Big, Bright Flowers

Hooray for a finished item that definitely works! I've been perfecting a slim pants pattern, and I needed to renew my enthusiasm with a quick and easy project almost certain to turn out well.

Image from Pattern Review

I used Simplicity 1693, and it turned out beautifully with no fitting issues at all, not that the fit is super important for this style. The collar turned out nicely and the back opening is a pretty detail, but it's totally unnecessary because the top goes over my head easily. My only disappointment with the pattern is that it doesn't include guides to cut bias to the appropriate length for the neck and arm holes, instead instructing sewists to use purchased bias tape. All other Simplicity patterns I've used have included a bias facing piece, and though I know I can figure out the length and cut my own bias, it's an extra step that I got used to not doing. I do appreciate that Simplicity tends to favor a bias finish instead of facing either way, though, especially since this is a good pattern for beginners. When I started sewing it was all facings all the time, and ugh, I was disgusted that facings were the method for finishing homemade clothes instead of the clean RTW finish. Thank goodness for the sewing blogs that soon introduced me to bias tape!

Thread loop made from pearl cotton

The fabric is a rayon challis purchased around New Year's for $2/yd during a Fabric Mart sale. It's a beautiful fabric - easy to sew and press, lovely to wear, perfect drape. The only thing is that it's a little too bright and wild for me. I knew that before buying it, but it was such a good price! I figured I could use it to test out a new pattern at least, and at best it would help me feel a bit more comfortable in bigger, brighter prints. We'll see how much it gets worn, but at least it's a bit more toned down under a cardigan!

Have you ever bought a piece fabric you knew didn't match your personality or style because it was good quality and a good price? Did you end up wearing the resulting garment much?

Archer Progress : Crisp Fabric

The Archer Sew Along may be officially finished, but of course I'm still enjoying working putting my shirt together. I'm really having fun with this pattern and the shirt is going together very well. It's fun to break out the precision sewing now and then!

My fabric is lovely, but the hand turned out to be a bit too crisp for this loose-fitting pattern. That first fitting was so disappointing as the rest of the shirt fit great, but then I had the idea to simply stitch that pleat at the yoke down a bit farther. It turned out especially well for me since I stitched the pleat backwards to begin with - was it a mistake, or did my subconscious know something about future fitting problems that I didn't??

Look how well the back fits now!

These photos are from last weekend and as now it's all done save the buttonholes, which my machine, a cheap Brother that is otherwise really fantastic, just can't handle. Since I like the shirt so much and the fabric shows needle marks, I really don't want to risk ruining it with lousy buttonholes. My mom has a lovely Bernina that makes buttonholes like a champ, and since I'm planning to visit in the next month I'll probably wait to do the buttonholes then. Argh, waiting will be tough... but good buttonholes are so worth it!

Finished: A Vintage Floral Scout

I just love this shirt! I've been admiring great versions of this top all over the internet, and finally got around to making my own. The Scout Tee is a really great pattern. Quick, well-drafted, sleeves are seriously easy to set in, and though loose fitting, the shape of the shirt is really quite flattering. The sleeves are the best cut I have come across yet, and the top even looks cute on a hanger! This was my first Grainline pattern, so I cut a size up just in case the bust measurements reflect a bigger cup size (my first experience with a Colette pattern taught me a lesson!), but I ended up taking it in a bit and in the future will go down a size.

Line drawing found here.

I bought this fabric a couple years ago at Winmil Fabrics in Boston after falling in love the moment I laid eyes on it. It cost a bit more than I usually spend on fabric, and I had to buy a whole three yards due to Winmil's remnant policy, but there was simply no question about its coming home with me.

I've been waiting endlessly for the perfect project to use this fabric, and it was unpacking my grandma's china with its similar floral pattern that provided the inspiration to just make a quick top. Somehow I was lucky enough to end up with this set of china that my grandma acquired in the early 1950's. My mom kept the set in storage for me during our Boston adventure, and it was so fun to get the whole set out and marvel at its beauty now that we're home in California. I'm in possession of such riches...

This is a decidedly casual top. I wore it to work last week and it just felt wrong with work pants! I enjoy having special, casual weekend tops though, and this one is absolutely perfect.

Archer Sew Along Begins!

Jen's Archer Sew Along begins today and I'm so happy to be participating! I've always wanted to participate in a sew along, since way back when Gertie first did her coat sew along, but it's never worked out - I was either too busy, not interested in the style, or the design was too easy and the pace too slow. This shirt sew along came at just the right time, and it's kind of the perfect project. Not so involved as to be overwhelming with my erratic and unpredictable schedule, but not so easy as to be too slow. I've never made a real button-up shirt with a collar stand and cuffs either, so I'm sure Jen's wisdom will be really helpful.

Line Drawing from Grainline Studio

I'm making the plain version (view A) out of a cotton rose print shirting I bought on super-sale from Fabric Mart in December. It might be a little crisp for Archer's looser fit, but I'm hoping it will soften a bit after a few more washings. I'm trying to replace a shirt that I bought in high school and wore constantly for ten years. In the end it was barely suitable for even wearing under sweaters, and it was officially put to rest when we packed up a mini-van for our Boston to SF move last October. I've had an eye out for a rose print to replace the shirt for a few years but it's been surprisingly hard to find the perfect fabric, and unfortunately this isn't it either. The flowers were described as being quarter-sized, which I thought may be too big, but they're actually even bigger than that, putting them in the too big to blend, too small to be chic range. I do like the colors and the print, though, and one can never have too many floral shirts! Here's one of those cool bathroom mirror photos to show scale:



I'm not making a muslin since I don't love the fabric and the fit looks pretty forgiving. This is a looser silhouette than I usually wear, but I'm excited to try it out. Many thanks to Jen for putting this on!

frosting for a new life

There's a lot of discussion out there about "cake" and "frosting" clothes, with many people saying they sew way too much frosting. I've always been the opposite, and sew way too much cake. I know that sounds like a good thing, and I do get a lot of wear out of the clothes I make, but sometimes I wish I were inclined to make pretty, flowery dresses too!

All cake and no frosting = boring.

For the last few years I have worked in a business casual office in New England, and wore mostly skirts and dresses with cardigans. Does it sound like I looked like a librarian? Because I actually was one, but unfortunately wasn't really all that cute and retro. Then we moved back home to California a few months ago (yay!) and I'm working from home, and I have nothing to wear. I still love dresses, but is it worth it to wear out tights while just at home? Is that an ascetic question?

Regardless, it's time for pants, pretty tops, comfy sweaters, and flats. Which really means, besides the pants part, it's time to sew frosting! I envision a closet full of pretty, relaxed blouses and camisoles, and thanks to a huge Fabric Mart sale earlier this year, this is going to be a reality!

On to pattern testing:*

Simplicity 2211

I made this blouse a couple months ago as a test run for S2211, the Lisette Market blouse. I had really high hopes, but sadly this top just doesn't work for me. It's so big in the back; I had to put in darts, take in the sides, and it's still not right. The top part fits okay, though, so maybe I can figure something out. In my disappointment about this top, though, I suddenly remembered that I have this one shoved in the back of my closet:

Simplicity 2593

I made this, oh, two years ago? I loved the fabric and it turned out well, but it had a twisted collar that looked terrible under a sweater, so I never actually wore it. Two minutes with the seam ripper, and I have exactly the sort of top that I've been coveting! I want to try these new patterns as well.

Views D, E, C minus the elastic

Peplums aren't out yet, are they?

Love everything Jen does

*i guess blog rules say your pictures should be the same width and fill the entire width of the column. sorry. not yet. maybe someday.