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Sew & Tell — November 2025
Hi sewing and designing friends! Welcome to our monthly celebration of creativity! Each month, we get to showcase the incredible talent and unique designs of our subscribers. From stunning dresses to cozy sweaters, we’re always amazed by the skill and passion you pour into your handmade garments. I’ll be sharing some of my absolute favorite pieces that have been submitted this month. These creations not only reflect beautiful craftsmanship, but they also embody the spirit of our community. Let’s dive in and get inspired by these fabulous, one-of-a-kind garments!
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Fleece Shirt
Butterick 6520 in a Danish Cotton Fleece knit. When travelling to Minnesota over the holidays, staying warm is key. I wanted a new warm tunic top and needed some color in my wardrobe. A version of B6520 in Copen Blue Cotton Fleece Knit fit the bill. Super cozy and comfy. Easy to cut and easy to sew kept things simple. The fabric was washed on ’normal' and dried in the dryer. It came out looking exactly the same. Cut as shown on the pattern, except for the collar as noted below. The curved seams on the right lower front and back were adjusted to overlap. The seam was pressed up, stitched in place, and trimmed. I decided on no ties. A second pocket was added to the lower left front. On both pockets, I lined up the stitching for a continuous line. The collar was cut narrower than shown and randomly stitched with tucks to narrow it further.
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Cozy Coat
Re-introducing Marcy’s design, V9140, aka the “Cozy Coat,” designed for both comfort and elegance. This versatile piece wraps effortlessly around your body, keeping you snug and warm, while also flowing gracefully when worn open. Featuring an elegant hood that can be styled up for extra warmth but lies in flat folds when worn down.While originally designed for knit fabrics, it has enough ease to be made from a woven. A soft drape is important. Consider that the wrong side will show. If you choose a woven, consider sizing up to accommodate layering over other garments. Fabrics shown on the pattern envelope are wool knits.Shown here in a mid-weight ottoman-like ribbed double knit that worked perfectly in the design. Other fabric options range from lighter-weight knits to beefy boiled wool. Would be sumptuous in mohair or cashmere, but could also work for warmer weather in a linen knit or stable jersey. Depending on the fabric, this could be worn outdoors or in, and makes a perfect toss-on top layer for everyday or for a special occasion.Sewing and fitting this coat is a breeze. The original pattern had a slightly narrow wrist opening, so we made a small adjustment: we altered it to finish at 5 inches to accommodate garments layered underneath. When making the welt pocket, be sure to position the welt so the pocket opens in the right direction! If you are new to making welt pockets, make a test sample first. Another option is to substitute patch pockets instead. Vogue 9140 in a cozy ribbed double knit.
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Sculptural Style: My Take on the Ottoman Jacket
Vogue 7746 sewn in a beautiful coffee brown and black polyester mini Ottoman. V7746 was one of Marcy's first and best-selling patterns for Vogue. It is now out of print, but you can check for availability on eBay and Etsy. This is a fantastic jacket/vest pattern in a variety of fabrics, ranging from silk to denim to wool. I made my original in silk dupioni. Cutting/Sewing Tips: The original pattern calls for quilting the outer layer and self-lining the entire garment. The jacket and vest can be made to layer together. Changed the pattern by extending the front zigzag 5". Made a 5" deep sleeve facing. Added a front facing. Made a 4" deep hem. Eliminated buttons/buttonholes because when I tried the jacket on, it hangs beautifully as is, no need for a closure - always love to keep options open to the very end. Ottoman Fabric was perfect for this design, and could have been cut either lengthwise or crosswise. The fabric is smooth with a lovely drape and hang, and can work in all seasons. The inspiration for the design of the pattern comes from a spectacular Jeanne Lanvin 1936 jacket, featured in an inspiring (must-have) book, Modern Fashion In Detail. Back in my early days working with Vogue Patterns, the Design Director and I would collaborate on a design concept. Once we settled on an idea, I would figure out how to execute it for a contemporary sewist. These early patterns and directions are chock full of hands-on sewing instructions and are worth collecting!A few pages from the book that were my starting point. The pattern with my rough sketch idea for adding 5” onto the front zig-zag edge. I often draw and make notes on the pattern itself. Both the jacket and vest in the pattern are silk dupioni. Both jacket and vest, as shown on the pattern envelope, were machine quilted in a single layer using fine wool batting and stitched with silk thread using a fine sharp needle. Then the garment is lined to the edge with self fabric. Beading on the vest was done before the garment was constructed. I spent a Christmas holiday vacation in Portland beading the garment sections before constructing the jacket. Both garments use bound buttonholes, as did the original Lanvin jacket. Happy sewing!
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Van Gogh French Terry Top
Butterick 7023 made in a stunning Dutch-printed French Terry knit. One panel of Van Gogh is just the right size for a t-shirt or top with room for pattern play. Play with the paper pattern on top of the fabric pattern/print before starting to cut. Use a simple style as the fabric print is the focus, not the style. Structural changes to B7023: eliminated front vertical seams. eliminated offset back seams and added a center back seam. added 5" to sleeve length to make the change from ¾ sleeve to long sleeve. added 1/2" to the neckline to raise all around. Design decisions: I started with the word ‘Vincent’, placing it to show prominently on the top sleeve. Then I worked with the other pattern pieces, moving them around so they all fit and I was happy with the way the design worked. The fabric is so beautiful that you can not really make a mistake with your layout!Happy sewing!
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