We asked our listeners: “If you could only sew one thing, what would it be?” In this episode, we share their answers (and ours)! Listen in and get inspired – there are so many different kinds of answers!
The transcript for this episode is on this page at the end of the show notes.
Show Notes:
Our Choices:
- Caroline’s Choice: Block Print Dresses
- Helen’s Choice: Denim
Previous Episodes Mentioned:
- Episode 184: Pants Sewing and Fitting
- Episode 257: Overalls and Jumpsuits
- Episode 279: Reacting To Fashion Trends, Spring 2025
- Episode 220: Bralettes
- Episode 265: The Savile Row Suit with Patrick Grant
- Episode 263: Love to Brag
Resources:
- “How to Insert Metal Snaps in Fabric” at Sew 4 Home
- “Setting Snaps Without a Snap Setter” at Love Aunt Maggie
- “Sewing Knit Fabrics on a Regular Sewing Machine” at the Tilly and the Buttons blog
Sewing Patterns:
Other Mentions:
- @Kyla.Something makes beautiful dolls!
View this post on Instagram
Transcript:
Helen: We are recording today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, including Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam, and K’ómoks first nations.
Caroline: Hello and welcome to Love To Sew. I’m Caroline, the owner of Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns.
Helen: And I’m Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co.
Caroline: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew, and it’s basically all we ever talk about.
Helen: This week we asked our listeners: “If you could only sew one thing, what would it be?” In this episode, we share their answers – and ours! Listen in and get inspired. There are so many different kinds of answers.
Caroline: If you love to sew, this is your show. Ooh. Hi, Helen. How are you?
Helen: Hi Caroline! I’m doing well. Thanks. How are you?
Caroline: I’m doing really well.
Helen: I feel simultaneously excited about this episode, and also it makes my stomach turn a little bit, you know?
Caroline: Tell me more.
Helen: Like, the thought of not being able to sew whatever I want and only being able to sew one thing for the rest of my life makes me nauseous.
Caroline: I know, it’s really hard to pin down the one thing.
Helen: And it’s like choosing a favourite. That’s so hard. I don’t know.
Caroline: It is. It’s like choosing a favourite but, luckily, this question is up for interpretation, you know?
Helen: That’s true.
Caroline: And I kind of love how some of our listeners answered it.
Helen: Right? We have some really creative answers. And I loved, some people were just, like, very assured and knew exactly what they wanted. And then some people give it a broader interpretation so they could get more options, which, I’m on that side for sure.
Caroline: Yeah, totally. Okay, well, before we get into these amazing listener answers, we wanna let you know that the best way to support Love to Sew is by joining us over on Patreon or Apple Podcast subscriptions.
Helen: Yeah, over there you get access to bonus content every month and we have so much fun catching up with you all on those more casual bonus episodes. And since this is the last episode of our spring season, if you wanna keep up with us and keep hanging out with us, you can find us over on Patreon and Apple Podcast subscriptions.
Caroline: Yeah, it really means a lot if you’re able to support us, even if it’s just for a month or two. Especially in the off season; you can get a little dose of love to sew. And if that’s not in the cards for you right now, we totally get it. We just appreciate you listening and cheering us on.
Helen: Yes. We appreciate you so much. And thank you to everybody who contributed to this episode. This is gonna be fun.
Caroline: Yeah. Okay, so for this episode, we asked you, our listeners, what you would sew if you could only sew one thing. And we got a lot of interesting answers. And we purposely left this question open-ended, which made the answers really interesting. And we did specify that you can wear other clothing that you haven’t made, though. We’re gonna share a bunch of answers in this episode, but before we do, we’re gonna answer it for ourselves.
Helen: Yes! Okay. Wait, wait. I really wanna guess what each other’s is before we say it.
Caroline: Okay. Are we gonna like 1, 2, 3, yell it out? Or one by one?
Helen: No, I think we should take turns.
Caroline: Okay. Okay, okay, okay. I think yours is tough for, it was tough for me, but I think you know mine. So should we start with me? ‘Cause I’m more predictable?
Helen: Yeah, let’s start with you. If Caroline could only sew one thing, it would be: linen.
Caroline: You got it wrong.
Helen: Nooo! I mean, it is really open to interpretation, so I was like, “It’s probably gonna be a fabric type,” but maybe it’s not a fabric type.
Caroline: Okay. I was thinking of it sort of, like, if I could only wear one me-made type of item, garment, like, what would I want to wear? And for me, that’s like always gonna be block print dresses.
Helen: Yeah, that’s fair.
Caroline: So that was, yeah.
Helen: I should have known.
Caroline: That’s my one thing. It’s a block print dress. There’s so many different styles of dresses. There’s so many different block prints. There’s nothing better than wearing, like, a flowy, airy block print dress. So that would be my choice.
Helen: I totally agree, and I love how specific you’re being because you didn’t have to say block print dress. You could have just said dress, but you really wanna, you know, narrow in on one thing. One thing.
Caroline: Oh yeah. There’s just nothing better, in my opinion.
Helen: That’s totally fair. Okay. I’m curious to hear. I don’t think you’re gonna guess mine because I went through so many different things in my mind before I landed on this.
Caroline: Okay. Can I tell you the, the things that I, I considered, but I didn’t pick?
Helen: Yes.
Caroline: Okay. I thought you might say Cameron Button Ups because you have so many. And then I thought you might do something in the world of dresses ’cause I feel like you really like wearing dresses in the summer. But I ended up going with, and, like, I do feel like I’m probably wrong, ’cause I think you maybe interpreted this creatively, but we’re gonna see. I think you would make pants.
Helen: Ooh, that’s actually close to my choice. I did almost think pants and then I decided to go with a fabric. And if I could only sew one thing, it would be: denim.
Caroline: Ooh, I almost said jeans, too.
Helen: Yeah. I love making jeans and I love working with denim and, obviously, quilting came to mind, too, but I’m like, if I choose quilts, then I can never make clothes again. That’s unacceptable. I, that, that’s not, I will not accept that. So, but with denim, like, denim quilts are not as popular, obviously, ’cause they’re really heavy, but they’re really cool. And so I could still quilt using denim and that would be really fun and exciting. But I could also make all sorts of cool garments. And there’s lots of different weights of denim. And I just love it. Every time I work with denim, I’m like, “This is the best.”
Caroline: Yeah. And you can get coloured denim. You can make all kinds of garments with denim, also. It just makes sense. Like, Canadian tuxedo, head-to-toe denim. You would be representing our country every day.
Helen: That’s true. That’s true. Go, Canada.
Caroline: I guess you could also mix it with other ready-to-wear things, like we said, but I’m just picturing you, just head-to-toe denim every day.
Helen: I would accept that. I mean, I do love my black and white, but you can get black and white denim, too, so there’s lots of options. You were so close, though. I almost picked button-up shirts. I almost picked dresses and I almost picked pants, and then I was like, with denim, you can do all those things.
Caroline: It’s so true. It’s so true. I love this. Okay, this was fun. I can’t wait to get into all of our listener responses.
Helen: I know. Me, too.
Caroline: So first up, we’re gonna share the answers from a popular group: sewists who were focused on fitting.
Helen: Audrey wrote, “I’ve actually thought about this question many times over the last few years as I’ve transitioned to making all of my garments. I work full time outside the home and am Mama to 3 teenage boys. Sewing time is limited and prioritizing projects is a must. To answer the question, it’s jeans. I wear jeans nearly every day for work, so it’s a practical make for me. There’s lots of versatility in fabrics, leg shapes, top stitching designs, etc, so I don’t get bored. Jeans are fun, yet challenging. More than all of that, making my jeans has been a liberating experience. I know that sounds a bit over the top, but I mean it. As a tall woman with a 2-3 size difference between waist and hip and thick thighs, ready-to-wear jeans that fit just don’t exist. Shopping for them is so defeating. Making them, on the other hand, is such a confidence boost. Hands down, I’m sewing jeans!”
Caroline: Oh, it’s such a good point. Like, make something that you know you can’t get in ready-to-wear that fits you. I didn’t even think about it from that perspective. But this is really inspiring, obviously.
Helen: Yes.
Caroline: You are inspiring me, Audrey. You’re definitely not alone in struggling to find jeans and pants that fit. We had a lot of listeners comment to say the same thing. Being able to make jeans that fit is like a superpower. For our listeners out there who haven’t achieved this yet, we actually have some tips for you.
Helen: Yes. You can trace your pattern, instead of just cutting it out right away, because you might wanna go back to the drawing board if the fit is really off. Making adjustments on your traced-out version is a nice way to preserve the original pattern.
Caroline: And you wanna make muslins. Use long basting stitches so that they come together quickly and come apart easily. Actually, there’s something super satisfying about, like, ripping apart seams on a muslin.
Helen: Oh, so true. Yeah. We recommend that you make adjustments one at a time, starting from the top and working your way down.
Caroline: And check out our episode on Pants Sewing and Fitting for lots more info. We’re gonna link that for you in the show notes.
Helen: On a related note, @DeltaSew wrote: “Pants. (This includes all styles, with jeans.) I’ve done 3 so far this year! I should add that my goal this year is to make them adjustable at the waist, and yet be somewhat more tailored looking.”
Caroline: Ooh, okay. We have a recommendation for you. The Meriam trousers by Cashmerette have a tailored look and a flex waistband. It’s hard to explain, but the waistband has a hidden layer of elastic that has a few inches of waistband sewn onto the end. So when you sit or bend over, the elastic stretches and the extra waistband kind of peeks out. But it looks like a fitted waistband. It’s pretty magical. I remember when Cashmerette came out with this pattern. I was like, poof. Mind blown.
Helen: Right? I know. It’s so cool. And you can also do a fitted front and an elastic back, especially if you wear your shirts untucked in the back. Like, no one’s ever gonna see the elastic back there. So that’s a good way to make them a bit more flexible.
Caroline: Totally. Kate wrote, “Dresses. I’m different size in the bust, waist and hips. I can buy pants that fit and tops that fit. But it was an epiphany when I started measuring myself and sewing for myself why ready-to-wear dresses never fit. I can now sew something that fits properly over my whole body.”
Helen: Ooh, yes. This is so cool. I mean, it’s so annoying when you go to shop and retail places sell the matching top and bottom sets together. And, like, bathing suits, too, sometimes, like, I wanna pick a different size for the top and the bottom. Most people are a different size, top and bottom. But that’s not a problem with sewing things for yourself, so: magic.
Caroline: Yeah. Do you remember when it was, like, a selling point when you’d shop for a bathing suit and they’d be like, “You can buy a different size on the top and bottom!” Yeah. It was, like, revolutionary. Like, they’re just discovering that women are all different sizes.
Helen: This just in.
Caroline: Yeah. This just in.
Helen: Well, speaking of swimming suits, Alex wrote, “Bathing suits! It is so hard to find ones I love in stores and I love that with sewing I can customize it to be the design I want AND the fit that I want. Nowadays there are so many great options for fabric and patterns I feel like I would be happy to sew only swimsuits.”
Caroline: I love this. Alex is gonna be the best-dressed one on the beach.
Helen: Totally. Swimwear crossed my mind when I was thinking about this because it is another one of those things that I love sewing. It’s so much fun. And I do not like shopping for it at all.
Caroline: Yeah. Same. Okay. Katie wrote, “Bras! Challenging but small, fit is exponentially better, and once you know how to make one you know how to make them all!”
Helen: Ooh, bra fitting is definitely a useful skill. I also like that Katie pointed out that once you get over the initial hurdle of learning how to sew a bra, the process gets way smoother. Plus, you get to use all of those pretty fabrics and trim, the lace, the little notions, the little rings and the sliders. I mean, everything about it is just delightful.
Caroline: Amazing.
Helen: I definitely think that, for folks who have trouble bra shopping, sewing your own bras is the way to go.
Caroline: Yeah. Brune wrote, “Jumpsuits. I love them and it’s hard to find ones that fit well!”
Helen: Ooh, very true. In our Overalls and Jumpsuits episode, we talked about why it’s so hard to find a ready-to-wear jumpsuit that fits. There are so many ways that it can go wrong. When you’re sewing them, potentially, there will be bodice adjustments and pants adjustments, maybe extra length adjustments to get a good fit. But it’s so worth it, ’cause you get this head-to-toe look and it’s just fabulous. And I feel like, when you wear me-made jumpsuits, you get the most compliments.
Caroline: It’s true. They’re kind of, like, striking. It’s such a style choice.
Helen: Right. And everybody wants one.
Caroline: I love the idea of Brune just going about life, just wearing only jumpsuits, like, forever. So easy to get dressed in the morning. But bathroom breaks would be challenging, potentially.
Helen: Yeah. You get really good at it, though. You know? You’d be speedy. You’d know exactly how much time you need. You’d be quick getting in and out of them.
Caroline: Yeah. You’d be really brave.
Helen: Yeah.
Caroline: Our next group of listeners wanted their one thing to be a dream garment. Ksenija wrote: “Swimsuit! Cause I won’t stop dreaming about life on or near the beach.”
Helen: Ooh, I can totally relate to this one. You know I love swimming, even though it’s a seasonal activity for me. Making my own suits has been so much fun. Maybe I should start making them in the winter when I need a boost. Or I need to go on a tropical holiday.
Caroline: Yeah, it’s so true. As if you haven’t made swimsuits in the winter. I feel like you’ve made swimsuits every month of the year, Helen.
Helen: At least one a month. No, I have amassed quite the collection of bathing suits now, and it feels a little bit ridiculous when I go to get one out to go to the beach. I’m like, which of these 20 swimsuits should I choose?
Caroline: Oh my gosh. Lucky.
Helen: Right. Okay. Beth wrote, “Coats! I love sewing unique coats in great colours.”
Caroline: Ooh, this is a great idea. I feel like a lot of the coats you find in stores are more practical and neutral, and making unique and colorful coats is a great way to use your sewing superpower. Also, the trend of, like, candy-coloured coats.
Helen: Yes! I was thinking that, too.
Caroline: You could jump on that. Love it.
Helen: And so many fabrics that you can use. Denim, wool, rainwear, like, there’s so many different cool things you could experiment with, with coats. And you get to pick fun linings. Maybe I’ll switch mine to coats!
Caroline: Yeah. And you’ll never, I was gonna say, you’ll never have the wrong coat.
Helen: That’s true.
Caroline: Mm. Sorry. I’m throwing back to our Trends episode again.
Helen: Oh, okay. I was like, “Is that something you struggle with, or?” “I always have the wrong coat!”
Caroline: No, I just, I think about that Trends episode often when I am, like, throwing on, I don’t know, a coat that really doesn’t go with my outfit. And I just think, like, “I’m following the trends. I’m wearing the wrong coat!”
Helen: That’s what I love about, like, the ugly sneaker trend, too, where I’m like, “Yes. I love trends that let me be super comfortable and not care.”
Caroline: Stacey wrote, “A recreation of a very fancy dress my grandmother wore in a black and white photograph I have of her from the 1940s. It’s my ten year goal, for sure.”
Helen: Oh, I love the idea of having a goal that really stretches your sewing skills. I would also love to see a picture of this dress, Stacey, if you could send that to us. I wonder if they know what colour it is or, like, if they’re just gonna have to choose their own colour for it and interpret the black and white photograph? That would be cool.
Caroline: Yeah. Oh my gosh. I would love to see this photo, too.
Helen: Christine wrote, “Beautiful silk pyjamas made from the finest silk possible. Would love the challenge and to lounge in style!”
Caroline: Ooh, this sounds like the height of luxury. I would break in my silk pajamas with a glass of champagne, a box of good chocolate. Yes, imagine, like, if you’re only sewing silk pajamas, you can invest in the most beautiful, incredible silk.
Helen: It is true. I really like this interpretation of this question, is not, like, what would I sew for the rest of my life, but what’s my dream project if you put me on the spot right now, you know? It can be a good exercise, especially if you’re like, “I don’t know what I should work on next.” Maybe you should make luxury silk pajamas. I mean, if that’s the first thing that comes to mind, go for it.
Caroline: It’s so true. Or like, think, like, “This is the last thing I’m gonna sew. What would it be?” And then you’ll really know what you wanna sew.
Helen: I mean, that’s a bit macabre, but…
Caroline: Your death row sewing project.
Helen: That’s what we were gonna call this episode. But then we pivoted.
Caroline: Yeah. Next up we have a voicemail from Grace.
Grace Voicemail: Hi, this is Grace in North Carolina and I think I’ve sewn everything I can possibly imagine. I’m a professional seamstress and I think that there is just something about sewing a dress and putting it on and just feeling like magic. That’s one of the first things I made when I was a little girl with my mom. And, man, sewing a dress. It might be a little bit fussier or frillier or brighter than something you would probably buy at the store and you put it on and it is, mm! Can’t wait to hear the episode. Bye.
Caroline: Oh, Grace. I think so many of us can relate to the feeling of putting on a fabulous me-made dress and feeling that, like, mm! Magical feeling.
Helen: Mm! Oh, yeah. When she was like, “mm!” I was like, “Oh, I know that feeling.”
Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. And I really love that your one thing connects you to the first project you made with your mom. It’s so sweet. Sewing is the best.
Helen: It is the best. I definitely, this episode, with every person’s answer, I’m like, “Ooh, I wanna change mine to dresses now.” It’s so true! When you, like, put it on, especially if it’s the kind that you can kind of throw on over your head and the fabric just goes whoosh around your body and you’re in the mirror, like, “Look at me! I’m incredible!”
Caroline: Yeah. You immediately twirl around. So good.
Helen: So good. Okay. A lot of our listeners focused a bit more on versatility and practicality when they chose their one thing, which is very fair because, let’s be real, we need to be practical sometimes.
Caroline: Sometimes.
Helen: Sometimes.
Caroline: So, Shreya wrote, “It would have to be a dress!! All in one outfit, perfect throw-on-ability, and you don’t need to worry about matching two pieces of clothing together.”
Helen: Yes. And Meg wrote, “I’d have to agree! People think you’re so put together when you have a dress on but really you just couldn’t be bothered matching pieces of clothing!”
Caroline: Abbie wrote, “Woven dresses! I love making them and wearing them but entering a breastfeeding stage of life again so I guess that means I need to actually master buttons.”
Helen: Ooh, that’s true. Or wrap dresses can also work. I’ve seen some cool maternity dresses, too, that have a bodice panel that goes down and then a skirt panel that kind of goes up and there’s a gap in between them that overlaps so that you can sneakily get the boobs out.
Caroline: Yes.
Helen: Those are cool. Erica wrote, “Dresses. They can do anything! You can clean cat boxes or go to the Met Gala in a dress.”
Caroline: Maybe not the same dress, but honestly, who knows?
Helen: Yeah.
Caroline: Dresses don’t get enough credit for being practical. I feel like even my comfiest me-made house dress gets compliments when I wear it out. And Abbie, one more thing about breastfeeding. I’ve heard that snaps are really great because they’re easy to do or undo with one hand, and you can use snaps on pretty much any pattern that calls for buttons. And we’re talking about small snaps here, not the heavy duty kind that you use on jackets. They work similarly. They’re just smaller. We’re gonna link up a couple of tutorials for inserting metal snaps both with and without a snap plier. And if you decide to go with buttons, don’t worry too much about it. Practice on some scrap fabric using the same amount of layers that you would in a finished button placket and you’re gonna be a pro before you know it. You got this.
Helen: Yes, you do got this. Buttons are fun to master ’cause then you feel like you can do anything.
Caroline: Yeah.
Helen: Okay, our next listener, sneaky little listener, sent us a voicemail.
Caroline: You sneaky listener, you.
Helen: Sneaky little listener.
Laurie Voicemail: Hi, Helen and Caroline! It’s Laurie, otherwise known as Sam’s mom. I had to jump on here when I saw the question because the answer is so obvious to me. It’s the Yanta Overalls. I think I’ve made four pairs now. And why? Because they are so, so comfortable and you can make them in heavy denim, in linen, in shorts, stripes. You can make them with belt loops. You can…they are so versatile. I think people are getting used to me just living in my Yantas. And they have pockets, lots of pockets. Just love them. Love your show. Love what you guys are doing. Love you, too. Bye.
Helen: Oh my gosh. I’m so glad you called in, Laurie. You absolutely rock your Yantas. She really does. They look so cute on her. And I do think that there’s a little bit of a belief that older folks can’t pull off, you know, cute overalls or jumpsuits. Laurie’s out here proving everybody wrong, okay? She’s representing. They look so good on her and she gets so many compliments from folks in her age group about how fantastic they are and how people want to wear that kind of style. So, go for it. And I’m really glad that you enjoy how comfortable and practical these overalls are. I love them, too.
Caroline: It’s funny, ’cause I’ve only met Laurie a few times, but I do imagine Laurie wearing Yantas. Like, when I, when I picture Laurie in my mind, Laurie is wearing Yanta Overalls.
Helen: I really need to get some pictures of her wearing them to add to our product photos for that product. ‘Cause that would be so perfect.
Caroline: Yeah.
Helen: One of the best things about the Yanta Overalls is that they don’t, like, cinch in or dig in at the waist at all. Like, it’s like wearing a sack, which doesn’t sound that exciting, but it actually is really nice to be able to put on something that doesn’t touch your stomach at all, especially if you have sensory issues. So that can be really cool.
Caroline: Yeah. I really wanna make some Yantas for gardening, but, like, size up so they’re, like, really loosey goosey and, like, comfy to bend down in.
Helen: Ooh. I mean, they’re pretty loose to begin with. I don’t know if you need to size up on the Yantas.
Caroline: But I wanna be wearing, like, a sack sack.
Helen: Sack sack sack. Fair enough. Well, you can always make them bigger and then take them in as you sew them.
Caroline: Yeah, totally. Also, I kind of secretly just wanna avoid doing the zipper on the side, so.
Helen: Yeah. Obviously.
Caroline: All right, next, Cynthia wrote, “Mine is a bias-cut knee length skirt. It can be rayon or silk in a fun print. I usually wear it with a simple ivory or white sleeveless top. I have chosen all kinds of wild and plain fabrics to share my love of colour. I often put foldover elastic at the waist and often add a straight lining. It sews up so fast and with a pair of sandals I can go anywhere!”
Helen: Ooh, Cynthia, you sound like a very chic person. Like, I am picturing this. It’s such a vision. I think a bias-cut skirt is so beautiful and it’s a great choice for this challenge. Because it does give you a lot of versatility, even though, yes, it’s a skirt, so it kind of puts you in a box in that sense. But you can dress it up, dress it down. It’s such a great uniform, especially if it works for your lifestyle, and a way to get a lot out of your wardrobe. And it’s much more personalized than those lists of, like, capsule wardrobe pieces that are out there. I do think adding a fun bias-cut skirt to your wardrobe’s a great plan.
Caroline: Yeah. And bias-cut skirts just, like, sit so beautifully on the body. Like, they just, it just takes a skirt up a level.
Helen: Mm!
Caroline: Yeah. It’s another one of those. Mm!
Helen: Right. As Grace would say, “Mm!”
Caroline: Mm! Oh my gosh. That’s like the tagline of this, this episode.
Helen: What’s the project that makes you go, mm!?
Caroline: Oh, well, speaking of that, comfort was another thing on our listeners’ mind when they chose their one thing. Tamara wrote, “Bamboo underwear. Because honestly I could live in just those anyways.”
Helen: I love that. They’re like, “I don’t need any other clothes. I’ll just take the bamboo underwear.”
Caroline: Yeah.
Helen: Knit viscose fabrics like rayon, Tencel, modal, lyocell, and bamboo are some of the most comfortable fabrics on the planet. They’re so soft, they’re breathable, they have a cool hand. And if you’re making undies, you wanna seek out fabrics with a good amount of spandex so that they have a good recovery. You want them to kind of, like, stick to your body and snap back. You don’t want ’em to be baggy. So that’s just a couple of fabric tips for you. But Tamara, I love that this is your choice. Comfy underwear rules. And when it fits well, I mean, I hate to do it again, but: mm!
Caroline: Di wrote, “A comfortable, supportive, non wired bra. Comfort is everything.” Okay, I gotta chime in and say, I totally hear you, Di. And agree. No wires for me, never.
Helen: Never again. Those days are over.
Caroline: And it is like finding a unicorn when you find that really comfortable, supportive bra. So making it yourself is really amazing. Listeners, if you wanna start your quest for a good bralette, we’ll link our episode about them in the show notes.
Helen: Yes. Ooh. Okay. This is another little plug for Helen’s, sneaky plug for Helen’s Closet. Franziska wrote, “The Arden Pants by Helen’s Closet. They fit perfectly, are comfy and stylish and I would be happy to live in these pants for the rest of my days. I already have like eight versions for myself and have sewed several versions for friends as presents.”
Caroline: Yes! Wow. That is a lot of Ardens. And this is a great way to get the full benefit of a pattern you love. It makes the fitting part worth it when you can just break out a tried and true pattern and make it out of a new fabric. This is a great choice.
Helen: Yes. Thank you for the Arden Pants love.
Caroline: Nikki wrote, “I love the Style Arc Brooklyn jumper in soft fleece or boucle. Love the fit, although I sized down a lot, and that it has pockets and a high neck.”
Helen: This is such a cute pattern. It’s like a sweater with a loose fit, a big funnel neck. And I think patterns like this are fabulous because they make you look really put together, but they’re the same amount of work as, like, a t-shirt. You know, you’re just adding a lot of extra to that neck band, and all of a sudden, you look super fashionable. It’s perfect.
Caroline: Yeah, I’m imagining, like, lots of textured fabrics. You can go thick. If you want to go, like, with a thinner fabric, it’ll have a totally different look. I think this is a great choice.
Helen: Mmhmm. Some of our listeners picked quick wins as their one thing. Claire wrote, “A dress. Specifically, a knit dress! I can make them in my sleep now. Tank top, long sleeve, knee length, maxi, whatever. But I swear I have perfected the simple knit dress on myself.”
Caroline: That is amazing, Claire, and this is another one that’s about the same level of work as a T-shirt, but can end up looking really put-together.
Helen: Yeah, and it’s so comfortable, too, like, talk about secret pajamas. When you’re wearing a knit dress, you’re just like, “Ha ha, ha, suckers!”
Caroline: Chickie wrote, “I always seem to sew skirts. I need to switch to tops, to go with all the skirts!”
Helen: Hey, Chickie. If you love only sewing skirts, we totally support you. But if you do wanna start making tops, you can definitely do that. If you’re interested in knits, it’s a learning curve, but very do-able. Use your scraps to adjust the settings on your machine so your fabric isn’t getting stretched out or bunched up. The settings that might need adjusting would be, like, tension, zigzag length, zigzag width. We’ll link a tutorial for getting started with knits in our show notes for any of our listeners who have been wanting to learn. But there’s so many different styles of tops out there that you could pair with a skirt. I just love a t-shirt and a skirt together. You know, it’s very casual, but modern. Little sneaker. You can’t go wrong.
Caroline: Yeah. No, it’s so true. So easy to throw on and wear, and it’s a perfect choice.
Helen: Mmhmm.
Caroline: A big theme we saw with our listeners’ responses was focusing on the process: doing something challenging and enjoying the satisfaction of getting it right. Kallie wrote, “Jeans! I love the process of sewing them, getting the fit just right, and nailing the topstitching on a fly front is so satisfying.”
Helen: Yes, Jay also wrote, “Trousers, for sure. They are the hardest to find a good fit for in ready-to-wear and it also involves hardware which is always fun to hammer!” That’s a really good point, actually.
Caroline: Yes.
Helen: I get to do hardware with my denim choice.
Caroline: It’s so true. Yeah. It’s like you get the satisfaction of sewing and the satisfaction of anger management.
Helen: I feel really hardcore, especially when I get out that teeny tiny anvil.
Caroline: Yeah. Oh my gosh. The tiny anvil. It’s the best.
Helen: It’s the best.
Caroline: Beth wrote, “Jeans. The challenge in perfecting the fit, I want to learn to fell seams, and getting my topstitching better!”
Helen: Ooh, yes, definitely. You can do a faux felled seam. Like, you don’t have to do the full on tucking the edge under and like enclosing it all. You can just serge the edge and then push it to one side and top stitch it. And that, like, works pretty well, especially with jeans, I find, because you don’t want a ton of bulk in there. But also, felling seams is fun, too, so you should definitely try it.
Caroline: But, bonus: with the serging, you can use, like, a fun serger thread colour, like red, or…
Helen: Yes. Rainbow. Mm, rainbow serger thread on denim is just the cutest. I really love the challenge of sewing great jeans and trousers. And it can feel overwhelming if you sit down and think about all the techniques that you’re about to do. I do think, I’m sure there are listeners out there who have, who have not yet attempted jeans and are like, “That sounds hard.” But it is just like everything else, one step at a time, and it’s really satisfying when you finish some of those trickier steps like the zipper fly or the waistband. And in the end, perfect fitting pants. That is a very, very good reward.
Caroline: It’s worth it. Yeah, and just give yourself the time to, like, take your time with it and enjoy the process.
Helen: Yeah, exactly. @CelebratingNanaSkills wrote, “It would have to be a collared shirt. I really enjoy the magic of flipping that collar inside out, and the burrito yoke. It feels like there’s always an occasion for some style of formal or casual collared shirt, from variations in ease, collars, cuffs, sleeves…I guess with any sewing the possibilities are endless. On my to-sew list one day is a silk chiffon shirt, one day…”
Caroline: First of all, I love your handle. We’re all about celebrating nana skills. And second of all, traditional shirts have so many wonderful details. They’re really something that make people say, “You made that?!” Also, a silk chiffon shirt? What? Amazing.
Helen: That would be incredible. Also, really enjoying lace shirts. You know that, like, see-through. You can do shirt dresses. You got a little dress action in there. You could use your shirt to make, like, a jacket.
Caroline: Ooh, we’re stretching the rules. We’re stretching the rules.
Helen: I just like thinking about how you can, like, get away with stuff with this question.
Caroline: Can the shirt be a shacket? I don’t know.
Helen: It can! It can.
Caroline: Is it still a shirt if it’s a shacket?
Helen: Okay. You take the buttons and you move them onto pants and then… Ann wrote, “Coats. I find making a coat endlessly fascinating. There are so many types for different occasions and environments. You can make them quick and dirty or using haute couture techniques. I always have an a-ha moment and learn something new when I make a coat.”
Caroline: It is so cool to choose something complicated and kind of difficult as your one thing. I can really relate to all these listeners who love learning new techniques. And coat fabrics are also so fun to shop for. This is another one that I feel like is up for interpretation. Like, if you’re using a heavy fabric, can a coat be a jacket? Can it be short? Can we stretch the rules a little bit? You know?
Helen: If you make it out of swimwear fabric, is it a swimsuit?
Caroline: What if you make it in silk? Is it a dress? Is it a coat dress? Is that a thing?
Helen: Ooh, that’s a, that’s a thing for sure. That’s more of a thing than a coat swimsuit, but.
Caroline: No, it’s so true, though. I feel like, coating fabrics, there are so many options out there. You can go with something that’s, like, more textured, like a boucle or a tweed. You can go with something that’s more sleek, like a melton. You can even do a coat out of, like, a cotton twill to get a totally different look. So you’re gonna be making coats for decades, and you got a lot to work with. Sue wrote, “I really enjoy sewing tailored blazers. I don’t wear them much, but sewing them is meditative.”
Helen: Sue, it is so interesting that you don’t wear your one thing that much. You’re very much a process sewist, but I love that. Tailoring is one of those advanced level sewing skillsets that is so impressive. Definitely applaud you on that front. I mean, when we talked to Patrick Grant on the podcast and we were talking all about tailoring, truly, you could spend a lifetime learning about how to properly tailor a coat, and people do. So this is a great choice.
Caroline: It really is. Cristina wrote, “I think it would have to be bags. I’ve already sewn a few but there’s so much I need to learn and so many patterns to choose from or to imagine. I love the mix of hand sewing and machine sewing with a bag.”
Helen: Yes. Bag sewing is another thing that has a unique skillset and some unique materials that you get to use. I love that you enjoy the hand sewing part of it, too. There’s so much out there to learn with bag making, and you can really take it far and make unique structured bags, quilted bags, you could get into leather work. The possibilities are endless here.
Caroline: Yes. I feel like there are just so many patterns out there for bags. You can make every kind of bag under the sun.
Helen: It’s true. Great gifts, too, like, really fun to make for other people.
Caroline: Okay. Here’s a loophole, Helen: what about those, like, coats that turn into bags?
Helen: Oh yeah. Where it all, like, packs up into the, the hidden pouch that’s, like, in the hood or something. Yeah. Now we’re talking. I like it. I like it. Nikki wrote, “Underwear! Specifically using fabric scraps to create very fun, patchwork, granny-inspired undies. I made 15 pairs last year in one sitting and they are all I wear, LOL.”
Caroline: Okay. This is really cool, Nikki. I love that this is how you bust scraps. They sound like they would look really fun, too, and I wonder if there’s anything you do to make the seams more comfortable. Or maybe, if you use the right fabrics, it’s not a big deal. Or maybe you wear a lot of dresses, so it’s not a big deal for, like, the seams to rub too much. ‘Cause there’s, like, nothing rubbing against them.
Helen: It is true. I like to tack down my seam allowances when I make undies. I did go through a big undies making phase. Well, we both did, actually. We were pretty into it for a minute there. And it is super fun to slap them together. And I used to, like, cut my undies out with my project. So I cut out a t-shirt pattern, for example, and then immediately got out my undies pattern and cut out from the scraps, the pieces, and then put them all in a bin. And then you can do a batch sew, like Nikki did, and make 15 pairs at once.
Caroline: Oh my gosh, it’s so smart. ‘Cause then, when you have all your machine threaded up to make your t-shirt, you just throw in a pair of undies and then you’ve got a bonus pair of undies.
Helen: Exactly. Brilliant. You got a whole outfit.
Caroline: Alright. Some of our listeners wrote in with a pattern they would choose as their one thing. So Linda wrote, “The Merchant and Mills Ottoline Jacket. I’ve made four, in varying weights and fabric types. It’s a great wardrobe staple, seasonal, and can be worn with dresses, pants, skirts, dressed up or down. It’s my go-to pattern. I love it.”
Helen: Ooh, okay. The Ottoline is a workwear jacket with really nice topstitching details and patch pockets. I could definitely see having four of these. And this looks like a really fun sew. Very cool. Bridget wrote, “Oh, that’s so hard! If I had to choose just one thing, it would be the Merchant and Mills Trapeze Dress. It was one of the first garments I made and my first version was the simplest possible: sleeveless with no buttons. Since then I’ve lengthened the pattern and sewn tucks to hitch it up at each side and made a tulle skirt for underneath. I’ve made a sleeved version. I’ve made the button backed version. I just love the simple shift shape.”
Caroline: Ooh. I love a simple, wearable pattern like this. I feel like it’s great for showing off nice fabric. I love that you can layer it, too. This is a great versatile one.
Helen: Yeah, it’s so true, and you’re making the most of it with all of these pattern hacks, which you know is totally my jam.
Caroline: Jyoti wrote, “The Fringe Dress from Chalk and Notch. Sometimes it feels like it is the only thing I ever sew, I’ve made so many of them. It fits me so well. And it’s so versatile. I have really casual ones, ones I wear to work, and even a sparkly one I wear out dancing!”
Helen: Okay. Changing up the fabric can stretch a pattern to lots of different occasions and different scenarios. I love that you’ve made casual workwear and dressy versions of this one pattern, and I do know that the Fringe Dress has, like, a cult following. It’s so popular and I have seen so many beautiful versions. It is just one of those designs that you’re like, “Yes, obviously I want that dress. It’s perfect.”
Caroline: Absolutely. Yeah. It’s, like, classic, timeless, will always, it’s always gonna work in your wardrobe.
Helen: Yeah. Anne says, “Maybe the Closet Core Kalle Shirt, as it is so versatile. You can make it into a dress, a shirt to go with jeans, or smarter with different fabric. It can be more feminine with a viscose satin or a shacket with a heavier fabric and the long sleeve extension. And I’ve just made one for a beach cover up! Love this pattern!”
Caroline: Ooh, these listeners are really making me wanna dig out some of my TnT patterns and make them again. We both love the Kalle. We’ve both made it before. And I also love the idea of a shirt as, like, a swim coverup. Mm.
Helen: Mm mm mm! Yeah, the Kalle’s another community favourite, for sure. Definitely a lot of versatility.
Caroline: Cynthia wrote, “I have a pattern for cigarette pants that I have made multiple times, in denim, twill, canvas, and in prints, solids, stripes. In every length from knee to ankle. I have perfected the fit so it works every time. It is by far my most used and versatile pattern.”
Helen: Ooh, this is so inspiring. Cigarette pants are closely fitted from the waist on down, so they’re one of the more challenging patterns to fit. And you know, Capri pants are actually coming back into style, which is so funny. I really used to wear a ton of them when I was younger, so I’m kind of excited about this one to come back in. I wish I had a cigarette pant pattern that fit me perfectly. Maybe we need to add one to the Helen’s Closet collection.
Caroline: Mmhmm. Yeah. Cigarette pants. Oof. I, I mean, actually I think, specifically, Capri Pants, I, they, I don’t know if I’m ready for them to come back, personally.
Helen: We’ll see. You’re saying that now
Caroline: I have Capri pant trauma.
Helen: By next summer, you’re gonna have a Capri pant pattern.
Caroline: I know, I know. I just need to warm up to it. I gotta see more of it out in the world. I have to just, yeah, let it wash over me for a season or two.
Helen: It is really smart to take something that, you know, you love to wear, a style you know you love to wear, and just perfect a pattern to fit so that you can make it again and again and again. I love that.
Caroline: Yeah. Riya wrote, “Honestly, the Helen’s Closet Lockhart Jumpsuit and Dress has me in a chokehold currently. It’s such a versatile pattern that you can dress up for a more elegant and elevated look or dress down for a casual and comfy style. I have four finished versions and three more in the making. Minimalism who?”
Helen: Seven Lockharts! Oh my gosh. This pattern’s only been out for a year. I’m so impressed.
Caroline: Yes.
Helen: That’s amazing. That might even be more than I have. But it’s so awesome to make so many versions of a pattern you love. I mean, similar to Cynthia with her cigarette pants. Like, when it works, it works. And then you can just repeat and make them in different fabrics. And when you find something that perfectly fits your style, it makes sense to just run with it.
Caroline: Yes. I remember when you were designing Lockhart, you were talking about wanting it to be, like, the perfect classic dress and jumpsuit…
Helen: THE dress.
Caroline: Like, THE dress, and Rhea agrees, so you really hit it. Helen, you hit the nail on the head there.
Helen: I love hearing that. You can also make tops and skirts and pants with that pattern. We have some blog posts about that. So it truly does run the gamut.
Caroline: Yeah, you should have picked Lockhart, Helen.
Helen: I know. It’s true. Dang it.
Caroline: A few of our listeners wanted their one thing to be for someone else: their children. How selfless. Wow. Dawn wrote, “A child’s dress-up or Halloween costume, preferably using at least some recycled materials. I made my wee son a beautiful, if I do say so myself, Robin Hood costume, complete with a quiver made from a used suede garment in the junk bin at the thrift store. Thrills me to think of the hours of joyful imaginative play.”
Helen: Aw, Dawn, your son is so lucky. Stuff like this makes childhood feel magical. I can remember all of the costumes my mom made me when I was a kid. I have such fond memories of Halloween and getting to wear this creation that has come to life, like, exactly what I asked for. And seeing the joy on a kid’s face when you give them something that you made is also the best feeling. So this is a really, really fun choice.
Caroline: It really is.
Helen: Merry wrote, “It would be dresses for my girls. I just love seeing their faces beam when they wear them and I can tell they feel beautiful and special. And I feel so much pride in my work and in my beautiful daughters!”
Caroline: Oh, this is so sweet. Such a good answer, Merry.
Helen: Yes.
Caroline: Shem wrote, “My oldest daughter is six years old. If I could only sew one thing I would want to be able to spend the next couple decades working on learning all the necessary skills to be able to make her her dream wedding gown! As a father who loves to sew, the idea of being able to walk the girl who turned me into a father down the aisle, in the dress of her dreams that I made for her, would be more than I could ask for.” Excuse me, while I go cry. Oh my gosh.
Helen: I’m literally tearing up. Okay. And this is really cute, too, because for our listeners who pay very close attention, you may remember Shem from a really great letter he wrote us a few years ago about sewing for his toddler daughter, and I cannot believe that she is six now. That is wild and amazing and incredible.
Caroline: Oh my gosh. Yeah. A bunch of the letters we got in our Love to Brag episode were from parents who made their children wedding gowns. It seems like such a beautiful and meaningful thing. I really hope you get your wish, Shem, and your daughter will be so lucky to wear a wedding gown that you made.
Helen: Yeah, that would be amazing. I mean, we’ll probably still be doing the show. So Shem, if you could give us an update, you know…
Caroline: Yep. Yep,
Helen: 20 years down the line.
Caroline: Circle back. Even if we’re not doing the show, I’m expecting you to figure out how to get in touch and let us know how it went.
Helen: Reach out.
Caroline: Oh, my heart is warmed.
Helen: Okay. Most of the responses we got from listeners were for garments, but there were some non-garment answers. So here’s a few of them. Marcia wrote, “Dog blankets from my sewing remnants for needy dogs.”
Caroline: Oh, this is so sweet. This is a great way to scrap bust and support dogs who need comfort. Yeah. I gotta do this. This is a great idea.
Helen: Right, and also, I have a lifetime of scraps, so I can relate to wanting to just choose your scraps and then you’ll finally use them up.
Caroline: Me, too. It’s becoming a problem. Jennifer said, “Stuffed animals. My favourite pattern makers are Studio Seren, 10×2 Studio, and Mes Petites Lunes Dolls! If I could sew these, uninterrupted, for the rest of my days, I’d be so happy.”
Helen: I have never sewn a stuffed animal and I want to so badly now.
Caroline: I’m surprised. I feel like this is up your alley, Helen.
Helen: I would love to do something like this and my niece and nephew are still pretty young, so now’s the time. You know, I gotta get on it.
Caroline: Yeah.
Helen: These pattern companies are so cute. Thank you for the recommendations. We’re gonna link these up in the show notes so that people can find them. Also, stuffed animals sometimes come with little clothes they can put on, so you’re still sewing garments, just a little bit.
Caroline: Oh, so cute.
Helen: On a related note, Kyla wrote, “Dolls! Why? Because they can be quirky and always fit. Dolls can be friends!”
Caroline: So cute. Kyla, I have to say, we peeked at your Instagram and your dolls are absolutely beautiful. They have such cute embroidered faces, and I love the soft colours you chose for your fabrics. If you all wanna check out Kyla’s dolls, she’s @Kyla.Something on Insta.
Helen: Yes, go check it out.
Caroline: Annette wrote, “Bestie Bags. Endless possibilities. And what would you do with your lippy and essentials if you didn’t have one?”
Helen: I like this string of emojis after this comment, too.
Caroline: Yes.
Helen: So perfect. Shout out to the Bestie Bag. Another cult following pattern out there. You could make a Bestie for literally every outfit, every occasion. You can make it in a casual fabric. You could make it in a fun, shiny, out there fabric. And it’s super roomy, but it never feels too heavy, you know? ‘Cause it goes across the body. It’s really just a dream.
Caroline: Yes, I should have picked the Bestie Bag, probably, because I also love sewing it, and I have many, many, many versions.
Helen: Yeah, I know. It’s so true. Well, maybe you can sneakily make Bestie Bags with your block print leftovers and just don’t tell anybody.
Caroline: Yeah. You won’t tell. I, I won’t. Thank you, Helen.
Helen: If you use a matching fabric, it will blend in with your dress and nobody will even be able to see it.
Caroline: I love it. So sneaky.
Helen: Aly wrote “Workwear, like aprons, overalls, toolbelts, multi-pocket bags, etc.! It feels so amazing to be doing crafts and hard-wearing jobs while wearing one of your own makes!”
Caroline: Ooh, this makes so much sense. It’s like a confidence boost. Like, I’m making something while wearing something I made. I think all of us sewists that have another kind of hobby should make workwear to go with it. This is awesome.
Helen: Yes. I love this answer. This goes well with my denim, too. Like, aprons you can make, yeah. Bags, overalls, tool belts. So fun.
Caroline: Okay. We have one more. Helen, I feel like you’re gonna love this one. Amber wrote, “Quilts! Quilting was my first love and gateway into sewing. There’s a feeling of being home when I quilt. I know it’s not a clothing item, but I feel it should count. Lots of love.”
Helen: Oh my gosh. I know there are a lot of sewists out there who feel like you do, Amber, and I feel this way some of the time. I definitely considered picking quilts,
Caroline: Mmhmm. Mmhmm.
Helen: But like I said at the beginning, I’m like, I can’t give up garments, but maybe I spoke too soon. I could do quilted garments if…
Caroline: I was gonna say, I think if I, it had occurred to me to pick quilts for you, I would’ve confidently said quilts, because you could do quilted bags, you could do quilted garments. You could even make quilted pants, Helen. I’ve seen ‘em.
Helen: I know, but I also run hot. This would be great if I lived in a cold climate and I, and I was a cold person, but I’m a hot person.
Caroline: Yeah. You are.
Helen: Yeah, I can’t be wearing quilted pants, but I love this. I mean, I do think you could easily spend the rest of your life quilting. There’s so many things to learn, so many different blocks to try, different fabrics. It’s just, like, a love that lasts a lifetime.
Caroline: Okay, Helen. Enough about quilts. This isn’t Love to Quilt, okay? Just kidding. Okay, we’re gonna end this episode with a comment from Shallett: “Constantly. I would like to sew constantly.”
Helen: I love this. If you could only sew one thing, what would it be? Constantly.
Caroline: Constantly. Yeah.
Helen: That’s the perfect answer. I want that one.
Caroline: Mmhmm. Mmhmm. Well, I think that just about sums it up.
Helen: Yes. Okay. Luckily, we don’t have to only sew one thing for the rest of our lives, but this was a really fun experiment. I enjoyed it.
Caroline: Yeah, it really was. And now I’m feeling really inspired. And luckily, I can sew whatever I want, so I’m gonna go do that.
Helen: Yeah, me too.
Caroline: That’s it for today’s episode of Love to Sew. You can find me, Caroline, at Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns, and Helen at Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. And we are recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.
Helen: You can support Love to Sew and get access to bonus content by subscribing on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. You even get access to the back catalog of bonus episodes, and that’s over 75 hours of love to sew. So head to patreon.com/lovetosew or check out our podcast page on Apple Podcasts for more info.
Caroline: You can head to lovetosewpodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from this episode. if you’d like to get in touch with us, leave us a message at 1-844-SEW-WHAT? That’s 1-844-739-9428. Or send us an email at hello@lovetosewpodcast.com. We’re also on social media. Follow us on Instagram and Pixelfed @lovetosew.podcast, on Bluesky @lovetosewpodcast, and on facebook.com/lovetosewpod.
Helen: Thanks to our amazing podcast team. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant and Jordan Moore of The Pod Cabin is our editor. And thank you for listening. We will talk to you next week.
Caroline: No, we won’t.
Helen: Oh shoot. We will talk to you next season.
Caroline: Bye.
Helen: Bye-bye.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
