One of my favourite theme months ever was the TNT month!
I wrote back then about not having a TNT and started my quest to find at least one magical TNT-unicorn. Fast forward a year and a half, and I have several! One of them is the Grainline Linden, which I only tried out because of the amazing popularity of that particular pattern in our TNT month results.
We couldn’t help but wonder whether those results reflected the fact that we were in northern-hemisphere winter (it was November) and how the picture of what we sew regularly might have changed since. It’s time to find out!
Let us know in the comments below:
- Do you have seasonal TNTs?
- Are your TNTs still the same as they were back when we ran TNT month?
- What’s new on the list of TNTs for you?
Chloe is a Sewcialists Editor, who lives and sews in Australia. She blogs at deadlycraft.blogspot.com and can be found on Instagram here.
I am recently obsessed with the Sewaholic Belcarra top! I have made 2, have one cut out on my ironing board, and 2 more planned.
Five definitely counts as a TNT! I haven’t had the belcarra on my radar before – it’s cute!
Right now it’s a tie between Hey June Willamette, Helen’s Closet York and Paprika Patterns Ruby Joggers. The first two are new this year and already have made several of each. The Ruby Joggers have been made multiple times in the past two years. Always a few mods to fit me and my lifestyle, but winners all.
Ooooh great selection – I love the Ruby joggers too! It’s cool that you are finding new TNT’s too.
The Simplicity version of the Toaster Sweater and an OOP McCalls top pattern are my go to patterns for quick knits.
Mine are still the Plantain and Ebony tee. I make the both as is and have hacked them a ton to make a variety of styles.
Cashmerette’s Concord – the first thing I ever sewed for myself, and now I have five and planning more. I can definitely see Helen’s Closet Blackwood becoming TNT. Currently planning a concord/blackwood twinset.
I love that your first thing sewed became a TNT! I was definitely not that good at picking patterns and style early in the sewing – awesome work 😎
Mine is definitly Carolyns Pyjama (Closet Case Files). I have made five (three long and two short versions) and plan two more for summer (one in silk).
Second on my list is the Melilot Shirt from Deer & Doe. I have made three and plan more …..
Silk pyjamas 😍
It’s funny about TNTs! I too didn’t really have any until recently. One for me is the Closet Case Ebony. I never thought this silhouette would work for me (my large bust being the likely culprit!) but after my first one (the shorter version) I fell in love and promptly made a few more that I wear all the time. My other TNT is the Jalie Marie Claude. I use this pattern for undershirts, Tees everything. I have a couple of others such as the underwear booklet/pattern by Beverly Johnson and of course the Wiksten Kimono which I made several of as well.
The Flint trousers from Megan Nielsen have been added to my somewhat short list! Just so comfy!
I definitely have a summer TNT as I live in the Sonoran desert. I have made multiples of the True Bias Ogden Cami. I sew a full lining instead of a facing and wear it without a bra☺️! Not an option for everyone, I know, but perfect for me when it is over 100 degrees. This summer I plan to change the neckline slightly so I can make more.
OH YES. I try to sew most patterns more than once, so it’s kind of an indy hit parade – Gingers, Flints, Wiksten tanks, Melilot shirts. But even more so for my boyfriend – if he’s wearing clothes I made him, he’s wearing Jeds and a Fairfield from Thread Theory.
INDIE HIT PARADE!!! Best phrase ever.
TNT’s you are sewing for someone else is pretty cool!
I’ve got lots of TNT standbys, but I’m working on making the Elmira wrap by Seamwork an active wear TNT…and casual tank-maxi add-on…. it’s going really good so far. I’ve got a couple muslins and tweaks as necessary for activewear, but I find myself wearing the muslins anyway over tank-maxi dresses…. even with their franked-fabric and half-way edits I’ve currently got going on.
I love your process 😎
All of my TNTs are patterns that I have traced off from RTW clothes I loved. My most used is definitely the basic fitted tee, but my favorite is the button-down shirt (especially when made in a nice plaid).
Ooooh that’s cool. I had a total fail recently trying to do that with my favourite RTW tee (wrong fabric – I knew it but kept going in hope!). It’s so great to be able to reproduce the fit you like 👌
back in TNT month I didn’t really have a TNT as I’d only been really sewing for 1.5 years. now I have 2 true TNTs (sewhere.com’s floozy doozy undies and closet case patterns Nettie dress) which both work in summer and winter and have sewn some great patterns recebtly which I imagine will also become TNTs soon.
Good work! Its nice looking back at the sewing journey to see how far you have come. Do you also make the bodysuit or just the dress version?
I like to make new patterns and despite my good intentions hardly ever go back to remake modern indies — even if I love them! Must change that. But I have one TNT, an old Kwik Sew pattern that I think might be out of print by now, KwikSew 3559. It’s a dress pattern but I’ve made it in tshirt length too; I think I’m up to 8 versions now, both shirt and dress.
You don’t have to go make things again if it doesn’t excite you, though you obviously don’t mind for that Kwik sew pattern…The indie world gives us a very steady stream of new to try!
Do you know anyone who might have the Kwik Sew Pattern #3559 to sell to me? I can’t find it anywhere! Debi
Hudson pants! I’ve made 4 and will likely make more!
Me too about the Cashmerette Concord – I probably have about 12 of them – long sleeves, mid, short, dresses, tops, tunics, cotton spandex, bamboo rayon, merino, french terry. It’s a great fitting basic shirt that goes with everything. Then the Made for Mermaids Mama Chloe skirt. Again I have about 6 of them 1 pattern piece plus a band – that’s it. (and it’s a free pattern!). Scroop patterns Ngaio blouse – a super pull over woven top – no buttons! and cup sizes! And finally under it all – Rad Panel Underwear – best for using scraps. Now on the look out for a cardigan or unstructured jacket. Maybe the Helen’s Closet Blackwood is next on my list.
You have definitely found your TNT groove! Also am obviously highly in favour of a skirt called Mama Chloe – off to check that one out 😁
Vogue 2902 and Vogue 8615 (might be out of print) made without sleeves. I don’t line either one and use natural fibers for summer. I am cute and cool and feel put together even when I’m not.
Not lining them is a great way to avoid them feeling stiff/formal – they sound great!
Well, maybe not so much seasonal in the traditional meaning, but as far as the different “seasons of life” go? Definitely! I’m still loving on all my Plantain creations but for the past year I’ve needed something more breastfeeding-friendly. So my new TNT is the Empty Hanger Patterns Arthur Top (my own pattern) – I’ve made 4 or 5 tops and 3 dress versions, and I have fabric ready for another dress version to be made soon. But also my current “season” is waning (baby is weaning) so I’ve started pulling out all my old Plantain tops again too 🙂
Such a bittersweet time, but a good analogy for the seasons…It’s nice to be able pull those things that haven’t fitted your life back out now they work again!
The Sloane sweatshirt by Named is my only TNT. I’ve made five: two fall/spring ones, one extra thick winter one, and one cardigan, plus a test version in ugly fabric. That’s a huge number, considering that I sew at most one garment a month.
I think I’m headed towards all TNT, but also 1)they are basically so altered by me that I may as well have drafted them myself and 2) every time I make them I run changes on them. So far I have a simple sleeveless shirt with darts in the armscye and back of the neck as well as in the side seam; a little cut-on cap-sleeve shirt with the extra dart in the shoulder instead of the nonexistent armscye; a cut-on cap-sleeve camp shirt, collared but without a collar stand; a (still in development) regular button shirt with a collar stand collar; and a pair of trousers with a curved waistband and waist darts. But I have made jumpers(pinafores), nightshirts, and dresses from these, and done neckline, length, pocket, and collar variations, and lots of fabric combinations, so I’m not about to get bored.
Cost is a big issue for me. I am on a tight fixed income, so buying a fifteen dollar pattern whenever I want to sew something new is not an option (I also use almost exclusively thrifted, recycled, or remnant cloth: otherwise I believe I’d have to go naked!) Another issue is that I am a very odd shape and I have even more eccentric tastes, so even if I had money I’d probably end up drafting my own.