The Ariane Bodysuit by Seamwork Magazine caught my eye as soon as it was released. I was never into bodysuits in the 90s but have come to really enjoy wearing them in the last few years (specifically my Nettie bodysuits). While many bodysuits look like a regular old tucked-in fitted shirt, the Ariane with its thin straps and defined cups has very strong lingerie vibes. Bodysuits are great for layering and for creating a really smooth tucked-in top to show off a fitted skirt or pants.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been following along with the Seamwork Design Your Wardrobe project/class. It’s been a great way to develop wardrobe inspiration and start planning a DIY wardrobe refresh. I’ve been looking at lots of patterns and considering how they might fit into my spring wardrobe. You can check out my inspiration board on IG here. I enjoy wearing dresses too but I already have a lot of those in my closet. I’m going to be focusing on pants and tops for a casual work wardrobe. I’m taking the planning process slowly, but I’m excited to dive in soon. Today I’ll give you a sneak peek of some of the patterns that are topping my list (plus a few dresses to balance it the imaginary wardrobe).
1. Lander Pants by True Bias
I don’t think it would be an understatement to say that "these pants are my everything”. I love the high waist and exposed button fly. I can’t wait to finally give them a go.
2. Willamette Shirt by Hey June Patterns
This pattern selection was very much influenced by my inspiration board. I already knew that I really like boxy tops (like my pattern the Lou Box Top) and this one has the extra details that I’m looking for this season.
3. Veronica Dress by Seamwork
I love the fitted waist and cap sleeves on this dress.
4. Calyer Pants by French Navy
One of the silhouettes that I’m really drawn to is high-waist pleated pants that taper to the ankle. They are so casual and chic at the same time and very nearly fit exactly what I want (I’d only like a slightly higher waist).
5. Collins Top by In the Folds
This top is on my 2018 Make Nine and I love the easy fit and interesting design lines.
6. Highlands Wrap Dress by Allie Olson
This is such a classic wrap dress that would flatter any figure.
7. Wyome Boyfriend Jeans by Named Clothing
I love the tapered leg and angled pockets on these jeans. Oh and they have an exposed button fly, which apparently I have a bit of an obsession with.
8. Winslow Culottes by Helen's Closet
I love the dramatic wide leg of these culottes.
9. Mila Dungarees by Tilly and The Buttons
Last year I made the Burnside Bibs by Sew House 7 and have worn them a lot, proving that I do still love to wear overalls. These are fun, more traditional version.
10. Darling Ranges dress by Meghan Nielsen
I made this pattern last year and really love it. It’s easy to wear (and sew) and I love the button front and v-neck.
What's on your sewing list for spring this year?
Hello sew-friends! It’s hard to believe that we’re nearing the end of another year. It wasn’t an easy year for me, between struggles with migraines and the loss of my cat. But, there were a lot a great parts too. I was really busy with my freelance work. I got to work with a lot of great people and I had some really interesting projects. (Both of those are worth mentioning, because it’s not always the case.) And, I got to do a lot of traveling and to visit friends and family that I haven’t seen in a long time. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to cherish our time together, to cherish the hugs, the intimacy and breathing the same air as our loved ones.
Wow, another pandemic year is closing and the things that we thought/hoped would be over in a few weeks are still here. I'm still very grateful for my sewing and crafting practice and this small pattern business. For me, sewing and crafting is a therapeutic practice and I'm very grateful to have it in my life.
During the first year of the pandemic, my freelance work dried up and I was able to dive into pattern design. I made lots of YouTube videos and released three new patterns and my improv quilting course. For 2021, I had planned to cut back on YouTube a little bit and really focus on patterns and classes. But, things just don't always go as planned.
Oh my gosh! 2020 is coming to an end. Phew! We are by no means out of the woods yet but I’m hopeful for 2021. Today, I’m sharing a roundup of some of the things that I made in 2020 and a few ponderings on what I’m planning for next year. I feel really proud of all that I accomplished in 2020 and I feel really grateful for this sewing practice and sewing community. Thank you to everyone who has supported me this year and all the years prior! I started Sew DIY in 2014 which means the seventh !!!! anniversary is coming up soon. So incredible! Anyway, read on to see what happened in 2020 at Sew DIY and watch my final vlog of the year. My kitty Fox makes some great cameos so it’s definitely worth a watch.
It’s the end of another year and, as always, that means looking back and reviewing what we’ve done. This year has been one unlike no other. I live in Los Angeles and have been under varying degrees of lockdown since March. I’m so grateful that I have this craft, this practice, this hobby and business that I can do at home. It’s kept me busy and engaged, reduced my stress and I can’t imagine what I’d be doing without it. Perhaps I’d become an intense crocheter?
This year, I continued making about one video a week for my YouTube channel. I really enjoy making the videos and sharing about sewing but boy do they take a lot of time. In the new year, I may cut back to every other week to make room for other projects, like new patterns and classes.
Hello and happy holidays! Last week, I wrapped up (lol! ;) my video tutorial series of scrap-busting gifts to sew for the holidays and I thought it would be nice to have all the tutorials (plus a few more) rounded up in one place. I often like to give handmade things for the holidays and this year I've been focused on using fabric that's already in my stash. It's economical and sustainable to use fabrics and even fabric scraps that I already have. Plus, it's so satisfying to see my stash slowly shrinking. Read on to check out a few of my sewing tutorials for handmade gifts.
After releasing the Work-from-home pattern bundle a couple of weeks ago, I received a few questions from people unsure about sewing with knit fabric. I completely understand the feeling and I used to be really nervous myself to sew with knit fabric. But, with some practice, knits can be really fun and easy to sew. Over the years, I’ve created a bunch of blog posts and videos with tips for sewing knit fabric. I’ve compiled them here along with links to my favorite books about sewing with knit fabric. Read on to learn more.
Scraps can often be one of the biggest struggles for sewists. We spend so much time selecting and caring for our fabric, that it can feel sad and wasteful to just throw the scraps away. I’m very passionate about sustainability and creating less waste so today, I’m sharing 101 ways to use your scrap fabric. There’s a whole slew of ideas, organized into categories, so that you can skip to the section that sounds most fun to you.
These projects run the gamut from quick and fun to more involved and labor intensive. Where applicable, I’ve linked to existing tutorials on my blog. Otherwise, you should be able to find a tutorial via a quick internet search. Or, let your creativity run wild and create your own pattern.
Hi friends! When I moved to Southern California, I really never thought that I’d be wearing, let alone making a turtleneck ever again. I had some favorite turtleneck tops that I love but every time I wore them I’d become incredibly over heated. But after moving to the west side of LA, I’ve been so cold. So, a long sleeve, high neck shirt was called for. Plus, I’ll be going to Copenhagen this spring and I plan to bring this as one of my layering pieces (see more about my travel wardrobe plan here).
Hello sew-friends! My end of 2025 posts are coming out in a “better late than never” style this year. Personally, I don’t think end of year recaps should start until after the year has ended. If we start tallying things at the beginning of December, then December never gets counted and we can’t leave out a whole month!
Looking back on 2025, I feel very good about my personal sewing practice. For Me Made May this year, I pledged to sew for 25 minutes everyday and it was a great way to jump-start my sewing practice. I’m actually still working on big quilt projects that I re-started then. :P Click here for my tips for rebooting your sewing practice.
If I compare my blogging and sewing output to years past, 2025 was slower. But that’s ok. Things ebb and flow in life and it’s not all about the numbers. I did not post very much on social media or YouTube but I did post a lot on my Substack. Read on for the Sew DIY highlights of 2025.