five sewing projects for summer
Ashlynne McGhee is feeling sew summery.
The sun is out, the days are longer and summer is in full swing! Hurrah!
I find it’s roughly once a season that I’m suddenly full of ideas and inspiration for what I want to make and this summer’s been a bit of a bumper edition for me. I’ve been lucky enough to spend lots of time with my family and friends, ice bathing in Victoria’s ‘summer’ seas and hanging out in my back yard and local parks. It’s been a very chilled, wholesome and nostalgic summer and here’s my thinking: if I keep making like it’s summer, if I keep dressing like it's summer, if I keep thinking like it’s summer – the summer state of mind continues, right!? Right.
So if you want to join me in this endless summering of our lives, here’s a little taste of what I’ve been planning and making for the season of sunshine.
A HAT FOR YOUR NOGGIN I’ve made a few of the Oliver and S bucket hats for my kids. They’re reversible and fit perfectly. Now don’t laugh – I have a really small head – so I’ve just made a slightly bigger version for myself!
I used a natural hemp from The Fabric Store and played around with some stitch detail on the brim. The top stitching looks sporty and has the dual function of stiffening the brim. Learn from my mistakes though; I went WAY overboard with this brim size and now it flops in my face. I’m currently looking for some thin wire to thread through it to salvage it!
A more sensible option may be to use an actual pattern designed for actual adult heads, like this free option from the Essentials Club. You could fray the brim, get creative with contrasting colours for a top stitch, or use some textured fabric like a corduroy or terry towelling – hey, maybe even try repurposing an actual textured towel!
A FLOWER BAG How damn cute is this?! I’ve just discovered Tytka Studio and instantly want to make every one of their bags. There’s something about seeing an Instagram wall of their bags made up in plain calico that has my mind hooning around all the possible colour blocking combinations I want to try. If you try one of these bags before me, please tag me @sewinthewild!
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BATHERS Do it! It’s really not that hard to sew bathers – OK maybe a tiny bit fiddly – but oh so satisfying! You can do it on your regular machine using a zig zag stitch, or with your overlocker and it’s a super cheap project; bathers don’t use much fabric.
I first made the Megan Nielsen Cottesloe bather separates. They’re sporty and supportive and perfect for diving through waves and I’ve made a few pairs now. I’ve scooped the neckline a little lower because I like living on the edge after a full wave wipe out!
I’ve also tried the one-piece version; it has a really sweet (and supportive) tie detail at the back. I’ll size down next time though. It’s a bit too long in the body for me. I’ve also been eying off the Violet Swimsuit from Laela Jeyne Patterns. It has cute cut outs and cup size options – heaven!
A LIGHT, BREEZY DRESS. Air flow. How good is a breeze swooping in and around a light-weight dress on a hot summer day! Polyester begone (for many reasons); embrace linen and cotton for these ones.
I panic-sewed this linen mega-maxi in the days before Christmas, loosely adapted from a tutorial by the very talented Veronica Tucker and can recommend it. I feel swathed in fabric when I wear it, but ooh, there’s that cool breeze tickling my back!
I’m toying with another McCall’s M7969 – otherwise known as that dress with the sleeves – in a semi-sheer cotton, maybe lengthening it to mid-calf for a bit of pattern drama or maybe even chopping it into separates. Ooh la la!
A PIN CUSHION I scored big on the sewing front this Christmas – maybe it was all the hints I dropped in my last column about gifts for sewists!
Either way, it felt rude to have beautiful new sewing pins and needles and a crummy old pin cushion so I set about making a new one.
Pick your shape, pick your binding, but don’t be stupid like me; use proper stuffing! Instagram versus reality here: I used wadding, like you’d use for a quilt, and overstuffed it and it’s really hard to get the pins into. At least it looks pretty!
Happy summer sewing friends and please tag me in your makes @sewinthewild.
For more musings and sewing advice, read Ashlynne's previous articles here.