Author: Riesha Nicolle

My name is La Riesha Simmons, family and friends call me Riesha. I began sewing in 2014. I currently sew mostly for myself with the exception of sewing a few things for family and friends.

Welcome to 2024

Hello, My name is Riesha, also known as Riesha Nicolle on the socials. I am a fashionable, fitness foodie, that loves to sew, workout, and cook daily. Follow me on my journey of sewing a new wardrobe to match my new physique, as well as making delicious meals and working out to keep it. I am also the owner of my own online t-shirt and accessories shop, known as SixTwentyTwoLLC. I am a married mom of 2, a girl and a boy. My family is my world.

I started my fitness journey, seriously, in 2014 when my mom passed away from stomach cancer. This is also when I started sewing. I used fitness and sewing to help with the grief of losing my mom. My t-shirt shop name is her actual birthday, 6/22, the name was my husband’s idea.

Now that you know a little bit about me, let’s get into my goals for 2024.

Goal #1 – Finances – Financial Freedom

My main goal for 2024 is to achieve Financial Freedom. I have a few bills that I have created over the past few years, that I just want gone. In order to do this I have put myself on a personal budget and will be spending less. I want for nothing when it comes to material things. I have a sewing space that includes any any and everything you could possibly imagine, some of the things I have, have never been used. Such a shame.

An action plan for the month of January is to not buy any fabric or sewing patterns. I will be using all the things I have in my space. If a project calls for a fabric that I don’t have, I will be choosing something else to create my next project. I did not come up with this idea on my own, it is part of the group Sew Much Talent on Instagram. I am so excited for this challenge and I think it is going to kick start my no unnecessary spending.

Goal #2 – Personal Development – Expanding My Sewing Skills

This is a tough one. I love to sew with Knit fabrics. So, in 2024 I will be using more wovens, oh gosh did I really just put that in writing? Okay, yes I did. It is going to be the only way that I grow. I have used wovens before, it’s not like they are brand new to me. I just don’t always go to the projects where they are required. 2024 is a year of growth for me. Here is a list of a few things that I am going to master:

  • Zippers
  • Woven Fabrics
  • More Tote Bags/Purses
  • Specialty Fabrics – Fancy Fabrics

Here are a few of my favorite items in a woven or little to no stretch fabrics.

Goal #3 – Health and Fitness – Staying Consistent with Taking Care of Myself

I have a plan that I am using, actually working with an online coach, 2 more months and it will be cancelled. Not that the program is not working for me, because it is, but I am using all that I have learned to be able to do the workouts and meals on my own. This way I am taping into Goal #1 – financial freedom, and using the plans accordingly on my own. My plan is 4 days of strength training, Lower body – glute focused, Upper body – shoulders and arms, Total body, and a body weight only workout day. I do cardio 3 days a week, Saturday and Monday are Xtreme Hip Hop Classes, and Wednesday is a traditional step class. I take the classes because I am not disciplined enough to do cardio on my own, I don’t like it. LOL!!!

Be Consistent

McCall’s 8408 Misses’ Patchwork pants and shorts.

Pattern description: Patchwork shorts and pants with contour waistband features a fly front zipper, back darts, topstitched hem and pockets.

Pattern rating by simplicity: Average

Pattern rating by me: intermediate

I am looking forward to Fall Sewing this year, as I am planning projects that are out of my comfort zone. I have a few coats/jackets on my list that I have not sewn before and I want to add denim, mainly jeans to the list, which I just completed my first pair. I used McCall’s 8408 for this project. I am absolutely in love with these jeans.

McCall’s 8408

I used a fabric that I saw at my local Joann’s, it is also available online, today, but not sure how long supplies will last.

This fabric is called blue patchwork denim fabric. It’s in a dark denim. It is 57 inches wide, 88% cotton, 8%, polyester, and 4% rayon. I fell in love with this fabric when I first saw it in the store of course it was not on sale so I waited to purchase it. Glad I did. The original price is $20.99 a yard. I was able to get it on sale for $11.99 a yard. It was worth every penny.

For the contrasting color in the middle I used a denim, but I’ve had this denim in my stash for a while. I actually purchased it at Cali fabrics in San Francisco California. They have a lot of great choices in fabric. It’s one of my fabric shops that I go to when I visit. I was able to get the pockets on the back and they are lined up perfectly so I was proud of that. I was also able to get in the fly zipper. I did not put the front fly flap on it. I wanted the zipper exposed to give it a more vintage look so I kept the front flap off.

I made sure to keep the insides as clean as the outside. So what I did was once I attached each piece front and back to the to the leg pieces, I used my serger to clean up the seam lines. It gives it a nice clean finish, and my fabric was fraying.

AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE WAY THEY FIT.

Until, next time, SEW WHAT?

I got a DreamBox and I absolutely…

Love it!!!!

In February I bit the bullet and purchased a DreamBox for my business/sewing/craft space. It was the best investment I have made for my business and I absolutely love it. It arrived the week of my birthday, April, so happy birthday to me!

Pretty much everything has a home, with the exception of a few items here and there.

I purchased the DreamBox, the DreamCart, and the cubby. Been contemplating on the Sew Station, but I really would like it, just so my sewing machines will have a permanent home. I purchased the pre-built version, I did not have the time or patience, to put it together or wait for my hubby and son to build it.

It came in 3 pieces, the left side, the center, and the right side. It took the hubby and I about 2 hours to have it all built and ready to load, we took a few breaks so it may have been less time.

The piece you see to the left in this photo (above) is the DreamCart. It Opens and closes like a folding table, has 4 rolling wheels, 4 shelves on each side and opens up to a cutting table that is 69.5″ long. Great for cutting jumpsuit and pants patterns.

The cubby (above) was an afterthought, but it holds all my art supplies. This way each “craft” has its own home. In the DreamBox (below) the right side houses anything sewing related (except for the rolls of heat transfer vinyl) and the left side is anything related to sublimation and my t-shirt, and more business.

I will have to say that my favorite part of the DreamBox is the dry erase boards, they are on both the left and right side. I purchased those after everything was set up. I write an inspirational quote each week and my sewing projects that I am working on. This way I am not looking for a note that I can never find. I have updated the list since this photo was taken.

Here are a few photos of what I am working with, still needs some organization and bin covers to make it pretty, but all and all I am so impressed with my set-up and new room.

Happy crafting, happy sewing, and happy t-shirt making. Whatever you craft, just be happy doing it!!!

Simplicity 9757 Misses’ Knit Top and Skirt in Two Lengths

My first thought when I saw this pattern, oh that’s cute, but I could never wear that. Then I thought I can wear whatever I want and I did just that.

I love the way it came out and I love the fabric choice I made.

Pattern Description: Misses’ Knit top and Skirt in Two Lengths

Pattern Sizing: Small – XXLarge. I cut a medium.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? yes it looked just like the pattern envelope when completed.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, the instructions were easy to follow.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked that it was a quick and easy make. I didn’t really like the elastic on the side, I cut View D, for the skirt. Once it was in and I tried it on, I still wasn’t a fan of the elastic. I will make the longer version when I make the next one, yes there will be a next make.

Fabric Used:  This is a two-way stretch, that I think I found at Walmart, I can’t remember, it’s either there or Jo-ann’s as there aren’t any other fabric stores close to me.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: No alterations needed for this pattern. I made the short version, which I wasn’t so sure about, but when I measured it and compared it to my body measurements, the length was just where I wanted it to be, at the waistline, but not showing too much skin.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I am already planning to make it again, in the longer skirt version View C. I highly recommend it others for a quick, cute summer outfit.

Until next time, sew something!!!