—my pick for favorite O + S pattern, although there were several in the running!

It was a lot of fun to be able to participate in their "favorites" blog series.

Check it out!

Easter Sunday Brunch Jacket

It's another classic Oliver + S Sunday Brunch Jacket! This time I really had Sunday brunch in mind!

Little Lottie will wear this sweet, spring jacket on Easter Sunday later this month when we go to brunch at the Boar's Head Inn with my family. It's become a tradition, and one Louisa looks forward to starting on Easter Monday.

Winter Coat for Lottie

Little Lottie needed a warm winter coat. It took me til mid-February, but I finally finished!

I made this for her by adjusting one of my favorite patterns, the oliver + s Sunday Brunch Jacket, and referencing you & mie's Mini Boden knock-off tutorial. Love that coat—the Boden original and Cherie's knock off.

The fabric is organic corduroy from Cloud 9 by Elizabeth Olwen. (Go Your Own Way in navy, which I got from Hawthorne Threads). The binding is the solid corduroy from the same line. The lining is cotton, from a previous Elizabeth Olwen line, which I had leftover from Lottie's lullaby layette jacket from last year.

Double Gauze Sketchbook Shirt

Happy New Year! I am hoping to keep my sewing momentum going in the new year, and complete more projects, especially ones that are more likely to get a lot of wear. I have a tendency to sew special things, which can be very gratifying, but this year I'd like to sew a few more "everyday" pieces for everyone (even the husband!).

But first, to wrap up 2015 sewing, I have one more Oliver + S Sketchbook Shirt I made for Leo this fall. He wore this for school picture day, but unlike Louisa's Brooklyn Bridge dress, it was actually complete in time. :)