Steals & Deals..

Looking for bargains?  Check out Craftsy Steals & Deals (affiliate link).  From thread to quilt kits, fabric, yarn, and more.

Have fun looking.  I have.

Happy Stitching!

I've Done It Now...Day 5

Even though it has been months since I started this project, it is officially day 5.  Here's what I've done since the last time I posted this project:

Here's the chair with 1" foam.  Hopefully this will help with the comfort of the chair.

Here's the chair with the upholstery grade dacron polyester covering the seat and the back.  I did mark the centers on everything before stapling the dacron down.

I'm ready to start measuring and cutting fabric now.  This may be the hard part.  I don't know since I haven't tried it before.  With the centers marked on the chair I now need to decide what is going to be the center design on the chair. 

Hopefully, over the next day or two I will get the center design figure, fabric cut and stapled on, and the arms screwed back into place.  Perhaps I can get the piping done as well.  That will leave the back portion of the chair to finish.  I think I need to order one more part to finish the chair and you know it is something I have never worked with before.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Plaid Jacket

Plaid seems to be popular for the upcoming season.

This is the Heathered One-Button Eloquent Plaid Jacket by Lafayette 148 New York. Price tag: $798.00.

I actually like the look of this whole outfit.  What do you think of the turtleneck with ruffled sleeves?

As far as jacket patterns, I was only able to locate one jacket pattern with the fly away hem.  This one:

This is Silhouettes #1500.  The collar is a little bit different.  As far as the body width goes, that is easy to fix by adding at the seams.

Who's ready to add a little bit of plaid this season?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Block 7 plus Connecting Block

Yesterday, I felt like I was way behind on the Mystery Quilt.  Today, I'm feeling pretty good.  Here's my blocks:

I like the look of this block.  I could have done better with the cardinal placement but I wasn't willing to recut the blocks.  Here's the connecting block:

I'm still keeping everything scrappy with the exception of the back ground on this block.  Next time, I should have some rows stitched together.  On to the next block.

How is your version of the myster quilt coming?

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Blazer

I found this lovely little jacket over at Neiman Marcus:

This is the Lyndon Acclaimed Stretch Blazer by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag:  $698.00.

What do you think of those pockets?  Pocket zipper can be a little tough to find but Createforless carries pocket zippers (affiliate link).  I think the zippers are what make the jacket.

As for the pattern, would you believe that a structured jacket pattern isn't really on any of the major pattern sites?  Peggy Sagers at Silhouette Patterns always have jacket patterns and here is the closest I could find to match the silhouette of the inspiration jacket:

The bottom of the jacket is a little bit different and you could make it look like the inspiration picture if you chose to.  This particular style of jacket should be easy to find in older patterns.  My own pattern stash contains many.

This jacket is made from a knit specifically acclaimed stretch knit (nylon/spandex blend).  I was unable to locate yardage with this name.  Anyone know what type of knit it is?  I would think that a medium weight nylon/poly/lycra blend might work.  What do you think?

Are you ready for a structured jacket this season?

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Sew Along Block 6

I'm caught up with the individual blocks.  Here's the next one:

I really like this particular block.  With each block you are also provided an extra project, this one was a quilt layout.  I may work this out to be a baby quilt.  We'll see.

I've been working steadily on the connecting blocks for the quilt and will soon have something other than a piles of various fabrics.  With the exception of a consistent background, I'm still trying to make them a little bit scrappy.

I have fallen behind on the house challenge but still intend to get caught up.  It's really hard trying to figure out all of the fabrics in a scrappy manner but I'll get it done.

How are you doing on your version of the quilt?  Still keeping up?

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Knit Pencil Skirt

This is such a simple silhouette and would be very easy to duplicate:

This is the Metallic Animal Print Pencil Skirt by M Mossoni.  Price tag: $645.00.

I will say that it is not the fabric that interests me in this skirt.  It is the actual silhouette.  This is a knit pencil skirt with a below the knee hemline. Folks, there is no slit for walking. Does the skirt not need a slit because it is knit?  It seems like it would still hobble you a little bit but really you don't know until you try it.   It also comes to the natural waistline.

The waistband definitely lends itself toward yoga styling - easy pull-on style.  I would guess that the waistband is 2".

Silhouette Patterns has the Yoga Skirt pattern:

It is more of a an a-line in shape rather than the straight pencil.  I'm pretty sure that Peggy did a video showing how to make this pattern into a pencil skirt.

The other pattern that comes to mind is Pamela's Patterns Magic Pencil Skirt:

You don't get the yoga-style waistband on this pattern but you do get the high waist pattern.  Either way you get an elastic pull-on skirt.

I'm admit that I have both patterns in my stash.  I have made the Magic Pencil Skirt and it turned out very nice.

Hope you're inspired to sew.

Happy Stitching!

Mystery Sew Along Block 5

I'm a little behind.  This block was from 2 weeks ago but I got it done.  Here's block 5:

When last week's block appeared, I realized that I needed to order a couple of yards of fabric.  It just arrived.  With any luck, I will be caught it next week.  I am working on many other things though so we'll see how it turns out.

How is your version of the sew along or challenge coming?  Have you been able to keep up?

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Denim Wrap Skirt

I've always liked wrap skirts.  Today, I found this skirt:

Its the Kate Spade Vintage Stretch Denim Wrap Skirt from Nordstrom.  Price tag: $198.00.  A few details:  26" long in a size 8 and true wrap style.  The fabric is a blend.

This is a good basic.  If you purchase a good denim, this will be in your closet for as many years as you want to keep it.

Here's a couple of pattern ideas:

1.  Self drafted - How to sew wrap skirt.  You would need to add length for the waistband and add a buttonhole or open seam at the sid.

2.  Indygo Junction Wrap Skirt pattern:

The silhouette on this one is a little different with the wider waistband. However, you do get several options.

The Indygo Junction pattern is hiding my pattern stash and really needs to be tried.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Wool Wrap Skirt

Here's a wonderful asymmetric skirt:

This is a Hugo Boss.  It's a wrap-style with a slight a-line shape and hits the knee. The fabric is a wool blend.  Price tag: $298.00.  You can get a closer look by going to the Hugo Boss website and searching for Italian wool-blend wrap skirt with bar tack detail.

As far as the pattern, I was unable to locate a specific pattern.  However, you can create this by using an a-line skirt pattern that is already fitted and making two fronts.  What do you think?

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Cardigan

I found this lovely cardigan:

It is the Cashmere Swing Cardigan by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $498.00.  If you want a closer look, you can find it at Neiman Marcus.

This pattern reminds me very much of two patterns at Pamela's Patterns:

This is #110 Cool Cardigans Draped Front.

This is #111 Cool Cardigans Banded Front.

I know that I have #111 in the pattern stash.  I'm not sure about #110.  Do you know of a cardigan pattern that would work?

I went looking for a cashmere knit and found it.  For the most part, it seems to be less expensive to just purchase the designer garment, if the color is good for you.   Pricing that I found was between $175 and $250 a yard.  That's a bit steep.  I would also be afraid of cutting the fabric at that price point.  Mood did have some less expensive blends.  Maybe this is the case where a polyester blend sweater knit would work.

Hope you're inspired.

Happy Stitching!