Inspiration...Striped Shirt

Moving on to cooler weather.  Today's inspiration is a long sleeved shirt:

This is the Striped Button Down Cotton Shirt by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $598.00.  Details: approximately 31-inches from the shoulder to hem, pointed collar, button front, long sleeves, button cuff, chest pocket, box-pleat back yoke, shirt tail hem, relaxed fit, unlined. 

This is a classic shirt pattern and this is the pattern I would use:

This is the Liesl & Co Classic Shirt pattern.  I have this shirt pattern fitted already and intend to use it a lot.  It is not as relaxed as the inspiration photo but I think you could get away with adding a bit at the sides.

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Happy Stitching!

Interesting Fabric...

 As I start planning the fall/winter, I was looking around the knitfabric.com website for any interesting fabrics that might add new and exciting to the mix.  Yes, I am definitely trying to use what I have but I know from past experience that something different needs to be added to keep it interesting.  Anyway, I did find an interesting fabric but it is definitely not a fall/winter item.  Here it is:

This is a double gauze jersey (link for all available double gauze jersey).  The pictured item is Painted Daisies on Rose Double Gauze Jersey.  

I think that I am in love.  There are at least three colors that I would love to have.  This fabric is 150gsm or 4.4 oz per square yard which makes it fairly lightweight and perfect for hot summer days.  I have never sewn with a gauze much less a gauze jersey.  Somehow, I would think that the recovery might be an issue.  It states that there is a horizontal stretch.  I also found a Double Gauze T-Shirt pattern at Wardrobe by Me.  

I could not find any information on sewing with this type of fabric.  Lots of sewing with double gauze but not the double gauze jersey.    I think I would be tempted to use this as a woven verses as a knit. The fabric is a little pricey but sometimes it is okay to spurge.  My tank top pattern might just be perfect but how many tanks do I need?

Have you seen this fabric in jersey?  Have you used this fabric?  How did it turn out?

I am an affiliate of knitfabric.com.  Some of the links above are affiliate links.  I would get a small commission should you decide to purchase through one of my links at no cost to you,

Happy Stitching!

Project Planning...

 It is time to really get going on planning fall/winter projects.  I have a coat project planned but I want some dresses as well.  I started with shopping the stash and this is something I really need to do instead of looking for new fabric.  Here is what the stash offered up:

This is a grey knit fabric with pinks and teals.  I think it is a jersey.  There is three yards which is plenty for a long sleeve knit dress.

This piece is three yards also.  Even though the picture looks light grey it is a dark teal color ponte roma. To me the fabric looks more like a teal and black rather than just a solid teal.

Since both pieces will allow the creation of a long sleeve dress, I need to pick a pattern.  Here are my thoughts for now:

This is the Seamwork Piedra Dress.  I am fairly certain that the grey knit was purchased with this pattern in mind.  So, I am going to attempt to fit the pattern which means even more stash fabric will disappear. 

This is the Seamwork Tai Dress & Tunic pattern.  The dark teal fabric would probably do well in this fabric.  Sigh! Another pattern that needs fitting.  

I have a time to change my mind on the patterns.  I probably will not on the grey fabric but I might on the teal. 

Fitting takes a lot of time and it is really a shame not to take advantage of making multiples of an item once it has been fitting.  Wish me luck as I have three projects planned so far and all three require the patterns to be fitted.

Happy Stitching!

Itch to Stitch Summer Promotion...

  Itch to Stitch will be having a summer promotion.  Once a week one pattern will be on special for 24 hours. Today's special is:

The Kalispell Dress pdf pattern.  The pattern is $7.00 till 12pm mountain time today. Here is the details:

• Options for A, B, C, D and DD cups
• Options for cap sleeves and flare sleeves
• V neck
• Front button closure with band
• Bodice front and back princess seams
• Full skirt with inverted box pleats
• Ample in-seam pockets
• Layers feature (print only the sizes you need)
• Sizes 00 - 20
• Intermediate sewing skill level

Check out the blog post with all the tester versions of the dress.  Fantastic dress for the summer heat.

Please note that this offer can not be combined with other promotions.  Discount will be applied automatically during the check out process.  Be sure to check out the blog post to see all the beautiful variations.

I am an Itch to Stitch affiliate.   Any purchases made through a link on this page will result in a small commission to me at no cost to you.  All purchasing discounts still apply.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Pintuck Linen Popover Dress

 There is nothing better on a hot summer than a loose fitting dress.  This dress is just that:

This is the vintage Linen Pintuck Popover Dress by Lafayette 148 New York.  Price tag: $998.00.  Details:  relaxed silhouette, jewel neckline, dolman above elbow sleeve, cuffed sleeve, button-loop half placket, seam pockets, pintuck and ladder stitch detail, shirring at side waist cutline, below knee length, semi-sheer, 100% linen, machine wash cold or dry-clean. Here is a close-up of the top:

Close-up of the pintucks, the entredeux, and the button placket.  I love seeing thiese heirloom techniques on modern dresses cause we can do it too.  The pintucks and entredeux is also on the back.  

If I was making this, I would make the center panels, button placket (front only), and then stitch the entredeux.  I am not sure if I would keep the dolman sleeve.  The dolman sleeve would make it easier to sew if you had a pattern with those details.  Of course, you could make the pattern have those details by cutting on the sleeve but there could be more to it than simple aligning the sleeve with the body of the pattern.  

I would be tempted to change up a pattern that I have used a few times. 

This is The Camber Set by Merchant & Mills.  The dress would need some minor changes to get it to look like inspiration dress.  First, you would need to decide whether or not to keep the dolman sleeve.  Here's a tutorial for changing to a dolman sleeve.  Here is a video to get the loop button placket started. Looks easy.  Next, I would split the dress starting at the mid-shoulder to the hem using the fold as a straight edge.  The fabric for the center panel will depend on how many tucks you want and how deep.  

Hope you are inspired.

Happy Stitching!