Scenic Route

...and a birthday library tote.   Tomorrow, God willing and United flies...I'll be in Honolulu with 3 of my Munchkins!  Cannot wait. I wanted a few new things so I drove over to Colorado Fabrics and picked up some rayon knits--all the flat folds were 50% off.  This happens twice a year and is a major score.  Worth the drive. So, I made up all 3 in Maria of Denmark's Kimono T.  This is my all-time favorite go-to T.   Perfect with my Magic Pencil skirts in stretch denim and twill. Hmm...I pretty sure I put this on the dress form backwards... Then, Kelby's mom said he could really use a new library tote--they  pretty much go every week :-) I used outdoor fabric--50% off at Joannes and scored a piece of bright orange (his favorite color) on the 50%-off remnant pile. another pocket on the back Inside pocket for library card I'm pretty pleased with this project :) Aloha!

Busy but good week--AND got quite a bit of sewing done!  I had a cutting-out marathon last Sunday so was fun to sit down and just sew the rest of the week.   First out was this whacky number that I plan to sleep in with a pair of Jailie pj shorts I made to go with a sister top from the same pattern that I made last year in an equally crazy print that I feel ridiculous wearing out.  But it's been great to sleep in on hot nights!  Hey look how that big motif ended up in a perfect spot top center front.  Total accident, there! This was made from a cotton voile from Butterick 6215.  Last make for it I think.  The pockets are cute but take longer than the whole rest of the shirt.  I slit the sleeves just because. Also,  I started sewing in the mornings instead of waiting until afternoons after  everything else is done.  There is just something about afternoons--they tend to unravel.  And change with every phone ca...

What to do with 2ish yards of silk?  Make a kimono!  ...and I was so attracted to Simplicity 1381 out of all the kimono patterns available.  View C, the one being modeled, in particular.  The silk was purchased during a trip to Hong Kong --at the Western Market (insert long sigh of fond longing) and was gorgeous to work with.  I did have to purchase more silk here for the bands as I was short .     I flat felled the seams and turned and hand stitched the collar and wrist bands, which I regretted.  Big pain.     I really like this make and it feels so luxurious to wear.  The drape is really nice and I like the length, too--for either pants or skirts/dresses. I liked it so much I made another out of cotton gauze from Joannes, using leftover embroidered cotton batiste, also from Joannes.   umm...not sure I like it.  I have yet to wear it out even though I've put it on several times to do so.  I...

Shirt love. In my long blogging absence I have actually been doing a lot of sewing and just general living.  While still pursuing the Perfect Pant (and making progress!), I have veered off that road into Shirt Land.  After watching countless YouTubes done by Peggy Sagers of Silhouette Patterns, I finally ordered up her   #600, The Classic Blouse .  After sewing 40+ years, I have to say I've picked up many new ways of sewing--and thinking about sewing & fashion from Peggy.   Anyhoo...the pattern is amazing!!!!  Silhouette patterns come in cup sizes and while the C cup fits me perfectly right out of the envelope!  I tweaked the armhole for sleeveless and the coverage I like there but other than that:  perfection.  Love the collar/facing methods.  Love the length and gentle shirt tail hem.   I've been so excited I've made 4!  Skirts (Magic Pencil of course), tops and sandals are my uniform for summer so all are sleevel...

I choose to always be a student of what I love That's a quote from Adriene Mishler from Yoga with Adriene .  Not sure if that's original with Adriene, but I love, love her yoga on YouTube and I love that quote.   Well...this is  a journey.  Of making my own pants.  I do have two pair of wearable pants to show for recent effort.  Mostly for wearing around the house I think. First, Burda 5/2013 117A  I made up in a very soft cotton pin wale corduroy.   I've made this up twice before in linen.  I think the corduroy is just not the right fabric.  But soft and comfy.  Not bad. Then I made up another Style Arc Barb Pant in Ponte Rome.  Hmm.  Not the fit/look I was aiming for and the ponte stretches out.  But again, they're soft and comfy and will get some wear on stay-at-home days.  No pride, right?  I think the flat bum needs to be addressed horizontally through the hip instead of...

...and, OK, another vest.  We'll get this out of the way first thing: McCalls 7290 I'm not sure about this one.  The fabric is an oh-so-soft rayon/spandex knit from Joann's.  And oh-so-stretchy.  We'll see how much it gets worn.  Looks a bit like a lab coat.  Hmm.  But it's so soft! McCalls 7290 On to pants.   I am determined to get a decent pair of wovens with a contour waistband this year.  I no longer want to spend big money on pants that really don't fit so hot.  I just spent untold time o n McCalls 6361, a Palmer Pletsch offering.  I even have their Craftsy class.  I've had great success with other PP tissue fitting projects, but I guess I'm a bit dense because tissue fitting pants was nuts.   I'm going to skip the trauma and just state that the whole mess, including the muslin, ended up in the bin.   I've actually had reasonable success with pants in the past few years.  ...

Hey, there is dialogue between others like me who are 2 years late in joining in Collette's Wardrobe Architect!  I'm really pleased to see this as I had just planned to do this on my own and had even downloaded the worksheets in late December.  You can find more info on   Collette's blog I have to say that I have been reaping the rewards of narrowing my color palette the last few years.  Now everything seems to go together color-wise.  It's a little trickier with shapes, lengths, etc.; so am hoping to work on that with the Wardrobe Architect info. All that said, last week I finished up Vogue 8793 in gray & pink.  This is my 3rd make of this pattern though I don't get as wild and crazy mixing prints as the pattern suggests :-)  The fabric is a super soft cotton jersey from JoAnn's.  You know, I've had great luck with their line of sew classic cotton knits.  They're great to sew and wear really well I think that's the...

or...an obsessive interest in vests.   Since my backside seems to have migrated around to my front and I am still working on that perfect pair of pants for a flat behind, I figure the fastest fix for that is just to cover it.  With vests. The obsession took hold about a year ago and here's some of what actually got made in 2015: McCalls 7057 in a soft wool-y knit from Colorado Fabrics McCalls 6208  from a black Ponte and the white what I'm guessing is a scuba knit.  By tacking down the flapping lapels I gained surprise pockets!   McCalls 6208 McCalls 6208 Simplicity 2148 from a gorgeous lighter weight stretch velour I got in UB McCalls 6208 from a Ponte McCalls 6208 McCalls 6208 Vogue 1453 from a lovely drape-y and soft rayon from umm, can't remember Vogue 1453 Vogue 1453 There they are.  I think a bit more fitting--wide elastic along the back waist, darts, something, is c...