Welcome to my longest blog break ever? It’s been ten months since I’ve posted here (March 2021), but I have some good reasons. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Renee Miss Celie's Pants (@missceliespants) If you follow me on Instagram (a sentence I hate writing, lol) you’ll know that I’m a mom now. Not quite an immaculate conception, Jordan and I became adoptive parents in May 2021. First peds appointment Just before that, in April 2021, I had a random mini stroke (TIA) during a workout that sent me to the hospital for a two-day stay. I had trouble walking, speaking, and swal ..read more

I bought these Elle Decor “Holly” dining room chairs after we moved two years ago. The chairs are apparently copies of the Knoll Bertoia Chairs. My chairs were $100 each and the Bertoias sell for $890. I didn’t find out they were copies until I posted on Instagram. I just thought they were cool wire chairs! Elle Decor “Holly” chair The chairs came with a bright white, 1/4″ thin vinyl pads. In addition to not being very thick, they kind of glared at you? I decided to remake the pads using a 1″ thick, high density foam pad purchased locally at House of Foam. They have a location downtown on anot ..read more

While Jordan and I took a six week trip down to Key West, Florida this winter, we managed to dodge 24″ worth of winter storms back in Baltimore. I also finished a UFO quilt and sewed an entirely new one. Turns out I can finish quilts when I’m not distracted by garment sewing (I don’t like sewing garments away from my sewing room). The Hold Tight Quilt is a whimsical balloon theme quilt from Sharon Holland Designs. It’s a gift for good friends who got married in 2019 and had a sweet baby boy in 2020. They declined wedding gifts and and never registered for baby gifts. So I wanted to make them ..read more

I’ve wanted a semi industrial, straight stitch only, sewing machine for many years now. Why? I wanted the speed and precision of one of these machines, without the bulk and space of a full industrial. I decided / jumped finally at the 2020PE from Juki’s TL series because it’s a beautiful platinum silver and came with a set of quilting feet that I don’t need today, but wanted the option of having down the road. Cabinet insert on the way to me I’ve hesitated on purchasing one of these TL machines for ten years because they cost more than your average vintage household straight stitch machine. I ..read more

It’s been a year since I’ve had a machine knitting project for myself. I’ve felt a bit guilty lately about not putting in the effort to get better at machine knitting. No fault of the hobby, I just always have something to sew. I’ve been sewing for 25 years so I’m also just better and faster at it. With this in mind, I tackled the black sheep sweater made famous by Princess Diana and attempted my first fair isle project, my first cut and sew and using AYAB for more than a sample. Yarn is “firefighter” from Made in America Yarns (MIAY). MIAY is based out of Philadelphia and comes on a cone, a ..read more

Where do I begin? I bought this quilt pattern from Busy Bee Designs many years ago with the hope of making it for my mom. My mom was Grenadian, a Commonwealth county. She immigrated to England in the 60s at 18 to become a nurse. She later moved to the US in her late 20s and became an American citizen, but England loomed large in our home. I still have an annoying habit of writing things with British spelling because that’s what my parents did and how I learned. My parents did small things like drink tea, say “fanny” for butt, and say zed for Z. There were pot holders and 80s velvet wall art w ..read more

In mid January, my husband and I beat it out of Baltimore and headed to Key West, Florida for six weeks. Like 65% of American office workers, we’ve been home for the last year and just needed a change of scenery. My in-laws live 60% of the year in Key West and now consider it their primary residence, but came back to Maryland in June 2020 with no intention of going back until they are both vaccinated. We took advantage of the rent free condo in the new year, took a few days to drive down and played summer home for a month in mid winter. This last year I’ve sewn with a particular focus on plug ..read more

What even is time these days? I purchased the fabric in 2016. I bought this pattern in 2018? The buttons? Gifted to me from France in 2005. I had everything but the buttons done in June of 2020 but couldn’t find the buttons in my sewing room that I’d had earmarked for this project until December. I had nowhere to wear this anyway, so it all worked out in the end. Nakia of Dressmaking Debacles made a shirtdress from this fabric a lifetime ago and it was exactly what I wanted to make with the same fabric. It just took me four years? I chose 6891 over the Big Four standard, M6696 because of th ..read more

I spotted the rayon Rachel Comey Dune Top on the 11 Honore website for $575. I really liked the sort of reverse notch collar and felt it would frame my face well as it mimics my jaw line. After asking on Instagram I was directed to Lekala 4711 which is an almost perfect match. A few details are missing: yoked back, sleeve cuffs, high low and split hem — but otherwise is ideal. Lekala I have heard of Lekala’s custom size ordering but knew it wasn’t perfect, especially if I wanted accommodation for my bust. I entered for my upper bust, bicep, waist, hips. For additional options I did say narro ..read more

It is well documented that I love a cape. This new red one is no different. I first made Vogue 8776 back in 2013 from an Oscar de le Renta black and purple wool. It was glorious. I was glorious. My body has changed since I made that cape and was no longer a great fit. I’d skipped out on some finer techniques because I didn’t know better. I wanted to make this cape better, but the pattern is HARD to come by. I was lucky enough to be loaned a larger size of the pattern locally and made it up again in this red double cloth wool. Sizing: My full bust is 46 and my upperbust 41. I couldn’t figure ..read more