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Terysa Rose

@rose.sews

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🪡 Learning to sew my own wardrobe one imperfect project at a time
☀️ 5’2/ 157cm
B: 86cm W: 66cm H: 99cm

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Another knitting win! And my first summer knit!

I was a little apprehensive about knitting with KFO pure silk. I heard it was more challenging than wool and not everyone enjoys working with it. However, I quite liked knitting with this yarn and I love the final fabric! It’s softly structured with a lovely dry hand feel and it feels so comfortable to wear. I think even on a hot day, this will be very wearable.

Blocking didn’t result in any drastic changes, but it did relax the fabric just a little and sort out the rolling at the hem. I’ve read that KFO pure silk does grow a little with blocking and wear so I’ll be interested to see if that’s the case with mine. The armholes are still rolling inwards, so perhaps I should have been more aggressive in flattening them during blocking, but they look fine I think.

I chose the Bea Top by petite knit primarily because it was an easy beginning to a project and I was planning to cast on at the airport and start knitting on the plane, so didn’t want to follow instructions. I also just really liked the shape of the top and needed a mindless project.

It got a little too mindless in the end and I couldn’t wait to finish it, but I think that’s how I feel about all my knitting projects 😂

I would absolutely recommend this pattern! I think it would be a great first pattern as well as you start with just casting on and knitting in the round for ages before doing any decreases or purling, so it’s a nice slow start 😊 by @rose.sews

I finaaaaaallly finished my first knitted garment, the Monday Sweater by @petiteknit!

I started this back in July and only just completed it a couple of weeks ago. I was a little nervous about choosing this pattern for my first sweater attempt because it wasn’t the easiest option- but I loved the shape and the details, like the double neckband and the wide ribbing. While there were a few techniques I needed to look up, it was very doable for a novice. There’s a full sewalong on YouTube if you google it, and I found the Step by Step video by Florence Miller to be an excellent reference as it’s very similar. Coupled with the instructions and Petite Knit’s tutorials, I managed to get through everything pretty easily!

The yarn is a merino/possum blend which is beautifully lightweight but very warm! by @rose.sews

I had the best time wandering around Nippori Fabric Town in Tokyo- but the overwhelm was real. I went in with the attitude that if I saw something I liked and knew I’d happily sew something with it, I’d buy it. A simple enough approach but somewhat harder in practice. In the end, I focused my efforts on denim, cotton and linens in colours I knew would work well in my wardrobe.

I’m going back in December for round 2 so let me know your tips in the comments. One tip from me is to bring cash for the smaller stores! by @rose.sews

Adams Pants by @daughterjudypatterns - version 2.

I’d been dreaming of a black pair of slouchy jeans for ages, and when I came across this clean black denim with a tiny bit of stretch from @drapersfabrics, I knew it was destined for another pair of Adams Pants. I love my original brown pair so much and it was the obvious choice for jeans that are still neat and fitted but also comfortable with a bit of slouch.

I zoomed through this make and there are inevitably some issues. When will I learn to slow down?! The zip fly was a breeze until it came to the J curve topstitching, which took me about 5 attempts. I just couldn’t get it right. And on completion I noticed the zipper is visible and I’m sure a contributing factor was me pulling the fly fabric across as I was topstitching- an issue that @notesonmatter highlighted. I think the zipper method is also not the easiest compared to, say, the matchbook jeans.

The waistband is also a bit tight and the length of the pants is a little too cropped.

Oddly, despite these annoyances, I’ve been wearing these quite a bit. They fill a gap in my work wardrobe and still look super cute despite the visible zipper.

I cut out a size 2 (a size down in the hips according to the size chart), extended the back hook by half an inch and shortened the front hook by about 1cm. I cut out a size 2 waistband but shortened it to about a 0 during construction, which I won’t do again!

Worn with another Daughter Judy pattern, the Bita crew, made from a cotton ribbing also from Drapers. by @rose.sews

Contrary to what my long-neglected grid might suggest, I have in fact been sewing a bit lately. Only a bit. But I recently realised that I have not a single pair of shorts that I love, which is a dire emergency because I’m going to Japan in two weeks and it’s going to be firmly shorts weather. Enter: the Rose Bottoms by @paradisepatterns. I was determined to nail the fit of this pattern which led me on quite the journey…

Full details on @threadloop.app

My first attempt was unsurprisingly too big. This is always the way with bottoms. I think my personal proportions don’t fit with most blocks and my hip measurement is somewhat misleading because it’s not evenly distributed around my hips. If that makes sense.
Worn with a Demeter top by @annaallenclothing that I panic sewed in about 90 minutes.

What I’m trying to say is… I have a generous derrière. See how nicely these shorts fit from behind, but are way too big in front?

These were pretty poofy in the front, which has somewhat improved with a wash. I also chopped the original narrow waistband off and replaced it with the wider option, so I’ve effectively raised them by the seam allowance which is half an inch. Consequently, they fit a little better. I don’t actually mind these- they’re perfect for hot weather.

I sized down in the front pieces and reduced the front crotch length for my second pair, which was in a heavy linen. I think if the fabric had been a little softer, I could have gotten away with this, but as you can see the stiff linen really accentuates the excess fabric at the front.
Worn with my Wolffe top by @elbe_textiles

Once again- the fit is great from the back. I graded to my waist size for these, which helped remove excess fabric at my lower back.

From the side. You can see a bit of poofiness. Also- those side slits really bamboozled me and I don’t know why.

I was finally ready to cut into my good fabric (I was also running out of time and patience). I sized down again for my front pieces- so they’re now two sizes smaller than my back pieces, which I’m not sure is the proper way of going about things, but it worked!- and I reduced the rise as well.

Just the one back pocket. I w by @rose.sews

Huge congratulations to @fridaypatterncompany on the release of their latest pattern, the Canyon Top and Dress!

I jumped at the chance to test this pattern- it’s such a beautiful and flexible pattern, with short and long sleeves, and a top and dress view. But as soon as I saw the line drawings, I knew I had to make a summer cotton shirt dress - and this cotton voile from @wearethefabricstore was the perfect choice! (I also have a beautiful viscose ready for version 2 😍)

This was a highly enjoyable sew with no issues at all. I added a lining to the skirt (just self drafted, using the upper skirt pattern piece as a starting point) but otherwise made no mods. Next time I’ll raise the waistband by a cm or so, as it doesn’t quite sit at my natural waist.

The pattern has had a few tweaks post testing, the most pertinent one being a slightly shorter neckline, which I’m pleased about because it’s a bit low on me (looks fine, but not bra friendly).

Size: S
Mods: none
Pattern: #canyondress by Friday Pattern Company
Fabric: lightweight cotton voile by @rose.sews

I had the absolute pleasure of testing the Sloane Pullover by @sewingwithliliya and can confirm it’s a truly excellent pattern.

I made the size 2, which was my size according to the size chart, in the hoodie view with no adjustments. I deliberately left the sleeve length as drafted because I love a knuckle grazing cuff in a cozy sweater. The fit is relaxed and comfy- for an oversized fit, I’d size up, and will be doing that for my next version.

This is such a quick and fun sew, and I’m excited to make one for my partner- a lot of the testers made versions for their male partners and they all looked so great!

Now I just need the weather to cool down so I can wear my cute and cosy hoodie 😊

Fabric from @maaidesign by @rose.sews

The Bita Crew by @daughterjudypatterns has the potential to be my go-to fitted long sleeved top pattern, with a few adjustments. It was a quick sew and I love the details like the CB seam, the neckline (not to high, not to low, nice band width), the slits at the side, the longer length and the longer sleeve. In short, I like it a lot.

I followed my size per the size chart, grading to a smaller size around my waist, but I ended up with a lot of excess fabric around my arms and armpits- as you can see in my not-at-all-awkward photo with my arms raised. I took it in a bit, but it’s still quite roomy. There’s also quite a bit of excess fabric at the small of my back. Next time, I’ll go down a size and hope that resolves the issue. Fabric choice could also be playing a role, although this is 100% cotton rib, per the recommendations. However, the fabric is particularly stretchy, perhaps more than a typical rib. I’m still learning a lot about sewing with knits, so I’m really not sure!

That said, it’s an exceptionally comfy top and I’ve already got more Bita Crews planned.

Full notes on @threadloop.app as usual- link in bio.
Fabric by @drapersfabrics by @rose.sews

The Matchbook jeans are the second pair of jeans I’ve ever made and they offer a vastly different fit to all other jeans I own- or have ever owned.

The only pattern designer I would ever trust with a slouchy pair of mid rise, dropped crotch, wide-ish leg jeans is @daughterjudypatterns - I’ve made enough of her pants patterns by now to bow to her drafting expertise, so I figured if ever I was going to add a pair of relaxed jeans into my wardrobe, it would be these. I did make some changes to achieve a slightly different fit than is intended, namely sizing down a little around the waist so the jeans sit a little higher on me. I’m really happy with how that worked out.

I made a 6, blending to a 2 at the waist, but my baste fit prompted me to take in a little extra seam allowance, particularly around the waist.

All adjustments and notes are on my @threadloop.app which is linked in my bio. Excellent denim from @maaidesign which was so lovely to work with. See previous reel for a bit of babble about this project.

Now I just have to wait for jeans weather! by @rose.sews

The Matchbook Jeans by @daughterjudypatterns are finally finished! These were a joy to sew, partly because the denim from @maaidesign was so soft and partly because the construction was fun and instructions clear. I’m really happy with the fit I ended up with, and the nice finish of the topstitching. The fly construction was new to me and ensured much neater topstitching than I’d previously experienced, which is always a relief.

Photos to come soon- I just had to fully debrief!

#sewing #memade #matchbookjeans by @rose.sews

The MVP’s of my Bangkok me-made wardrobe were definitely my Demeter Top, Pomona Pants, both by @annaallenclothing, and my trusty Clo Bias Skirt by @soften_studio. All excellent patterns, which I think are TNT contenders, all easy to sew with excellent instructions for beginners, and all pieces that I feel confident and comfortable in. 🙌🏻

Photos courtesy of my number one fan @heebyjeebus ❤️ by @rose.sews

The photo op gods were smiling down on me today 💛

The way we screeched to a halt as we drove past this field of sunflowers 🌻- and I just happened to be wearing my happy yellow Solig dress!

I’m starting to feel very ready for autumn- this summer has been relentlessly hot, and everything is so dry and wilted. However, today reminded me to enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. We had a great day out to Bright in Vic, had an amazing lunch and then an afternoon swim in the river. As we were driving home, we passed this sunflower farm and now I’m inspired to plant a load of sunflowers in our garden for next summer 😊

@paradisepatterns by @rose.sews