If you are new to this challenge, you still have plenty of time to join in. You can read details on the Greenstyle blog here. You can also read some of the many blogposts I have written when I participated in this challenge in previous years or used the concept when sewing. ALSO, Greenstyle is offering a 25% off pattern discount during the event with code “2023PFC!” Ok, now let’s get into what I have made!

The Ultra Crop Hoodie

I started off by making 2 hoodies. It is still cold out, and I like to have an easy layer. I have lots of pullover styles in my closet and really needed more zip up options. For the pattern, I chose the Ultra Crop by Greenstyle. This was my first time to sew this pattern. My first version of the pattern included the longest length available in the pattern with the hood and slimmer sleeves.

I used matching french terry and rib knit from Greenstyle for the fabric. This is a lighter hoodie and will work well into the spring. I love having the rib match so perfectly!

For my next hoodie, I added length to the bodice and a pocket. I also used the fuller sleeve option included in the pattern.

The fabric on this one is a fleece-backed knit from The Fabric Fairy. It does not feel that much heavier than the french terry I used on my first zip up, but it is much thicker and warmer! I love how it really keeps the cold out without all the bulk. If this one is out of stock, you can find lots more of their polartec style fleece here.

To add the pocket, I used the Kangaroo pocket on the Bianca pullover. I made the pocket a little wider than just half the pocket based on the size of my hand.

As far as sewing the Ultra Crop hoodie, it was rather quick. I had made several last month using a different pattern and used the same method from that pattern. The instructions on this one were very robust because of all the options in the pattern, and it was a little overwhelming to sift through at first.

The only adjustment I made on both hoodies was to remove length from the sleeves, add width to the bottom band, and to add width to the cuffs. I felt like the cuff and bottom band were too tight. The bottom band especially made this puff and rippling situation all along the bottom of the hoodie. I cut the band to be 1:1 and barely stretched it to fit, cutting off any excess. I don’t like that band to fit tightly across my midsection. I think the bands included in the pattern would be fine if I was making the pattern as a top, but as a hoodie, it is not necessary to have the waist cinched in so much.

I also don’t like the wrist cuff too tight so that I can check my watch without much of a struggle, so I added an inch. You can see it is not as fitted here as intended.

Racerback Tops

Next, I wanted to make a dozen racerback style tank tops. I ended up fitting in two, but I hope I can make more before summer arrives. They are my favorite style to work out in. They are simple and don’t get in my way when moving around. For both of them, I used tried-and-true patterns that I reach for every day and feel like I don’t have enough colors of them.

I used the Greenstyle Lille for the purple tank I made. The only adjustment I made was to remove length from the bottom. The Lille is fitted in the bust but has a little more ease in the midsection.

The next tank I made is with the Greenstyle Elevate Crop Top. This pattern has a bottom band to finish it instead of a hem. I omitted that and lengthened it (using their cami pattern for advice on the width/length for the rest of the tank).

This one is more fitted through the midsection, mainly because of the pattern I used when adding length to it.

I used athletic brushed polyester for both tanks – the 180 gsm version. Sadly, the places I bought it from are now out of business (Zenith and Quasar and Made Whimsy). Do you have another source for this fabric?

Athletic Shorts

I made two pairs of athletic shorts with running in mind. For the first pair, I wanted compressive with a pocket for my phone when running outside.

For the pattern, I used the Greenstyle Super G tights. The pattern does not have a shorts cutline, so I have a video here on how I cut the pattern pieces to make shorts.

For fabric, I used athletic brushed polyester from The Styled Magnolia. I got this print in a scrap pack, and I LOVE it! The floral is so pretty! I see it is now in their pick-a-print section and can be added to your pre-order any month.

My next pair of shorts is for treadmill running where I don’t want a pocket for my phone, and I want something loose and airy. I always feel like those runs are the sweatiest and hardest. Having cute shorts that help keep me from getting too hot makes them a bit more fun!

I used the Balboa pattern for these. I did the 2″ elastic band option and the shortest length on the pattern because I had just a half yard to work with.

I used stretch woven fabric from The Styled Magnolia for the main fabric and a black stretch woven from The Fabric Fairy for the binding. You can find the Floral Silhouette print in The Styled Magnolia’s pick-a-print section here.

Which piece is your favorite? I am so happy I had time to make each one of them. I love the prints on the shorts, and I used them for inspiration for the other pieces and which colors to coordinate with them. Both of my tops go with each shorts, so these will be great for mix-and-match.

I hope I have inspired you in today’s post!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

If you want to support my creative endeavors, you can buy me a coffee HERE.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate your support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

Greenstyle patterns are my absolute go-to when it comes to sewing clothes for being active in, and since I have been working out more, I was really excited to join in this year in their annual fitness capsule challenge. You can read my post last month on the beginning of my capsule here.

Now let’s get into my capsule sewing for this year – and start with these leggings! I made the Cavallo leggings again. These are quickly becoming my most sewn and worn leggings pattern for running and working out in.

The Cavallos stay up really well, have wonderful pockets, and NO INSEAM.

The backside has a curved bridge at the top that is pretty flattering as well.

They also are not overly tight so I can wear them all day if I want to.

The fabric I used to make my leggings is athletic brushed polyester from The Styled Magnolia. This print is called Summer Glow, and it is available on multiple bases in their current preorder through the end of this month.

Next, I made two tank tops with a pink cotton lycra.

This is the same pattern mashup I made last month at the start of my capsule. I used the Elevate Crop top for the top neckline and everything above the armscye. Then, I used the Cami pattern for everything below the armscye and hem.

I LOVE this color for a tank top. Unfortunately, the fabric base was NOT as perfect as I wanted it to be. The fabric does not have any spandex in it, so it starts to grow and feel looser as I wear it.

The fabric is a combed cotton jersey from Knitpop. I did not realize until after I made this top that the fabric is 100% cotton and does not have spandex. So, my lesson was learned.

On the bright side, I did find a pattern that works perfectly for it – the Tie Back Tank.

This tank top is open in the back and tied so you can adjust the tie to get the tank nice and snug, so no more worrying about fabric growing.

I adjusted this pattern by removing like 4 or 5 inches from the length. I realized that if I make the pattern as drafted there is just so much extra fabric bunched up in the front after I tie it above my butt in the back. I find it is more flattering to be slightly shorter on me.

I really love the cool breeze I feel on my back when running in a Tie Back Tank. It is not my go-to when I am doing activities where I need to be on my back more, though, because the knot digs in.

Shorts

I also made two pairs of shorts! These are the Greenstyle Balboa shorts.

They have two length options – I chose the shorter length. They also have three waistband options – 2, 3, or 4 inch. I did the 2-inch with two rows of stitching on the waistband.

For fabric, I used the same print from The Styled Magnolia – Summer Glow. I used their stretch woven base for this project, though. (My leggings up above were made with their athletic brushed polyester knit).

The Styled Magnolia’s stretch woven is really nice for athletic shorts and very similar to what you would find in a high-end athletic store.

I love being able to get similar fabric to what I feel in a nice store and replicate the item to be even better (because handmade always fits better!)

The second pair I made is a solid navy.

My goal is to have a dozen of these shorts for this summer. I already have been running in them a lot in the gym since I have made them.

The navy is a stretch woven from The Fabric Fairy. Their stretch woven is a little lighter weight and also a really nice base. This navy is very versatile with a lot of tops I run in.

Another Cropped Tank

Yes, I made another of these cropped tank mashups of the Elevate and Cami like my pink one above. This one is in an athletic brushed polyester left over from leggings, and it is so MUCH nicer and holds it shape better.

I cropped this one a little more than the others I have made, and I am not sure if I am quite bold enough to wear it out as much. I wore this set to the gym the other day, though, and got compliments from many random strangers. 🙂

I love that I can order two different fabric types from The Styled Magnolia and get the same print and wear them together.

Hoodie

Yes, I needed a layer because it is spring and randomly chilly or windy.

I used the Greenstyle Bianca for this one. It has the option of a hood, collar, or neckband. Two pocket options (or no pockets) and different lengths. This is the cropped hoodie with the kangaroo pocket.

I used a fabric that I have had in my stash for some time and do not remember buying! It is some type of fleece and really warm.

I left this in my car last week, and it was the perfect layer when I got cold at the baseball fields watching my kids play this past weekend.

It is nice and oversized so works well over other shirts.

Brassie Joggers

I feel like this post would not be complete if I did not make a pair of Brassie joggers for my capsule. They are my favorite comfy jogger pattern ever.

I have blogged about them repeatedly, have a sew along for them, and sew them and wear them more than probably anything else in my closet.

This pair is made in a brushed athletic knit from The Fabric Fairy. It is a deep dustier purple that is marled (or heathered) looking. This color is no longer in stock, but they have other colors of this base in stock and usually restock things quickly.

This is a great outfit for when I am working out on my upper body. I usually like to wear shorts or something lighter on my legs if I am running or doing cardio. I think these would work great for running outside in colder climates or just working from home like I also like to wear them.

Tennis Skirt

My next capsule item on my list was a tennis skirt in navy. I thought it would go really well with all the other items.

Do you notice that is NOT ME wearing the skirt I planned!?

Well, my oldest daughter informed me at 7 pm on a Monday night that her first tennis match for her middle school was the following day and that the team required the kids to wear navy shorts or a navy skirt. She also let me know the school would not be providing said navy bottoms like they had when she had run cross country. I guess she forgot to tell me this on Friday in all her excitement of making the team.

In that moment, I was so happy that I could sew and create exactly what she wanted in a matter of an hour (I had already made her this pattern the summer before, and I did not have to reprint). Seriously, I felt like superwoman when I handed her this skirt, and she looked so cute in it!

The pattern is the Rally skirt from Greenstyle. It has these undershorts with pockets for her tennis balls. Wish her the best in her matches this year!

I used Navy Flex fabric from The Fabric Fairy for her skirt. This color is no longer in stock, but they have others here.

When I am looking for athletic fabric for this pattern, I am looking for three things: (1) a fabric with higher spandex, so it does not grow or feel loose while active in it, (2) a fabric that does not curl on the edges, so I don’t have to hem it, and (3) a non-brushed fabric so the skirt does not stick or cling to the undershorts. This fabric was perfect for all of these and has washed really well.

Which item was your favorite? I hope I have inspired you in today’s post!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate your support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

I find it one of the quickest and most satisfying things to sew. I also can get a great fit in fabrics I love and feel good wearing. When I wear my handmade gym clothes when working out, I do not have to worry about everything staying put or feeling too tight in the wrong places, and frankly, that is worth all the time and effort it takes to sew my own. I also am petite so struggle with finding fit in store made bottoms.

Did you know that Greenstyle Patterns has an annual Fit Capsule Challenge? I have taken part in it for the past several years and always find so much inspiration and motivation when I join in. It usually lasts a month and has prizes and discounts.

The gist of the challenge is to sew at least 3 items that coordinate well for whatever type of activity you do to stay in shape. I have blogged about it several times, including here and here. You can read the details specific to this year on the Greenstyle blog. ALSO, there is a sitewide pattern discount of 25% off!! Use code 2022PFC through March 13th.

I got a little head start on sewing for it this year and made 6 items for today’s post! I hope you love all the details of each item. Let’s start with the bra.

I made the Greenstyle Embrace bra. This is a pattern that I have grown to love. I previously made dozens of Power Sports Bras but have lately been reaching more for my Embrace bras because I love how easy the flat front is to wear under more garments. (The power sports bra has princess seams on the front) I made this Embrace bra using the techniques in the Power Sports Bra pattern, though, because I did not want to do binding on the neckline. I have a sew along for the Embrace pattern here.

This is the racerback view on the pattern. It also includes a U-back style and a layered U and racerback for even more support.

Next, I made these Inspire leggings and added the Brassie jogger pocket onto them. I chose this pattern because it has more ease which gives me more room to grow. I notice when I work out more, I usually gain the inches in my backside and legs.

I used gold topstitching thread and love how it sparkles. To get this type of seam, I first sewed my seam with a serger (right sides together like usual). Then, I topstitched that seam down using my coverstitch with 3 needles, sewing on the inside of the pants. The only place I sewed from the right side was on the rise and hems. I decided they did not need to be highlighted.

It is like a little touch of magic.

I used the free contour waistband pattern on these instead of the waistband included in the pattern. It has a little more shaping to it and stays up better when running.

Next, I made a pair of Super G shorts. These also have the gold sparkle topstitching.

The Super G pattern has a gusset and the best pockets. The pattern does not include a cut line for shorts, but I have a video on how I cut the pattern pieces here.

Next, I made three tank tops that mix and match well with this as well as lots of my athletic clothes – a grey bamboo/cotton longer tank, a black cotton cropped tank, and one out of this alcohol ink print.

For the grey tank top, I used the Greenstyle Lille pattern.

For my next two tank tops, I used the Greenstyle Elevate for everything above the armscye and Greenstyle Cami cropped hemline for everything below the armscye.

Which one would you wear the most with this set?

Fabric

The print fabric that I used for this post is called Mystic Cavern. It is part of the Alcohol Ink artwork in the current round at The Styled Magnolia. I got the Athletic Brushed Polyester base. It is a soft fabric that wicks sweat really well. It is not heavy but is thick enough for leggings and sports bras as well as tanks and dresses! They have lots of other bases if you prefer to sew bags, quilts, or other types of garments.

The grey fabric is the bamboo cotton jersey base from The Fabric Fairy. I like this base better than a traditional cotton lycra because it is softer. I also like it better than a traditional bamboo lycra because it is a little heavier so does not wrinkle so bad and show every lump and bump.

The black fabric is a cotton lycra scrap from Made Whimsy. This is part of their dream solids so it is a softer cotton lycra and great quality. It is not quite as soft as the bamboo, but I still like how well it works for a tank! It is still a great quality for the price.

I hope I have inspired you in today’s post!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate your support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

My husband was my photographer for these pieces. He happened to be wearing all stuff made by me! The top is an Excel tee in double brushed poly and his shorts are the Iron joggers in French Terry.

I have the details for all my most recent projects, a life update (at the very end), and a video for you today!

Let’s start with the video. You can watch that here.

I seemed to have a color trend this month without even realizing it! I normally tend towards pink, but I have sewn a lot of mustard and burnt oranges and navy more than other colors recently. I still love pink, so maybe I need to add some pink projects in February for Valentine’s Day.

Bottoms

The first category of projects I want to show you are the bottoms I have made. I made one pair of woven pants, two joggers, and a pair of leggings!

True Bias Lander Pants

I made the Lander pants pattern two months ago, and this pair of pants has gotten so much use since then! I love the button front style.

I also love the high waist and wide (but not too wide) legs.

I also especially love how soft this fabric is and how comfortable they are to wear in everyday life!

I wrote a more detailed post about these pants here and you can also see more photos of them here. 

Greenstyle Brassie Joggers

I love wearing comfy joggers, and I wear them so much when I am at home. My favorite pattern for joggers is the Greenstyle Brassie joggers, and I made two pairs this month!

I made this pair in this soft and cozy bamboo cotton french terry from The Fabric Fairy. This is the bengal grass colorway (that looks more green than yellow). I love the soft feel of this fabric, and I plan to buy the black or navy next time I order some.

I also used some camel french terry from The Fabric Snob for another pair of Brassie joggers. This one is more goldish or dark mustard. It has a charcoal heathered textured look due to the wrong side of the fabric being a charcoal/brownish color. When I went to find a link on their website, this particular one was sold out, but they have the same color without the heathered look and contrast backing. You can find that one here.

I made the high-rise version of the pattern for these and love it!

Are you as big of a jogger fan as I am? I have a sew along for the Brassie Joggers here if you want to sew a pair with me or want to watch any of the techniques for sewing them.

I also made one pair of leggings! These are the Cavallos. 

I made this pair to go with a sports bra that I made a few summers ago. You can see the post I wrote when I initially sewed the bra here. Since I am no longer breastfeeding, I removed the nursing clip access and found it was the perfect time to make a pair of matching leggings.

I love that the Cavallos have no inseam and BIG pockets.

They also don’t feel as compressive as other workout leggings patterns to me. 

The feather fabric I used is called Feather Bound and is Athletic Brushed Polyester (ABP) from The Styled Magnolia. 

Tops

I made four different knit tops, using two different patterns.

Friday Pattern Co. Adrienne Blouse

The Adrienne Blouse has sleeve volume and a slim bodice silhouette. 

I made one top using this Navy Double Brushed Poly (DBP) from Knitpop. It is such a perfect fabric for this top! I want several more in solid colors.

I also made one from an ITY from Minerva.

It is such a pretty floral!

I wrote more details about this project here and here.

Helen’s Closet Elliot Sweater

My next knit top project was using the Helen’s Closet Elliot Sweater pattern. I made one top in a bamboo spandex from The Fabric Fairy to wear with my Lander pants.

The pattern has different hem length options, and this is the crop view. 

I love that the turtleneck is wider and looser and does not choke me. It feels really comfortable to wear. It kind of flops over in this fabric, but I like it!

I also made another Elliot sweater in a bamboo rib knit I got from Blackbird Fabric. This color is called Wisteria. 

I used the neckband option on the pattern for this top. I think it makes a great basic cropped tee, and the rib gives it a little texture.

Layers – A Pullover, Cardigan, and Jacket

I made two layering tops to wear out on our colder days as well as a jacket! I used my scraps from my Brassie joggers for pullover and cardigan and my Lander scraps for the jacket. I was happy to be able to make so much out of each fabric and have very few scraps left over.

FibreMood Didi

The Didi is an oversized drop shoulder pullover with a nice zipper detail and big collar.

The Didi pattern states it is for knit fabrics, but I did not find anywhere in the pattern that indicated the minimum stretch required. This French Terry has minimal stretch, and I went with the smaller size (I am between sizes). I think the sizing turned out perfect so feel free to use any knit fabric regardless of how much stretch it does or does not have. I did add length to the cuffs and bottom band since this fabric is not stretchy. I would have rather used a rib knit, but I did not have one that matched that well.

I DO NOT plan to wear them with these joggers, but alas, I did not want to change out of these joggers when I was taking photos! So, imagine this pullover with some jeans or colorful leggings. How would you style it?

I love how the zipper part is done. I first read through the instructions and had no clue how this was going to work out, but once I followed the pattern step-by-step, it all made sense and felt genius! I would love to sew this pattern up again while we still have cold weather.

I used a basic YKK plastic zipper for this one, but I would love to find some unique ones to add even more interest. Do you have a source for unique zippers? 

True Bias Marlo Sweater

Next, I used my left-over bamboo french terry for a Marlo. This is an oversized dropped shoulder garment as well.

This one has a V neck and comes in a cropped or mid-thigh length.

It has wide bands and requires big buttons. The bands really cinch it in to fit snugger around your waist. I used the pattern piece for bands that are made out of non-rib knit. I bet that if I used rib knit, the bands would be more relaxed.

Chalk and Notch Joy Jacket

Ya’ll, I am so excited about this jacket!! The Chalk and Notch Joy Jacket is such a great pattern!

Do you ever finish a project that you just can’t believe that you made it?

That was definitely this one! I mean, it took forever (well, not really but there were times that I felt like I would never finish!). The instructions were very easy to follow, and there wasn’t anything in particular that was hard. It was just very involved, and there were so many pattern pieces.

It is fully lined.

It has a collar option or hood. The hood is a three-piece hood.

The hood has a drawstring casing, and there is also an option for a drawstring casing through the hem.

As far as adjustments, I removed one inch in length from the body and sleeves. I also used a smaller seam allowance through the bicep, elbow, and forearm. 

You can get more details on the blogpost I wrote for this jacket here.  Can you believe I had enough fabric left over from my Lander pants? I ordered 3 meters and had a few moments of doubt that it wouldn’t work. Thankfully, it is easier to play pattern Tetris with solids. 

I made the bottom drawstring long enough to tie a bow, but I think I may take an inch or two more off the length. Does it look like it hangs a little long to you?

Dresses

Last, but not least, I made four dresses!

Deer and Doe Myosotis Dress

The Myosotis dress is an oversized dress with all the ruffles.

I love the shorter length and how it feels to wear.

The bodice has three buttons, a collar, and 6 darts! I felt like the darts were unnecessary since it is not fitted and has so much room. Can you see my scar from my ankle surgery a few months ago in the photo above? It has healed so much!

You can read more about my dress in the post I wrote on it here.

Twig and Tale Driftwood

With my scraps, I made my daughter a Driftwood dress.

This is such a cute peasant-style blouse or dress pattern. It was pretty quick to sew for her too!

You can read more about her dress on the post I wrote on it here.

Friday Pattern Co. Wilder Gown

I also made a Wilder Gown in this gorgeous bird print from Minerva. 

This is a flowy tiered dress with a neckline that has a bow. I left mine untied when I wore it.

I wore this one on New Year’s Eve to ring in the New Year. It was a great dress to be festive while lounging around at home.

You can read more about the dress in the post I wrote on it here.

Ellie and Mac I Love the 90s Dress.

Finally, I made my daughter another I Love the 90s Dress. She picked out this adorable fabric from The Fabric Fairy and asked for a dress from it. 

This babydoll style dress is quick and perfect for cotton lycra. I made her one several months ago in this candy print from Jumping June, and she wears it so much that I knew it would be a winner. Here is the other one I made her.

It was cold outside, and her hem was flipped up, but I think you get the picture. She LOVES that dress. And now she has another one she loves just as much.

Life Updates

This fall – I started a new job (well not new, but one I had taken a break from for five years), both boys played competitive baseball with lots of tournaments and practices, my oldest ran cross country, and I had ankle surgery. It was a full season for sure.

Ankle surgery was tough. In August I sprained my ankle a week before my kids started back to school. After three weeks in a boot and two months of physical therapy, my foot was still not much better. So, I had an MRI and found out that I had a tarsal coalition. It was that moment where all of my random ankle pain that I have had for so long made sense. I was happy to know the cause and sad to be facing surgery.

The doctors said the surgery was not necessary if I did not plan to be that active and could live with the pain. I definitely did not want to live in pain, and I felt like not being active was a death sentence. I turn 40 next week, and the thought of becoming sedentary seemed so bizarre!

So, I had the surgery in October. I was not able to do anything for a week. I was not casted, but I was too swollen for a boot. My husband carried me around or I crawled if I needed to use the restroom. After a few days, a sweet local lady let me borrow her foot scooter. After the first week of immobility, I was able to wear a boot again. Then after a week in the boot, I was in a regular athletic shoe and started physical therapy. After a month of physical therapy, I was walking without a limp and starting to run and jump again!!! 

Writing that all out seems like I had an easy recovery, but I had so many emotional days and pain-filled days. My biggest problem was all the nerve pain. I had nonstop tingling and strange sensations all on top of my foot. I did acupuncture, and it helped (especially with the swelling and constant tingling). I still have random zaps and burning sensations and numbness, but I am about 90-95% of the way better. The only time it still tells me that it is hurt now is when I lay down at night. This too shall pass.

What have you been sewing? Which garment is your favorite of the ones I sewed?

I hope I inspired you in today’s post!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate your support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

In 2017, the Moxi shorts pattern released and quickly became my first activewear pattern to embrace and obsess over. I haven’t really stopped sewing athletic wear ever since and have no plans to stop. Obsess may be putting it lightly. 

Now, 4 years have passed, it has a kids’ version available AND the grown up version has an expanded size chart and updated fit.

The fit of the updated Moxi pattern now angles up as it reaches the side. The previous original pattern was more straight across and shorts like on the side. The kids version follows the style of the original Moxis. You can see the different sides between mine and my daughters. See how my back piece angles and swoops up as it reaches the hem of the front while hers is a slighter, more modest sweep up?

I feel like the pattern update made the shorts cheekier on me, and I will need to fix the lower back to be more shorts-like and not brief-style on my next pair. I am really thinking it is going to be the slightest change and probably just my personal preference.

Another change from the original in the pattern update is that the pattern now includes the option of using a stretch woven waistband with elastic. It still has the original version’s knit waistband option, but I am loving the elastic waist option as well when I don’t have a matching knit or don’t want to break up the waistband from the shorts. The kids version has this option as well.

The update gave me more room in the crotch, and they are much more comfortable when I sit down. They are still a lower rise, but not as low, and I think this is why they are more comfortable. You can get a higher rise by using the knit waistband in the pattern because it has two options for rise height. The woven waistband is for 2 inch elastic.

Do you like the update? I am super happy with the new size chart for adults. It goes up to a 62 inch hip!

Here is a side-by-side visual if you are trying to decide whether you will stick with the original or want to use the update. The blue chevron is the original pattern.

How to Choose Size

Use your hip measurement to decide which size Moxi shorts to make. I made two of the updated adult Moxi’s and one for my sweet 10 year old. I am a 35 inch hip, and on the size chart, size C is 34-35 inches and size D is 35-36 inches for hip. I don’t fall to one side or the other and am squarely at 35, between the two or in both whichever way you slice it.

I made a size C for this pretty floral pair and cut the fabric where the stretch goes across the body. This floral fabric is a stretch woven from The Styled Magnolia (and on preorder through the end of this month!). 

I also made a size D in a stretch woven given to me from a friend. Here is what the size D looks like on me.

If you are between sizes and want a closer fit or are using a stretchier fabric, go with the smaller size. If you want a looser fit and more room, go with the bigger size. Here is a front view of the bigger size on me.

Do you prefer the smaller size or like the ease of the size up?

More Athletic Sewing

I made another Rally skirt with a matching Embrace bra! I adore this pattern and planned to play lots of tennis in this outfit. 

Planned is the key word. A little over a week ago, I was playing tennis and rolled my ankle. I was running to hit a ball and stepped onto a ball that I had left on the court (I was in a hurry because I had just 10 minutes left to play and did not want to stop and pick up balls quite yet).

I stepped directly on the ball, and my ankle rolled so hard. It hurt so bad, and I could barely even walk off the court! May I be the reminder to you that getting in a hurry, being impatient, and not just doing the thing you know to do doesn’t always work out in your favor. 

I saw the foot/ankle doctor the next day, and am now in a boot for three weeks, and then, we will do physical therapy, and my prayer is that I will be back to walking, running, and doing all the normal things soon. In the mean time, I still have worn my Rally skirt because it has the best undershorts! Here is me trying to laugh in the face of adversity.

And, of course, the boot. 

Here I am wearing my stylish boot with a pair of Brassie shorts and a Lille tank. I had just barely enough of this print left for these shorts when I finished my Rally skirt. 

I sewed this Embrace bra using the method of the Power Sports Bra so that I could skip binding the neckline. I love the flat front style of the Embrace because it does not show through my tighter fitting tank tops. It still has shaping with the front dart, and I also use cups!

Set Backs

I have been the most inconsistent runner for the past 9 years. I fell in love with running as a hobby when I was 21 and ran consistently week in and week out until my third child was born after turning 30. I have had so many false starts/stops ever since trying to find my rhythm. I mostly just seem to lack motivation for it when there are so many other things pulling my attention. I am now in the middle of being 39, and something happened to me in July, and I started running again. I was so slow at first but consistently stuck with it FOR A MONTH. I ran the morning before I hurt my ankle, and it actually felt good, the way I remembered it, and I was not so terribly slow.

I got out of the shower last night and realized I could barely walk on my foot. The pain is still so real. Here is my prayer that I can find my way back to my hobby. Here is also my request of you, go for that run. Take that long walk. Feel how nice it is to be pain free! And, if you have pains like I do, I pray you heal and work through them. 

Seasons Change 

For the past 3 years, I worked as an admin for Greenstyle Creations and last month I stepped down. I am working as a lawyer again, and it feels good to now sew for just fun. My kids started school in public school last week. I will no longer be homeschooling! I still have one last kid at home with me during the day – my 3 year old who plays a lot quieter than my sons did at this same age. I am able to get a lot more done during the day now! I feel all the nostalgia of changing seasons. I know God sees me and that he has good for me in this life and is constantly directing me and helping me. I seriously don’t know how I homeschooled them as long as I did!

Resources – Patterns

1. Moxi Shorts – Adults, Youth, or buy both
2. Staple tank (pink tank top worn with my moxi shorts)
3. Embrace Bra pattern (sports bra worn with my moxis and with my rally skirt)
4. Rally Skirt pattern
5. Brassie Shorts pattern
6. Lille Tank pattern (black tank top worn with my brassie shorts)

Resources – Fabric

1. Floral Moxi Short Pattern for Me is stretch woven from The Styled Magnolia. This print is in their preorder, but they also offer this same base on many different prints! This base is easy to work with and very beginning friendly. It also feels great to wear and washes well!
2. The white binding on my moxi shorts and the black binding on my daughters is the solid stretch chiffon from Joanns. It is lightweight and makes the edges not feel bulky. Here is the link for the white and here is the black.
3. Stretch chiffon from Joann is the fabric for my daughter’s Moxi shorts. It is unlike any other chiffon I have tried and is silky smooth. It is lightweight and makes excellent athletic shorts. I have several moxis made from it four years ago that still look as good as new after multiple washes and wears over the years.
4. The fabric I used for my sports bra, rally skirt, and brassier shorts is Athletic Brushed Polyester. It is also from The Styled Magnolia. This print is called ecliple and is in their current preorder and they offer lots of prints on this base as well. 

I hope I have inspired you in today’s post!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate your support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

My First Project – A Bra and Leggings Set

I got this large floral fabric (called Dark Rose) on an athletic brushed poly (ABP) base from The Styled Magnolia (*Disclosure: I received the fabric for free after I paid shipping to sew it up for their current preorder).

I had 1.5 yards to work with so I wanted to make a matching bra/leggings set. I was hoping I would have enough left over for a pair of shortie work out shorts for this summer. Spoiler – with some careful cutting, I did!

For my leggings I used the Cavallo Leggings from Greenstyle. I like this one because it has no inseam (which means one less seam showing on my legs when I take my leggings off at night!). It also has the best pockets and great seam lines.

I went back and topstitched all my seams using my coverstitch. On most of them, I did the coverstitching on the right side of the fabric so that the fun seam would show on the front. On my crotch curve and hem, though, I let the needle side show on the right side of the fabric. I used a light pink thread to topstitch and like that contrast.

A coverstitch is not necessary to sew athletic. It is more of a fun decorative look to help make the seam a little stronger. You can also use a stretch stitch or twin needle on your sewing machine to topstitch.

I LOVE the colors in this fabric! Such a soft and subtle pink on a beautiful black background – beautiful because I can wear whatever panties I want underneath it.

For my bra, I used the Power Sports Bra pattern and used bra cups from Amazon. It works as a great supportive bra for working out or just daily life! I have a dozen of these (well, probably more because they don’t all fit in my sports bra drawer anymore). I accidentally removed too much length from straps 1 and 4 on this one so it pulls slightly in the back. It is not noticeable when worn, but I can see it in photos! I should have tried it on when making it like I have done on all my other bras instead of guessing!

Now let’s chat about these fun shorties! They are made with the Super G pattern. I have a video here showing how to cut the pattern pieces for short shorts. I added an inch from my recommendations in the video so these are a little longer than the ones I made there.

I love how the Super G pocket is constructed. It has a fold at the top instead of a seam line so it feels so nice and stretchy. It is my fave for tennis balls.

I did the highest waist/rise option on the pattern for the Super Gs. I like how well it holds everything in.

So far when I have worn this set, I have worn it with the Muscle Up tank top pattern. I caught a behind photo of it when I wore it to take photos. It is a unisex muscle tank that I have made for both my husband and myself. I am 8 inches shorter than its drafted height of 5’10” and only remove about 5 or so inches from the bottom, making the armholes nice and deep on me. My 5’11” husband does not have as deep of armholes on the ones I made him since he has more height and shoulders than me!

The deep armholes sure make this a great way to keep cool in the summer.

 A Faux Toddler Romper and Simpatico Leggings

I also fell in love with another print from the preorder and had to buy it to ship with my strike off – a green/white stripe with a large floral called Whispering Sage. OF COURSE, I got it on ABP. ABP is great at not wrinkling like crazy which keeps my youngest daughter from looking like a hot mess by the end of the day.

I did not do any fancy topstitching on this pair of leggings. I wanted a simple, quick leggings pattern so I had minimal stripes to match up. I used the Greenstyle Simpatico, and it is perfection. I love that this pattern includes a petite file. (It also includes standard and tall.)

I am 5’2″ with a 26 inch inseam for leggings and made no alterations to this for height.

For my daughter, I made the Greenstyle Upton Shorts and paired them with a Slope tank. The Slope tank is a FREE kids tank pattern. These are both very quick sews, and I hope I get the chance to make her several more of these shorts for the summer with various tank combinations.

Her favorite part is the pockets. She also seems to play and be comfortable in this outfit. She refuses dresses and loves play shorts and tanks and tees.

She was amazingly cooperative at showing me her outfit and smiling for photos on this particular day!

Where is My Sewing Mojo!?

I LOVE to sew. I have sewn or done something creative most days for about 8 years now. I have only really shared my sewing with the rest of the world for the last few years, though. I noticed this past month that I would go days at a time where I just didn’t want to sew and didn’t really want to look at sewing social media because that just made me feel overloaded with too much creativity without the desire to do anything about it.

It started at the end of the school year because I felt insanely overwhelmed with finishing the year out with my kids. We have homeschooled up until this point, and they are enrolled in public school for next year. I just felt burned out by having so much responsibility and know it is time.

I also have two boys in baseball, and we have had some not very good situations mainly with my older son’s coach. I think the emotional stress of it and trying to plan, navigate, and advocate has taken a forefront in my mental space, crowding out the creativity I normally crave. I have gone through difficult places in my life before and came out blogging and sharing, but normally, I never just walk by my sewing room. I have fervently sewed entire quilts trying to work through and pray about things! BUT this time, I have just walked past my sewing room many nights after the kids are finally in bed and jumped in bed myself! Maybe out of pure exhaustion. This mom gig is hard. It feels like an ocean that ebbs and flows with its seasons. Some are intense while others bring rest. I am praying this summer brings rest and the energy to be present with my kids, making last memories, and sew some pretty amazing stuff. I also hope I at least make a few pairs of shorts. I need some shorts ya’ll!

So, anyways, how have you emerged from times where you just didn’t want to create? I was really happy that this fabric came and brought me out of my funk for a few days. I made these about a week ago and haven’t gotten much in since! These were all pretty quick sews of things I had made before.

I hope I have inspired you in today’s post!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Resources

• Super Gs for my shorties
• Power Sports Bra
• Simpatico Leggings 
• FREE Kids Slope Tank
• Kids Upton Shorts
• Whispering Sage (Green/White with Large Scale Floral) and Dark Rose – both are available on many different bases on preorder through the end of the month
• Floral

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate your support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

The Pattern

The pattern that I used for our bottoms is the Greenstyle Lounge Pants. It is a unisex sewing pattern that includes kid sizes 3-14 (which includes hips measuring 22-34 inches) and adult sizes B-M (which includes hips measuring from 32-62 inches). The pattern is drafted for woven fabrics such as flannel, quilting cotton, lawn, voile, silk, rayon, etc.

The pattern has a wide straight leg option like a traditional pajama pant or a slimmer jogger style leg option. The jogger style can be finished with a knit cuff or with an elastic casing.

The straight leg traditional pajama has multiple lengths of shorts as well as long pants. These are the shortest short options.

More importantly. Yes, it has pockets!

The pattern includes 2 rises. My blue/green jogger style pair is the higher rise. It hits at my natural waist.

The shorts I made are the midrise.

The kids pattern has only one rise option. My daughter found it roomy, which I loved because that means it will fit her for longer.

The red top that she is wearing is a Lee Raglan that I made her out of cotton lycra. It is one of my go-to staple quick knit patterns for my kids.

Back to the pants, the most important part of these pajamas is the ability to LOUNGE in them. With a woven, you need extra ease to sit, relax, and cuddle up without feeling restricted or like your pants are digging into you.

I had lots of fun taking photos of me sitting down. I really don’t do that often enough, but it’s especially important when the purpose of a garment is to relax.

I recently got the Magnolia Table at the library, and it has some great recipes!

My oldest daughter made the silk pie a few days after these photos. It was SO YUM!

At the beginning of this post I also said we would talk about these things such as relaxing, grace, hope, and kindness, so we will dive into the non-sewing part next. Before we do that, here are some resources that I used for all the handmade garments in this post.

Resources

1. Greenstyle Lounge pants pattern is FREE with any $15 purchase for the month of December. You can also get it on sale for $6 without any minimum purchase.
2. The blue/green fabric is a quilting cotton designed by Amy Butler. The fabric collection is Cameo, and this particular print is Angelica.
3. The shorts fabric is Liberty of London Tana Lawn.
4. My daughter’s pants are made from Hello Kitty flannel from Joanns. I had no recollection of buying it and the selvage says 2013!
5. My daughters top is the Made for Mermaids Lee raglan.
6. My top is a P4P pumpkin spice dolman top I made several years ago out of sweater knit.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

Relaxing

Relaxing is hard for me. I think I have a mindset that I have to constantly be doing something or staying up late to finish everything. During the holidays, I ON PURPOSE tell myself that this is the time I want to take in every moment and allow my body to just refuel, reset, rest and be ready for a new year. 2020 was not what any of us expected, but that does not mean I am going to lose hope for the year we have ahead.

Part of allowing myself to relax/rest is NOT making a to do list, stopping to read that book on my night stand, taking that long walk to the park with my kids, making a cup of tea and watching a movie with my family, or just DOING nothing and catching up on sewing blogs. <wink> As a sewing blogger, it is nice to make things that I have no intentions of posting on the internet or blogging about. I think it is healthy to have breaks!

Grace

Give grace to yourself and to those you come in contact with. Grace to me means undeserved good things. I see it like when someone doesn’t have to do something for you that you by no means earned, but they do it anyways.  Parents are often graceful to their children (I say often because that is not always the case. I have one parent who is like this to me and another who I am estranged from.)

I give grace to myself by making sure I spend each day doing something that brings me joy and not focusing on the things that I can’t change.

You give grace to others when you don’t automatically assume the worst of people who make mistakes. Such as when you want to cuss that person out who really does deserve it, but you scroll on anyways, or if you do comment, you say something nice. How different our (internet) world would be if we had more people who showed grace!!

I started this blogpost with saying that I intended to make pajamas for my whole family. Maybe I will knock out one more pair for another one of my kids before Christmas. Maybe not, and that is OK! I hope if you are feeling the stress of the season that you also give grace to yourself and celebrate what you have finished and where you are.

Hope and Kindness

I think hope and kindness have been hard this year. Hope has been hard because our world is so different than anything we have learned to live in. Kindness has been hard, and I am not sure why. I see fighting everywhere I look online. I want to leave you with one thought today, and this is one that I (try to) think anytime I feel discouraged.  “As long as I have breath, I have hope.” as well as “I have the ability to choose how I treat you, and not how you treat me.”

If you have made it this far, thanks for reading!

XO

Sharon

Today’s task is to finish your bottoms if you did not do so yesterday. Also, I have a fun hack for you! For today’s video, I am showing you how to ruche the sides of your swim bottoms for a fun little twist on this pattern. HERE is the video for today.

I did the high rise bottoms with the elastic waist option for this pair. In today’s video, I show how to construct the main. If you want to see how to add the lining and elastic, you will want to check out yesterday’s video.

If you need to catch up on any of the sew along posts, here is the schedule:

• Day 0 – Get Supplies
• Day 1 – Select your size, cut out pattern pieces, and cut out your fabric
• Day 2 – Sew the Bottoms
• Day 3 – YOU ARE HERE – Finish Bottoms + Bottom Hacks
• Day 4 – Sew the Rash Guard Front and Back, Sew the Sleeve
• Day 5 – Sew the Side Seam, Hemming, and Bands
• Day 6 – Finish and Show Me What You Have Made!

Thanks for joining me, and I will see you tomorrow!

You may follow me on Instagram. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

You can watch today’s video HERE.

Today’s task is to sew the front of the jacket! You have the option of sewing the front with or without pockets. I say the pockets are essential, and they are not so hard to do at all.

If you have not purchased your pattern, it is not too late to join us. You can purchase your pattern here. Use code WhistlerSAL for 25% off through April 11th.

The Schedule

Here is what this week’s schedule will look like:

• Day 1: Pick fabric, cut your pattern out, and then cut your fabric
• Day 2: YOU ARE HERE – Sew the front, steps 1-5
• Day 3: Sew the back, attach sleeves, and finish body, steps 6-16
• Day 4: Sew the collar or hood, bottom band, and insert the zipper, steps 17-26
• Day 5: Topstitching details and finishing sleeves, steps 27-32
• Day 6: Catch up, take a photo of your finished jacket, and share it with me!

See you back tomorrow!!

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

Anyways, without further ado, let’s jump in to today’s post.. 🙂

Reverse Coverstitched Super Gs

I have been sewing activewear for quite some time now, and I have happily been doing so without a coverstitch. I see the question asked by sewists all the time, “Can I make my own leggings (or swimsuits or bras) without a coverstitch?” The answer is emphatically “YES!”

I have been saving up to get one for at least a year! Some pretty fabric or something I needed to get my kids seemed to always jump right in line ahead of it, and anyways, I was getting along so well without one by just using a twin needle on my regular sewing machine when I needed to hem or topstitch something. I also had remembered the tears when I was learning to thread the first serger that I bought (an Elna) so I was nervous to learn a new machine! (Thankfully, my second serger, a Juki, has jet air threading, so the tears ceased once I bought such a friendly machine.)

I bought the Babylock Coverstitch! It is one of the more expensive machines on the market, but I have always seen such good reviews that I knew it would be a trusty machine. To help lower the price, I traded in that old fiesty Elna serger.

I brought it home, and straight out of the box, hemmed some pants, and then, of course, I had to try it with reverse coverstitch so I made some Super Gs! This is the pattern that made me want a coverstitch in the first place. Have you seen the reverse coverstitched yellow pair that Angelyn made in testing?! They are so pretty!

I am so happy with the machine I bought. So far, it just purrs and does not fuss at all. It went over the bulkier seam junctions without even noticing them. I also feel like the machine has really great control. It is sensitive to my touch or lack thereof and does not zoom out from under my feet. I am still not confident to get that very last inseam seam, but maybe one day I can bunch a pair of leggings up enough to do it!

Getting a stand alone coverstitch machine has definitely taken my athletic sewing up just one notch, but I will continue to tell sewists to not be intimidated or feel that sewing activewear has to be super expensive! Getting a coverstitch is nice, but it is definitely EXTRA!

The Fabric

I used Athletic Brushed Polyester (ABP) from The Styled Magnolia for this pair. This particular print is in the pick-a-print section of their website and is called shades of black camo. If you submit an order from this section, it is submitted to the printer at the end of the month. I absolutely LOVE this fabric and had saved it for when I owned a coverstitch to give it the details I wanted!! I only had a yard to work with so I cut the gusset cross-grain since the gusset is longer than a yard. This works fine since the fabric has plenty of stretch both ways!

Two New Tops

The next thing I wanted to make for my capsule was a tank top and long sleeved-top. For my tank top, I used the Lille pattern, and my friend Aimee put the HTV on it! You can find the cut file here. I got the fabric for my tank from Aimee as well! When she moved this past year, she sent me a lot of her scraps! It is a great shade of yellow. I always worry whether I can even pull off yellow, but I know I will wear this top to work out in a lot!

For the next top, I used the free Green tee pattern with some grey jersey I found in my stash. I have been Outlander obsessed for some time now and told my friend Aimee I needed a shirt, so I made the shirt, and she made this HTV for me!!! I need to figure out what I can make her in return because that is seriously the sweetest thing ever. I have watched all of this show and listened to all of the audio books. I have yet to find a book series I like this much. Sometimes, after trying to get into a book that I just can’t, I will go back and listen to or read some Outlander to renew my excitement for reading. Haha! Dana Gabaldon definitely has a gift. Could book 9 be out tomorrow, please?

“Je Suis Prest” is French for “I am ready!” I think it is just perfect 🙂

Yoga Pants

I also made some Everyday Yoga Pants! These are just the coziest pants and work for light workouts or for everyday lounging.

I used the high rise waistband from the Stride tights on them, and it is super nice! The main fabric is a french terry, and the fabric for the waistband is cotton lycra. The french terry is not super stretchy and doesn’t have great recovery so I knew the cotton lycra would be better suited for a waistband.

This pattern is super flattering and bootylicious for lounge pants!

I made my measured size (XXS) for the Yoga pants and removed 3 inches in length total. I have a 27 inch inseam, and the pattern is drafted with a 30 inch inseam.

I am also {trying} to let my natural waves have their way. It is taking some patience, but I feel like my hair is looking healthier. I am doing the “low poo” curly girl method and have found a few products I like. I still haven’t figured out how to make it have larger clumps, and it seriously takes forever to dry it. One step at a time, though… I just wanted to share my journey and hopefully I will have more progress in a few months with figuring out my hair!

I took photos in a big field today, and let my kids run around and get some energy out. My daughter was letting me know that it was time to leave…

Come join me in the Fit Capsule challenge if you haven’t already begun! You can find all the details of the challenge here.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Resources

1. Patterns: Super G Tights, Everyday Yoga Pants, Lille Tank, and Green Tee. Greenstyle patterns are also on sale through midnight on 2/29, use code 30KFitCapsule for 25% off!
2. Fabric: The Styled Magnolia shades of black camo on ABP, yellow cotton lycra, grey jersey, and grey french terry.

*Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

XO