My First Soho & Sew-A-Long - Halla Patterns

Hoodies serve a purpose - they keep you warm, slip on or zip up, and that's about it.

How about finding a tunic (below your behind) lengthed hoodie. That's just not happening in retail stores.

Then I discovered Halla Patterns Soho Top thanks to my First Sew-A-Long courtesy of the Fabric Geeks, a custom fabric company that has both a US and Canadian location.

So, I sewed along. Step-by-step, each day was a different task.

Day One: Get the Pattern And Choose Fabric

I chose a mixture of fabrics, along with the Kangaroo Pocket and Hood to make it into a lightweight Hoodie. 

Fabrics consisted of:
- parts of an old Gap hoodie I got from Delaware for $5 - it had some sort of Pho or other weird stain on the front, so I wasn't wearing it. I used the Cuffs as cuffs, and cut the back of the hoodie to make the front Kangaroo Pocket

- Random $2 a Metre Fabricland fabric I bought to make work tops, but it was the only fabric I had around at the time - it works well with this pattern!

- beautiful Spandex knit Feathers Fabric from Black Rabbit Fabrics

And I was ready to Sew

Putting the pattern together is easy.  I print on my home printer Draft setting to save Ink, select my sizes (M & L with Halla Patterns) in the settings, Print at normal sizing, and put them together like a puzzle with tape and cut the pieces out with scissors.  

Don't worry, the pattern instructions show you how to put it together if you're not a puzzle maker.

There is a line on specific pieces (i.e. front and back) for grading, so I can easily customize the top portion to be smaller, and cut it seamlessly at a slight angle from the Medium to Large lines for my big booty.

Day Two:

Cut out fabric!!

I cut this as one of my first projects, thus only had my awesome Singer scissors, which Husband got me for "Fabric only" several Christmases ago.  They are my favourite, and I put them through a workout regularly.

With scissors, lots of time, pinning, and cutting has to be done, and any raggy edges are fixed with my zigzag stitch or light trimming.

Day Three:
 

Pockets! I did the Kangaroo Pocket Add on, and it's SO cute!

It's made from Black rabbit bits on the upper sides, and part of my old turquoise $5 Gap sweatshirt from Delaware.  I'm glad I was able to repurpose it, as I loved that sweatshirt and colour.

First the upper side bands are sewn onto the pouch, then the pouch on the centre bottom of the front piece of the shirt.

Day Four:

Sew the sleeve pieces to the main bodice. Watch to make sure you are attaching the correct sleeve to the correct bodice piece. Generally the longest side of the top of the sleeve attaches to the back bodice. If you are doing the slash opening you will leave one front sleeve/front bodice piece
unattached.

Pretty sure I sewed the first arm on inside out - the first of many!  The seam ripper and patience is my friend some days.

 

Day Five:

Sew the side seams. If you are doing the slash front you will leave the side you are doing the slash on open. (You will have one side seam, the other will be open)

And this is where I noticed that the shirt was REALLY long as I cut the pattern under the tall PLUS tunic length.  I'm 5'-2", thus that was really long.  I cut the pattern piece thereafter, but kept the shirt as is. 

Learning as we go!

 

 

Day Six:

Completed Hood/cowl/neckline

I absolutely LOVE this hood.  It's a double hood, and I realized that I did not need the neck band if I was putting the hoodie in.  It does make the interior a bit nicer, but it's not necessary.

This is my FIRST hoodie ever, and I opted for the front cross.  I can't believe I made this! 

Day Seven:

Soho is Complete!

This was an amazing first long sleeved hoodie style shirt. This was my FIRST project after my 3 pairs of Peg Legs. 　

It was a simple sew with clear instructions with easy to understand pictures (I use the term "Picture Pages," but it is how I learn these days). 　

Any errors were on my end as I was relatively new to every day-wear type clothing and PDF patterns. Fatigue also plays a role in that. The Neckline, inside out sleeve, and length were all on me. 　
 

This is the pattern that made me begin to love Halla's style of patterns.　

 

AND I WON!

 

I won the sew-a-long!  My first one ever!

 

Fabric Geek sent me 2 yards of fun fabric as a prize!  the skull one is for Husband's future hoodie and the I Lava You is ALL MINE!

 

 

 

 

AND This (Stardust tank) is the pattern that made me fall IN love with Halla

 

 

I opted for the side star, with Black Rabbit Fabric mixed with some black spandex fabric I got from my sister when we attempted to dress Husband up as the Grim Reaper. His (my) reward was a metre or two of black spandex. Which I've used in countless projects and have a few remnants of these days. 　

It mixes well with my Leggings, and the Tunic Length perfectly covers my behind without being so taut that I feel self conscious about my mid section.

 

I used the same Medium to Large grading, and it fit like a glove!　

There were a lot of pins and patience while sewing the star, and aside from one small tugged point, it's perfect! 　

Now that sunny season is almost here, I want to make a few of the side colour blocked versions. I can even use 3-4 fabrics that aren't big enough for one shirt, but perfect for a front, back, sides, or trim!

I did make a Slim Dolman top with an old t-shirt, the endless Fabricland rayon spandex black/white/grey/beige patterned mystery fabric from the Kanata store closing sale, and an old Grey maxi Dress. 　

And also a Hey Babie top with a hood option, Black Rabbit Fabric, some old stretchy turquoise flowered fabric, and remnants of another old t-shirt. 　

 

Next up is Halla's NEWEST pattern, which was released on April 18, 2017 in such an awesome fashion - with 10 weeks of Trivia, finding patterns, and other delights, Samantha (Halla designer) has us all excited to follow her into Summer! So if you're not a member, join the Halla FB group now for some freebies and FUN! 

Paired with the release of the Agnes Swing Top & Dress   is a Sew-a-long via  that I'm partaking in! It's nice to have tips and someone to ask questions to with quick response if you are stuck on a pattern. 

I'm passionate about my sewing and know what I like (and what I don't) - Systic loves Halla!  

 

All I Wanted Were Leggings - What Happened Was Unexpected

In January 2017, all I wanted leggings to wear so I could be comfy around the house, while working out, underneath dresses, and to wear underneath the 2 tunics I was able to find in December 2016.

I went from store to store at the mall across from my Clark Kent Day Job, and came back unlucky. Nothing. Not even a pair of black leggings was available!

The same thing happened while looking for tunic tops in December - I found 2 on sale that I could wear underneath my t-shirts, which all have shrunk upwards, and have no chance of being worn without a camisole or something else underneath. Unless someone wants a flash of my belly. Woo!

I don't think I'm a weird size or shape. I have an hourglass shape, larger hips and thighs, and short (5'-2"), and am SO tired of having problems finding clothing that is flattering and fits properly. And I'm not willing to spend an arm and a leg on something that fits "ok."

But in a world of skinny jeans and horrible flashbacks to the 1980's and early 1990's, buying clothing to replace old tattered and pilled clothing, and pants that don't fit due to last year's weight loss, is SO frustrating.

I prefer online shopping, as in-store service really has gone downhill. If a clerk even looks at me while talking with their friend while scanning in my order, I'm fortunate. Kids these days (yes, I said it!)!

Anyhow, back to Leggings.  I started looking online, and found Sweetlegs and an assortment of other companies available in Canada.  But...I have a  Husqvarna Viking Emerald 116 sewing machine that is beautiful and runs like Gideon & Fynn in a field of tall grass. Why not sew leggings? 

And that was that. The end of me thinking that store bought clothing is the bomb diggity.  

Where to get fabric was the next issue. Fabricland patterns are awful. And I feel their price point is generally out to lunch. How Jo-Ann's fabrics hasn't come to Canada yet, is beyond me. And I'm not willing to pay the approximately 30% exchange rate with customs, packaging, and taxes on top of it. It really doesn't save me much to order fabrics from the States - even Jo-Anns.  And a tank of gas to Ogdensburg just for fabric doesn't save either! 

So I googled fabrics in Canada, and was so lost - SO many choices.  Where do I start?  

I decided at that point the join a few Canadian Sewing groups, and there were so many suggestions, it sort of helped, but not really.  

I finally found some fabrics on Black Rabbit Fabrics, and fell in love with this Feathered Fabric by Girl Charlee Bolt Fabrics.  I also obtained:
- Unicorns 
- Beautiful Blue Stripe Knit
- Black Stripe Knit
- Geeky Math Knit

My Precious...

Orders are weird - they don't generally come in metres, but half metres or half yards - so you have to ensure you read the fine print as to how the seller is selling their Yardage (metreage?). 

Next up was finding leggings patterns.  I just asked one of the sewing Facebook Groups what their best leggings patterns suggestions were, and decided on Patterns for Pirates Peglegs. From the Facebook group, not only can you share your delight, finished projects, and participate in sew-a-longs and other events, there are also some lovely codes to test out a few patterns at no cost to you!  

First leggings from some old Clearance Fabricland Jersey Stretch Fabric

I love this, as I've been able to discover some amazing pattern designers and chatting with like minded OCD sewers!  And now I'm spoiled with hand holding step-by-step instructions, pictures, and a whole wardrobe to make worth of patterns!  Most designers have a Facebook Page similar to P4P (Patterns for Pirates), and the sense of community keeps me coming back for more!

I ended up making my first and second pairs of leggings from the stripe knits, and used the Unicorns in a Rad Patterns Lucky Bra, and Peg Legs leggings band, the feathers into part of the Halla Soho Hoodie with Kangaroo Pocket, and the Math in a Halla Star Dust tank top and another Halla Hey Babie Ruched Hoodie.

Part of the above bits to my new and improved wardrobe included repurposing clothing I no longer wore for whatever reasons (stains, size, etc.), and I LOVE the effect of mixing fabrics and reusing fabric that still has some life in it!

All of the above patterns have a plethora of different options included, so I could have 5 of the same named top, in totally different styles and fabrics.

I LOVE that I can create a larger hip area vs my upper torso - and it looks natural and fits like a glove!

The patterns are PDF, so I print them on Draft mode on my printer, and spend time taping together the pages, then cutting out the actual patterns based on my sizing.  I'd say 90% of the time, I'm cutting the smaller top torso and larger mid to lower body sizes (like a Medium top and Large Bottom) - but the fit is perfect!

I also find it less daunting if I cut the fabric the night before actually sewing - it saves time and gives me  Project to look forward to for after work.

Cutting has ALSO changed.  The ladies were talking about cutting tools, and rotary cutters - then there's me with the awesome Singer scissors Husband got me one Xmas.  I love them.

But, I had a Walmart Gift card, and ended up getting a pair of Fiskars rotary cutters to see if I liked it, and what all the whoopla was about.

Oh. My. God.

It is like cutting through butter - the ease of cutting and lack of time spent painstakingly pinning patterns to fabric is amazing.  I also used this technique enough on my 8" x 11" scrapbooking resealing cutting board, that I realized how annoying moving fabric in order to continue cutting was. I'm treating myself to an Olfa 24" x 36" cutting board from Cleaners Supply (weird name for sewing gear, but it was highly recommended by a multitude of ladies, and Canadian with dirt cheap shipping). It was half the cost to order this mat, 144 buttons, and 10 bobbins vs the cost of the mat alone anywhere else.

Now - the first time I sew a new pattern up, there are some ripping of seams when I put a piece on the wrong way, not quite understanding where a piece goes, or just pure fatigue.  The second time around is easy peasy, as I've already worked out any kinks!

So - now I know a few more things since my first order was placed with Black Rabbit Fabrics January 2017.

- The online fabric stores have regular enough sale, contests, and clearances, that I know to pay greater attention when it's time to order fabric.

- There are a LOT of custom fabric groups - I'm ok with more popular and not-as-unique fabric designs (at 1/3 to 1/2 the cost). Although I think if the Floral Wars (Star Wars with Beautiful Flowers that I see everywhere...just never for sale in Canada) went up, I wouldn't be able to resist.

- Join Facebook groups - there are patterns for testing, available at no or a greatly reduced cost (for PROPER patterns with superior instructions), support from the pattern and fabric designers, support from fellow sewers, contests, and challenges to make you sew beyond your normal comfort level.

- Sewing your wardrobe is rewarding in so many ways - pride of a job well done, learning new skills, others noticing your unique clothing, and so much more.

I'll showcase each project as I go (and remember)!

I'll leave it at this beginning for now, but can't wait to share my projects!