Today marks fourteen years of blogging! I’ve gone through a lot of life changes since I started–two degrees, a divorce, a marriage, two kids, and starting my own business. This has been a stable feature in my life that sometimes can be overwhelming, and sometimes is great solace.
In these photos I’m wearing a Dissent Pullover by Andrea Rangel, an Archer Button Up by Grainline Studios, and Persephone Pants by Anna Allen Clothing. I’m also wearing Noelle underwear that I made, but I’m not going to show those off, and I’ve got some old stockinette handmade socks on in these boots. If I can get down with making more bras and bralettes I’ll have a completely handmade outfit.
This sweater hasn’t been blocked in these photos. I finished it in the afternoon yesterday and snapped some pics before I rushed off to vote right after work. I got lucky and only had to wait 18 minutes for our first day of early voting. A couple of friends had to wait about an hour when they went. If you haven’t voted and you live in the United States, PLEASE VOTE and please vote for Biden. We need a president we can respect that also respects science, education, the environment, and healthcare. Your vote matters and this election matters.
For the Dissent Pullover I used Miss Babs Keira in McHale’s for the main color and Yummy 3-ply in Coos Bay for the contrast color. I made the cropped version and made three-quarter sleeves. I’ve been making mostly high-waisted pants so I thought this would be a good fit for my emerging handmade wardrobe. The Fair Isle for this was pretty addictive and easy to complete.
Completing this Archer Button Up feels like a great accomplishment. I couldn’t have done it without the amazing sixteen step by step videos on YouTube by Grainline Studios. It wasn’t hard to follow along with that excellent visual guidance full of good sewing tips. It was time consuming, but really fun and engaging along the way. I used some Robert Kaufman Swiss Dot Chambray from Purl Soho, but it doesn’t look like they still have this color. I love the feel of the fabric and the only thing I would change about sewing this is to either French seam the sleeves and sides or faux flat-fell seams to make the inside look a little nicer for rolled sleeves. I almost lost my mind on the last step–buttonholes, since my Janome Sewist 525s automatic buttonhole foot was malfunctioning. I won’t show you the couple of buttonholes I had to try to do manually that look like a zombie chewed them. I don’t know if something is wrong with the foot or my experience level, but for some of the buttonholes the foot didn’t stop where it should and went way beyond the button length, and for a few it went up one side and didn’t shift over to go back down the other side. If anyone has tips for this, please feel free to share them.
The Persephone Pants are a bit of a mystery to me still. I used some 8ish oz. duck cloth from JoAnn Fabrics. It doesn’t feel great to the touch, but it was cheap and I was thinking of these mostly as practice for some fitted pants and new techniques. I made a size 14 based on my measurements and at first they seemed way too tight and based on the horizontal pulling around the front, it seems like I should extend the seat of the crotch. After two wears they now seem pretty loose. I’m not sure what to make of them, and I may cut my next pair between the size 12 and 14, or just make the darts in the back slightly deeper to pull in more around the waist. The waist measurement was comfortably loose from the beginning, and interfacing seems to keep that in place fairly well. I don’t know if I should extend the crotch on the next pair or just wear them for two days before deciding about the fit. The next pair will be made with more duck canvas, although it’s slightly lighter in weight, from a different place (Big Duck Canvas), and much much softer to the hand. That fabric was also super cheap (about $15 for the two 59″ yards) so it feels fine to experiment with little risk other than time spent.
Thanks for reading my ramblings about life and crafting. This blog has been a fun thing in my life and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Happy Anniversary! The outfit looks amazing.
Thank you!
I was going to say Happy Anniversary too! 14 years to still be blogging is a great success. Love the sweater.
Thanks so much! It’s been a fun way to connect with people.
Happy Anniversary! I can’t believe in 14 years you have been through so much! You look too young to have experienced all of the things you have listed. I will have to go back to your earliest posts one of these days to read more about you. Best wishes for many more happy blogging years! Your outfit is terrific and I especially like the dissent sweater for voting day! I will vote for Biden tomorrow! Can’t wait!
Thanks! The early posts are a bit rough with terrible pics. 😂 I’ll be 40 in July. It’s been a busy 14 years. Yea for Biden!
Happy blogiversary! I love the green pants.
Thank you! I don’t think I’ve ever worn green pants before. It’s growing on me.
Huge congrats!
Thanks!
A follow-up for you – Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Party won an outright majority in our election on Saturday, the first time this has happened since we switched to the MMP system in New Zealand in the early 1990s. We are thrilled to bits! Let’s hope the U.S also swings to the Left and votes the Orange Idiot out of the White House!
That’s fantastic news! You are so lucky to have very very good leadership.
Congratulations on 14 years of blogging, voting, AND amazing garments! Your blog got me into knitting, and I will be forever thankful for that. You rock!
Oh that’s so sweet of you to say! I had no idea I inspired your knitting. 😊
All the better that I told you. 😉 It really was. You enthusiasm about it really got me to finally try it, after seeing my gran knit for years and trying it as a kid and not being successful.
Congratulations for the 14th anniversary ! So much has gone on in your life, well done for your achievements and keeping strong !
I hope vote turnout will be high 🙂
I like your own made clothing, it must be rewarding to make your outfits
I love your blog, congrats! Found you through knitting but I love the sewing too.