Thankful Sewing: Man Sized!
It’s easy to get caught up in the hoopla of the holidays, the chaos of shuffling to and fro and baking the perfect pumpkin pie, and forget about the spirit of the season: Thankfulness. This month, I’m delighted to be co-hosting the Thankful Sewing Blog Tour with Melissa of Mahlica Designs. We have an awesome month lined up with several sponsors and giveaways- so be sure to check out everyone on the tour at the end and enter to win a little something!
Being “Thankful” is always a work in progress for me- I’m very blessed, in so many ways, but it’s easy to let life get us off track and develop an attitude of frustration rather than gratitude. Since my blog is not only a way to chronicle my sewing adventures but also a way for me to hold myself accountable, I’m putting it out there as an intention to be more grateful this month (hopefully all year!), and I’m starting with the man who makes so many things possible for me: my husband Stephen.
At the end of the day, when we’re both exhausted, he often gets the tail end of whatever energy I have left, but he never complains about letting me burrow away into my sewing projects, and often clears the dishes while I sew away so that I can make the most of my kid-free moments to get my sewing “work” done.
He has also thrown himself head-long into photography and blog development this year, so that we can spend more time together. Many people see my blog as a reflection of me, and wonder how I can possibly do it all- and the answer is that I can’t! I have an awesomely talented and supportive husband, three awesome children (who can be bribed with duct tape and donuts for photos!), and a very involved extended family. And housekeepers. I’m very grateful for them too (and for Stephen for embracing my desire to have help with the house!)
It would take me a whole year, or more, to show my appreciation, but I thought I’d start with something small: a sweater for my favorite man. I haven’t sewn many things for him in the past, but that’s starting to change, in part because he totally deserves it, and in part because he’s my most appreciative customer.
The boys can be super picky with their clothes (but mama, it ITCHES!), the baby sees photo shoots as a game of catch-me-if-you-can, and I sometimes have trouble looking past the flaws on projects, but Stephen embraces each handmade item with genuine appreciation and love. And then he actually WEARS them, and brags about me. Which is embarrassing, but super sweet.
For my gift to him, I made the Newcastle Cardigan by Thread Theory Designs.
It’s not easy to find independent men’s patterns, but Thread theory does a great job of combining professional drafting and instructions with styles men really want to wear.
I made the Newcastle up in a wool/synthetic blend from my stash, using a few wool merino scraps for the shoulder accents (I wish that stuff wasn’t so hard to find in the US!) and big wooden buttons from JoAnns.
By some stroke of luck I was able to make the buttonholes work in the knit fabric, and it all came together quite well.
The style suits Stpehen perfectly, and I’m really jealous of how quickly he can get ready for a photoshoot!
Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers on the tour and enter the giveaway below for a $20 shop credit to Simply by Ti Fabrics! I know I’m dying for some of Ti’s stretch twill for a fall jacket or pants!
Enter to win this week’s giveaway: a $20 shop credit to Simply by Ti Fabrics!
Our Thankful Sewing Bloggers are creating something special to share with you to celebrate this month of Thanksgivings! As an extra special surprise, we also have a couple giveaways during each week of the tour. Share your thanks with Petite Stitchery who has a new pattern to share with us, a free pattern giveaway from Sew by Pattern Pieces, and a chance to win a shop credit each week from Simply by Ti!
Intro to the tour
November 1st:
Week 1:
Nov 1st: Tenille’s Thread
Nov 2nd: Candace Ayala
Nov 3rd: Hazelnut Handmade
Nov 4th: Musing of a Seamstress
Monday Nov 6th: mahlicadesigns
Nov 7th: Seams Sew Lo
Week 2:
Nov 8th: Margarita on the Ross
Nov 9th: Stitched by Jennie
Nov 10th: Sewing with D
Monday Nov 13th: 5 outof 4 Patterns
Nov 14th: Tales of a Southern Mom
Week 3:
Nov 15th: Hazelnut Handmade
Nov 16th: Octaves of Color
Nov 17th: Kainara Stitches
Nov 18th: Kutti Couture
Nov 19th: The Petite Sewist
Monday Nov 20th: My Heart will Sew On
Nov 21st: Needles to Say
Week 4:
Nov 22nd: Back 40 Life
Nov 23rd: Lovemade Handmade
Nov 24th: Sewing by Ti
Nov 25th: On Wednesdays We Sew
Nov 26th: Paisley Roots
Monday Nov 27th: Mermaid Mama Designs
Nov 28th: Sew Haute Blog
Nov 29th: Ma Moose Handmade
Nov 30th: Everything Your Mama Made & More
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Great job on the sweater! Lucky husband!
that is one awesome cardigan. love the rolled? collar.
That’s my favorite feature too!
I like the aqua stripe ponte. That would be a cute dress.
Oooh, yes it would!
Your menswear sweater is really nice. I’ve been wanting to make something for my husband, and this might be just the thing. Thanks!
I bet he would love it!
Some of the French terry! And I’d make some Jalie men’s tees for my husband.
The Jalie patterns are always winners!
I have 2 adult sized boys that I would love to sew for. I can hardly wait to check the cardigan pattern! and keeping the men in mind, I know they would love the denim french terry!!
that would be a great match!
Great job as always!
Thank you sonya!
I love looking at everything you make. You are such an inspiration to me. My hubby is my biggest fan too. I’ve been looking for patterns all week to make him something with some awesome French Terry I got in an SR mystery sweater knit box. I remember one day we were talking in PM and I was praising how awesome you are and how much you sew. You told me you had housekeepers. I giggled to myself. And thought ahhh that’s how she does it. She’s really not a witch. 🙂
Well….not literally. But if you ask my children when I’m making them do handwriting, you might get a different answer!
I would pick the Diamonds ITY in Black/Turquoise and make a dress for our daughter. : 0 )
Very fancy!
Love this!! Looks so” store bought”.
Thank you!
Stretch twill for some jeans
I need to make some jeans too!
I keep eyeing the olive stretch twill. I would love to use it for Sabrina Slims.
I haven’t sewn that pattern yet- but I like the details on it!
So many choices! Either stretch twill for a Provence Pea Coat or French terrycloth for a hoodie!
I haven’t heard of the Provence! Sounds fun!
Love the cardigan. I actually bought that pattern to make myself one. LOL Maybe I can convince dh he needs one after seeing these photos. As for the fabric- hard to pick! I have some of the stretch twill and love it. I think I’d get some more of that or the French terry in denim.
I kind of want one now too!
Stretch twill and denim! I need some new pants 🙂
yay! What pattern are you thinking?
Very nice!! I find men’s patterns pretty scarce too.
You should check out the other Thread Theory patterns- if they’re as good as this one they’re winners!
That looks great! I have this on my list for my son…now seeing yours, I’m goo g to bump it up!
Happy to inspire some sewing for the guys in your life!
Love the cardigan! The shoulder accents area perfect!
Thank you! It adds a nice distinction!
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Very nice! I want to have housekeepers and blog help to be grateful for, haha!
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I’d love to sew up the brown leopard DBP!
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[…] November 1st: mahlicadesigns Sewing with Sarah […]
[…] Sewing with Sarah […]
[…] Sewing with Sarah […]
[…] Sewing with Sarah […]
[…] Sewing with Sarah […]
[…] Sewing with Sarah […]
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[…] I originally signed up for the Thankful Sewing Blog Tour, hosted jointly by mahlicadesigns and Sewing with Sarah and Sewing By Ti, I had planned simply to make my dress for the Christmas season and touch briefly […]
[…] Sewing with Sarah […]