Free Patterns on my mind, inspired by SewFrugal26

The SewFrugal Challenge ran in May this year, and it is always an inspiring one for me! I had so many ideas for this year's challenge. I have a lot of free patterns in my collection to choose from -- I went through my options before finally deciding to make the Kelly Watch the Stars top by Festive Road as shown in my last post. 

But here were some others that I considered as well! 

Tiana's Closet has a ton of free patterns. I looked at, and even downloaded, three tops - the Isla, Basilie, & Nomi. I also looked at the Madera dress and may end up trying that someday also, it has nice lines! 

I have the ITS Deba Topper in my stash and think it will be a useful addition to the summer wardrobe. Just couldn't find the right fabric for it this time around. 

I also even briefly considered the Hanbok vest Baeja, a free pattern by Sewing Therapy. But I'm not sure how it would fit into my style so didn't go for it after all. 

The last one I considered making was the Manhattan Top by Sewing and the City (which you can get for free when you subscribe to her newsletter). It's so cute & can be made as a dress, too.

And of course, once all the #SewFrugal26 posts were shared for all the amazing things that others were making, I got even more cool ideas for further free projects in future! Here are a few I am eager to try later on.

I liked the look of the Declic Top by Atelier Scammit as a simple summer top. This was new to me. Quite a few people made this one and it looked great on everyone. 

The Janet Celeste Zero Waste Top was also new to me. It's just the kind of design I like, and now I want to try it too. 

Another discovery was the Maeve Dress by Violette Field Threads. This is a flowy summery style and might be fun to try. (It's also available in child and tween sizes if you sew for younger people).

And I had forgotten about Imby's Flowy Top from Karmme Apparel -- I will have to investigate that one again for another summery option. 

Do you have a favourite free sewing pattern to recommend? 

Weekend Review: Sew Happy & Healthy

 

Sew Healthy & Happy / Rose Parr
Concord, CA: C&T, c2021
80 p.

A bit of healthy sewing content today...I read this book on ergonomic sewing by a fellow Canadian, and found quite a few great tips to stay healthier and less achy after spending time in the sewing room.

This book is quite short, but covers a number of things. It starts out with some guidelines about setting up the sewing space ergonomically, starting with studio design. Then moves on to ergonomic tips specifically for cutting, pressing, and then all the sewing options. How high to have your sewing and cutting tables, pressing techniques, angles, how to use different machines etc. She is a quilter so does talk about seated sewing, longarm quilting and various situations like that which may require different adaptations. This is all very practical and useful. 

The book is illustrated with drawings throughout, no photos. They are clear and show the details of both the set-up suggestions and the stretches well, however. 

The book then moves on to 20 pages of stretches for sewists, to keep your body supple and help you avoid any chronic repetitive strain injuries. It's very helpful. There is then a brief section on healthy habits and snacks - I have to say, this part I just skipped over, it wasn't interesting to me. Then the book closes with some tips on best practices when attending workshops - things like have a proper transport for your machine so you're not hauling it uncomfortably, find out what the workshop offers so you don't haul along unnecessary items (ie: irons if you don't need to). Like I say, this is primarily aimed at quilters so definitely a lot of workshop info will be very relevant there. But the info is great for any sewist who spends time in a workspace that hasn't been optimized. There are a few tips here I could use, and I will definitely incorporate some of the stretches - I can already see how they'd help with the aches and pains of longer sewing sessions. I thought this was a good book and super practical for any sewist!

SewFrugal with the Kelly Watch the Stars Top

 

#SewFrugal26, a fun IG challenge, was running during the month of May this year. I decided to sew along, but had a hard time deciding on what to make - there are so many great free patterns out there. I finally decided on the Kelly Watch the Stars top, a pattern by Festive Road, which I first saw over at PatternReview. It's in French, but if you don't know any French, Google Translate can help! It's a pretty straightforward design in construction terms, anyhow. 

I decided that I also wanted to make this from stash fabrics. So I looked through my stash for smaller pieces that would go together. (this pattern is a great scrap-buster). I finally decided that I would upcycle an old skirt (Simplicity 4236) which I made in 2014 but have only worn a couple of times. I hadn't given it away because I loved the fabric. And there was *just* enough once I'd unpicked the skirt. 

The black yoke was made from the scraps from a Matchy Matchy Skipper top that I made in 2023 - fortunately it has no clear nap so I could cut the front and back differently, one crossgrain, to make it all fit on my leftovers. 

I made a couple of small adjustments - I found that the sleeve cuff wasn't quite long enough so added an extra 1.5" -- maybe a little too much but my fabric would not stretch to fit, as it's interfaced (and my cotton poly is zero stretch). Also, instead of sewing on the cuff and then turning it in with a pressed edge and stitching in the ditch I just sewed on the folded cuff in one go with a zigzag. Much easier. 

I found the fit around the shoulders and arms really good, but it's a bit tight at my hips, even with grading to the next size. I will add another inch to the hem width if I make it again but for now I just opened up the side seams with a little side slit. Does the trick! 

The curved yoke was actually quite easy - they do mention clipping the seam to get it to sew smoothly, but do be careful doing this as the seam allowances are only 1 cm. (3/8") so don't clip too enthusiastically! I really like this pattern and can see using it again. A great option with nice details, for a free pattern. 

June Sewing Plans

 

June's sewing is once again mainly catch-up sewing! I had big plans in May but nearly all of them were derailed. 

I started a pattern test, which threw off my timing. And I didn't get down into the sewing room as much as I'd planned! I did finish my Literary Sewing Circle project (yay!) and I made pants! That's not the usual. And I was able to finish a quick top for the #SewFrugal26 IG challenge, hurrah :) I'll be sharing that here very shortly.

I also worked a little bit on some of the projects I started in April - but didn't finish anything else. Getting closer, though...

I am carrying forward those April projects - a blouse and my 3 remaining Sudoku wardrobe planned makes. And for June I want to add in summer dresses. If I can at least get the 3 dress patterns I want for this summer traced out, I will be happy with my progress.  

Always so much I would like to sew :)

Weekend Review: Crafting a Knock-off

 

Crafting a Knock-Off / Barbara Emodi
Concord, CA: C&T Pub., c2026
232 p.

I love this series of cozy mysteries set in Nova Scotia, written by a Canadian craft legend :) When book 7 became available, I grabbed it! This details the further adventures of Valerie Rankin, middle aged craft and general store owner, as she once again gets involved in a mysterious death -- and like usual, goes off on many misguided suspicions before the truth is revealed. 

In this volume, she encounters Murray Nunn, a big talker who is trying to push business development and an export scheme. He won't leave anyone at the local craft fair alone, and while Valerie is talking to him, he suddenly drops dead. On camera. She has a wide range of suspects, from local craftspeople to those who have just arrived in Gasper's Cove for their own purposes, and even including her boyfriend's nephew -- which causes some relationship bumps. 

But Valerie must continue on her sleuthy ways no matter what, and with the involvement of the local RCMP and her crafting ladies, they eventually solve the mystery, and Valerie's fears of the end of her relationship prove unfounded. 

I love these books for their characters and the Nova Scotia setting -- and of course the inclusion of craft content! There are upcycled quilted coats, tartans and kilts, piecework sewing and craft fairs as integral parts of this mystery, and they are important. I thought this one was well constructed and entertaining. Always a treat to revisit Gasper's Cove! 

Cover Designs! #42: Hope & Glory

 

Cover Designs is a feature in which I try to match up the outfit on a book cover with a dress pattern and sometimes even potential fabric matches as well. Today's pick is Hope & Glory by Jendella Benson

What's it about? 

Glory arrives back in Peckham, from her seemingly-glamorous life in LA, to mourn the sudden death of her father, and finds her previously-close family has fallen apart in her absence. Her brother, Victor, has been jailed; her sister, Faith, appears to have lost her independence and ambition; and their mother, Celeste, is headed towards a breakdown. Glory is thrown by their disarray, and rather than returning to America she decides to stay and try to bring them all together again. However, when she unearths a huge family secret, Glory risks losing everyone she truly cares about in her pursuit of the truth.
(publisher's summary)

How could we dupe the cover of this book? Those straight legged, paper bag waisted pants call out for Vogue 1873. The Vogue version is even striped as well! 

Or you might want to try the Lois Pant by Fabrics-store. It would also give you the wide legged look, with a lot of waist frill going on here. 

The top is a bit trickier to match exactly. It's hard to get a good look at it on the cover! 

That cute cropped top could be made using perhaps a modern waistcoat pattern for a trendy look. The Puff & Pencil Waistcoat Vest looks somewhat similar, as far as I can guess, anyhow. 

Or the Cropped Waistcoat by Myrtle's Patterns on Etsy may capture this look even more closely with its silhouette. 

You might also want to try the super cropped Millie by PatternCos!

Whichever one you choose, make it in crisp white linen for a clear dupe of the cover image which is also great for summer. This look is just right for a steamy summer day, if you choose light fabrics like linen or cotton - like our cover image! 

Testing, testing...

Have you ever pattern tested for a company before? Do you like it? Is it something you do often? All these questions as I test a pattern this week -- it's for a company I haven't used before, and I'm finding it interesting. I've done some tests before, but I don't sign up too often, as my own sewing queue is often too long to fit in these more complex projects. They take longer since you are working on following the instructions to the letter and noting down anything you want to share with the pattern maker. And also going over the instructions with a fine toothed comb to be sure you catch anything that needs updating. 

So I don't add these into my routine too often, but I saw a call on Instagram and the pattern details appealed to me. I grabbed some thrifted rayon and am working on my test now, which has to be done this week so I'd better hurry up ;) 

I'm enjoying it but I am falling behind in my summer sewing queue! I have to remember that next time I see a tempting tester call. 

What's your experience of testing been?