9 Summer Sewing Projects I sewed This Year
I had great intentions when it came to sewing a variety of summer projects, but as usual, life kind of got in the way. Who knew that summer could be over so fast when you’re not doing work?
If you’ve been here before, you know I like to use a sewing journal to help with planning my summer sewing projects, otherwise I end up with scraps of paper with ideas written down that never come to fruition. I’m updating the sewing journal I use, so come back to grab that when it’s ready!
I did cover my summer sewing plans early in the summer so today’s blog post is all about recapping the nine sewing projects I sewed this summer – and what I will have to push into another season…
I should add that while these projects were sewn during the summer months, some of them would make great gift ideas this holiday season, so I’ve linked to any patterns that I used!
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that I may receive a fee at no extra cost to you if you purchase a recommended product.
1. Pink Sunstar Swimsuit by Helen’s Closet
The Sunstar Swimsuit is one sewing pattern that I think will be on repeat each year. It was easy to sew, and I felt comfortable wearing it, for the most part.
There’s always something to learn from every sewing project – even after decades of sewing! – and for me, the learning from this one was to invest in proper swimwear elastic and hold off on sewing until it actually arrives!
I attempted to take the bottoms in – my waist and hip measurements became smaller between tracing off my size and cutting out the fabric, and actually sewing it up. But the elastic I used as a ‘stop gap’ was shockingly poor.
2. New Baby Grow
My niece had her first baby back in February so of course I went into ‘let me make baby clothes for her’ mode. It’s something I wanted to do for my own, but that’s not happening.
I used the baby block I had drafted for Baby M’s measurements, and developed a new baby grow pattern from it.
In the UK we would call this a baby grow or sleep suit, but I’m pretty sure elsewhere the term ‘baby sleeper’ is used? Let me know in the comments, ‘cos I’ll need the correct term for it when the sewing pattern is ready!
3. Cheeky Shorts
I haven’t spoken much about my cheeky shorts project, because it is at prototyping status, being developed into a pattern that I’ll be selling. The name will change, but I’ll always think of them as my ‘cheeky shorts’!
4. Denim Dress
This was a longer length denim dress of my mum’s but I wanted to make it shorter knowing that doing so would make it something I would be more likely to wear. I wasn’t wrong.
I chopped off about 12″ / 30cm from the length, overlocked the lower edge and then sewed a single fold hem to finish it off. It’s been worn plenty since.
5. PJ Shorts
I had a pair of pajama pants that are super cozy but also quite baggy, so I chopped the legs off to make them more suited for me. I hemmed them simply, with my serger to prevent them rolling up, and then threaded through a bit of fresh elastic at the waistband.
They lasted the summer, and will serve me through autumn and winter when I am overheating, but the waistband is looking a bit threadbare, so they may need another intervention soon.
6. Shirred Strappy Top
This was a refashion project using the original long sleeve shirred top that I had stashed away for some time.
I took off the sleeves, and used them for the next project, but the hems of the sleeves made perfect ruffled straps for this top. I also gathered up some of the excess sleeve fabric to extend the length of this top to hide the tummy.
7. Sleeveless Baby Romper
Using the sleeves from the original shirred top was a sensible plan as it gave me an idea of what my baby romper pattern would look like in a sweet eyelet fabric.
There wasn’t enough fabric to do armhole facings so I ended up finishing the raw edge with my overlocker and then edge stitching it in place.
The small amount of elastic in the leg openings really helped to gather the fabric back in for a sweet silhouette.
This pattern will be available very soon for those who would like a small romper too!
8. Baby Weight Bear
I also made a bear from Baby M’s old pyjamas using this bear pattern.
It’s going to be filled with special beads so that when sewn closed, it equals her birth weight.
The original version was going to be sewn by someone on Etsy, but the UK postal service lost the package of baby sleep suits and so I made this one from Baby M’s 3-6m old suits.
It is super cute isn’t it? And there was enough scraps left over for me to make two small lap blankets. I’ll show you those when they’re finished!
9. Slouch Pouch
I also got my slouch pouch pattern finished up. It was the last project to finish, and just in time for a trip, as I really wanted it to keep my packing on the low end.
Look how much I fit into it! I know it won’t work for winter trips, but that’s ok. I’ve been using it since for taking my hobbies out and about with me, from art supplies to balls of yarn and a crochet hook!
Future Sewing Projects
Sewing projects that I’ll have to take into autumn and beyond due to not getting completed in the summer season are:
- Double circle skirt – I cut it in linen, but didn’t get it sewn up yet. Perhaps a summer project for next year?
- Expanded Hawthorn sample – this is urgent, so will be top of the list.
- PJ top – I won’t need it until the weather gets warmer, so perhaps a spring sewing project.
- Scrunchies – always handy to have some spares on hand when hair is as long as mine is now.
- Green eyelet top – I think this one will wait until spring now!
- Red linen wrap dress – this has been on my list since last December, as it would be a great christmassy dress. Maybe I’ll pop it to the top of my list to make sure it gets done?
- Barrel leg trousers – the pattern is done, and I think it’ll be a pattern making tutorial here for you to work through too!
- Linen blazer – this one is likely to be a spring project, though I am working on my own wedding dress too, so we’ll see if making a blazer is too stressful on top!
- Sequin thing – this has actually been sewn up at the time of writing, but it didn’t make it into the ‘summer’ list as it was sewn at the end of September!
- Zerowaste pattern – I’m still in need of pre-shrinking the fabric for this, so it will be pushed to spring now.
- Wedding gown toile – aha! This wasn’t started in the summer, but it is live as a series now! You can watch the first vlog episode here or read the first blog post about making my wedding dress here! It includes design inspo and the initial steps of making the first toile.
- Refashioning Hazel top – this did not happen. It’ll most likely be a next summer thing I suspect.
Right’o, I’ll make sure to come back and add links to any projects on my website that I do get done, so you can have a look and be inspired! And please feel free to share your sewing projects in the comments!
