Rebecca Page Sonia Skirt

Hi all,

Yes, I've been sewing.  Sewing up a storm actually, but I've been pattern testing and that takes time and you need to wait for the pattern release in order to post.  

Welp, that day has come!  

I was lucky enough to get to make this adorable skirt.  I love this pattern!  It is a fun and fast make and depending on your fabric choice, you can make this super casual or dressy.  It's up to you!  

I used a fabric from my staff.  This is a crepe in a rich print.  I can't remember where I got it but I suspect it was a Fabric Mart purchase.  This fabric was lovely to sew.  I am now a bit sad I waited so long to stitch it up.

This skirt definitely has a swish factor. 

Those little pockets are really nice too.  I made the midi length.  If I had enough fabric, I would have made it longer but I didn't.  With super swishy skirts like this, they are a bit of fabric hogs.

I love the fit of this straight from the package.  I made zero alterations to it.  I simply matched my measurements to the pattern and it fits perfectly.

I also like the belt loops.  Luckily, I had the black textured belt and it works with this quite well.

See how full this is?  I should also mention that I covered my own buttons for this.  I knew the buttons on this had to be special and covering your own was just the right touch.

My top, is the Itch-to-stitch Bellavista top in the softest knit from Sly Fox Fabrics.

  

I've made this top numerous times and I still plan on more.  How's that for an endorsement?  

But back to the fabric...

I found Sly Foxo online and went ahead and purchased the knit in several colors.  I am so happy with how this fabric looks, performs, and feels, that as soon as I make the four or so tops I plan to with what I have in my stash, that I'll order every available color.  It's amazing!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

StyleArc Sorrento Skirt

Oh my goodness, have you checked out this newish pattern by StyleArc?  

This is so on-trend right now with the midi length and asymmetrical flounces.  This is described as, "On-trend midi length skirt featuring asymmetrical flounces and an elastic waist.  The "A" line shape fall beautifully into a double angled flounce."  

What drew me to this pattern was of course, the flounces!  I am loving this look.  I feel like it's so feminine and flirty.  

This skirt sews up so quickly!  Honestly, it takes longer to narrow hem all those edges than it does to cut this out and sew together.

Use a fabric with excellent drape.  I used a crepe from Fabric Mart.  This is really nice fabric that didn't cost a fortune.

I am a huge fan of elastic waistbands and this one is cut as one piece that's seemed in the center back.  Even though it's elastic waisted, you'd never know.  It still looks polished and nice.

And that DRAPE!  I love my new skirt!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

 

StyleArc Miley Top

Here's a fun little top for you to view today.  This is the Miley Woven top by my beloved StyleArc. Just look at those sleeves!

This went together easily and fairly quickly.  Isn't that just a wondering thing once in a while?

Sorry about the indoor photos but it was raining all day long.  

For this top, I used a silky print from JoAnns.  It feels like a crepe with some of that wonderful spongy quality it can have.  I love the colors for fall!

I made my usual alterations after I flat pattern measured.  This includes adding to the bust curve and then adding the same amount to the area between the shoulder blade and waistline.  That's it.

These sleeves are the highlight of the pattern and the fun part!  You make a casing and attach your longer tie at the top of that casing.  To gather it into soft folds, you pull on that tie and attach it to the lower tie that's attached at the flounce.

The longest part of making this blouse/top is hemming the flounces!

I'll be making this again!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Finally jumping on the Kimono train

Happy December everyone! 
I wanted to share my latest post from Fabric Mart--I finally made a Kimono.  Everyone around me has been wearing super cute ones so I finally decided to create one. 

I just LOVE This fabric!  It is a poly woven and those colors are so vibrant!  This fabric came from Fabric Mart.  It is from a famous dress designer.  

Here is the pattern I used: 

McCall's 7200 (image from Sewing Pattern Review).  As you can see, mine is longer with longer sleeves.  There are some variations with the pattern.  

I chose to keep this super simple to really show off that fabric.  I can't tell you how much prettier this is in person.  

For fitting, I know this is a loose-fitting garment, but it still needs to fit in all the right places.  I lengthened from the shoulder to the apex and lengthened the bust curve.  

On the back of the garment, I added 1" total between the shoulder blades at the intersection of the neck and the shoulder.  I also added an inch at shoulder blade level.  

For the length of this Kimono, I added 6 inches.  

I decided to hand sew the facings in place along with the hems.  Hand sewing can be so very relaxing.

That's it!  A fast and easy make but make sure you fit it to you so you look fabulous!

Thanks for reading!

Sue 

Summer Work clothes

Summer work clothes!

I am going to be starting a more professional job at the end of the summer and need some additional clothes that are appropriate for my new position.  I love maxi dresses, and have several, but noticed I didn't have any maxi skirts.  What?  They are so comfortable and I've made a bucket load for one of my daughters.  I decided to make one for myself with a coordinating top and a little jacket, just in case it gets chilly in an air-conditioned office.

I fell in love with this sparkly black and white knit.  I know, I know.  I use a lot of black and white when I sew but I love how effortless it is to put together.  This knit is soooo soft and that hint of sparkle is an added treat!  It doesn't seem to be available anymore but there are lovely other knits available, even in black and white!

This skirt is a TNT pattern for me.  It is super simple with two side seams and a waistband.  It literally takes me an hour to make!  I don't like to string elastic through a casing so I ended up sewing the two elastic ends together, stuffing them into the waistband, and then stitching the waistband to the skirt.  Super simple and no opening to fiddle with when you're done!

For the top, this is a new to me pattern.  This is the StyleArc Seaside Sue top.  I love the v-neck, which I don't sew a lot of but I decided I needed more of this style in my wardrobe.



This knit was easy to work with.  It washes and dries beautifully, is comfortable and I am glad I made these into separates.  The top will work great with both black and white pants and the skirt will work with other tops as well.

I also wanted to make a very light little jacket to wear as everyone tells me my new office is very cold in the summer.  I am rarely cold, so I can't imagine being cold but wanted to make this little jacket just in case.  This is another StyleArc pattern called the Marley Woven Shirt.

I thought it would be perfect for a lightweight shirt to wear over a sleeveless top or dress.

This is made from a light-weight crepe.  I love crepe.  It is easy to work with and is so awesome to wear.  I will probably keep this in my office for the warmer weather months to ward off the possible chill.

Both of these fabrics were great to sew with, washed and dried beautifully, and will make some very functional pieces in my wardrobe.

Thanks for reading!
Sue from Ilove2sew!

Black and gray--not boring!

My go to colors for winter--black, white, and gray...boring? 

  


It doesn't have to be!  



Even though they could be considered boring by some, consider the pattern on the fabric and the design silhouette before giving your opinion please!  

With the right shape for the fabric and the right execution, black, white and gray can be somewhat exciting if not loads of fun!  That 'spot' that appears to be on the fabric is really not there, that is from the my camera.  I do love how my top-stitching looks on the seams.  I like to use a triple-stitch or a stretch-stitch for most of my top-stitching.  I love how it emphasizes that part of the design.

 

I choose a sweater knit in black and white that is so soft, so luscious, and so wonderful to work with! I want a pair of pajamas made from this fabric, it is that wonderful on your skin!  

The gray is a crepe with a wonderful texture that you expect from a crepe.  I love how it looks in the jacket I made. 

I used a StyleArc pattern for my jacket.  It is the Allegra jacket and I just think the shape is so much fun and something totally out of the ordinary for me to sew together.

It has very deep raglan sleeves giving it a distinctive look.  The crepe does a great job of showing the dramatic lines of the jacket and doesn't droop which would mask the look.

Isn't this sweater knit so cute?  I totally matched the strips like a boss!  

In order to keep the sweater knit from stretching out, after I staystitched the neckline, I applied stay-tape at that seamline with just about 1/8" extending into the seam allowance.  Next, I applied the neckband which I cut on the cross-grain to give it a bit of a different look.  Check the stretch before you do this to make sure you can pull it on and off over your head.

I used clear elastic at the shoulder seam to stabilize that area.  

To stabilize the hems on the shoulders and lower hemline, I used Sewekeyes hem tape in 1/2" and 1".  That stuff is just magical on stretchy knits.

I made my usual alterations for the dress: swayback adjustment, FBA, and sloping shoulder adjustment.  Based on the way the jacket is designed, I went down a size.  I normally sew a 12 but for this over-sized jacket, I made a 10.  I like how both fit.  

I hope you'll try some basic colors you love for winter in some unconventional shapes and see what you come up with!  I love my new outfit!

Thanks for reading!

Sue 

I Lu Lu, do you?

How fun is this tunic from StyleArc?  I think it is super, duper fun! 

                   

I made it yesterday afternoon and as you'll see from my photos, wore it today so there are some wrinkles that I hope you'll ignore!

I purchased this as a PDF from StyleArc's Etsy store.  Have you gone there yet?  Not only are the patterns cheaper, but also it is instant gratification!  You can also order a size range.  My typical size for StyleArc is a 12 so at the Etsy store, I purchase the range of sizes from 10 to 14.  That way, if a garment is super over-sized, I can print off and put together the size 10.  

                   

This pattern has some interesting details that caught my eye.  I LOVE neck and sleeve bands!  There aren't created from merely cutting a wide strip and then folding, there are separate pieces that are sewn together to create the shaped sleeve bands.  I really, really love this detail!

                 

This is how this garment fit me straight from the package, so to speak!  Oops, let me say that I almost always make a swayback adjustment and I did here as well.  That was my only adjustment to the fit. When I make this again, I am going to consider make an FBA and add darts.  Notice, there isn't really any shaping to this garment which I was more than okay with.  We are having one heck of a HOT and HUMID summer as I am sure most of the country is but I don't really want any tops hugging my curves!

Let's talk about the fabric a moment, shall we?  I love this coral crepe.  I don't typically sew with crepe and while it is just lovely to look at and the finished garment I think looks pretty darn good, it has sort of a spongy-quality that was a little frustrating to get a sharp press with at the sleeve and neckline bands.  I ended up hitting those areas with a super hot iron, a pressing cloth, and a lot of steam.  That helped tremendously!  

                   

If you've made StyleArc patterns in the past, you will realize that the strength of this pattern company is their drafting, not their directions.  I had read other reviewers comment the directions for attaching the lower skirt to the bodice was difficult to understand, so I look at the diagram that was included with the pattern download and it all made sense.  

I love this tunic.  I hope to make another at some point in a lovely silk or similarly silky fabric.  

As always, thank you for reading!

I love your comments!

Sue