Taking a little “me” time this week to dig into two spring sewing patterns: the Philo Top by Jules Smit and the Garden Blouse by Frux Studio !!
Timestamps:
(0:22) pattern plans
(2:24) cutting & projector update
(8:10) marking drill holes for the garden blouse
(9:45) sewing the philo top
(15:43) philo top reveal!
(17:20) sewing the garden blouse
(20:15) garden blouse pin tucks
(21:25) mom duty interlude
(24:00) ric rac rambles
(25:25) more pin tuck progress
(28:35) finishing the garden blouse OR ELSE
(33:42) sewing philosophy chat
(36:08) garden blouse reveal!
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Philo Top Pattern: https://go.shopmy.us/p-55925995
Garden Dress/Top Pattern: https://fruxstudio.com/products/womens-garden-dress-blouse-pdf-pattern
blue linen fabric from Bolt (no link available)
green linen fabric from Blackbird Fabrics – https://www.blackbirdfabrics.com/en-us/collections/wovens/products/washed-linen-salted-lime
everything in my sewing room – https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/3992681
fave sewing tools – https://sydgraham.com/pages/tools
pattern weights – https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/4005904
my sewing patterns – https://sydgraham.com/collections/sewing-patterns
learn to sew! – https://sydgraham.com/pages/learn-to-sew
44 Comments
Love that you were listening to One Direction! I had the Philo pattern in my cart and now it's ready to be printed.
The color and the time it took to make the garden blouse was worth it! Even the flouncy peplum is great. Such a pretty make.
No need to choose one style of sewing. Sew what you’re in the mood for. That green top was totally worth it. I’m inspired to make one myself. But you can just make that type of project a “once in a while” thing. Can you name that Ramen restaurant? Looked so good.
Omg…I love the pintuck top…but I have no patience….lol. You did such a great job! BTW, we live in the same city….you went to my favorite ramon shop also!! Lol…we should get together and do sewing social! 😊❤
Check out the Remy Raglan from Sew House Seven. I think you would like the style. The add on pattern has these great 3/4 gathered sleeves. Cute and comfy and a quick sew with lovely french seams. Perfect for linen.
I feel the same, I'm more of an intuitive sewer….and I love it more. 😊
Absolutely love your sewing vlogs
Love the color you chose for both of your tops. Both of them are so cute and so lovely and fun. I feel like the green one has a little too much fabric, for me, at the top. I’d have to make the neck opening a little larger or the shoulders a little narrower; and I agree with you regarding the hem facing it would be the same way for me, but both truly gorgeous and I hope you enjoy wearing them.
The garden blouse is SO pretty but I don't know if I'd have the patience 🤭
The Garden Top is absolutely gorgeous and for me it would be worth all the tedious time I would put into it….However, I think you are right about the hem. I am so glad you mentioned that in the reveal because I would not like the stiffness of that hem on myself either and would do exactly what you said you would probably do and that is take it back to one layer of fabric and do a rolled hem. That would fix it most definitely. I've had to edit this comment twice because for some reason my laptop wants to spell hem, like him…
Did you get your wedding ring back? I've been wondering how it turned out and if you love it. Not sure if the one seen in this video is it? Pretty ring either way!
I’m a meticulous sewer and live for the fussy details. But, that’s just my personality in general! 😅
I have just bought myself a Juki HZL DX7….. its amazing. its Semi industrial…..
I primarily knit and haven’t attempted to sew anything since I was a teenager, but after seeing that sleeveless version of the Garden Top a while ago, that’s what I’m aspiring to as I attempt to get back into sewing ✨
I learned to serge on a Juki MO654DE in school. I promptly bought the exact same model new and have used it for the past 5-6 years with no issues. I love it so much! To answer your question about whether we prefer intricate patterns we can follow or more intuitive, less complex patterns, I think it depends on the mood I am in. Do I want a more complex final product that will take a while to complete, or do I want a quicker win? Both are satisfying, and it just depends. I definitely more often than not lean towards less complex as I always worry about sizing and cutting into expensive or limited fabric. If I can have a quick win, then my confidence is higher and I can practice more with intuitive sewing.
I am a busy mom of four and love to sew, but I do not have time for intricacy. I prefer a bit more of a forgiving process. That shirt is gorgeous but I will not be attempting it any time soon!
I love the blue you ended up using, so pretty for summer!
wow ok so i am maybe right to be terrified of the garden top? it looks so fiddly, but yours turned out so well you're inspiring me to try!! i grabbed those same rickracks from MMSC, suchhhh cute colors.
Currently making rolled hem napkins with my Bernina L450. I bought it in 2017 with my tax return 😂 and I love it. I know they make much fancier ones now that self-thread but I love this machine. Still going super strong!
So glad to hear you talk about your kiddos today 👍🏽!
I love your tops and your beautiful brown knitted sweater ❤
Hey, the link for the newsletter isn't working for me! I get to a page on your website that says 'subscribe to Syd Graham' and nothing else
Hi! I love your glasses at around the 7 min mark! where did you get them?
I truly adore your videos. I often put them on while I’m sewing myself and it kind of feels like parallel play or sewing with a friend. I also just love your patterns, but I’m wondering…..would you ever consider making a pattern for a piece of men’s clothing? I specifically love the way you explain and present things in your patterns and tutorials and would love to make one of your pieces, but for my own wardrobe.
I think my favourite sewing vibe is a pattern that feels intuitive and for the large part ‘easy’, but has a new challenge or skill that can make me feel like I’ve also learnt an amazing lesson. For example decorative top stitching in a dungaree pattern. That’s when I finish a project and get a rush of excitement, thinking I DID THAT!
The tops turned out so beautiful! I love that you're a one direction fan too ❤
Sydney, you chose two superb colors for your own coloring! Both tops are cute. But the garden blouse is darling. I personally love the way the hem flounces. I hope you haven’t changed it. It is very flattering on you!
In regards to serger suggestions, I personally own three Baby Lock sergers: two Evolves (overlocker and coverstitch), and an Imagine (overlock only). The first Evolve I bought brand new, the second I bought from a friend at a steal when she bought the newer, larger Ovation. The Imagine, I inherited. I cannot say enough good things about them. I love them so much that I have no desire to trade them in on a newer machine. Maybe if Baby Lock comes up with some fabulous new stitch that mine don’t have I will change my mind. Otherwise, I will keep these for the rest of my life.
That said, I also own a Juki MO 654DE. My Baby Locks all have automatic tension and air threaders for the loopers. This machine does not. But it is a fabulous workhorse. I used to work in an Alterations Studio, and we had Juki sergers there, and they worked all day every day and never had an issue. They are real work horses as well. If you were simply looking for something similar to what you have, but a very quality, solid machine, you can get one of these for $400 to $500 brand new online. If you find a baby lock used online, you will probably do fine with those as well. So many times, people just sell them because they want the newer, flashier version.
Good luck!
I love your green top but would never spend that much time especially since I can't predict where there could be any number of mistakes etc on my part. When you said now unpick all the tops of the pintucks, I just fast forwarded to the end :). I would buy a top like that in an instant!
Love seeing your new ring, it turned out SO GOOD!
You have WAY more patience than me!!!! I do have a PJ pattern with front pintucks that is still in the envelope. It’s very pretty but my life is just simple now and my clothes are very comfortable. I have done pintucks in my past they aren’t hard but very Time consuming. Love your tops. So pretty
So much great inspiration! Love the color you chose for the garden top – and as an advanced beginner this actually made me want to try it out since I feel it got more "doable" seeing how some steps are done. thanks a lot <3
I loved seeing a little glimpse into the way you balance motherhood and making!
I really love learning new techniques and challenging myself! But I definitely need some quick win projects too
While I totally agree with your philosophy, I think that people who create can take a lot away from pieces/projects that are outside of our comfort zones. It opens your skills and abilities up to so much more and adds variety to your closet. Also, I'm a big champion of continued learning, and if you create your own patterns, you can learn a ton from projects that aren't in your comfort zone. Your Garden Blouse is so beautiful, and even though it was tedious to make, you have something in your closet that you never would otherwise, because you don't design patterns in that way. I feel like you can probably even take away from it some finishings and techniques to add to future patterns.
Loooooooove this video!! The philo top was amazing! <3
omg the shane/jeffree clip insert jumpscared me a little
Okay two things-
1. I love that you were listening to 1D while sewing as a 1D girly myself!
2. Is that your new wedding ring you're wearing?? I love it!
I inherited a Husqvarna Viking Huskylock 910 and it is a BEAST. In a good way. So much so that I am forever buying Husqvarna machines in the future. It serges through literally anything, no matter how thick, with ease. I have replaced the needles one time in the past 10 years that I have owned it, and who knows when it was last replaced when I first got it. I have never performed any maintenance on it lol oops. Still… it goes strong. Insanely great. Can't recommend it enough!!!
I'm gonna need people to stop making this absolutely adorable garden dress / top. I get such FOMO but it's so much work I don't wanna do it hahaha ughhhh I fear one day I won't be able to resist.
I have a Babylock enspire (it’s the cheapest babylock you can get) and love it! It’s air threading and changing the tread is a dream, so so easy. I also have a brother sewing machine, like yours but with more stitches, and it sometimes struggles with heavier fabrics. My serger has no problem at all with this. Weird comparison maybe but it really feels like as smooth as butter going through it.
The Jeffrey star clippp I LOLED
The colors of both those tops are so gorgeous!
could you please link your projector?
How do you get these meme clips?! Do you just screen grab them?
My husband just got me a vintage Babylock that still works like it’s brand new! And it has “air threading” which means that I can thread the whole thing in less than 5 minutes 🤯.