Neuroscientist + Curious Mind + Passionate Maker
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 →
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 →
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 →
A quick note for my subscribers who receive my posts as newsletters in their inbox. WordPress.com now allows me to set how replies are handled. Before, whenever anyone replied, their reply would be placed as a public comment on the post. I'm now able to have replies sent to my email instead. I know this... Continue Reading →
Every year, I love adding a date to the things I make. It’s a simple way to look back on my projects and remember not just what I was working on, but what life was like at the time. It helps me see how much I’ve learned and how my skills have grown over time.... Continue Reading →
You can never have too many layering options for cooler weather! I decided to try out Polartec’s Alpha Direct fleece and thought the Sunday Zip Jacket from Style Arc would be the perfect pattern for this project. I wanted something beyond a basic raglan design—something with a bit more shape and flexibility. Plus, it works... Continue Reading →
Welcome to the final post in this series on balancing pant patterns! I've been exploring the ins and outs of creating a well-balanced pant using the Topo Pants pattern by Leila Makes. Each part of the journey has been about discovering what it takes to get pants to drape just right, and now it’s time... Continue Reading →
In my last post, I experimented by lowering the front crotch curve to match the back crotch curve level. This tweak helped improve the pants’ drape but led to a 1.2-inch difference between the front and back inseams. Generally, inseams should match, or the back can be a bit shorter—up to about 1/2 inch. If... Continue Reading →
In Part 1, I introduced the Topo Pant pattern from Leila Makes and discussed how to find the drapelines and balance lines (kneeline and crotchline). What makes this pattern unique is that the front piece has a curved side seam while the back has a straight side seam. In Part 2, I adjusted the front... Continue Reading →
If you’re new to this series, I recommend checking out Part 1 before diving into Part 2. In this series, I’m studying the principles of balance for pants. I’m using the Topo Pants pattern from Leila Makes as my example. The front pattern piece has a typical curved side seam, but the back has a... Continue Reading →
I recently tried to fit the Topo Pants by Leila Makes, but I had to put the project on hold because I couldn’t get the pant legs to hang straight. Since then, I’ve been thinking about these pants a lot. The way they’re drafted is pretty unique. The front pattern piece has a normal curved... Continue Reading →
I’ve been meaning to write about Ryan’s alterations to the Strathcona Henley for ages, and I’m finally getting around to it. This pattern has been in my rotation for quite a while, and it’s a great project for anyone looking to make a casual yet refined t-shirt or henley. Let’s dig into the fit, style,... Continue Reading →
