What I Made This Summer

I may be a bit late, but here’s my post about what I made this summer. When I was doing research for this, there were more garments completed than I realized. Here are the garments in no particular order along with the patterns used.

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Florals and Prints

The first top is the Ruched T from Angela Wolf patterns. The skort is an old Simplicity pattern S9336. The middle picture features a top I made with fabric gifted to me by Minerva Fabrics. Butterick 6685 is a super simple top pattern that was used for this look. Last of this group is the floral blazer. It’s a washed linen that I really love and it was also gifted to me by Minerva Fabrics (I’m a Minerva brand ambassador). For this I made Simplicity 8844. The pattern is an unlined blazer that has cup sizes so it’s easier to get a good fit.

My Travel Collection

This grouping features a knit travel wardrobe I made over a few weeks. The patterns used for this are the Angela Wolf Ruched T and the Angela Wolf Joggers patterns. This is so comfortable to wear and was great for travel. Along with a few other pieces made previously from the same patterns (and a couple of others) I basically had a complete wardrobe that coordinated.

Sleepwear and Short Set

These above were some fun projects to make. The first is a robe I made from a set of 40 year old Ralph Lauren sheets. It’s a lavender and white stripe cotton fabric that is the same type of fabric a button down shirt would be made from. For this, a very old (vintage) pattern was used – McCall’s 4320. The middle photo shows a pajama set that I made from a butter yellow and white stripe Ralph Lauren sheet set. These sheets were bought more than 40 years ago as well and I wanted to use the material for something since it’s such great quality. The top is Butterick 6296 and the shorts are McCall’s 8221. The last picture features a vest from Simplicity 3108 and the Colette Patterns (now Seamwork) Iris shorts.

Cargo Shorts

This is one of my last summer makes. These are the Love Notions Patterns Meadowlark Hiking Pants. The pattern features a shorts version that I made, and a full length pants version. These are so comfortable and I really want to make the long pants for fall/winter.

Conclusion

So that’s basically what I made this summer! From having a tree fall on our house in June to taking a quick vacation with my husband, then just trying to relax through the summer heat, I’m surprised that I got this much done.

Using Sheets To Make Loungewear

Sometimes you end up with something and you think “how can I use this?” Well, that’s what happened to me and it didn’t take long for me to decide what to do. I realize that using sheets to make loungewear is the perfect combination.

*This post may contain some affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. There is no additional cost to you.

Lots Of Fabric

With full, queen and king size sheets you get a lot of fabric. Purchasing a set of sheets on sale can save you significant money while giving you yards and yards of fabric. So with that in mind, I made myself a loungewear set and a robe.

Easy To Cut And Sew

I figured that since the sheets are soft, they would be perfect for this purpose. These sheets I’m showing here are about 40+ years old. My mother had purchased these Ralph Lauren 100% cotton sheets in the 80’s or 90’s. The one above is a butter yellow and white stripe (imagine a button down shirt).

There were some holes in the fabric from when it had been stored, but overall, it was in good condition. The holes in the sheets were marked with painters tape so I could cut around those areas. I used the flat sheet in particular for this set and I still have the fitted sheet leftover. Fraying or having loose threads when cutting out the pattern was not a problem.

Patterns Used

Butterick 6296 is used for the top and McCall’s 8221 are the shorts. I used the cuff of the flat sheet for the bottom of the shorts. Both patterns are available and easy enough for a beginner.

Back view of woman wearing yellow and white pj set

The pockets and piping were left off from the top. I didn’t have any piping available at home and really didn’t feel like trying to go out and get any. The pockets weren’t a necessity for me on the top.

The Robe

Most recently I made the robe from the same type of Ralph Lauren sheets, but these were in a lavendar and white stripe.

For the robe, I used a very old pattern, but it’s one of my favorites. McCall’s 4320 is available online from different sellers and it’s the pattern I used.

This is so comfortable and is warm enough without causing me to overheat. That’s very important. With using sheets to make loungewear, you get so much fabric that is generally going to be super soft.

woman wearing McCall's 4320 robe made from sheets back view

If you are looking to make something comfortable that can be wearable as the seasons change, I highly recommend using a sheet set for the job!

Here’s a link to my YouTube video on this project.

Making Butterick 6685

This is one of my latest Minerva Fabrics projects. As a Minerva brand ambassador, I’m able to choose from a variety of fabrics. This time, I chose a supima cotton lawn for making Butterick 6685.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you shop through these links. There is no additional cost to you for doing so. Thanks for your support!

The Fabric

This is a Minerva exclusive supima cotton lawn called Sylvan Secrets. It is a lightweight, breezy fabric that I thought would be perfect for the hot summer weather we’ve been having. And this was my first time using this type of fabric. There’s no stretch in the Minerva fabric. The fabric is POD which means print on demand, so as it’s ordered, that’s when the design is put onto the material.

The Result

Originally, I had other plans for this fabric. I wanted to make a flowy dress that would be nice to wear during the summer. Unfortunately, a tree fell on our house which caused some damage and a low electrical power situation in the home. As a result, the only way I could get a project done in a reasonable amount of time was to make something very fast and easy. So making Butterick 6685 was the perfect solution.

I do have enough left over for a skirt or some palazzo style pants. View C is the view I made this time. I had previously made View A. One of the differences with this make is I opted not to make the sash.

If you are interested in purchasing this fabric, here is a link so you can check it out for yourself. There are many other prints available for the cotton lawn POD fabric that Minerva offers.

*You can use my code MSS251DT to get 10% off your order.

I didn’t make any alterations to the pattern. But I did try to use one of the rolled hem feet that I have for my Bernina sewing machine for the sleeve hems. This being the first time I’ve really tried it, it came out a bit wonky, but the foot works great. It is something that requires practice and patience. Honestly, I’m not convinced that it is really easier or faster than how I’ve done narrow hems before. But sometimes I believe in trying new things, especially since I had already purchased the foot.

If you’d like to check out the video I made about this project, you can check that out here.