Sportswear on the table

This summer I took the initiative to make my rent worthwhile and started a workout routine and before you let your imagination get too creative, this consisted of mainly the rowing machine, station bike and some weights. As an attempt to divert my attention away from how awfully sweaty I felt peddling like a hamster on a wheel, my mind wandered to the idea of sewing sportswear.

Why, athlesiure sportswear is practically a stamp of approval for living in Vancouver! In a city where 3/4 of the year involves rain, why shouldn’t I aim to be comfortable and chic in say a pair urban chic joggers?

It turns out that I had been slowly edging my way to the realm of sportswear without even knowing it and I think it all started with falling in love with a trench coat pattern and shopping around for some outerwear fabrics. A few trips later, some lycra rib and stretch mesh were purchased to be turned into a bodycon midi-dress. The more I wandered the aisle of technical offerings, I fell in love with the rainbow of nylon, lycra, spandex, mesh and dare I say it… even some polyester. And the truth is, there are loads of this stuff always on the clearance shelf ranging from $3 – 5 / meter so unless you are looking for some particular proprietary manufacturing or technology from a branded garment… sportswear can be surprisingly affordable to sew!

Here’s a look at whats in my upcoming plans

• Sueded Trench | Simplicity 0899 (sized for petites) to be made from an olive sueded outer wear fabric in style A or B
• Cuffed Joggers | Butterick 3163 (sized for petites) elastic waist pants in style D to be edited into cuffed hem leggings
• Open back workout top | McCalls 7663 made from a teal poly micro mesh
• 80s Vibe Sweatshirt | McCalls 7869 in style D with teal loop back sweat shirting and coral edge piping

A few patterns not currently on my list but would be pretty cool too

• Simplicity 8424 , McCalls 7636, McCalls 7986, NewLook 6644

With all that said and planned, I’m still in the pattern tracing stages of most of these projects but I expect most of them to come together quickly with the help of my serger (maybe not the trench..the trench will be a monster). It’s also promising that most of these items will transition well into the fall and winter months not only as outerwear but also as luxe housewear and who knows…maybe a lounge bra in mesh lycra may be in my future but don’t hold your breath.

Happy Sewing,

G

SEW WHAT NOW | Projects to start 2019

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First week 2019 down and I am in full swing project planning mode! Having just filmed my new years sewing intentions video (editing currently in progress), I want to give you a sneak peak at what’s ready to go on my cutting table. This fresh spring colour palette wasn’t intentional in this combination but I suppose that’s just what’s on my mind lately.

SOMETHING FOR MAMA | This will definitely be one of my bigger projects this upcoming season so I wanted to get started as early as possible and that is a new coat/cardigan for my Mom. The blue cotton is a traditional Chinese indigo dye fabric that was gifted to her by a friend who bought it from local artisans on a trip then lugged it 9650km across the Pacific Ocean when coming to visit us. They had been dorm mates in university and I chuckled at the fact that she knew exactly the kind of folksy aesthetic my Mom loves out of everything she could have chosen as a gift. I thought the sentiment was particularly special and decided it would be fun done up in Butterick 5318 – the pink as the outer colour with a surprise indigo pattern as the lining.

SMALL LUXURIES | An exceptionally lucky find in the clearance section recently are these crepe back satin pieces! As a practicing seamstress still learning my craft, I do try to sew from the discount aisles as often as I can so when these unexpected beauties popped up, you bet I had to snag them. I love the idea of small luxuries, where more basic items are elevated by colour or the quality of material and in this case it ticks both boxes. Crepe back satin has always been a fabric I wish I had the occasion to wear more of (the crepe texture on the backside makes gives it a more substantial hand) and sewn up in a few Ogden camisoles, I think it would be a lovely luxury to add to my daily wardrobe.

FOR THE LOVE OF PANTS | I often tell people that in my head I dress like a Stepford Wife but in reality I can’t bothered with anything that I can’t be practical in. So this brings us to the topic of pants! This striped cotton is something I owned since the end of highschool (if memory serves me correctly) and this year I’m finally cutting into it for some wide legged elastic waisted bottoms that I promise look much more flattering than it sounds. Last year I completed a pair using Simplicity 1467 which turned out great and I think this new combo would be fantastic for summer with either some high heeled wedges or cool girl white sneakers.

Happy sewing,

G