Artist's Box Top Dress Take 1 & 2

There are so many great indie sewing patterns in the world, sometimes it can be overwhelming to choose which ones to start with as a beginner, or which variation on a basic dress shape you should choose when you get started with an idea. I was introduced to the Artist’s Box Top and Dress by my friend Rae, and had not made this type of dress since I attempted my first Fen dress several years ago. It was a similar shape and I had some thrifted cotton fabric in my stash that I thought would make a great little summery dress.

I kind of rushed to make this first one as I was in my pre-travel make-all-the-things headspace before heading out of town for a trip and wanting some new clothes to take with me, but it still turned out so so cute. The sizes are grouped into three general size ranges, 0-12, 14-22, and 24-32 and I made the dress in the first size range. It was still plenty boxy even though I usually sew a size 10 or 12 in dresses depending on how much ease I’m trying to work in.

When I got back from my family visit with a few new fabrics to my name, the first thing I wanted to make was a second version in a Moda cotton lawn with a floral print that somehow screams spring and summer at the same time. This works because right now in my life I am routinely forgetting that it is August and not, say, April. Time, you thief.

This fabric was also 100% cotton but with an incredible swishy, drape-y factor to it that the first lacked. I also cut in the sides, using the pattern’s directions, about 1.5” on each side of the front and back of the top to make it less voluminous but still boxy. I think I’ve worn it four times in the past week already and added another little decorative stitch on the hem like I did on my Roscoe dress. I feel like the rhythm of my life right now, working from home and with no particular place to go, canning and making and knitting and snuggling on the couch is the exact pace for these casual pieces. I’m actually re-thinking about re-purposing a few of the fabrics I had designated for slightly dressier makes this summer into more flowy and easy shapes because for the forseeable future, that’s what I’m going to want to wear. Clothes that feel and look like “real clothes” but are also comforting and easy.

I’ve gotten a few questions on IG about the pattern - it is called the Artist’s Box Top but does include directions for sewing both a top and a dress, as I have done. My hope is that if you make this dress, you’ll find energy and excitement for what being at home feels like right now in a easy piece to wear. And definitely check out the pattern’s author Taryn who is so creatively inspiring.

Building a wardrobe 2020.3.22 - Wiksten Haori (Take Two)

My work-from-home office is also the space where all of my crafts live: my yarn cabinet, fabric storage, sewing machines, tea materials, spinning wheel, etc. My schedule before a few weeks ago was to mainly only use this space on the weekends while sewing or starting new projects, and one of the unexpected small happinesses from being home has been how I’ve paid attention to and used the spaces in my home differently than I previously ever had. Being surrounded by these materials has been super inspiring and has led to a cacophony of new ideas and things to work on. As a part of my effort to stash down, however, I’m trying to remain focused and purposeful in my crafting, with allowances for random new ideas and energy. First on my projects list was a new Wiksten Haori jacket for the spring.

Ever since my last Wiksten Haori (gosh, I cannot believe that was 2 years ago) I have wanted to make another one of these useful, simple, beautiful jackets. I have been eyeing this beautiful cross-stitched fabric (like this, but I purchased mine at Freeman’s Creative). I believe that I purchased 2.5 yards, since I knew I would shorten it and I wanted to make an unlined version using Jenny’s tutorial on her blog.

I made a size M again using the original pattern from Making volume 4 “Lines” and only shortened it by about 2” to make it a little longer than my last cropped version. I also lengthened the sleeve by about 4” and then did a double cuffed sleeve to make it feel a little more polished. I followed all of the modifications for the unlined version until I got to the collar. I didn’t have quite enough fabric to cut out four full pieces for the collar so I had to improvise a little. It worked out great, though, and would totally do this again. Here’s basically what I did:

• Sewed the two pieces together at short ends to make one super long strip (as directed)
• Folded over both long ends 3/8” towards the wrong side on both sides
• Lined up one long side with the collar seam at the center back neck and pinned one long, folded side to the raw edge of the collar and sewed at together.
• Like a quilt binding or like a folded skirt waistband, I brought the other long folded edge around to the inside of the jacket and overlapped the 3/8” fold over the seam I just made by securing the collar to the raw edge, pinning into place. Now the seam is enclosed behind my nice fold!
• From the outside of the jacket, stitched in the ditch slowly to not break any pins all the way the length of the collar and secure the inside folded edge. Took out the pins and ironed a nice edge for the collar.

I finished sewing and basically didn’t take it off for two days. It’s so comfy and perfect for layering inside my chilly house for hours on end. Looking forward to styling it with some dresses and jeans soon as well.

Obsessed with these lil checks

Moving ahead in a new world

Natural dyeing as meditation, and home-based crafting

The title of this post feels a little dramatic, but then again, so does the past two weeks. While I was still checking in on the Australian wildfires, it seemed, I began to hear and connect with the fact that some new virus was spreading like crazy abroad. Watching the images come out of Wuhan and Italy has been nothing short of shocking. And then, suddenly, our plans went from, “Hey, we should maybe think about this,” to, “We have to do something about this right now.”

I’m working from home, which is an incredible luxury. B is a resident physician and had to go into the hospital for the first part of this week. Each day I disinfected our living spaces and door handles in the morning after he left. My house is definitely cleaner than its been since we moved in two and a half years ago. Luckily, he’s been working (furiously) from home trying to make sure patients have everything they need outside of an imminent infection and it has been humbling to see the most organized and systematic processes at his work have to be completely re-made and adapted for telehealth and virtual meetings at the forefront of care.

I’m sure that many will resonate with the fact that one of the hardest things about this time for me is the uncertainty. No one knows when the worst of this will be over. In China, only half of the cases have resolved in over a month, although it looks like containment might actually be working. We have no idea what events we may or may not be able to have in April, May, and beyond, and if it gets better over the summer (as some predict), whether it will return in the fall. My dad is immunocompromised and every day I am nervous I will wake up to hear he had to be hospitalized, or worse. My sister-in-law and brother are expecting their first baby and all plans to shower them have been completely cancelled, and my best friend’s early April wedding as well. It feels impossible.

My faith is the anchor of my hope, and it is being surely tested. Crafting helps. Putting together new routines helps. Making small lists of specific things I can accomplish each day helps. Dreaming of new projects and looking forward to creating new things really helps. My library’s virtual resources help. Family group chats help. Watching a comforting TV show helps. Going on a nature walk helps. Stretching helps. Praying helps.

Hold on to what is helping you in this season. Give yourself and those around you grace as things ram to a halt. Call in the order for that yarn that you’ve been wanting or buy yourself a gift card to your local craft store and favorite restaurant to treat yourself when the social distancing ends and you can celebrate life in a way that you didn’t before. Take this chance to clean out and un-busy your life and see the good in that. Look at the generosity of strangers and small businesses offering free resources for those who are home-bound and know that we are all in this together and that we will get through it one day at a time. I am trying to do this, and it is helping. Little by little, we’re moving forward.

Picked these flowers for you <3