Get to know Sarah a little better

BELLBIRD WRAP SKIRT

July 2021
Written by Sarah

Well hello there! I am so excited to be a part of the Common Stitch community and can’t wait to share all of my makes with you.

My first project as a Common Stitch Ambassador was the Bellbird Wrap Skirt. I loved the simplicity of this wrap skirt pattern, and it came together so easily. Skirts are something I don’t really have in my wardrobe, and the potential of a wrap skirt to be dressed up or down is limitless!

I made my skirt out of a gauze that I thrifted at a rural op shop earlier this year. I’m trying to reduce buying fabrics brand new when there’s already so much out in the world, and this fabric was a great find.

This skirt is so easy – there are only a handful of pattern pieces, and the two front wrap pieces only need one piece of fabric each! Just make sure you don’t cut them both going in the same direction!

I made a size 8 based on my hip measurements, and the beauty of a tie waist is that I can cinch it in to sit where I want it to on my waist.

I followed the instructions the whole way through (although I tend to eyeball my hems these days rather than get the tape measure out), and they’re really straightforward – I think the skirt took just over two hours including cutting all up! Talk about instant gratification! The trickiest bit I found was just hemming the whole way round, ensuring I didn’t accidentally change the hem width at any point and twist the fabric.

I’ve already worn this skirt a handful of times and it’s going to go with so many of my other handmade garments.

Endless thanks to Common Stitch for designing such a fabulous pattern and allowing me to give it a whirl!

All images are courtesy of Sarah, 2021

PIPIT LOUNGEWEAR SET KIT

February 2022
Written by Sarah

Name a better pairing than linen and loungewear, I’ll wait. 
(that’s it, that’s the whole write up) 

In all seriousness though, when I picked my second Common Stitch Ambassador project, I had comfort in mind. I love going out and wearing cute outfits that I made but I also spend a LOT of time at home making those cute outfits, and I definitely wanted something cute but loungey to do that in. 

Enter the Common Stitch Pipit Loungewear Set Kit, and their gorgeous natural linen. The team sent me a gorgeous little packet with everything I needed to make up the set, including elastic, matching thread, TAGS (!!) and the sweetest little mother of pearl buttons that just complement the set perfectly. 

It probably takes about two hours to sew up both top and shorts, although I cheated and did all easy beginning steps for both the top and shorts together, which meant the shorts were practically finished in the first forty minutes of sitting down at my machine. 

The elastic insertion method is great, because the way the pattern is designed allows you to cut the elastic to a length that is comfortable for you – this is especially great for me as I’m typically a size smaller in the waist than I am at the hips and thighs. 

I made a size 8 in both top and shorts, mostly because I was too lazy to cut two separate sizes. This was a good decision for the shorts, but I could have sized down to a 6 for the top, but it’s still suuuuuuuuuuuuuuper comfy, and I don’t mind it being a little roomy at all. 

The linen I chose is a mid weight linen, which is already softening with wear and makes the sleeves drape so nicely. I also really love this linen because I can sneak out to the shops in the shorts or the top (probably not both together) without anyone wondering why I’m walking around the supermarket in my pyjamas! We love a double agent clothing item. 

Thanks to the Common Stitch team for looking after me with this project, I’m having to really hold myself back from making so many more of these because I just love it so much! 

All images are courtesy of Sarah, 2022

BOTTLEBRUSH PANTS

July 2022
Written by Sarah

The Common Stitch Bottlebrush patterns have been out for a while now, but I’m new to the party in the sense that I took my sweet time getting myself organised to try out these killer patterns.

I love a wide leg and high waist and, obviously, pockets so the Bottlebrush Pants pattern ticked all of those boxes for me!

The opportunities to play with denim, linen, cord or canvas are pretty much limitless as well, to create a really versatile pair of pants that work for dressing up, down or somewhere in between!

I chose to make my pants out of a white twill from Pitt Trading that I found in a sale and I’m really happy with the result. I cut out a size 8 but ended up grading down to a 6 from the hips to the waist for the perfect fit in that area. I also took about 5cm off the bottom before hemming as I’m a bit shorter than the pattern calls for.

The construction of these pants came together really quickly and the instructions (as always) take you through each step in thorough detail. I worked on these across a week and was able to take my time working through the steps. I also took the opportunity to use a thrifted zip and button for a unique detail to finish these off.

I have worn the finished pants in so many different ways since completing them, including out to more formal events, as well as out to coffee with friends and uni classes.

I’m yet to make the Bottlebrush Tank, but have plenty of knits ready and waiting for the moment I get organised enough to sit down and do so! These pants obviously require their matching playmate to finish off the look.

As always, thank you to the Common Stitch team for the opportunity to make these pants, it was so fun and I spy different versions in my future already!