I'm just a posting machine now that my creative mojo is starting to come back after the move 🤗 I finally wrote down my 2019 #makenine list and meditated about it on the blog. This year I am mostly focusing on returning to patterns or projects that deserve a second chance, hopefully with all the lessons I learned from the first time 🙄 But I did throw a bag and a coat on the list, too, just to stay motivated to keep learning new skills! Patterns in order are #tillymamaagnes #soililytop #compassbag #selfdrafted bathrobe #hinterlanddress #tegnasweater #grainlinemaritimeshorts #whitepinesweater #grainlinecascade #2019makenine #makeninechallenge #smitherssews #bcsews #canadasews

Two more additions to the world of maternity sewing patterns! @sewoveritlondon ・・・ Today we're excited to announce something new! We're releasing our new maternity patterns!! 🎉 Meet Lily and Blossom, our two new pregnancy and nursing-friendly tops! @lisacomfort wore both of these designs whilst she was pregnant with Jasmine so they've been truly tried and tested!! 🤰🏻 PLUS if you head to the Ultimate Shift Dress and Ultimate Wrap Dress pages on our online shop two you'll see they now come with FREE downloadable maternity hack tutorials! Whoop! Link in profile for all maternity patterns! ⬆️ #soililytop #soiblossomtop

Today we're excited to announce something new! We're releasing our new maternity patterns!! 🎉 Meet Lily and Blossom, our two new pregnancy and nursing-friendly tops! @lisacomfort wore both of these designs whilst she was pregnant with Jasmine so they've been truly tried and tested!! 🤰🏻 PLUS if you head to the Ultimate Shift Dress and Ultimate Wrap Dress pages on our online shop two you'll see they now come with FREE downloadable maternity hack tutorials! Whoop! Link in profile for all maternity patterns! ⬆️ #soililytop #soiblossomtop

My beautiful daughter in law is blossoming in the last couple of months of her pregnancy☺️ I've made her another Sew Over It Lily top to accommodate her growing baby bump. The shape and fit of this top will definitely last her until the baby is born. My fabric is a Domotex Viscose Lucia - Green from Higgs and Higgs. #sewoveritlondon #soililytop #higgsandhiggs #handmade #sewing  #homesewing #memadewardrobe #imakemyownclothes #memade #sewingismypassion #jukiclub #franklinscolchester #jukisewing #sewing #create #sewistofinstagram  #lovetosew # #sewingideas #britishsewingbee

Here is my make for smyly2018 - a challenge to share your sewing story and make something that makes you feel good about yourself. I’m not usually one for getting personal on here but I want to share more of my makes and this seemed like a very relevant challenge. I started sewing garments last year. We lost our son Rory to Leukaemia in December 2016 and I found that sewing helped me to cope with the grief by giving me something to focus on and to calm my mind. If I don’t get a bit of time to myself each week at the sewing machine I start to feel frantic and overwhelmed by day to day life. Now I’m pregnant again, due in May. We’re very happy and I know I’m lucky that we have been able to conceive for a 3rd time, but being pregnant after losing a child brings up a lot of mixed emotions, and is a constant reminder of what we’ve lost. Also, whilst I enjoy being pregnant, I definitely do not like being stretched out of shape. Being able to sew maternity clothes in beautiful fabrics has made me feel better about my bump. I’ve made the Sew Over It Lily top in a floral georgette from Sew Me Sunshine. I love it. #smyly #smyly2018 #sewingsunshine #soishowoff #sewmesunshine #soililytop #sewoverit

Something a little different from me today. One of my beautiful daughter in laws is expecting her first baby, and our first grandchild too😍 I've just made her this Sew Over It Lily top. She picked her fabric, its a viscose called abiva brights from Higgs and Higgs. I really enjoyed making this for her. Exciting times ahead😃 #handmade #sewing #sewoverit #soililytop #higgsandhiggsfabric #homesewing #memadewardrobe #imakemyownclothes #memade #sewingismypassion #jukiclub #franklinscolchester #jukisewing #sewing #create #sewistofinstagram  #lovetosew # #sewingideas #britishsewingbee

What to do with maternity to nursing tops in gorgeous fabric?! I made this #soililytop in #atelierbrunettefabric almost 5 years ago for dressing my bump. It served me well through pregnancy and the early days of breastfeeding and then sat in my wardrobe as it had a little too much fabric. Second bump round, the seasons were different and there wasn’t much need for feeding tops as thanks to Covid, there was nowhere to feed out and about! So this gorgeous fabric has been sitting waiting for a miracle. The top technically could be worn as a non-baby top, but really, it doesn’t flatter my bust and has way too much fabric to stop people from asking about babies. I thought for ages about remaking it into another top but as it’s quite fitted and adjusted at pattern level for my narrow upper bust, there isn’t much room for manoeuvre. Despite the double front layer, it would require a lot of seams to create a new single front layer. So one day in December, in search of inspiration, I put it on with jeans and in an attempt to create shape, I tied the two fronts in a knot to the side and headed off into town. No photos were taken, but it worked! So today, some similar tucking into my trusty rtw skirt and I have a new blouse! Next up, the dark mustard version 🥂 #irelandsews #dublinsews #sewingmama

#memademay2021 #soisylviarobe #soililytop Week 4: Day 3 It's a @sewoverit day today! A bright splash of colour with a destash pink crepe and the rest of my #sewhayleyjane @atelierbrunette dobby viscose to soften the look. Worn over my trusty RTW pink skirt.

#feelingsewmuchbetterday6 except not. This is a size 12 for my wife. I'm a not pregnant size 10 and the arms too small. I put a godet in but its still too small for my wife. #soililytop @sewoveritlondon @sistermintaka

#feelingsewmuchbetterday2 #soililytop - the size 12 dots were so small but my smart wife told me to go over them before I did the tracing!!! :-) @sistermintaka

#feelingsewmuchbetterday1 @sistermintaka Thanks for this challenge I can't wait to see what people get up to. #soililytop for my wife in this lovely remnant (fingers crossed for long sleeves)

#makenine2019 - plans and reality. This year of makes spanned the extremes of third trimester pregnancy and changing postpartum shape, as well as marked my first foray into bag-making, and a return to several patterns I thought deserved another chance. I might reflect more in a blog post later, but before I start thinking about my #makenine2020 list, I'm just going to take a minute to remind myself of the things I learned and was privileged to make this year. #tatbagnes #soililytop #compassbag #selfdrafted #hinterlanddress #tegnasweater #parksideshorts (instead of the Maritime Shorts) #whitepinesweater #cascadedufflecoat #handmadewardrobe #sewistsofinstagram #imademyclothes #millenialsewing #bcsews #smitherssews #knittersofinstagram

Just to prove that my first love hasn’t been completely taken over with gardening, here’s a @sewoveritlondon #soiLilyTop for my sister in law to wear this summer. Fabric from @fabriccornerlincoln #sewing #dressmaker #seamstress #sewcialist #sewinggift #handmadegift #dresstoration #sewingkeepsmesane #memadeeveryday

I’ve got the @sewoveritlondon Lily top details over on my blog today. (Link in my bio) Recently I’ve seen a lot of questions about good maternity & nursing patterns and I absolutely love to recommend this one. I don’t feel like it looks too frumpy and has easy nursing access, which doesn’t expose too much either! #sewoveritlondon #sewoverit #soililytop #soilily #maternitypattern #nursingpattern #nursingmama

I’ve had this fabric in my stash for a little while now. It’s one my Mum got for me from a little market in the UK and sent over to me. It’s got a nice amount of drape so I thought it would make a great @sewoveritlondon Lily Top. The pattern itself is a top that is suitable for nursing with the overlapping front pieces but it’s also super flattering! #sewersofinstagram #sewersgonnasew #sewingproject #sewoverit #sewoveritlily #soililytop

It’s been so chilly to get outside I haven’t had any pics of my makes for a while. This top is such a lovely flowy style and just had to share. It’s a pattern from @sewoveritlondon and it’s a #lilytop in a pretty abstract rayon ☁️🌦#soishowoff #soililytop #sewist #sewoverit #imakemyownclothes #handmadewardrobe #isew #sewcialist #spotlightsewingbee @spotlightstores

💛 May 10th 2023 💛 #memademay2023 #soililytop This was a make for my wife when she was pregnant, the Lily Top in a destash viscose crepe. Its a size 12 with widened armcycles (I find that a lot with Sew Over It, I need to learn how to do a proper bicep adjustment on their patterns). I got so many compliments on it today. As its a nursing specific top I might have to make some more!!! #sewmaternity #sewbreastfeeding

I've been making lots at the moment, but lacking on the photo front. Here's a @sewoveritlondon Lily top, designed for a growing bump and for feeding afterwards. Next time, I need to shorten it a bit more! . Fabric: @rainbowfabrickilburn . . #soililytop #sewingmaternity #sewingmaternityclothes #handmadewardrobe #handmadebyme #fabriclove #sewist #modernsewing #isew

Finally, finally took pictures of my three makes from the last few months and will share over the next couple of days! Starting off with the @sewoveritlondon Lily Top, which is a true maternity make (not hacked). I’ve had this fabric in my stash for a long time and it had just the perfect amount of drape for this top. Swipe to see a more pregnant looking view! Haven’t worn this one out yet… may need to change that this week! #sewing #memade #memadewardrobe #sewist #sewistsofinstagram #sewcialist #sewcialistsofinstagram #makersgonnamake #nycsews #brooklynsews #handmadewardrobe #idratherbesewing #sewoverit #sewoveritlondon #soililytop #maternitysewing #singlemombychoice #pregnantat40 #24weekspregnant #smbc #stashbusting

#feelingsewmuchbetterday7 Thank you @sistermintaka for the push I needed to finish today!!! #soililytop for my gorgeous wife, as modelled by me ♡ Made with a destash viscose style fabric

Overlocked side seams and front, put back facing to lower front and upper front to back. Trusting that if I follow along it will look right in the end!! #feelingsewmuchbetterday4 @sistermintaka #soililytop

Last six Me Made May outfits (I skipped a day - had a snuggly jumper day on Monday. @helens__closet Ashton top Several @sewoveritlondon patterns (Edie, Lily and pussy bow blouse) @tillybuttons zadie dress #zadiedress #soiedietop #soililytop #soipussybowblouse #ashtontop #mmm2020 #maternitysewing #handmadewardrobe #memadeeveryday

Well I didn't post during #memademay because of everything else happening, but I can now tell you with empirical certainty that my very favourite postpartum patterns in the first month have been the #louboxtop and the #grainlinedriftless. Most-worn me-mades from left to right: self-drafted bathrobe from two retired flannel sheets; green #driftlesscardigan; floral rayon #soililytop; very favourite grey bamboo jersey Driftless Cardigan; and my #louboxhack from an old button down shirt. Second pic I am wearing my very fave Lou Box in a bicycle print rayon, with thrifted jeans that I made into maternity jeans (which I might continue wearing for years to come because stretchy. tummy. panel. 🙌). And my newest little spitting, smiling, pooping, sleeping accessory 😁❤️ #handmadewardrobe #isewmyownclothes #postpartumsewing #postpartumstyle #grainlinefangirl #louboxfangirl #accessorynotincluded

I made this maternity-nursing Lily Top over a month ago, but it took me this long to take some simple photos of it. Blog review is finally up! ❤️ The pattern is from @sewoveritlondon, the fabric from @artgalleryfabrics via @threadcountfabrics 🤗#soililytop #handmadewardrobe #maternitysewing #smitherssews #bcsews #sewcialist #artgalleryfabrics

It’s photo day! 👗 The blogs are written so I need to get some photos taken and put everything together. These are the last 4 makes I’ve made for me! • Sew Over It Lily Top • Colette Wren Dress • Gertie Sews Vintage Casual zip front dress • See Over It Eve Dress #sewingblog #sewingblogger #sewersgonnasew #makersgonnamake #sewing

Day 10 of #sewphotohop. It’s not exactly fresh out of the sewing machine but it is my latest make. It’s the Lily maternity/nursing top from @sewoveritlondon! I managed to finish it just in time to try it once as a maternity top, now it’s well tested as a nursing top 😄👍👌 I’m quite happy with it although the neckline didn’t turn out very pretty. I think the interfacing must have been a bit too heavy for the fabric. It’s not visible from the outside so it doesn’t matter. The fabric is a peachskin also from #sewoveritlondon. It’s polyester which I’m not crazy about, but it’s so pretty that I don’t mind 😍 #soililytop #handmadewardrobe #imakemyownclothes #tonemadeit #tonemakes #norwaysews #bergensews

New blog post day with my @sewoveritlondon #lilytop. Thanks for all the help in deciding on buttons- I've managed to get a better picture of the lovely sheen on the bluish buttons if you swipe across. Love the long sleeve hack. Link in my bio. #soililytop #patternhack #sewinghack #sewingblogger #sewingblog #sewcialists #sewistsofinstagram #dresshandmade #isewmyownclothes #maternitysewing #sewingthestash #makenine2018

Inspired by the @thebakerthatsews I'm doing my #makenine2022 with fabric rather than patterns. I'd already decided to sew my stash, so this seemed a very good way of helping to sort that. Image 1: *⚓ cotton from @sewhayleyjane *Teal viscose from @craftysewandso (🧡 #soicarrietrousers) *Prosecco fizz from a SHJ Box (❤ #bhlleo) *Jersey scraps (💙 #weelaptee) *mountain cotton from @queencottonfabric *Flower Jersey from a SHJ Box (💛 #sewingtabitha) *animal Jersey from @lamazifabrics *mustard double Gauze from Lamazi *galaxy jersey from @sewcialising Image 2: Completed patterns (4/9) #soililytop #soislyviarobe #bhlhannah #acaciaknickers

#makenine2021 #makenine 1. Elephant Pattern from FabricArtDIY 2. #walnutdufflecoat from @poppyandjazz 3. Backpack from #simplysewingmag 4. Wrap skirt from #simplysewingmag 5. #veratop from @forgetmenotpatterns 6. #bhlhannah from @byhandlondon 7. #soililytop from @sewoveritlondon 8. #soisylviarobe from @sewoveritlondon 9. #acaciaundies from @megannielsenpatterns

@sistermintaka #feelingsewmuchbetterday5 understitched (I think) the facing and lower layer. Hemmed. Put it on mannequin and the nursing effect is lovely :') #soililytop #maternitysewing

#feelingsewmuchbetterday3 Cut my fabric last night. Did some overlooking today. I've only overlocked edges together so far, looking forward to overlocking as a way of having neater seems with this #soililytop Thanks @sistermintaka

Lottie and I in our me mades too today. All of these were made before Toby was born so they are getting a second lease of life. I'm wearing a #soililytop and Lottie has @brindilletwig #cuffleggings and #ringertee. #brindilleandtwigleggings #brindilleandtwig #sewoverit #brindilleandtwigringertee @sewoveritlondon #memademay2020 #mummymade #imadethis

Today’s Me Made May is one I sewed a while back (just pre lockdown) but only just trimmed the threads - an @sewoveritlondon Lily top with fabric I bought on the @bathsews trip to London. I sized up from my usual SOI size as my bust size has increased, but there’s so much ease of I made it again I possibly wouldn’t bother. I’d also consider taking a wedge out of the back as there’s a lot of room there. #mmm2020 #bathsews #soililytop #maternitysewing #handmadewardrobe

I forgot which day I wore this on, as last week has blended into an exhausting haze. This is a Sew Over It Lily Top made out of this super soft rayon from @joann_stores. I wish I had made this down a size rather than upping it a size. It’s a flora tent, but it’s so easy to breastfeed in I don’t even care. #memademay2019 #mommystyle #sewoverit #soililytop

Maternity gifting: the Sew Over It Lily top I made this top for my cousin who gave birth in September. It is intended as a top that can see you through maternity and also nursing. The front of the bodice has two layers to allow growth of the ‘bump’ and also one layer to be lifted for breastfeeding, whilst maintaining your modesty. I thought the pattern was great. It has a pretty pleat on one shoulder and is finished with facings. It was simple to follow and quick to sew up. However, I made it in totally the wrong fabric to be honest! This African wax print is pretty but very stiff and hasn’t softened in the wash. I would definitely make this again but would use a rayon or crepe next time to make the most of the features of the pattern... #sewoverit #soililytop #africanwaxprint #africanwaxprintfabric #sewingpatternreview

Are you sick of this look yet? I am definitely not! Day 4 of #owop18 in my burgundy #winslowculottes and @sewoveritlondon #soililytop maternity top... yes I still wear it, no I’m no longer pregnant...Although full disclosure- I had to change after taking this picture this morning, because the baby resulting from said pregnancy spit all over it! Winslows in the wash and hopefully dry to greet you again tomorrow ... #owop @sewisfaction @sewhayleyjane #sewcialist #sewistofinstagram #sewistsoftheworld #helensclosetpatterns #memade #memadeeveryday #isewmyownclothes #maternitysewing

Already the last day of #mmmay18!! All in all I think it went very well but I’ve been really bad with the documentation part...I’ve been wearing memade a lot more than I pledged to (it helps that most of my clothes that still fits are memade 😬)! I finished only two of my four planned projects. But I wore them a lot 🙌 the third project is a skirt I’m not sure I will ever finish, the fourth is a #soililytop in the lovely fabric in the photo 👆, also from @sewoverit, which arrived yesterday. Still planning to make it, unless I change my mind and make a dress instead 😁 if I learned something from this month it’s that I love wearing memade and I really really have to learn how to take outfit photos 😆