The winters are generally mild here in washington, D.C. But they last entirely too long for me! Usually, by march I’m ready to abandon my heavy coats and scarves in exchange for yummy rayons and loud hues.Cognitive tools for learning I scooped up 2 yards of this here-I-am orange tropical floral print that I ordered sight unseen from joann fabrics online. No regrets were necessary.Cognitive tools for learning

I’m always on the lookout for quick, yet fashionable, wins and I have seriously been eying this pattern for a while. I bought helen’s closet york pinafore pattern on sale after her re-release including extended sizes (0-30 !!!).Cognitive tools for learning and it just so happened to coincide with the purchase of this unapologetically tropical print fabric AND a book-signing event for wild at home.Cognitive tools for learning I am currently the owner of one monstera plant (shown below) that I frankly have NO idea how I’ve been able to keep him alive for the last TWO years!!Cognitive tools for learning I’m thinking of getting more little greens and giving plant parenthood a real try. Monstera leaves and tropical prints mixed with a little sass.Cognitive tools for learning

Head-to-toe shot of completed burnside bibs pattern, version 1. Sew house 7 burnside bibs pattern with 2.5 yards of bronze stretch japanese cotton twill from mood fabrics.Cognitive tools for learning A bold red lip + some monstera plant life in the background to break up the neutral monotony. A close-up shot of the twin-needle detail on the front bib band + pocket (I didn’t actually use a twin needle though *wink*)

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All of 2018 was a full plate of being-too-busy for most things that fulfilled me personally. Sewing and the desire to sew took a backseat for sure.Cognitive tools for learning the few moments I did touch the machine just ended up in half-started things or completed failures. So this make felt extra deserving. Just look at those beautiful guts!Cognitive tools for learning beautifully lined bib and a successful invisible zipper application – it’s been a while!

The paper-bag brown cotton twill gives it a utilitarian feel, but the long straps crossing in the back and tying in the front really give it a delicate and feminine vibe that I just can’t get enough of.Cognitive tools for learning it really is a pattern that can be easily overlooked because overalls tend to flatter almost no one, but perhaps perusing the ‘burnside bibs’ hashtag on instagram will make you think otherwise.Cognitive tools for learning

Although I loathe starting a new project and dread the thought of the amount of time it will take to finish what I imagine in my head, I LOVE documenting the process!!Cognitive tools for learning I have an embarrassing amount of these close-up shots of the small tasks and details that eventually make a cherished garment on my phone’s camera roll.Cognitive tools for learning but, to me, these are the tiny victories worth sharing! My first time attempting tailor’s tacks! Much preferred this to using a washable marker or chalk to mark both sides of the fabric.Cognitive tools for learning it may be a faux-pax, but sometimes I use black sharpie to mark the notches I know the world will never see.

I hardly know where to begin. I’ve been a horrible friend for far too long.Cognitive tools for learning admittedly, I just wasn’t that into you after a while and for the longest, I really contemplated ending our friendship for good. As you know, I found instagram several years ago and at first, it was just a casual thing.Cognitive tools for learning but before I knew it I fell hard for this one (like full on stalker-status) and it was the platform that just had all of my attention. So much so, I really contemplated giving up and erasing everything that we had.Cognitive tools for learning

I used to tell you all of my sewing plans and all about my travels. I didn’t even tell you about vietnam, but I will. And did you know that I finally quit flying january of 2018?Cognitive tools for learning yeah, I actually did it. After nearly seven years I clipped my wings. I feel bad for not telling you sooner, especially since I confided all my feelings and experiences to you before.Cognitive tools for learning and you know me – I’ve never been super consistent with my sewing projects, but there are several since the last post that I never even told you about.Cognitive tools for learning

You are my oldest, truest and most reliable of online platforms (even when I was almost convinced that blogs weren’t worth keeping around anymore).Cognitive tools for learning you were there to help me find purpose and peace after I got laid off from my first serious corporate job after college and to see me get my first passport stam on my 30th birthday.Cognitive tools for learning I made excuses not to hang out with you anymore – always being “too busy” for you. I got a little sad that no one was reading you anymore. And I always felt the pressure to change our relationship content to impress others in hopes they would visit us more.Cognitive tools for learning

Well, I’m here to tell you now that I don’t care. It started as just us. And if it remains just the two of us here, I’m okay with that. So please, let’s start over.Cognitive tools for learning I’ll continue to share my creativity with you & you’ll share that creativity with the world, just like the good old days. I missed you old friend, and I have SO much to tell you.Cognitive tools for learning here’s to blogging like no one is watching.

Hello from vietnam! If you’ve been keeping up with my instagram you’d know that I’m on the other side of the world!Cognitive tools for learning one of my oldest friends from elementary school has found the love of his life in hanoi and I couldn’t be happier to be here to celebrate. And that’s where this kielo wrap dress comes in.Cognitive tools for learning I wanted to wear a nice dress for the wedding that was appropriately chic for the occasion while being able to throw this dress in my luggage without worrying about silly things like wrinkles.Cognitive tools for learning hanging this up in a hot shower room = problem solved.

1. This fabric. It looks nice, but do you notice the chevron faintly peeking through in the last photo?Cognitive tools for learning this could be a problem. I’m wearing this dress to a wedding today, and I really don’t want to find out later what happens to all photos taken with flash while wearing a black bra underneath this dress.Cognitive tools for learning I am already committing to black drugstore tights while the average weather here in hanoi has been around the mid to low 70’s F during the day and no wind.Cognitive tools for learning to camisole or not to camisole? That IS the question.

2. And this fabric (part deux). Did I mention I ordered this specialty knit online? I have come to find out first hand that girl charlee is fantastic, and they have quite the selections of knits online to choose from.Cognitive tools for learning only problem is, I’ve never been the no-look no-feel type of fabric purchaser. The screenshot looked great and the amount of stretch the fabric description gave seemed perfect, but if I had handled this fabric in person I definitely would’ve passed on it.Cognitive tools for learning between the sheerness, lack of enough stretch and the just so-so drape, I know I could’ve chosen other suitable options.

So I currently have two quite involved sewing projects on the table that have lots of pattern pieces and notions that I’m not too familiar working with.Cognitive tools for learning did I mention that I need both projects completed by the end of this month? Even still, sometimes you just need a quick win. Like an easy, no-fuss project that you can start in the morning and wear by the afternoon/evening.Cognitive tools for learning

So that didn’t really happen with this top because I decided to start looking through my old burda magazines at eleven o’clock at night, BUT it was still fast!Cognitive tools for learning and if you’ve ever worked with (or downright struggled with) a pattern out of a burda style magazine, you already know that it’s a different world from your average big 4 pattern experience.Cognitive tools for learning tracing a pattern admist millions of lines, adding your own seam allowances, and then finally putting your project together with a total of two small paragraphs of instruction.Cognitive tools for learning it can be a feat!

However after I traced/pinned my new pattern pieces the night before, genius me misplaced the magazine with the pattern instructions the very next day!Cognitive tools for learning but instead of panicking, I just realized that I could totally wing this project and put them together without it. I’ve made enough garments just to know exactly how it should be assembled.Cognitive tools for learning and even though this isn’t the hardest of pieces to make, I couldn’t help but be incredibly proud of myself!!

I’ve been sewing on an average of a few garments per year over the last several years, but none get the love that my completed knit projects do.Cognitive tools for learning this latest knit peplum top make and my knit sweater top from last year go to all the layovers AND all the laundry days. If you look at both of these patterns, although made a year apart, they most definitely have their similarities.Cognitive tools for learning I don’t know it I’m just a sucker for sporting knits with color-blocking, raglan sleeve details or both! Either way, I can’t get enough of wearing these two.Cognitive tools for learning

Honestly, most of my other projects get pushed aside in my closet and get worn VERY rarely. I’ve realized that there is a real difference between choosing a sewing project because you think said fabric/pattern is amazing, verses actually selecting a pattern that is both unique + flattering to you AND your personal style.Cognitive tools for learning too many times I’ve been excited to make something, but not really as excited to actually wear it.

McCall’s 6754, an easy knit pattern, is yet another relatively quick-sew with easy-to-follow directions.Cognitive tools for learning my video above does a great job showing you how it actually moves on the body (ie. I’m doing ridiculous dance moves to demonstrate that very point.Cognitive tools for learning hashtag. You’re all welcome.) also, I did modify the pattern around the neckline a bit though. Definitely feel free to check out my official reviews of this pattern both on pattern review + kollabora!Cognitive tools for learning

You would probably agree that most of us seamsters have an issue with having an overabundance of fabric at home. I’ve actually managed to keep my fabric stash pretty minimal, but I have over 200 sewing patterns in my collection so obviously I am NOT opposed to buying a pattern on sale!Cognitive tools for learning I often get excited about a new sewing project, but the idea of sifting through the large moving box that houses my patterns is a headache in itself.Cognitive tools for learning maybe for you it’s just easier to buy new project fabric at the store since you really don’t recall what material, nor how much yardage of it, you already have at home.Cognitive tools for learning

2. On a piece of paper, write down all of the categories you’d like to describe each pattern or fabric. For the fabric, you may choose to categorize by color/print (ex.Cognitive tools for learning florals, neutrals, ethnic, etc.) or material type (ex. Cotton, polyester, wool, etc.). For sewing patterns, you may choose to categorize by brand (ex.Cognitive tools for learning mccalls, vogue, colette patterns, etc.) or clothing type (ex. Dresses/skirts, shorts/pants, outerwear, etc.). These categories will become the names for each new ‘secret board’ that you create.Cognitive tools for learning

3. In your personal pinterest account, add a new ‘secret board’. Using the categories that you’ve just listed for yourself, name each board accordingly.Cognitive tools for learning be sure to add an underscore before each new category name (ex. “_florals”). This will help ensure that the boards remain listed together and will be much easier to spot them from your existing boards you’ve already created.Cognitive tools for learning

4. Begin uploading your pictures to save as new pins! It’s totally up to you how you’d like to describe each pin. For sewing patterns, I organized them by garment type and put the pattern number in the description box.Cognitive tools for learning as for the fabric, I’d suggest writing as much as you know in the description box. For example, known fabric type, stretch/no-stretch and remaining yardage.Cognitive tools for learning

When buying new fabric: take a picture of the bolt and fabric, note the date (if that’s important to you), note yardage purchased, and the type of fabric.Cognitive tools for learning and for the love for all that is good in the world, WASH YOUR FABRIC WHEN YOU GET HOME. It takes the frustration out of trying to figure out years later, ‘ has this fabric been pre-washed yet?’.Cognitive tools for learning just save yourself some time in the future and put your mind at ease and wash it per the care instructions NOW.