Jul 31, 2013

Singing the Man Bag Blues



Friends, maybe it's me.

I like to carry a bag and I can't for the life of me find one I really like.

Jul 30, 2013

Sewing for Mother



Readers, one of my ongoing goals is to make my mother a blouse.  I say ongoing because it's been on the back burner for months.

Jul 29, 2013

1920's Pajama Project -- Choosing Fabrics



Readers, it seems there will be 1920's pajamas this coming August.  And a kimono-style robe.

Jul 28, 2013

Like I NEED More Patterns...



This weekend I happened upon not one, but two large troves of patterns at the Chelsea flea market -- a rare thing.

Would you have turned down a mod Vogue Paris Original suit pattern for just $2?  I couldn't.

Jul 26, 2013

The Completed Striped Shirt + Roy's New Woman!



OK, friends, remember how the striped shirt I pieced together from fabric remnants earlier this week looked like it needed a blue stripe down the front -- to me, anyway?

Jul 25, 2013

Michael, Michael, MICHAEL -- models his new summer outfit



Readers, although Michael is not my brother, I do occasionally feel something akin to sibling rivalry toward him -- no doubt some sort of transference related to my older brother. 

Anyway, since this month it's been all about MICHAEL, you probably want to see him modeling his latest outfit, which is live today on the Mood Sewing Network.  (Just click here.)

Jul 24, 2013

Trying to Squeeze a Shirt Out of Fabric Remnants



In my ever-growing remnant stash is this super-soft cotton stripe I used three years ago (to the month) to make lounging pajama pants (see below).

Jul 23, 2013

NAME THAT PATTERN - Global Warming Edition!



Friends, the weather has been so hot here in New York City this month, one seeks relief wherever one can find it.

What better way to cool off than to play a refreshing round of the internet's favorite pattern-naming game, MPB's exclusive Name That Pattern?!

Jul 22, 2013

Making Michael's Linen Shorts



Finally, it was time to make Michael's shorts from the last fabric he chose for his summer ensemble, a liver-colored linen.  (Can you think of a better way to describe this shade?  I can't.  Dried blood?)

Jul 19, 2013

Return to the Planet of the Y-Fronts



Readers, it's one thing to be defeated by a men's tailored suit jacket, but Y-front underwear?  No way!

Jul 18, 2013

Welcome to Waddersville + Y-Front Briefs: YEA or NAY?



Readers, I am fortunate that most of the clothes I sew turn out to be wearable garments.   Most.

Jul 17, 2013

Rayon knit and the miracle of spray starch



Friends, despite my having made some cute knit cotton jersey underwear recently, I'm not a big fan of sewing knits.  Maybe it's because I'm not really that excited about making the kind of garments one makes with knits: for men, we're talking tee shirts and underwear.

Jul 16, 2013

Sewing with Cotton Eyelet: Fact & Fiction



Readers, now that Michael's cotton eyelet shirt is behind me, I am ready to tackle rayon knit, one of the other fabrics Michael chose for his summer ensemble last month (see below).

Jul 15, 2013

Michael Models the Cotton Eyelet Shirt!



Friends, Michael's cotton eyelet shirt is all finished and he's modeling it today over at the Mood Sewing Network.

You can fly on over by clicking here -- no witchcraft necessary!

Jul 12, 2013

Getting Started on Michael's Cotton Eyelet Shirt



I could delay no longer: today I started sewing Michael's cotton eyelet shirt.

Jul 11, 2013

Can You Teach Yourself Fashion Draping?



Readers, I know I was a little vague about French dress forms yesterday -- apologies.

Jul 10, 2013

Jul 9, 2013

Two wrongs don't make a right -- or do they?



OK, I need to talk about my second-hand Ralph Lauren sheets some more.

Jul 8, 2013

Blindsided by Bargain Bedsheets or "Hitting the Ralph Lauren Mother Lode"



Oh, friends, I have acquired more fabric -- much, much more!

I swung by my local Salvation Army on Saturday -- really just to keep cool as we have no air-conditioning this summer due to our ongoing construction project -- and stumbled upon a bedsheet bonanza.

Jul 5, 2013

Jalie 3242: Men's Boxer Briefs REVEAL



It's barely lunch time, friends, but I have already finished my second Jalie briefs.  This time I made the boxer briefs, which were so much simpler than the regular briefs, or maybe I was just more comfortable with the fabric and the process.

Jul 4, 2013

How I Spent July 4th Sewing Underwear or "Let Me Be Brief"



Readers, today is a national holiday in the United States.  Traditionally, people go to the beach, attend outdoor barbecues, and watch fireworks displays.

Never one to follow the crowd, I spent my July 4th making underwear. 

Jul 3, 2013

Psyching Myself Up For Knit Underwear + Garbage Find Du Jour



Readers, it is pouring -- POURING! -- down rain right now; the whole week has been this way.  I just got in and missed this latest deluge by less than three minutes.

Jul 2, 2013

Meet the New BF!



Dreams really do come true, readers -- sometimes even the good ones!

Jul 1, 2013

Peter and the Prada Bag + "Help me date this pattern, please!"



OK, so I'm walking the dogs this morning, and we're strolling down a lovely block of brownstones (i.e., row houses) and I notice that someone has left a pile of books and fashion magazines beside some trash bins -- not all that unusual really.