Inspiration...Sleeveless Dress

 The hot days of summer are approaching.  Are you ready?  This dress is perfect for those hot days of summer:

This is the Sleeveless Organic Linen Midi Dress by Eileen Fisher.  Price tag: $288.00.  Details:  sleeveless, scoped neckline, 48-inches from shoulder to hem, elastized hem, a-line silhouette, slipover style, organic linen.

Yes, this is a fairly shapeless dress but when it hot you do not want anything touching you and this dress fits the bill.  I can see this in a light weight denim or maybe a heavier chambray.  Your dress, you get to pick fabric and color.  Now, for the pattern:

My first thought is the Phoebe Tank from fabrics-store dot com.  Yes, it would need to be lengthened but if it is already fitted, the majority of the battle is done.  This is a freebie pattern and must create a login to get.

For those who do not really want to go to the trouble of fitting and lenghtening a pattern, here is another option:

This is the Style Arc June Sheath Dress pattern.  Depending on your height, this might need to be lengthened to the your desired location.  

As for adding the elastic at the hem, that is entirely up to you.  It looks to me like the elastic is only slightly smaller than the circumference of the hem.  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful. 

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Jacket

 Here is a nice every day sort of jacket:

This is the Zip Front Tailored Jacket by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $798.00.  Details: approximately 21-inches from shoulder to hem, spread collar, zip front, long sleeves, stitched vertical darts, front welt pockets, tailored fit, cotton/nylon/polyamide/elastane, unlined, machine wash cold.

I would use a navy twill for this jacket.  It is fairly easy to locate.  Here is the pattern that I think would work:

This is the Style Arc Delphine Woven Jacket pdf pattern.  You could get a similar look with the left side pattern, add a zipper, add the collar, add welt pockets, and skip the lining.

Hope you are inspired to create a jacket for yourself.  

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Dress and Jacket

 I really love the look of this outfit.  

This is the Leather Trimmed Cotton Jacket by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $1298.00.  Details: approximately 20-inches from shoulder to hem, spread collar, 2-way zip front, long sleeves, tailored fit, cotton/leather, professional dry cleaning recommended.

Dress is the Leather Trimmed Cotton Dress by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $998.00.  Details: approximately 37-inches from shoulder to hem, crew neck, short sleeves, hem hits around the knee, a-line silhouette, back zip (leather trimmed), cotton/leather, professional dry cleaning recommended. 

Here is a pattern that would work well for the jacket:

This is the Style Arc Delphine Woven Jacket pdf pattern.  I would use the jacket on the left, add the collar, remove the cuff, and lengthen the sleeve.

Here is a pattern that would work well for the dress:

 This is the Style Arc June Sheath Dress pdf pattern.  It has a center back seam so that you could add trim in all the right places.

Here is a selection of fabrics from Mood that might be suitable for the dress/jacket - fabric.

For the trim, you might be able to locate an actual leather trim. However, there are lots of vegan leather that work work or a suede knit.  

Hope you are inspired to make something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Sleeveless Shift Dress

 This shift dress is perfect for hot weather.  Sew it now and be ready for the season early.  Here is the dress:

This is the Lafayette 148 New York Sleeveless Cotton-Blend Shift Dress.  Price tag: $698.00.   Details:  dress featuring bust darts, pick stitching, back gore darts; approximately 37-inches long; round neckline; sleeveless; shift silhouette; knee length; back zip; cotton/nylon/polyamide/elastane blend; unlined; machine wash cold, and line dry.

Here is a tutorial for pick stitching.  As for the back gore darts, I am not familiar with that term and neither is Mr Google.  Maybe they are simply referring to the back darts that simply shape the back of the garment.  If you find some better explanation, please let me know.  

Now, I will admit that I probably would not make a white dress but that is why I sew.  Sewing allows me to pick the color and shape that I want.  Now, how about the pattern.  I generally recommend this dress:

Although New Look 8500 is a great pattern, the shape is a little bit different than the inspiration photo.  I will keep looking.

Simplicity 1609 without the collar might be a good interpretation of the inspiration photo without the collar.  This might be an A-line dress.  It is not part of the description but it could be modified slightly.

McCall's 7533 View B might be a good contender as well.  This pattern gives you a little more bang for the buck with the hem variation and sleeve variations.

This is the Style Arc June dress pattern.  This is pretty close to the inspiration photo.  It does have a slight a-line shape.  

Well, it looks like I have given you lots of pattern options for this one.  This feels like it should be a very basic dress and easy to find but it was not. Hope you are inspired to sew a nice dress.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Denim Midi Skirt

 This is a basic skirt.  I can not decide whether it is actually the fabric that I love about this (probably) or the actual skirt style.

This is Akri Punto Fringed Check Denim Midi Skirt.  Price tag: $695.00.  Details:  fringed check detail, raw hem, high waist, side slip pockets, hem falls below the knee, skirt falls straight from hip to hem, center front vented hem, hook/zip fly, belt loops, cotton/polyester, dry clean.

I looked around a little bit for this type of fabric and I found it.  It is not inexpensive.  I found varies fringed fabric from $19 per yard to $50 per yard.  Yet, you could make several skirts for the price of this one skirt. By the way, did you notice the plaid matching perfection. Now for a pattern:

This is the Style Arc Tommie Jean Skirt pdf pattern.  It is a pretty good version of the inspiration photo with the exception of the slit.  This is a little more casual.

Make sure to deep dive your pattern stash.  There might already be a pattern that can be used there.  If not, here is a tutorial on drafting your own pattern.  Here is a tutorial on added a kick pleat vent to any skirt.

Hope you are inspired to add a nice skirt to your wardrobe.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Vest

 I have been hearing a lot about a vest being the thing for fall.  For inspiration photos, go to neiman marcus website and search for vest.  There are just too many variations.  Here are a few patterns to consider:

1.  Butterick - 6901 and 6902 - These are Lisette patterns and also include shorts/pants.  

2.  Merchant & Mills  - The Billy - This is a unisex pattern.  

3.  Venturing to the Simplicity website and searching for vests will result in a large variety of vest styles for the entire family.

4. Style Arc has a variety of vest patterns.

I think that might be a nice start to look for a vest of some sort.  I am going to go through my 100s of patterns and see what may or may not be stashed in there.  Maybe I will find a vest and some fabric.  A vest should be a quick and easy item to stitch up for an up to date look.

Happy Stitching!