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Shirley

@spworkspace

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I make things ... everyday
small town life in British Columbia 🇨🇦

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I just had to make the newest pattern from @themakersatelier #tmatunicandtop. It was love at first sight for this twisted collar and cuff. The blue top has the deep cuff as well as the twisted collar . There are two more collar and cuff options as well as 2 more length options for this pattern. Lots of bang for your buck!! Both top fabrics are from India: the red is a block printed cotton and the blue is handwoven kala cotton. The skirt is self drafted with a drawstring channel up the side. It is sewn up in linen from @beatonstudio . #memadeeveryday by @spworkspace

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20 days ago

We are kicking off our 2026 Fall Makers with our first sewist, Shirley from @spworkspace . We love her fresh take on fall dressing, pairing the Micro Stripe Yarn Dyed Linen Blend Shirting in Graphite with the @paradisepatterns Protea Pants and the Abstract Art Print Linen Shirting in Avocado/Black with the @truebias Merritt top. She makes such a great outfit!! ⁠
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Let’s find out more about Shirley and her plans for fall. ⁠
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1. How long have you been sewing, and what is your best sewing advice to others?⁠
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I don’t remember ever not sewing! I sewed a few clothes in high school, then took up quilting in my early 20s. I have a longarm quilting machine and have been a quilt maker for over 40 years. I started sewing my own clothes again about 5 years ago and have never looked back! My best sewing advice is to pick a pattern and go for it! Many Indie pattern designers have tutorials, so help is not far away. You can do it!!⁠
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2. What are you most excited to sew for fall?⁠
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This might be the year of jackets!⁠
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3. What is your favorite fall fabric to work with? ⁠
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I sew a lot of knits. I also sew a lot of garments for my grandkids, and knits are their fabric of choice! I also love a nice cotton twill for jackets and pants.⁠
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4. What fabric(s) from the new Style Maker Fabrics Fall collection immediately caught your eye, and why?⁠
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I like to sew with natural fabrics, cotton, linen, wool, etc. I was immediately drawn to the printed abstract art linen and just knew that I wanted to make a shirt.⁠
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5. If you could design your fall wardrobe around a certain color palette, what would it be? ⁠
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I love the fall colors of greens and rusts, but I am all over the map when it comes to choosing colors. I love the softer neutrals, but sometimes you just need something brighter.⁠
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6. “This fall I want to sew more __________”⁠
jackets!!⁠
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7. Statement fabric or statement buttons?⁠
Fabric⁠
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8. Denim or Corduroy?⁠
corduroy⁠
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⁠#sewist #fabric by @spworkspace

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24 days ago

Meet the latest pattern @_domum . It is a versatile tank top that comes in 4 lengths (mine is hip length). The longer versions have side slits and the shorter one is your basic cropped tank top. I also made one of those but it ended up with a slice in the neckline so it got ruined! This one is made in lightweight jamdani woven cotton from India. You can layer the #hikodomum over a t-shirt or dress and get many different looks. The instructions come in both English and French and is available in sizes 34-58. by @spworkspace

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a month ago

I was cleaning up my photos and realized I never shared this fun little top. It's the venice villa dress and top still in preview by @matchymatchysewingclub . The top is fully lined which enabled me to use this lovely sheer silk that I brought back from India. I am wearing it with linen #arthurpants @sewliberated and cream coloured Japanese cotton #lazypants @tobiaskonrath . by @spworkspace

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a month ago

You won't be able to stop at one of these #essentialvnecktee @houseofizzie . I made 3 during the testing process and will certainly be making more! My first two were pieced together using leftover bits from other projects. You just need a knit with at least 40% stretch and you're good to get sewing! The fuchsia tee is made of organic cotton jersey @formerlatterfabrics The blue and grey is powerwool and the brown and white is bamboo jersey. Next up will be a plain white one! Izzie makes the construction easy to understand for beginners and you don't need to have a serger or a coverstitch machine to make this. What are you waiting for? Happy sewing! #Ishopcanadian @discoveryfabrics @threadcountfabrics by @spworkspace

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a month ago

I have been reworking some clothes that don't get much wear anymore. This used to be a dress. It had a stain that wouldn't come out so I lopped it off below the pockets and turned it into this lovely top. It is the @thesewingrevival #stitchbirddress. Worn with @chalkandnotch #cnreya pants. Both getting lots of wear with our cooler weather. by @spworkspace

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a month ago

I am using up scraps! I had an odd shaped remnant of this lovely @atelierbrunette viscose and I managed to squeeze out a @matchymatchysewingclub #splitpeplumtop from it. It's such a nice pattern...perfect for these last days of summer. Worn here with the straight leg version of #pomonapants @annaallenclothing . Buying high end fabric is so worth it. Both these garments will last a long time. Gorgeous heavy weight linen is from @wearethefabricstore and the viscose is from @formerlatterfabrics . by @spworkspace

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2 months ago

I am breaking some fashion rules that I learned as a kid! "Blue and green should never be seen" and "prints with plaids is a no no". But I like them together!! This is my first pair of @paradisepatterns #proteapants as jorts... I will be making more as they are sooo good. This pair is sewn up in some indigo dyed, hand loomed cotton that I brought back from India and it is the perfect weight. I made the pleated version as they seem to be dressier than the unpleated version. The tank is the #laurencetop @vivianshaochen and the white linen blouse is the #canyontop @fridaypatterncompany . Enjoy the end of summer everyone!! by @spworkspace

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2 months ago

@chalkandnotch has done it again! They have just released their latest pattern, #cnnoe and there are so many options. I made the cropped tank top. There are 2 different dress versions as well as 2 necklines and 2 back views. The bodice is fully lined, making it easy to finish the open back. Mine is sewn up in a remnant piece of linen @blackbirdfabrics . Check out the pattern! The samples are all so pretty! I am also wearing @merchantandmills #mmjuno culottes. by @spworkspace

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2 months ago

I am on a blue streak of garment sewing! This is my 4th pair of #archerworkpants @matchymatchysewingclub . It is such a good pattern and works really well in this @fableism sun stripes cotton. I changed the stripe direction on the gusset and pockets. The fabric was prewashed before sewing but it shrank again after construction. It worked out well for me as they were initially a bit roomy ( photos on wharf). Worn here with a linen #wikstenshifttop and a cropped @porcheatelier #thefavouritetee . I used leftovers for both tops. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! by @spworkspace

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2 months ago

So this is 68!
I celebrated by going hiking in the mountains for the last week. It feels good to wear something other than shorts and boots! I could wear this outfit everyday! Linen skirt is the @madswick_studio #zamoraskirt . I love all the details of this pattern. I am wearing it with my lightweight cotton #sunnysidetank @matchymatchysewingclub . The neckline is lovely with a higher front and lower back. I raised the armholes in the top and lengthened the skirt. Perfectly perfect now! After 5 years of sewing my own clothes I think I have figured out my style.
Linen is from @purelinenenvy
Cotton is from @maiwahandprints
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! by @spworkspace

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2 months ago

First quilt made by my 12 year old granddaughter!! Made out of @rubystarsociety cottons. This was a four month project that she just finished today. Lots of new skills acquired! She learned how to sew a straight ish seam, how to iron, how to line up the seam intersections, how to cut with a rotary cutter, how to machine quilt and how to hand sew binding! So proud of her to make this work of art🩷🩷Now I have someone to take over my stash!! #quiltersofinstagram by @spworkspace

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2 months ago