Hi, friends! Hope everyone’s had a wonderful weekend! Question for you: those of you who blog, do you find it hard to blog basics? I often find that I start wearing them right away, and once I’ve worn something a few times it feels kind of silly to blog about it! I’m also not sure if people are interested in reading about basics- too boring, maybe? But I decided to finally share these garments as I wear them ALL the time and it just doesn’t seem polite to ignore them.
Let’s start with the pants! These are the True Bias Hudson Pants. Kelli is a blogger I’ve admired for a long time- her style is just so cool. I kinda want to break into her house and steal everything out of her closet (and her daughter’s… Kelli’s made her some awesome clothes!!!).
I tested this pattern when Kelli was developing it, but these pants were made with the final pattern (I made two pairs during the testing process, but the fabric I had in my stash was earmarked for my sister, so I sent them to her. Then I somehow lost or threw away the test pattern, so I printed out the new one when I made these up). I am one size smaller in the waist than in the hip for this pattern, so I went with the larger size since it’s fitted through the hips and the waist is elasticized.
There’s not much to say about constructing these puppies! They’re very straightforward and quick to sew, and the end result is really cute. I’ve also made the Papercut Patterns Anima pants (Kelli and Katie developed their patterns independently at right about the same time, coincidentally… great minds think alike!), and compared to those, the Hudsons are a much slimmer fit (here are my Animas for comparison). I used a thick, strange knit from Mood. It’s definitely something synthetic as it feels almost… squeaky?… against my skin, but the print is so cool that I couldn’t resist it! I really like how they look in this print!
The top is the Papercut Patterns Undercover Hood… minus the hood! Katie sent me the PDF as a thank-you for testing the Anima pants, and I was really happy to check it out. It’s got the option for a hood (obvs) as well as a kangaroo pocket, and there is a cropped version, too, but I decided to do a basic pullover this time around. I used a wool jersey from Mood, an end-of-bolt remnant I’d had in my stash for a really long time, so I was glad to use it up! I made this for our trip to Iceland in July and it was absolutely PERFECT! We spent most of our time outside in kinda crummy weather, and it kept me nice and warm layered over a buttondown and under a waterproof shell. It was nice because at the the end of the day, I could take off my jacket when we sat down to dinner and I actually looked pretty presentable and not rumply and gross. I wish I had taken some photos of it in Iceland, but I think I had my rain jacket on the whole time! You’ll have to hop over to Cashmerette if you want to see awesome handmades-frolicking-in-Iceland photos. 🙂
I’ve worn the grey sweater so much that I decided to make another! I’ve had this grey and white stripe in my stash for a while and was planning to make a Breton-style dress with it. But let’s be honest- I’d wear that dress every once in a while, but I’d wear a pullover constantly! So it became another hood-less Undercover Hood! (Lladybird made a dress with the same fabric… cute, right?)
Here’s where fabric is funny: the striped fabric is stretchier than the wool, so the sweatshirt felt way bigger. Strange, right? After sewing it up, I took off the cuffs and hem band, shortened them by 2″ and 1″ respectively, and it looked much better. It was just a bit too slouchy before! Sidenote: is there a way to perfectly match stripes on a raglan sleeve? I just. couldn’t. do. it. Ugh! Hopefully it’s not too noticeable.
Now, this fabric is a really nice weight, and I didn’t want the little bit I had leftover to wither away in my stash, so I did what I had to do: I sewed a pug sweater.
I know.
I’m sorry.
Somebody isn’t happy about his new sweater.
Pretty sure I’ve now officially entered Crazy Dog Lady status. I didn’t want to fuss around with drafting a pattern, so I downloaded one from Milla Milla, a Japanese company that offers PDF dog sewing patterns. It’s Very Purple Person‘s fault! She made matching shirts for her son and her dog that turned out really cute, so I downloaded the same pattern. Pugs don’t fit well into regular ready-made dog clothing because their proportions are different. Hear me out! They have thick barrel chests and basically need dog FBAs (OK OK OK I know I’m crazy!)! But this pattern was drafted specifically for French bulldogs and since they’re also squat, chesty dogs, I thought it would be perfect!
This is the Hoodie & Sweatshirt pattern, and it was surprisingly complicated! Once I watched the video showing how to sew it up, it was a breeze, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how the pattern pieces went together before watching it. Fellow pug owners, if you’re looking for the right size, just select “FB” from the drop-down menu. There’s also a version drafted specifically for dachshunds… it even comes in two sizes! So Anne, Juli… you’re covered!
Now let’s play a little game of “Who Wore It Better?”! Feel free to cast your vote!
I have no idea how to wrap this post up so I’m just going to stop talking. What’s on your sewing table? Have you ever sewed for your dog or cat? Be honest!!!
I have the same fit issue with my Corgi, no standard dog pattern fits him due to his big chest and long body.
On another note…this post has inspired me to start making more basics again.
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They’re tough to fit! My mom has a corgi and jackets are always comically short on him!
I’m so glad you were inspired! What’s on your to-make list?
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Love seeing your basics, but I totally know what you mean about trying to find enough pizzazz to blog about them. And OMG, I love those dog hoodies! I used to sew for our dog all the time, and made him an adorable houndstooth coat. Now that we have a cat and he stays indoors all the time, there’s really not a great need to sew clothes for him. I do need to get started on his Halloween costume, though! British Boyfriend thinks it would be funny if he was Ron Weasley from Harry Potter since he’s part ginger, but I think it would be adorable if he was Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol. First world crazy cat lady problems, huh? 😉
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Awww, a houndstooth coat! That’s so cute! Hmm… those are both such great costume ideas! I hope you’ll post photos!
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My goodness! Can I have your wardrobe! The pants are cool. I didn’t consider it because of the elastic waistband. I’m not a fan. Both of your sweaters are great for the colder months. I love them all, especially the stripe sweater! I didn’t give much thought to the pattern, but I think I might have to get it. I love that you made it without the hood. I love sweaters, but not the hood because it’s slightly too casual.
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I don’t usually like elastic waists, either, but for some reason it doesn’t bother me with this pattern. I don’t like hoodies, either- I feel like a college student or something in one!
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Ha! Those pictures of your two little cuties in sweatshirts has totally brightened up my day! On a more sensible note all three of your makes for you in this post are awesome, I especially love those pants. Great job at making so many wearable and yet stylish additions to your wardrobe!
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These two always make me smile… glad they could pass along a little cheer to you, too! 🙂
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Peggy is owning it! Doug however just looks a bit pissed at the whole thing. Excellent photos! These guys are stars!
And to take it back to sewing – nice to see the Papercut hoodie without a hood. I’ve been deliberating over that pattern for a while, although now Grainline have gone and released an awesome sweater so I’m torn.
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He was so mad! In the first picture of him, he’s backed up against the fence because he tried to get away! I’m so mean… shouldn’t have tortured him!
I just saw the Grainline pattern- it’s way cute, too! It’s nice that there are some good patterns available for casual wear now!
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Ha ha the pug sweaters are so cute! I really like your stripy sweater. Some brilliant stripe matching there too!
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I hate pattern matching, but somehow I always end up with stripes or plaids!
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I don’t always blog about basic makes either, but at the same time I think it’s great when I or others do. Sewing what we actually wear is important, and I think it’s good to show it!
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That’s a good point- it’s kind of silly to not show what we actually wear! My sewing production usually just goes way down in the fall because I don’t wear dresses in cold weather and I don’t really know what else to make, but I’ve been more inspired to make casualwear lately.
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There’s your stripey sweatshirt! Sooooo cute. I love wearing mine with collared shirts, too.
The dog top is super great. I downloaded and cut out a top for my westie from Milla Milla, then my old serger broke and I just now remembered that I did that. Must find! Peggy is killing it in that top.
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Yesss, it’s finally done! Aww, westies are so cute!! I’d love to see your pup- I hope you take photos!
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First: I enjoy basics posts because we all wear them and I think it is a good reality check for us all to see what we’re actually wearing on a daily basis. Sometimes I get bummed when I see all the pretty dresses everyone else is “wearing”
I think all your basics are super fun and you presented them well which is half the battle with basic posts…
Second. Peggy! No contest! No I’ve never made clothes for my pets.
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I think some people actually wear their pretty dresses all the time! Me, I have an aversion to tights, so I only wear dresses from, oh, May-September! 🙂
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hahahahah I am dying over the last photos!!! “Who wore it better?” haha!!!!
It’s good to know that the Anima pants ran a little looser. Mine ended up a little baggy in the legs and I wasn’t sure if it was me or not. After seeing your version of the Hudson’s it looks like these might be a better choice for me.
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I’m guessing you would love them because I do and we’re #wardrobetwins! 😉
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I love when people post basics! Definitely worth posting 🙂
Your pugs are doing cute, nothing wrong with sewing for them either! 😀
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I’m not sure they appreciate my handmade garments, but they look so cute in them! 🙂
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Sonja, I love you. I fucking love you. I was going to comment on your clothes, but I simply can’t. Doug & Peggy are too damn adorable! I love that it’s a matching sweater to yours! But seriously, WHO wore it better? Doug’s doing some serious leg flair posing, but Peggy has that expressionless, eyes into the camera fashion face. I simply can’t pick. It’s all too amazing. Arg my life is better for seeing those sweaters.
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We’re going to have to settle for a tie, I guess! OK, spoiler alert, but I totally have some horrible holiday print jersey set aside for awful Christmas shirts for the whole family! It’s going to be bad.
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YES!!!
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I find it so hard to blog basics, only because they are always wrinkled on my floor or in the wash, case in point my three Mabel skirts that remain unblogged even though I made the first one the day the pattern was released! Like 6 months ago! But I wear them constantly and never get any decent photos. But I love seeing people’s basics it’s what I sew the most.
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It’s hard to find the time to photograph things you wear all the time! I’m certain all three of these makes were dirty when I took the pictures! 😮
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Ha! My first thought when I saw the stripy jumper was “woah!!… she matched the stripes!!” So it’s definitely not noticeable that you..er.. didn’t 🙂
I totally want snuggly pants and jumpers now!
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Aw man, I tried hard but i just couldn’t do it! 🙂 Make a sweater- they’re so fast and satisfying to sew!
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Work it Peggy, work it! She’s all “Yeah, I know I look good.” Loved looking at your basics. You used some fun fabrics and I can tell that they’re clothing you enjoy wearing.
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She’s so glam, isn’t she? 🙂
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Don’t feel bad about not matching the stripes, I actually thought the pattern matching looked great before I read that you thought it didn’t work! I think because the fabric is cut at different angles for the sleeves vs. body, the stripes are going to be different widths at the seam line so they’ll never match up perfectly.
And I totally made a coat for my dog and he loves it – does a little dance when I pull it out of the closet. I reserve it for really cold days though, ’cause I get side-eye from people in my neighborhood for walking around a tiny feisty dog in a coat, haha!
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Oh my gosh, that’s so cute! Your neighbors are just jealous! 😉
I think you’re right about the angles- it felt like the stripes were spaced apart differently and I couldn’t get them to line up right! Ack!
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Your outfits look great, the pants & top go so well together. To be honest though I totally lost focus on your post once the pugs started appearing. They are awesome in their FBA jackets…I couldn’t pick who wears it better though. They are both winners.
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Aww, they’re both winners in my book, too. Love those crazy guys!
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You can’t understand how happy I am that you made a sweater for your pug, and better yet, linked the patterns! My husband has been bugging me to make something for our puppy for a while now, I need need to get the motivation!
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The nice thing is that dog patterns are so small and simple that they sew up really quickly! I think I made this in about half an hour, and I’m not a fast sewer at all!
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Your outfits look great and I love hearing about the basics as much if not more than the other stuff. I mean we all wear them, why do we not talk about them?
Also, I am so in love with your pug sweaters, adorable doesn’t even come close!
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I don’t know why basics feel kind of bland and embarrassing… guess that’s just something to get over! 🙂
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Well, I think I can see a hint of a smile on Peggy’s face, so I think she wears it better! I haven’t sewn anything for my two cats, but I have sewn doggie coats for various sized dogs and tried the smallest doggie coat on my cat…. who promptly laid down on his side and refused to move until I took it off! Nice to see your models (dogs) are more accommodating!
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Heeheehee, cats and clothing just don’t seem to mix! Unfortunately Doug goes totally stiff when I put him in clothes- I just picked him up and set him down where I wanted to take the pictures and he stood completely still!
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love your pants! i am all about basics these days. i have a closet full of dresses that i never ever wear. trying so hard to only sew basics. and that dog sweater. so cute!
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Same here! Closet packed full of dresses that I won’t wear until summer rolls around again, sad! I guess I just need more Hudsons!
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Never apologize for adorable dog sweaters. NEVER. I lament the fact that I have a husky and live in Arizona so he really, really doesn’t need one 😦 I’m happy to read about basics, though! I need to make some myself… I’ve had this fabric sitting in my closet earmarked for a cardigan foreverrrrr.
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A cardigan sounds good for your climate! Maybe you’ll have to plan a ski trip so you’ll have an excuse for a dog coat! ;D
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Beautiful pants but I really really like your shirt! Going to look for that kind of fabric when I’m in LA in three weeks.. I think they both look adorable! And I sewed hallowern costumes for our dogs two years ago, one was a pirate and the other one a dinosaur, complete with the spikes on het back 🙂
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I bet they would have nice sweater weight stuff at The Fabric Store in LA! They seem to have lots of great merinos, yum!
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Yes I’m indeed already looking forward to the merino.. Got my Papercut leggings pattern two years ago and I can’t wait to make them!
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I have trouble blogging basics too. Maybe they don’t seem as exciting to me, so why would they be interesting to anyone else. I love your Hudsons, isn’t it a great pattern? i really must blog my second pair!
I love your jumpers too, the omission of the hood is a great alteration. Very funky and comfy too.
Your pugs are super cute although don’t look as happy with their outfits as they should!! Clearly they just don’t appreciate bespoke garments 😉
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They really don’t look that happy, do they? Brats, the lot of ’em! 😀
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I love your basics, the ones in this post and the ones linked. Also the dog sweater, and esp. the dog pics. I think a dog-FBA is completely reasonable! My dog (yorkie) is thinner in the body than most so needs an SBA for most dog jackets. Any size that fits his chest is too short on his butt. No good.
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Awww, poor little guy! He needs a custom coat! 🙂
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Do dog sweaters come into your basics? Love seeing basics – because it shows you can wear your handmade every day and feel comfortable with it! That pants pattern looks awesome!
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Heeheehee.. pug basics! The pants are really nice for days when I’m home or running around the neighborhood. You might really like them!
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You are so funny! I love your basics!
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Thanks, Catty!
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Oh my gosh, loving all of this! Fantastic Hudson pants, and thanks for noting the fit difference between these and the anima pants. Have been looking at both and trying to decide which I prefer. I also LOVE your entire striped sweatshirt outfit, right down to those vintage-inspired Asics! But it just got a sooo much better when I saw the matching pup shirts!!! I’m dying. Don’t have a dog, yet, soon, and when I do s/he will definitely need to be the clothes wearing type. 😀
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I hope you make some because you would look super cute in track pants! I should probably buy a spare pair of Asics- I love these so much and kinda want to wear them forever! PS- I’m finally going to use your Scout tee hack… I’ve been meaning to for ages and finally got some perfect fabric!
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This stripey sweater is adorable! And the dogs are really cute with their matching sweaters! Now I just wish my cat would tolerate clothes….
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Heeheehee, cats sure don’t like clothes, do they? Too bad- they look so cute!
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Oh, I love the striped hoodless hoodie!! Looks terrific on you, too. Interesting that you thought you didn’t match the stripes well in the Raglan sleeve as when I first saw it I thought to myself that you had done a good job of matching the stripes!!
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Oof, I tried but just couldn’t get it perfect! Sometimes you just have to let go of perfection!
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My vote is for Doug. 🙂 LOL
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Your pug shirts are soo incredibly cute!! Can’t choose who wore it best – they both are darling!! So are your Hudson pants!
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I’m not sure I’d call these basics! They’re too cool! I love the pants and am itching to stick my pdf together. Your striped hoodie is ace. Now you and the pooches will match when you’re out walking! Douglas wins the fashion off because he’s giving me soulful elvis jailbird vibes. What a hound dog!
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Awwww, he ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog! Heeheehee! Girl, you would love the Hudsons! Get to it! 🙂
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Hahaha! i cant choose. You all look smashing!
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I am out loud belly laughing at your pug photos – super cute! Great basics too, you look great in them – don’t hide them, show us some more!
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I am LOVING the pug shirts, your matching outfits make me laugh!!! I would totally do that, I am a crazy dog lady also have a mini schnauzer and westie and its been in my list to sew them up a jumper or coat for winter. In fact, I have some ponte left over from my breton top so I might just do that ….thanks for the inspiration! x
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DO IT!!!!! I hope you make them some sort of matching little suits!!!!!
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OMG the pug outfits! I just started sewing for my french bulldog and have found it so hard to fit her using a regular dog pattern – but this company takes care of that for me!! I was going to sew up the Ginger jeans tonight (which is how I ended up back on your site), but now I might be making doggy sweatshirts all the way!
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I didn’t know you had a frenchie!!! They are SO CUTE! Yesssss, this pattern will totally work for you!!!!! You need to make sweatshirts for you and your little dude to match your Ginger jeans!
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I am MORE interesting in basics than I am in the “pretty” stuff. Because I really do want to have as much of a me-made wardrobe as possible, and how can I do that if I don’t know how to do the basics? They are essential.
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