Inspiration...Striped Shirt

 This inspiration is all about a classic shirt:

This is the Polo Ralph Lauren Striped Long-Sleeve Cotton Blouse.  Price tag: $148.00. Details:  striped shirt with signature pony, spread collar, button front, long sleeves, button front, box-pleated back yoke, shirttail hem, relaxed fit, cotton, machine washable.  

This is such a classic shirt.  Here is the perfect pattern:

This is the Liesel & Company Classic Shirt pattern.  It has the benefit of having cup sizes which helps with fitting.  As always, use what you have.  If you have a different shirt pattern fitted, use it.  Make those spent dollars work for you. Leaves you more for fabric and notions.  

Fabrics:

1.  Cali Fabrics has a nice selection of striped and other shirtings.  A very good price point.  

2.  Mood Fabrics has a nice selection of striped and other shirtings. A different price point than Cali Fabrics.

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful for your everyday wear.   

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Casual Skirt

 Here is a casual everyday type of skirt:

Thisi s the Polo Ralph Lauren Deconsructed Patchwork Denim Skirt. Price tag: $268.00.  Details: midi skirt crafted with deconstructed jeans and godet inserts, sits high on the hip, 5 pocket styling, fringe hem, hem falls below the knee, a-line silhouette, button/zip fly with belt loops, cotton.

Folks, there is no pattern needed for this one.  You just need to decide how long you want your skirt and how wide you want the hem.  Here is a video from Levi on the basic process. All you need is a pair of jeans either your own or pre-owned.  Another pair of two might be required to create the godets.  The more shades the scrappier it will look.  To be honest after watching the video, I would do a little bit of finishing inside to reduce raveling.  Here is another tutorial on creating a jean skirt - Upcycling Jeans into a Skirt. Hope you are inspired.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Silk Top

 Here is a little bit of inspiration for late summer and early fall:

This is Lafayette 148 New York Adela Sleeveless Blouse.  Price tag: $598.00.  Details:  Approximately 27-inches from shoulder to hem, round neckline, sleeveless, relaxed fit, back neck slit with inside button, silk/elastine, dry clean only.

This top looks very similar to my favorite fabric-stores dot com freebie tank - Phoebe.  You need to have an account with this company to download free patterns. Here is a glimpse at the pattern:

This pattern will need to be fitted.  This pattern does not have a center back seam for a bit of shaping but you can add one.

Seriously, you can make several silk tanks for the price tag on this one.  Here are a few shops to consider:

1. Chinese ebay seller - stretch silk charmeuse

2.  NY Designer Fabrics - stretch silk charmeuse

3.  Mood Fabrics - stretch silk charmeuse

I have listed this from least expensive to most expensive.  Mood has the most colors of the fabric.  For a muslin fabric, I would use a polyester or rayon charmeuse before cutting into the more expensive fabric.  For me, it one took 1 yard of fabric to make a tank in the Phoebe.  Hope you are inspired to create something wondeful.

Happy Stitching!

Sewjo Returning...

 It has been a long has been since the end of April since I have turned my sewing machines on.   The sewjo has been on a long vacation.  In an attempt to get things going again, I decided to start on the mending pile.  The pile includes many items:

1.  A pair of pants for my Mom that needs shortening.  I do this out of love and will only do this sort of alterations for family members.

2.  I made flannel pjs a couple of years ago.  The elastic just gave out on them.  So so much as I dislike this type of mending, I am going to replace the elastic.  Ugh!  A lot of time and effort went into making the pjs and generally they last a very long time.  This will be worth my time to replace the elastic even if I am ripping out stitch and serging.  There are two sets of pjs.

3.  A pair of jeans for my husband.  I actually do not mind this type of mending.  This is just a general hole repair and does not take long to do.

4.  Replace elastic on a few of my slips.

I think this all that is mending that is hanging out on my sewing table but who knows what else I may find in the pile.  Hopefully, I can get this done fairly quickly and this will really get the ole sewjo going.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Bomber Sweater

 It time to start putting some thought into cooler weather items.  I found this bomber sweater that I thought was interesting:

This is the Lafayette 148 New York Cotton-Silk Tape Bomber Sweater.  Price tag:  $798.00.  Details:  Approximately 23-inches from shoulder to hem; ribbed neck, cuffs, and hems; stand collar, two-way zip front; long sleeves; fitted silhouette; cotton/silk; zipper face - polyester, lycra.  For close-up views, check out Neiman Marcus website.

This is a really nice casual jacket.  It comes in limited colors of black and white.  I think I really like this jacket but the price tag is not good.  At least, for me.

As  far as patterns, there are tons of bomber jacket patterns available. Almost every pattern company have a version but none that I could find have a similar collar.  So, you could just use your favorite bomber jacket pattern out of a sweater knit fabric of some type.  Knit Fabric dot com has a nice selection of sweater knits.  Cali Fabrics has a selection of mostly printed sweater knits.  I did find a pattern that looked similar (McCalls 3106).  It appears to be an older pattern and there are several available online.  It is more of a fitted jacket than a bomber but you could still use the sweater if you chose.

I am an affiliate of Knit Fabric dot com.  Any purchases made through a link will result in a small commission at no addition cost to you.  Thank you!

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!