I'm generally a very selfish sewist but when the holidays come around, I'm in the mood for giving. But still I have to admit it's always much easier to think of gifts for myself than gifts for others. So, if you're looking for a gift for your best sewing buddy or looking to build your own holiday wish list, I've created today's Holiday Gift Guide for Sewists. These gifts are affordable, stylish and also useful. Read on for all the details.
I had a small sewing hiatus when I moved house last month and by the time I was ready to get started again, my ongoing mental list of what I wanted to sew had somehow disappeared. I usually have four to five things in my mental queue at all times so it was odd to have nothing come to mind. I went back and looked at my 2017 Make Nine list and even though I have 4 things left to sew, I decided to make a new list for the winter season.
Living in Los Angeles, we don’t get the classic seasons. The months all kind of blend together in endless days of sunshine. There are occasional heat waves in November (records were broken this Thanksgiving!). The biggest change is the amount of daylight during the day and it gets really cold, really fast at night. My winter wardrobe is pretty much pants, boots, cardigans and scarves–things that can be layered and un-layered as needed for the variable temperatures. (In case you missed it, check out my inspiration post here.)
I selected these patterns because they are things that I can wear everyday and/or will be fun to make. I've really enjoyed following Elena's Maker Capsule Wardrobe and while I would not call this plan a capsule wardrobe I do hope that it will mix and match with my existing pieces and be frequently worn. Plus I'm really excited to try a few new patterns and silhouettes because that's just one of the fun parts of sewing clothes.
1) Lander Pants by True Bias
There are so many things to love about this queue jumper – the high waist, the exposed button fly. On my last trip to The Fabric Store I picked up some of this dark denim that I think will be perfect for these pants. (Disclosure: I have an ongoing partnership with The Fabric Store. They give me fabric to play with and post about. However all opinions are my own and I can honestly say that I love their store.)
2) Kalle Shirt Dress by Closet Case Patterns
I bought this pattern along with the sleeve expansion during the recent sale. I love the loose fit, drop shoulder and exaggerated curved hem. I was also thinking about doing an Archer/Alder mashup but it seemed like more work. So a new pattern it is! I have two plaid fabrics, also from The Fabric Store that are the perfect weight for a shirt or shirtdress.
3) Rosa Shirt by Tilly Buttons
The Rosa Shirt is from my Make Nine list and I've had the pattern printed for months. Again, I have a fabric from The Fabric Store that would make the perfect western style button down.
4) Simplicity 3966 (OOP)
Before our latest heat wave it was really cold (for LA) and I somehow got it in my head that I should make a coat. I've had Simplicity 3966 in my stash since it was released in 2006. I love the oversized style and I think making a coat could be fun. The only tricky thing is that I'm allergic to wool and it's really hard to find wool-free coating fabric. I ordered this boucle from Joanns. It arrived this week and I love it but I didn't realize that it has stretch in it and I think it may not work for a coat.
5) Blackwood Cardigan by Helen’s Closet
I've made this cardigan three times (including the fair isle fabric shown above) before and I love it. It's totally a TNT. Perfect for that extra layer of warmth I always need. For the fair isle sweater knit, I made a long split hem variation (tutorial here).
Of course, I'd love to finish sewing all these things in December but realistically it will likely be around February when I actually finish. If ever. Haha! Sometimes the best part is the planning.
One of my favorite sources for entertainment and information is the podcast. I love listening to them in the car or when I hunker down for a long day of sewing. Podcasts are a great way to learn about something really specific or learn about things from a different perspective. And often they’re just great entertainment. Here are a few that I've been listening to lately.
1. Love to Sew
Have you heard there’s a new sewing podcast? This one is hosted by Helen from Helen’s Closet and Caroline from Blackbird Fabrics. They are both passionate about garment sewing making it a fun, nerdy listen.
2. Close Knit
I’ve listened to just a few episodes of this podcast and I really enjoyed the long format (about an hour) and thoughtful musings on the craft community. As I’m sure you can tell from the name, it’s focused on knitting, which I do indulge in a bit, but I think it would still be interesting to any crafter. I’m looking forward to listening to more.
3. Munchies
This is a fun podcast about the world of food. I first listened to the episodes interviewing Ina Garten and have since enjoyed learning about other people in the food world that I didn’t know before. If food podcasts are your jam ;) then I also recommend A Taste of the Past (history focused), The Splendid Table and Good Food (local to LA but I think still relevant for all food lovers).
4. Two Dope Queens
This podcast is just pure fun. They feature celebrity interviews, comedians and lots of jokes. It’s like hanging out with your funniest friends, making it perfect for a long commute home.
5. Travel with Rick Steves
I’m a big fan of Rick Steves' Europe travel books. Since I seem to always be dreaming about my next vacation, I’ve really enjoyed listening to his podcasts lately. Spain is at the top of my list so I’ve been going back and listening to all of the Spain episodes.
I'd love to know what podcasts you like to listen to. Let me know in the comments. And make sure to check out my first post in this series if you missed it the first time around.
