I’m a prairie kid who loves research. I have a Master’s in economics with a focus on public programs, labour and education. Long before that, I did my undergrad in physics & English with a math minor.

Besides my resume, you’ll find this page full of sewing projects, the odd published poem, and stories about Canadian science.

A note about the blog title: in math and physics, the prefix eigen means one's own. It comes from the german, but mostly I always liked thinking about a particle's eigenvalues, and thought I might apply the same thought to my excursions.

60s top: Butterick 9582

60s top: Butterick 9582

Classic vintage pattern thrift store experience: the view I bought this pattern for was missing. I specifically bought it for the pointy hem, pointy sleeves view (View A) because it looked so much like a top Mary Tyler Moore wears in the first season of the Dick Van Dyke show, which I watched a bunch of this spring. (I would probably keep the pattern’s boatneck though) And it had something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: a top with a different neckline than a collar or crew neck. Now a slash neck isn’t wild, but it fits the bill!

So when I pulled out the pattern and it didn’t have the view I wanted, I had a couple of options. Draft the desired shape myself, move onto a different pattern, or try a different view. This was meant as an easy quick project, and I already was going to have to do a small bust adjustment, so I went with choosing a different view.

All in all, this was a well-enough drafted top and I had few issues (I mean, how many can you run into in a two piece + facings situation?), but the neckline does gape more than it should, especially at the back. There’s been some shrinkage through washing that has mitigated this, but I’m still planning to add small darts and transfer to my copy of the pattern so hopefully I could rotate them out for a future make, because I would still like to make the pointy view when I have more energy for design edits.

Pattern: Butterick 9582
Size:
Bust 36”
My measurements: FB 34”, HB 34”
Alterations:
2” SBA, darts to be added
Worn with: Butterick 9779 shorts
Next time: Dart out the back neckline if you haven’t already!! Also, don’t do underarm french seams, it creates a bit of bunching.

Birgitta Helmersson ZW Singlet

Birgitta Helmersson ZW Singlet

Recycling precious metals from electronic waste with captured CO2

Recycling precious metals from electronic waste with captured CO2