Rebecca page blouse and skirt

For this post, I have two garments to show you!  I found this beautiful coral colored stretch shirting from Fabric Mart and after deciding I must sew with more color once in a while, I snatched it up. 

It is so beautiful to work with!  I love FMs selection of designer fabrics.  They are such nice quality. 

I chose these two patterns, both from Rebecca Page. 

https://rebecca-page.com/product/ladies-tie-neck-blouse-pattern/

 

I like the ultra feminine designs of both these garments and the ties on both! 

For the skirt, I found this so pretty metallic suiting and knew it would make a great something.  I finally decided on this cute skirt design.  I ended up lining the skirt with some leftovers from my stash.  It worked beautifully. 

I love lining skirts.  They look so much smoother when worn.  

See how nicely the shirting gathered?

The waist tie is fun.

I am pretty happy with how this turned out!

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 

Another Sally Jean skirt

Are you like me and you have a ton of patterns but you keep going back to ones you really love?  I truly hope I am not alone! 

I made a denim Sally Jean skirt a few years ago and have worn it and worn it and worn it.  I love this skirt!  

It has classic styling and it fits me just right, right out of the package!  How awesome is that? 


This is a photo of my original make.  I just love it. 

Here's my newest make.  This time I used a home dec fabric that was suitable for home dec or clothing.  I of course made a skirt from it.  I just love all the colors in this print. 

We finally had a day where its cloudy bright and warm enough to wear something like this outdoors without freezing. 

Just look at all those colors in this fabric!  

Mustard yellow with gray, blue and white is my newest obsession.

Here are some of the details.  It has a coin pocket.  I chose to use a single row of topstitching. 

Fly zipper.  Not my best ever execution of a fly, but hopefully no one gets that close, know what I mean? 

Back patch pockets.  

Back two-piece yoke. 

I love my new skirt!

Thanks for reading!

Sue 

Sewing some separates!

For this month's Fabric Mart post, I knew I wanted to use this gorgeous cobalt and black viscose and mohair woven to make something.... the question was what to do!  It is too cold where I live to make a dress that doesn't need some sort of jacket, sweater, etc., so I also ordered this beautiful super wash wool jersey in deep black because in the Northern Plains, you need layers people!  Layers! 

Sorry about the indoor photos.  Like most of the nation, when I took these photos, we were in a deep freeze and the air temp just barely made it above zero degrees Fahrenheit.  I love and appreciate the quality of outdoor photos but I have standards, that is not freezing!    

That fun purple print is a sweater knit from my stash that I also purchased from FM quite some time ago.  The colors in it are just perfect with the cobalt and black.  Plus, I really to add some additional color in my life. 

All three fabrics sewed up dreamily.  Is that a word? 

Even though all three were awesome, the skirt is my favorite fabric.  I've never used a fabric with mohair in it and it just sewed and pressed beautifully.  This skirt will be a frequent rotation in my closet.

Here is a link to the McCall's pattern I used: Skirt pattern.  This is a vintage reproduction and I love the shape and lines of those patterns.  Dressing decades ago required style, am I right?

Of course I lined this skirt and since this is a dark fabric, I decided to have some fun with a big pop of color!

I am not sure what I was doing there, but at least you can see the vibrant lining I used!  The lining is also from FM and it is one of my favorite ranges of color--coralish, reddish, orangish.  So pretty!

I like having the option to wear the long black cardigan with the skirt and top and also the necessity as it's been pretty darn cold.  Just so you know, being middle aged, I am rarely cold these days, so if I say it's been cold, then believe me!

I did mention to the hubby that I sort of felt like a librarian--no offence to any of you that may be a librarian, this is just very conservative.

I also wanted to be able to wear the cardi and sweater with other things, like jeans!  

This super wash wool is just light, warm, and wonderful to work with!

It drapes just beautifully!  To stabilize the hems, I used a notion that you can purchase on FM's site.  SeweyeKeys is amazing and works magic!  If you've never used it before, try it.   It is fusible stabilizer to use on knit garments.  You press it on, turn and sew.  I've tried other brands you can purchase at locations such as JoAnns.  They are nearly as good as SeweyeKeys. 

If you are wondering, here are the patterns I used for the cardi and the top.  

Top: Jalie dolman top

Cardigan: McCall's 7476 cardigan

On to the fabric--

Here is a close up of the skirt fabric and lining.  Dark colors are really hard to photograph.  

Here is another try at the skirt fabric.  

Here is a closer look at the sweater knit.  It feels like it has some wool in it and it again sewed up beautifully.

Here is a closer look at the cardigan made from the wool knit.  I decided to use a decorative stitch on the pocket edges.  

I enjoyed making these separates that I will wear together and apart.  

Thanks for reading and I love reading your comments!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue

A little fall sewing--Lorie Jacket and Angela Wolf's fringe skirt

Starting late-ish summer, I like to start making some garments that will transition into fall.  When I found this boucle from Fabric Mart, I knew exactly what I was going to make--a sort of 'modern suit' for work.  

First of all, thanks to DD1 for taking the photos.  We took these in Louisiana, where it was super hot and humid that day.  

Pattern wise, I used the Style Arc Lorie jacket, one I've made before.  

The first one I made I used the self fringe trims at the yokes and center front.  This time, I knew I wanted to highlight the fringe on the skirt, plus fringe on both would have been too much.  

This is a cute little skirt pattern.  It is fully lined and you use self-fabric for the fringe.  Using a boucle works just great!  

I really love the lining fabric.  It is a Maggy London print, also from Fabric Mart.  I wish I would have bought an entire bolt of it as it is so fun and cheerful.

Here you can see me in process of the binding.  I used a lightweight denim I cut on the bias.  This fabric was in my stash.  I also decided to cut the front band the bias, just to add another bit of interest to the jacket.   

I really love how well the skirt fits.  I feel like this pattern runs large.  I started with a 14, per my measurements, took this in more than two inches.  Be aware of the sizing!  Before I sew in the darts on a skirt, I try it on and then pin where they should lie.  This works well for me.  

I did quite a few things to keep my sleeves hanging properly.  First, let me back up.  I interlined the front and back garment using fusible interfacing from Joanns.  For the sleeves, I did try interlining but it didn't look right as the sleeves looked stiff.  However, the sleeves were collapsing at the head so I took two layers of medium weight sew-in interfacing that was cut on the bias and attached those to the sleeve head.  This also didn't prove enough so I added another layer of hair canvas, also cut on the bias.  This was exactly what I needed. 

This skirt calls for an invisible zipper.  Don't be afraid of putting one in on a textured fabric.  Take your time, practice if necessary and then do it!

I think this fringe is super cute!  I want you to keep in mind that I am 5'7" and this length is unaltered.

The skirt is also lined with the fun print I used on the jacket lining.  

I am very happy with my new outfit!  

What's on your sewing table this time of year?

Sue :)