Hi everyone and welcome back to my blog! 🎉
I haven’t posted much in the last couple of years – I moved over to Instagram as it felt more manageable, and that was a good thing. But lately Instagram has shifted into something different, and I don’t like it. I don’t care for the video format and I hate the algorithm (as opposed to showing me the accounts I actually follow!) and the whole app is just really unappealing now.
I do enjoy sharing my projects, though, and having that information accessible for future reference. So I thought I’d bring them back here to my blog! Rather than worry about algorithms and producing videos and getting followers and all the stressful shit that sucks the fun out social media, I’m gonna do what I’ve always done – my own thing! In my own space! I’m going to try to keep these short and sweet and manageable for myself (as time is my most precious resource and blog posts take a lot of time!) (update: I gave myself 20 minutes to write this post, it’s officially been an hour. Oh well!). But anyway. Welcome back!
And to be clear – I’m not jumping the Instagram ship (yet). I’ll still post on there, but I’d like my in-depth stuff to live here, on my own platform. Where there are no videos and I can type using a real keyboard HAHA.
Today I want to share with you my newest, favoritest, coziest loungewear set: The Sherpa Dream 🐑
The sherpa fabric came first, so I’ll talk about it first! This pink fuzzy delight is from Domesticity (by way of Birch Fabrics, although I think it has been discontinued now) and I’ve been eyeballing it since the first time I taught there in June 2021. It’s enormously soft and fuzzy, and 100% organic cotton (which is important for me as I tend to get really sweaty in polyester). The color is just the perfect shade of warm coral pink. At $36 a yard, it was a splurge, which is why it took me so long to finally go all in. But I did and I bought 3 yards! It filled up half a suitcase! No regrets!
I wanted to make separates – I’ve been very inspired by these fuzzy knit loungewear pieces (lol @ Skims but like… don’t hate). I used both patterns from the Closet Core Montreal Collection – the Plateau Joggers and the Mile End Sweatshirt.
I will admit that when I first saw these patterns, my immediate reaction was “Seriously? Another pair of joggers?” It feels like every single pattern company has released their own version of joggers and sweatshirts. And while I understand that this is the current fashion – I am really just tired of looking at them! A jogger is a jogger is a jogger! But my favorite thing about Closet Core is their unique details on all their patterns – and once I took a closer look at these, I was on board. I love how the joggers lack a side seam at the pocket, which makes for much less bulk. The sweatshirt has some interesting detailing – including a yoke and elbow darts – which unfortunately is lost in this crazy fabric but that’s ok! The set has nice proportions, too – the top is slightly oversized and cropped, and the pants are slim but still comfortable.
I made a size 2 in sweatshirt, and a size 4 in the joggers. Both of these are a size smaller than what my measurements suggest, but based on other reviews I read + knowing how slim I like to wear my clothes, I’m glad I sized down. The only adjustment I made was to increase the rise of the pants by 1″, which I ended up taking out because they were too high! (whoops!)
So the other thing I did when I made this set – I actually started with view C of the top; it was originally the crossover bodice with a hood. It is SUPER cute on everyone I’ve seen wear it! But, alas, this was a classic mistake of the wrong fabric + pattern pairing. The sherpa is overly warm, which is weirdly incongruent with the deep V. The deep V was also too wide for my shoulders, so it regularly gaped open and made it hard to wear the sweatshirt without a tshirt underneath. I stitched the first couple inches of the V closed, which helped, but then I had the issue of the hood being suuuuuper heavy and causing the entire top to pull toward my back as I wore it (which might not have been an issue if the shoulders weren’t so wide to begin with?). Further, the hood was so giant and thick, I couldn’t wear it with a coat or jacket – it was too bulky underneath, and the wide neckline meant that it didn’t sit right when it was pulled out, either. It was just a little too fussy and unwearable for me, so after about a month or so I changed it into a standard crew neck.
Doing this was surprisingly easy – I always think the easiest alterations are the ones to garments you’ve already made, since you know them pretty intimately inside and out! I removed the hood completely, opened the top of the kangaroo pocket, and unpicked the turned over hems of the V-neck. From there, I was able to create a vertical seam above the pocket – which is basically invisible due to the nap of the fabric. Since this started as a V-neck, I eventually ended up with a small gap at the top where the edges no longer meet. To fill this in, I added a small piece of the sherpa, wrong side facing out, like the detail on a sweatshirt. Then I finished the neckline with a fuzzy band of self fabric. All in all, the alteration took an hour or so, and resulted in a top that is INFINITELY more wearable than the original version!
Working with this sherpa was pretty easy, although it did require some extra steps. Since the nap runs in every single direction, I didn’t worry about it while cutting my pattern pieces. The fabric sheds like craaaaaazy, so I used my serger to finish all the edges (I kept a longer + wider stitch to help push it though, as it’s quite bulky) and kept my handheld vacuum nearby to periodically clean up (which sort of worked but also my studio is still full of pink fuzz so… there’s that). After sewing seams, I used a comb to pull the hairs out of the seams and fluff them up, same as one would do when sewing faux fur. I did try some topstitching on the top to better show the seamlines, but they are still pretty subtle, so I skipped them on the pants. My fabric is stretchy so I was able to use self fabric for my bands (with no elastic, other than in the waistband). Since the fabric is very bulky, I opted to use a matching cotton interlock knit on the pocket pieces (you can’t see the inside at all and it keeps that area nice and flat). I used the same cotton interlock to make the fabric waist tie. Oh, and while I did try to finish the eyelets that the tie feeds through – nothing would stay in place due to the nap of the fabric. So there are literally just… holes in the waistband. They seem to be stable enough lol.
It took me a couple months to complete this set – and then a couple more to get photos. I took these in my bedroom, which I love waking up in every morning! Sorry the photos are blurry – no idea why, but I’m not re-taking them LOL. Oh, and while we are talking about handmade and altered things – I made the rust linen pillowcases (fabric is from Blackbird Fabrics – it felt sinful to use such a nice garment weight fabric for PILLOWCASES but the color was just too perfect for my ~palette!), the tropical throw pillow (leftover fabric from this project!), the pinch pleat curtains (originally from Ikea; I sewed channels at the top to create the pinch pleats) and re-wired the smaller lotus lamp on the bedside table.
That’s all for now! Have a great day!
LLADYBIRD 
YAY- so glad you are back! I love your voice, your humor and your kicka$$ projects and expertise. IG has become buy, buy, buy and sell, sell, sell since acquired by Meta instead of the space to share and connect that it was meant to be…
Yeah I definitely don’t feel like IG is much of a community anymore 😦 I left Facebook years ago for the same reason; seems like they ruin everything they touch haha
I’m really glad you’re back (I don’tdo Instagram). I used to love all your blogs – especially the ones about Vogue pattern releases!
I hope more people return to blogging. Blogs can be so much more informative.
Well, you know I, for one, am thrilled to see the blog back in action! ❤
I’m giving you full credit for this return! ❤
I’m not an IG user so this is wonderful news! Love your blog posts ❤
I’m about to join you in that LOL Instagram is horrible now!
Yay! So glad you are back to blogging. I’ve missed your posts.
It was nice to take a break, but ultimately I think I missed it too!
I’m so happy to see you back in blog form. IG just doesn’t work for me as I get too sidetracked with all the things I don’t CARE to see. An fyi: the fabric is still available at Domesticity though it IS in low supply. Love what you did with it and how you changed the top to work for you. As always I am inspired by your work.
Yeah, Instagram has become a really frustrating time suck for me (I don’t want to see the shit they throw in my feed, but I end up mindlessly scrolling anyway! I HATE that!) and I just don’t want to participate or contribute to it anymore.
I am so happy to have you on the blog again. I don’t understand Instagram. I love your lamps. I would really like to see a close up of them. The joggers and the top are just adorable.
The lamps are vintage lotus lamps! If you google you can see tons of photos of all kinds of styles 🙂
I don’t read IG, but I love blogs, so thanks for resurrecting! I didn’t know Sherpa came in 100% cotton and will look for it. Thanks!
Yeah I didn’t realize either – thought I was doomed to only poly sherpa. A happy discovery!
Yay! Glad you are back. The top and joggers are adorable. I love your bedside lamps. I would really love to see a close up picture of them.
Thanks for returning to the blog format.
Your posts are always inspiring and I appreciate the time you put into them.
Thank you!
Hi LLadybird! I’m glad you’re back to blogging. I enjoy following you on any platform – you know tons of sewing info!!
Thank you!
hi! yay! so glad you’re posting! love your loungewear set- looks very comfy! (love those lotus lamps 🙂 )
Thank you! I love those lamps so much 😀
You sound like you had a good time with your latest make! A few months ago I got fed up with both Facebook and Instagram. I was so annoyed by all sorts of ads and videos that I wasn’t interested in flipping in my face. So I totally stayed off of both from Thanksgiving until mid January. Now I only log in occasionally when I have a new sewing make to post, just so my friends will know I am still alive. 😉
Yeah I got off Facebook years ago and have never regretted it. Instagram is a little harder because I do feel like I need it to promote my business (vs my FB which was entirely personal and easy to dump off), but I’m trying to wean my way off. It’s just become such a cesspool of ads and videos that I don’t care about haha
yayy! happy to see you again 🙂 and I love the PJs!
Thank you!
Happy to see the return of the blog. Perhaps I am old fashioned but my favorite folks to follow still have great blogs! And yes, Insta has gone strange . . .
Instagram is the WORST now haha!
Hi, I’m happy to see your blog again active. Think short story, not novel, and we’ll still like it!😁 I appreciate the time you spend.
I’m not registered on IG after being hacked 6 minutes after establishing an account….. And want to get something DONE vs look, look, look…..
LOL i always say I’m going to write short but then I look up 2 hours later and I’ve written a novel! I’m trying!
Welcome back!
Thank you!
Nice to see you back again. Looks like a lovely warm loungey set!
Thank you!
Yeah I am with you on the Instagram thing, they are trying to turn it into Tiktok and I hate it. So glad blogs still exist!
Oof I hate Tiktok. Everyone sends me videos of that shit and I just never watch them. The format just feels so… chaotic and invasive. I don’t want to watch endless videos. I want to see a photo and then move on with my life haha
It’s the absolute coziness for me 🤩 and that colour 💖
The BEST color!!!
Thank you so much for sharing! Love the whole look, jams, and bedroom 😊 This may be more “old school” but hey, whatever works and is easiest for the person driving the show is fine by me.
MiscalaineousMe
Hell yeah! My content, my rules haha
Amazing fabric! I hear you about polyester & sweatiness.☹️. My teen years fell in the polyester period. My mother loved it- no seam finishes and fast sewing. She sewed for a living and sewing for herself or family had to happen fast. All I and my younger sister remember is wearing well-made clothing but kind of like being wrapped in a plastic bag!
I always enjoy your sewing insights. Great variation of neckline and sizing choices.
Thanks ,
Lisa
I know people are trying to bring polyester back but I just CANNOT. Even the really “nice” polyester. It just stinks when I wear it and it’s so hot. No thank you!
Yay! Glad to see you back 🙂 I’ve just been re-following along the Thurlow Trousers sewalong from yonks ago and thinking of how I’ve missed you and all the other blogs of the 2010s.
LOL I’m glad to hear that sewalong is still helping out!
Glad you are back with the makers and with the cutest lounge set ever too!
Thank you!
Hi! I’ve missed your blog, this is excellent. 😊
I missed it too!
Wow, what a treat to have you posting on the blog again! I agree that Instagram is more able selling things than inspiration these days. I love your outfit and the cute color scheme! You look so happy and cotton sounds way comfier than polyester.
Thank you! Cotton is definitely more comfy than poly – and it doesn’t stink haha!
So happy to see you back blogging! Love the super cosy set. I’m with you on the “so many jogger & sweater” patterns, I’m sticking to my tried and tested Hudson pants and Nina Lee sweatshirt – so many variations and hacks! x
Right! I’m all about those TNTs!
I’m so glad you’re back!!!!!!!!!! This set is adorable!
Thank you!
So! Very! Glad! to have you and your blog back!!! I’ve missed you!
Phooey Balooey to Instagram!
Thank you!
Yay!!! I am glad you are back!!!
Thank you!
yay! never got around to ig, now don’t want to, and i’ve missed your posts. love everything about this.
Oh, don’t, it’s gone down the steepest downhill tumble ever and it’s a total CLUSTERFUCK. You’re not missing out on anything by avoiding IG!
It’s so cute! I love the final result on your sweatshirt neckline.
Also, I agree with you about Instagram! This is much better.
thank you!
Hoping for a renaissance of blogging!
I like more detail than insta can provide.
Loved reading this!
I hope so too!!
One more vote for blogging. I really love the way you write. I hope you find the joy you seemed to have with the blog in the past. Long live the blog!
Thank you! I hope so, too!
Viva the blog! Long live long form!
This is such a cool outfit. You are making me want to sew my own custom SOMETHING using Sherpa. Rhetorical question… Why is it so hard to find cotton Sherpa? Non-rhetorical question… Curious if you have any fabric care tips for this type of fabric.
You rock and just so you know, I reference some of your older blog posts about installing zippers embarrassingly often. Viva the blog.
I don’t have any special fabric care tips, other than what I did while I was sewing (pulling the hair out of the seams, etc). I just wash and try as normal. I try to use cold water and low dryer heat whenever possible!
Lauren so glad to see you back! I have been a follower of the blog for years though I stopped checking it but it never left my bookmarks bar :). Randomly came back today to find an old post of yours for some inspo and was so excited to see a new post!
Yay!
Yasss! I am sooo happy to see this! Years ago when you frequently posted, you got me through a couple of my bed bound pregnancies. Glad to see something out of social networking. Can’t stand IG or FB.
I’m convinced that social networking is the cigarette smoking of this generation. Mark my words!
YES! I have missed real blogs and real content SO much. I hate how you can’t search stuff on insta, a good resource is buried once it is posted there. Also so many blogs are full of crap content but full of ads with keyboards. Love your blog because your voice truly shines here! Admittedly I don’t follow any sewing bloggers on insta, once they abandoned their blogs I let them fade out of their life. But I never unsubscribed!
Yeah, there’s a lot of stuff about instagram that concerns me – the abundance of ads and sponsored shit, how nothing is searchable and it basically disappears once it’s posted, oh, and how about that you’re providing all this content to a platform that you don’t OWN? That’s the one that really got me. If IG were to disappear – what happens to that content? Your followers? It just seems like a bad deal. I’m not sure how much content I actually want to put out – I don’t like living my life online, I don’t feel like I need to share everything – but I want to have complete control over what I do have.
Oh wow, could not agree with you more about instagram! It’s become such a pain, constantly pushing what I don’t want to see and not showing me what I’ve signed up to see. And punishing me for not producing videos! I too am considering reviving my long dead blog, I just wish it were easier to post quickly (that’s the value of IG, I suppose!). I’d happily subscribe to a paid version of what instagram used to be — one that earns money from my payments instead of selling my eyeball time to vendors. I hope some developer out there hears this cry!considering reviving my long dead blog, I just wish it were easier to post quickly (that’s the value of IG, I suppose!). I’d happily subscribe to a paid version of what instagram used to be — one that earns money from my payments instead of selling my eyeball time to vendors. I hope some developer out there hears this cry!
Anyway, love your green bedroom and the flower lamps, and that outfit looks super cozy!
Oh they’ll never have a paid Instagram… we’re too used to everything being free! I hate how ads have replaced that, and people don’t seem to be bothered by it? And yeah I moved over to IG too because it was easier to post – but now I feel bad if I don’t post frequently, which is STUPID! I’m getting off that hamster wheel! Everyone should come join me LOL
Yay, I love blogs and still have yours in my RSS reader. Happy for you to blog more! Love how you converted that v-neck hoodie into a crewneck!
Thank you!
I love that you’re back on this blog! I never quite got the hang of Instagram (and I spend too much time on my phone in endless scroll anyways- a bite size blog post is a better defined use of my time). That cotton Sherpa looks delicious to wear. And I think it’s quite nice to use a garment – quality linen on your pillowcases- indulgent, sure, but you’d wear a linen outfit a couple times a month (weekly maybe? Within a season) while you’re using those pillowcases every night!
Thank you! I got super sucked into Instagram and recently realized that it’s just not fun anymore? I haven’t scrolled through my feed in nearly a month and I have not missed it once!! Wild!!! I wish more people would hop back to blogging… maybe my posting will inspire a trend 🙂 And I love your justification on using garment linen for my pillowcases! Very true that I will enjoy then much more than I would as a garment!