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Spoolriver

@spoolriversewing

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I sew a lot of stuff🧵and sometimes I write about it on my blog. 📍From the banks of the Mississippi in Minnesota 🌲

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First draft of the drafters grid dress. I’ve had my eye on the innovative construction of this grid dress by @roberts.wood since I first laid eyes on last September- but It took me almost a year to muster up the courage to make it. Thank heavens my friend Suzy @sewing_in_spain suggested we make it together this month and encourage each other along the way - be sure to check out her gorgeous interpretation of this dress. Surprisingly this was an incredibly enjoyable project- and not just because we were sharing the making journey. If I don’t dwell on the nearly 100 pieces that I had to cut out, once I started sewing, I couldn’t stop. The process was both meditative and exciting as I sewed the pieces together and the dress began to take shape. 80 pages of instructions are first rate, and believe me, I followed them closely. I sewed a size 6-8, and skipped the elastic in the waist line. I used 6 linen fabrics mainly from my stash. I had to buy a small amount of a darker blue to keep the gridwork darker. I had so much fun I even wrote a blog post about this dress with more details- #linkinbio❤️
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#robertswood #draftersgriddress #styleatanyage #sewover50sept #memadeeveryday #patchworkdress #sewingblogger by @spoolriversewing

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a year ago

Copycat dress making. A designer special occasion dress called my name and once it had my full attention, I had to make my own version. Swipe to see the original dress which is made of wool silk crepe- my copycat version is made out of a deadstock slightly stretchy mystery fiber from @moodfabrics . I couldn’t source the jewels so I left them out- which actually makes this better suited for my special occasion calendar this season. This dress was cobbled together with bits and pieces from many patterns- the starting point was the front bodice from Butterick 6016 .
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#youcanhackit #iseeitimakeit #iwearwhatiwant #isewwhatiwant #styleatanyage #sewistofinstagram #sewingproject #sewcialist #seweveryday #sewista #memadeeveryday #sewover60 #sew50visible #sewover50june #sewover50june2025 by @spoolriversewing

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a year ago

Dawna of @spoolriversewing made a stunning three-piece autumn look: The @theassemblylineshop Tie Bow Blouse paired with the Sueded Rayon Blend Shirting Solid in Olive fabric, the Brier Pants from @daughterjudypatterns paired with the Wool Blend Stretch Gabardine Suiting Chocolate fabric, and the Burda jacket pattern from 1/2024 with the Classic Mid Wale Corduroy Solid Olive fabric. ⁠
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Let’s get to know Dawna and her fall sewing plans:⁠
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1. How long have you been sewing, and what is your best sewing advice to others?⁠
Over 50 years!!! And I still wake up every morning looking forward to the next project. My advice to others is to accept mistakes- and embrace the do-over.⁠
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2. What are you most excited to sew for fall?⁠
Separates.⁠
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3. What is your favorite fall fabric to work with? ⁠
I love working with wool- it’s malleable, forgiving, and, as a natural fiber, it has great temperature-regulating features.⁠
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4. What fabric(s) from the new Style Maker Fabrics Fall collection immediately caught your eye, and why?⁠
The corduroy immediately caught my eye because it feels so autumnal and cozy, and as a solid, it has great textural interest. ⁠
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5. If you could design your fall wardrobe around a certain color palette, what would it be? ⁠
This year, I am leaning toward earth tones, although I would punch them up with burgundy and blue as accents.⁠
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6. If you could create your perfect handmade fall outfit, what fabrics and patterns would you use? ⁠
Corduroy is the textural, cozy fall centerpiece, and I would add wool. I am leaning toward solids, but I want to add some plaid for punch.⁠
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7. “This fall I want to sew more __________”⁠
Pants.⁠
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8. Statement fabric or statement buttons?⁠
Buttons.⁠
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9. Solids or prints?⁠
Solids.⁠
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10. Denim or Corduroy?⁠
Corduroy.⁠
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⁠ by @spoolriversewing

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12 days ago

A charming woven top for transitioning to Autumn- 🍂 this is the #pleattop by @alamain_studio 🤍. I will definitely make another but next time I will choose a fabric with a bit more structure and crispness-I like a snappy pleat.
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#alamainpleattop by @spoolriversewing

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16 days ago

It’s a jungle out there. Here is the CityDress by @wardrobebymepatterns in an animal print that is just the thing for prowling the urban jungle.

I love a chic shift dress and this pattern does not disappoint. This is my first experience with Wardrobe by me and I cut out my size according to the measurement chart but ended up grading down as there was more than ample ease. The dress has a slightly dropped waist but I raised it a wee bit- I also added about 2 inches to the length.

Let’s talk about this animal print - which felt less wild in blue. It is @minervadotcom print on demand (POD)- Lucky Streak Stretch Woven Cotton Denim Twill given to me to try out in exchange for a post on their website. It is a brushed twill that is comfy soft and a little stretch that makes any garment better.
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#minervaambassador #minervamakers #wbmcitydress by @spoolriversewing

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a month ago

It may be meteorological autumn- but I’m hanging onto summer. New navy eyelet pants were included in my Ambitious August plans- and they were finished but worn just recently. These are perfect for keeping me cool as the heat lingers. I used a pajama pant pattern- Butterick 6837- so that there were no side seams and the scallop fabric bottom means no hemming required. Gotta love that.

This fabric- like the heat- has been lingering in my sewing room- so this make qualifies for #2fromstashamonth- a delightful stash winnowing challenge hosted by @septemberfaden and @salixsews
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#styleatanyage #memadeeveryday by @spoolriversewing

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a month ago

You’ll find me on the corner seriously hanging onto summer. Here’s another summery top out of a pretty cotton voile from @sewingloungemn. It’s another Isla -a free pattern from @tianasclosetsewingpatterns. Perfect when you want some shoulder coverage but still need to stay cool. Paired here with seriously modified (three refashions over seven years!) StyleArc Tully pants.
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#islatop #islapuffsleevetop by @spoolriversewing

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2 months ago

True in blue. Here is my color toast to celebrate and congratulate @sewover50 for 8 amazing years of empowering, inspiring, and uplifting makers. Thank you for your vision, dedication and tireless work- you have made all the difference.

Outfit deets- easy peasy elastic waist pants from a true pajama pant pattern -McCalls 6249 -made from a @minervadotcom linen viscose shibori printed fabric remnant leftover from a shirt dress made last year.
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#sewingleftovers #notsecretpajamas #styleatanyage by @spoolriversewing

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2 months ago

Style Switch- this is not my usual button up according to my spouse 😉. I am loving #fibremoodelva my pattern choice from the new @fibremood issue 40. Fibremood patterns always stretch my style choices in a good way. I used a beautiful tencel twill from my neighborhood fabric shop @sewingloungemn. I made a few changes to the pattern- I reduced the sleeve volume a bit and eliminated the drawstring in the underarm and sleeves. I also skipped the tie. This is a great transition piece- although I am pretending it is not nearing the end of August already.
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#linkpartyed40 #fibremood by @spoolriversewing

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2 months ago

One yard wonder- I purchased one yard of this amazing embroidered fabric on a memorable Madrid fabric shopping extravaganza led by my friend Suzy @sewing_in_spain. Once again, I copied one of the looks from my August inspiration board. I used the Burda Blouson pattern as a starting point and took a bunch of detours- tie front, short sleeves- no elastic and used bias tape for edges and Hong Kong finish insides. It took me two and a half years to muster up the pluck to work with this gorgeous fabric, so this is obviously my entry for #sagamambitiousaugust and this is another 2#stashmonth project thanks for that @salixsews and @septemberfaden
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#copycatdiy by @spoolriversewing

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2 months ago

Copycat summer dressing- I copied one of the looks from my August inspiration board and this dress is getting its day in the sun. It’s self-drafted and I fiddled way too long over the yoke and sleeves. After unpicking the top three times, I finally came up with something passable. I can’t remember where the checked cotton fabric is from which means this project is a #2fromstashamonth
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#copycatdesign #selfdrafted by @spoolriversewing

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2 months ago

Button up more or less. Here’s a striped Grainline Archer with the benefit of scraps from the fabric I used for my daughter’s wedding dress project five years ago. I don’t have a cupboard full of inherited hand stitched linens- but I do have this lovely lace applique- do you prefer more or less?
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#grainlinearcher #iwearwhatiwant #sewingscraps by @spoolriversewing

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2 months ago