12/08/2020

Elodie Wrap Dress - Maternity Edition: Closet Core Patterns Tester

Another blog post!  And another test for Closet Core Patterns - the Elodie Wrap Dress!!  This is the first pattern released since their name change from Closet Case Patterns to Closet Core Patterns, and I'm pretty excited to be a part of it.  (Note, I have gone back to edit my post for the Blanca Flight Suit with the new company name).  I'm also super excited that I was still able to test the pattern, despite being 16 weeks pregnant at the time!!  I'm now 20 weeks pregnant, and baby is due at the very end of December this year :)

When the Closet Core team emailed me to ask if I wanted to test their new pattern, I made sure to let them know I was pregnant with an expanding waistline and that while I would love to test the pattern, I might make some adjustments to keep the pattern maternity friendly so I can still wear it over the next few months.  Since part of testing a pattern is about making sure the fit is spot-on, I would have totally understood if that wasn't what they were looking for and I was happy to wait for the official pattern release.  I was SO stoked when Alexis emailed me back saying they would still love for me to test the pattern, maternity adjustments and all.  So here we are!  Presenting the Closet Core Elodie Wrap Dress - Maternity Edition!

I made "View A" with short sleeves, and the midi-length skirt.  The fabric I used was this gorgeous green mid-weight viscose-linen blend from Fabrications Ottawa.  The fabric has just enough weight and the perfect amount of drape for this pattern. [...]

26/06/2020

Pink Blanca Flight Suit - Closet Core Patterns Test

Finally!  I've been meaning to get around to taking photos and doing this blog post for ages, and I've finally found the time and energy.



Back at the end of February/ beginning of March right before everything changed due to COVID-19, I was asked to be in the tester group for the Closet Core Blanca Flight Suit!!  I had signed up earlier in the year to be added to the group testing the 14-30 size range for Closet Core and I was SO excited to get this email.  It's been nearly a decade since I really wore a pair of coveralls (if you went to University for Engineering in Ontario/ Canada, you know what I'm talking about!) so I was stoked to make my own pair.  There have been a ton of coveralls/ jumpsuit/ boiler suit patterns out there recently... but none of them caught my eye the way Blanca did. [...]

01/03/2020

Helen's Closet Elliot Sweater +"Hack"

Back in December when I was doing some Boxing-Day online shopping, I found a great sweater on Roots that caught my eye.  It looked perfect for pairing with leggings on the weekend, and I could even get away with wearing it to work on Fridays paired with jeans.  Sadly my size sold out and I was sweater-less.

BUT - I realized I had some grey Tencel & Organic Cotton French Terry (from Blackbird Fabrics) in my stash which would work well to replicate the sweater, and would be WAY more comfortable than the polyester-blend RTW version.  I also found some twill tape hanging around that could be used for the ties in the cowl, so I didn't have to go out and buy anything.  Yay for shopping my stash!!  

As for a pattern... I originally thought about altering the Grainline Hemlock Tee with a cowl neck... but then Helen's Closet released the extended sizes for the Elliot Sweater and the pattern was on sale!  I do fit within the "original" size range for Helen's patterns, but seeing the pattern show up in my IG feed (and the sale, duh) made me realize it would be the perfect pattern to use!


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18/01/2020

Fabric No-Buy 2020



After amassing a large (to me) fabric stash over the last year or so with little (or less than usual) sewing output, I’ve reached a point where I really need to evaluate all the fabric I have before buying more.  I’ve been hemming-and-hawing over this for the last little while, and I think I’m ready to totally commit. [...]