Summer Tanks! Ellie & Mac and Made for Mermaids

Pattern: Ellie & Mac – Curved Hem Tank (FREE!!!)

Made Previously: aqua floral in July 22 and teal deer in Oct 22

 

Measurements at this time:

• high bust 39 inches
• bust 42 inches
• waist 37 inches
• hip 48.5 inches

Size Sewn: L bust, XL waist, XXL hip  

Adjustments:

• I made 1/2-inch forward shoulder adjustment
• Lowered pocket by an inch
• Widened neck & strap bindings to 1.5” and sewed ½” seam allowance. They were too skinny on original pattern
• Pet Peeve: the Curved hem doesn’t have notches outward so it doesn’t meet the edges at the hem – remember to sew up the sides after hemming (it works better and keeps a cute sharp curve).

 

Date started: sometime in July Date finished: July 12th, 2023  

Fabric: 1 yard cotton lycra birds with ½ yard cranberry cotton lycra for the binding and pocket (I have been slacking on my database of fabrics so I don’t remember where, when, or how much I got these for. I need to do better).

 

Thoughts: I love the pattern, this is tank #3 I have made with it. I like how it covers my thyroid belly; it doesn't make me look huge, it's comfortable to wear. I wanted to try this one in a cotton lycra because my other ones have been DBP. you can tell that it's a little bit stiffer in the drape because of the cotton lycra but I do still like it and it's comfortable to wear. I wish I had made the hem bigger because the hem listed is a half inch and it likes to flip up and every time I wash it I have to iron it back down. I am definitely a very low maintenance person. I don’t want fuss. So this drives me crazy. I need to make that hem an inch or 3/4 inch. Other than that, I absolutely love the tank. It’s a bit wild with all the birds but it's nice to have something to where that's cotton and not polyester. This pattern is definitely one of my favorites and I’ll probably make many more, lol. 

Pattern: Made for Mermaids: Vivienne  

Measurements at the time: bust 39 waist 32 hip 46.S

   

Size sewn: bust indigo, waist green, hip yellow

I sewed the top length view

 

Date started: sometime in July of 2019 Date finished: I picked it back up and finished it February 10^th, 2024

   

Fabric: I used a burgundy wine double brushed Poly for the sides and a teal and pink floral double brush Poly for the main (I have been slacking on my database of fabrics so I don’t remember where, when, or how much I got these for. I need to do better).

Of course a photobomb by Mr. Bennie. “whatcha doin Mom, can I help?”

 

Thoughts: when I started sewing this back in 2019 at first I thought it would be cute but then I got half of it sewn up and I thought it looked terrible and made my hips look really big. I felt frumpy and so I didn't want to finish it ss off to the UFO pile it went and got buried. BUT then since 2019 my shape has changed and I grew this thyroid belly and I thought, hey, that shirt might work now because of the way the gathers are in the front. So I finished sewing it and I don't know. I'm still on the fence about it. I think it's OK but from the side I still feel large like a whale. I guess I have a lot of work to do still on my body image and acceptance, but anyway back to the pattern. This one also asks for 1/2 inch hem. I don't know what it is about 1/2 inch hem with designers. I don't like them, they flip up all the time. I need to make it a 1” hem or at least a ¾”. The shirt is growing on me, I like the panels on the sides, it makes for a different look. It's cute, but I don't know. I'm not 100% on it yet. Maybe in dress form or tunic I might like it better. But it's finished now and hanging in my closet, so I guess that's a win because it was just sitting in the UFO pile since 2019.  After staring at the pictures and pattern drawing I realize the issue now.  The pattern gathers and waist are at my fullest part.  I need an empire waist to minimize my belly.  So I need to move the waistline up on this to make it cute but not make me feel huge.

 

I even took the time to switch out my coverstitching to match the panels.

 

Here are the original pictures from 2019, with a much different body shape and I very much didn’t like the top then.

 

Life/Health/Home:

On the Homefront:  I am SLOWLY getting over my shingles. Oh!  I don’t think I even mentioned it in my blog!!  The DAY AFTER my 8 week checkup from the hysterectomy (when I was finally feeling more human) I came down with Shingles!!!! What THE HELL!!! I am only 45! Isn’t Shingles for old people? like 90 year olds! It has been a horrific battle, especially since I had just had the hysterectomy recovery for 8 weeks. These Shingles took me DOWN! I was extremely nauseous and vomiting and I could eat nothing.  I was with fever and omg the itching  and burning and shooting pain. It has been 6 long weeks of agony here. The shingles are on my scalp, forehead, and into my left eye (my good eye of course). The meds are disgusting and ginormous and I am miserable and cranky. I haven’t eaten and I’ve lost 17lbs. I am starting to turn the corner finally I think, just this last week here. But man, what a trip.  I can’t believe how many times I’ve been kicked down this last decade of my life.  I just want to be left alone to sew and embroider and enjoy my life.  I thought about sewing this last week but my weight changed again and I don’t want to sew until I know where it will settle at.  I did start some embroidery and finished this Spring Things project from Sweet Pea Embroidery.

The doctor asked me if I was under a lot of stress. OMG STRESS? NO.  Just like everything is blowing up right now around here.

My Grandpa is on Hospice. My MIL and FIL are not well.  My grandma is not well.  Tayden broke his ankle at work and workman's comp is jerking him around and he can’t pay rent or get food and his girlfriend is pregnant so I’m about to be a grandma! And I’m too young for that!!! That happens to old people! My husband had four interviews for a promotion that he wanted so so bad.  It would have us move and so I had the stress of ohh my gosh are we moving again. this time it would be two hours from here. at the last minute he was one of the last two candidates and they adjusted directors and so the new director chose his friend instead of Troy, which I think is complete crap. so all of that stress. and now Troy is absolutely devastated but ohh they have another position coming open in the next six months or so all the way across the state and up north. I live in Wisconsin. I am five to six hours from Canada. up north means up north. lots of pine trees, bears, moose, elk, Wolverines, wolves,  lots of animals, lots of trees, lots of insanity, on the border of Canada. I don't want to move up north. I am just fine here in the driftless region where we have beautiful Bluffs and changing fall colors and the Mississippi. I don't want to live by Michigan, I'm sorry for any Michigan people here reading, but I just don't want to go over that way. I go to Rochester for my brain tumor stuff frequently, I don't want to have to travel all across the state just to go to my appointments. so there's that stress and then Mr. T's truck broke down and it's the radiator, and the power steering, and the wheel bearings. lots of money for a 20 year old vehicle. so we weren't sure if we were going to get him a new vehicle, but our vehicle lease ends in six months, so we've been looking for vehicles, and if we got him the loan would that affect our lease vehicle. so that's stress. plus the political stress, the market stress, everybody's broke, everybody's stressed, and my baby Kiela starts college in a week now and she's stressed about it which makes me stressed. ohh yeah and our dog had to go in, Cheeto, to get a sedated X-ray and they over sedated him and that was a whole mess of stress. and both dogs have been having gut issues. so things are just absolutely at the Max stress level right now, so when the doctor tells me not to be stressed I just laughed at him. I just laughed. I said all around me is stress, not even beginning with my health stress, or the fact that I can't eat food for the last 12 years and no doctor gives a damn. so yes I have a ton of stress. and he tells me well that's probably why the shingles reared their head and now you have to be careful and I'm like dude this stress ain’t going away. oh thank you for letting me vent that out and now you know.

Happy Sewing Kristin

Shorts, and Shorts, and more Shorts!

It's the perfect time to write this blog post as it's starting to warm up around here in the Midwest.

Made For Mermaids – Mila Shorts

Date Sewn: 07/26/23

Sewn Before: Navy floral, blue stars, gray/black, and Black with roses

My measurements at the time: actual waist: 37” pants waist 42” and hip 49”

Size sewn: Green for waist and Yellow for the hips.  I picked the 4.5” inseam, faced waist.  I used 33” of ¼” elastic for the waistband.  I like using swim elastic for this because it stretches better and it’s soft.  I get mine from Amazon.

Alterations: I did a ½” butt scoop and sewed with ¼” seam allowance on the sides instead of ½” since I have gained some weight – but was too lazy to trace a new pattern.

The fabric is a double brushed Poly in Navy, I used one yard and had scraps left. No idea where I got the fabric or when. Sadly, my notes don’t say.

Thoughts: I made yet another pair of my favorite shorts pattern, the Made for Mermaids – Mila. This time I used just a basic Navy as I needed something plain to go under my patterned tank tops. This pattern is awesome in so many ways. I love that it looks great, the shorts don't ride up, I don't feel hot in them even using double brush Poly. The waistband is perfect because it's not tight, but my pants don't fall down. When I make these, I put 1/4-inch elastic with a triple zigzag around the waistband at the very top, before it folds. So, I mark the waistband where halfway is in width.  Then, where half is, stitch the 1/4th inch elastic to the inside at fold line of the waistband. You want the elastic just under that fold line.  Then I fold the waistband over which covers the elastic and makes it hidden inside. The triple zig zag shows only on the backside, my skin side, and nothing shows on the front of the waistband.  Finally, I attach it to the shorts. That way it keeps the pants up without falling down but doesn't hurt my stomach at all. It’s just so smooth and soft. I'll be honest, I stole this technique from Jalie and I like to use it whenever possible on any knit waistbands.

Sort of like the instructions here from the Jalie Sylvie pants/shorts pattern:

The Mila shorts pattern also comes with pants, surprising enough I haven't even made the pants because I like the Jalie Sylvie pants that are super similar.  Humorously I haven't made the Sylvie shorts. So, it's funny, the Made for Mermaid I use the shorts, the Jalie Sylvie I make the pants. They’re very, very similar patterns. If debating between the two patterns, I would suggest the Jalie Sylvia pants only because their size range is way larger. with Jalie patterns, sizing goes from infant #2 to way plus size and their instructions are super clear. But I have both patterns already so I love the Mila shorts and they are already traced off as shorts, lol.  And the pants I have traced off are Sylvies.

Anyway, this is the FIFTH pair of Mila shorts I have made now. Of my other 4, the Navy floral and black floral roses, I absolutely love and wear all the time - even around the house because they're so comfortable. Now if you know me, I usually run hot since my brain radiation because my pituitary doesn't tell my body to make hormones, so I am hot sweaty all the time. Therefore, I run around the house in a tank top and underwear most of the day, still complaining of sweaty hot.   So, if I'm willing to wear these shorts over underwear, that says something big because I find them 1. really comfortable. I hate things touching my stomach and these don't bother me at all; and 2. These don't make me hot and sweaty.  3.  I can walk outdoors without getting weird looks from the neighbors, like when I'm just in my underwear so this pattern is five stars from me.

(tank shown in pics is Love Notions - Laundry Day Tee, free pattern)

Photobombed. I can’t do anything around here without someone walking in on me

Patterns for Pirates -Peg legs shorts

This is a free pattern and who doesn't like free.

I've attempted this pattern in shorts a few times without much success, mainly bad fabric choices.  I've also made this pattern in leggings in the way past and loved them.

Sewn before: Green plaid in 2017, Plain Pink in 2017, Plain Black in 2015, Purple shorts in 2017

This time I used the updated file with the addon side pockets and panels.  I started sewing these on July 2nd, 2023, and I finished them July 7^th, 2023

My measurements at the time: 42” bust 39” waist 49“ hip

Size Sewn 1X

For my fifth pair, I sewed these in a Navy athletic dark blue fabric

I added 3/8 inch to the front thigh to crotch curve and half inch to the back thigh to Crouch curve. I took half the height of the waistband off because I don't like things really high on my stomach. I added the 1/4th inch elastic to the inside of the waistband like I explained above with the Mila shorts.  I always pick the low-rise front because I definitely am a low rise 90s person, and I used the midrise on the side and high rise in the back to cover my rear end. I chose to sew the bike length.

The dark blue Navy ended up so super tight bad choice of fabric, but I like the length of the pattern, I like the pocket for my phone, and I wanted to try again. However, I couldn't even get the blue pair on over my hips.

So, I went and sewed up another pair in charcoal cotton lycra.

For the Sixth pair sewn, now in cotton lycra, charcoal, I used the low rise front to high rise back, bike length again, and the size plus 1X

Date Charcoal sewn: 05/29/23

When I was putting the pattern together both times, I found that the back and side panel notches didn't line up. I also found the back with side also didn't meet up same with the front with side panels.  I made do.

The legs are a bit tighter than I like. I realize these are leggings/shorts and supposed to be tight, but when I cover stitch the hems, I need to either change my differential to have more stretch or make the legs a little bit wider. I need more room at the bottom hem - like 1/2 inch in back and maybe 1/4 inch in front - if I make these again, which I probably will.

I like the charcoal ones. The length is exactly how long I like my shorts, I love the pocket for my phone, they are comfortable to wear. If I made the legs a little wider, they would be perfect.  They go well with lots of my tops and tanks, so it's a great addition to my wardrobe. I most definitely will be making another pair of these in cotton lycra.

Fabric: I get all my cotton lycra from purple seamstress for $6 a yard.

Much better in Cotton lycra.  They aren’t hot, they breathe well, they look great with my tanks.

I’m going to throw one more pair of “shorts” on this post.  They are actually underwear, boxers for women but hey, lets throw them on here because they go with the theme.

Patterns for Pirates - Cutie Booty Briefs

 

Fabric used: a light gray cotton lycra with a tiny scrap of some old Lillestoff’s cotton lycra special print of mice with umbrellas.

My measurements at the time: waist 37” pants waist 44” hips 49”

Date sewn: 10/20/2022

Size sewn: XXL

I chose midleg, midrise for the back, low rise for the front, and I made bands

Now, I know better than to make bands. I don't know what I was thinking. Many times in the past when I made the Stitch upon a time - women's boxerwear, I learned that bands don't look great or work well with thick thighs; they roll up, they never fit right, they're just not good for thick thighs. (Suat- blue in 2018 and black in 2015) But current me didn't remember the past me said not to do that again. Also, the waistband is too loose. I need to put elastic inside probably like the 1/4th inch sewn in like the Milas and Peg legs above.

At first when I tried these on my notes were that they are not comfortable at all because there's too many seams. I don't know why a burrito method couldn't have been done so that there weren't so many seams - especially in the crotch area. So, I shoved them in my drawer and tried to forget about them, but I kept grabbing them here and there when I felt like wearing them instead of unders and eventually I've come to terms with the fact that they're OK. I like them enough.

Changes to be made for the next pair: figure out a burrito method so there's less seams. This can be easily done with the front panel by using two pieces instead of 1 and sandwiching them. then if I can't figure out a way to eliminate the crotch seam, I just need to sew it down with a triple zigzag after surging it, so that I don't feel it as a seam. Also, I need to lengthen them the size of bands or pick a longer length and completely eliminate the bands. I need to put elastic in the waistband and my notes say use high rise in the back because midrise isn't enough to cover my rear. I don't think it's a bad pattern, I just think I need some adjustments.

That's it for now!  I’m slowly on the mend from the hysterectomy.  Lucky me, I developed a severe allergic reaction to the surgical glue and tape they put on the 5 cuts….. so I’ve been miserably itch and rashy and my stomach looks terrible because of the reaction. But I’m on steroids now and its starting to get better.   I have my post op checkup in 6 weeks (I’m only 2 weeks out from surgery – all these photos are from before surgery).

Take care and Happy Sewing!

 

Kristin

Tale of Two Tiered Dresses – M4M Blythe and BurdaStyle 04/2013

Pattern:
 Made for Mermaids – Blythe Dress

Measurements at the time:

• • high bust 39 inches

• • bust 42 inches

• • waist 39 inches

• • hip 49 inches

 

Size Sewn:  shoulders and neck at size green, the rest straight size Yellow

Started and finished Sewing:  11/12 & 11/13/2022

Adjustments:

•  I made 1/2-inch forward shoulder adjustment
• Low neck option
• Double tier option
• Short sleeve option – green size for sleeve cap and top grading to yellow at bicep
• I used Fold Over Elastic to strengthen the gathers like I always do

Fabric:  Black Double Brushed Poly Elephants I’ve been saving in my stash for a long time. I squeaked this dress out of 1 & 7/8 yards.  I have 3 yards total of this fabric and I bought it sometime from Knitpop. Probably around $6/yard so total for this dress= $11.25

Thoughts:
Likes: the seam allowances and hem allowances are marked on the pattern itself. I love that. The instructions are easy to follow as well.

I tried two methods to gather just to see if one was faster/easier.  I first gathered by doing a zigzag over a string and then pulling the string to gather – I do not like this method at all. It doesn’t look clean and it just takes too much work for me to bother. I then did what I always do, I basted 2 lines and then pulled them to gather – much faster for me and ends up with even gathers – I much prefer this method.  Then I like to serge fold over elastic at the waist.  It helps the gathers retain their shape and the FOE is soft so it doesn't irritate my skin the way elastic does.  There is a picture of this near the end of my Boundless Dress post from 2018. 
I felt like there were not many gathers on the top tier and overall I wish the tiers had more gathers.  The hem calls for ½” allowance and I feel that is just too short for a dress.  I prefer a nice thick 1” hem or at least a ¾” hem otherwise my fabric likes to flip there.

After sewing the dress up it was WAY to wide at the bust and side to waist. I didn’t like it and it felt frumpy. So, I took off fabric from armpit to hip. I started at 0” armpit then to 1.75” at bust to 1” at waist and then 0” by hip on both sides. This means I took a total of 5.5 to 6” off the bodice. However, now it looks so much better, and I love the dress.  I guess I should have sewn a green size for the bodice. I love the look and feel of the dress.  It is comfortable and fun.  I would make it again if I remembered to size down the bodice to size green and leave the rest in size yellow.

left is before taking off excess, right is much better.

Video of Blythe Dress in action on Instagram

Also on YouTube if you don't Instagram

Pattern:  BurdaStyle 04/2013 #129B Peasant Dress

Measurements at the time:

• high bust 39 inches
• bust 42 inches
• waist 39 inches
• hip 49 inches

Size Sewn:  Bust 48, Waist and hips 50

Started and finished Sewing: 10/21/2022

Adjustments: 

• • I made 1/2-inch forward shoulder adjustment

• • Bicep elastic called for 12.75” and I used 14.5” because my biceps are bigger.

• • Guessed at neck elastic (read below why) and used 24”

Fabric:  This dress took 3.5-3.75 yards.  I used this aqua floral Double Brushed Poly that I have been saving for something fun.  I purchased it June 17, 2020 from the now gone fabric. com for $5.38/yard. So dress total= $20.17

Thoughts:
The directions on this Burda were…… well, worse than most.  The neck just says “use ends of remaining elastic” with no exact measurement.  I ended up using 24” of ¼” elastic for neck. I’m not sure what the waist instructions said but I serged it at 6.5 width on my serger, then flipped up the seam allowance and triple zigzag stitched on the elastic.  The hem called for 5/8” and I did ¾”.

For fun I calculated what Burda wanted the neck elastic to be (as it said “use ends of remaining elastic”).            Sleeve: 12.75 + 12.75, waist 33 = 58.5” of elastic. The entire pattern called for 72.625” of elastic so in essence burda wanted me to use a 14&1/8” neck elastic.  That would have choked me completely!

SO to recap for later reference: I used 14.5” elastic on sleeve hems, 34” on waist, and 24” on neck. 

It was only after sewing the entire dress and scratching my head at the instructions that I realized Burda wanted me to use a LIGHT DRESS WOVEN fabric…… and here I was using a THICKER KNIT.  (Facepalm moment).  Now some of the instructions made sense for woven fabric.

I’m not sure how I feel about the dress.  It is pretty. I love the fabric and color.  But my body shape. Ugh.  I can’t handle these changes.  My thyroid belly sticks way out in this dress.  It didn’t in the double tired one above as much as it does I this one.  You can see how much my belly sticks out in the second picture above.  The first day I made it I didn’t like it at all. But I think it may grow on me in time.  Partly it is my own fault on using the wrong fabric.  The gathers are really thick on this dress too because of the knit not woven.

Happy Sewing!

Kristin