G.I. Jane Pajamas

I made these floral/camo satin pajamas as a birthday gift for one of my sisters.

Front of pajama camisole & shorts

Back of pajama camisole & shorts

I used Burdastyle's Jane pattern and polyester charmeuse from JoAnn's. The pattern was easy but I made a few simple changes. I added adjustable straps and I used bias tape to make the elastic casings instead of just zigzagging over the elastic as instructed. I think that the casings make for a neater look inside and out.

Adjustable ribbon straps

Camisole top with tiny bows

Shorts trimmed with tiny bows

 

Plaid Peggy Skirt

So I know that I need another twirly full-skirted something like I need a pet pony but this one is wool so it is warm and practical! It looks like something Peggy Olson from Mad Men would have worn when she was still a secretary so it might come in handy as a future Halloween costume! I can justify almost anything...

I used BurdaStyle's Linda pattern (though one does not need to use a pattern to make such a simple circle skirt--just some math) and 2 yards of plaid wool lined with iridescent green/orange acetate from Denver Fabrics. I also added horsehair braid to the skirt hem for maximum oomph and twirl-ability.  

Skirt worn with my Poppy blouse

I did okay matching my plaids at the seams

I started this project weeks ago but had to be patient and let gravity do its thing with the bias.

This is what the hemline looked like after hanging for 2 weeks!

After I was satisfied that the bias had stretched itself out, I evened the bottom with the help of my dress form's hem gauge. I also tried adding 1/2" horsehair braid to the hem for the first time using Gertie's excellent tutorial. I'm a fan. It gives the skirt's hem some nice movement without being too stiff or puffy.

Finished hem with 1/2" horsehair braid and green lining

Close-up of the blouse colors perfectly matching the skirt!

Free Marie Skirt

Free pattern + Free Fabric = (almost) Free Skirt! 
I made this "tulip" skirt using BurdaStyle's Marie pattern (available as a free download from their site). The fabric is a cream colored stretch cotton jacquard that was a part of a free 10 yard mystery bundle promotion from Fabric Mart Fabrics. While the pattern does not call for a lining I added one using a piece of mauve acetate that was also included in my free fabric bundle. Now the skirt fabric won't stick to my legs velcro-style when I wear it with tights! This skirt was basically free to make (the zipper, interfacing, thread, and hook-and-eye were purchased but already in my sewing room so I am pretending they don't count).

This was sort of a success. I would recommend this pattern to a beginner because it is literally the same front and back, making it simple to cut out and to assemble. It's not the best look on me because I feel it's a bit bulky in the waist and the cream color is more for spring (I can just hear my grandmother reminding me about white and Memorial Day...) but I'm going to rock it anyway with black tights, black patent booties and a black long sleeved embellished t-shirt! If I'm going to break Grammy's fashion rules then I might as well make the offending garment front and center. :) 

A Good Learning Experience
This was the first Burda skirt pattern I have made and I was not sure which size to select. I made a 40 and it is way too big to sit at my natural waist. I will alter this skirt some day when I'm in the mood. When I made my next skirt from a Burda pattern I cut a 38 and the fit was much better (I haven't blogged about that one yet because it has been hanging for a few weeks to let the bias stretch before I hem it). I also reached a milestone with this Marie skirt--my first invisible zipper to be properly installed on the first attempt! I did a little happy dance. 

Successful invisible zipper!

Karl Lagerfeld Ruby Skirt

I finished this skirt today after a lot of swearing:

 I used the Karl Lagerfeld pattern available on Burdastyle and some red polyester suiting. It has elastic in the back, in-seam side pockets and fake front pocket flaps. I omitted the front zip because I wanted to reduce bulk in the tummy area. I also added 2 inches to the length because other sewists had warned that this was a very short skirt. They must be a lot taller than I am because those 2 extra inches were not necessary! I am still deciding whether to take it apart and shorten it....

This is a close-up of the fake pocket flaps and the fabric-covered buttons I made. Making the buttons was definitely my favorite part of this project!

An overexposed photo of the button-covering in progress on the ole ironing board!

My frustration with this project was mostly due to the fabric I chose. I had to be very careful not to melt the poly when ironing the hem turn-up and front pleats. If you make this skirt please use natural fibers like cotton, silk, or wool!

Thinking Spring

Here are two spring/summer dresses that I am planning to make at the moment.  They will both have pockets because dresses with pockets are my favorite.

I want to make the ruffle-sleeve version shown in yellow on the envelope (on the left) out of this floral poly charmeuse.  I imagine wearing it with the heels I have in both blue & red (yes, I buy the same shoes in multiple colors and yes, I live in fear that one day I will go out wearing one of each color like Helena Bonham Carter...). I might make a game day decision to first try the pattern in some white peachskin with blue brushstrokes on it that I have because I am a bit afraid that the charmeuse will be too delicate for an everyday dress...

Future dress #1

 I also want to make Colette's Crepe dress out of this graphic linen with a solid navy sash & underlined in white cotton batiste. The print seems very '90s to me (Tommy Hilfiger?) and hopefully its boldness will keep the dress from looking too twee (or worse--cute!). Of course there is also the possibility that the bold print will be entirely too large on my shorty mcshortypants self but I like living on the edge. Besides, I've never had a wrap dress that wraps in the back so this will be pretty exciting even if the print is all wrong on me. :)   

Future dress #2

Sophie Shrug

I have been working on several projects all week (cutting, basting, etc) but I haven't actually finished anything. This morning, in search of some instant gratification, I decided to whip up this rayon knit shrug using 2 yards of a rayon blend jersey from Fabric.com and this free pattern download for Hot Patterns' Cozy-Cascade Shrug. The last giraffe I saw was a Sophie Giraffe baby toy so that's where the name came from!

Front on Delphine

Back

Knotted?  Eh, probably not.

 

 

 

Bella "helping" me by being a pattern weight

I'm pretty "meh" about this. It was super easy to make and I would highly recommend the pattern but it's just not my usual style (both the print and the shape). I think at the very least it'll end up as a bathing suit cover-up, but first I'll try wearing it belted over a cami with some dark skinny jeans...  

New Fabric!

I know it's nearly Presidents' Day but that has absolutely nothing to do with my recent red, white, and blue order from Denver Fabrics. My plan is to create a mix-and-match mini spring wardrobe. I don't usually have a plan so this is some real progress. I totally lucked out because the colors go together exactly the way I imagined they would (which is always tricky when you order online and can't touch and compare the fabrics in person!).
Left to Right:
-Red suiting for a (work appropriate?) mini skirt
-Brown cotton print (with little white geese!) for a blouse
-Navy & tan circle-print crepe for a dress and a simple skirt
-Red & cream rayon knit for a tank top or t-shirt
-Navy & cream pin striped suiting for some pleated shorts (not work appropriate)
-Navy & cream floral rayon knit for a tank top of some sort