During the many meandering months of lockdown, I threw myself into attempting to master my ancient sewing machine. I bought it as an enthusiastic newly-wed, along with a food processor and a steam iron. For about 6 weeks I flirted briefly with the notion of being a domestic goddess and then lost the manuals to all three and reverted to living on take-out food, buying all my clothes and then wearing them lightly-creased. My new husband breathed an audible sigh of relief, and life returned to normal.
12yrs on, I muscled the sewing machine out from the cellar, blew dust from its many complicated parts, and looked online for a pattern I could practice on. Moments later I fell down the rabbit-hole known as the Sagebrush Top. It turns out the pattern is a trending cult icon (who knew sewing patterns had such fame?!), with stitchers everywhere adapting the pattern and customising it in a myriad of exciting ways, posting the pictures all over Instagram and Pinterest. I was captivated, not least by the sign that said EASY/BEGINNER on the packet.
I made my top using this gorgeous dragonfly fabric in a lightweight cotton lawn, and it was finished within a day, even allowing for plentiful seam-ripping and re-dos. I was so delighted that I raided my fabric stash and made a second version; this one more cropped, with more bouffant sleeves and splashy bursts of colour. When wearing it I look like a cross between Little Bo Peep and a childrens’ entertainer, but I like to think I rock the look 🙂
One of the lovely things about the pattern is that even as a very amateur sewer, you can adapt it in many ways; I shortened the sleeves for example to be cap sleeves, and switched out the elasticated cuffs for a plain hem. I shortened the body, tweaked the ruffle and changed the tie-back to a popper on one top…
….the possibilities are endless, as is the online inspiration from others (if you’re tempted, use the hashtag sagebrushtop on Insta and be amazed!).
So now I’m looking for advice please and suggestions on other patterns to try; I’d love to make a summer dress, or a tote bag, or a cape…. something deceptively easy that I can have some fun with. Do you have a pattern you’d recommend for a novice just losing her training wheels? I’d love to hear!
Have a great weekend, wherever you are and whatever you’re upto. We’re having dinner outside with friends (at last!), and I’m planning to sow a mini herb garden for summer salads, thereby igniting the annual Kate vs Nature war in our garden. I swear all the rabbits perk up the moment they hear me rattling the seed packets…
Julie
What lovely fabric to have in your stash. My stash consists of very practical colors and fabrics. I have been making (after getting back into sewing again) some ponchos that I can slip over a t-shirt or nice blouse for cooler weather. I made a pattern from a Burberry top that my daughter had purchased in England. It has slightly rounded shoulders and is very comfortable to wear. It is also very flattering. Good luck and fab fun (which I know you always do.
Kate
Julie, I LOVE ponchos (and capes and cloaks and everything on that spectrum).. I’m impressed you made your own pattern; I’ll have to have a go at doing the same from one of mine!
Claire Whitley
Check out the Tilly and the Buttons website and her books and patterns. I have her books and am just starting. O love just reading the books and the photography is fab. Now to start making the clothes…
Kate
Brilliant Claire thanks – this looks just the right place for me to start – and really contemporary and lovely too!
Rosie
It’s a jumpsuit rather than a dress but the zadie jumpsuit from paper theory is really easy for a beginner (no buttons or zips!). Or the Mimi G Jessica dress is another cult one! Good luck!
Kate
these are both gorgeous!
Jaicee Floral Papercrafts
A bucket hat (for every member of the family) is easy peasy. I found a fantastic pattern on Etsy – Waves and Wild Sandcastle Bucket Hat. A digital download for a minimal cost x
Kate
Thanks Jaicee! It looks fab… 🙂 link here for anyone else equally taken with the idea! https://www.wavesandwild.com/shop/sandcastle-bucket-hat-ww/
Amelia
The Wiksten shift dress and top pattern is wonderful. I’ve made 5 tops in varying lengths, with and without sleeves, and I basically live in them!
Kate
Oooooh…this looks lovely; especially in linen! Have you made yours in different fabrics? I have a length of cornflower blue linen I’ve been looking for a purpose for and now I have one; thanks Amelia!
Lindsey Back
Tessuti Fabrics both sell fabric and have wonderfully easy patterns. Check out their blog for their range. They are my go to shop for wonderful fabric located in Surrey Hills Sydney so next time you are in Oz …….. we’ll we can dream can’t we? Cheers!
Kate
Lindsey I’ve just spent an hour browsing the Tessuti site and loading my e-trolley with a million things; now I need to discard a few! Thanks for the brilliant suggestion – and I can’t wait for the skies to open up again!
Amelia
Linen will be lovely – there are lots of examples on Instagram if you search #wikstentop. It’s such a versatile design. I’ve mostly stuck to cotton (a couple in chambray) – but I also made a gardening smock version out of a poly-cotton remnant salvaged from an old duvet cover, and I’m currently seriously pondering a linen tunic version to wear with wide legged trousers to a wedding in August!