Inspiration...Open Front Jacket

 We will keep the theme on jackets for the first week of 2021.  Here is another open front jacket:

This is the Lafayette 148 New York Filippia Reversible Wool-Cashmere Jacket.  Price tag: $898.00.  Details:  Open front, long sleeves, patch pockets, boxy silhouette, sits at hips, wool/cashmere.  For closer look, go to Neiman Marcus.  You need to check out the stitching on this one.

This is silhouette is very much like the silhouette from Monday except it is not cropped.  Notice the tucked in turtleneck with the double pleated trousers.  Here is the pattern again:

This is the Seamwork Lilliana jacket pattern.  The only changes for this is to length, add patch pockets, and change the one-piece sleeve to a two-piece sleeve.  Mood has several versions of the wool/cashmere fabric available.  I would be a little scared cutting into $100/yard fabric but I would be a little less worried about it at $40/yard.  If the pattern has already been fitted, why not make a second one. 

Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy Stitching! 

Boxy Tunic...

 Last fall I noticed that boxy tops seemed to be what everyone was making.  So, I looked through my patterns and found this top pattern:

It seemed to be just perfect for what I was thinking except I didn't want the cowl.  This is the Cowl Top pattern by Loes Hinse Designs.  Here is the fabric:

I fell in love with this fabric when I received it.  Perfectly soft.  It is still available at fabric dot com.  Here is where I posted receiving the fabric and the intended project - here.

I pretty much made the pattern as is.  The shoulders are a L with the armscye at a XL. The hip is at an XL.  Here are the results:

Even with all the imperfections.  I really like this top and I am glad that I pulled this oldie but goodie from the pattern file to use.  I may make a couple of short sleeve tops from this pattern for the spring.

Happy Stitching!

Vogue Winter/Holiday Pattern Release...

 I do enjoy looking at the new patterns.  There are so few released these days that it is hard to get excited.  Also, very patterns are actually something that I would consider.  Here is my pick form the winter/holiday release:

This is Vogue 1769.  This is such a cute blouse.  Very 80s inspired.  I remember having a blouse almost identical to this about 1986.  I do not remember having a tie with my blouse but the View A with the ruffles. 

This is Vogue 1751.  This is a lovely jacket and part of the Claire Shaeffer Collection.  I will get this just because of that.  The instructions in these patterns are worth getting.

This is Vogue 1758.  I really like the look of the long jacket in plaid.  This would actually be a nice jacket in the right fabric and you could have a lot of fun with the lining as well.  Notice the dropped shoulders.

Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Crop Jacket

 Here is to a new year of inspiration.  Let's start with a jacket:

This is the Lafayette 148 Scarlet Velvet Jersey Cropped Jacket.  Price tag: $598.00.  Details: Open front, long sleeves, relaxed silhouette, cropped above hips.

This looks reminds me a little of french couture jacket.  I really like this look.  The high-waisted jeans with a tucked in white blouse, and a belt.  I will admit that I prefer a dark jean.  Here is a pattern to create a similar look:

This is the Seamwork Lilliana jacket pattern.  I think you get a very similar feel with this jacket pattern as with the inspiration photo.  Changes could be made to round the corners and to add pleating at the sleeve.  This is a tiny bit of patternwork.

I looked around at the Big 4 but was unable to find a pattern closer to the inspiration pattern.  I found several that looked very close to the Seamwork pattern.  Let me know if you find a pattern that is closer and I will add it to the post.

Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy Sewing!

A Look Back - The 2020 Winners

 2020 was a rough year and it was not all due to the pandemic.  My health seemed to be telling me to slow down and take care of myself.  I tried.

Now, back to sewing.  I really think 2020 was my most successful sewing year in a very long time.  Everything that was made has been used.  

Many items in a weekly rotation throughout the summer.  Here is the items that were in constant rotation -The woven tanks were perfect for the hot summer weather.  They will be returning next summer unless there is a fitting issue.  The Camber Set Dress was another perfect hot summer item and in constant rotation.  The three shirts that I made my husband were well received and worn a lot.  He's still wearing them because the weather is intermittently still warm.  The Indygo Junction Easy Top was a great top and worn throughout the summer and fall.  

These items were not worn as much but still worn.  The Dorian Pants and Navy Tank were worn a fair amount.  The pants turned out to have an issue with the crotch length/depth.  I still wore them and enjoyed wearing them but spent a fair amount of time pulling them up.  The tank felt a little tight.  Even though it was the exact same pattern used as the woven tanks above.  I suspect that the fact that I had doubled the fabric had something to do with it.  That fabric was kinda expensive at $15/yard and I missed that it was only 1 1/2 oz in weight per yard.  Doubling the fabric was my solution to still getting a wearable garment from the yardage that I purchased.   The Natalie Shirt didn't get worn as much as I expected.  With this top, I missed the fact that the first button was at the same level as my bra band.  I felt kinda exposed with the button at that level.  I ended up adding an additional button and buttonhole, and it worked out okay.  I really love the fabric on this shirt and will definitely be looking for similar fabric.  The Rhett Jacket has been worn quite a bit given that I just finished it at the first of December.  The fabric is really what makes this jacket.  I liked the fabric so much that I searched for more and purchased a couple of different colors.  

I have not worn the Bertie dress yet.  I know that is sad but I do love the dress.  I just have not had an occasion to wear it.  I guess I will need to just wear with some tights and it will become a day-to-day dress.  I had intended this dress to be useful during the fall, winter, and spring.  

The last couple of items that I made this year was for my husband and son.  The lounge pants for my son was well received so I know that he will wear them as they come up into rotation.  The fleece vest that I made my husband was well received and he's been wearing it almost daily.

The other things that I made were masks, lots of masks.  The majority were handed off to the local hospital for non-essential workers/visitors.  All of the masks that I made for family have been used for the majority of the year.  In fact, it's probably time to make a few more just for something different. The holiday apron and oven mitts were well used on Christmas.  They will be used through the rest of the year into January then put away.

I think the reason that my sewing was so successful this year is that I really put some thought into the purchases that I made and the items that I needed.  I did purchase far too many patterns, too much fabric, and notions.  I did document my purchases and what I intended to make.  I realize that I do not sew as fast as I think I can.  I just need to not purchase as much and try a little harder to use the items that have already been purchased.  

Here's to a successful 2021.  I hope that I end up with as good a sewing year as 2020 was.  How did your 2020 sewing turn out?

Happy Stitching!