Neck Scarf...

 Let's do some scrap busting.  I know when I purchase fabric online I almost always purchase more fabric than needed.  Why?  Because the fabric is usually cut in 1 yard increments.  Sad but true.  So if you have a large piece of left over fabric like 30-inches by 30-inches, you can make a neck scarf.  This will need to be something lightweight and drapey. 

Here is the link for the tutorial on making a square neck scarf - here.   

Now, remember not all scarfs are square.  Some are oblong.  Watch for additional tutorials in the future.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Floral Shirt

 This shirt feels like spring to me but I do love the colors.

This is Floral-Print Button-Down Blouse by Carolina Herrera.  Price tag: $890.00.  Details:  point collar, button front, long sleeves, button cuffs, relaxed fit, shirttail hem, cotton/elastine, dry clean, made in Italy.  

This shirt is a little different than most of the shirts that I show.  This one has princess seams.  You can see them if you zoom in.  The blouse also has a back yoke.  Here is my solution:

This is the Recital Shirt pattern by Liesl & Co.  It has the back yoke and the princess seams.  It does not have the gather cuff or the collar.   I would take the collar from the Classic Shirt pattern by Liesl & Co.

In looking around a little more, I found this Vogue shirt pattern:

This is Vogue 9029 and View A is a fair fit to the inspiration photo.  It has the princess seam, and the collar.  It does not have a back yoke but has princess seams in the back as well.  I would not use the rufffle on the cuff.  This pattern has a bit of bang with it.  Once fitted, there are six options which could give you a whole wardrobe of tops. 

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

New Itch To Stitch Robe Pattern...

 Here is a pattern that could be used for gifts.  Everyone likes a nice snuggly robe.  Here are the line drawings:

This is the Itch to Stitch Roseto Robe pdf pattern.  Here are the features:

• Customize your robe with options for knee-length or ankle-length
• Large front patch pockets provide practical storage
• Equipped with a sash and belt loops for a secure and adjustable closure
• Ample ease with dropped shoulders
• Designed for woven or stable knit fabrics

This is the first Itch to Stitch pattern that is suitable for both men and women which doubles the opportunity for gifts.  It has a relaxed fit designed to accommodate many different body types.  It can be sewn from a variety of fabrics.  See the tester's robe versions for examples.

This pattern is on sale at 20% off until Novemeber 14, 2024.  Remember that the volumne discounts still apply! Spend $20 or more to receive 15% off your entire cart, or enjoy 20% off your entire cart with purchases of $30 or more.

Please note, I am an Itch to Stitch affiliate and if you use any of my links above to purchase, I will get a small commission. Thank you!

Happy Stitching!

Stashes...Do We Really Need Them?

 Do we really need a fabric stash?  I have a stash that has accumulated over the last 20 years.  There is also a pattern stash that has been accumulated for an even longer time than that.  Folks, there is always more fabric and more patterns.  So, why do we fill the need to buy more fabric or patterns?

After reading this article which mainly applies to quilters but can easily apply to garment makers as well,  I really wonder about stash building.  I kinda encourage new sewers not to get caught in building a stash because the excitement is in getting the new fabric and new pattern not in the stash.  Am I the only one that does not get excited about the stash anymore?  New fabric will always be more attractive to me.  

If internet fabric sales (ie, fabric.com) had not happened, would we still have local fabric stores? That is really some food for thought.  Internet sales can be helpful to a local store in this time period.  Should the local garment stores (if you are lucky enough to have one) offer more classes?  Learn to sew classes would most likely be of interest.  Beginner home dec stuff, quilting classes, etc.  

Maybe I will a build a page for quick and easy projects that could possibly help with stash reduction of garment fabrics.  It will most likely just be inspiration type photos or links.  

Thoughts?

Happy Stitching!

Go To Patterns...

 Do you have go to patterns that seem to always be in rotation?  I seem to have collected a few.  Here are my favorites:

1.  Liesl & Co Classic Shirt pattern. The hard part was fitting this pattern.  Once the fitting was accomplished, I have made a couple of long shirted shirts and a popover dress.  I need to make a couple of shirts for warm weather.  

2.  Fabrics-store.com Phoebe Tank.  This is a freebie for registered people.  Once the fitting is finished, you have a great warm weather top.  I have made at least seven of this tanks.  It really is time to mix up a little bit by making some minor changes.  Every time I make new tanks, I evaluate the fit and make tweaks.

3.  Pamela's Patterns The Magic Pencil Skirt.  Oh, this one is a quickie.  Need a skirt in a flash?  This one is it as long as it is a stretch fabric.  I have at least four versions of this and one is hand sewn in the Alabama Chanin style.

4.  Love Notions Allegro Bottoms.  This is another quickie once it is fitted. I've made at least four pairs of pants and one skirt.  No doubt, there will be more in the future.

5.  Merchant & Mills Camber Set.  I purchased this pattern to make the top but have yet to do it.  However, the dress is wonderful.  I have three versions and love them all but the linen one is my favorite.  Maybe next year the top will get made.

I am still looking for a good t-shirt pattern, a blazer jacket pattern, trousers, woven tops that are different from the classic shirt and the tank.  

What are your favorite patterns?  Are they quick items to make or are they a classic pattern for you?

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Cap Sleeve Top

 Sometimes you find things that make you say "Wow".  That is how I feel about this top.

This is the Striped Cap-Sleeve Top by Carolina Herrera. Price tag: $1590.00.  Details:  round neckline, button front, cap sleeves, relaxed fit, viscose/elastine, dry clean.

I love, love, love the look of this top and sincerely hope I can locate a pattern that I can duplicate it.  This is such a beautiful play with stripes.  You really need to check the Neiman Marcus site so you can see the whole outfit because it is matchy, matchy.

I started looking for a kinda similar pattern because perfect matches are hard to find. I did find a pattern that might work.  Here is the line drawing:

This is the bonus view of the Sage Top from Seamwork.  Yes, that means you have to be a member at Seamwork to have access to this view.  What the pattern has - shoulder princess seam, button front.  What the pattern doesn't have - cap sleeves, higher neckline, center back seam.

I will continue to look around for other alteratives.  As much as I like the Seamwork community, the top patterns are a real struggle for me to fit as I am much shorter in the upper chest.  Sometimes, the struggle of fitting is not worth the amount of time that it takes to accomplish for one garment.

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Button Down Shirt

 I have found an interesting button down shirt.  It is just a little bit different.  Here is a glimpse:

This is the Button-Down Striped Cotton Shirt by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $598.00.  Details: Approximately 28-inches long, spread collar, button front, long sleeves, button cuff, chest pocket, back yoke with stitched box pleat, shirt tail hem, relaxed fit, cotton, unlined.

Here is a glimpse at the back:

The back pleat would be so easy to duplicate.  Just add the needed amount at the fold and mark it.  Note that this is stitched all the way to the hem and then pressed flat.  It is a small detail but so easy to change the look of the shirt.

The other detail that is a bit different on the shirt is the collar stand.  If you look closely, you can see that there are two buttons instead of the normal one button.  I am not sure about how to duplicate that.  I am fairly certain that there is more to it than just sewing an extra buttonhole/button. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.  I have been known to sit and play with this type of item.

As for the pattern, my standard go to button down shirt:

This is the Liesl & Co Classic Shirt.  I have sewn this shirt many times and it is a great pattern.  Things to change would be not to add the button/buttonhole to sleeve placket and add the pleat down the back of the shirt.

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

1st Classic Shirt....

 The fitted pattern for my Liesl & Co Classic Shirt had gone missing and it took a couple of weeks to locate it.  The first shirt for this season, I am using a stash fabric:

The original post where I discussed using this fabric is here.  While I was pressing it, I found this:

The dreaded flaw marker.  Thankfully, the flaw is fairly close to the edge.  Unfortunately, I was not informed that this was a fabric with a flaw.  I did carefully iron this to make sure that was the only one.  This is the only obvious flaw.  There is a second marker shown in the picture but I could not locate another flaw.  I will try to cut around this section of the fabric.

The actual cutting out of this shirt was a real adventure due to my kittens.  I chose to cut out in a single layer and the kittens seemed to find pins interesting.  They were taking them out almost as fast I was pinning.  It was only certain pins that they found interesting.  The first night was very frustrating but the second day I was able to finish the cutting out.

The adventures continued as the sewing.  Kittens stitching their head through the machine harp.  They continued pulling out every pin that looked interested.  Then, they sewing machine needle.  There was more than once that I thought one of them was going to get a paw under the needle but I was able to thwart every attempt.  

The very last thing that happened to this project is I ran out of thread.  I did start with a new spool of thread but obviously a small spool is not big enough for a button down shirt with lots of topstitching.  Thankful, the local JoAnn Fabrics had the matching thread.  Since I was at JoAnn's, I went ahead and looked at buttons.  It was truly a pitiful selection.  Obviously, the closest store to me is not looking for garment sewers.  There is another nearby store.  It is only a little further away.  Maybe it is time that I investigated it.

Running out of thread kinda put my sewjo off for a few days but I finally finished it.  Here is the result:

I am really happy with the shirt and hope that it will be worn a lot.  There are ton of mistakes but that happens with almost everything that I make anymore.  

On to the next project.

Happy Stitching!

New Itch To Stitch Carigan....

 Oh, Itch To Stitch has a new cardigan pattern and it is kinda jacket like in styling.  Here is the line drawings:  

This is the Itch To Stitch Teifi Cardigan pdf pattern. This is a jacket style sweater with the following features:

• Regular and full bust options for a tailored fit (with bust darts on the full bust option)
• Cropped and high-hip length options
• Long and short sleeve variations to suit different styles and seasons
• Classic collar for a refined touch
• Large chest pockets with flaps for added detail and practicality
• Designed for structured knit fabrics

It is available in sizes 00 - 40 with regular and full bust options.  Check out the tester versions to see the many variations.  

This pattern will be at a 20% discount till November 4, 2024.  In addition, the volume discount still applies! Spend $20 or more to receive 15% off your entire cart, or enjoy 20% off your entire cart with purchases of $30 or more.

Please note, I am an Itch to Stitch affiliate and if you use any of my links above to purchase, I will get a small commission. Thank you!

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...A-Line Skirt

 Sometimes, a simply skirt is all you need.  Here is a good example:

This is the Bradford Skirt by Alabama Chanin.  Price tag: $348.00.  Details:  featherweight jersey, hand-sewn and painted, relaxed a-line shape, low waist, 22-inches long.

I am not going to recommend a pattern for this.  This type of skirt has dozens of available patterns or it would be easy to draft one.  I think the important piece here is the fabric.  Personal, I do not think I would use a featherweight jersey but maybe it would affect the drape with a heavier fabric.  It would just need experienting.  Normally, Alabama Chanin has raw edges at the hem but this skirt looks hemmed to me.

Now, the big question is fabric and where do you find it.  Alabam Chanin does sell the light weight and mid-weight jersey.  So, that could be a starting point.

1. FabricMaster.Net has some really great prices on 100% mid-weight organic cotton jersey.  If you like their colors, you have found a true bargain.

2. fabricwholesaledirect.com has a 4 ounce cotton/lyra jersey that might work for this skirt.  There are 27 colors.

There is a start.  There is lots of fabric out there with lots of decision to make.  I really hesitate to link to some of the fabric that I found as it was too lightweight.  Just over an ounce per yard is really thin and most likely really see through which would make a nice skirt unless it was several layers.

As for the elastic,  I would use a 1 to 1 1/4" wide elastic.  Sometimes, you can find various colors but the Alabama Chanin looked like they were using black.  Most likely you can find this at a local store.  Just make sure that it is an elastic you do not mind showing.

Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!

Birthday Sale - Itch to Stitch...

 Itch to Stitch is having a birthday sale!  They have been in business for 10 years.  Kennis is celebrating by offering discounts on the pdfs as follows:

• 20% off the Ladera Dress and Maladena Vest Top patterns
• 30% off all other digital patterns

There are no codes required for this sale.  The discounts are automatically applied at checkout.  The sale ends 11:59 Mountain Time on October 11, 2024.  I am an affiliate of Itch to Stitch.  If you purchase anything through my links, I will receive a small commision. Thank you.

Here are a few of my favorites:

This is the Soller Top & Dress pdf pattern.  If you are looking for quick and easy, this one is it.  I have made it twice and have more fabric to make a couple more dresses/tops.  Be sure to check out the Soller blog post and see all of the beautiful samples.

This is the Foz Top pdf pattern.  This is a great v-neck top.  I have made it three times.  It is another quick and easy top.  Even the buttonholes do not slow you down.  Snaps would make it even faster.  Check out the blog post to see all the tester examples.

This is the Celeste Dress pdf pattern.  This is a comfy dress.  I have made it once but plan on more.  It does have a side invisible zipper.  Check out the blog post to see all the examples and check out this blog post for examples of the larger sizes.  This is a great summer dress.

This is the Taroko Skirt pdf pattern.  This is the newest skirt pattern form Itch to Stitch.  It is on my sewing list.  This will be a workhorse item in my wardrobe.  Check out the blog post to view the tester's samples.  

Here is some that are on my to do list for fall:

This is the Quebec pdf skirt.  This is a pull-on skirt.  This skirt is on my to-do list.  If you are looking for a workhorse type clothing item, this is it.  In the right fabric, it could be worn year round.  Here is the blog post to see the tester examples.  

This is the Magdalena Vet Top pdf pattern.  This on my to do list in the high-hip version.  Check out the tester's versions of this vest.  They are wonderful.

Go check out the Itch to Stitch offerings.  This is a fabulous sale.

Happy Stitching!

Shoes...

 I rarely mention shoes in my inspiration posts but they are very much part of an outfit.  Just like other accessories.   I tend to fail when it comes to a lot of accessories.  Earrings are about it.  However, this shoe has caught my eye:

This is The High Point by Rothy's.  Price tag: $169.00.  Details:  premium knit upper, 1 1/4-inch heel wrapped in the knit, cushioned insole, spacious toebox, added elastic to expand/contract as wearing, machine washable.

I have been wearing this companies shoes for at least four seasons.  The first pair which has been worn year around still looks good.  These shoes feel a little dressy.  I can see wearing them with my new skirt and a red top (matchy, matchy is in, right?).

I like this company's philsophy.  Recycle, recycle, recycle.  If you are interested in this shoe or any Rothy's shoes, send me a comment with your email and I will send you a referral so you can get $20 off.  I will get $20 off as well.  I will not publish the comment.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Cap Sleeve Silk Blouse

Today's inspiration is a simple, little top that is a basic.  This is great little layering piece as well. 

This is the Cap Sleeve Silk Blouse by Giorgio Armani.  Price tag: $1495.00.  Details: cap sleeves, round neck, button closure, hip length, relaxed fit, silk, dry clean.

Such a simple little top for such a big price.  The big pattern companies do not seem to be putting out good basic patterns anymore because this type of top pattern should be everywhere and it is nowhere.  Is this a failure to pick up on what the designers are planning?  As far as fabric goes, Mood has lots of silks from $15/yard to $50/yard.  Even at those prices, you could fill your closet with tops for the price of the silk blouse pictured above.  Personally, I would/will go for a easier care fabric.

So, did I find any patterns?  Yes, a couple:

This is the Cap Sleeve Shell pattern by Pamela's Patterns.  It comes in two lengths.  The neckline is slightly different than the inspiration photo.

This is the Hansie pdf pattern by Seamwork.  Again, this one is similar to the inspiration photo but has a slightly different neckline.

Let me know if you know of a pattern that resemble the inspiration photo and I will add it.  

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Skirt & Top

 This is going back to another inspiration post.  This is more of a complete outfit from that post:

The top is the Merino Wool Striped Knit Sweater by Akris Punto. Price tag: $695.00.  Details:  ribbed knit, turtleneck, long sleeve, hip length, fitted, wool.

So, outside of the fact that is this top is a knitted sweater, the top could be duplicated by using a ribbed knit, a t-shirt pattern, and added a band for the turtle neck.  

As for the pattern, use your favorite t-shirt pattern.  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

First Item For Fall/Winter..

The first item for fall/winter is completed.  Here it is:

I do not have a photographer right now.  I will photgraph the skirt with the intended blouse, later.

As stated in an earlier post, I decided to go with Butterick 5668 View A.  My inspiration was in this post.  I thought the selected pattern was a very good copy of the inspiration witht the exception of the pockets.  My fabric is more of a check than a herringbone but it is good.  

The pattern is from the early-to-mid 2000s.  As skirts go, it was fairly straight forward to make with the following expections:

1. I had to enlarge the pattern.  I used the pivot/slide technique that Nancy Zieman was an advocate for.  This was not a difficult thing to do.

2.  I chose not to make a muslin.  To my surprise, the pockets did not match.  So, if you are making this pattern adjust the pockets before cutting out.

3.  The hip curve is very pronounced.  So much that I am going to need to figure out how to adjust it.  I have made many pencils skirt in the past but I do not remember any of them having a obvious curve in the hip area.  It could be that the skirt is hanging lower than intended when I tried it on.  

Hopefully, my skirt will get lots of wear.  Right now, I only have a black sweater to go with it.  I did order some fabric that I thought would go with it but I am not sure about the dark navy and black going together.  Thoughts?

Here are pictures of my other challenges:

My sweet little kittens just had to be involved.  Everything is so interesting - scissors, pins, needles, seam ripper, rulers, tape measure, sewing machine... I think you get the idea.  

Happy Stitching!

New Itch To Stitch Shirtdress Pattern...

 Itch to Stitch has released a new shirtdress pattern and it is a little bit different.  Here are the line drawings:

This is the Ladera Dress pdf pattern.  The twist tie is a lovely little twist to the shirtdress.  Here are the features and options:

• Available in multiple cup sizes for a customized fit
• Cinched waist with a front tie for a flattering silhouette
• Choice of hidden or non-hidden front button placket
• Options for short, short-cuffed, or long-cuffed sleeves
• Optional side inseam pockets
• Classic standard collar
• Best suited for medium-weight woven fabrics

Be sure to check out the tester's versions of this dress.  You'll get an idea of what the dress looks like in different fabrics.

This pdf pattern is on sale with 20% off through September 30, 2024.  All volumne discounts still apply.  

I am an affiliate of Itch to Stitch.  If you purchase anything through my links, I will receive a small commision. Thank you.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Bateau Neck Midi Dress

 Sometimes, it is all about the fabric.  This dress is one of times:

This is the Bateau-neck Camel Hair Midi Dress by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $1798.00. Details:  Felted camel hair, pick stitch detailing, approximately 41-inches long from shoulder to hem, bateaux neckline with pick stitch detailing, long sleeves, on seam pockets, hem falls below knee, shift silhouette, invisible zipper, animal hair/polyester/spandex, lining is spandex/polyester, dry clean.

This dress is a wonderfully simple silhouette which really showcases the fabric.  I did find some camel hair by the yard at B Black & Sons.  Although the fabric is expensive, it is a small percentage of the cost of the dress.  The lining fabric needs to be considered as well.   Is a pattern available for the particular silhouette?

I do not find a pattern similar to this silhouette with the exception of patterns from the 50s and 60s.  So, my suggestion is to take an existing shift dress pattern with a similar silhouette and use this tutorial to change the neckline to a bateau neckline.

Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Button-Up Midi Skirt

 Here is a cute every-day type of skirt:

This is the Petra Cord Midi Skirt from Boden.  Price tag: $130.00.  Details:  cotton/elastane fabric, machine washable, fitted through the waist widening to a full skirt, finishes at mid-calf, front side pockets, unlined, button fastening at front.  

This skirt reminds me a lot of the Sawyer Skirt pdf pattern from Seamwork.  Differences are mostly the pocket type and you would need to add the belt loops.  Here is the line drawing:

This is the closest pattern I could find to the inspiration pattern.  Obviously, it is very hard to check all of the independent patterns makers.  Let me know if you find additional patterns and I will try to add them.  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

New Fabric Coming...

 It seems the best way to get the sewjo sewing is to purchase new fabric and that is exactly what I did.  Here is the new fabric that will hopefully not become stash:

This is 100% cotton, 56-inches wide.  I plan a Classic Shirt.  I purchased 2 yards.  Care:  machine washable.

This is 100% polyester, 60-inches wide.  I plan a Pussy Bow Blouse by Sew Over It.  I purchased 2 yards.  Care:  Gentle Wash.

This is  100% polyester, 58-inches wide.  I plan a Pussy Bow Blouse by Sew Over It.  I purchased 2 yards.  Care:  Gentle wash.

As large as my stash is, sometimes you can not find the needed item in it.  I am really aiming for more blouses this winter.  Hopefully, these will slide right into the wardrobe without too much effort.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Denim Jacket

 This denim jacket is a step above.  Mix classic French jacket with a bit of trim and denim and you got this:

This is the Dreamflex Denim Braid Trim jacket from Appleseeds.  Price tag: $89.00.  Details: stretch denim, braid trim and fringe, front hook & eye closure, patch pockets, sits high on hip, machine washable.

Here is the perfect pattern for this look:

This is Vogue basic design 7075.  View A is a perfect match to the inspiration photo.  You might have to figure out how to do the hook and eye but I think you can purchase it as a tape.  I have no idea what type of colors are available in this type of tape.

Personally, the trim on this jacket is absolutely what makes it.  The trim would be easy to duplicate.  It might take a little bit of experimentation but I think it would be worth it in the end.

Inspiration...Striped Shirt

 I really like the idea of this shirt.  It is a little more fitting than previous inspiration shirts:

This is the Kennedy Striped Cotton Shirt by Lafayette 148 New York. Price tag: $598.00.  Details: approximately 25-inches from shoulder to hem, long sleeves, button cuffs, back yoke, shirttail hem, relaxed fit, cotton, unlined, handwash.  Details not mentioned:  bust darts and back vertical darts. 

I really like the idea of this shirt but I do not really like the green/beige stripes.  I think a blue/gray stripe would be much better.  Do you think I could find a fabric like that?  This shirt is the Classic Shirt by Liesl & Co.   The back darts would be just a fitting detail or they could just look like a fitting detail.  That type of dart does not need to be very wide/deep.  The front dart could/should be draped should you need it.  Here is the Classic Shirt:

I will be watching a fabric that is a two-toned stripe that will work in my wardrobe colors.  Can you have too many shirts?  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

New Itch to Stitch Vest Pattern...

 Itch to Stitch has a new pdf pattern and it is spot on for fall trends.  It is the vest.  Here is the line drawings:

This is the Magdalena Vet Top pdf pattern.  There are two versions - cropped and high-hip.  Features are:

• Available in multiple cup sizes for a customized fit
• Princess seams on both the front and back for easy shaping
• Buttoned front closure
• Choice of cropped or high-hip length options
• Wide scoop neckline at the front and back
• Finished with bias tape for a clean, polished look
• Designed for medium-weight woven fabrics

Be sure to check out the tester's versions of this vest.  They are wonderful.

This pdf pattern is on sale with 20% off through September 2024.  All volumne discounts still apply.  

I am an affiliate of Itch to Stitch.  If you purchase anything through my links, I will receive a small commision. Thank you.

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful and join in a fun trend.  I can see this being a fabulous summer top.

Happy Stitching!

Starting Fall/Winter Wardrobe...

 I have started working on the fall/winter wardrobe by starting on the second skirt on my list.  I ended up picking this pattern for the skirt:

I am working on View A.  Unfortunately, my hip is a little bigger than the pattern so I used the pivot and slide method of pattern alteration to add enough width (I hope).  I might cut wider seams allowance as a just in case because there is not going to be a muslin.  I know I know I know but I generally do not have too many issues with skirts.  Here is the fabric again:

I had a helper every step of the way while I was working on the pattern so it was very slow going.  Here is a picture of my helper:

Now, you can see why my helper is slowing me down.  Yes, everything I was doing was interesting and everything had to checkout and tasted or slapped. This is Misty, one of my 5 month old kittens.  She is generally very sweet girl.  She is the mother of the pair of sisters that I got.

I know that I have thread for this project.  I just need to check out the zipper situation.  If I have a zipper, that is fabulous.  If not, I guess I will make a JoAnn run.  Hopefully, I will not be disappointed.  If I am, there is a nearby Wal-Mart that might have zippers.  Sadly, I do not have too many options for sewing notions locally.

Have you started your fall projects? 

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Pleated Blouse

 Sometimes, blouses can just be beautiful and I think this is just that:

This is the Pleated Point Collar Silk Blouse from LilySilk.  Price tag: $ 179.00.  Details:  silk, straight cut with regular fit, concealed mother of pearl button placket, pleat detailing, back yoke, single button cuff.

I had a pattern similar to this in the 80s from McCall's, I think.  I loved the blouse but the pleats were not right on the pattern.  So, it was a bit fuzzy. I poked around a little bit in google but could not find a similar pattern.  Not close at all.  

I looked around for a tutorial and found this one for tucks to a blouse.  The concept would be the same with the tutorial but you would be added a deeper tuck.  Poking around in heirloom sewing would probably produce some instructions.  Here is an article on How to manipulate fabric with tucks.  This article has a lot of information.

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

Planning Fall/Winter Wardrobe...

 I never really made much for spring and summer this year.  The sewjo was just missing.  However, I did a bunch of mending and that seemed to get things going.  Then, I decided to make a sleeveless blouse to push out the end of summer with the Itch to Stitch Dana Point Top (affiliate link).  This is a cute top which is a step above my normal Phoebe Tank Top which I love to pieces.  You can see my versions by doing a search on the blog.

So far, I have made the following decisions for garments:

1.  A skirt using New Look 6809 (OOP) View A in denim colored stretch suiting:

 

My inspiration is this post except I am not using real denim just a denim colored fabric.  I know the silhouette is different but that is okay.

2.  A checked skirt using either Butterick 5668 (OOP) View B or Butterick  6717 (OOP) View C.  

My inspiration is this post.  I think both of the patterns are pretty similar to the inspiration photo.  

3.  A navy/white striped button down using the Classic Shirt pattern by Liesl & Co.

My inspiration is this post.  I finally took the fabric out of the package and realized it is a little sheer.  I do not know if it will stand up to all the stitching required for a button down.  The weight was stated to be 130 gsm which should have been almost 4 oz per yard.  I washed the fabric and dried it in the dryer with hopes that it shrunk and tightened up the weave a little bit.

4.  A plaid button down using the Classic Shirt by Liesl & Co:

This is stash fabric.  I had intended to make the shirt in 2023 but it slipped. I have grey pants to go with this fabric.

Things that need more thought:

I need to think about some blouses to go with the skirts.  Most of the shirts/blouses have been similar to the Classic Shirt pattern above with a hidden placket.  I doubt that is the only style of blouse that I would want though.

The Pussy Bow Blouse pattern by Sew Over It would be addition.  Here is the line drawings:

I think one of these tops would be nice to go with one of the skirts or pants.  I will continue looking for blouses. Maybe it will be something more casual than this bow blouse.

 I would like to make a jacket and right now I am thinking about using this pattern:

This is McCall's 4598 View A. It is an OOP but it matches closely to this inspiration post.  I have not decided on fabric type yet.  I really need to sit down and go through the fabric stash.  I have a lot of fabric and really need to try to use as much as possible.

Happy Stitching!