Inspiration...Lux Casual Pants and Jacket

 This is little outfit is all about comfort.  Check it out:

 This is the Lafayette 148 New York Cotton French Terry Zip-Front Hoodie ($598.00) and French Terry Cadman Jogger ($398.00).  Details:  Hoodie - relaxed fit, draw-string hood, dropped shoulders, long sleeves, 2-way zip closure,  raw edge seam detail, high-low hem, slit sides, banded hem, hip length, 100% cotton. Sizing: S- 44" bust, 24 1/2-inches long; M- 45 1/2-inch bust, 25-inches long; L- 49-inches bust,  25 1/2-inches long; back covers the backside. Jogger - relaxed fit through thigh, tapered leg; pull-on, elastic waistband; front slant and back patch pockets; slit hem; ankle length; 100% cotton; leg opening: S- 12-inch, M- 12 1/2-inches, L- 13-inches.

No pattern selections today.  Seems every pattern company has a jogger pant pattern.  As for the hoodie, I would look for an old Kwik Sew pattern and change the hem.  

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Pencil Skirt

 More inspiration from Ann Taylor:

This is the Ann Taylor Gingham Pencil Skirt.  Price tag: $98.00.  Details:  24 1 /2-inches long, back vent, elastic waist, softly fitted (not sure exactly what that means), knit fabric.

This appears to be the same fabric from the previous inspiration post.  Reminds me very much of the 80s/90s when we would purchase 5 yards of fabric to make a jacket, pants, and a skirt.  

Here is the perfect pattern to duplicate this look:

This is Pamela's Patterns - The Magic Pencil Skirt.  It does not have a back kick pleat but it is easy to add one.   I have made this a couple of times and really like it.  I think it is time to a couple more to the wardrobe for fall/winter.  To see my past versions, search Magic Pencil Skirt and you should see the various posts on the pattern.

Happy Stitching!

Where Have I Been...

 ...and what I have been doing?

I have a lot going on and my attention span seems to be small.  I have a little bit more freedom these days as I have hired help to assist with my parents.  I still visit them on a daily basis but having freedom during the day is awesome.  After 3 1/2 years of having very little time to myself, I am now getting my house caught up and organized.  My husband has done a great job helping but he just does the basics.  

Here is my current list of projects:

1.  Organize sewing room.  Folks this room has not really been cleaned up in 3 or 4 years.  Straightened occasionally so it can be used for other purposes.  It needs a really good clean and re-organized.  The room is overwhelming and I find that about 30 minutes at a time is all I can stand to be in there.  I will get it done.

2.  Slipcovers for loveseat, chair, and ottoman.  I have had the fabric for a couple of years.  Now is as good a time as any to really get this started.  I will start with making the piping.  I realized pretty quickly that I did not purchase enough cording.  For what ever reason, I thought 80 yards would be good for the whole project but when I started measuring one pillow will take about 5 or 6 yards and I have not even thought about determining how much will be needed for the cover.  I will order another roll or two of the piping.  I have made patterns for two of the pillows on the chair.  

3.  I have a finished quilt top that I have decided to finish this year.  I will be taking it to the long-arm quilter next week and I am thrilled.  Hopefully, I can get the binding created while she has the quilt and I will be ready to stitch the binding into place.  I generally finish the binding by hand but it is a king size quilt.  I guess I will make the decision when it comes time to apply the binding. Machine binding is always faster but I really like the look of the hand finished binding.

4.  I do prefer making clothing over all other types of sewing.  I was going to fit a t-shirt pattern but when I starting taking cool weather clothes out of storage I realized that I do not really need any t-shirts but I do need a few skirts/tops and a couple of dresses.  I have also gotten to where I prefer a woven top.  With that said, I will be making two button-down shirts.  I might even take the same pattern and make a dress.  Fabric is all from the stash.  Take about making a hole in the stash shelves.  Between the clothes and the quilt that is somewhere between 12 and 15 yards of fabric gone.  I do want to work on fitting some pant patterns.  

5.  I am working on redecorating some.  My living room/family room has always bothered me in this house.  I can not seem to get it right.  It is an odd room - kinda of open floor plan but not quite.  There are large arches going into the kitchen area, the dining room, and front entry.  Large portions of the furniture must be floating and I am okay with floating furniture. Honestly, it feels like I have too much furniture or maybe it is just not the right kind of furniture.  I know I will get it figured out even if I have to hire someone to help. 

6.  We changed the way we eat a couple of years ago and I have been collecting recipes.  I have finally decided to organize everything so I am not constantly reprinting a recipes to use.  This is kinda like the sewing room - overwhelming.  This task does not get much more than 30 minutes at a time just like the sewing room.  I might work on it more than once a day.  Small bursts seems to make it easier to think about.

Well, that is a little that has been going on.  There is always something new to add to the mix.  I am hoping to get the quilt, the sewing room, the recipes, and maybe some of the slipcovers done by the end of the year.  The redecorating will most likely take more time as I look for furniture to make it feel like home.  I am hoping that some things can be repurposed from other areas rather than just purchasing new/old stuff.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Pants

 Today's inspiration is pants that are full of trends - high-waist, plaid, tapered leg, relaxed fit.  Here you go:

This is the Ann Taylor - The Gingham Tapered Pull On Pant. Price tag: $109.00.  Details:  elastic waist, tapered fit, high waist 1/2-inch to 1-inch below natural waist, hits at ankle 27-inch inseam with 14-inch leg opening.  It does not actually say but I think these are knit pants.

I have not really seen this particular pant styling since the 90s.  I guess that is kinda retro.

Sadly, I was not able to find a pant pattern similar to the inspiration photo.  Simplicity 9376 is a trouser style but not really close enough.  Although I have this pattern and would probably use it.   McCall's had a couple of pattern that were potentials.  Bare in mind, nothing was high-waisted, pull-on, tapered leg. It is always possible to locate an older pattern.  

Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful for yourself.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Casual Outfit

 Lafayette 148 New York has their resort wear collection available for preview.  I picked the following outfit as something wearable day-to-day:

This outfit is composed of many elements.  The L148 Denim Crosby Boyfriend Jeans - price tag: $598.00.  The Organic Cotton Poplin Color-Blocked Oversized Shirt - price tag: $798.00.  The Matte Crepe Sleeveless Turtleneck Shell - price tag: $498.00.  The Calfskin Leather Pointed Toe Slingback Pump (not shown - matches blue color on shirt) - price tag: $798.00.  The Irregular Ear Cuff - price tag: $148.00.  All items are available to reserve in the Lafayette 148 New York Bouquet.

Details:  

The L148 Denim Crosby Boyfriend Jeans - mid-rise, full leg fit, full length, 13oz denim, zip fly, 5 pocket detail.

The Organic Cotton Poplin Color-Blocked Oversized Shirt - Oversized silhouette, shirt collar, drop shoulder, long sleeves, button cuff, hidden button placket, button patch pocket, side slits with curved hemline, pleated back yoke, thigh length.

The Matte Crepe Sleeveless Turtleneck Shell - relaxed fit, turtleneck, sleeveless, pullover, ribbed trimmed neck and hem, double-knit, hip length.

The Calfskin Leather Pointed Toe Slingback Pump (not shown) - pointed toe, slingback slip-on, calfskin leather with leather lining, moccasin toe construction, 3 1/2-inch architectural icon heel, cushioned insole with leather outsole.  (This is a beautiful shoe and definitely worth looking at if you are a shoe person.)

 The Irregular Ear Cuff - handmade open cuff, pale gold finish, 1/2-inch x 1/2-inch with 1/2-inch opening, 100% brass.

I am all for knock-offs here.  Go check out Etsy for Ear Cuffs.  They have similar cuffs available.  The shoes make a take a while unless you just match the color to the shirt.  

The turtleneck shell - Take your favorite crew-neck t-shirt pattern and add the collar, remove the sleeves (do not forget to adjust the size of the armscye).

The color-blocked shirt - this might be a good time to check the large pieces of stash.  This shirt has one side of the front and the back with one color (blue) and the sleeves, yoke, collar, and one-side of the front a second color (brown). This might be a good time to find a pattern with the oversized silhouette and get it fitted or you can take an already fitted shirt pattern and use it.    Do a search on the blog for the instructions for the hidden placket.

The L148 Denim Crosby Boyfriend Jeans - I do not know of a specific pattern for this styling of jeans.  However if you could locate a trouser pattern if might work.

Hope you are inspired to create something beautiful.

Happy Stitching!