I can not sew fast enough. I have slowed down the purchasing but the new Love Notions Juliet Top pdf pattern looks like a winner to me. Here is the line drawings:
I hope I get to this pattern this year.
Happy Stitching!
Itch to Stitch is having a sale for the next two days with 20% off and no code required. Here is a few of my favorite Itch to Stitch patterns:
All volume discounts still apply. So be sure to check that out.
I am an affiliate of Itch to Stitch. If you purchase through one of my links on this page, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you!
Happy Stitching!
Incoming...thump. Yes, that is the sound of fabric arriving. I have been pretty good about not purchasing fabric in the past year but not good. Honestly, I can plan/purchase far faster than I can sew. Here is the latest purchases:
This is a Turkish stretch denim. I purchased 4 yards with the intent on making Love Notions Sabrina pants or maybe the Love Notions Duet pants. I purchased enough to make a muslin as well as the pants. I hope anyway. You know how things do not always work out the way you intend. Machine wash/tumble dry low. 2-way 10% stretch.
All of this is from Cali Fabrics. If you have not visited this site, you should.
Happy Stitching!
I know it is the color of this dress that is drawing me in. Here is the perfect shirtdress for summer:
This dress reminds me very much of a Calvin Klein dress that I had in the 80s/90s and I loved that dress. As for a pattern, I was unable to locate a dolman sleeved shirtdress pattern. Could you create a pattern yourself? Probably. Just merged a dolman sleeve onto a shirtdress pattern that has already been fitted.
Happy Stitching!
PSS... I did find a similar dress. It is an 80s pattern - McCalls 4176 -
Today's inspiration is a very wearable, everyday type of top.
This is Lafayette 148 Breton Stripe Cotton Jersey Shirt. Price tag: $498.00. Details: Boatneck, long sleeve, straight fit, pullover, hip length.
Why is it that simple shapes are so expensive? Here is a freebie pattern that is similar with more of a dropped shoulder:
I am an affiliate of Itch to Stitch. Any purchases made via the links on this pattern will result in a small commission for me at no cost to you. All volume discounts will apply to any purchases. Thank you!
Hope that you are inspired to create something wonderful for yourself or those you love.
Happy Stitching!
How do you know when to give up?
I found a lovely looking blue/white stripe knit in my stash that was 1 1/3 yards which is just large enough to make a t-shirt. No idea what the fiber content is but it feels like a cotton blend of some sort. With this length of yardage, the fabric needs two folds to cut out a t-shirt in my size. Okay, that is easy enough. Hah! I have spent a week working with this fabric trying to get lay flat. Just so you know, all four edges are curled. Maybe that means that there is some lycra in the blend. I did a running stitch down one of the stripes so I could attempt to have even stripes. I careful pinned the edges in the middle while measuring to make each side even. I finally got one side flat and even. Moving to the other side nope not going to happen. The only thing is would do was twist.
Folks, my patience is gone. I am throwing the towel in on this fabric. This is the first time that I can remember that I have been unable to tame a piece of fabric. I might circle back to it and cut out something in the future in a single layer but there are a lot of other things to do. Here is a little gander at my mess:
I will admit that I thought briefly of starching the fabric but I was a little considered that I might accidently stretch the fabric and the starch force it to stay.
I have a ton of fabric so this is not a complete loss. There is more fabric in my stash that I will probably be able to use in my remaining lifetime but I am going to try.
How do you handle this type of issue?
Happy Stitching!
I recently became aware of a business selling beautiful textiles. I am zeroing in on the placemats and napkins. Here is an example:
This is John Robshaw Vakula Periwinkle Placemat and Napkin. Price tag: placemats $20.00 each, napkins 4 for $60. Details: placemat - 14-inches x 19-inches, hand printed, made in India; napkins - 22-inches x 22-inches, hand printed, set of 4, made in India.
This company has a lot of various prints and they are all beautiful. As beautiful as I think this is, I would never pay this amount of money for placemats and napkins. Even with cotton fabric being $15 or so a yard, you could make them for far less than the $140.00 for 4 placemats and 4 napkins.
How do you make them you ask?
Napkins - Decide how many napkins you want to make and what size. The 22-inch x 22-inch is large and would require one length of fabric for each napkin. If you were making matching placemats, then the excess could go to one side of the placemat. Basically, for each napkin it is the size plus 1/2-inch on each side for hems. Yardage needed will varies by the width of the fabic.
Placemats - Decide how many placemats you want to make and what size. The size given is a good size. You would cut out two pieces for each placemat. The size plus 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch seam allowance on each side. You will also want a padding of some sort unless you are using a heavy canvas type fabric.
Happy Stitching!
Sometimes new patterns are hard to resist. That is how I feel about the Taroko Skirt pattern from yesterday's post. Oh yes, it is mine now. Seriously the more I looked at the line drawings and then watched some of the tester videos, the more I realized just how great of an everyday type skirt this is. Here is the line drawings again:
I am an affiliate of Itch to Stitch. If you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small commission. Thank you!
Happy Stitching!
Summer is near and skirts are fabulous during hot weather. Here is the Taroko Skirt line drawings:
Sometimes you just have to make little things because you can not find the item. I have been trying to control the mess in the kitchen a bit more now that I have a little of free time. I purchased this item:
This is a little box from Target that I thought would corral the vinegar and oil bottles that tend to sit around my counter. My idea was that the box would make it a little easy to clean the counter by not having to pick up and move a bunch of bottles. I think it worked:
I did put a paper towel in the bottom but realized that a better solution would be to make a fabric pad to sit everything on that could be washed from time to time. I found this little black/white polka dot fabric in the fat quarters at Wal-mart. This project does not require a quality fabric. Here is the fabric:
The inside measurements of the box are 13 3/4-inches x 4-inches. I added 1/2-inch to each measurement for the seam allowance. Here is the finished product:
Easy peasy. I wish all sewing was as quick and easy as this.
Happy Stitching!
I have been looking at the Lafayette 148 New York Pre-fall Collection and thought I would share a little bit. Here is a casual suit:
