What I Made In June 2021

I usually don’t write a recap of what I made, but it’s something I want to start doing more regularly. I have a video recap on my YouTube channel here. But sometimes it’s easier to write about details than to speak them. So, here are the details of what I made in June 2021.

SHORTS

The first thing is (which I believe was actually done at the end of May) this pair of Colette Patterns Iris shorts. The pattern is actually shorter than this. I made these longer by about 3″. Otherwise, there were not changes made to the shorts. Also, here is the post I wrote about the first version of this top.

BRAS

The next group of items I made were bras. Being able to make my own bras has really been an awesome experience. The ones I make fit me better than many that I have bought. So the three grouped together are all Pin Up Girls Amanda T-shirt pattern. The one brown satin is Orange Lingerie Marlborough bra.

I have fabrics and findings for bra making, but I don’t really have kits. So I use what I have and try to coordinate to make what I want. But these Pin Up Girls bras are my favorites. They are full coverage bras that are comfortable and fit well. You purchase the foam cups, then cover them with fabric. I like the Orange Lingerie Marlborough bra too. It did take a bit more work to get this style to fit me.

TOPS

One of the tops I made was using Simplicity patterns 8920.

I used fabric from Minerva fabrics for this. I am a Minerva Maker. The blog post I wrote for their site is here. This fabric is fantastic! It’s bright and summery; great for the pattern I used.

Here’s a link to the fabric if you’d like to check it out for yourself.

The next tops were the Ogden cami from True Bias patterns. I had to make some changes to this to get a look and fit I wanted. But I’m very happy with how this final one (yellow & white) turned out.

This is a cool, comfortable top that can even be worn under a blazer when the weather transitions into fall. I can also see making this in different fabrics.

So that’s it for the month of June. I’m currently working on many things. Let me know in the comments what you’re up to.

Until next time…

Making The Ogden Cami

This is one of those patterns I’ve heard about since it was released. I know of so many people that love this pattern. But I never got around to making it until now. So, this post is about my experience making the Ogden cami.

This is picture above is the modified version that I made that I really like. Changes were made for me to get the look and fit I want.

The unaltered version of the top:

Above you’ll see the original version of the cami as it’s to be sewn.The front and back are lower than what I wanted for this. I also wanted to make sure that the straps would be bra-friendly. You can also see in this picture that the lining of the top is short.

Here’s how I achieved a look I really like:

shortened the straps in order to raise the neckline (probably about 3″)
widened the straps to make sure it would cover my bra straps
lengthened the lining about 3″
lengthened the top about 4″
widened the part of the cami where the straps attach

Here is a picture to show what the Ogden cami looks like with raising the straps, but keeping the lining and length of the top the same.

Ogden cami with Colette patterns Iris shorts

The top looks much better with the new length. I also love how the neckline looks with the shorter straps. Now I can see myself making more of these in different colors and patterns. This would be a useful top to have even as the seasons transition. I can wear these under a blazer.

This final version is made from a yellow and white checked lightweight cotton blend. I used the same fabric for the lining as well. It has become the perfect summer top!

If you’re unfamiliar with the pattern, you can take a look here. I bought the PDF version. It’s only a few pieces of paper to put together. I’ve been making a lot of summer tops lately.

So far this summer is becoming quite productive!

Butterick 6814 Made With Minerva

This is a springtime pattern (I think) that is a very easy top to make and wear. As you may know, I’m a Minerva Maker, so for this project in May, I chose to get a cotton shirting from them. Here is a link to a previous post using Minerva fabric. This Butterick 6814 made with Minerva fabric was the perfect choice for me. And the results turned out great!

I’m always concerned when I get a pattern that has a V-neck. The V’s tend to be too low for my taste and comfort level. That means more work because the neckline will need to be raised. BUT, that was not the case with this pattern.

This pattern has the perfect V-neck without alterations!

While the above statement may not be a big deal to some of you, for me it’s huge! 😂 I love the look of V-neck tops, but they sometimes involve more work than I’m wanting to do.

The blouse I made was an unintended change to the pattern. I didn’t realize when I cut out the top that the sleeves weren’t folded up to show the shorter version. Therefore, I made a long sleeve version of View A. There are plans to make this the correct sleeve length out of a cotton eyelet fabric I have. I can’t wait to get that one done!

For now, this one will do. This is the type of top that makes an outfit look more put together instantly. Isn’t it great to have those types of things in the closet? And now as things start to open back up, I might actually have some place to go (eventually).

I have a blog post the really covers the fabric (it’s lightweight, washes and dries great, and sews up beautifully). You can get to that post here.

I hope I’ve given you another idea of something to add to your wardrobe. In the meantime, my plan to keep sewing and improving my skills!