True Bias Ogden Cami

Remember when I mentioned I was trying to scrap bust?  Welp, here's another project that does just that!  

This is the Ogden Cami by True Bias.It's been well reviewed and well loved in the sewing community.  Now that I've made one, I can totally see why!  

This has classic styling, looks good on a variety of shapes and sizes and is such a workhorse in your wardrobe!   Image from True Bias site.  

My version is made from Viole.  This fabric is from My Sewing Shoppe in Baton Rouge. I think it is the perfect weight for this.

While this is a bit low-cut, it works for date night or with a little cami or jacket for work.

No side boob shows!  Great little pattern!

I'll be making more!

Sue

Another Olive...

Yep, I made another.  I am trying to do some reorganizing as I my hubby is creating a more light-filled sewing space for me in another room in my home.  This will be a good thing.  There's a spacious closet and the presence of more light is so appealing to me.  

That, however leaves me with a lot to go through to make sure I truly want/need it or do I use it now and get it out of the way.  Some of the remnants are so precious to me that I am trying to use them now so they don't get lost, misplaced, or accidently tossed.  

Today, I made another SA Olive Spliced tee.  I really love how this pattern fits me.  

I am such a sucker for a woven tee.  This can be made from either a knit or a woven.  Patterns that do double duty have a special place in my heart!  

I just adore the navy viole print.  I made a skirt and top from it and when I've worn it, people have stopped me to ask about my outfit. That always makes a sewer happy!

This pattern fits me really well and I can totally see making more in the future, especially with long sleeves for fall.

I was also pleased I had enough to make a bias band for the neckline as I think it is the perfect finishing touch.  This navy print was originally purchased on a trip to see my daughter in Baton Rouge.  The store name is My Sewing Shoppe.

The tealish solid is from my stash.  While this isn't a remnant, the color is perfect.  I can see making a cute little kimono out of it for a light layer this summer.

Closer up of the neckband!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

A little summer sewing...StyleArc Ariel Skirt and Harmony Woven Top

If you've seen my reviews before, you know I am a SA mega fan!  I simply love their patterns.  I was so excited to try this wrap skirt called the Ariel.  Here it is: 

This goes together fast and is so well drafted.  Normally, I shy away from wrap skirts since they tend to be difficult to keep the goods under wrap when walking, but not with this pattern.  This one stays put!  

For my top, I created another Harmony Woven Top, again by StyleArc.  

I am so into flounces these days.  I can hardly believe it but I find them so feminine and cute.  Plus, they are fun to wear.  

Here's my rendition: 

We had a huge rainstorm over night and lots of fog this morning.  Enough of the weather, back to the outfit!

The only deviation for me was to make just one flounce on the top.  I like the double, but since I've already made one of these, and I am working on another, three of the exact same top is a bit much.

For the top, my fit adjustments were to lengthen from the shoulder to the apex, the bust curve, and the back between the shoulder blades and waistline.

For the skirt, I made zero adjustments. 

This fabric!  I purchased it on a recent trip to Baton Rouge to see my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.  I arrived back home three days ago and whipped this out fairly fast!

This skirt is so comfortable.  It has an elastic waistline for the majority of it with a flat front where the wrap meets.  Plus, check out the flounce!

Close up time!  This is the sleeve.  I love making narrow hems.  I stitch 1/4" from the edge, turn and press, and press again.  It gives me a very precise edge.

Here's the inside of the skirt flounce.  You can see what I mean with the precision.  

The flounce is also edge-stitched or top-stitched in place.  I love that added detail.

Like I mentioned before, I have this top cut out and have begun putting it together for a third.  I just really love it.  I am sure I will make the skirt again as well.  I'd love to have it in a solid.

Thanks for reading!

Sue 

Simplicity 8790 in Stof

As soon as this pattern came out, I began hoping it would show up at my local JoAnns.  Once it was sold out and the next time Simplicity was on sale, I was finally able to get it in my hot little hands. 



I am such a sucker for knit dress and I love hoods.  Simplicity's embracing of Indy pattern designers is awesome!  This pattern is by Sew House Seven.  I've made several of their designs and have had great success.  I will count this one as successful too! 

Easy fit, comfortable, and it's a knit dress!  What more can you ask for?  It also has these great roomy patch pockets. 

Here's a close-up of the front portion of the hood.  The very front of the hood has a high neckline.  At first I wondered if I should redraw it but decided to leave it alone.  One thing you'll notice about the pattern envelope is that for this view, the lovely young lady is wearing her hood up so you can't see how high the neckline is. 

Here's the back of the hood.  It's rather small and doesn't overpower the dress or the back neckline. 

Here's a look at the pockets.  They are nice and deep.  To keep these from sagging or getting wonky, I used SewKeysE woven stay tape on the sides and double sided hem tape on the top portion of the pocket. 

My photographer, always gets me with goofy looks on my face. 
 

We had to take photos outside today.  It was above zero degrees, the sun is shining, and the wind isn't really blowing.  Count today as a win! 

The blousing is just perfect on this, I think.  Not too much, not too little. 

Here's a look at the back, or I should say side-back.  I should mention the fabric.  This is a Stof knit that I purchased from a recent trip to see my daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law.  I wish we had this nice of knits locally.   

Thanks for reading!  I hope your weather is improving where you live!

Sue

The Abby Cardi by StyleArc

I think it's safe to say that I am a huge SA fan.  I made this cardi previously but sort of forgot about the pattern until Elizabeth hosted her Day to Night Dress challenge.  For my dress, I knew for evening I wanted to make a black cardi with some umph. 

I really love this dress.  It's casual but can also be dressy.  The fabric is a textured knit in this stunning color!  

Now you can see it with my Abby Cardi.  This is a great pattern!  

It goes together quickly and is designed beautifully!

I love how it ties!  You can also wear it loose and open, but I currently love wearing it tied at the waist.

A peek at the inside! 

My normal alterations include lengthening from the shoulder to the apex, lengthening the bust curve, lengthening the back from the shoulder to the waist.  SA patterns fit me well in the sleeve length and are exceptionally well drafted.

Here are a few details.  I used a decorative stitch on my machine to cover the outside seams and the hems.  I also always use SewKeysE hem tape to stabilize prior to stitching by hems.  At the neckline, I stabilized using SewKeysE stabilizer tape.  If you've never tried this stuff, you must!  Its awesome and makes sewing knits so successful! 

Thanks for reading!  In case you are wondering, this is a jet black knit that's cotton-lycra manufactured by Stof.  I really love this stuff!

Sue

More summer sewing: McCall's 7432

How is summer flying by so quickly?  I knew I had several fabrics in my stash I planned on using before fall set in, so I got busy!

Here's the pattern I used: 

I love the simplicity of it.  It's a classic style, super easy, well drafted...need I go on?

This blue fabric is an ITY knit which works really well for this dress.  I so love the royal blue with white and I am a sucker for a paisley print.

I only had enough fabric to make this in a knee-length, which is fine.  This length is nice and cool to wear.

I love how this fabric skims your body, it doesn't cling, making it a great choice for this pattern.

I've been playing a lot with fit, and have discovered that I need to widen the shoulders at my upper back.  This is such an easy alteration to make.

Look at how well this dress hangs in this fabric!  

For my second version, I used a Stof knit that's 94/95% cotton and the rest is lycra.  This fabric feels just lovely on your body.

It doesn't glide from the shoulders like the ITY knit, but that's okay.

I really wanted to do something a bit different so I played with the sleeves.

I cut the sleeve pattern in half, added a hem allowance, and used the ties from Jalie's new tee pattern.  I would have just used Jalie's sleeves, but when I walked the pattern pieces, they were too large for this dress.  Plus, other reviewers mentioned they were difficult to get to look like the pattern photo, which shows them tied tightly.

Fitting is trickier with these cotton knits.  Everything seems to show!  I ended up making a dart at the bust, which btw, wasn't needed on the ITY knit.

I put in an inch at the hemline, as it hangs so much nicer on this cotton knit.  Also, the neckband drooped so I fixed that by opening up a stitch or two on the inside of the neckband, inserting 1/8" elastic, getting the length just right, sewing the ends of the elastic together, and stitching the neckband closed.  Sorry, no photo of that, but trust me, much better!

I worked hard to get all these skinny stripes lined up at the side seams and the effort paid off!

I am sure I will revisit this pattern when I want to make winter/cold weather dresses!

Thanks for reading!

Sue