Making (64/365)

[white_hart]

As those of you who follow me elsewhere already know, my preferred way of dealing with pandemic stress was to try to block it all out by spending all my free time sewing. I realised I hadn't been recording it systematically, but in the last 12 months I have made:

6 pairs of dungarees (one of which was a test version in unbleached calico which was slightly too small, and then I dyed them with Dylon and they got even smaller, so were relegated to the clothes swap bag once I'd made the next pair.

3 pairs of trousers.

2 pairs of shorts (a spur of the moment decision, squeezed out of leftover fabric, when the weather was forecast to be in the 30s for several days last August).

6 t-shirts (one of which I didn't like the shape of, so I cut it up and repurposed it as underwear).

8 woven t-shirts.

3 pull-on collared shirts.

4 button-up shirts.

4 crop-top bras (one of which was made of fabric that turned out not to have enough stretch and which pulled into holes at the seams, but the other three of which are comfy and supportive and so much better than underwired bras).

3 pairs of pants.

1 towelling changing robe (made from cheap bath sheets).

I have also knitting two cardigans and three pairs of socks, and have very nearly finished a jumper.

Currently I'm making another set of underwear (in fabric with tigers on!), have bought fabric for several more shirts (I really like wearing button-up shirts for work, now I can make ones which fit properly) and am seriously contemplating a boiler suit...

Comments

[nostalgia]

That is a lot!

[white_hart]

Looking at it all listed out like this, it really is!

[oracne]

Tigers! I am impressed by your accomplishments.

[white_hart]

It is quite staggering to think that a year ago I could make basic trousers and not much else!

[jinty]

Great going! I’d forgotten you’d started from that point to be honest.

[white_hart]

It's amazing to think back to that, really.

[nineveh_uk]

That's an entire wardrobe!

[white_hart]

Yes, it is, pretty much. I now wear very few of the clothes I owned pre-pandemic on a regular basis...

[nineveh_uk]

I'm definitely dressing differently, though I have to say that Lands end fleece trousers are not something I wish to make a permanent fashion choice :-) (they're incredibly warm, and being stretchy adapt well to slobbing on the sofa, bed, wherever). Dungarees are a much better choice.

[maia]

I am extremely impressed!

[white_hart]

Thank you!

[mrs_redboots]

I am impressed! I have done a lot of crocheting, mostly blankets that I then turn into wraps, and am going to get back to knitting once I've finished my current wrap, but I can't sew (oh, I can make a basic summer skirt, if pressed, but try not to have to and don't wear skirts these days anyway!).

[white_hart]

I have to say, I really like being able to make my own clothes.

[ankaret]

That sounds both productive and enlightening. Congratulations.

[white_hart]

Thank you!

[callmemadam]

That's so impressive! I've only knitted socks.

[white_hart]

I have knitted fewer socks in recent year, but we do both have overflowing sock drawers.

[mountainkiss]

I think you'd look fab in a boiler suit.

[white_hart]

I think I would too.

[cmcmck]

I am in awe of your seamstressing skills!

[white_hart]

Thank you!

[jinty]

There are a number of boiler suit patterns out there, do you have one in mind? And, do you have preferences of pattern companies? Merchant and Mills have a boiler suit one but I think I am going off them for patterns because a) their instructions aren’t as good as some other designers I don’t think, and b) there are other companies whose patterns fit me better, ie their models are closer to my shape I think.

[white_hart]

I was looking at the Merchant and Mills one, and also the Rational Dress Society jumpsuit because I like the concept, but I think I've come down in favour of the Closet Core Blanca Flightsuit.

Looks like a good choice!

[jinty]

I like to look at the Minerva website and others where you can see versions that other people have made. Dunno if the colour on this one is your sort of thing, but I thought this one looked lovely! https://www.minerva.com/posts/1044478

Re: Looks like a good choice!

[white_hart]

That's a lovely colour, though possibly not one I'd wear from head to toe! I usually check out other people's versions of things on Instagram - pattern hashtags are very useful!

[alithea]

That's great going! One day I'll actually get Kev to show me how to use his sewing machine...

I also really need to fetch the rest of my knitting stuff from the flat.

[white_hart]

I am really loving sewing. Not that I don't love knitting as well, but sewing is so much quicker!

[antisoppist]

That is very impressive. I am ultimately aiming for a me-made wardrobe but I'm way slower at it than you are.

[white_hart]

I know it is entirely am attempt to counteract pandemic anxiety by keeping constantly active, but it has definite fringe benefits.

[girlyswot]

Excellent! Dressmaking has also been my pandemic craft of choice. I made a tiger top but I don’t think I have enough left for underwear. My FOE has arrived, though, so that is now top of my list.

[white_hart]

I bought 1.5m of the tiger fabric and have enough left for at least one more set of underwear!

[girlyswot]

Mine is this: https://guthrie-ghani.co.uk/shop/fabric/teal-tiger-french-terry-cotton-jersey-fabric

I really want it in all the colours...

[joyeuce]

Wow! I have done very little sewing, other than masks; this may be because my sewing room is also my bookroom, present storage, and general junk repository. Knitting projects have included a scarf for me, a baby blanket for the new nephew I haven't yet seen, and some bunting, a unicorn and a hat for my daughter.

[white_hart]

My sewing room has also had to double as my office for the last year, which does mean that (a) I have had to sort out the general clutter that had accumulated a bit and (b) I am very motivated to put my work setup away at weekends and get my sewing machine out instead. And once I've done that I feel that I ought to do some sewing, because I can.