Print, Pattern, Sew: February 2015

Print, Pattern, Sew: February 2015 by Jen Hewett. Block printed fabric by the artist, pattern by Liesl + Co.

Print, Pattern, Sew: February 2015 by Jen Hewett. Block printed fabric by the artist, pattern by Liesl + Co.

February

Two-color block print on linen

Garment pattern: Liesl + Co.’s Everyday Skirt

Fabric: 100% linen (brand unknown; it’s the same linen I use for my bags)

Ink: Speedball and Permaset

Photos: Stephanie Dodaro

Print, Pattern, Sew: February 2015 by Jen Hewett. Block printed fabric by the artist, pattern by Liesl + Co.

Oh, blasted February, with your 28 (sometimes 29) days! My garment for this month is a few days late, but it’s February’s fault. When I said I’d post a new garment on the last Monday of every month, I meant every month except February.

I’d planned to make a full skirt with a fitted waistband, but those patterns all seemed to require invisible zippers. I suck at invisible zippers. And because I had three fewer days to finish the skirt, I didn’t want to spend a lot of time trying to sew in a zipper correctly. Thankfully, I found this pattern, which has a flat waistband in the front and sides, and an elastic one in the back. Plus, pockets! This was the first time I’d ever sewn set-in pockets.

This skirt was very easy to sew. I’d never sewn a Liesl + Co. pattern before, but the instructions were so easy to follow, and the skirt sewed like a dream. I’m already planning to sew a few more, in other (unprinted) fabric.

Print, Pattern, Sew: February 2015 by Jen Hewett. Block printed fabric by the artist, pattern by Liesl + Co.

Okay, now can we talk about this print? I didn’t create new blocks for this; instead, I found something that I’d carved – and rejected – for last year’s 52 Weeks of Printmaking. Since I was mostly working with small pieces of fabric last year, this simple print just didn’t look all that interesting on a small scale. It does, however, look great in repeat on a large swatch of fabric. The print probably would have been overpowering on a blouse, or even on a pencil skirt, but it works really well on a full skirt (it would probably look fantastic on a shirtwaist dress, but I didn’t have enough time, because February). I hung the yardage on my closet doors to dry, and even considered printing a few scarves. But I’ll leave the scarves to Blockshop. I think I was just loopy after having printed for six hours and had ideas that were bigger than my well of energy.

Thankfully, March has five Mondays, so I may try something even more ambitious next month. A dress? Fitted blouse? Skirt with an invisible zipper? You’ll just have to stay tuned.

33 thoughts on “Print, Pattern, Sew: February 2015”

  1. Dear Ms. Hewett,
    I tremendously admire your work and your printmaking. Fantastic idea to move on to creating your own clothes. I am looking forward to following this year’s project! Most interesting to learn that patterns that do not work on small-scale items work out splendid when given more room. Best wishes,

    Klara

  2. I just want to say I am all new to blogs and seriously enjoyed you’re web site. Most likely I’m going to bookmark your site . You definitely have exceptional well written articles. Many thanks for sharing your webpage.

  3. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesn’t dissatisfy me as high as this. I imply, I recognize it was my selection to review, yet I actually believed youd have something interesting to state. All I listen to is a number of whimpering regarding something that you can take care of if you werent also busy trying to find attention.

  4. Obviously I like your web site, but you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to inform you. Nevertheless I will surely come again again!

  5. There are definitely a lot of details like that to consider. That is a fantastic point to raise. I use the ideas over as basic motivation but clearly there are concerns like the one you raise where the most important point will certainly be working in sincere good faith. I don?t understand if ideal techniques have arised around things like that, however I make sure that your work is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both young boys as well as ladies feel the impact of just a moment?s enjoyment, for the remainder of their lives.

  6. I don’t know if it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else
    encountering issues with your site. It appears like some of the written text in your posts are running off the screen.
    Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to
    them too? This might be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.
    Thanks

  7. A fascinating conversation is worth remark. I think that you ought to write more on this subject, it may not be a forbidden topic yet usually people are inadequate to talk on such subjects. To the next. Cheers

  8. An intriguing discussion is worth remark. I assume that you must create a lot more on this topic, it may not be a forbidden subject yet generally people are not enough to talk on such subjects. To the following. Cheers

Comments are closed.

Scroll to Top