The pineapple quilt block is the perfect way to marry classic style with punchy, bold fabrics! Take a look at my scrappy Liberty blocks!
Category Archives: Personal
Trying something new can make us feel fearful or hesitant, but sewing your own shirt is actually quite straightforward. I’ve rounded up some great patterns to try, and I’m showing you my latest shirt. Check it out!
Posted in Fabric, Garment Sewing, Liberty of London, Patterns, Personal, Things for me!Tags: archer button up, classic shirt, DIY, Garment Sewing, grainline studio, Granville shirt, Liberty, Liesl & Co, make your own, Poppy and Daisy, recital shirt, sewaholic, tana lawn
- Dawnya MohsFebruary 10, 2019 - 1:43 am
Hi! I literally just finished my first button up shirt today, the McCalls 7575. I love the options you just posted, esp the recital shirt!! Wow! You mentioned getting your printing done at Office Depot. Are they able to handle all sizes? Like what would go to a plotter? Is the cost difference there compared to a pattern plotter printer?ReplyCancel
- MeredithFebruary 12, 2019 - 2:31 pm
Hi there, Dawnya! I always get my large printing done there. Most patterns are 36″ wide by whatever length. Generally the cost is between $8-10 for a pattern sheet, which I think is totally worth the time it saves me from tracing or taping. I wrote a big, long post about why I have converted to PDF’s, and while I found it to be hot button topic, for me, its a great option. :) You can read that post along with some other info about PDFs HEREReplyCancel
- BarbFebruary 11, 2019 - 9:39 am
- MeredithFebruary 12, 2019 - 2:33 pm
Aren’t her patterns fantastic? That’s how I’ve learned pretty much everything I know about sewing clothes! She is so thorough, and doesn’t leave out any details. I have the men’s shirt and I wanted to make it about two years ago, and yet it sits in my room. I should get on that! Thank you for the reminder. :)ReplyCancel
- EmilyFebruary 12, 2019 - 5:47 pm
I’ve tried all four patterns, and they’re all good. The one I’ve made most is the Archer – although I make it a few sizes smaller since it’s such a generous fit. My favorite is the Granville, though. I like that it is fitted, with the three separate pieces for the back panel. I do have to modify it, though, as I’m not that curvy – I add to the waist and bring the hips in, and then the fit is perfect! And I had no difficulty with the pdf, I wonder if they fixed the problem you ran into??
Another good one is the Cheyenne from Hey June – lots of options and great instructions. ReplyCancel
When you have a garment you just can’t live without, try taking one apart so you can make as many as you want! That’s what I did with my favorite shirt!
Posted in Fabric, Garment Sewing, Liberty of London, My Patterns, Patterns, Personal, Things for me!Tags: button-down shirt, floral, Garment Sewing, J.Crew Perfect Shirt, Liberty of London, Mother of Pearl, Pattern, perfect shirt, sewing, tana lawn, Wiltshire
- SarahFebruary 6, 2019 - 10:42 pm
- MeredithFebruary 12, 2019 - 2:28 pm
I have found what I like and what mimics the weight of garments in good stores- For garments I hardly ever use interfacing anymore because it steals the body and increases the weight, and generally does not wear well. That is especially true with light weight lawn. This shirt has a single piece of lightweight interfacing in the collar stand and that’s it. For bags, I always use SF101 and the key for either kind is to lay down the interfacing face up, then the fabric, and press gently without rubbing the iron. That’s gotten rid of all bubbling for me. Hope this helps!ReplyCancel
Posted in Homeschooling, Knitting, Personal, Things for me!Tags: cashmere, chastening, failure, fair isle, knitting, merino, posy, proverbs, Purl Soho, success, sweater, tincanknits, wool
- ThimbleannaJanuary 31, 2019 - 1:18 pm
- MeredithFebruary 5, 2019 - 10:20 pm
Thank you! I was knitting with a 5 or 6 on the body and it had me switch to a 3 at that part. I think I just really wasn’t holding it right after knitting the body so differently, which is odd for me because I do tend to be a tight knitter. Anyway, I have so much to learn in the knitting world, and I certainly learned a lot with this sweater! Thank you for the tips.ReplyCancel
Chatting all about the Deer & Doe Azara skirt in a long hoarded, large scale Liberty print.
Posted in Fabric, Garment Sewing, Liberty of London, pattern review, Patterns, Personal, Things for me!Tags: Anna's Garden, Azara Skirt, Deer and Doe, floral, Garment Sewing, handmade, Jones and Vandermeer, Liberty of London, midi skirt, pattern review
- TeriJanuary 28, 2019 - 8:15 pm
- EmilyJanuary 29, 2019 - 2:49 am
- BarbJanuary 29, 2019 - 9:28 am
It’s wonderful that you are doing this at 28. I am 58 and am dealing with some of the same issues. I’m reading Rick Hanson’s book, Resilient. He says, “Suppose you had a friend with a body like yours, as well as the talents, skills, good heart, and other virtues that you have. Also, suppose this friend is preoccupied, self-conscious or self-critical about his or her body in whatever ways you are about yourself. Imagine some of the reasonable, compassionate and encouraging things you might say to this friend. Try saying them to yourself inside your mind or even out loud.” We are so hard on ourselves and we need to give ourselves the same kind of compassion and encouragement we would give a friend!You actually look great in these photos. The skirt suits your vibrant personality and your legs look thin in it, so there you go! I’m in Canada and the fact that you can sit outside without 10 layers of wool is miraculous. Our weather report says for tonight – “frostbite in minutes”. Yikes!Keep up the good work, sewing and soulwork!ReplyCancel
- MeredithFebruary 5, 2019 - 10:22 pm
Barb, I tried to reply to you last week and my comments seem to be on the fritz. I just wanted to say I just love what you said. You are absolutely right about being more critical of ourselves in an unfiltered way in which we would never view others. Also, girl! How are you even surviving weather like that? I lived in Florida for 16 years prior to moving here a couple years back and I cannot even begin to imagine such temperatures. Truly, what do you even do? Do they close whole towns for a week or until that passes?ReplyCancel
- BarbFebruary 6, 2019 - 10:33 am
Haha Canadians are hardy! In the coldest weather you see people out without a hat or mitts. I think they are crazy! I’m a big fan of layering, wool/knitting and hot tea. I also sewed myself a wool coat. I love skirts, but waiting for the bus in the winter with only tights on? No thanks! It’s pants and long coats for me. We’ve gone from -27 C to 2C and now have freezing rain and STILL the busses are running. This might have something to do with why Canadian literature is so bleak. One of our writers, Gilles Vigneault, famously said, “Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver (My country is not a country, it is winter). And in February, that’s how we feel! I’m getting away to sunnier climes for a week where I will swap out my woollies for some summer skirts. ReplyCancel
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Welcome to Olivia Jane Handcrafted! I'm Meredith and this is my creative journal. Here you'll find loads of inspiration for a handmade wardrobe, home decor, bags, and quilts. I even have plenty of projects and tutorials to get you started or help you along the way.
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Oh my gosh they are just beautiful. I don’t have much of that fabric but I might have to invest in some. It really is calling to me.
Hi there, Patti! Thank you! I made all these with just some scraps, so it doesn’t take much fabric! DuckaDilly has some fantastic bundles and even a subscription they offer for monthly bundles in a variety of sizes, so that’s a great way to get a lot of variety without having to pay a lot for larger cuts. Here’s a link to their bundles if you are interested in checking them out CLICK HERE. They also offer scrap packs from time to time, which are amazing for blocks like this!
What a fantastic way to use those scraps that keep accumulating, but we never have the heart to throw away. I just love the way you alternated the colors and used the same ones on the corners. It really makes it artwork. The great thing about this type of piecing is that you can make a block with your scraps every time that you finish a few projects and voila! Eventually you will have enough for a really unique quilt top. Thanks for posting!