My headshot is rather old, and I wanted to see if AI could give me an updated, usable headshot. So here are my results from three separate companies. TL;DR HeadshotPro gave the best quality photos, TryItOnAI was the most accurate to my face, and AISuitUp wasn't even close. Mind you, I uploaded the SAME self-portraits... Continue Reading →
Haslam Hat from Thread Theory
I had just enough fabric left over from my Brassie joggers and Ryan's Iron joggers to make us new winter hats. The Haslam Hat from Thread Theory was close enough in style to our old The North Face hats, so here's the results. Analyzing Style and Fit The Haslam hat comes in three different sizes... Continue Reading →
Hiking Daypack Version 2
After my first prototype, I adjusted the pattern to better fit my body. If you want more information about the materials used and where on the pack, check out my previous post. Pattern Prototype 2 The significant changes occurred at the top of the back piece. First, I widened the back piece from 11-1/2 to... Continue Reading →
Ryan’s Champagne Cardigan by PetiteKnit
I love my cardigan so much that I made one for Ryan. I'm completely obsessed with the color that he picked too. It's a soft purple, but in dim light looks light blue/light green. It's magical! Size The cardigan is designed to have approximately 11 inches of positive ease and fits a bust circumference of... Continue Reading →
Brassie Joggers from Green Style
Winter is lasting extra long this year. I was going to put off this project until autumn, but then I remembered I may want some warm baselayer joggers for fishing and camping this summer in the Uintas. So, a few months ago, I tested the Brassie Joggers with Browzwear. The fit was really close to... Continue Reading →
Hiking Daypack Version 1
My big project right now is sewing daypacks for myself and, eventually, others. This was my first version using cheaper fabrics and notions. My eventual final pack will have all the bells and whistles. Pattern I used this pattern for the main pack, which is identical to the Zipworks 30L pack. The straps are from... Continue Reading →
Mirri Jumpsuit from Papercut Patterns
I have a closet full of joggers, comfortable relaxed-fit jeans, summer and winter hiking pants, and workout leggings. I don't have a skirt, dress, or even nice slacks. I love WFH, but it really changes what is in your closet. For tops, I have really nice knitted sweaters, but only drawers full of Union St... Continue Reading →
Shop Pant from Open Studio Patterns
After trying pant patterns from several new companies (e.g., Open Studio Patterns, The Modern Sewing Co.), I've learned how important it is to be a better consumer. Yes, I am comfortable sewing pants and often ignore the nitty gritty details in the instructions because I have my preferred methods. However, suppose I speak only positively... Continue Reading →
A Cautionary Tale: Shop Pant from Open Studio Patterns
I wanted to briefly summarize the issues I've had with the Shop Pant from Open Studio Patterns. I sent an email to Open Studio about the final garment measurement issues, and they kindly accepted my feedback and are going to update the pattern: "Thank you for being so thorough with your PDF. We dove into... Continue Reading →
Reusing a Screen-printed Design from a Sweatshirt
We received adorable sweatshirts as a Christmas present, but the sweatshirts didn't fit great. Ryan looked like he was wearing an oversized halter top with ¾-length arms, and I looked like I was wearing a too-small dress. Obviously, I needed to save the design and put it on something we could wear! Here's what I... Continue Reading →
MYOG: Waterproof Breathable Jacket
Making waterproof jackets has been a 2+ year project, and I'm so happy to have it done. I learned a lot and am excited to tackle more outdoor gear. Download Pattern I’ve made our patterns available for download. DOWNLOAD FROM GUMROAD Click the colorful button above, and a new tab should open with the Gumroad... Continue Reading →
MYOG: How to Sew a Lapped Zippered Side Pocket
I was stumped on how to design a side pocket for our rain jackets, but eventually, I got it figured out. Inspiration A common method is to inset the zipper, leave it exposed and add a shield at the top to prevent water from getting in. The zipper shield is a great idea for zippers... Continue Reading →