The Sommar Camisole pattern by Paradise Pattens has been on my to-do list since it came out. Tees and tanks are my biggest wardrobe need with Southern California weather but I hadn’t found a tank pattern that I really loved. The Sommar Camisole changed that for me! I honestly love this pattern. Sewing with knits has never been a problem for me (I actually learned with knits!) but I think this pattern could suitable for beginners also. It also requires very little fabric, so it’s a great scrap buster! Fabric + Sizing My first wearable Sommar Camisole is made with a bamboo spandex knit from Blac ..read more

One of my 2024 goals was to be more intentional and thoughtful about what I make. I learned a lot last year about what I wear the most and what types of projects bring me the most joy and I really wanted to put that into practice. This month, I made less than I typically do but I think that’s a good thing! On a personal note, I was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy in January so that definitely impacted my output. Thankfully, I’m doing okay now and was able to take some much needed rest. I certainly don’t measure my success as a maker in terms of output, but instead of how much joy + satis ..read more

When the Genra Shirt released last year, it was clear it was an instant sewing community cult classic. Since I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect summer button ups, it seemed like the perfect pattern to add to my collection! Overall, I really enjoyed making this pattern and the resulting top. The Gilbert is more beginner friendly IMO, but if you have experience sewing button-ups, the Genra is great. Choosing Fabric + Sizing I purchased this beautiful linen from Mood last year and had been waiting for the right project to use it on. It’s super lightweight and sheer, but still has some structur ..read more

Every year I try to make something handmade as a gift for family and friends. This year, I went with oven mitts! Everyone can use a good oven mitt and who wouldn’t want one catered to their personal style. They’re super easy to make and can be a great scrapbuster too. This tutorial will walk you through how to create a basic oven mitt. I used the pattern that comes on the Insulbright batting package, but there are tons of patterns floating around online for free! The following instructions are for creating a single oven mitt.  Materials Needed Fabric for the exterior Fabric for lin ..read more

I am still on my quest to fill my closet with short sleeve button ups and the Rosie Shirt by Bella Loves Patterns is my latest make. It’s a bit more feminine/drapey than some of the other patterns on my list (ex – Gilbert, Genra) – which I love! The construction was a bit trickier, specifically for the collar, but I’m super happy with the finished result. Choosing fabric + sizing This bright orange viscose from Lady McElroy had been in my stash for a while now waiting for the perfect pattern. It has such a beautiful drape to it, so I knew it would be perfect for this pattern. I wanted somethin ..read more

This quilted jacket is one of those projects that seemed like a great idea in my head and then steadily went downhill from there. The disappointment is partly on my choices and partly on the pattern itself. I loved the idea of an oversized silhouette and making a cozy “comforter” style jacket, but the color I chose just makes it feel very blah. The pattern itself also turned out to hard to interpret – I found the Tamarack much easier. As the weather in LA starts to get chillier, I will definitely wear this. But I wish I loved it more than I do. Choosing a size + fabric I typically wear between ..read more

This October, I set out to document my OOTD every day. While I did miss a few days, I managed to get a photo of most of the outfits I wore. I finished out the month feeling kind of sad about the current state of my wardrobe, but also with more direction on what I want to start filling it with! Here’s what I learned: I wear RTW more than I thought I wore RTW clothing about 60% of the time. I don’t make jeans and don’t planning on ever making jeans, so I’m mainly talking about tops here. Three years ago, this 60% number probably would have disappointed me and led to me panic sew a bunch of tops ..read more

After having it on my sewing table for months,  I finally finished the Donny Shirt! It’s on my list of short sleeve collared shirt patterns that I’m testing out in search of the perfect one. I’m pleased with how it turned out and it’ll definitely get use in my closet, but so far the Gilbert Top is still slightly in the lead for me. Fabric + Sizing For my first version of the Donny shirt (there will likely be more), I used the Warp + Weft 100% cotton by Ruby Star Society. I’m obsessed with the clip dot and it’s so soft! I thought it could add a touch of femininity to the pattern since I fi ..read more

I’ve been finding that I reach for button ups more and more often in my closet. I work from home, so to be honest I’m not actually sure why. I’ve definitely been feeling like I need to make more and I wanted to try a different pattern than my usual go-to, the Grainline Archer. I really liked the look of The Assembly Line Oversized Shirt and could picture myself wearing it almost more like an overshirt or “shacket”. Overall, the pattern was straightforward and well drafted, but I think may have overestimated my interested in wearing something this oversized. Choosing fabric + sizing The fabric ..read more

You may have seen on Instagram that I’m on a quest to find my favorite short-sleeve button up pattern for the summer. The Helen’s Closet Gilbert Top pattern has been making its way through the sewing community lately and it seemed like the perfect candidate. I wish I had jumped on the bandwagon sooner! The Gilbert top is pretty easy to make since it omits a few of the steps I dislike about button ups (ie plackets.) So far, mine has been a perfect staple as the LA weather is finally warming up. Choosing sizing + fabric My measurements fluctuate between the measurements for sizes 2 + 4. I ended ..read more