Fall’n
I’m sure you have seen the new fall Vogue patterns circulating the inna-nets. I couldn’t help but swoon over this Gucci inspired jacket. And per usual, I’m still sewing from my stash. Before I purchased the Vogue 1643 pattern, I had in mind houndstooth. Lucky for me I had 3 different colors of houndstooth fabric to choose from. Just when I thought things couldn’t get better for this project, Joann had a $5 sale on Vogue patterns and I saved some coins. What do you think I did with my savings? Hummm buttons and ribbon, don’t mind if I do. I literally bought 3 different ribbon options but in the end (with some help from my IG friends) tan and black ribbon won.
construction
If you’re not a patient sewer I would rethink this project! This is not one you’re going to rush through….well, I wouldn’t suggest you rush. If you are familiar with sewing blazers or lined jackets you should not have a problem with this pattern. I feel the most time spent is on the ribbon. Steaming is so important, especially for the ribbon. I’m a little embarrassed to say I do not own a tailors ham! Whaaaaat? Are you crazy Nef?…(you must be thinking) I have actually managed not to buy one after years of sewing. But, when I got to my sleeves I was ready to buy lol. I have made other jackets and coats without it but this was most definitely the last one. I added the lining and I used a black crepe fabric for my lining. This baby will definitely keep me warm in the winter.
Let’s talk buttons!
This jacket requires 16 shank buttons (you’ve been warned okurrr). I just so happen to find enough at Joann to get the job done and they are flowers, my favorite. Okay friends it’s Story time! While I was sewing the buttons on the sleeves, there was a gnat flying around my sewing room. I fanned it away and proceeded to put pins in place for the 4 buttons. The top button complete and 3 pins remain in the sleeve. Here’s comes this doggon gnat again. This time the gnat lands on my palm and what do I do? I dropped the needle and thread and clap my hands together to kill it. What the hell just happened? I clapped a pin through and through my entire hand at my pointer finger knuckle area. My pins are long and sharp but my claps are apparently very strong lol. Don’t worry I’m alive to tell this story, haha. So I slowly pulled the pin out of my hand and while removing it I felt a slight pain but not much. Not one drop of blood surprisingly. Sooooo the moral of this story is, don’t try to kill gnats while sewing, EVER! You might not be as lucky as I was.
I can say with confidence that this jacket is killer fashion lol.
Pattern Review
Overall this pattern rocked my world. I took my time and enjoyed the process of creating this piece and I’m very please with the fit and results. the pattern has a variety of views and sewing options. I choose the longer length jacket and styled it with jean shorts, a body suit, boots, and a hat. Style wise, this jacket is very versatile for fall/winter. This jacket will get plenty of wear this season. Tell me what you think about it below!
Peace & Blessings
Sunflower Sloanes
Sunflower
Summer is officially over and the leaves are falling. But I can’t help but feel like the Fall breeze is far far away. Counting down to fall, I went to a beautiful sunflower field and managed to even pick a few sunflowers to take home. My plan was to keep them alive and grow my own sunflowers…I failed miserably lol.
Sloanes
Victory Patterns recently released the Sloane Overalls and Sloane pants and I fell in love. I decided to make the overalls first and I must say they are so good.
Pattern & Construction
The Sloane overalls are available in PDF print. Luckily, I’ve had a little practice with pdf’s lately so this wasn’t a big problem for me. Both the pants and overalls have the option to add the Tummy Stay (which I am in love with and want to add to all my makes). Then there are optional topstitching (I recommend) that requires a little more construction time but so worth it. I choose a wool blend I had from a previous project and I literally scrap busted to make these overalls work. Would you believe when I was all done I found more of this fabric in my stash and I have enough to complete a pencil skirt? This is what happens when you don’t organize your fabric.
Okay back to the Sloanes. The pattern was very detailed and so easy to read. If you’re nervous about pdf patterns like I once was, this is one you shouldn’t fear. Obviously the Sloanes have an exposed front zipper. This is where you might experience a slight challenge (well I definitely did). Installing the zipper wasn’t the problem. The problem was finding a zipper long enough. For my sizing I needed a 17.5” zipper. I was able to find a 36” zipper in the color I wanted. I did shorten the zipper and replace the ends with the original zipper stops. If you’re not familiar with this process Victory Patterns has a tutorial and you can also find videos on YouTube.
I’d like to think the sewing time for this pattern was about 5-6 hours but I think it also depends on your speed and if you will be adding the topstitching.
Overall I loved creating these overalls and I’m most definitely obsessed with overalls going into Fall and Winter.
As always thanks for stopping by. Drop a comment below and tell me what you think of my Sloanes. If you’re creating Sloane’s or already made a pair, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Peace and Blessings!
Pink panther
Think Pink!
I absolutely love pink and I couldn’t help but notice my wardrobe was lacking in pink separates. So what do I do with this stretch pointe knit from Joann? Make a suit, duh.
My inspiration for this suit blossomed around January of this year when I saw Tracee Ellis Ross lounging in her bed, wearing a very similar pink suit with a t-shirt and heels.
In that moment I decided I would make my very own.
The Perfect Pattern!
I used McCall’s pattern 7876 to create this look. This pattern was very easy to follow and the pockets on the sides can be switch out for exposed pockets on the front of the jacket if you choose. I decided to follow the pattern design with the addition of two extra buttons and I lengthened 2 inches so I could wear the jacket as a dress as well. I considered adding shoulder pads but I didn’t like the look with my shoulders already being a little broad. I choose 1 size up from my normal size because I wanted the jacket to be extra baggy.
The pants for this pattern were not my favorite right away. After styling, I now love them. They also have a baggy fit and double pleats on the front. I was honestly confused by the directions initially to create the pleat but I figured it out. My suggestion for choosing fabric would be one with a soft drape.
I love the versatility of a suit and the color pink. I mean come on, pink is a neutral too. There are so many ways to pair and mix & match these two pieces it’s unbelievable! Here’s how I’ve styled them thus far.
Sewing time
I managed to complete both the pants and jacket in a total of 3 days. I dedicated 1 day for cutting out the pattern and 2 days total for jacket and pants. Keep in mind the jacket requires hand sewing for the lining and not much tailoring involved because of the baggy style fit. I would definitely create with this pattern in the future.
Tell me your thoughts on this suit? How would you style it? What colors and shades are you thinking of for Fall?
peace and blessings!
Floral Bibs
Burnside Bibs
I did a thing. I sewed a PDF pattern! And it was actually very rewarding and fun! One of my Sew Sisters told me PDF patterns aren’t all that bad and when I saw her Burnside Bibs I was sold. Okay kinda. I bought the Burnside Bibs PDF pattern by Sew House Seven and it had a home in my email for about 2 weeks before I finally printed everything out. This is a world record for me because I have at least 5 other patterns that have not yet made it to the printer, ranging from 1-3 years old. I’ll get to them, eventually lol.
I’m very new to pdf patterns and I must say I was a little skeptical about the instructions and fit. I’ve become so accustomed to sewing from Big 4 (McCall’s, Simplicity, Vogue, & Butterick) patterns that I wasn’t sure if I would need to make a ton of adjustments using patterns from brands I wasn’t used to. Lucky for me, this pattern was so easy to read and accurate to sizing. Sew house 7 also has a paper pattern for the Burnside Bibs. I choose the PDF version so I can cut out different sizes later if I choose. My main fabric was purchased from Joann last year and I have not been able to track it down (I searched for days). I choose a contrasting crepe plum fabric for my lining (from my stash) which I also used for the bib straps. I also decided to go with topstitching for my bibs. The instructions call for topstitching but if this isn’t your strong area of sewing, I think the bibs are just fine if you omit that step.
Options
The Burnside Bibs have 2 sewing views. The main view has a side invisible zipper and darts in the back that give a more fitted look around the waist, butt, and hips. I choose the 1st view with zipper. The 2nd view is a baggy style fit and does not require a zipper or back darts. The pants have longer or cropped length options and more gathering in the pants back. There are also 2 bodice options scooped neck or straight front.
Overall I printed, taped, cut, and managed to sew this pattern all in one day. This is an intermediate pattern but I think this pattern is great for any level sewer. I plan on sewing 2 more with both views in solid colors for the Fall. Check out my Instagram for looks to come.
Styling tips
You can dress these bibs up with heels, dress it down with sandals, or even tennis shoes. If you’re using florals, try mixing prints for your blouse like polka dots or stripes. There’s no wrong way to rock your bibs. The straps can be crisscrossed in the back or parallel. Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy these bibs as much as I have. Tell me you thoughts on these bibs. I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks for stopping by!
Peace & Love
Pastey Pastels
Pastels are my new besties
I have a new love for pastels! This shade in particular has always been my favorite. This fabric has been in my stash for over 5 years. Why? It’s so good! I think the fabric was gifted and I just shoved it in the garage until this past Spring cleaning. I was actually only going to use this fabric as a muslin for more precise makes. Well, let’s say…It’s a little too good and thick to be a muslin.
Now let’s talk about the Lena
This pattern by Tabitha Sewer is named The Lena Horne dress. I had the luxury of snagging this pattern at Tabitha’s meetup this past June. Let me say that this pattern is very versatile and you can really have fun with it. I am absolutely in love with it! I saw this pattern and immediately though about my girls (my ta-tas). They need to be free every now and then lol. So here you have it, BUTTONS!
The dress is already fabulous without any changes. But the ruffles! The ruffles really are the icing on the cake. I love how the ruffles crisscross in the back. The bodice is fitted and the skirt is gathered with pockets. YES, POCKETS! Am I the only one who wants pockets on everything? The pattern offers two lengths and I decided to go with the longer length. I think both views are great for summer.
Tips and tricks
Tabitha has a sew-a-long tutorial for the Lena Horne dress. It is really easy to follow along. Trust me, you will not need the instructions.
Here’s how I added buttons.
Cutting- Do not cut the center bodice pattern piece on the fold. You will need to add an extra 1.5-2” to all four of the center front pieces. If you’re wanting to use bigger buttons you may need to measure the extra width of the center piece extension based on your button sizing. You are basically creating a panel on all four pattern pieces.
Interfacing- I interfaced the extra width only (1.5-2”) for 2 of the 4 center front pieces for added stability of the buttonholes. I ended up with 7 buttons.
My ruffles are a little wider than the patterns finished look because I used my smaller sized rolled hem foot for the finished edge. I can’t speak highly enough about the benefits of using a rolled hem foot. Legit time saver and perfect seams every time.
If you have a healthier bust like I do, you may need to do a bust adjustment or add 1-2” for the length of the entire bodice. For most patterns I automatically make this adjustment but I did not for this dress (only because I forgot).
The packaging is so pretty!!
Okay friends, I had so much fun making and now wearing the heck out of this dress. I’m already thinking of ways to hack my second, third, and fourth Lena! How do you feel about my hack? Have you created a Lena Horne dress? I’d love your feedback.
Thanks for stopping by!
Peace & Love
Canary Watermelon
Watermelon Season is here!
Summer is heating up and all my favorite fruits are accessible. On these hot summer days, I really love a nice cold watermelon (seeded to be exact). I can seriously eat watermelon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and never get tired. Okay, now that I’ve got you thinking about fruit…let’s taIk about this canary jumper. This McCalls pattern M7910 has been in my queue for a little while. Don’t be intimidated by this one. There are only 4 pattern pieces…YES, 4 pieces. The fabric calls for stretch knit or jersey fabrics only. I’ve already created two jumpsuits with this pattern this summer.
Tips and tricks
When I sew stretch knits and jersey fabrics, I love to serge. If you don’t have a serger a zig-zag stitch is fine. The bodice is lined and you can cut out your lining with the same fabric or you can use a stretch lining. I used a mesh stretch lining (I think I like the same fabric for lining better). Around the calf and knee area I did need to take in a few inches. Other than those minor adjustments, this pattern can be sewn in an hour or less. Because the cut is so low on this neckline, I don’t wear a bra with this jumpsuit (my stickies were still visible through this canary yellow so they were a no go too). I plan on wearing both jumpsuits through the fall and winter seasons with an undershirt (style tip).
And there you have it, a fast and fun summer make that fits all those curves and gives your thighs a break from those summer dresses and that awful rubbing in the heat. I know I’m not the only woman who has this problem…lol. Tell me what you think about this jumpsuit pattern and the many options below. Until next time, I’ll be back. I’m going to cut into my watermelon.
Peace & Love
Nefertiti
Beach Vibes
Beach Vibes
Summer vacations are here and always my favorite time of the year. This year I traveled backed to Punta Cana with my family. For this special vacation my husband and I are celebrating 10 years and renewing our vows! In typical sewist fashion, I had to create most of my clothes for this trip. One of my most favorite handmade items is this two piece swimsuit using my friend Katie Kortman’s Spoonflower fabric. Does this not scream CORNY RAINBOW?
let’s tAlk swimweAr!
First I have to share that sewing swimwear is not all bad. I will say if you have a serger that is half the battle. Picking your elastic is also very important. Be sure to purchase swimwear elastic. I purchased my elastic from amazon. Another tip for sewing swimwear is to use twin needles for stretch fabrics. The twin needle makes finishing the hems very professional and clean. While not all swimsuits need this finishing stitch, I think the double stitch is perfect for my two piece. I used a two piece swimsuit I purchased last summer for my pattern and added two inches to all edges. My old swimsuit did not have a zipper and the fabric is not as thick as this Sports Lycra so this make was perfect for a zipper. I cut straight down the middle of the front pattern piece and installed the zipper. The front top piece and the entire bottom piece are lined with mesh fabric. For the waistband I used 1 inch elastic. I attached the elastic after finishing my edges with my serger. I attached elastic at leg openings, waist of bottoms, and the edge of the top. An easy way to attach the elastic is with your serger (pull only the elastic while attaching not the fabric).
Where did I go wrong?
You don’t just sew your 2nd swimsuit ever without bumps in the road (well…I didn’t). My first mistake was thinking that since I’m sewing fabric I need to stretch, I also needed to use my stretch thread. Oh God…was I wrong. The stretch thread wasn’t necessary AT ALL! So after my thread broke while sewing for the 37th time I finally said to myself, why don’t you just use an all purpose thread. Well, I finally did and goodness I could’ve saved so much time if I just started with basic thread (talk about learning from your mistakes).
Overall I really enjoyed making this swimsuit and it fits me perfectly. This Spoonflower fabric made making this swimsuit that much more worth the hour plus of seam ripping lol. The time it may take to sew this look is about 1-2 hours. I plan on making more swimwear very soon and even considering a YouTube tutorial (I think I’ll take a poll on that lol). I hope you enjoyed this read.
Thanks for stopping by!
Peace & Love
Summer Makes
The Finish Line for a Vacation Wardrobe!
Greetings lovelies!
Today I want to talk about this pile of fabric I’m under and the race to completing my summer vacation wardrobe. I’ve only been planning this years summer vacation for the past year. You’d think I’d be done with all my makes for this getaway by now but…I’m not! A few weeks back I reflected on the pieces for 2019 I’ve made so far and I was really impressed with myself. But when it comes to summer, I have so many ideas and creations in my head I’m finding it hard to focus. There is no doubt, Spring/Summer is my favorite season!
This week I’m actually focusing on a solid plan and that plan includes…how many looks do I want for this trip? (or should I just be naked the entire time?), how many previous makes are coming along?, gotta make at least one swimsuit (I’m using Katie Kortman’s Spoonflower Sport Lycra), and the most important creation, my vow renewal dress. WHAT THA?
I’ve narrowed it down to 6 new looks and 3 oldies (but that is subject to change lol). Stay tuned for these looks! I love them all and I’m sure you will too.
Are you a planner for vacation wardrobe? Do you wait until the last minute to whip something fresh together for your getaways? Or do you pack for holidays like a minimalist? I’m curious.
Red-y for Action
Red-Y for Action
When I first discovered this McCall’s pattern 7608 I thought it had a dress option. Fooled me! I loved this fabric and jumper so much that I cut it out towards the end of Summer 2018 and put it in the “pile of unfinished makes.” Trust me, I’m working on that.
So here we are in the heart of Spring and I have nothing to wear (really I have nothing to wear). This fun jumper was almost perfect but me being 5 foot 10” I had to lower the crotch a bit. Normally I don’t need to make this alteration but that’s the joy of making your own clothes. The jumper has a lined bodice. I’m actually able to wear this one without a bra and the girls are alright. The fit of the bodice was true to size. I use the finished measurements to determine what size I will need to cut out. The zipper is fairly easy to get to for all those jumpsuit problems we have as women. Okay ladies, don’t act like jumpsuits don’t come with enough problems when you gotta go to the bathroom. What I love most about this pattern are the pleats. They really accent my curves and if you don’t have much curves in the back, the pleats help a little lol.
Overall, I would definitely recommend and make this McCall’s pattern again. With a sewing time of about 2 hours (not including the hand-sewing) it was a fairly average make. I do recommend a hemming foot for the bodice overlay. Stay tuned for a future make with a different view. Sorry, I cannot remember where I purchased this fabric. I’m sewing my stash and this one wasn’t filed.
Tell me what you think about this look? Have you created with this McCall’s pattern?
Cyan Ink
Cyan a.k.a that color ink cartridge you have to replace in your printer. Printer? What’s that? lol. Who’s still replacing ink cartridges other than me?
Cyan Ink
I think I’ve gone a little overboard with my current stripe addiction but I can’t help it. I made a vow to myself to sew my Spring/Summer makes from my stash. So as you can see, my stash contains lots of stripes. I am currently low on pants and skirts. Honestly I don’t feel as though I make enough bottoms. I initially wanted to make this as a matching top and bottom set but I ran out of fabric. So pants it is.
Alright, can I tell you how much I love these pants? They will be one of a few handmade pieces I’m taking with me for my summer vacation. This Vogue pattern 9319 is VERY EASY (but I struggled with my waistband, it happens okay). You can complete this project as an afternoon sew. Obviously cutting out stripes tacks on a little more time. My trick for stripes is always match your notches before cutting. Okay the waistband was perfect until I got to the back. This pattern has 2 pleats in the back and they threw my stripe matching up a bit. I took the waistband off 3 times. Well on the 3rd try I said if it doesn’t turn up the way I imagined, then it’s just going to have to be good enough. Well it was good enough and I LOVE THEM. I plan on making the shorts soon and I would definitely recommend this pattern for all sewing level.
What do you think about my Cyan stripe pants? Are you rocking more pants or more shorts this season?
