Last Big Pattern Haul for 2022 | Simplicity, McCall's & Know Me Patterns

 Hello, Friends! This really is my last blog post of the year. I am so excited about what is to come next year and I hope you are too! I've gotten a surge of creativity and excitement about sewing and content (and TRAVEL ;-)) so stay tuned for what I whip up lol

Today, I want to share my last pattern haul. It's full of Simplicity Patterns, McCall's Patterns and Know Me Patterns. Check out the vid and let me know if you have or want any of the patterns I've picked. And is there anything I NEED to pick up?? Let me know in the comments!

See you in the new year!

xoxo,

Tasha

A Quick Dress for a Gala | McCall's 8339

 Hello, Friends! So, suffice it to say, I lied. lol I said I was taking a personal sewing break for the remainder of the year and then a few days later I needed a new dress. I was going to a Gala and I misread the dress code and thought it was cocktail attire. I had a dress ready in my closet for that, but something made me look at the event details again a few days before the gala and I realized it was actually black tie. I had one or two dresses in my closet, but not that I was interested in wearing for this event in particular so I did what most of us do... went to my sewing room to look for a pattern and some fabric lol

This is McCall's 8339, View C in a size 16.

Surprising Versatility | Viki Sews Tally Bustier

Hello, Friends! I'm back with what is probably my last personal make of the year. *gasp* I feel like this has been a great sewing year for me and I was able to grow and experience a number of different sewing skills. And I experienced quite a few in this top specifically.

This is the Viki Sews Tally Bustier in a size 44, 170-176cm height.

Another Nigerian Wedding | Vogue 1426

Hello, friends! I was invited to another Nigerian wedding last month and this time, I was given the opportunity to wear the aso ebi of the wedding party! Aso Ebi is a uniform dress or dressing code/style that is worn in certain African cultures as an indicator of cooperation, camaraderie, and solidarity during ceremonies, events, and festive periods.

Out of this beautiful Aso Ebi fabric, I made the skirt from Vogue 1426 (OOP) in a size 14.

NYC Frocktails | Tammy Silver 10K Midi Skirt

 Hello, friends! Long time no talk... sewing has definitely been going on!

I'm back with the skirt I made to attend NYC Frocktails, and BOY is there a lot to talk about!

This is the 10K Midi Skirt from Tammy Silver in a size G (spoiler: I should've gone smaller).

Photo by Anjelica Jardiel @anjelicajardiel

Juneteenth Shirt | Closet Core Patterns Kalle Shirt

Hello, Friends! This post is LONG overdue, but forgive me. I needed time to edit the video I recorded of the whole creative process! But before I get to that, welcome my Juneteenth Shirt!

Juneteenth is a (now) national holiday that commemorates the date, 3 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people there be freed. Long story short, it's a holiday that commemorates ALL of the slaves throughout the US knowing that they were free. Like, an "Independence Day" of sorts.

Knowing what I wanted to do with this fabric, it made this holiday perfect to dedicate it to!

This is the Closet Core Paterrns Kalle Shirt View A in a size 12.

If you want to WATCH this shirt coming together before reading this review, check out the video!

The Quickest Outfit I've Ever Made | McCall's 6968 & Lola Tank

Hello Friends! I'm back with my last couple of makes from the summer season. You can see my video about all of the plans I made back in June and you'll notice that THESE two makes are a little off script...

The skirt is McCall's 6968 (OOP) and the top is another Staystitch Patterns, Co, Lola Racerfront Tank.

A Neutral Workhorse | True Bias Zoey Dress

Hello Friends! I've really been ENJOYING this summer and the cute things I've been able to make and wear to look my best while doing so! I've been wanting easy pieces that I can just throw on and that have the possibility for multiple options of styling.

Enter this True Bias Zoey Tank/Dress. I cut View C in size 12.

It's giving...Versace! | Staystitch Pattern Co. Lola Racerfront Dress

 Hello Friends! I'm back with another cute summer make! I originally intended to make this dress for vacation but time got the best of me so I made it when I returned for brunch with the family...

This is the Staystitch Pattern Co Lola Racer Tank Top Pattern. I cut the dress View in a size 10.

My FIRST bag! | Styles InSeams Antonio Tote

 Hello, Friends! This may be a year of trying new things for me. I made my first coat earlier this year, and now I am back with my very first BAG!

This is the Styles Inseams Studio Antonio Tote bag.

Traditional African Wedding | Simplicity 8394

 Hello Friends! I'm back, and I have been SEWING; just haven't been sharing much...UNTIL NOW lol

I was invited to a friend's Traditional Nigerian wedding ceremony and in the invitation, they made the guests aware of the theme color of the wedding. The color was MAGENTA. So I went into my stash looking for dressy-ish fabrics that would fit into the theme.

A little Vintage Casual | McCall's 8194

 Hello Friends! Can you believe that it's almost JUNE and the weather still doesn't know what it wants to do?! Now that my sew-jo is back, I've been going back and forth about what to make but I have to keep pushing back summer dresses, and it's a little too warm for the camo jacket I want to make lol.

But I will never tire of making dresses, I just needed one that would work for this awkward weather transition, but ALSO be multi-functional. I wanted something that wasn't TOO fancy that I'd feel weird pulling it out to hang out with friends on the weekend, but fancy ENOUGH that it could be dressed up for a classy event.

That's how I've come to make this dress that is giving me such a cute vintage flair!

This is McCall's 8194, View A in the length & sleeves of View B. I cut the size 16.

I made my FIRST COAT | Simplicity 8749

It's mid-March and not only is it between 20 and 40 degrees outside most days, but it SNOWED over the weekend! My only happy solace from these thoughts is that I finally finished the coat I've been working on for the past 2 years! I've always wanted a proper coat. Something that I could wear when I dress up for black tie events and things, but also just be stylish enough to throw on over a set of sweats. As an adult, most of my coats have looked more utility in nature, and generally just not... CHIC lol So this coat has stepped in to fix my problem.

I have made 3 jackets so far (here, here & here), but never a coat.

This beauty is Mimi GxSimplicity 8749, View B in a size 16.

Transitional Sweater Weather | Simplicity 8465

It's May in the DMV and one weekend it's 85 degrees and we're wearing shorts and tube tops and then 3 days later, it's 59 degrees and I'm in a matching sweatsuit! The weather is so bipolar this time of year that it really helps to have some functional transitional pieces in your closet to look cute but still fit the environment. One Friday night, motivation and inspiration hit me at the same time and I came out a few hours later with this beauty!

This is Simplicity 8465 (OOP) in a size Medium.

Unblogged Pieces of 2020

This year, I probably sewed the least I have ever sewn since I started 7 years ago. That's probably true for most of us though, so I haven't been too hard on myself about it. I blogged about 4 of the things I was able to push out but these are the few things that I never got real pics in and never made it to the blog.

Merry Christmas! | McCall's 7243

Merry Christmas, Friends! Here's to hopes that you are able to spend the holiday around people that you love and enjoy... and if that is not the case or possibility, I am hoping that you are able to find peace and gratitude in whatever situation you are in. The holidays are not the easiest times this year (for myself included), but I'm praying things will soon get better.

Today I am bringing to you McCall's 7243 (OOP), View B, in a size 12.

Mola Jacket | McCall's 7100

 

Hello, Friends! We are creeping up to the end of 2020 and BOY, what a year! AMIRITE?! I don't really want to get too much into it, but I DO want to get into this 4-year-old WIP (Work In Progress) that I had sitting around in a bag lol I saw the vision for it all those years ago and it just moved from corner to corner.

This project is my long-awaited Mola Jacket! If you've never heard of "Mola" before, as per Wikipedia "The Mola, or Molas, is a hand-made textile that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the Kuna people from Panama, Central America". It's a form of art in Panama that has it's history in body painting. The indigenous Indians in Panama (Kuna) use a reverse applique technique to finely stitch the multiple layers of fabric together. The stitches are nearly invisible.

The Kuna people  create some of the most unique and beautiful hand-crafted items with mola patterns. I cannot remember with which trip to Panama I picked up the patches I used for this jacket, but if you want to see some footage of me enjoying Panama, fabric shopping, and spending time with my family, you can check out my Panama Vlog YouTube playlist here.

But before we get too far in here! This jacket is McCall's 7100 (OOP) in size Medium. I have made this jacket once before. The first time I made it, I fully lined it, but I didn't have the desire to do that this time.

30th Birthday Dress! | Butterick 6566

*blows dust*

Well, hello there! Long time, no see. In fact, I haven't been on here since January. So many things have taken place between then and now, and to avoid putting a damper on anyone's mood (mostly mine) let's just ignore it and take a look at this dress I made for my 30th birthday that was this month!

This dress is View D of Butterick 6566 in a size Medium.

Windowpane Wool | Simplicity 1283

Hello, Friends! Back at it again! This time with a more seasonally appropriate piece lol

This is OOP Simplicity 1283 designed by Mimi G and I cut the size 14.

Hummingbird Maxi | Simplicity 8635 & McCall's 7834

Hello, Friends! I'm back with my last sleeveless garment of the season lol It's about that time. Temperatures are consistently in the LOW 50's in the morning and I have my heater on when I go to bed at night haha.

I made this dress last month as a #MinervaMaker. You can learn more about the fabric when my post gets posted on Minerva.com in the new year. Today I want to talk about this successful pattern mashup!