Tomkat Stitchery

06/08/2026

Me Made May Round Up

This year my personal Me Made May challenge was to spend 15 minutes a day sewing or doing something creative. I’ve been in a bit of a sewing slump and I thought this would help me find the joy again. And it did!

I’ve been finding inspiration in window shopping with my daughter and my to-sew list is growing exponentially now that she’s home for the summer. Good thing those 15 sewing minutes often turned into 30+!

In the month of May I’ve sewn:
🪡 Work shorts and trousers for my daughter
🪡 My summer capsule pieces including the Vernon top hack and Everett Shorts
🪡 Finished knitting a sock
🪡 With lots more projects cut out and on my needles

Thanks for hosting another year of Me Made May SoZoBlog. I’m feeling so creatively rejuvenated! And this practice is an integral part of my mental health.

Me Made May 2026 was about so much more than just wearing my handma...

06/06/2026

🎉 New Love Notions Sewing Patterns, LLC Promotion 🎉

For the next two weeks Love Notions is featuring a collection of swim related patterns. Each featured PDF pattern is on sale for $5, printed versions of patterns are $18 (if one exists), and any applicable courses are $15.

The following patterns are being featured:
☀️ Summer Basics Tanks and Dress - which you know I love. This is my go-to tank pattern. PDF and printed options available.
☀️ Clearwater Summer Set - I’ve made activewear dresses and summer sets with this pattern. Ladies and girls versions available in PDF and as printed patterns. There is also a course associated with this pattern if you’d like help sewing swimwear.
☀️ Summer Caye Pants and Shorts - ladies and girls versions available as a PDF pattern
☀️ Kayak Boardshorts - kids pattern available as a PDF pattern

Use code SEWWHITNEY for an additional 10% off purchases of $8 or more. I am a Love Notions affiliate and appreciate your support. Sale on now through June 18, 2026.

https://www.lovenotions.com/?affiliates=436

06/02/2026

I’ve made two new dresses with the June Cashmerette Club pattern. The Duxbury Dress is unique because it features a knit bodice and woven skirt. I’ve been seeing this style a lot in ready-to-wear and am happy I could make my own versions in my best colors.

An additional feature - this pattern mixes and matches with Cashmerette’s Grafton Dress. The Grafton is going to be a workhorse pattern in my summer capsule and I’m happy to be able to get even more use out of it!

You do need to be a Cashmerette Club member, at any level, to access this month’s new pattern. Use Code TOMKAT10 to get $10 off the first year of the All Access Club level. Also I have a full sew along, featuring both Duxbury views, if you’d like to sew this one together.

Happy Sewing!

Sew the new Cashmerette Duxbury Dress featuring a knit bodice and woven skirt. See fabric ideas, fit details, styling inspiration, and pattern tips.

06/01/2026

I'm loving the new Cashmerette Club pattern. The Duxbury Dress is the best of both the knit and woven worlds. Tune into my YouTube channel tomorrow to learn all about my versions - that's right, I've already made more than one!

And if you're a Cashmerette Club subscriber who's already grabbed your copy of the Duxbury you can head to my channel now for a full sew along.

Happy sewing!

05/22/2026

I’ve started sewing my by summer capsule and I couldn’t be more excited about this first piece! Inspired by the oversized and boxy shirts I saw in New York this spring I hacked the Vernon to be a slightly cropped, short sleeved top with a functional button placket. And did you see the perfectly coordinated buttons I chose?!

This is the first top in my seven piece summer capsule. I’m using three of Cashmerette’s collection patterns, so these are stand alone patterns you can purchase at any time. If you’d like to purchase any Cashmerette collection patterns be sure to use code TomKat20 for 20% off. Head to my YouTube membership for details on hacking your own TNT button up pattern and stay tuned to see the rest of my summer wardrobe!

05/21/2026

My Me Made May pledge to myself was to spend 15 minutes a day in my sewing room. And I’ve been meeting my goal! Some days I only have 15 minutes, but other days I have the time and capacity to keep going. Let me tell you, it’s been so good for me to be back in my sewing space creating.

Are you participating in Me Made May? What were your goals this month?

05/16/2026

So I did a bit of shopping at … and I love everything I got! I’m looking at you







Stay tuned to my YouTube channel to see these special materials come to life!

05/14/2026

Recreating 10 Summer Ready-to-Wear Looks

I am always trying to keep my wardrobe true to my style and my best colors as well as staying current. For me that means doing some window shopping each season. And once I’m inspired I look for patterns with similar silhouettes and “spring” colored fabrics that I can make fit my body and accent my best features.

Would you also like to recreate a ready-to-wear look this summer? I found these 10 outfits inspiring and have paired patterns and fabric so you can make these looks come to life!

Check out my blog for all the details and visit my Pinterest board to see the original inspiration. As a reminder I have coupons for many of these pattern and fabric shops on the Resources page of my website!

05/10/2026

I did a bit of fabric shopping over my birthday month and I plan to turn these lovely fabrics into the first module of my summer capsule wardrobe. You may remember the Cashmerette capsule I outlined a while ago. Well, with a few updates, I’ll bring these to life soon!

My life has been so busy lately that I haven’t been able to sew much. I’m really looking forward to getting back in my sewing room. Are you planning to sew this season? If so, head to my website to download your FREE summer capsule planning guide with seasonal color options!

05/08/2026

Me Made May - My personal challenge

Much of my wardrobe, maybe even 90%, is me-made and I’m already wearing those garments daily. So when thinking about what I wanted to pledge this May I landed on spending 15 minutes a day to focus on my “sewing resolution” this year of slowing down and doing some intential sewing. That may look like heirloom stitches, hand basting, or even smocking. I never want to be finished learning and I think this is the push I need to be more intentional. Follow my daily journey on my YouTube membership!

Are you participating in Me Made May? What is your personal pledge?

*Whitney shown above wearing a green, sleeveless Brynn.