Neuroscientist + Curious Mind + Passionate Maker
I loved Ryan's sweater so much that I had to make myself one. While browsing PetiteKnit's website, I noticed that you can filter her patterns by shoulder type: raglan, set-in sleeves, circular yoke, saddle shoulder, and European shoulder. The Lyon sweater is one of her four patterns with the European shoulder. The shoulder seam is... Continue Reading →
This was a very well-timed project. I was already planning to make this pattern and was in the middle of testing when all hell broke loose. Another repercussion of my health scare this last month is that I haven’t been able to wear a bra or anything restrictive around my chest. I’m unsure when or... Continue Reading →
I have faced some scary health challenges this last month that have forced me to completely change some of my sewing plans. One project that was particularly urgent was making some overnight period underwear. The pattern that came to mind was Jalie 4344 Sarah since it offered a ton of protection. Analyzing Style and Fit... Continue Reading →
The moment I saw the Know Me ME2041 Convertible Pants from Donny Q (@_donnyq), I immediately knew I would make the pattern. Several years ago, I made the Green Pepper Sunset Bay zip-leg pants, and there were a few things about the pattern that I didn't love. First was the lack of a side seam.... Continue Reading →
Can I find a better fitting sweater pattern for Ryan? My goal was to knit a better-fitting sweater for Ryan, using an old sweater to avoid wasting yarn. I am looking for a sweater pattern that can avoid some common issues that can ruin the fit of the sweater. Specifically, I want to avoid a... Continue Reading →
I have a down jacket that no longer fits. It's never really fit, but it definitely doesn't work anymore. It's a 10-year-old Arc'teryx Thorium AR. It has always been a bit snug, and the arms and torso are short. I've gotten used to the jacket over the years, and my entire winter layering system depends... Continue Reading →
The Union St Tee has been my go-to pattern for a while now. My first post about the Union St Tee was in June 2019. I made a size XL, did my typical 1/2 inch forward shoulder alteration, lowered the front shoulder, and scooped out some of the armscye. One year later, in June 2020,... Continue Reading →
Next year will be my third year using direct-to-film clothing labels. I have loved keeping track of my makes each year, and this is a great way to remember when items were made. The DTF I use is from Transfer Superstars. Their DTF is amazing. It's easy to apply. Stretches with the material. Doesn't crack... Continue Reading →
Ryan desperately needed a new tote bag to carry his many bottles and lunch bag. The old bag was frayed and falling apart. Moreover, it couldn't hold all three bottles and his lunch bag. I figured out the footprint needed to fit everything (12 inches tall, 10 inches wide, and 9 inches deep). However, trying... Continue Reading →
In the 1950s, Lieutenant Gilbert S. Daniels led a study that collected measurements from over 4,000 US Air Force pilots, such as height, weight, and chest circumference. The researchers used these measurements to calculate average values to design a new cockpit. Surprisingly, when Daniels compared the cockpit dimensions with the average measurements, he found that... Continue Reading →
I read about this method first from Kennis Wong, “You’re doing it wrong: Why your hip measurements don’t work,” Itch to Stitch Blog, March 1, 2016. In her post, she quotes the Frabjous Couture blog and a textbook: The Frabjous Couture blog is no longer available, but I was able to find the post on... Continue Reading →
In this post, I will discuss a second way to measure your body for pants. The previous method had some validity concerns as it only considered the widest part of your torso, which doesn't provide information about the relationship between your waist, hips, and upper legs. Relying solely on your widest circumference to determine your... Continue Reading →
