Beach Life

Shortly after Memorial Day, we left our beloved apartment in Oakland for a new adventure (and a new house!) in Santa Cruz. After the terrible year that was 2020, I have really enjoyed being closer to family, daily beach walks, and having more space (and house projects!). Being near the water has also meant more outdoor adventures. After rafting the Rogue River in Oregon this summer we bought an ocean kayak that we can walk to the beach from our house!

Bikini top: Greenstyle Creations Power Sports Bra in nylon spandex
Bikini bottom: Stitch Upon a Time Bunzies in nylon spandex

Rashguard: Greenstyle Creations Waimea Rash Guard in nylon spandex

Shorts: Closet Core Patterns Pietra Pants in ripstop nylon

Cost: $30

There is something really powerful about making your own performance wear. I wore these pieces for an entire week river rafting. We were out in the wilderness so they really needed to hold up without the ability to switch them out or make repairs. They held up beautifully, kept me comfortable, and protected my skin from sun and water. I felt like superwoman!

Probably the most interesting part of this outfit to make were the board shorts. I wanted something that would be quick-drying and protect my legs from sun and the rubber of the boat. I decided to use the Closet Core Patterns Pietra pants/shorts. They have a gathered/elastic back and flat front, so they gave me all the ease of a pull-on short but look pretty good for rafting! The fabric is rip-stop nylon from Harts Fabric and I think the quality is better and it dries faster than another one I ordered online. 

Rather than gather the back waistband and run elastic through it to create the elasticized waist, I didn't cut ou the waistband fabric and just used the elastic. This gave me less bunchy fabric to deal with, as the elastic sits flat (photos of the back farther below). The front waistband is "lined" in elastic - I essentially ran the elastic through the front without stretching for added stability as I didn't want to risk trying to do iron-on interfacing on this plastic-y fabric. Of course, this is all a deviation from the instructions but worked out well after some fiddling.

I also added a zipper to one of the pockets (pictured above), leaving the other one open. I can store things in there like chapstick or a key - they get wet but won't float away. After testing these out I kind of wish that I'd given both sides a zipper as the non-zippered one tends to balloon full of water more easily. But it doesn't bother me enough to fix it. 

The other crucial element to this outfit is the rash guard for sun protection. I'm not sure the fabric is UV-rated or anything, but it helps a whole lot just to have my arms and torso covered. This was my first time sewing the Waimea rash from Greenstyle Creations and it fits well and is easy to put together. 

Underneath it all is a Greenstyle Creations Power Sports bra and Stitch Upon a Time Bunzies - two underwear patterns made as a swimsuit. The Power Sports bra gave excellent support and comfort wearing it all day. The criss-cross straps in the back are super cute and also prevent them from slipping off my shoulders. 

The Bunzies are a nice underwear pattern to have in your stash - they have a few options ranging from cheeky to full coverage. I used the pattern variation without elastic - you simply add hembands to the leg openings and waist. I was worried it might make them a bit loose but it worked out well and meant I didn't have elastic cutting into me all day. The one modification I made was to lengthen them so they sit at my natural waist. 

This has been the perfect summer "capsule" bathing suit wardrobe that is super comfy and functional. Here's to the beach life!

Working It Out

Not to psychoanalyze my sewing, but I've worked up a pretty good theory about my recent obsession with activewear. In the before times, I could care less about what I looked like when I worked out. I wanted clothes that were comfy and, preferably, with a pocket for my keys, but beyond that the same running clothes I'd worn for the past 15 years seemed fine. Now, I'm suddenly dreaming up pink matching workout sets and buying leopard-print spandex. What happened?

Well, my theory is this. Before, I could put my energy into fun dresses, skinny jeans, and outfits to wear out. Now, my main outings each day are usually just my morning run and afternoon dog walk. That's it. Suddenly that becomes my only chance to show off my personal style. To see and be seen. And damn it I'm going to take advantage of it!

So with that, I present to you my latest, a leopard print running outfit. 

Pattern: Greenstyle Creations Tempo Tights and Sophie Hines Axis Tank

Fabric: 2 yds reversible leopard print activewear in dusty rose, plus black mesh

Cost: $30

This is another version of the Greenstyle Creations Tempo Tights, which I love for its good fit and fun print mixing possibilities. The reversible fabric on this one made it really easy. I also ordered some more black mesh, this time in a more open weave. (OK I also ordered like a ton more spandex. More on that later.) 

The one update that I made to this pattern, which you can see in the photo above, is that I cut the lower leg insert on the fold rather than as a front and back piece. This eliminates the center seam and allows me to cut the mesh all as one piece. You have to sew it in last after sewing the inseam closed, but it works out well.

The top is another Sophie Hines Axis Tank. I like my tops a bit longer so I lengthened it again, and this time made it with the design panels - one cut in coordinating print and another in mesh. It's fun, but I actually think I might prefer slightly looser tops. And I still can't seem to get the bindings quite the right size. 

Of course, as soon as this fabric arrived the weather really warmed up and long running pants weren't working out too well. (Also, the fires came, so I had to take a break for running for a bit.) But once we had clear skies I thought I might also like some in a bike short length. My thighs tend to rub together when running, so I prefer spandex to looser shorts and wanted them long enough to protect my legs from the rub. I used another spandex from my mail order to put these together. 

These are actually a modified version of the Greenstyle Stride Tights that I have been drafting up. They are designed to have diagonal pieces all down the legs. For the shorts, I raised the diagonal line some and sewed the bottom panel in mesh. This makes them super breathable. The top part still has the pocket and it's even long enough to stash a phone in (though I usually don't run with one). The one update I made after sewing was that waistband, which is double thickness, felt pretty warm on my run. I unpicked it and resewed it as a single layer. Much better!

The tank is an a-line top that's a combination of the Megan Nielsen Reef Camisole with the Axis Tank straps and neckline. The fabric is super soft and I may even steal this (or make another) for non-workout wear. This is definitely my preferred style for runs and it so perfect!

So, one last thing. After making these tights I of course made a few more. And a few more. And as you can tell my obsession is growing. Rather than keep on with the blog posts I figured I'd put it into one quick video for you! Ha!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend and finding fun ways to fill your time! 

His and Hers: Favorite Quarantine Patterns

At this point we've been mostly sheltered in place since March 11. That's over 5 months. Over 150 days. It hasn't always been easy - I had a lot of anxiety and some depressed feelings as I adjusted to it all. And these days find myself very angry at times. But we're learning to live with it and committed to slowing the spread. Sewing definitely helps. So today I'm sharing some of my favorite summer loungewear patterns that I've made these past few months for both me and my husband. They aren't anything too groundbreaking - Hudson pants, the Axis tank, Greenstyle leggings. But they do get worn all. the. time. 

For her: Sophie Hines Axis Tank, Hudson Pants, Greenstyle Stride Tights

For him: Thread Theory Strathcona Henley

First up is the tank top pattern of these summer - the Sophie Hines Axis tank. It's a unique pattern with no side seams (just a single seam up the back) so it sews up very quickly. I love the cutout shoulders and that it comes with some color-blocking options. That said, I had to make a few adjustments to the pattern to make it work for me. First, I re-sewed the neckline three times, moving lower until it no longer felt like it was chocking me. While I like the high-neckline look in theory, I quickly discovered it was not comfortable for me. I also found I had to shorten the armhole bands to get the right tension. Turned into a bit of a longer project with all that fiddling. You'll also notice that I lengthened the top. I'm not quite sure this is advisable given the lack of side seam - I definitely had to grade out and it still rides up at my hips a bit. Overall though a very comfy top for summer and I managed to sew it before our heat wave hit.

Below you'll also see that I made a more A-line version. Again this is a bit tricky without the side seams and I'm not sure it fully worked, but I'm all about playing with patterns and having fun during quarantine. The fabric is very soft. 

I've paired each of these tops with two patterns I've sewn over and over again - the Hudson pants from True Bias and the Greenstyle Stride Tights. Each has pockets and lets me trade off between tighter and looser styles so they're pretty much all I need. The one thing I'll say about the Hudson pants is that, like most pants patterns, the fit really varies based on the fabric you're using. The two times I've made this previously they've been on the looser side, but this time they were actually so snug through the legs that I had to add a few inches of fabric to the outside leg seam to relax the fit a bit. I also subbed out the waistband for one that is the length of the elastic rather than the length of the pants to achieve a smoother, un-gathered look. I think I also adjusted the angle of the pocket opening so that my phone wouldn't fall out. 

For the Stride Tights, I used a semi-opaque mesh fabric on the side panels which makes them breezier for summer. I mostly wear this pair for running, but have another pair that I wear around the house. I just LOVE the pockets. 

Ok that's four for me what about for the Mr.? He somehow still wears non-stretch pants most days, though I've definitely seen him get more use out of the stretch jeans I've made him. This time around I made him two Strathcona Henleys. I think I meant to make these up for his last birthday (in December - whoops) but had the fabric on hand ready to go. He is partial to soft shirts and these definitely fit the bill. Plus the buttons make a t-shirt look a little dressed up for video meetings. Right?

One of the fabrics had a print on one side and was plain on the other, so I decided to have some fun with it. I like the diagonal stripe although I wish I'd centered it a bit lower. For some reason, I really struggled cutting this one out. 

I've made him one of these before that he wears often. While he is nearly 6 feet tall I did shorten the sleeves and torso as they are quite long. I also hate that placket - I find myself swearing every time I make it. On the plus side, you'll notice there was some fabric leftover for me ;) 

Any recommendations for your favorite loungewear patterns? 

Greenstyle Tempo Tights

For the past fifteen years, I've worn the same workout clothes. Yup. They were high quality, made to last, and, while not particularly fashionable, I didn't need anything special to go for a run. But recently my workout clothes have started to show their age. Holes, sagging, you know the drill. And the new ones I bought just weren't cutting it - not stretchy enough, ill-fitting, not breathable (!). So despite never feeling the urge to sew workout wear before, I finally decided it was time to make my own. And you guys, I've caught the workout wear bug. I pretty much want to dress like an IG workout influencer now.

Pattern: Greenstyle Creations Tempo Tights

Fabric: spandex

Cost: $10

While I've made a few pairs of Greenstyle tights now, this one is definitely the pinnacle of wild workout wear. Bright colors? Check. Color blocking? Check. Swooping seam lines. Check check. 

In full disclosure though, this pair was actually somewhat of an accident. I bought some pink "twill" from Spandex World only to realize when it arrived that it was... spandex. Not quite suitable for its intended purpose. But, it did turn out to be a good opportunity to try out my new Greenstyle Tempo Tights pattern. 

This is the second Greenstyle tights pattern I've made after the Stride Tights. These have a similar pocket style and fit. But what I appreciated about this pattern was that, while similar to the other one, offered a different style of pocket construction, a differently shaped gusset, and the waistband style lines had been adjusted to match the lines of the pants. I appreciated this attention to detail and getting the most out of each pattern.

Of course, what I really like about this pattern is the cool seam lines and potential for color-blocking. This spandex was darker pink on one side and lighter on the other, which was perfect for this pattern. I also found some red mesh in my stash and was able to squeeze out the calf cutout for the full ombre look. If you're sewing these up, I highly recommend basting along the inseam to make sure your color-blocking perfectly matches up. I don't usually baste but it's definitely worth the extra effort here.

In terms of fit, I love that I can sew my own tights that actually fit. Other tights I've bought have been too tight in the leg and too loose at the waist, leading them to ride down as I ran. Looking at the Greenstyle size chart, I now realize that it is because my thigh is actually several sizes bigger than my hip. I already knew I was pear-shaped, but I didn't realize that I needed to size up for my thighs as well. Much better! 

The only thing now is I have the urge to sew a matching top. And I have like three more spandex colors coming in the mail. Please send help - this may be one of those weird quarantine obsessions. 

Greenstyle Swimsuit

The fact that we have no big trips planned for this summer didn't stop me from making my annual swimsuit. This has been a yearly tradition of mine since I started sewing. It's actually more of a rule than a tradition - if I allowed myself to sew up all the swimsuits I could dream up I'd have many more than I could use!

Pattern: Greenstyle Creations North Shore Swimsuit

Fabric: 1 yd nylon spandex knit and lining

Cost: $12

This year I tried out the North Shore Swimsuit by Greenstyle Creations. I've been obsessed with their leggings and am becoming a big fan of their patterns overall. I love the range of options included in this pattern - there are five different tops plus different closure options and two different bottoms with three rise options, plus a one-piece. Right now it's on sale for just under $12. 

As with their leggings, the one thing I wish they did was more clearly indicate which pieces to cut for which view. I just ended up printing and tracing the whole thing since I plan to use this pattern again and color-coding the pieces as I went. But I love how the pieces are drafted - they're a great shape!

I do need to adjust the sizing for making this suit again. The pattern has a great size range (from XXS to 3XL). I cut the bottoms as M and top as XS based on my measurements. I adjusted the underbust band so it was tighter and will size the bottoms down to a S next time. 

Usually when I make bathing suits I prefer some negative ease in the swimsuit and to lightly stretch my elastic for additional stability. However, this pattern instructs you to cut elastic that is much smaller than the suit, using the elastic to create much of the negative ease in the pattern. I find that creates too much bunching in the fabric for my liking, so that's why next time I will size down, especially for the bottoms. This may also be helpful for the people online who I saw had a lot of trouble with their elastic insertion - less stretching makes it less fiddly!

We saw my parents a few counties over for the first time since quarantine at the start of July. It was so nice to spend time together and enjoy the conversation without the filter of a video call. We also got amazing weather and a chance to walk down to the beach and take a dip - socially distanced of course! I'm hoping for a few more outings like this this summer but we'll see!