Sewing Workshop Me Made May Part 2

Here is part two of Me Made May following the prompts from the Sewing Workshop Sew Confident May fashion show theme.

For those who want a quick flick through the pictures with no words here is an animation for 17-31 May.

Day 17

For 17 May we are sparkling. There is no shortage of sparkle and sequins in my wardrobe usually in a Crane Street tee!

Clockwise from top left: eShrug in a lurex eyelash fabric underlined in black merino with sweatshirt weight black merino sleeves. Worn with either an eTee variation or Olive top (both were made in the same fabric for my 2024 travel wardrobe), Getaway jeans and Charlotte Stone Adam Solimar loafer; Crane St tee in a blue lurex. The lurex had a nap so the centre back panel was cut in the opposite direction for emphasis. Worn with Megan Nielsen Flint trousers and Django & Juliette Kattat boots; Shapes Nine Lives top in a devore velvet lurex fabric and a silk velvet hem band; another Crane Street tee this time with the lurex eyelash fabric in the centre back panel. Worn with me made fuchsia and orange sneakers

Crane Street tees with sequins for the centre back panel worn with Getaway jeans

Day 18

Moving on to 18 May and summer dresses.

There are many dresses in my wardrobe as my dressing formula is quite simple. I either wear trousers or a dress. Any print fabric that I fall in love with which won't seamlessly integrate into my wardrobe of separates becomes a dress. The two dresses I chose are firm favourites and represent many others made from these two patterns.

Left: a Gardenia dress in an Alexander Henry print entitled Ghastlie craft. I focused on the sewing aspect of the print rather than the ghouls but it is perfect for a spring Halloween! It is worn with me made fuchsia and orange sneakers; Right: an Edgewater dress made from a cotton print called Garden Flight sitting in a summer garden. Worn with Converse sneakers embellished by me using Kaffe Fassett fabric

Day 19

For 19 May the prompt was my most recent make. In the interests of full disclosure I am not absolutely sure it is my "most" recent because the current project has been on the sewing table for a while but it definitely is recent!

The Trio pants were sewn as the March project for Sew Confident 2025 in a Merchant and Mills linen called Superstition. Once I had the pattern out I had to try the Trio shirt (minus the collar and button up front because I don't like shirts) and it is a keeper. The Trio shirt is made in a cotton seersucker that I loved at the moment of purchase but wondered what I was thinking when it got home! It is growing on me but I still wonder why I bought it. Worn with United Nude Arix Vintage Blue boots. The other outfit is a Venice blouse variation with Keds Rainbow People Triple-Up sneakers.

Day 20

Which is my most used Sewing Workshop pattern? That was a challenging question for 20 May. I really thought it would be either the Crane Street tee or Maison top. But no it turns out to be the Edgewater dress with a total of 11 makes. I have only made seven Crane Street tees and Maison tops, although the Maison has also been used as the bodice for four dresses (I think). The Gardenia is another favourite with one top and five dresses sewn plus two dresses cut out.

Left: a variation with a cowl neckline and bow cuff sleeve worn with Marques Almeida ReMAde patchwork boots; Right: When the picture of the pale pink dress was taken my only thought "it looks like a nightdress". After chopping the bottom off to make it above knee length it has become the comfiest nightdress I have ever owned!

Left: my first ever Edgewater (great pattern for playing with stripes) worn with Keds Rainbow People Triple-Up sneakers; Right: colour blocking action with a silk jersey print and merino wool jersey plains, worn with Mi Piaci red snake Matt ankle boot

Left: a dress made in three shades of cotton jersey to match the Django and Juliette Hernan boots; Right the dress I always imagined for the red cherry blossom cotton jersey which was a long time in the making as I only bought enough for a top. Thanks to the curated fabric collection (aka stash) for the eyelet jersey in a near perfect colour match an Edgewater could be born

all 11 dresses laying in a summer meadow (it looked better than the lounge carpet!)

Day 21

Plaids, stripes and polka dots are a favourite and you may have noticed some scattered amongst the previous 20 days. For 21 May I needed some new photos showcasing different Sewing Workshop patterns. 

I discovered that five outfit changes in one photo shoot is the upper limit of my photographer's patience. I am as ever grateful for his forbearance in providing photographic evidence of my sewing output.

Left: black and white striped border print viscose jersey Edgewater dress worn with United Nude Solid Fold Mono shoe; Right: plaid red Hudson trousers worn with a polka dot viscose woven Crane Street tee and Mi Piaci Matt red snake boots

Left: navy striped ponte Pencil pants and embroidered blue striped cotton Venice variation shirt worn with Clamp Uncut Comic Print ankle boots; Right: blue plaid Hudson pants with the design variation from Sew Confident series 11 and a glittery blue Crane Street tee, worn with United Nude Arix Vintage Blue boot

Day 22

For 22 May what is my favourite colour...black?!

Black is a wardrobe staple in New Zealand a uniform for everyday not just for sports teams and I did work in Wellington for many years known for being the black capital. The obsession for black has not however seeped into my psyche instead I love any true clear colour. At the moment I am all about hot pink / fuchsia preferably with orange.

Inspired by the Facebook live from 20 May about black, white and red. It highlights the neutrals in my wardrobe. From left to right: a Bamboo shirt in cotton jersey from Sew Confident February 2024, worn with tencel twill Hudson pants and Charlotte Stone Adam Solimar loafer; an Olive top worn with Getaway jeans and me made fuchsia orange sneakers

Now it's all about my hot pink and orange Picasso pants.

worn with a trio shirt variation, eShrug and Keds Rainbow People Triple-Up sneakers. Posing for pictures at low tide at the Okari River mouth on 22 May

worn with a RTW orange top, colour blocked Hong Kong vest the October 2024 Sew Confident project and Fly London Biaz boots. Enjoying my morning cup of tea on the patio of our rented seaside retreat

Left: worn with a Kate Sylvester Alley Cat top from Autumn Winter 2020 which was never worn until I shortened it and altered the neckline; Right: worn with a Gardenia top

worn with the Deja Vu wrap from Sew Confident December 2024. Out and about in Kaikoura enjoying crayfish at the famous Nin's Bin

Day 23

For 23 May the prompt was "Stash Cam". Not at all keen to have a camera anywhere near my stash. The less evidence of its extensive existence the better.

My beloved's nightmare is being killed by an avalanche of fabric! This is a valid fear given the size of my stash, supported by the fun New Zealand fact that more people die from accidents at home than those killed in road and workplace accidents combined.

The stash (curated fabric collection) should really have its own library catalogue system but that would be too nerdy even for me. Instead it has been Konmari'd. Organised neatly by colour or specialist fabric type.

From top to bottom: higgledy piggledy stash; sorting and folding; all tidy (left to right coat fabrics, velvet and devore, trouser weight fabric, Liberty of London)

Day 24

For 24 May the prompt was collared shirts.

This is the closest I get to a collared shirt. I don't like wearing them, as I find them irritating around my neck and unflattering, so I don't make them. It is a classic Florence shirt from Sew Confident series 12 made in shirting cottons as per the pattern except it has a bias bound neckline and the collar, front button placket and sleeve placket are omitted. Worn with Getaway jeans and Django and Juliette Kattat ankle boots.

Day 25

For 25 May the subject is pockets. Love a pocket and often add them to the pattern when they aren't included.

Charlie Bomber jacket with added welt pockets and a bottom panel that can be removed giving the flexibility of a coat or jacket. Worn with Valencia palazzo pants and Charlotte Stone Darcy sneakers

Picasso pants with added cutaway pockets in the front / side panel seam. Worn with a World Brand Nonconformist tee from their Autumn Winter 2017 collection and United Nude Fold Horizon shoes

Valencia pants with added welt pockets. Worn with a Crane Street tee and United Nude Fold Rainbow 2 shoes

Edgewater dress with a cowl neck and added inseam pocket. Worn with United Nude Zink Pop black ankle boots. Getaway jeans with added back patch pockets, contoured waistband and separate back yoke

Day 26

For 26 May the summer party outfit I chose was one I actually wore to a summer party (fundraising event).

This Sterling jacket could have qualified for my hardest garment. The silk sari fabric was so loosely woven I had to stitch it to a backing fabric before I cut it out. Even then it had to be sewn very carefully to make sure the fabric didn't catch on the presser foot. Silk saris are cut into strips that are then wound  together to make the warp and weft threads. The silk dupion sleeves were quilted to the backing fabric to achieve a consistent weight.

This is how I wore it to Fashion for a Cure. A Sterling jacket minus collar and peplum, with a Gardenia top and Valencia pants in the same viscose print (a Zara deadstock fabric) worn with United Nude Fold Paprika shoes

I'm more likely to wear it to a summer party like this as New Zealand has a very casual culture and a summer party is most likely a barbecue. On the left the Gardenia blouse, Valencia pants in Merchant and Mills Pina Colada Checked Laundered Linen and One Trick Pony Geddes loafers. On the right the Gardenia blouse, Getaway jeans and Django and Juliette Manson Pastel Leopard Pony ankle boots

Day 27

27 May was all about skirts - except not for me because I don't make skirts, so I cheated slightly showcasing two skirts where I have added a bodice to make a dress.

8th Avenue skirt with the Eureka pattern for the bodice. This was the muslin (very wearable) made in a tropical print linen worn with Charlotte Stone Martino Nassau clogs. Of course the actual dress has not been made yet

An eTee bodice with a Metro inspired skirt, sewn as part of Sew Confident series 13. The concept of the dress was inspired by Milk Velvet's simple comfortable dresses that mix a knit bodice with a woven skirt. I was going to just add a gathered rectangle skirt with cargo pockets to the eTee when the Sewing Workshop re-released the Metro skirt. The details in this skirt are fabulous and I enhanced the gathered rectangle with the pockets and pleated hem of the Metro skirt. On the left worn with United Nude Solid Fold Mono shoe and on the right with Charlotte Stone Adam Solimar loafer

Day 28

For 28 May the prompt is purses and bags. I have not made a bag using a Sewing Workshop pattern despite having many of them, including the Provence Market bag which has been cut out ready to sew since Christmas.

Instead I am sharing a knitting bag made without a pattern, but based on a purchased one. A simple machine embroidery design on cotton twill with an enhancement to the original version of a large internal zipped pocket.

Day 29

Check out my lining for 29 May. Love a colourful lining, ideally a silk. I chose three jackets that have been featured on other days during the month but hopefully the linings still come as a surprise!

The summer party outfit - couldn't resist using the same viscose fabric for the lining. Is it too matchy matchy having your Gardenia top, Valencia pants and Sterling jacket lining in the same fabric? Well I don't care if it is it made me happy

Charlie Bomber jacket with a polyester satin lining. I normally avoid synthetic fibres like the plague but this was such a perfect print for my jacket I swallowed hard and just did it. Worn with Maison joggers in a wool suiting fabric, London Skyline Swing tee and Keds Rainbow People Triple-Up sneakers

Hong Kong jacket with a stripe silk twill lining. Striking and delicious. Worn with Picasso pants and a RTW tee

Day 30

My current project for 30 May has been ongoing for a couple of months. Eventually it will become a quilted Tremont jacket.

It started with a star quilt class at Bernina Christchurch. I resized my stars to be the same as the Alison Glass Art Theory circles. The colour scheme is based on the Art Theory circles and my current obsession with pink and orange.

The completed quilt blocks are mocked up into a quilt on the left. On the right is the Tremont jacket right front. With my little Singer Featherweight churning out some more sashing stars to join the rest of the blocks together.

Once the blocks are together it is off to be quilted, then back to me to make it into a Tremont jacket. Should be finished in no time!!!

Another current project is a cardigan that has been in progress since 2018 (and written about in a blog post!). The knitting was finished in 2023 and last week I finally got brave enough to do the steek. Now it just needs the remaining ends sewn in, snaps added for fastenings and blocking. It is worn with a merino tee (I think it is a me variation from a pattern in the New Zealand book Home Sewn), Hudson pants Sew Confident series 11 variation and Fly London Biaz boots.

Day 31

For 31 May the prompt was Favourite Ever Sew.

I chose the Plaza jacket I made last year for the June Sew Confident Summer Challenge (to make a jacket using at least a 1" piece of Gustav Klimt's Knight panel from the Stoclet Frieze).

Whilst I was fortunate to win the prize for Most Experimental Use of the Klimt Panel, that is not why it is my favourite ever Sewing Workshop sew. It was to do with the process and mental health benefits.

The butterfly jacket provided an ability for creative expression which was sorely needed whilst in England without access to my sewing equipment and supporting sick elderly relatives. It is a souvenir of a particular time in life and friendship. A reminder of the joy creativity can bring even in otherwise difficult situations.

Butterflies feature in the Stoclet Frieze and their symbolism of transformation, hope and rebirth made it a perfect metaphor for life in that moment.

"Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it will evade you, but if you notice the other things around you, it will gently come and sit on your shoulder" Henry David Thoreau.

THE END

I enjoyed re-visiting photographs taken over the years, for blog posts that never happened, for Me Made May 2025. Maybe I'll evolve next year and do the official version with a new photograph taken everyday.

It also highlighted how many Sewing Workshop patterns I have used over the last few years. They suit my body type and are very timeless, with interesting details (classic with a twist).

Sewing Workshop Me Made May 2025 Part 1

Every year I intend to participate in Me Made May but the idea of sustaining an outfit of the day photograph for a whole month stops me in my tracks. This year @sewingworkshop provided a daily prompt in the spirit of their Sew Confident club May 2025 fashion show theme, with the added bonus that a new photo wasn't needed every day.

I managed to sustain posting to Instagram for each prompt through the whole of May. As some of my sewing buddies don't use Instagram I am sharing the 31 posts in two installments here, especially as it's a good representation of what I have sewed over the last four years of not blogging!

All garments made use Sewing Workshop patterns unless otherwise stated.

For those who want a quick flick through the pictures with no words here is an animation for 1-16 May.

Day one

For 1 May the prompt was head to toe Sewing Workshop - easy peasy!

Left: Sterling jacket, Hudson pants and Crane Street tee with United Nude Zink Pop boot;
Right: Deja Vu wrap, Trio pants and top (variation) with United Nude Arix Vintage Blue boot

Top: Picasso pants and Florence shirt (variation) with Charlotte Stone Adam Solimar loafers;
Bottom: Trio pants and Venice Deux top with Keds Triple-Up Rainbow People sneakers

Left: Charlie bomber jacket, Valencia pants and Crane Street tee with Mi Piaci Matt red snake boot;
Top right: Charlie bomber jacket, Pencil pants and Swing tee with Fly London Biaz ankle boot;
Bottom right: Maison joggers and Crane Street tee with P448 Skate Pailettes Stroil Sneakers

Left: Carnelian coat, Metro skirt (dress variation) and United Nude Solid Fold Mono shoes; 
Top right: Tremont jacket, Valencia pants and Crane Street tee with United Nude Fold Rainbow 2 shoes; 
Bottom right: Maison top and joggers with P448 Skate Pailettes Stroil Sneakers

Day two

For 2 May the prompt was sewing space.

Clockwise from top: sewing space today; and in 2018 when it sprang a leak courtesy of the outside garden tap

My alternate sewing space set-up in the lounge to be close to the warmth of the log burner in winter 

Sometimes when we travel (within NZ) I take my sewing machine and set up a temporary sewing space!

Sewing on the wild west coast (south island NZ). If we drive I can take my overlocker (serger) as well as my faithful Singer 221 Featherweight.

Clockwise from top: my hotel room in Wellington (with my Wellington sewing machine); Ahipara, Northland NZ; West Coast; Westport

Day three

The 3 May prompt was Favourite Tee. I interpreted this in two ways. Firstly as the most loved tee in my wardrobe which is the London Skyline Swing tee. The clever embroidery design was created by Alex, one of the Sewing Workshop team. It is simple to stitch but very evocative of the London skyline.

Roses and polka dot trousers unknown pattern even though I know the fabric came from Fabric Vision (a sadly no more Christchurch shop). The shoes are Trippen Evoke red sandals.
The black and white stripe with red poppy trousers are the Maison joggers worn with United Nude Zink Pop black boots

The second interpretation was my favourite tee pattern which by happy coincidence is the Swing Tee although the Crane Street tee is a very close second.

Clockwise from left: Stencilled swing tee with pleated sleeve variation worn with Valencia pants and United Nude Fold Rainbow 2 shoes; Pencil pants and United Nude Zen Merlot shoes; Style Arc Palermo jacket

Left: Megan Nielsen Flint trousers with Ernest Whyler Keesha Sunflower boots; Top right: Getaway jeans with P448 Skate Pailettes Stroil Sneakers

Whilst going through my photographs I found two pictures from June 2017 where clearly the Odette top was my favourite tee!

Both Odette tees worn with RTW trousers and United Nude shoes

Day four

The prompt for 4 May (May the 4th be with You) was hard. Seeking inspiration I searched the web for May the 4th street style, which just seems to involve wearing a Star Wars t-shirt. Not very helpful. My attempt was so uninspiring that I'm not going to replicate the pictures here. I think it's best to draw a veil over day 4!

Post photo session for my feeble attempt I did see a funny reel by Mitre 10 for May the Fourth. Wish I'd thought of putting a bucket over my head and using the mop as a lightsaber!

Day five

For 5 May the prompt was sewing machine with extra points if the said machine has a name. I have a small collection of five plus my overlocker (serger) - only three were photo shoot ready!

My Singer Featherweight 221 is the one with the most emotional attachment. She is called Dorrie after my mum who started my love of sewing as a small child.

My mum had a Singer 319K which I thought was the bees knees. Alas when I inherited it was broken. The early use of plastic in these machines didn't support longevity. I moved on to other brands Husqvarna and later Bernina but my heart hankered after a Singer which I finally got in 2013 with my little Featherweight. For its small size it is a real work horse and loves to travel around New Zealand with me (as hand luggage when flying!).

The big Bernina 830 is my everyday machine, living in the Horn cabinet in the sewing room. Whilst it does spend time in the naughty corner it has never illustrated enough personality to be named. Mousie looks after it and watches over my sewing.

The little Bernina (Activa 210) was bought to live in Wellington. Now I don't spend half my life in Wellington it gets to travel to patchwork class. Sadly it doesn't have a name either or maybe it does having always been referred to as my Welly machine!

Day six

For 6 May the prompt was mix prints.

Clockwise from left: Maison joggers in a viscose crepe are a favourite worn with my spin on the Classic Florence shirt (from Sew Confident series 12) in gingham. Worn with Converse X Comme des Garcons Play sneakers;
A RTW dress hanging forlorn in the wardrobe was refashioned into an Edgewater dress, using a mix of new fabric and some harvested from the long sleeves. Worn with Mi Piaci Matt red snake boot;
The Zayn top is ideal to mix fabrics and this one uses fabric left over from another Edgewater dress. Worn with Getaway jeans and P448 Skate Pailettes Stroil sneakers.

My riff on the Venice shirt (sort of like the Venice Deux), started in January 2023 for the Pattern Review Print Mixing contest because I was fed up moving these fabrics when I wanted something else. I made some very stupid mistakes in the fitting of this that led to time out in the naughty corner. I eventually "made it work" with only scraps left ready for Christmas 2023! It is worn with Pencil pants and the Katy Perry Stephanie Mule in mulberry (which you can't really see!).

Day seven

For 7 May the prompt was tonal. It was a bit of a struggle to find photographs of me being tonal but here I am. Is it a coincidence that my tonal looks are both yellow based?

 Left: Sterling jacket in a cotton double gauze, Swing tee, Megan Nielsen Flint trousers and Ernest Wyler Keesha Sunflower booties;
Right: a modified version of the Florence shirt (the bodice and shortened sleeves of the Florence with a large pleated rectangle attached for the skirt). Worn with Charlotte Stone Darcy sneakers. This dress was inspired by the Tory Burch Claire McCardell dress (Look 18 from the Spring 2022 RTW collection)

Day eight

For 8 May which is my comfiest outfit? I couldn't really decide as any of the ones from the previous seven days could qualify for that. One of the reasons I sew my own clothes is to have them fit and be comfortable, nothing worse than tugging and futzing with your clothes all day. An outfit for me extends to the shoes and whilst I love funky shoes they too have to be comfortable and capable of walking miles without hurting my feet.

In the end I chose "comfiest outfit" as the one I wore to lunch, with pictures from the garden.

The dress uses the Maison top for the bodice with gathered rectangles for the three tiers and three-quarter sleeves gathered at the hem. The fabric is a polyester georgette and whilst I normally avoid synthetic fibres I couldn't pass up this fabulous print especially as it cost the princely sum of $8 per metre.

The Napoleon jacket is RTW by World (a NZ designer brand) from their 2016 Spring Summer collection

To balance out the RTW jacket my sneakers are sort of me made. They are Converse Lift high tops covered in Kaffe Fassett fabric using lots of Modge Podge. I need to find a way of using the Converse Lift sole with me made uppers to get a neater finish of fabric stitched to leather. Another project to work on!

Day nine

9 May is all about the buttons. When I first saw the schedule of prompts I wasn't sure what I could contribute for day 9. I thought my wardrobe had limited button options so I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

Carnelian coat from Sew Confident series 13 which I made double breasted. Both the fabric and the buttons came from Joans Fine Fabric. The resin buttons were a set of eight (just the right number) by Pigeon Wishes who make beautiful colour combinations

Hong Kong vest, also from Sew Confident series 13, which I made into a jacket by adding the Carnelian sleeves. This large feature button from Bernina Christchurch (my go to button source) was the perfect addition to this jacket

Japonesque top yet another project from Sew Confident series 13. This top is special as it uses a gifted double sided jacquard fabric and souvenir buttons (on both sides) from one of my trips to Design Outside the Lines in Ashland, Oregon with Diane Ericson

Celebrating the quirky details of Sewing Workshop patterns. Left: the Florence shirt and its faux button placket up the centre back; Right: the Venice shirt with its real button placket at the end of the frill

Origami-esque blouse made with a Liberty London sweatshirt fabric called Poppy's Patchwork. Choosing to use three different buttons still makes me smile

Day ten

For 10 May we are exploring favourite pants. I'm quite fickle when it comes to "favourite" and the latest make or pattern used is generally my favourite.

I finally decided to choose the Getaway jeans as my favourite trousers. In particular the pair made with an embroidered denim that looks like paint splatter. Unfortunately they are now too large and I'm considering taking them apart to get a better fit. With the jeans I'm wearing a modified Maison top with three quarter sleeves and gathered peplum, the ankle boots are Django and Juliette Kattat.

Left: My 2024 travel wardrobe Getaway jeans using a cotton canvas printed with faces, worn with an Olive top and me made fuschia/orange sneakers;
Right: my first Getaway jeans made in black cotton twill with red top stitching, which are a close second for favouritist!

Day eleven

For completeness the prompt for day 11 (being Mother's day) was My Mom Made Me... I have things that belonged to my Mum but nothing she made me.

Day twelve

For 12 May which jacket is my most worn? My favourite jacket pattern is the Charlie Bomber. I have four - two are jacket length, two are coat length.

My favourite of the four Charlie bombers is the one which can be either a jacket or a coat (a zip enables the removal of the bottom half). It is my favourite partly because of this flexibility but also the fabric, a bright Andy Warhol-esque designer deadstock (Marina Rinaldi) printed scuba. As it was the only coat I had with me in England for five months last year I have decided it must also be my most worn!!!

Here are the other three versions of the Charlie Bomber plus my favourite in its shorter incarnation. This jacket likes being made in designer deadstock. The metallic jacquard animal print is by Trelise Cooper (a NZ designer) and the other long version is made from a quilted Dolce & Gabbana fabric. The fluffy black, white and red fabric is from Sewing Workshop, almost a replica of one they made for Sew Confident series 6.

Day thirteen

Pleats tucks and gathers for 13 May - one of my favourite ways of adapting a sewing pattern.

Maison top slightly shortened with a pleated peplum and elasticated sleeve cuff. The pastel version is a polyester fabric from Sewing Workshop and the pleats are crisp and defined. The pleats in the navy seersucker are hardly noticeable (even when I'm standing up!)

Pleated sleeves help add variety to a much loved pattern. Left: Swing tee in a (wrinkled) pink lightweight scuba knit uses the pleat sleeve design from Liam by Ruby Pack O Sleeves pattern. Ruby is a NZ ready-to-wear brand that has created home sewing patterns for some of its designs; Right: Crane Street tee in the red kit colourway from Sew Confident series 11 with a self-designed sleeve from a random post that appeared in my IG feed. I'd love to give someone credit for this sleeve but all I have is a drawing on a scrappy piece of paper

Day fourteen

Sewing outside the lines is my favourite way to sew. 14 May was definitely one of the best prompts. I chose the Maison top pattern to showcase how far outside the lines you can sew.

A Maison top bodice with gathered rectangles of fabric for each of the dress tiers. This dress is nicknamed the Ice-cream dress for pretty obvious reasons. Worn with United Nude Roko Sport II Astro sneakers. The fabric was from The Fine Cloth Company, my favourite place for fabric when I want to play with colour.

Two garments inspired by Trelise Cooper designs (which unusually reside in my wardrobe).
Left: blue and red cotton poplin dress inspired by the Cosmic Girl dress from the Cooper Winter 2022 collection. Maison top bodice with an asymmetrical circle for the skirt. Worn with Mi Piaci Red Snake Matt boot
Right: blouse inspired by the Raw Emotion Top from the Pre Fall 2021 collection. The pastorale floral stretch cotton Maison bodice has a pleated peplum underlined with nylon organza for extra pouf. The organza is also used for the pleats at the sleeve hem. Worn with RTW Untouched World jeans and Django & Juliette Fuchsia Riana espadrille sandals

Day fifteen

For 15 May we have proudest fit, which is my Picasso pants.

These are my proudest fit for two reasons: it is an elasticated waist trouser and I adapted the pattern to have a zip fly and curved waistband; and I finally managed to largely eliminate the baggy bum look thanks to the Threads Fitting book. This book is the only place I have ever seen the full explanation for the flat bottom adjustment to reduce both the crotch depth and remove the extra fabric across the width.

Three pairs of Picasso pants out in the wild having fun. Clockwise from top left: Jacquard spot linen with RTW sequin top and bomber jacket, and Fly London Biaz boots; Summer Blossom cotton twill worn with a RTW top and Charlotte Stone X Lorien Stern Chelsea Black Floral loafer; pink and orange linen worn with a Trio shirt in a cotton seersucker and Keds Triple-Up Rainbow People sneakers

The before and after images of the Jacquard Spot Picasso pants. A very wearable muslin albeit a bit shorter than I wanted. The Threads instructions to remove the extra fabric at the centre back seam were a game changer. Added bonus it can be done after the trousers are made. These pictures were to help me assess the fit and not meant for sharing so I am wearing my garden clogs!

Picasso pant make 2 and 3. The pink and orange linen pants look great when first worn but tend to stretch across the seat slightly with wear. They are still my favourite pair. Worn with a RTW top and Charlotte Stone Adam Solimar loafers. The Summer Blossom Picassos are worn with another RTW top and United Nude Fold Horizon shoes

Day sixteen

For 16 May the prompt was hardest garment.

When I was thinking about which of my Sewing Workshop makes was the hardest my first thought was the Toulouse jacket (lengthened to make a trench coat). It was hardest due to the fabric and some strange faux pas made when drafting the lining pattern.

Challenges: (1) the front lining piece didn't match the back at the shoulder seam by a couple of inches. Pattern piece fixed and two new fronts cut out; but (2) the bust dart is too high. Luckily it won't ever be seen plus it wasn't sewn - the dart legs were folded to create a tuck so the side seams match; (3) the outer fabric is densely woven and sewing gave a small outward punched hole on the underneath, fixed by a 60 microtex needle; (4) easing in the fabric around the collar and sleeves was challenging (with lots of seam ripper action) as puckers don't steam out; (5) needed a replacement belt buckle (and buttons) after the belt and buttonholes were sewn because the fabric was too slippery to use D-rings for the belt.

Positives: (1) every buttonhole was sewn perfectly without drama; (2) used the eyelet foot for the first time to stitch the belt eyelets; (3) great idea to use pink thread for the top stitching, buttonholes, belt eyelets; (4) love the finished coat.

My second thought for hardest garment was an Era jacket lengthed into a coat made in 2019. The sleeves were slightly too tight and the collar too tall. I did intend to fix the problems but the fabric was difficult to reverse sew and it languished in the wardrobe without buttons until 2022 by which time it had shrunk all over! The Era coat was chopped up and with the addition of a remnant of wool fabric for the sleeves morphed into the faux fur Charlie bomber which I love and wear often.

Stay tuned for part two 17-31 May...