Category: Loungewear

The Sassy Sweatsuit – A Cozy Second Make

There’s nothing like a pattern that you love enough to sew twice. The Sassy Sweatsuit by Patterns by Dee definitely earned that honor in my sewing room! This is my second time making this pattern, and I have to say, it’s just as enjoyable as the first. The first one was made in November 2024 (the black and white). I am starting to see a theme with this pattern and the month of November.

For this version, I used a soft sweatshirt fleece (I wish I could remember where I purchased it — clearly I need to start labeling my fabric stash!). The fleece provided an excellent balance of warmth and structure. This makes it ideal for cozy weekends. It is also perfect for casual days out.

Easy and Beginner-Friendly

One of the things I really appreciate about the Sassy Sweatsuit is how beginner-friendly it is. The construction is straightforward, and the instructions are easy to follow. If you’re newer to sewing and looking for a confidence-boosting project, this one is a great choice.

Small Alterations

The only adjustment I made was to the pant length. I removed about 4 inches to get the perfect fit for my height. Otherwise, the pattern fit beautifully straight out of the envelope.

Final Thoughts

This is one of those patterns that I know I’ll reach for again and again. It’s comfortable, stylish, and comes together quickly — everything I love in a loungewear project. The Sassy Sweatsuit is a reminder that sometimes the simplest makes can bring the most satisfaction.

Until next time,
Keep the Sew Life with Riesha Nicolle 💜

Happy 2025

Welcome to my blog,

I’m Riesha (Ree-sha), known as RieshaNicolle across all social media platforms. I started my sewing journey in 2014, the year my mom passed away from stomach cancer. She was my world and when she gained her angel wings, I needed something to help me with the grief of missing her. So, I turned to Sewing. What started out as therapy for me, turned into a love for creating my own garments. Through my blog, I am excited to share my journey with all that are interested.

I am married, this year we celebrate 27 years in September. I have 2 adult children, a daughter, and a son. I love fitness, food, and fashion. I call it my 3 favorite F words. During the day, I work as a Staff Services Manager I for the State of California in an Investment Office, managing our Executive Support Team.

My first sewing machine had been purchased 2 years prior to me making a garment on it. I purchased it from Costco, yes Costco, to do borders on papercrafts, as I was into Scrapbooking photos of my 2 kids. At the time, I had no idea what I was doing with the sewing machine.

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Here are a few of my favorite makes from past years.

Let’s explore the endless possibilities of needle and thread together – one stitch at a time!

Part 1 Sew September

Vogue 1835 Misses Pants and Tops

Are you ready for Fall? I sure am. Fall is my favorite time of year. The trees change, the time changes, the temperatures are cooler, and I can finally wear my warm and comfy clothes.

For my first official Fall pieces I used Vogue 1835. Vogue describes this as a Misses’ top, pants, and slippers pattern. There are two top variations, short and long-sleeved. I choice the long-sleeved to prepare for the Fall and Winter months that we “should’ be getting in California. The weather today is a high of 75 degrees, which is still slightly warm for October.

I was able to cut the top and pants both in a medium. I was pleasantly surprised that I did not need to alter the length of these pants. I stand proudly at 4″11 tall and usually cut off at least 4′ from the length. I did taper the leg from the medium to the small my calf muscles are still under construction.

Pattern Description: Misses’ Tops, Pants, and Slippers

Pattern Sizing: XS – XXL I cute the M

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it looks exactly like the pattern envelope photo.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes Super easy to follow the instructions. They were laid out and easy to understand.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked how versatile the pants are. I can dress them down with sneakers for running errands or dress it up with flats for brunch with the family.

Fabric Used: I used a Ponte Knit that was in my stash. I think I purchased it 2 years ago.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Although I cut the medium in the pants, I graded from the knee to ankle for a tighter fit. My thighs are fuller, which makes the medium fit from the knee up, but it was to loose from the knee down.

No alterations made on the top.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I will be sewing this again, in either a sweatshirt fleece or velour stretch for the Holidays for running errands.

Conclusion: Love the look, love the pattern, it is definitely one of my new favorites in the category of quick and easy to Sew.

Part 2 – Sew September

I will showcase how I styled these pieces for multiple looks to be wore on different occasions. Follow my blog get notified.

Thanks for stopping by. Make it a Fashion Forward Day!!!