36

New York Pt. 1: Party at Brooklyn General Store

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If ever there was a sister city for Portland, it would have to be Brooklyn.

I know both places are considered unbearably hip these days. But it’s not just that. There’s something about the warmth and creativity of the people in both places that makes me say this (yes, I just called new yorkers “warm”).

Maybe that’s why I felt so at home at Brooklyn General. Our party there was filled to the brim with amazing, friendly faces. And when I say filled, I mean filled… it was packed!

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knitting

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Yes, I wore the same outfit that I did in Boston. I am a light packer.

Thanks to everyone who came out, and especially to Brooklyn General for being our wonderfully inviting hosts!

Tomorrow, I’ll share a few more photos from our New York trip.

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Ask the readers: How do you deal with weight fluctuations?

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I received this question by email recently:

“I would really like to start sewing for myself, but for the last year or so, my weight seems to fluctuate 2 to 3 sizes within a month. No, I’m not menstrual or menopausal. Many of your patterns are pretty fitted. I don’t know if you or any of your readers ever have this issue, and I was wondering, do I just pick the largest size I go to for my pattern and then wear loose clothing when I’m smaller, or do I make the dress in 3 different sizes? This may seem trivial or silly to ask, but it’s really got me stumped and is keeping me from even starting to sew.”

Obviously, there’s no one-size-fits-all (heh) answer to this question, but I’ve heard many comments from you guys here and there about weight loss, weight gain, and pregnancy. I thought you could help this reader by telling us about your own experience and how you adjust or plan your sewing for it.


Do you have tips for creating a handmade wardrobe while taking weight fluctuations into account?
Do you make clothes in different sizes? Have you found ways to adjust clothing to make it more wearable or flattering at different sizes?

Now hiring: Summer intern (paid) – Blog editor

now-hiring

We’re creating a new internship position this summer!

As you all know, our blog is a huge part of what sets CP apart, and it’s time to take it even further. We are looking for someone to help develop and create new stories and tutorials for our blog, from coming up with creative concepts to creating beautiful visuals to writing clear and easy-to-follow tutorials and projects.

While we’ve had paid internships before, this is the first one focused entirely on blogging. If you’re a creative person who loves writing, sewing, creating moodboards, styling, and taking photos, this could be a great fit for you.

You will be working out of our studio in Portland, OR. This is a full time position through the summer (June – August, exact times are flexible). This is a paid, temporary, entry-level position. For more info and to see how to apply, visit our jobs page!

22

The beautiful & talented seamstresses of Boston

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We’re on the road right now in Boston, and I just had to share a few of these photos from the fantastic party Grey’s Fabric threw for us the other night.

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I met so many talented and creative women that night; not only sewists, but knitters, dyers, designers, teachers, and entrepreneurs. It’s so energizing to be in a room surrounded by so all these incredible and creative people.

And I must give a shout out to Sarah Grey and her staff for going all out with this event. You couldn’t ask for a nicer group of people, and the shop is just so inviting and lovely. You may even notice that Sarah served a cocktail named after our kitty, Basil!

For those of you in New York, don’t forget about our upcoming party this Saturday at Brooklyn General Store! RSVP here.

31

Detail Inspiration: Sailor collars

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You know what’s funny to me?

Every single year when the weather starts to warm up, we start to hear about the “nautical trend.” Every year, without fail, all things sailor are described as being “hot this year.”

Can it really be a trend if it’s THAT predictable? I mean, I guess it’s easier to sell that way. But I think we can safely call all things nautical summer classics.

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Here are some really cool sailor-inspired collars and neckline details from the 40s through the 70s. A long-lasting “trend”, for sure.

{images: baby blue sailor dress with polka dot collar from simplicityisbliss, 1940s deep navy dress with buttons from Nosilla Vintage, 1940s style dark blue wiggle dress with buttons from Miss Mittens Vintage, grey plus size halter dress with stars from shesabettie, 1970s French mini dress from SmokeandOakum, pink sailor dress from honeytalkvintage, red, white, and blue sailor dress from luckyduckyvintage, Cacharel dress with striped neckline from fridalarsensvintage}

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