A surprisingly busy year of sewing - wardrobe essentials 2022 round-up

If asked to summarise my garment making in 2022, it would be under the heading "functional but somewhat boring". I prioritised the making over sharing, sorry. It was such busy year! By the time I remember to take a photo, it is usually dark or raining, or both. Or the garments are wrinkled with a food stain down the front... 

I replaced worn-out t-shirts. It is surprising how even well made t-shirts look old and tired quickly. It is the underarm stain that bothers me most. Please do share if you have discovered a trick to prevent this. I went through a stripy phase and now own more stripy t-shirts than I need. I have two long sleeved ones and two short sleeved ones. The pattern I used for all four is the Cashmerette Stanway t-shirt, which is from the book "Ahead of the Curves". I also made three in various shades of white, short and long and in between. These t-shirts are fabulous for layering up with one of two cardigans I own. I wear one of these most days. 

Fit much better than shown!

I made two True Bias Nikko tops. One grey and one aubergine coloured. This is a fitted long sleeved top with a mock turtleneck, which is cosy to wear when the thermostat is set to just above bearable. It is a versatile pattern, it can be sewn up sleeveless and as an ankle length dress with a long side slit, if this rocks your boat. 

I wanted a hoodie and made one, the Chalk and Notch Page Hoodie. I made this oversized because that's how I like my hoodies. It is a super soft denim blue recycled cotton fleeceback sweatshirting fabric with a bit of a marled effect. I love it so much, it is constantly in rotation. In fact, I am wearing it now and it has some stains on the sleeves that could be flour or yogurt. I have more of the same fabric to make a pair of jogging bottoms but I have yet to make these. 

In the name of comfort, I also made two pairs of leggings, one dark blue, one black. I used the Avery leggings pattern by Helen's Closet, a high wasted legging with a wide waist band. The fabric is a modal jersey with 8% elastane for added stretch. It a medium to heavy weight fabric, really cosy. Perfect for wearing with dresses or as pyjamas. 

On the theme of pyjamas, I made the bottoms of Closet Core Carolyn pjs with a bright floral orange cotton fabric that you might recognise from one of my quilts. I used the same fabric for the binding. It is a lovely pattern with good instructions and for those loving fancy pyjamas, it can be sewn up with beautiful piping details. I've never made the top because I like to sleep in t-shirts.

For the heatwave (now a distant memory) I made a Chalk and Notch Marcel top. To be honest, I bought the pattern because Marcel was my dad's name and I miss him very much. The top is a tiered tank top with a fitted high bust, loose through bust, waist and hips. It gapes a bit under the arms. I mostly wore it as a coverup beside the pool in Turkey and earlier, in Switzerland, for which it was perfect. I used a remnant denim chambray fabric for this, the same I used last year for a shirt dress. I think I might like the maxi dress version but if I make it, I need to make adjustments to the underarm area. 

more true to colour than the below

I really, really wanted to have a glamorous top (glamorous by my standards!). So I made one. I fell in love with a dark red velours fabric and made a Friday Pattern Company Adrienne blouse. It has a deep neckline both back and front and billowy sleeves. It can be worn off the shoulder. Not my usual style but I like it. I wore it exactly twice over the festive period and it has now been washed to await another festive season. 

Maybe I should get out the ironing board!

I finally sewed up the Anna Allen Persephone trousers (left). I've had fabric and pattern for a at least two years but I wasn't sure if I would wear trousers that are not jeans. Having bought a pair of soft black trousers while waiting for my luggage in Seattle, I discovered that there is more to life than denims and I took the plunge to sew up the Persephone pants. The construction was interesting, they do not have side seams, front and back leg are one piece. They are modelled on 1920s men's sailor pants with hidden front pockets and a concealed button fly. I was a bit worried they might be difficult to fit because of the unusual construction but I didn't need any adjustments, just as if they were designed to fit my body. I made them from a blue cotton twill fabric. 

Finally (I think) I made a pair of True Bias Emerson trousers. This is a pull-on wide leg cropped trouser with an elasticated back. Essentially daytime pyjamas. I made these from a denim blue Ramie fabric. Ramie is an interesting fabric made from the stem of Chinese nettle. Like linen it is texture but more raised than linen. It feels quite thick but it is not stiff and sews up like a dream. It is considered a sustainable fabric (a bonus). It is comfortable to wear and because of it's texture, it doesn't look frumpy even after a long day. 

I am not sure if I made the denim skirt this year or earlier. In any case, it is the Tilly and the Buttons Bobbi skirt. The pattern is also for a pinafore but it is not the kind of pinafore I like. I made the skirt version with the hip pockets because I like big pockets

I bought all fabric except what I used for the pyjamas from Guthrie & Ghani online. I love this small business and will continue to shop there. The entire team is knowledgable and friendly and always happy to answer questions by phone. I appreciate that it is possible to buy fabric in 10 cm increments, rather than by the half metre, which is the case for most small business dress fabric shops online. This allows for less wasteful sewing. I pride myself in buying from small businesses only, probably to atone for my Amazon habit for other stuff. I also like the kits Lauren Guthrie puts together monthly, it takes the stress out of deciding, choosing fabric and notions. Lauren makes excellent videos to go with the kits, usually with tips and tricks not in the pattern instructions, or small changes that make a finished garment stand out. The hoodie, both trousers and skirts were kits. 

This year, I would like to make at least one garment that is extra special, maybe a fabulous dress or a jacket. A denim jacket maybe? Annie gave me a pattern for Christmas that I have wanted for a long time but never bought, the Landers trousers (True Bias). These are high waisted trousers with an exposed button fly with front and back patch pockets. I bought ruby red cotton twill to make them. I hope to have time in February. January is a busy month for work, including my trip to Malawi. 

Thanks for visiting 😊