It is prime summer and life is full but I am happy to report that I am still sewing. I am still working full time and in school almost full time and doing some preaching (latest sermon linked here) but I have managed to sew several garments since my last post. I am still loving the threadloop website for inspiration, to remind me what I already own and to keep me focused on my sewing projects. Here are some finished garments and goals for my August break.

Since I last checked in I sewed a second pair of Chloe Jeans in a dark green corduroy that I have owned for five years. I think that they will be great for Fall. I have been trying to not buy fabric this year because I have accumulated so much over the years, but I did buy some brown denim to make another pair of Chloe’s for Fall. It has become a tried-and-true pattern for me. An easy sew that fits well and is cute.

I also sewed the Friday Pattern Flaneur pants on a whim. I decided to just sew the pattern based on my measurements as drafted, as I did with the Chloe’s, and they fit great. I sewed them with a medium weight brown linen that I bought several years ago from Blackbird Fabrics and have been wearing them all summer. I have several more of these planned.

I want to sew a slightly longer pair with a slightly higher waist in an olive linen-also from stash fabric- and I currently have a pair cut out and in the process of sewing in a navy and white striped Essex linen that I have owned for forever. This pattern was one of my surprise hits this summer. It is a quick easy sew and it is now a wardrobe staple. Yay! One thing I want to do on future version-which I forgot to do when I cut out the striped pair-is to increase the seam allowance along the main inner leg seam. The pattern only allows 3/8 of an inch and I would feel more comfortable with a wider seam allowance to allow for serging but so far, they have held up! Just a tip for anyone who might want to sew the pattern.

I also bought and have sewed two versions of the Tessuti Alessi Dress. I bought linen fabric for this from Blackbird this May. I was doing great with my no-buy year until Me Made May but I only am buying things I plan to use right now. I haven’t gotten the fit exactly where I want it yet but I have a 3rd version planned and I think after that I will have nailed it. It is a simple pattern and an easy sew. I made version two in literally two hours. I found that it runs big and when I sewed version one below, I just kept sewing inside my sewing lines to narrow everything down. I almost had it but I wanted the dress itself to be slimmer, a change I made with version two.

Unfortunately when I sewed version two, I forgot that I had cut out the pattern pieces on the size 14 and had then cut down the shoulder seams which brought the neckline up (which I liked) on version one and forgot to do that on version two.

I am not as happy with the lower neckline, I like the neckline in version one better so I am debating whether to unpick the bias binding and sew a second shoulder seam and rebind. It would be a pain but it wouldn’t take that long and I think I would like it better. I am still thinking about it but will probably do it. Here is version two. They are great for work on hot days under a labcoat.

I also sewed the Closet Core Travertine Dress, and I love it. I am a Closet Core Crew subscriber and I haven’t had time to sew all of the patterns I have accumulated but most of them are things I want to sew and I have had good luck with the fit and the instructions. I will definitely be sewing this again and will make the top version.

I was really happy with the way the neckline and armholes are finished and I have already used that technique when I sewed this pattern, which is my go-to undies pattern-very comfortable, stays in place and does not creep. Highly recommend.

So, my plans for August are to sew more linen pants, both the Flaneurs and the very cute linen pants and top using the new Closet Core Josephine pattern. probably in navy linen but I may be inspired to sew a plaid set-the version that Closet Core sewed is so cute, to sew a bathing suit, using the Closet Core Bianca pattern, to sew the Closet Core Crew Claire shorts, inspired by Clarie McCardell (this biography is on my to be read list) and to finish hand quilting a quilt for my second grandson who will be 4 soon (yes this is his baby quilt but you are never too old for a hand stitched quilt). I also have a Looper Quilt planned for my youngest daughter using some Liberty fabric and other stash fabrics.

Wish me luck! I will report back. And if you sew, come join me on threadloop! All the cool kids are over there.