Made in April

April was a good month. I've been using my internet time at home almost exclusively to look at fabrics and patterns. I purchased a subscription to Seamwork for $9 per month which gives me access to really lovely patterns, perfect for people like me who are in it to learn and want wardrobe staples. There's a supportive community network there, and great Instagram coverage of these completed patterns from fellow sewists, which inspires me even more.

Here are a few things I've learned lately:

1. How to assemble and cut a print-out pattern on regular ol' paper. It felt daunting at first, but it's something that's easy to do while I listen to a podcast, and it takes maybe 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of pattern. I also learned the importance of the little 4x4 test square to make sure my print-out was at the correct size. Otherwise, it's a simple matter of cutting the pages to size and taping them together, then cutting out the pieces as I would a normal pattern.

2. Use pattern weights and tracing instead of pins. This is a game changer! When I first started sewing, I did as my mom does by laying the fabric on the floor and pinning the pieces in place. I couldn't figure out how to do this without wrinkling the fabric or occasionally pinning the fabric to the carpet. Worse, my back would be killing me the next day. (Mom, I don't know how you do it!) Now I use our dining table and place the weights on the pattern pieces, trace and note markings (ink disappears in 24 hours or less), then cut it out. My back is saved and my cutting is more accurate. Someday I want a cutting mat and rotary cutter to make it even easier.

3. If I find a pattern I like, make it again. I get better and faster with each one, and I cement techniques that I use in other patterns.

4. Finish the seam allowances. I'm still trying to figure out the best technique for my sewing machine, but so far I've been using a zigzag stitch to finish.

5. How (and why) to cut and sew on the bias. This video was really helpful. All my patterns so far have involved bias necklines and arm holes and it was kind of a mystery to me how it all worked.

6. Topstitching. I'm getting better at it.

7. Pay careful attention when you're using fabrics whose right sides and wrong sides are alike! This is the cause of most of my seam ripping.

After three rounds of Grainline Studio's Willow tanks this year, this month I tried Seamwork's Sorbetto. I love the box pleat down the center. Also, the white bias tape was kind of a happy accident. I didn't realize the bias tape would show (my most recent pattern folded the main fabric over the bias tape), and I had a fleeting thought as I was pinning it, "This would actually look kind of cute to have this white contrast," and lo and behold, I had no choice. Next time I'll make matching bias tape.

Just prior to that, I made this dress, Veronica, over a couple Sundays. I didn't do any adjustments to the sizing and crossed my fingers that the measurements specified would be my end result, and like a miracle, they were. The armholes feel a little big and I definitely had some issues around the neckline and sleeves, so you can see some tiny wrinkles if you want to stand close and judge. However, I was really proud of myself for figuring out the partial elastic waist and waistband. Joel got to hear me at my best, smartest self as I talked myself through the steps, second- and triple-guessed myself, until I declared I had figured it out at last, only to take it back a minute later. This process did entail some seam ripping and neck aches as a result.

But also, I'm still knitting. I would show you progress on my May Cardigan, but right now it looks like a giant L and I'm not sure how it all comes together. But I know, based on yarn yardage, that I'm at least two-thirds done. My goal is still to complete it by June 1.