Inspiration...Oversized Button Down Shirt

 This particular shirt is probably more for cooler weather than warm weather but it is not too early to start sewing for cooler weather.

This is the Large Striped Cotton Poplin Oversized Button-Down Shirt by Akris punto. Price tag: $775.00. Details:  laarge striped print with patch pocket at hip, point collar, button front, long sleeves, button cuffs, oversized fit, hem below hip, shirttail hem with size slits, cotton/elastane, dry clean.

I really like the idea of this top.  The use of the stripes is great.  I would think that a slim pant of pants would be great with this.

There are several companies that have oversized button-down shirts.  It is a simply google search.  The inspiration shirt does not have a yoke and I could not find a button down pattern without the yoke.  So, you can decide the yoke issue.

Otherwise, I love the stripe idea but not the price.  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful. 

Happy Stitching!

Another Pattern...

 I have been trying not to invest (collect) so many patterns that go unused.  The Itch to Stitch Summer Sale got me though.  Here is the line drawing of the pattern that I picked up:

This is the Santorini Tank.  I have been seeing more of these tanks recently and they are very cute.  So, my goal is to try this sometime this summer.  

I really wish my sewing would be faster but I have turned into a very slow sewer.

I am an Itch to Stitch affiliate.  Any purchases made through the links on this page will result in a small commission at no cost to you.  Thank you!

Happy Stitching!

Itch to Stitch Summer Sale...

 Itch to Stitch is having a summer sale through June 30, 2026.  Everything is 25% off which is applied automatically at checkout.  Here are a few of my favorites:

This is the Kashi Tee & Dress PDF pattern.  I just made this pattern and it may very well become a TNT for me.  You get three necklines, three lengths, and three sleeves.

This is the Vikos Top & Dress pdf pattern.  I have made a dress and a top is planned.  

 This is the Taroko Skirt pdf pattern.  This is probably my favorite skirt pattern right now and I have made at least four versions.

This is the Soller Top & Dress pdf pattern.  If you are looking for a quick and easy top/dress pattern, this might be the one.  I have made this at least three times.

This is the Quebec Skirt pdf pattern. I have made this skirt once and I loved the results.  Just make sure you follow the directions closely on size select.

There are many, many more Itch to Stitch patterns.  Check the shop page.  Check the blog post for any pattern that looks interesting to see what the testers made.  Tons of information.

I am an Itch to Stitch affiliate.  Any purchases made through the links on this page will result in a small commission at no cost to you.  Thank you!

Happy Stitching!

Itch to Stitch Kashi Tee...

 I purchase many patterns and admire them but I am trying harder to use them.  Looking for a well fitting t-shirt has been interesting.  I do not necessary want to make t-shirt after t-shirt from different patterns but I have tried many.  The Itch to Stitch Kashi T-shirt pattern has a fair number of options with it - three necklines, three sleeve lengths, three body lengths, and regular bust/full bust.  Here is the line drawings:  

The pattern gives you information on size selection.  I am always skeptical of the sizes that are suggested but I went with it because it is just fabric.  The size suggest was a c-cup, a size 12 in the bust and shoulders and an 18 from the bust down.  Style was short sleeves, scoop neck, and hip length.

For fabric, I found a cute little knit that I had tried multiple times to use but it seemed to twist.  Somehow this time, I was able to get it flat to cut out the pattern.  Here are the results of my efforts:

Overall, this does not look bad.  Other than the transition of the sizes, I did not attempt any other pattern fitting before cutting out.  That is a win-win.  It probably took me and 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours to complete.  I used all three of my machines - stitched darts with the sewing machine, did all the seaming with the serger, and finished the hems with the coverstitch machine.  The coverstitch machine was probably the hardest but it did pretty good with the stitching tonight.  

I fully realize that this is not perfect.  I can see the wrinkles.  This was my muslin which will probably get worn.  In looking at the pictures, I think I need additional length/width for the bust.  Just a little.  I can see the wrinkles on the sleeve in the back but those I am unsure how to fix.  

Next one will get a little bit of a full bust adjustment.  It should help with the little bit of wrinkling at the bust and level out the side view of the front.

I am an Itch to Stitch affiliate.  Any purchases made through the links on this page will result in a small commission at no cost to you.  Thank you!

Happy Stitching!

This n' That...

 I just realized that it had been a while since I posted anything.  So, thought I would give you a bit of an update.  

What have I been doing?  Not a lot.  A little bit of pattern play.  Nothing made yet but the patterns have to be printed and checked.   

Now, for the biggy.   My sewing room has gotten completely out of control.  We did a house renovation late last year and lots of stuff ended up in that room.  It just kept compounding and I finally said enough is enough.  However, it is so bad that I can not bring myself to spend more than 30 min or an hour everyday.  So, that is what I have been doing.  Rearranging, folding fabric, purchasing more containers so that I have something to put excess fabric into.  The fabric will be headed toward the storage unit with all my other excess.  

With luck, that fabric will not become out of sight out of mind.  It had done that in my sewing room because I could not see it.  I found some really great fabric.  Some of it, I know what it was destined to become and some it who knows.  I will say that I have far too much fabric.  I need to sew it because it is really hard for me to get rid of it.

I can honestly say that you really should not purchase fabric just for the sake of purchasing fabric.  A small stash maybe but I am talking maybe 4 or 5 pieces at most.  There is always more fabric.  Yeah, I know sometimes you see something that you just have to have.  I get it but I also have a 10x10 storage unit for my excess.  Will I use all of it?  Probably not.  Someday, my son will say "What was she thinking?".   I have been better about not purchasing and hopefully this clean out will not have me purchasing more.  

I will get my inspiration posts started again soon.  Probably in July.  Hopefully, I will get some sewing done before then because I need to clothes and I do not want to go shopping.

Happy Stitching!