Here’s A Quick Easy Project

Here’s a quick, easy project that’s also fun and great for stash busting. I’ve wanted to make a hat for a couple of years now, but I never bothered to take the time to do it. Once I made the first one, I couldn’t wait to make another.

McCall’s 8212

When you see this pattern, you’ll notice that it’s a dress pattern. You may not realize that the hat the model is wearing on the pattern envelope is also included.

While I haven’t made any of the dresses, I did use this for the first hat. I refer to this one as my floppy hat because it has a very wide brim. There’s interfacing in the brim, but I don’t recall there being any particular type mentioned in the instructions. So, I used fusible, regular weight interfacing that I would use on a garment. That works fine, but if you want more structure, I would recommend using a heavier weight or craft interfacing.

My fabric choice was also part of the fun. I had bought this “Girl Power” fabric at JoAnn Fabrics a couple of years ago during Women’s History Month. It’s bright and colorful, so it’s right up my alley. Sewing a hat is a great way to use up some fabric that you may have leftover from a previous project.

The crown of the hat is lined, so for that I just used another leftover piece of broadcloth. There is supposed to be binding inside the crown (between the crown and brim). I believe the point of this is to prevent the crown from stretching. I used fold over elastic in mine, simply because I like the way it looks.

And the finished product…

Woman wearing wide brimmed, colorful hat

Simplicity 9368

The hat that I have wanted to make for a while now is the bucket hat. These are still very popular and can range in price from $50-$250.

I made View B which is shown on the envelope made in what looks like wool. There was another fun fabric I had for this one too.

This one is made with fabric I purchased for Black History Month. The great thing about this patten is that it is reversible. And, it was a bit of a surprise because the pattern doesn’t say that.

For the inside (or reverse side – lining) I used more of the “Girl Power” fabric from the previous hat. Each one of these projects came together in an afternoon. The bucket hat in particular was the fastest to make. There are fewer pieces. The only measurement needed for either is the head circumference.

Basically, that’s it! Two quick and easy projects that can help with your stash-busting too.

If you’d like to see the YouTube video I made about these projects, you can check that out here… And please consider subscribing to my channel!

Summer Dress With McCall’s 7889

I made a summer dress with McCall’s 7889 because I wanted something that would be quick and easy. This pattern did not disappoint. It’s described as being a very loose-fitting top and dress with button front closure.

The Pattern

I made a version that combines both Views D and B. I rarely make something that is strictly the way the pattern is designed! The suggested fabrics are all lightweight and flowy, so that will give you some idea of how this is intended to fit and look.

The Dress

I got this fabric from my mother-in-law who used to sew quite a bit. I’m sure it’s from the 1970’s or 1980’s since she’s held on to it a long time. It’s 100% polyester, but it’s very lightweight, breezy and thin. The fabric was in perfect condition and was perfect for this dress.

While the fabric is easy to sew and the pattern is rated easy, I did have a bit of a struggle with the pleats. There are three pleats on each side of the front and on each side of the back. Although they are easy to make, pleats are one of those things that sometimes throws me off. I think it’s because I really need to slow down and sew more carefully to get them placed correctly. There was a similar issue when I made this skirt years ago. Here’s that pattern; unfortunately, this one isn’t available.

woman wearing summer dress with McCall's 7889

I would dispute the pattern description that the dress is very loose. Because the pleats in the front and back gently cinch in the waist, the dress does have some shaping.

The pattern also includes a belt as you can see in the photos. That also helps to bring the waist in. Please be aware that there are no pockets in the dress. So that’s something you’d have to add if you are so inclined.

front view of woman wearing summer dress with mccall's 7889

Now, I will admit this dress is shorter than what I’m normally used to. If I was to make this again, I would probably add a few inches to the length. I debated with myself about doing that and decided against it. But next time, I will add a bit more fabric to the bottom of the dress.

Conclusion

I’m not sure I would sew this dress again, but I do think it would make a cute top (that’s View A in the pattern).

But, if you’re looking for a cute summer dress, this could be the one!

For those of you who would like to see the video review I made of the dress, that’s here below.

Fit And Sew Custom Jeans – Book Review

I bought this book, Fit and Sew Custom Jeans, a couple of years ago and I refer to it often. It is a Palmer Pletsch book written by Helen Bartley. It is a terrific book if you, like me, love to make your own jeans!

What’s in the book

The book basically ranges from the history and hardware of jeans making to inspiration, care tips and templates. This is a very comprehensive book that will have something for everyone.

One of the things I really like about this book is that there is so much information included that’s easy to understand. I also appreciate that there is such a variety of fit models and examples included. So no matter what your shape and size, there is information you can use. There is also a chapter (and ideas) for sewing men’s jeans.

Who is this for?

I would say this is for anyone who is interested in sewing their own jeans. If you are a beginner to making your own, it is a great source of information and inspiration. If you are more experienced, you will find the fitting advice and creative ideas to be excellent.

A page from Fit and Sew Custom Jeans book

I’ve made many pairs of my own jeans and its something I really enjoy. Once you get a pattern to fit you really well, it’s a easy to “hack” the pattern and make changes to it. You can end up with different looks from the same pattern.

My Conclusions

I really like this book. It is not only informational, but inspirational as well. There is so much advice on fitting, of course, since it is a Palmer/Pletsch publication. As I mentioned before, this is one of the few fitting books that has fit models of different sizes. That’s important so that you can get a visual idea of what an alteration may look like on you. The information in the book is easy to understand which I really appreciate too.

Here is the link to video review that I made for this book if you’d like to see that also.

https://youtu.be/M7quJBfDSm4?si=zTRCs3aucw4t73jl