Inspiration...Basic Shift Dress

How do you feel about basic dresses?  You know the ones that you can wear often.  Here's a very basic shift:

This is the Eileen Fisher Organic Linen-Blend Shift Dress.  Price tag: $278.00.  I could see this worn many different ways and it could be in a weekly rotation for months if you wanted. 

Here's a pattern with a similar silhouette:
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This is McCall's 6102.  It is called a tent dress. The advantages to this dress is that there a separate patterns pieces for the cup sizes.  Of course, I would want to have the an in-between length for a dress with it being just at the knee.

This is McCall's 6465.  This is a pull-over dress.  As you can see, this pattern has a few more options with the sleeve length and hem treatments.  Darting is available for the shaping.

This is New Look 6500.  There are a few options available with this pattern.  There is darting for shaping.  It is not a pull-over style.

I only looked at the Big 4 pattern website.  I was a little surprised at the lack of the very basic woven pull-over dress patterns.  Don't get me wrong, there are lots of interesting dress patterns.  Just not the basic ones for woven fabrics. 

What is your thought on such a basic dress?  Do you like the idea of having this type of dress in the wardrobe that can be worn over and over?

Happy Stitching!

Spring Has Sprung...Shoe Shopping.....

I decided to go spend the morning with my parents and as soon as I got there my Mom wanted to go shoe shopping.  Of course, I said "Yes".  However, it is never easy finding shoes.  I found a pair of tennis shoes that should be fairly versatile:

This is Grasshopper Janie in navy canvas.   I should be able to wear this with most of the items in the wardrobe - skirts, dresses, shorts, pants.  Yes, it's fairly casual but I don't know where my live is headed.   Work or not?  Maybe part-time.  Maybe volunteering.

Mom took home two pair of shoes.  She was happy and I was happy that I was able to help her.

Now, I need to make some skirts.

Happy Stitching!

Stitching, Stitching, Stitching...Working on Scrubbies...

We've been traveling again and making scrubbies is a good way to pass time in the car. The original post on the scrubbie making was back in February.  That is when I cut 12 yards of netting.  ACK!  that was a lot of cutting.  Here's my accomplishment for this trip:

I was able to finish up the netting from a previous cutting session.  The scrubbies from that session are mostly gone.  Here's what is left from my pre-cut netting back:

I am half way done with this go round of netting.  I have many upcoming appointments and will be taking these with me to keep busy as I wait.  I'm sure I will still have some strips for the next trip also.  If not, hopefully, I will be able to come up with additional projects that can be worked in the car.  Maybe some crocheted dishcloths.   I still have several balls of cotton.

Do you crochet?  How about making the little scrubbies?

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration....Mixed Media Tee

I found this Lacy Mixed Media Tee at Loft:

This is not an expensive top. At $39.50, it is probably a mid-range price point.  Unfortunately, it only comes in two colors - white and red. 

I love that this top is a blend of a woven and a knit.  You get the comfort of the knit and the drape-iness of the woven polyester.  What I really like about this tee is the matching trim.  Does anyone know of a place to purchase this type of matching items?  I know you could probably get a white but I can purchase that.   Here's a close-up of the sleeve:

How easy would that be to do?  There are many patterns available that you could use to recreate this simple little top both free and for sale.  I think I'm going to dig around in the huge stash and see exactly what is available.  Does the trim really need to be a lace to get the same effect?  I'm wondering if I could do some other sort of item with a tape or some other pre-packaged item.  If you go to the Loft website and change the color to white, you ca see must more detail.

Hope you inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Lace-Trimmed Striped Blouse

How about more stripes?  This top has them plus the trendy sleeves:

This is a Kobi Halperin Skylyn Laced-Trim  Blouse at Neiman Marcus.  Price tag $398.00.  Couldn't we make several of these tops for that price? 

My favorite part of this top is the trim.  Otherwise, it is a fairly basic top.  You could use this Silhouette pattern to start the duplication:

This is not an exact match but a similar silhouette.  It would be very easy to trim this.  If the collar is what you wanting to duplicate the Lisette Gallery Tunic might fit the bill:

With the pattern, the collar and sleeves are very good.  The neck slit is different.  Could it still work?  Yes, I think so. 

As far as duplicating the sleeve, you would probably need to do a little bit of research on how to draft that portion of the sleeve.  To me, it looks a little bit like a rectangle has been attached to the sleeve just above the elbow.

Thoughts?  What do you think of the blouse?  What about the pattern selections?  Have you seen a better pattern to use for the duplication?

Happy Sewing!