Category Challenges

New top: Victory tank by Chalk and Notch plus Ogden FBA results

bellecitadel 8 Comments

Hello there! How’s everyone doing? Strange times we’re in, strange times indeed. We spent a good bit of today outside in various spots where I got a few pictures and it’s just a weird thing to only see a couple of other people around (although that’s the idea of course) and to awkwardly try and keep 6ft between yourselves as you pass by each other. Anyway, I hope you are all keeping well and your loved ones are all safe. And let’s hope it all passes by sooner rather than later. There’s much more I could say, but I’m sure you’ve had your fill of Covid-19 news, so let’s crack on with a bit of sewing.

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New top: Hacked Seamwork Sadie top

bellecitadel 4 Comments

This was a very fast and satisfying sew. It’s such a palate cleanser to whip up a speedy knit top after you’ve been working on more detailed projects for a while. This Sadie top is the third item from my #thegreatmodulesewalong capsule wardrobe (although the second blogged) and is probably the simplest garment in the collection.

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It was also the only garment that I didn’t have an exact pattern for. I knew I wanted a knit top with a funnel neck or some sort of longer neck detail, short sleeves and it to be slightly cropped. I had a few pattern ideas in mind – the Sew House Seven Toaster Sweater 1 and Seamwork Astoria among them. My friend Megan mentioned that an altered Sadie might do the trick – and I realised she was right. Even better, she already had the copyshop version printed, saving me a lot of cutting and sticking together, so I decided to go for that one. Continue reading “New top: Hacked Seamwork Sadie top” →

New trousers: Robinson Pants from Ensemble Patterns

bellecitadel 6 Comments

The first of my projects for The Great Module Sewalong, this was an interesting sew. I’ve had the Robinson trousers on my list for ages as another comfortable pair of trousers with some fun details, that I thought might work both for running around after a pre-schooler and also out for drinks with the girls or similar. I really loved making the Perkins shirt by Ensemble Patterns and was hoping for a similar result here, but it was a little less straightforward than hoped, although I still ended up with a pair of perfectly wearable trousers.

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New bags: Summit Packs by me and the husband (!) Sew My Style Feb 20

bellecitadel 8 Comments

My first Sew My Style project this year and it’s a goodie! Even better, you get two for the price of one, as my husband nearly blew my socks off my saying he would be up for trying to sew one as well! He had fancied trying a crossbody bag for a while and when I saw the Summit Pack was one of the choices for the February pattern, I showed him the pic, thinking he’d have forgotten all about his desire. To my surprise, he seemed keen and so his first sewing project was game on.

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Now, I have to be honest – this is not necessarily an ideal first project. It’s quite a complex bag, as bags go, with lots of zippers, pockets and other details that make it a fantastic pattern, but a lengthy effort for a beginner. It’s actually rated as Intermediate or Higher, but, nevertheless, we decided that with me here to help and demonstrate, we’d give it a go anyway.

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The Great Module Sewalong – spring edition

bellecitadel 10 Comments

Yes, more plans! Ha! I have done very little sewing this year, but a lot of planning and reading and thinking and even fabric selling! Yes, I legitimately reduced my stash by 40 yards already by getting off my arse and selling some fabric. Woo! Anyway, Whitney from TomKat Stitchery and Carla from Stay Stitching launched a module sewalong challenge at the end of January, which runs to the end of March, so there’s plenty of time still to join! I got to know Whitney a little from leading Sew My Style together last year and she is such a nice person – and a pure machine when it comes to sewing. I am not a big YouTube person, but her vids are an exception. Check them out if you haven’t before – they’re inspiring and practical.

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The basic idea of the challenge is that you sew a topper (jacket, cardigan, etc.), three tops and two bottoms, which all coordinate. This is what I’m doing, but I have to say the ladies are being very flexible on the rules. They don’t want people sewing just for the sake of it, so you can also use already-made or bought items for some pieces, or change out the types of garments if you like. I, however, am in dire need of some pants, so the rules are perfect for me as they are!

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