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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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Just wandering along, enjoying the sights in Ghent, and look who we ran into! Dawna @spoolriversewing and I had the most wonderful catchup in front of the Castle of the Counts, whilst our husbands got acquainted. Such a joy. Post @londonfrocktails excitement continues! #sewover50

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Thursday is the new Friday. An enjoyable 'weekend' for @londonfrocktails . @sharesewover50

We took it slowly with a visit to the Fashion and Textiles museum for Celia Birtwell and then a drink in a busy pub along with all the workers finishing off ready for work-from-home Friday. Kirsty @thecurlycurl joined us and we finished off in the same tapas bar we visited two years ago. Oh.... and then a nightcap in our local..a pub with 8 bars.

On Friday we hailed a cab to Islington to visit @raystitch . It's a fabric shop I've wanted to visit for some time and it lived up to my expectations. I did buy one length of fabric.

Friday evening began with a drinks reception put on by the @PremierInn ..a great way to get the party started and particularly helpful for those coming on their own so they could make connections before heading along to Frocktails.

It was such a joy to catch up with old friends, turn online friends into irl friends and make new ones. The outfits were fabulous and the catwalk was fun. I had some real favourites and was going to mention them here but the list was getting longer and longer. I loved wearing my orange Trapeze party hack ( scroll back for details) and I made a Frida Kahlo inspired headdress to wear with it with charity shop findings.

Thank you to Sue, Elke, Janene and Michelle for pulling everything together... and for all the others who stepped in to help with the catwalk and the dancing. I thought I'd won an M&M voucher in the raffle when Sue called out my name..but it wasn't to be and I had to turn back! But I was lucky enough to win a voucher from @stokxpatterns ... thank you. The venue was so well placed and the food was fabulous.

Thank you for your company @stitchmeayear @redbeanrambling @corriesfancygoods and @saraknitsandsews and everyone else. It's never long enough. Roll on the next meet ups... wherever they will be. If you're visiting Edinburgh... get in touch please.

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I had an amazing weekend at @londonfrocktails meeting up with lots of like minded sewists. I feel full to the brim with friendship and sewing inspiration

Fantastic venue, beautiful people and outfits and proud to have curated the dance floor playlist 💃🏻 🪩 what can I say the dance floor rocked all night

Thank you to the @londonfrocktails organisers @sewthreadbear @susanyoungsewing @ooobop @offshesews for an amazing night and @sewing_in_spain for organising lunch and breakfast

Lastly thank you to @morrissews for taking the first photo , risking her knee health to get the angle JUST right so I actually look tall in the first shot 😂😂

#londonfrocktails
#frocktails
#SewOver50
#sarahcsewing

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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. ⁠
⁠
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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What's on your sewing table this weekend?⁠
⁠
Get inspired for your next make at the friendliest free sewing community . The Minerva sewing community is completely free to join and is a perfect place to get inspired and escape the doom scrolling. You can pick up a super range of free patterns when you sign up too. Find out more and sign up at https://www.minerva.com/register⁠
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Here's what our makers have been sewing up this week...⁠
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1 @mad_sewing_scientist - @sewoveritlondon Farley Shacket in Latticed Leaves Stretch Cotton Needlecord⁠
2 @knottygnome - @theassemblylineshop Car Coat in Heavy 100% Cotton Drill⁠
3 @terrancewilliams_ - Simplicity 9718 in Parrot Paradise Brushed ITY⁠
4 @oh_sew_kaddis - @grainlinestudio Archer Button-Up in Soft Viscose Linen Blend⁠
5 @Hazel_Sews - 1970s half circle skirt dress in Wellspring Valley Cotton Poplin⁠
6 @sarah__naomi_ - @trubias Blair Skirt in Deadstock Italian Cotton Cupro Twill⁠
7 @spoolriversewing - @wardrobebymepatterns City Dress in Lucky Streak Cotton Denim Twill⁠
8 @Tabitha_Cerberus - New Look 6620 in Soft Viscose Linen Blend⁠
9 @jade.sews - @sewlovepatterns Spring Dress in Flores Abstractas Viscose Challis⁠
10 @thewonkylabel - Charm Patterns Audrey Cigarette Pants in Suede Scuba⁠
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#SewingCommunity #SewcialSpace #ShareYourMakes #LearnToSew #Deadstock

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Happy Fall! 🤎🍂🍁
Every spring and fall, one of our favorite traditions is welcoming a new group of talented makers to inspire our sewing community. We’re so excited to introduce you to the beautiful makers joining us for Fall 2026!⁠
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Say hello and give a warm welcome to:⁠
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🌻Dawna from @spoolriversewing ⁠ ⁠
🌻Megha from @skeinsofdreams
🌻Shirley from @spworkspace
🌻Kaci Apple from @youngfolk.knits⁠
🌻Jodi from @isewatnaptime
🌻Theresa from @notesonmatter
⁠
🛎️ Check back on Friday, September 25th for our first maker’s post! 🛎️

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Today I'm wearing my "birthday suit" because clearly it's my birthday today. I'd like to say I've matured. But honestly, last week I saw someone I didn't feel like talking too, I turned around and "sprinted" away. Maybe it's okay to not mature too much hahaha.

Anyway: please tell me I'm not alone in my weird people-avoiding-behaviour. Who else would run off like me?

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These see-through dungarees are heavily inspired by @ruby_dubie_doo 's sheer overalls!❤️ I didn't ride my bike to the ocean, but I might have stepped on dry dog poop.

This is also great for #sagam #sagamambitiousaugust hosted by @suestoney @sewing_in_spain and @spoolriversewing because oh my goodness, I'd never used any kind of mesh/tulle and it was extremely fiddly, all precision went out the window with this one.

I also think having sheer overalls is a pretty bold choice for #sewbold2026 @whatbecsews... Or at least judging by people stares today, it was.

It's another #mymakesaug26 entry too:) @sewmuchtodesign #dopaminedressing

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What is so ambitious about this August #SAGAM make?

For me it was getting a garment sewn in this month.

We had very sunny and warm days and sewing wasn’t a pleasure in our combined study.

I had a piece of leftover fabric from a T-shirt I made Last year I made a T-shirt for my husband and I had some off-cuts of the fabric that also had some misprint on the stripes.

All pattern pieces were cut at the beginning of August but it lasted until this weekend when it started to rain heavenly.

The T-shirt is my own design and sewn together using a #flatlock stitch.

Happy with the result and looking forward to see what the theme will be for September.

@suestoney. @sewing_in_spain and @spoolriversewing

#SagamAmbitiousAugust
#sagam
@sharesewover50
#SewOver50
#Sewover50August
#Sewover50August2026
#sewover50top
#sewover50tshirt
#flatlocking
#selfdraftedpattern
#colourblocking
#asymetricalstyle
#asymmetricallook

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My end-of-summer challenge was to try a new pattern for me—but one that is well loved by the sewing community: the KalleShirt by @closetcorepatterns.
I made the cropped version with the band collar and short placket, using only three buttons The cotton woven striped beach fabric gives it such a breezy feel, while all the little details make this shirt special—the placket, vintage buttons, soft gathers below the back yoke, and the small front pocket. I skipped the hem facings and instead turned up a 2” hem.

I paired the top with the Picasso Pants by @thesewingworkshoppatterns made from a deadstock slate-blue nylon/spandex fabric from @surgefabrics. I was looking to add comfortable travel pants to my options for upcoming travels, and I knew a nylon/spandex Picasso Pant would fit that challenge perfectly.

I did make one little hack: I eliminated the seam lines in the barrel leg by taping the upper and lower leg pattern pieces together before cutting. I was curious to try this after hearing this hack mention on the weekly livestream. After making this pattern a dozen times, I think I’m really liking the final result of the pants design!

Two new-to-me sewing decisions that turned into pieces I know I’ll reach for again.

#2fromyourstash
#sagamambitiousAugust
#mymakesaug26

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I was unintentionally ambitious when I decided to sew this #fibremoodisola top from #fibremood edition 38 by @fibremood. It should have been ready for the link party 😅

The pleating is quite demanding and, although I followed the pattern carefully, I ended up with a bodice that was 2 cm narrower than it should be, both front and back. I was stopped by the decision and started and finished new projects before taking this one back on my desk.

As it fitted me, I decided to continue. However the collar and armhole bands didn’t match and there was no fabric left. I had to cut and adapt the pieces.

The top is 7 cm shorter than the original because I was using a 170cm remnant bought for 3 euros in a local shop called Julian Sanchez.

Finally, I decided to iron the pleats all tge way to the border to reduce the volume. Together with the shorter length, I think it fits my height quite well.

All in all, I am happy with the result and I think it qualifies for the #sagam challenge #sagamambitiousaugust organized by @suestoney @sewing_in_spain and @spoolriversewing .

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Joining in, just in time, with #sagam for #ambitiousaugust

Sure, I can use my leftovers for an Ashton top or Bonnie top or a Scout Tee but I wanted something more ambitious with this last piece of stretch denim twill from @minervadotcom

I bought the #JPCamilleTop from @just_patterns after seeing a few good ones. I knew I would have to toile it to get the armscye and princess seam fitting well. I also wanted more shoulder coverage to wear a bra. This has been a slow burner with lots of sewing fun. I also lowered the neckbow putting it on the top rather than trying to sandwich it into a narrow collar stand. 🙌

Shown today with @peppermintmagazine pleat front trousers but then I wore it with my jeans to go to the garden centre for the rest of the day 💙

➡️ Swipe to see my marvellous vintage buttons which sit so nicely under the thick rouleau loops.

I don't usually toile much so this counts as ambitious for me!

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🇬🇧When I chose this striped fabric, I knew straight away that I wanted to sew a co-ord and play around with the direction of the stripes. But I only had 1.90 m, so I thought about combining it with another fabric from my stash, in red or blue .
It wasn’t necessary in the end, as I managed to make these two garments from this fabric, a gift from @beglarianfabrics
Code: Carmen20
GE 038 cotton poplin

Successfully matching the stripes with just 1.90m was an ambitious project that I’ve managed to achieve, so I’m going to join the challenge: #sagamambitiousaugust hosted by Suzy @sewing_in_spain, Sue @suestoney and Dawna @spoolriversewing.

TOPDETAILS ->

I’ll share the details of the trousers with you in an up-coming post

🇪🇦Cuando elegí esta tela de estampado de rayas tuve claro que quería coser un conjunto y jugar con la dirección de las rayas. Pero solamente tenía 1.90 m asi que pensé en combinarla con alguna otra tela de mi alijo, en rojo o azul ->

No fue necesario pues conseguí poder realizar estas dos prendas con esta tela, obsequió de @beglarianfabrics
codigo: Carmen20
GE 038 popelin de algodón

En un próximo post compartiré los detalles del pantalón.

🇬🇧The top has a seam at the centre and also at chest height; and a triangular piece at the side seams. It's a #Selfdraftedpattern.

🇪🇦El top lleva un corte en el centro y también a la altura del pecho, en costadillos le he añadido un pieza triangular.

🇬🇧It is entirely sewn using French seams.
To finish off the top, I used some bias binding from my stash.

🇪🇦Esta enteramente cosido con costura francesa.
para rematar el top he utlizado una cinta de bies de mi alijo.

🇬🇧All the pieces of the front, are cut on the bias so that the stripes form a herringbone pattern and create a diamond shape in the centre.
🇪🇦Todas las piezas estan cortadas al bies para que coincidan las rayas en forma de espiga, y en el centro formen un rombo.

🇬🇧The topstitching has been sewn with transparent thread, as any of the three colours would have stood out too much, and I think this gives it a neater finish.
What about you? have you ever tried this thread?

🇪🇦Los pespuntes los he realizado con hilo transparente

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