@loxleydarts John Part 30th anniversary Edition -25g 95% tungten limited Edition 250 set! @johnpartfanpage #loxleydarts #lovethedarts #darts #frenchdartsreview #canadian #darthmarple #pdc #worldchampion
I was cold and bored the other day, so I revisited the #ElliotSweater from Helen’s Closet -- this time in my actual size. (I believe this is a 12/14 graded to a 16/18 at the hip.) I did my standard “make this raglan petite” adjustment, but didn’t bother with a full bust adjustment. This was a minor mistake! Please swipe to see the side view. I sometimes forget that FBAs aren’t only for getting rid of horizontal stress wrinkles (which aren’t a problem with this amount of ease), but also to provide length. Nobody is going to notice this but me, but it did serve as a reality check and I will go ahead and do that FBA before I make this pattern again. (Possibly as a tee with the plain neckband? We’ll see.) The fabric is a sweater knit from Girl Charlee. Not super great quality, but soft and I do love polka dots. It’s only winter here for like two weeks, and it’s already 70F here, so I thought I’d better put this on the grid before it got too hot and I forgot. (Hey, that rhymes!) I love this sweater’s smooshy giant roll neck with the cropped sleeves! It’s giving “I’m always cold but also always doing dishes,” am I right? I’m wearing ancient jeans from Torrid that you’ve seen many times and some floral print Alegria mary janes I recently got on eBay. #DarthMarple #WorkFromHomeSewing #EdgyVintageModern #MeMadeEveryday
I finally made a #DaleSweatshirt! Sometimes people ask me why I bother making basics like sweatshirts and tees, but I’d never find a zebra print sweatshirt with sleeves the right length for my T-Rex arms in a store. 🦖 I shortened the sleeves by a full 3.25”, which was maybe 0.25” more than was strictly necessary, but I like shorter sleeves because I wash my hands a lot and hate it when my cuffs get wet. I digress! This is a really well-drafted pattern. I have trouble with drop shoulder tops due to my narrow shoulders, but the drop isn’t so exaggerated on the Dale. It hits in a reasonable place, even on me. (Swipe to the side view to see how nicely it hangs and how well the shoulders sit.) I didn’t shorten the body of the top, and that was also the right choice, as it would have been shorter than my preference if I had. As it is, it hits in a very vintage 1980s place on my torso, which may or may not be what the designer intended -- though I like the hip band where it is. I got the fabric from @SwansonsFabrics late last year. I managed to squeak a sweatshirt out of a single yard because it had a long, weirdly shaped cutting remnant attached, which had enough room for a second sleeve. Ah, serendipity! Everything else was leftover from other projects. I’m wearing old Torrid jeans that you’ve seen eleventy billion times before and my trusty Clarks booties from a million years ago. (I’m a proud garment repeater!) If you want to know how I really feel about this sweatshirt, I finished sewing it on the 31st and have already worn it twice in five days. I’d call that a success! I think I’ll try the short-sleeved version next. #DarthMarple #WorkFromHomeSewing #EdgyVintageModern #MeMadeEveryday
I don't usually speedrun my sewing projects anymore, but I cut this dress out last Friday and sewed it Saturday afternoon to wear that same evening. I think this is the fifth time I've made the #MBRTrillium dress over the years, so I figured it would be fine. I love this pattern. This floral version has been on my list since I got this beautiful lawn from @LAFinchFabrics_New a while back. It felt great to finally make it happen! I added a couple of inches to the skirt length and did an elastic casing modification on the back because I couldn’t find my shirring thread. My Talbots linen shirt and Clarks loafers are both from eBay (as usual); swipe to see the dress by itself. Hey, I managed to make a second post for #MeMadeMay2023! Wonders never cease. #MeMadeMay #DarthMarple #WorkFromHomeSewing #EdgyVintageModern #MeMadeEveryday
It’s #MeMadeMay2023 and you’ve seen this shirt before! It’s a #TonicTee that I made in 2021, and it’s holding up really well. I probably won’t be posting many photos this year, but I’m using the month to evaluate my wardrobe and see what projects would be most useful to sew next. I’m also wearing suede Clarks loafers (via eBay) and a pair of black jeans that I bought myself from Torrid for my birthday. I regret the purchase, tbh! They fit weirdly. I’ll probably sell them pretty soon. #SBCCTonicTee #MeMadeMay #MeMadeRepeat #DarthMarple #WorkFromHomeSewing #EdgyVintageModern #MeMadeEveryday
My new shirt is a pretty intensely hacked #TonicTee from @sbccpatterns, and it’s *exactly* how I imagined it. I raised the neckline, widened the neckband, added sleeve bands, shortened it a bit, and added a band at the bottom. (It’s the same XL with 1.5 inches added at the hip that I always make, though it looks looser due to the fabric.) I bought the striped cotton sweater knit from @destashify_us during their December sale, and it was a crazy bargain. I do think I may have cut it crosswise, but it had about the same amount of stretch in both directions, and I couldn’t really tell where the selvedges were after I washed it! It doesn’t matter; I had my heart set on using these stripes vertically, and it worked out. The ribbing was a mystery fabric from long ago -- so old it came out of my storage bin with cat hair on it, and our cat passed away in 2017. I have no idea where it came from, which is a shame, as it’s a high-quality knit. Oh, well! Anyway, I absolutely love this top and expect I will wear it to shreds. I’m also wearing old Torrid jeans, really old Danskos, and a LEGO octopus pin today. #SBCCTonicTee #DarthMarple #WorkFromHomeSewing #EdgyVintageModern #MeMadeEveryday
Sometimes it takes me years to sew a pattern after I’ve purchased it. Literally. Like this one! This is the #OgdenCami. There are over 26,000 posts with that tag; that’s how slow I am. I made a 14 in the larger size range, graded to a 16 at the hips. According to the size chart(s), I should have made a 12 graded to an 18 in the smaller size range with a great big FBA, but I thought, “You know what? This cami seems to pull across the chest on a lot of folks, so I think my 36” upper bust measurement is probably going to be just fine in a 14 D-cup piece.” I was correct! The ease is just right. It also completely covers my bra straps, which I didn’t expect. (Swipe to see proof!) I don’t much care for the weird half-lining, and will probably alter that to a facing next time, but that’s my only complaint. I meant this to be a “wearable toile” if it fit well, and it has succeeded admirably. Fun Slow Fashion side note: This camisole was made from my old pantry shelf curtains, which were in turn made from an old bed sheet. So this fabric has been through a lot! I had to cut around a stain from my partner’s drippy coffee maker, but I made it work. I’m also wearing old jeans from Torrid, a Talbots cardigan I picked up via eBay, and some very nifty Clarks suede loafers, also via eBay. (These loafers are almost exactly like my favorite shoes from 1992/1993, which I lost in a floor buffer incident when I worked at Pier 1.That’s right, kids. I still think about shoes that would be older than you. #GenX) #DarthMarple #WorkFromHomeSewing #EdgyVintageModern #MeMadeEveryday
If you follow my stories, you know I wore That Dress for 100 days straight. So now I'm wallowing in separates, hahaha! I finally sewed something, too. I used this Cthulhu print lawn from Spoonflower to make a Famous Boxy Top that shall remain unnamed because they promised years ago to increase its size range and never did. Seriously, eff those folks. I bought the pattern when I barely fit its largest size, with the understanding that better sizes were "coming soon," but whatever. They won't get any money in the future from me. The fabric was weird, as Spoonflower fabrics often are. It presses beautifully, but it's so finely woven that I could barely get *silk pins* through it! The finished product is great, though -- crispy but with some drape. I do love walking around covered in monsters that look like wallpaper. That's the best part. #DarthMarple #WorkFromHomeSewing #EdgyVintageModern #MeMadeEveryday
I’m not fashion-oriented, but I probably think about clothes more than the average person. I have my own sense of personal style, though it’s not flashy or particularly “Instagram-able.” I sew a lot of my clothing, but I also buy clothes like most people. I support the idea of sustainable fashion, and I try to be intentional with my clothing choices, but we don’t live in a perfect or equitable world. I know systemic solutions are far more effective than individual action, but I also believe in starting where you are and that an imperfect individual effort can inspire others. So I decided to take on the 100 Day Dress Challenge from @wool.and and wear the same dress every day until November 5th. (Good news: I won’t clutter up your feed by posting on the grid daily, as I just discovered that they will accept a link to a folder of photos.) I’ll post updates about the project in my newsletter over the next three months, and I might also post the occasional picture here. My first impression: I’m really impressed with the dress itself! I chose the Summer Midi Dress in black, which is reversible and can be worn with or without its belt. It’s not itchy or hot, and it’s very versatile. I’ve already figured out 16 different ways to wear it with things I already have in my closet! I’m less impressed with its size range, as it’s not inclusive, as is often the case with sustainable fashion companies. (And all clothing companies, tbh. Sigh.) I figure I’ll be bored out of my mind within two weeks, and I wonder how the fabric will hold up over time, but we’ll see. Here we go! (The shoes are old Danskos from eBay, and my necklace hides a tiny Baby Yoda inside, true story.) #wooland #100daydresschallenge @wool.andyou #DarthMarple
I bet you thought I’d forgotten about Me Made May. No, I just forgot to take photos! My bad. Today I’m wearing a self-drafted A-line skirt that I’ll call an “homage” to a Swedish sewing pattern that you’ve probably seen around. It’s not that I didn’t want to pay for it. I mean, yeah, I knew I could draft it. But the problem is that I fall smack in between their small and large size ranges, which are sold separately! Using the pattern’s finished measurements, I drafted an approximate custom facsimile. I’ll definitely make this again. It’s comfortable and has a more modern narrow A-line silhouette. I got the floral fabric from @lafinchfabrics_new a while back, and have enough yardage left to make a top. I’m also wearing old Danskos and a new-ish tee from Target, which has, aside from fitting like RTW (i.e. badly), an unfortunate tendency to ride up under skirts when tucked in. They can’t all be winners! Hahaha. #MeMadeMay #MeMadeMay2022 #DarthMarple
Yeah, I put on a sunhat just to walk to the mailboxes. It’s not that I’m just that extra, it’s that I’m just that devoted to portable shade. 😎 Anyway, this is a #HemlockTee dress you’ve seen before. I sometimes wear a belt with it, but I just learned how to do this weird reverse knot thingy from Pinterest. I think it makes it look a little more intentional and a little more modern. This is still one of my favorite lounge dresses. So comfortable! The fabric has held up better than I expected, too. I think the hat came from Target a million years ago and the Teva sandals were NWOT from eBay. (I had these exact same sandals several years ago and literally wore them out, so I was tickled to find brand new ones!) #GrainlineHemlock #MeMadeMay #MeMadeMay2022 #MeMadeRepeat #DarthMarple
Summer always sneaks up on me. I’ve lived in a subtropical zone my entire adult life and I still can’t believe how hot it gets here in May. It’s 92F/33C right now but the “real feel” is 102F/39C! Ugh and double ugh. Anyway, I’m wearing #MBRLuna shorts today. I made these as a wearable toile, and even though I love them I still haven’t gotten around to making the full length pants. I totally will, though -- swipe to see how they fit. These are size XL with zero alterations and the pockets omitted. I used an end-of-bolt cut of printed linen blend from @lafinchfabrics_new that I’d intended to use to make a tote bag. These shorts are definitely a better use of this great fabric! I wear them constantly when it’s hot. I’m also wearing a tank from Target, my trusty Birkenstocks, and a linen shirt from Talbots via eBay that I will eventually dye a less aggressively pink color. Now I’m going to drink a bucket of iced mint tea and call it a day. #LunaPants #MeMadeMay #MeMadeMay2022 #DarthMarple
Do you know the acronym HALT? It stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. Although it's often discussed in an addiction recovery context, it's also useful for anxiety. I went out to run errands this morning, and I started to feel overwhelmed and panicky. Now, under normal circumstances, I would breathe deeply, ride it out, and press on, as avoidance behaviors were a big part of my agoraphobia. But I took a minute in the post office parking lot to pause (*halt*, if you will) and take stock. I was ALL FOUR, friends -- *literally* hungry, angry, lonely, AND tired. I was absolutely not in a place to ride it out, so I went home, made a meal, meditated, and texted a friend. I feel way better now! Sometimes self-care means saying no and going home. Now, onto the clothes! I'm wearing a Boat Neck Anegada top that you've probably seen before (no hashtag because it's not size inclusive). I felt pretty unimpressed with it when I made it but my initial impression was unduly pessimistic. I actually wear this top way more than I thought I would. That happens sometimes! The jeans are Torrid via eBay (& my tailor, who made the waist fit correctly -- even sewists can use a tailor if they hate altering RTW like I do, LOL) and sneakers are Allbirds via their ReRun site. #MeMadeMay #MeMadeMay2022 #MeMadeRepeat #DarthMarple
It's #MeMadeMay again! I haven't participated for a couple of years, but I'll be posting at least once a week this month. Today I'm wearing a #MimosaBlouse from @sbccpatterns. I love SBCC patterns so much. It's like magic to use a pattern made for petites. I made an XL in the plus size range, graded out 1" at the hips (which was between sizes). That's it! No other fit adjustments needed! I omitted the vintage-style tie and rounded the front neckline, so it looks like a regular woven tee. I ordered this cotton lawn from Fabric Worm with my birthday money last year. It's so floaty and soft -- and it has squirrels on it. What's not to love? Jeans are from Torrid, and old Danskos via eBay. #SBCCMimosa #MeMadeMay2022 #DarthMarple
I’ve gotten behind on taking pictures of my #SLCTeeOfTheMonthClub projects again! I’ll get August’s tee posted eventually, but here’s my September selection, a Blank Slate #BlancTee. It’s...fine. I kind of like the weird neckline shape, but other than that it’s just a basic shirt with cut-on sleeves. I didn’t like the bias neck binding the pattern called for, so I made a knit neckband and also put matching bands on the sleeves. I cropped the length a bit, too. This is another upcycling project; I used the fabric from a Universal Standard knit dress that I couldn’t resell because I botched an alteration on it. (Oops.) I only ever meant this shirt to be a boring layering piece, so my lack of enthusiasm for it isn’t really an issue. It was made to be worn underneath other, more exciting garments, and it does that job well. I don't dislike it. I just feel pretty neutral toward it. I promise I don’t wear these Torrid jeans every single day, but at least these are different Danskos (from eBay, as always) than the last photo I posted. The prescription sunglasses are from Zenni, and I looooooove them. #MeMadeEveryday #DarthMarple
This is the #FibreMoodJulia jacket, which is a personal success on two counts: 1) This is the first garment I've ever completed from a Design Your Wardrobe collection, and 2) I managed to make this from a dress I had sewn but never wore much. (It's way down on the grid somewhere.) I stopped wearing it even while it fit because the fabric made too much noise! The poplin literally rustled like a heavy ballgown. I loved the print, though, so I'm glad I found a way to use the fabric. I shortened the jacket pattern by 3" in the body and 2" in the sleeves, both because I'm short and to make the pattern pieces fit. I used the skirt for the front & back, and one little remnant for the sleeves -- & sewed together the dress's back tie for the belt. I used a scrap of batik for the facing. I really like this jacket! It came out exactly the way I had planned. Swipe to see my original sketch. Jeans are Torrid (on super clearance), Danskos are from eBay. Favorite raven pin from Etsy a long time ago. #MeMadeEveryday #DarthMarple #EdgyVintageModern
My July #SLCTeeOfTheMonthClub selection may be my new favorite: The #SBCCTonicTee from @sbccpatterns, who specialize in petite patterns. Most indie designers have a fit model that’s around 5’8”. Yet only about 10% of American women are that tall or taller; the average height for women in the US is still 5’4”! There are way more women my height than model height, friends. (I’m 5’2”, for the record.) So not only do I love finding correctly proportioned sewing patterns, but the drafting from SBCC is fantastic. I’m an SBCC fangirl, all the way! This tee is a little looser than intended, as I misread the size chart, but that’s okay with me. The shoulder slope, the placement of the shoulder seams, the sleeve and body length -- all perfect. I made ZERO alterations to this pattern. This is straight from the packet. I love it. I will probably make a million of these. You’ve seen this fabric on me before, as I’ve made it into leggings and a different shirt in the past, but this is the last of that particular glorious eBay find. The jeans are Torrid via Poshmark and the flats are from eBay. #TonicTee #MeMadeEveryday #WorkFromHomeSewing #DarthMarple
I finally managed to get a picture of May's #SLCTeeOfTheMonthClub selection: Fancy Tiger’s Adventure Tank, muscle tank version. (The size range is NOT inclusive; I got it through the Creativebug class.) This was meant to be a “wearable muslin,” as I intended to get some good wicking fabric for it, but I find I wear it all the time, anyway. I wanted to improve on a ready-to-wear workout tank I had that fit very poorly -- and I still plan to get that wicking fabric and make this again. The pattern has beautifully drafted neck and armhole bands! It’s a shame its size range is so small. I would wholeheartedly recommend this pattern otherwise. Seriously, the markings on the armhole bands were chefs’ kiss perfect. I gave it a 2” FBA, shortened it 1/2” through the chest/armhole, and 1” in the body length. I’m going to put the body length back on the next version. It doesn’t happen often, but I petite-ified it too hard! I didn’t bother to hem it or stitch down the seam allowances on the bands because it was a muslin, but I just keep wearing it, so I guess that’s fine. I used leftover fabric from a t-shirt I made a few years ago and had just enough left after cutting the tank to make a matching headband. #MeMadeEveryday #DarthMarple #DarthMarpleWorksOut
I'll belatedly post May's tee one of these days, but here's my June #SLCTeeOfTheMonthClub selection: The popular #HemlockTee lengthened to a dress. Its dropped shoulders take me directly to the 1980s. My tween self would have been over the moon to wear something this awesome in 1987! This is a 14 graded to a 16 at the hips in the plus size range, and I *loved* not doing an FBA. This took less than 3 hours to make, including taping the pattern together -- and it only took that long because I went very slowly and carefully on the neckband, including basting it on the regular sewing machine. In fact, my only complaint about the pattern is that it doesn't include markings on the neckband. I added 10" to the tunic length (I think?), just straight down. I made the little elastic belt, too. The proportions look weird without it. (It would look better unbelted with tight long sleeves or if it drew in at the hem, imo.) But hey, I'm living my tween dreams here! So I'm not complaining. I think I got the rayon/cotton blend knit on clearance at Girl Charlee intending to use it for knit muslins, but it was nice enough for something I would really wear. The suede flats are actually Crocs via eBay. I wore this to the library yesterday. They let you go inside now and I can't stop telling people how exciting that is! If you read this far, you deserve a reward. 😆🏆 #MeMadeEveryday #DarthMarple
My April #SLCTeeOfTheMonthClub selection shall remain untagged, though it’s recognizable if you know the pattern. (The designer has since expanded her sizes, but not to this pattern.) I shortened the sleeves, the body, the...everything. But that’s not my complaint here. I just wasn’t a fan of the drafting for this pattern. This pattern has two pet peeves of mine, and if I had known about either, I wouldn’t have bought it. It has cut-on-fold sleeves that are the same in the front and back (no, thank you) and it has instructions to “trim” an already-cut pattern piece for a specific view (Burda is also often guilty of this). The few markings that were present on the pattern lined up and stuff; it wasn’t an amateur effort or anything. I just didn’t like it. I also did a big FBA, which was the right choice with that armscye. So, anyway, it’s wearable. I’ll wear it. I love the *idea* of this t-shirt -- especially the neckline. But I wish I had hacked this neckline on a better-fitting tee. They can’t all be winners! I guess this post counts for #MMMay2021, too. Pants are kinda ill-fitting J. Jill via eBay, and the Birkenstocks have been on the grid many times before. #MeMadeMayPlus #MeMadeEveryday #WorkFromHomeSewing #DarthMarple
Here’s my last first-quarter catch-up post for my #SLCTeeOfTheMonthClub: The #SeamworkFinn. Raglans are tricky to fit. I have nice, non-wrinkled raglan seams here because I did a 1.5” FBA and a 0.5” petite adjustment through the sleeves and upper chest. It took me a long time to figure out why every raglan tee I tried to make looked wrong and wrinkled so badly along the raglan seam, but I think I have it figured out now. This is a size 14 graded to a 16 at the hips. I think I shortened the body of the tee, too, but I left the hem raw so it didn’t make much of a difference. I like this shirt and I think it shows off my single yard of impulse purchase Lady McElroy print pretty nicely, but I recommend the pattern only if you’re willing to alter it for a good fit. (P.S. The sleeves and neckband were made from fabric leftover from yesterday’s Ace tee. The Finn is a good scrap buster pattern for larger pieces of leftover knits.) #MeMadeEveryday #WorkFromHomeSewing #DarthMarple
Here’s my February #SLCTeeOfTheMonthClub project: the #SeamworkAce. Sorry, it’s black so you can’t really see it. (Whoops.) I LOVE THIS TEE. Easiest t-shirt ever. I mean, sure, I look like a beatnik missing the poetry reading here, but is that a bad thing? Surely not. This is a 14 graded just a bit past 16 at the upper hip. I completely changed the waist shaping and shortened the sleeves A LOT, as the Seamwork fit model is notoriously tall and I’m notoriously...not-tall. I’m 92% satisfied with the finished result and only regret that I was too lazy to make a small FBA, as I do get some stress lines at the bust. Maybe next time -- and there will be a next time. The jeans are Torrid and the Danskos are from eBay. #MeMadeEveryday #WorkFromHomeSewing #DarthMarple
It’s definitely been a minute since I’ve posted to the grid! I’m trying to sew a knit top every month this year in my own personal “Tee of the Month Club,” so I need to do a first quarter catch-up. I cut out this #ElliotSweater in December and sewed it in January. The fabric was very stretchy and slinky and was a real pain to deal with -- though a pleasure to wear. I love the dramatic cowl! I think I cut a 16/18 graded to a 20/22 at the hips, which is probably larger than it should have been (& was probably the correct size when I printed the pattern). I made a petite adjustment across the upper chest and raglan sleeves, which worked really well, though. The jeans are Universal Standard and the Danskos are from eBay. #MeMadeEveryday #WorkFromHomeSewing #DarthMarple
Happy Halloween! I'm not really dressed as a witch. I'm just...wearing a hat? I made the hat this morning from a free pattern, and the dress is a lengthened #mbrtrillium that I made two or three years ago. The little ghosts on the fabric are supposed to glow in the dark! #MeMadeEveryday #PlusSizeSewing #CurvySewing #FatSewing #PlusSizeOOTD #DarthMarple
I finished this #SeamworkOslo yesterday, just before it got too hot to wear! Today may be the last day it will be cool enough for 8 or 9 months. I could make several nitpick-y complaints about the pattern, but I honestly like it enough that I would make it again, so I’m not going to waste text on that here. I used a clingy sweater knit whose origin I no longer recall and omitted the sleeve cuffs. I’m also wearing a Universal Standard dress and old #SeamworkManila leggings (also sans cuffs). #MeMadeEveryday #CSCMakes #PlusSizeSewing #CurvySewing #FatSewing #DarthMarple
I swear I won't be posting every outfit, but this is a bookend to the last one. The knit sundress underneath the long-sleeved tee is what I *actually* wore to our wedding reception 9 years ago, purchased in a panic from JC Penney (of all places). It's still in regular rotation and has held up beautifully for a rayon knit. (It has even been wearable across 4 dress sizes.) The floral tee is a recent $2 thrift store find. The Allbirds are from eBay. Go ahead and believe the hype; they're outrageously comfortable. 😁 #PlusSizeOOTD #WearYourOldClothes #DarthMarple
Darth Marple attends an outdoor wedding in December, or a note about subconscious clothing choice: I had planned to sew a simple sheath dress to wear, but came down with a cold and ran out of time. I decided to wear this instead, and only remembered today that I bought this dress to wear to our own wedding reception 9 1/2 years ago (custom from eShakti, and one of my first purchases there). It was a really garish orange-red, so I wore something else. I dyed it a darker red later that year and have been wearing it happily ever since. I think there's probably a metaphor about marriage in there somewhere. There will be unexpected obstacles in every relationship, but you can overcome them if you think outside the box and make some effort. (The sweater is Eileen Fisher Renew, the boots are Earth, and the scarf is - as always - vintage. The tiny Coach handbag may or may not be old enough to be proper vintage, but I got it for a song on eBay. Only the dress, tights, and underwear were purchased new.) #PlusSizeOOTD #DarthMarple #YouCanWearSomethingOldEvenIfYoureNotTheBride
I finally made the #LawleySkirt from @elbe_textiles, and it's fantastic -- especially since it's a free pattern (and fairly size-inclusive, too). It's a beautifully drafted pattern! I only have a few quibbles with it. First of all, I feel that the pockets are a little shallow. (Although they look really good!) I also think that gathering three layers of fabric (where the pockets are) is a little challenging, depending on fabric choice (my chambray was perhaps a little stiffer than it called for) -- and as cool as the waistband treatment *looks* when made up as the pattern decrees, it is both extremely fiddly to sew, but negates the purpose of an elastic waistband for someone like me. My waist varies by several inches (depending on weight fluctuations and stomach issues), so I frequently open up waistbands to tighten or loosen/replace elastic. I have a five year-old skirt that has had at least four different lengths of elastic in it! You sew through your elastic and you have to replace the entire waistband. I didn't have the size of elastic called for on hand, anyway, so I gave my waistband a couple of channels for narrower elastic (see second photo). I think this will work out better for me in the long run. All that being said, I will definitely make this skirt again! Probably in a lighter fabric, and definitely with my own waistband treatment -- but it's a winner overall. I recommend it! #MeMadeEveryday #PlusSizeSewing #CurvySewing #FatSewing #CSCMakes #PlusSizeOOTD #DarthMarple
I thrifted this lightweight cardigan several years ago but rarely wore it because the buttons were terrible: weirdly square, too small for the buttonholes, and inappropriately shanked when they needed to be flat. I dumped my button jar last night & found the exact number and size of the EXACT style I had in mind, so I knew it was a Sewing Miracle. I sewed 'em on while watching YouTube...and now I have a new favorite that won't pop open all the time. (Does this count for #AlterItAugust?) #ThriftLife #SmallEffortBigResult #DarthMarple
I made a blouson maxi dress from #seamworkastoria (of all things), though it's difficult to see the details with the busy polka dots. I'm not sure I'd sew this again (I had a lot of problems stitching the elastic at the waist), but I'd say it's a semi-successful experiment. It's certainly comfortable! #memadeeveryday #plussizesewing #curvysewing #cscmakes #DarthMarple
A repeat today for #MeMadeMayPlus -- a Concord/Gable mash-up tee you've seen before, and an old self-drafted floral skirt. Sometimes comfort is just more important than style. #MeMadeMay2019 #MeMadeMay #MMMay19Plus #MMMay2019Plus #DarthMarple
Today for #MeMadeMayPlus I'm wearing a hastily constructed Made by Rae #GemmaTank that I lengthened into a mini-dress as part of my Twin Peaks/Black Lodge costume. I meant to consign it to the costume box, but it's so comfortable in the heat -- and I have RTW with more poorly matched stripes, so it got conscripted for weekend wear instead. The floral leggings are old Patterns for Pirates #P4PPegLegs. My cold was so much better that I left the house today, too! 😎 #MeMadeMay #MMMay19Plus #MMMay2019plus #MeMadeMay2019 #DarthMarple
I'm wearing Terrible Head Cold Lounge Wear for #MeMadeMayPlus today. Both pieces were semi-successful muslins. The skirt is an altered #ColetteMabel where I added length to make it work appropriate. I ended up adding more length and curving it in more toward the hem to make a pencil skirt silhouette later -- and made 3 versions of that variation. (It looked a lot like the Seamwork Margo, only a couple of years before it came out.) This early version was pretty much always worn as lounge wear and is several years old now. The top is a recent muslin for the #EbonyTee which I never bothered to hem because it turns out that I hate high-low hems. (I seem to love them on other people -- just not on me!) I love the trapeze shape and the fabric is so soft and comfortable that I wear it around the house all the time, though. I will definitely even that hem out on the pattern and make the Ebony again someday. Just...High-Low Never Again. The headscarf is a piece of Echino fabric that I hoarded for years. A bandana is a great way to use up small pieces of great prints! I went through an entire box of Puffs Plus Lotion yesterday, but am only coughing today. I think I may live! I even put on tinted lip balm for you, Instagram. #MeMadeMay #MeMadeMay2019 #mmmay19plus #mmmay2019plus #DarthMarple #HeadColdsAreTerrible
I'm wearing a #hinterlanddress for #memademayplus today. Don't tell, but I broke all the rules & used a fancy quilting cotton. This is a beautifully drafted pattern! I could write a love poem to the way the sleeves set in. I shortened the bodice (maybe 1/2 too much, oops), slightly lengthened the skirt, did a small FBA -- and that's it. It didn't even need a full bicep adjustment. This was my first version, but won't be my last. (I should also say that this pattern is a dead ringer for a long-forgotten favorite circa 1994. Hah!) Note to self: Pull bodice straight *before* you take the picture. 😅 #memademay #mmmay19plus #mmmay2019plus #memademay2019 #DarthMarple
Somebody please reassure Mr. Prufrock that rolling up your pants is a fine thing to do when it's 90F/32C outside. Trousers are a repeat of Burda 6952, shirt is an old cotton gauze #shirtno1, the scarf is actually a pocket square I got at a thrift store for a buck. I apologize, but it seems we've reached the "pants and a dark shirt" part of the month. Let's call it consistent rather than merely repetitive. #memademayplus #memademay #memademayplus2019 #memademay2019 #mmmay19plus #mmmay2019plus #DarthMarple #badpoetryjokes
I call today's #memademayplus outfit "What Grown-up Goths Wear to Run Errands." The tee is a Cashmerette #concordtee with the #gabletop neckline -- my favorite tee, hands down. Love that slash neckline & Concord's fit. Jeans are thrifted, scarf is vintage, anatomical heart pin from a long-forgotten Etsy seller. #memademay #memademay2019 #mmmay19plus #mmmay2019plus #DarthMarple
I normally only post M/W/Sa for #memademay, but I couldn't resist a bonus Friday here. The pants are from an old Burda pattern (so old that they date from the last time wide leg trousers were in fashion) & the tee is altered RTW -- no big whoop, I've worn all of this before. But I realized that I have specific, weird wrinkles along the side of my calf on every pair of pants I've worn this month! Like, these are extra wrinkly because they're linen, but they *all* have had them -- even the sturdy knit ones. Is it just something in the way I hang them?? Am I mutating my trousers??? What is even happening???? 😂 I am simply documenting this for posterity, & also in the hopes that an episode of "Ancient Aliens" can explain it. #memademay2019 #memademayplus #mmmay19plus #mmmay2019plus #DarthMarple 👽
Wearing a dud today for #memademay2019 -- & it's my own fault. I cut out this #seamworkkenedy days after its release...but only sewed it up this month. My enthusiasm at the time was such that I *cut it out without making a muslin* -- even though I know better. So...the shoulders are 2 inches too wide, the darts are too low, the armholes so deep that my bra shows. Ugh. It does fit better than RTW in one respect, though -- it is the right size at both bust & hip. Ah, well! Bury your failures under layers, I guess. Cardigan is @eshakti custom, leggings are RTW, scarf is (as always) vintage. Swipe to see how I really feel about this dress. 🙃 #memademayplus #memademay #mmmay2019plus #mmmay19plus #DarthMarple
I'm committing polka dot fashion crimes in an old #cominocap dress for #memademay2019 today. Cardigan is RTW, scarf is vintage. I wish the detail was visible; it's black and plum and lavender -- & matches every purple thing I own. #memademayplus #mmmay19plus #mmmayplus #memademay #DarthMarple
It's that time again! Prepare yourself for many pictures of my clothes. Today for #memademay2019 I'm wearing a #seamworkastoria with short sleeves and a skirt I refashioned from one of my oldest & most beloved eShakti dresses. The bodice was ruined & there were holes in both sleeves, but the skirt was fine -- so I cut it apart & gave it an elastic waist. I love those offset block-printed stripes. Now I can wear it for many more years! #memademay #memademayplus #mmmay19plus #DarthMarple
Clutching a light pole & wearing a self-drafted floral skirt for #memademay today. The top is altered RTW. This will be my last photo for #mmmay18 this year since I only post M/W/Sa. I just want to say how much I appreciate following the hashtag & seeing everyone's sewing! What I wore this month really was representative of how I normally dress, too - a pretty casual mix of me-made & RTW - I just took care not to repeat anything. So thank you for a great month!
Super casual for #memademay today while waiting for my mane to dry. I'm wearing a #cominocap top with decorative edge stitching instead of bands & knit lounge pants that began as #seamworkmoji but have been changed so much they don't resemble the pattern at all. #mmmay18
A skeptical facial expression & floral PFP Peg Legs for #memademay today. #mmmay18
Simple shape / wild print for #memademay today. I'm wearing a brand new hot-off-the-sewing-machine #concordtee altered to A-line dress & a LEGO octopus pin to honor our cephalopod overlords. #mmmay18
An orchid polka-dot #cominocap dress for #memademay today. I almost never wear pastels, but couldn't resist this fabric. #mmmay18
Today for #memademay I'm wearing a fox print #concordtee (modified with a #gabletop neckline). My vampire flesh braved the searing sun for this photo. 🌞 #mmmay18
A old knit dress copied (& lengthened) from a RTW tank top for #memademay today. It's already so hot! The headscarf is fabric leftover from the top I wore Monday. #mmmay18
I'm wearing a @100actsofsewing #shirtno1 for #memademay today -- a variation from the Creativebug class, sleeves shortened. Fresh off the sewing machine, though it's been cut out for months. I'd forgotten how horsey crinkle gauze is to work with! #mmmay18 #curvysewingcollective
Wearing unrecognizable #seamworkmanila leggings for #memademay today. I cut off the tulip cuffs & re-hemmed them; they always looked weird on me. #mmmay18
Today for #memademay I'm wearing some weird trousers I made last summer from an old (really old, the pattern number escapes me) Burda pattern. Not an entirely successful garment -- too wide to be regular pants, too narrow to be culottes -- but it's supposed to be 92F/33C today & I needed some breezy linen. 😅 #mmmay18 #DarthMarple
#MeMadeMay, "Grey Day Camouflage Edition," a.k.a. "Should Have Put On My Sunglasses Edition," a.k.a. "Lennox Is Taking Me To Breakfast Edition." Dress is a cat print @madebyrae #mbrtrillium, about 3 years old. #mmmay18
It's time for #memademay! Today I'm wearing a 7 year old eShrug from @sewingworkshop. You guys have almost certainly seen it before, but I'm wearing it a new way: pinned asymmetrically with my favorite raven pin. Swipe for a closer look at the pin; it's highly reflective! #mmmay18 #sendaraven
Late to the party, but here's my #2018makenine. L to R, top to bottom: 1) Burda Plus Robe, 2) Sleeveless #seamworkarden, 3) Replacement Baktus Scarf (my old one got moth holes, curses!), 4) Birthday Something TBD, 5) #cashmeretteconcord swing dress hack, 6) Simple Trousers TBD, 7) Heidi Purse from IThinkSew, 8) #cashmerettespringfield tank, and 9) The #sukikimono from Helen's Closet. That's right. Two robes. I currently have zero & I want two. 😅