Author Archives: Jan

About Jan

Musician and geek and Juris Doctor; lover of fine art and fine craft; mother and grandmother and significant other and friend. Passionate about sewing.

Who Needs NYDJ?

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When you’ve got an incredible pair of skinny jeans that fit like they were made for you (oh, wait …), why would you lay out $120 for a pair of pull-your-tummy-in jeans that include so much architecture that you have to wear a loose top to look good? These are my new stretch denim jeans that will be perfect for all but the hottest two weeks of summer. The pattern is Marcy Tilton’s Vogue 8859. This is my third take on this pattern (Take 1; Take 2). If you only knew how many pairs of pants I have made over … Continue reading →

Every Musician Needs a [Pure] White Top

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If you read my earlier review of Vogue 8837, you saw the new top I made to accompany that skirt for performances with The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus. For any woman who is a) endowed, and b) lacking in Full Bust Adjustment skills, Vogue 8831 is One Fabulous Top. And when I slipped it on today with my Eileen Fisher washable stretch crepe straight-leg pants and a wide belt for today’s Fun With Opera performance at YSU’s Dana School of Music, I realized I had hit the jackpot with this top. It will be worn again and again. (Click on … Continue reading →

Katherine Tilton’s Easy-Peasy Skirt

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Musicians can never have too many black garments, right? I already own four black skirts. Two fit me. None please me. So for my Blossom Music Center performance last weekend with The Cleveland Orchestra and the Blossom Festival Chorus, I wanted a new skirt. I wanted it to be easy to create. And it had to be washable. Ever since making a couple pair of Marcy Tilton’s fast and easy pants (Vogue 8859 – take 1, take 2), I’ve been wanting to try Katherine TIlton’s pants and skirt pattern, Vogue 8837. It looked like it would go together quickly and … Continue reading →

Another Summery Top in a Southwestern Print

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When ordering several pieces of fabric for tops recently from Emma One Sock, I fell in love with this print. The EOS site describes it as “a soft and buttery, very lightweight rayon/spandex jersey.” Buttery. Absolutely. There’s a sheen to this fabric makes me think it’s silk and spandex, not rayon and spandex. Soft. Like buttah! I decided to make it in Vogue 8831, which allows me to fit for cup size. I chose View A for the cap sleeves, and decided to just to a neck band rather than the voluminous cowl. I had just made this pattern (not … Continue reading →

Summertime!

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Last weekend the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus (of which I am a member) performed “Porgy & Bess” highlights at Blossom Music Center in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I loved every minute of rehearsal and performance. Northeast Ohio has been inundated with rain, heat and humidity this summer—this is my fifth year here and the worst summer in my experience. So we were all dripping with perspiration while rehearsing and performing on the outdoor stage. Two weeks of sitting in hot rehearsal rooms, culminating with an extra-hot stage, made me want cool clothes! When I stopped at Waechter’s Fine Fabrics … Continue reading →

Something for a Hot and Humid Summer

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When I was in Santa Barbara in February, I picked up a bolt end that Marcy Tilton had on her clearance table. It was a cocoa-and-turquoise stripe—good colors for me—in a touchably soft cotton jersey. Ever since I finished the cocoa pants just prior to our vacation trip to France, I’ve been wanting to get this top made to go with the pants. The late-June/early-July weather in Northeast Ohio has been unusually hot and humid, and my wardrobe is low on cool tops. So here’s my cool top. Pattern Description: Marcy Tilton T-shirt, Vogue 8671, View A Pattern Sizing: Misses … Continue reading →

Knitting Update

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Early this year, after living in my tiny home office for four months, my newly-separated son got an apartment. While trying to figure out what all he would need to make this new place his home, he selected a Lion Brand slip-stitch sampler throw as his blanket-of-choice to keep warm while reading or watching TV on the couch. I bought the kit sold by Lion Brand and started work on this rather complex project. This summer I’ve had several extended periods of time that I was able to devote to this project. I’m now on the fourth block, and it … Continue reading →

Poster City

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Yesterday I finished another version of Katherine Tilton’s Vogue 8817, View A. I am in love with this top. I think the neckline is one of the most flattering necklines I’ve ever worn. You may remember I made a top out of this pattern/view before the trip to France. The fabric is another Emma One Sock delight that Linda calls “Poster City.” The fabric is a 96% rayon/4% lycra blend that feels like buttah. This print is a little out of the norm for me, and I absolutely love it. Would you believe that, prior to last summer, I didn’t … Continue reading →