I had a real ‘Duh’ moment this year. I know! Already? It’s only March. But I did. I made the Cashmerette Concord tee and I had completely forgotten that I made it when taking the Tomkat Stitchery Pattern Fitting 101 Course.

Here is my tee from 2 years ago.  I really liked this tee. I love the fabric and I wore it often. However, once I started working out with a personal trainer, this wasn’t fitting any more. 

That takes us up to the current time line. You saw the one I just made last week.

After realizing I had already made the Concord, I wondered just what had changed. I pulled out my binder from the course and started to look through it. I found where I had recorded my measurements from 2023 and went and remeasured myself.

I have gone up 3 inches across the High Bust. I knew my shoulders had more muscle on them. And from how my bras fit, suspected there was more muscle across my back as well. I found it really interesting to see what a difference working out on a regular basis has made.

That tee from two years ago was a 12 with the shoulder adjusted to be even smaller, and a neckline adjustment too. Now I’m a solid 14, no adjustments needed. My waist and hip measurements haven’t changed, but my frame size going up one size actually helps. I’m a little more proportioned now than I was.

Also, pulling out my Pattern Fitting 101 binder has made me want to revisit a few of the other items that were covered in the course. Like a woven top, and knit and woven pants. 

When I did the course last time, I chose Cashmerette patterns. This time I think I’ll go through my binder and make Love Notions patterns – I have many of those patterns! And I have the fabric to make them all. This will fit in perfectly with my sew-my-stash goal for 2026.

I haven’t forgotten about working on Sure Fit Designs. My drafting buddy is busy right now with family matters, so I told her I’d wait for her. That will likely be picked up again later this year.

If you’re waiting for a bra, I’ll have something for you next week. 

Happy creating!

My relative success with the Love Notions Laundry Day Tee (LDT) really did inspire me to try again with the Concord Tee. And not because I don’t like the LDT, but because I really love the look of the Turner Dress. So I am working towards making the Turner Dress.

Oh, and the Turner dress has the perfect neckline to make a lovely blouse I saw. But I’ll leave that for another post.

I’m pretty happy with how my Concord turned out this time. Skipping the waist measurement and making it more swing really was the key. I think I could add a little more ease at the hip line. Just so the garment flowed a little more there.

Actually, the pattern curves down. It would probably better suit me if I just made it a complete swing style.    Fitting wise, the bust is fine, and the neckline and shoulders are fine. I did a FBA (full bicept adjustment) for the sleeves and they’re fitting fine. There’s enough room under the arm now. The hip isn’t tight, so it’s pretty good too really. Overall, I’m happy with how this turned out. I see a Turner dress in my future.

Happy creating!

I wanted to show you my finished Love Notions’ LDT. You’ve seen the front already, but here it is all finished. Neckline done, hems done. It looks much better.

Here’s the back view. The back fabric actually coordinates with the sleeve fabric. I did have a fairly major hiccup trying to finish this tee. I was using my Cover Pro and of course sewing on the right side of the garment. It wasn’t until I had finished the neckline that I saw this: Those are some terrible looking stitches! I’d had this problem before and called the shop where I purchased this. This was only the 2nd time I was using it. They said adjust the tension. Well I did. The test strip seemed fine. I’m going to have to look into this problem more.

I spent an evening picking them out. After that it was an old tip from one of Nancy Zieman’s shows that I used to finish the tee: the Wobble Stitch. It was the perfect solution. I finished the tee’s hem, neckline, and sleeves all with a wobble stitch. The close up shows the small zigzag but from a distance it looks fine.

I will revisit the LDT because I do like the fit and the shape is better for me with that swing style.

Happy creating!

A few years ago I made a Sweet 16 bralette in power net and I really loved that bralette. You can read about the changes I made here. 

I have really loved this bralette, and have worn it out. It’s time for me to make another one.

I’m going to make not only the same style, but I still have enough of this power net that I can make this whole bralette again. You know a bralette is a hit when you make it again.

This is a heavier power net I bought from B,wear, so I found it supportive enough. And I have a couple of other similar weight power nets, so plan to make a few. But one at a time. This one isn’t available at B,wear now, but here is where you can find them.

Before I remake this one though, I just can’t resist using one of the other lovely power nets I have. For my first one I’m using a lovely black power net with bright little flowers on it. Doesn’t this look great? It makes a comfortable lightly supportive bralette.

The cup seam is looking wrinkly on the dress form, but not on me. Whew.

Lastly, it has a nice wide back. I do think this is the updated Sweet 16 that I made because the cups have more definition at the center front. I actually preferred the first shape a little more once I started wearing these. 

  Here is the altered one I made back in 2022.

I think I’ll relook at my pattern but in the meantime I have a new workout bralette to wear.

Happy creating!

I really wasn’t so happy with the shape of the Cashmerette Concord Tee, at least not for me with the bust, waist and hip measurements taken into account. It was too much of an exaggerated shape for a tee. 

I also questioned the bust size the calculator gave me. I don’t think a C/D is correct. 

Looking at the Love Notions Laundry Day Tee (LDT). It’s already a swing style, so can accommodate my hips without exaggerating the shape.  I cut out a straight size M, and did an adjustment for the arms. That was it.

I have to say I was impressed with how well it fit overall for a straight one size. That’s rare for me to experience.   I didn’t finish the hems or the neckline. I simply used bits of fabric I had saved in my stash to make this. This was simply a test. My hubby commented that he didn’t love the mix of fabrics. I told him I was using up bits. He did like that better.

There was only one problem area with this test. The underarms felt too tight. Right there. Talking with my son he told me which of our exercises was building the muscles there. 🙂

On a positive note, I used LN’s full bust option for the pattern and that worked just fine. No FBA needed with that. So, mostly a great test, and I will finish it up and show it to you.

The LDT did inspire me to relook at the Concord too. I traced it out again and skipped the waist measurement. I went from under the bust straight out to the hip. That gave it more of a swing shape too. I’ll share that with you next.

Happy pattern testing & creating!

I’ve made a list and I’m checking it twice. I’ve printed off a list of all the PDF patterns I have and I’m going through the list. I’m making notes beside each listing – ‘only small sizes’, ‘made this already’, ‘why did I buy this?’ 

So most of the patterns have been sorted this way.

I’ve also decided that most of my readers are here for bras & lingerie. So once a month I will focus on that. I’ll aim for the end of the month, that way if you’re not so interested in seeing me sew clothing, you can just skip those earlier weeks. And honestly I won’t be offended. There was a blog I followed and I was only interested in seeing her bra/lingerie makes, not her skirts and jackets. So I get it.

For my first project in February I decided to make the Concord T-shirt from Cashmerette. My plan for this is to see how it fits and then move on to the Turner Dress. I love this dress, and a fit and flare dress really suits me.

Cashmerette also has a great size calculator if you’re not all the same size top and bottom.

But my problem is the shape. This is just ridiculous. Yes, that might be my shape, but I do not want a t-shirt shaped like that.

Remember that list I made and checked? I should have checked one more time. I realized I’ve made the Concord before – when I was taking the TomKat Stitchery course – and I didn’t love it then. Well, to be totally honest about that, I didn’t love the shape. You can see it here. 

So one of my Sew Sisters suggested the Love Notions Laundry Day Tee. I know from the TomKat course, that Love Notions’ patterns are a better fit for my shape. The other option I have, which I might try is to skip the waist measurement on the Concord and make it a swing-style tee like the Laundry Day Tee. That might help with making the Turner dress too. 

Happy creating!

This is another lovely lace from ElationLingerie, an Etsy shop I showcased last week. And this is another lace from my stash.

This kit comes with everything you need to make a bra, but I cut out last week’s bra and had my duoplex out so I cut out two frames and cups. I put the remainder of this kit back into my stash.

As well as saving this kit except for the lace, I used a finding kit from Bwear. 

I saw this lace and really fell in love. I think you all know me well enough now to know I fall in love with laces over and over. But really how could I resist this gorgeous lace?  Isn’t this lovely? It’s so delicate.

I don’t know why but I’m really in a mood for light colored bras. So I’ve made a few beige bras recently. I think I need to break into some pink, or ivory, or yellow next.

I was thinking of starting my post with this photo and teasing that I’d made a plain beige bra. But that lace was just too pretty not to share right off. Lastly, look at how delicate and sheer this is. It’s so lovely.

Happy creating!

2026 is going to be the year I sew from my stash. Well mostly. I’m sure there are going to be a few Kit of the Month kits from BWear I just can’t resist. 🙂

So my first bra is from my stash. I’m using my favorite adjusted Freja pattern, and showcasing a gorgeous lace I bought from a Canadian vendor on Etsy.

It’s a Toronto shop called ElationLingerie. They have some lovely lace and kits, among other things. I’ve bought a few laces from them, and a few kits as well. I paired this gorgeous lace with beige duoplex and power net. I couldn’t resist adding some of the lace to the frame. I just love this lace! Above is the side of the bra showing the lace along the side of the frame. Above I’ve cut some of those trailing embroidered details out and adding them to the front bridge. They’re just too pretty and I felt a bow would take away from the leaf and leopard details.

Lastly, when I was trimming the channeling under the arm, I snipped the bra cup!   I added one more little leaf detail to cover that snip. It should protect the cup fabric and keep it from fraying or expanding.

Happy creating!

Okay. Let me start off right away by saying this is not in my stash, or in my patterns. This is a total distraction!

I’m minding my own business on social media and along comes this gorgeous ad.  Aren’t these adorable? I’ve linked them to the site where they can be purchased, but for me they’re too expensive.

But it got me thinking of all the fabrics I do have in my stash that could work to make socks like this. Like a lightweight patterned power net, or a patterned stretch tulle, anything sheer with a pattern and some stretch.

That got me looking for sewing patterns too. There were a few different ones I found, from free to paid patterns.

I even found a video where Nikki from Bra Builders demonstrates how to make your own sock pattern. 

But I have to focus and if I want to try and make pretty sheer socks, I’ll add this to my journal and plan for it… after I get some other projects done.

Happy creating!

2026 is starting off with a big transition for my husband and me. He’s finished with the firm he was at for 10+ years, and is now deciding what direction he wants for this next phase.

That’s all fine. We’ve had transitions like this before, and it becomes part of the story of us. But for me, it made me reevaluate my sewing. I have a lot of patterns, and a healthy stash. I decided I’m going to start sewing through both of them.

   A friend inspired me by sharing she keeps a journal of planned sewing projects, and completed ones too. I think she said she had over 30 completed projects last year. That alone was inspiring.

So I started to look at different sewing planners and such. There are a few free single page ones, and of course there are purchased ones like this one I found on Amazon.  There is also the Mood sewing planner, also on Amazon.  Do you have a favorite sewing planner? How do you keep track of patterns, and ideas? Let me know.

Happy creating!