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!

 

Inspiration...Tie-Neck Blouse

 I love the look of a tie neck blouse.  This is very elegant looking and probably more than my casual life needs but a girl can dress, right?

This is the Tie-Neck Silk Blouse by Lafayette 148 New York. Price tag: $798.00.  Details:  Approximately 25-inches from shoulder to hem, V neckline, long sleeves, relaxed fit, pullover style, silk, dry clean only. 

Oh, how I love the idea of this blouse.  The closest I found to this is this blouse:

This is the Pussy Bow Blouse pdf pattern by Sew Over It.  With the exception of the sleeve, it is a very good match to the inspiration photo.

Happy Stitching!