Our FI Nest

Finally I get to share some of the patterns I was fortunate enough to test for Jalie this past winter. Hardest part is not sharing anything till they are released in the Spring! First up is Nikita.  Description: Tank with front yoke and keyhold racer back. The unique hem is easy to sew and adds a modern touch to the garment. Swing Dress, mid-thigh lenght, with closed racer back. Armholes on both views finished with bands.  This is such a cute top/dress and I can't wait to make one for me. I made two for my daughter. The pattern calls for very drapy fabrics, and the first version I made had a bit more body, but I figured it would be ok in a child size. Adult size I'd definitely wouldn't want this sticking stiffly out from my body. My daughter is 5 and wears a size 5 in RTW but in Jalie Sizes is an F (size 2) with extra length added. To the first version I added 2 inches, but this only makes it tunic length. I added 4 or 5 inches to the 2nd version se...

As mentioned in a previous post we were woefully under dressed for camping in the mountains last summer so I've been a little obsessed with warm sweaters for this year. I was so excited to be chosen to test Jalie's Alex and it just feels like the perfect camping/cozy sweater and will be making a ton of these over the years with 3 kids! I love this pattern. I unfortunately didn't pick the best fabric for my first version as the scale of the pattern was just a bit too large and I failed miserably with pattern matching. I'll be watching a few youtube videos to figure out how to do that properly on my next version. The cut off animals on this one are really bugging me. I keep reminding myself that many RTW pattern matching is often worse.   Despite the pattern issues I love this pattern. I just made up a version for myself and it is super cozy.  I did make a few alterations to this wearable muslin. I made a Size S grading to U at the hips and ad...

Another of the patterns I tested was Michelle. This was my favourite thing to wear on our trip to Mexico this winter. A dress with pockets! What more do we want in a dress?!?. This one also has the most flattering bodice and I love a gathered skirt. As I was trying to "shop" my stash and not buy fabric unless necessary, I used this embroidered cotton I'd picked up in New York City circa 2008! I had just enough to make this dress if I flipped the direction of the embroidery so the top goes vertically and skirt horizontally. The only problem was that this fabric does not meet the criteria of flowy. I thought I'd try it anyways and get more suitable fabric for the next version. So, um, yes... there is a reason fabric recommendations should be followed... But I loved the bodice,  colour and pockets and just needed a tad more waist shaping so I added some 1/4 inch elastic along the skirt seam. I just measured a length of elastic around...

Continuing the camping sweaters for me and the kids I did a wearable muslin up for me and MissBird to test out a few modifications planned before cutting the lovely fleece I bought from Discovery Trekking Fabrics. It is a bit busier than I'd normally choose for myself, but I recently saw a version made up for a woman using Jalie's Marie-Claude that I loved. I've decided to use one of Jalie's new patterns that I tested recently and I can show you that test version tomorrow when the patterns are released. I needed to get through making both of these muslins together before cutting this fabric to make sure I can fit both of them on it. I just hope I can figure out the pattern matching and get both versions made. To be continued... MissBird wanted a zipper front rather than hoodie so I debated between using Jalie 2319 that I used to make BabyBird his jacket and 2795 . I prefer the shape of 2795 but it has a lot of seams which could make for some awkward patter...

My fabric stash has now officially gotten out of control after two recent purchases. My rule currently is that anything that comes in has to have a plan in mind. This was my justification for my recent purchase from Discovery Trekking Outfitters in order to make some camping hoodies for the kids and me as the summer nights and mornings can be quite cool here. We were woefully unprepared for our trip to the mountains last year and I wanted to make sure we were ready this year. For my littlest one I made out of print Jalie 2319, it was actually my first Jalie pattern I ever made. Before cutting it out I made sure to trace off the pattern I planned for my oldest son to maximize the fabric. I was quite pleased to be able to get both jackets cut out of the 1 yard length I had purchased. It did help that all fabrics are listed as sold by the yard on Discovery Trekking Outfitters website but, for this length at least, I actually got a smidge over 1 metre, about 12 cm more. I ha...

I'm so excited about Jeans again!! Well mainly because these aren't real jeans, but rather pull-on jeans that I've been jealous that my kids have. I gave up on my pairs when I gave up my maternity jeans. But I finally made the Éleonore jeans pattern which I bought about a year ago. I was scared about how it would fit given my hips and slightly larger tummy (thank you 3 pregnancies). I wasn't sure how to adjust for a full belly so this pattern sat. I had even bought some fabric to make a test pair, but then I worried it didn't have quite enough stretch and frankly I didn't love it. Back in January I bought some stretch denim to try which at $14 didn't think would be the end of the world if it failed. Just a minor annoyance.  So having a bit more time on my hands lately, I've decided to focus on filling the whole in my wardrobe and well jeans are what I wear every day given the choice and are currently severely lacking in my closet.  First pair...