duck bucket sewing

I made a dress! With the new sewing machine! Wheee! And not to bury the lede, but: We went to Japan for two weeks, and I completely fell in love with the clothing—especially Nani IRO and their amazing fabrics. I'm hooked. We tracked down the atelier in Osaka. ( Here's my review on PR .) They wouldn't let me take photos of the shop but said it was OK to take pictures of the fabrics. Lots of linen, cotton gauze and sateen in bright colors, as well as buttons and notions, an archive (I wasn't sure if it was possible to buy any of the archived fabrics), and jewelry. I bought some lovely blue linen with an asymmetrical print: And the book—the English translation had just been released. And it was signed! (I have a picture, can't seem to post it, sry.) So anyway. I couldn't stop reading the book—you know when you get really really obsessed with a pattern book? Like that. As soon as I got home, I decided to try out the pocket dress. Here'...

Hi! Lots going on around here lately. Thing One: I bought a new sewing machine! This is my new Bernina 480 , purchased from Sew Creative in Beverly, which recently closed. Sorry I don't have a better picture. I love this thing—it's fancy! I'm still learning my way around it. Thing Two: I was supposed to have another article in Vogue Patterns Magazine, but it folded! Bummer. It's on lighting for sewists, and if you want a copy, feel free to contact me on le social and I'll send it to you. I interviewed the gadget person from the Carroll Center for the Blind, and he recommended a lot of great stuff. (Really going to miss Vogue Patterns—it was my favorite sewing magazine! RIP.) And finally, Thing Three: I completed an Alabama Chanin Classic Jacket, from their Sewing Patterns book. The backstory is that I really wanted a nice reversible travel jacket in nice AC organic cotton for an upcoming trip to Japan. (This is after ordering an expensive travel hood...

It's been a while, I know. Wish I had an epic things-I-sewed-this-year post, but honestly, I didn't do that much. Here's the list: 1. Plain red Alabama Chanin Factory Dress 2. Reverse applique Alabama Chanin fitted dress 3. Rachel Comey Vogue Patterns 1585 popcorn dress (not finished; posted on Instagram ) I don't love it, but still really like the design and would like to try again, maybe not in mixed fabrics this time. 4. Fixing and finishing of t-shirts using AC fabric: I found out that Eloflex works great for constructing knit seams. Will definitely be using that again! It's been a tough year, but two bright spots were 1) finding a great group of sewists to hang out with (hi, New England Stitchers!), and 2) stitching with my niece. I got her a sewing machine for Christmas, and she's already cranking out bags. Awesome. I don't have a huge list of resewlutions for 2019—I actually wound up buying RTW clothes this year for various reasons...

Right! So I've been thinking lately about making three "uniform dresses" with pockets in Alabama Chanin cotton jersey that can be worn by themselves or over t-shirts and leggings, under cardigans, etc. And then I got this new "accessory" in May (which I'll explain in a sec) and couldn't get a red dress out of my head. To match, sort of—even though I hate it—but also, I love red and for some reason have none of it in my closet. So anyway, here's the first Factory Dress! It's single-layer medium-weight cotton jersey in Carmine, in a straight size medium, with hand-stitched seams (although I machine-stitched Eloflex within the SA afterward for extra stability). I used the punch cards from The Geometry of Hand-Sewing for the Cretan stitch around the neckline and armholes, which worked out great.  Bad closeup of neckline: This was a really enjoyable make—I had fun with the combination of machine and hand-stitching. I might k...

I had the best time at MPB Day—as always! The weather was slightly terrifying (lightning in the morning, sudden showers throughout the day), but I powered through and was glad I did. Here's Peter's roundup , and here's his Instagram with more pictures, and here's mine . We met in the morning at the museum at FIT as usual. The exhibit was something along the lines of "deconstructed and unfinished," showing pieces in progress and upcycled and mended garments. I loved it. Especially Betsey Johnson's jumpsuit made out of John Cale's old rugby shirts. And this dress, made from a pair of pants with the lining as the sleeves: Then it was off to Panera for lunch and catching up and a whole lot of pattern-swapping. I've always wanted to go to Around the World books and prioritized it this time. It was AMAZING. They had back issues of Marfy (with patterns) for $29, and a ton of back issues of really nice fashion-industry magazines for j...

My article on Maison Anna Heylen is in this month's issue of Vogue Patterns Magazine . It's not online anywhere, only print. Here's a preview: I'm totally stoked about this because I've been a fan of Anna's work for a long time, and I visit the atelier whenever I'm in Antwerp. ( Pics thisaway! ) And because I looove love love Vogue Patterns; I read every issue cover to cover and keep them all. So I'm really happy to have the opportunity to write for them. This took about a year to put together, between interviewing Anna (who is lovely), writing, editing, gathering photos and pattern-testing, because it also includes instructions for making one of her accordion-pleat puff sleeve. I'm dying to put one on a jacket at some point, after I practice some more. It's out! I can't believe it's out! Yay. In other news, we had a foster failure and wound up adopting this guy: His name is Jack-Jack and his hobbies are stealing foo...

Confession: I like 'em. Still can't do any ruffles or maxis or cold shoulders or open backs. (Saw my dermatologist yesterday! She yelled at me—again!) But I really love some of them and am intrigued by some of the others. Such as! Tracy Reese, V1584 I love this very hard. You had me at asymmetrical neckline with pleats. And that fabric is amazing. Tracy Reese, V1586 There's a theme here, I know, but Tracy Reese always has really great patterns. Love the fabric in this one too. (Don't worry, dermatologist, I'll finagle some kind of solution for the shoulders.) Rachel Comey, V1585 I am...really intrigued by this, and might get it just to see how it makes up, even if the shape isn't  right for my petite apple-shaped self. I love that it's not the usual seersucker dress. Marcy Tilton, V9317 I like this but not sure if I can pull it off. Rebecca Vallance, V1591 I love this, but again with the open back. Cannot do. Vog...