Seamworker's Closet

The Catarina dress in a show-stopping red.

Don't you love to look at finished versions of sewing patterns? Seeing what others made can really help get ideas flowing, so we’re taking you inside a different Seamworker’s closet each month to share inspiring finished makes, discuss how Seamwork helps with wardrobe building, and chat about fabric.

This month we took a peek into Kait's closet. Kait's been sewing since she was 12 and currently works in a funeral-home-turned-creative-space called Electric Pyramid Studios in North Carolina. She blogs over at kaitcetera, where she also sells some pretty stellar quilts and pillows.

The Addison top sewn in a floral print with a solid-colored collar.

Kait has made a few Seamwork patterns, and she's sharing her favorites here in a little Q&A:

What Seamwork projects have you made?

Oslo, Adelaide, Mesa, Reno, Akita, Camden, Kenedy, Catarina, Hayden, and Addison.

What is one of your sewing goals this year?

I would like to sew more undergarments and a coat. I've learned a lot this year already, like making jeans and a bra, and I look forward to honing those skills further. 

What is your favorite fabric to sew?

 While it's not always easy to sew with, I love rayon. It's so soft and flowy and I always feel beautiful wearing it.

Kait's Sewing Style

Kait's 3 style words:
— Comfortable
— Classic
— Lush

Favorite sewing tip:
Wrap your long, pulled threads in a figure-eight pattern around a pin when gathering a length of fabric to match another length, like the skirt on the Catarina, to keep the gathers in place but still adjustable if needed.

Favorite Drink:
A bourbon maple rosemary sour from the cocktail book, Shake

Kait listens to this while she sews:
Podcasts!

— TBTL (Too Beautiful to Live)
— Radiolab
— Reply All
— Lore
— After These Messages
— Heavyweight 

Who is your fashion icon or sewing idol?

I love and admire the seamstress Lauren Taylor from Lladybird. Her entire wardrobe is handmade and she is so productive, passionate, honest, and funny!
kait-kenedy

Kenedy is one of Kait's favorite Seamwork projects so far.

What is your favorite thing about sewing your own wardrobe?

There's nothing like receiving a compliment on a piece of clothing and responding with a "thank you, I made it." It's taken me a while to allow myself to "brag" but taking a flat piece of cloth and creating a flattering and beautiful garment makes me proud.

What is your biggest challenge when sewing your own wardrobe?

When participating in Me Made May in 2016, I realized that I lack staple pieces. I'm usually drawn to beautiful printed fabrics first and decide what to make later, but I'm trying to buy with specific purpose, especially solids and small scale prints. 

How does Seamwork help you with wardrobe building?

Seamwork is full of the exact staple pieces I need in my wardrobe. They are simple, classic, and easy to customize. I always find inspiration in its pages between learning history and self-care.

Kait strikes a pose in her Hayden top. She used a floral print on the style lines and hem.

Kait's Oslo cardigan.

What is your favorite Seamwork project so far?

So far, I love Kenedy most. It was a hot summer in the South this year, and my Kenedy dress was a super comfortable go-to garment. I made one shortened into a top from a thrifted bed skirt and another with a scooped out back, sans sleeves, and an added knot detail. 

What Seamwork project will you make next?

A Lynn dress and a Wembley cardigan. Welcome autumn!

Does your style match Kait's? See more of her makes on her blog! You can also follow Kait on Instagram or Facebook. 

Do you have a few finished Seamwork makes in your closet? If you would like to have your makes featured in an upcoming issue of Seamwork, head over to our submissions site and answer the questions for Seamworker's Closet!