Hey look, I can see my bra! One unexpected consequence of surviving my bilateral pulmonary embolisms is that I now have absolutely zero tolerance for uncomfortable bras. For the first three months, while I was also dealing with pleurisy, I didn’t wear bras at all. Since then, for the past year, the only thing I’ve... Continue Reading →
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This image was generated with AI For years, I’ve kept this blog going simply because I love sharing what I create and write about. I’ve kept it ad-free (because I loathe ads) and accessible to everyone. But the truth is, running this blog comes with real, ongoing costs — and those are starting to pile up in... Continue Reading →
LP (Lumbar Pack) by Stitchback DIY Trail Gear
After getting hooked on making my own trail gear in 2023—thanks to my successful day pack builds—I knew I wanted to keep making my own gear. This time, I wanted to make a lumbar pack that could comfortably carry 2 liters of water, some snacks, and still sit nicely on the hips. Fitting the Hipbelt... Continue Reading →
A Fitting Hipbelt: The Key to a Perfectly Fitting Pack
By now, you may have heard about using a separate fitting waistband to simplify pant adjustments. I cover fitting waistbands in Chapter 4 of my eBook. https://youtu.be/iqK71g05jyc?feature=shared Recently, I came across a similar concept applied to bra fitting (HERE and HERE). That got me thinking—why not apply the same idea to hipbelts for the lumbar... Continue Reading →
Know Me ME2041 Convertible Pants: An Update
I can’t help but feel like I’m tempting fate by making these pants again almost exactly a year later! Last year, I was rushing to finish them before a trip to San Francisco, only to end up in the ER with pulmonary embolisms, canceling the trip entirely. Despite that rough start, the hiking pants turned... Continue Reading →
Iron Joggers by GreenStyle: An Update
When I updated my joggers, I figured Ryan could use an upgrade too. Instead of dusting off my self-drafted pattern, I stuck with a GreenStyle pattern. I’d already made Ryan some Gridstop fleece hiking pants using the Iron Joggers pattern, so why reinvent the wheel? Style and Fit https://youtu.be/rd8BFXfqCLo?feature=shared Check out my latest YouTube video.... Continue Reading →
Brassie Joggers by GreenStyle: An Update
Joggers have been a staple in my wardrobe for years, and luckily, when I last made a pair, I added enough ease to the pattern that they’ve fit me through all my weight fluctuations. In fact, my current two pairs have lasted an impressive six years! But after all that wear, they’re definitely showing their... Continue Reading →
Recreating my Robe from 2014
Said in a calm, soft spoken New England accent, "If you’d like to make a Gap-inspired robe like mine, I’d like to reassure you that a measured pattern and materials list will be made available—and I’ll go into more detail about that a little later. But before we begin, let’s take a moment to talk... Continue Reading →
3R Shorts by Greenstyle
Last year, I made the Simpatico leggings by Greenstyle and modified them into biker shorts for running and weightlifting. Initially, they fit well, but halfway through the year, the shorts became too big and started sliding down during runs. I took them apart, resized them to a smaller fit, and they worked for a while.... Continue Reading →
2024 Recap
As the year wraps up, I’m feeling excited about everything I accomplished in this last quarter. I tackled several big projects, including: A 5-part series about pant balance and its importance for fitting (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5) Strathcona Henley by Thread Theory Designs Sunday Zip Jacket by Style Arc... Continue Reading →
The Drape Line Approach for Pants Fit: Analyze, Adjust, and Create
This project began in the summer of 2023, and by January 2024, the first draft of this manual was complete. However, as life often does, unexpected challenges delayed its progress. Over the past year, I’ve steadily refined and improved the draft, and now it feels ready to share with the world. One of my original... Continue Reading →
Improving Your T-Shirt: Step-by-Step Sewing and Neckline Binding
As promised, here’s my detailed guide to sewing a t-shirt, including how to finish the back neckline with binding for a professional touch. Setting Up your Machines Serger I use my serger for most of the t-shirt construction. While I don’t fuss about matching my serger thread to my fabric, I make sure to use... Continue Reading →