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 →
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 →
Sophie Hines Median Knickers
Of course, I can provide an in-depth analysis of sewing and fitting underwear! I finally tried out Sophie Hines's Median knicker pattern and was not disappointed. Analyzing Style I don't have a center grainline to study, but I thought it would be interesting to look at some of the features of the Median knickers. The... Continue Reading →
Browzwear: Green Style Brassie Jogger
Pardon the short tangent. I wanted to try another slim leg to adjust the center grainline at the hip and study what happens with knock-knees. Also, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try a drawstring jogger when it came up in my tutorials. Sizing and Rulers I adjusted the avatar to match the measurements... Continue Reading →
Browzwear: Closet Core Ginger Jeans
2022-11-27 06:23 AM I updated this blog to include more photos and descriptions to address some questions I received. As I was working through the courses at Browzwear University, I got to the lesson about changing fabric type. The app comes with hundreds of fabrics, and they had a standard stretch denim that I could... Continue Reading →
Browzwear: May Jeans from Make by TFS
I will likely post some quick blogs about things I'm learning while teaching myself how to use Browzwear apps. "Browzwear is the leading provider of 3D fashion design software for clothing development and merchandising solutions." I tested my knowledge on the May Jeans since these were my latest make. Avatar and Sizing I selected the plus-size... Continue Reading →
How to Fit Pants With a Laser Level: May Jeans From Make by TFS
Over the past few years, I've been pretty unsuccessful in making myself a pair of hard slacks that I liked selecting styles that don't spark joy. The Cass Pants from Make by TFS? I do NOT like pleats on my body. Before that, self-drafted trousers with pleats. What was I thinking! Persephone? I do NOT... Continue Reading →
Sewer Beware: Worker Trousers by the Modern Sewing Co.
I had a mixed experience with the Worker Trousers by Modern Sewing Co., so let's get into it! TL;DR The good: I like my trousers, and they fit well. The bad: Don't expect to be able to follow the provided pattern instructions. The ugly: Whatever you do, don't waste your money on the workshop videos... Continue Reading →
Review of the Top-Down Center-Out Method
I'm writing this blog post because I want to feature a fellow maker doing some incredible work, and I don't want their efforts to get lost in any ol' blog post. I obviously have my own method and approach to fitting pants, and how I think about drape. The one aspect of pant fitting I... Continue Reading →
Jalie 2321 Waterproof Pants
Back in the day, when we lived in Sacramento and spent a lot of time hiking along the coast or in Oregon, rain gear was essential. The only waterproof breathable pants available that were long enough were Arc'teryx Beta AR. I learned how vital breathability was when we bought just waterproof pants because they cost... Continue Reading →
Cloud Sweatpants from Make by TFS
Of course, I will break down the fit and alterations of a basic sweatpants pattern. This is what I do! I had some extra fabric and needed summer shorts, so I took the Cloud Sweatpants pattern and made them into shorts. I selected this pattern both because of the size range available but also because... Continue Reading →