Inspiration...Popover Top

 The inspiration today is a popover top:

This is the Striped Point Collar Popover Top by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $598.00.  Description:  wide point collar with slit opening, short sleeves, boxy straight fit, cotton, machine wash & dry.

I love the look of this top.  I even like that skirt.  Make an outfit everyone.  I was not able to locate a top pattern exactly like this.  My first thought was the Donny Shirt by Friday Pattern Co or the Factory Dress Shirt variation by Merchant & Mills but neither shirt was exactly right.  I was not able to find another pattern similar.  Let me know if you find something more appropriate.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration..Collared Dress

 This collared dress has vintage feel because of the sleeves.  I have not seen a dress pattern with this feature in a long time.  Here is the dress:

This is the Collared Silk-Linen Midi Dress by Lafayette 148 New York. Price tag: $998.00. Details:  Pick-stitch detailing, center front seam, approximately 48 1/2-inches from shoulder to hem, stand collar, short sleeves, hem fails below knee, a-line silhouette, slip over style, silk/linen, unlined, dry clean.

Folks, I love this dress style.  It is the perfect dress for a long, hot summer day.  Unfortunately, I can not find a perfect pattern match.  Here is a couple of dresses that I thought might give you the general feel of this dress:

This is Vogue 1777.  This is a loose-fitting, partially lined dress with dropped shoulders, short sleeves with turn back cuffs, bust darts, waist pleats, welt pockets.  This dress pattern gives you the collar and the loose feel of the inspiration dress.

This is the Merchant and Mills Factory Dress.  This is a slip over dress with cuffed shorts sleeves, and pockets.  With this pattern, I think you could length the top pattern into dress.  This would give you the center front seam, the collar, and the fullness of the inspiration photo.

I think this would be wonderful in a blue gray linen/cotton blend.  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful. 

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Linen Dress

 I do love a good dress and wear them almost exclusively when it is hot.  This is dress is pretty good for the spring and fall.

This is the Heathered Elbow-Sleeve Midi Dress by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $898.00.  Details:  length approximately 49-inches from shoulder to hem, v neck with spread collar, elbow length sleeves, hem falls below the knee, shift silhouette, pullover style, linen, unlined.  For refer, the model is 5'10". 

Even though I stated spring and fall above, this might be a good hot weather dress as well because of the fit.  My first thought for a pattern was this one:

This is the just released Amarena Dress pattern by Liesl & Co.  It is not exactly the same but it has the same feel.  You can also make a top with this pattern.

To get a little closer to the inspiration photo, you might consider this pattern:

This is the Merchant & Mills Factory Dress pdf pattern.  This pattern has the collar of the inspiration.  I would think that removing the skirt portion and lengthening the bodice would be a pretty good likeness to the inspiration photo.  

It all depends on how you interpret the inspiration photo.  Sometimes small changes to a pattern can make it seem completely different.  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Sewing!

Inspiration...Camp Shirt

 This shirt is heading toward early to late fall (at least in my area) with the elbow length sleeves.

This is the Elbow-Sleeve Cotton Camp Shirt by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $598.00.  Details:  approximately 25 1/2- inches long, point collar, partial hidden button front, elbow sleeves, back yoke, side slit hem, relaxed fit, pull-over style, unlined, topstitching detail.  

There are several things that I like about the top - it's woven, relaxed fit, pull over styling, elbow length sleeve, topstitching detail.  I came up with three different patterns that kinda give you the same feel:

This is the Merchant & Mills The Factory Dress pattern.  Did you know that there is a top tutorial?  Check it out here.  You do not get the button band with this one but if you have the dress fitted why not make a top?  Lengthen the sleeves is fairly easy change to make.

This is the Liesl & Co Galley Tunic + Dress pattern.  This gives you a pleat on the front.  No doubt you can figure out how to remove the pleat, if you do not want it.  Use the one-piece collar instead of the collar stand, shorten the sleeves, and maybe shorten the length.  It also appears  a little more fitted than the inspiration phot through the shoulder area.

This is the line drawing for the Donny Shirt pattery by Friday Pattern Co.  It has the pull-over styling and the relaxed fit.  The collar is different. To me, the general feel is the same.  You might need to lengthen the sleeve.

I have given you lots to think about today.  Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

More Purchases...

 Even though my stash is overflowing, I just can not resist a sale at The Confident Stitch.  Through March 25, 2023 there is a 20% off sale.  I took advantage and purchased a couple of things.  Here they are:

I purchased another copy of the Merchant & Mills Factory Dress.  I have looked and looked for the copy that I had fitted but it seems to be lost.  I have continued to purchase fabric to make more dresses so it was time to purchase the pattern again.  This is a great dress pattern.  Perfect for hot summer days and can be embellished.  You can see the one I made here.

This is the Liesl & Co Hollywood Trousers pattern.  I have been wanting a pair of denim trousers and this is perfect.  On the Oliver & S blog, there are various tutorials.  Different look, same pattern.  I hope this pattern will get a lot of use.

I got 2 1/4 yards of the Essex Speckled Linen in Dolphin.  My intentions is to make a Merchant & Mills Clementine Skirt.    I have denim to make the skirt already so I think I will get it fitted and make two skirts.  

I have gotten really good at the planning stage and not so good at the follow through on the projects.  I am working very hard at correcting that issue.  We will see how long it takes me to get there.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links.  I am an affiliate of The Confident Stitch.  Any purchases through these links would result in a small commission at no cost to you.  Thank you!

Happy Stitching!

Fabric and More Fabric...

 I do not need anymore fabric but here I am purchasing it.  I purchased three pieces for next summer.  Here they are:

This is a tencil/cotton denim.  I purchased 3 yards of this with the intent on it becoming a Merchant and Mills Factory Dress.   Easy care with machine wash cold and tumble dry.  

This is a linen/cotton in charcoal.  I purchased 4 yards with the intent of this becoming a Merchant and Mills  Camber dress.  Easy care with machine wash cold and tumble dry.

This is a linen/cotton in indigo.  I purchased 3 yards with the intent that this would become a pair of Love Notions Allegro pants.  Easy care with machine wash cold and tumble dry.

I need to check the stash for fabric to go with the pant fabric for some tops.  There should be something in there as my stash has grown by a huge amount this year.  Nothing like planning next years wardrobe.

Happy Stitching!

Thud...More Fabric Arrives...

 Well, the buying spree has continued.  I am not sewing much so I guess buying is making up for it.  Here are the latest acquisitions:

15 yards of muslin fabric from Mood Fabrics.  This is really a good deal.  It will not take long to use up.

This is a medium weight french terry.  Four yards were purchased.  My intent is loungewear.  Easy care with machine wash cool/tumble.  No pattern chosen at this time.

This is a lightweight 100% rayon challis.  Yes, it is outside my normal colors but I fell in love with it.  Three yards purchased.  No idea at this time what I am going to make.  Again, easy care with machine wash cool/tumble dry.

This is denim chambray.  Three yards purchased.  Easy care - machine wash cold/tumble dry.  I know exactly what I want from this.  A Merchant & Mills Factory Dress.  This dress is very comfortable.  

This is a cable knit in a dark teal.  It is one of my favorite colors and very expensive.  Two yards purchased.  Easy care with machine wash gentle cycle and dry flat.  This will most likely be a pull over.  A lot will depend on the fabric when I see it.

Hopefully, this will be it for a while.  I have been sewing but I fear the top may not work.  I almost have it finished and the sleeve area looks funny.  If I can not figure it out how to fix it, it may get tossed.  I really love the fabric.

Happy Stitching!

Linen and a change of plans...

I ordered some linen from The Confident Stitch.  The post is here.   I was going to make another The Factory Dress.  Here's the fabric:

This is Essex Yarn-Dyed Linen in Malibou.  This is a linen/cotton blend that is machine washable.  You can see it here at The Confident Stitch.  Other suitable linen fabrics are found here at The Confident Stitch.

This fabric would have made a perfect Factory Dress.  However, I miscalculated the fabric needed and it shrink about 5" of the 2 3/4 yards purchased.  Sigh!  I has taken me a while to find the perfect pattern for the fabric but I did it.  I will be making the Seamwork Dorian in a pant length. Here's the line drawing:

This is a member only bonus.  If you click on the Seamwork link, you can see the various options for becoming a member.  If you purchase using that link you will get a $3.00 discount and I will get a small benefit at no charge to you.   Here's a link to Dorian shorts pattern, you can see a picture of the pants on the same page or go to the June magazine.

Now I need to locate the perfect royal blue woven fabric for a top to match the pants.

Happy Stitching!

Another Fabric Order....

The large fabric sites may have slowed down shipping to 30 days or so but the small companies are getting those orders out are pronto.  Here's my latest fabric purchase:

This is an Essex linen/cotton blend in Malbu.  I love this color.  You can find this here at The Confident Stitch.  I intend to use the Merchant & Mills Factory Dess pattern.  You can find the pattern here at The Confident Stitch.   This is a great warm weather dress.  Here's the line drawing:

If you haven not tried the Merchant & Mills patterns, give them a try.  I have made two different patterns and they are both very well drafted.  The Confident Stitch carries several of their patterns.

Happy Stitching!
(Affliliate post.  As an affliliate I get a small payment should you purchase anything at no charge to you.)

A Look Back - The 2019 Winners

It's always interesting to see what items that you created during a year turned out to be good.  Here are the winners from 2019:

The Lounge Pants.  I made two pairs of this pants early in 2019.  Both pair were worn all winter.  My guys liked these pants.

Fabric Baskets.   These baskets have been used constantly since they were made.  This is the most creative thing that I did all year.  I enjoyed figuring out how to construct them.

Linen Curtains.  I really like this curtains.  I found a true love of working with linen. 

Merchant & Mills Factory Dress.  I enjoyed making this dress and wearing it.  I was cool for summer and will work well in spring and fall.  My guess is that I could probably wear it in the winter also.  I just haven't tried.  I intend on making another dress in 2020.

Hoodie.  I have worn this hoodie multiples times since I made it.  It's a little full in the hips but it's okay.  This pattern is from a BluPrint (Craftsy) class.  I haven't made anything else from the class at this point.

There are several other items that worked out well for me from my sewing in 2019.  I didn't really make a lot but I did use the majority of it.

What are the favorite items that you made in 2019?

The Factory Dress...

I've had my eye on The Factory dress pattern by Merchant and Mills forever (this is an affiliate link but it's the best price I found) .  Here's the front cover:

I thought this would be a great dress for the long, hot summer that is coming.  I did read through the many reviews on line and the biggest complaint was generous sizing.   I'm okay with that I think.  Loose fitting would indicate that it would be cool to wear.  It could also indicate that it is not flattering but do you really care when it's a 100 degrees outside and the air conditioning just can't cool well enough?  I don't.

So, knowing that there could be some darting issues I started with a bodice muslin to see if added length was needed:  Here's the results:

Sorry, no photo with the muslin on. There was too much belly showing.  Amazingly, the fit wasn't too bad.  I need to add about 3-inches in length for the dart.  I will shortening the dart length by about 1/2-inch.  The neck opening will be raised by an inch.   I will add 1/2-inch for rounded back.

I dug around in the fabric stash and found a navy fineline twill.  I think it is a cotton blend.

Here are the final results:

After making the dress, I decided to add a bit of embellishment.  I did a simple running stitch using navy Pearl Cotton in size 8.   I like the way it turned out.  Here's a close up of the embellishment on the collar:

Conclusion:

This is a very easy item to sew.  I did not have the same issues that others seemed to have with this pattern.  Maybe my fabric was more forgiving.  It does have a roomy fit.  Perfect for summer.

I do think that there will be a second dress.

Happy Stitching!