Secret Sewist

Aria button down shirt – Love Notions

Every year, Love Notions finds a way to make the festive season even more magical for us ambassadors with their Secret Sewist tradition. Tami and Tessa go above and beyond to show us how much we’re appreciated, and it’s genuinely the best feeling to be part of something so thoughtful and creative.

How does the Secret Sewist work?

Each ambassador starts by creating a short video, sharing what’s missing from their wardrobe or a project they’ve been dreaming of sewing. We talk about our personal style, favorite fabric bases and colors, and even where we love to shop for fabric.

Once the videos are in, Tessa works her magic, pairing us up Secret Santa-style. Watching our assigned Secret Sewist’s video is such a treat! From there, we pick the perfect patterns and fabric suggestions tailored to their style and wishes.

And then comes the cherry on top—Love Notions gifts each ambassador a $75 gift card to their favorite fabric store!

From there, it’s time to shop, sew, and bring our Secret Sewist’s vision to life. The entire process is an absolute joy, and I couldn’t be happier with how my project turned out.

Aria Shacket

In my introduction video, I mentioned that I needed something to keep me warm as the weather turned colder—something cozier than a cardigan but not as heavy or bulky as a coat. Megan, my Secret Sewist, absolutely nailed it with her suggestion: the Aria pattern paired with the Rhapsody’s bishop sleeve to create a stylish and functional shacket. I was beyond thrilled with her idea and couldn’t wait to bring it to life!

Megan also suggested incorporating hot pink into my color palette, which I loved! Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the right fabric base in that shade, but I came across a vibrant plaid that felt just as bold and full of energy. I think it captures the same vibe perfectly, what do you think?

This was a joy to make! Here are the basic deets:

• Aria dress length
• Standard collar
• Breast pocket (2x)
• Bishop sleeves from Rhapsody.

In addition to the sleeve mash-up and my regular grading, I also made some changes and adjustments to the original pattern to account for fabric choice and it becoming outerwear.

• Sized up to have the oversized look
• Used a wider elastic than Rhapsody asks for to form a “cuff”
• Added 1 1/2 inches to the collar height
• Made a curved hem
• Added side pockets
• Fold over-placket instead of a separate piece:

For the placket adjustment, I placed the placket pattern piece on top of the front bodice, overlapping the seam allowance, and cut it as one piece.

When sewing, I folded it to the inside and topstitched it to secure.

You might have noticed that I skipped the buttonholes—there’s a reason! I’m considering swapping the buttons for copper-colored snaps. I think they’d complement the fabric much better than the tarnished silver buttons. What do you think?

Now let’s talk side pockets!

I’m not the biggest fan of classic side seam pockets, so I opted for a stitched-on pocket instead. It’s a simple adjustment: I created a pocket opening along the side seam edge of the front panel, finished it with a bias strip for a clean look, and topstitched the pocket piece in place.

I really enjoyed taking my time to carefully pattern-match everything, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out! The only spot I couldn’t quite match was the back yoke and back piece, but hey—can’t win them all, right? Haha! I’m still giving myself a pat on the back for the effort. 😉

Megan’s suggestion of pairing the bishop sleeves with Aria was chef’s kiss! They’re not only much easier to sew but also incredibly practical, with the added bonus of keeping cold wind out—perfect for maximum coziness.

Obsessed doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about this piece. I already have fabric lined up to make a couple more and can’t wait to dive in once life settles down a bit. (Because let’s be honest, the end-of-year rush isn’t exactly conducive to fun sewing projects, is it?)

I declare this year’s Secret Sewist a resounding success! Everyone looks incredible in their makes and I just love and feel privileged to be a part of such kind and talented team <3

If you haven’t watched the full video yet, check it out HERE.
It’s a bit long but totally worth it—just try to overlook my awkwardness on camera. 😅 There’s so much inspiration to be found!

This might be my last blog post of the year. 2024 was a bit quieter for me in terms of posting, both here and on Instagram. My goal for 2025 is to be kinder to myself and dedicate more time to the things I love. So, expect to see a lot more of my sewing in the coming year!

Links:
ARIA BUTTON DOWN SHIRT AND DRESS
RHAPSODY BLOUSE AND DRESS
And for my European peeps, my fabric is from Driessenstoffe.nl 😉

As I look back on this project, I’m filled with pride over how it turned out, and I’m already excited for what’s to come in 2025. There are so many new makes and ideas on the horizon, and I can’t wait to share them with you. Here’s to a year filled with creativity, growth, and, of course, more sewing! Wishing you all a joyful end to 2024 and an even brighter start to the new year. 😊💖

xxx, Livia.

ps: this post contains affiliate links

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