Chain, Chain, Chain...

Okay, I'm no Aretha Franklin but I am rockin' this Two Chain Viscose Rayon Knit from Sew Much Fabric. I knew this classic print called for a wrap dress but I just didn't want to fiddle with a traditional wrap, then I remembered McCall's 6163, a mock wrap that I'd made years ago and loved.

I lined the dress with Tricot, also from Roz, and it really made a nice finish for the front crossover pieces rather than just a foldover as the pattern called for:

I also love the lining at the neckline for a professional finish:

And after fell stitching by hand:

All of these finishes plus no a hassle "wrap" and the cute gathered on cuff sleeves make for an on-trend knit wrap worthy of praise from DVF herself! All fabrics available at Roz at Sew Much Fabric!

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, happy sewing!

Let's Highlight Collars!

I don't know about you but I was over the year of the sleeve a year ago! To me, nothing is more interesting on a garment than the collar. Burda 6990 has long been a favorite of mine and yet this is the first time I've made View E that has the giant funnel collar. Originally, when I received this great  knit from Roz at Sew Much Fabric,  the Khaki Green Animal Print Rayon Jersey, I had in mind making a dress. However, after living with it a few days it announced that it wanted to be this top. (Yes, my fabric speaks to me!)

The collar of this top is just a big, long funnel. To give it some drape I lined it with Sew Much Fabric's Tricot lining:

To prevent the lining from showing I pulled it up about a half inch prior to attaching it to the neckline.

I also lined the body of my shirt and love the feel of the Tricot: The lining in the collar really makes a nice drape:

I made the top tunic length and know I'll really enjoy wearing it as the weather cools down.

Thanks for stopping by an until next time, happy sewing!

Oh, the Ease of Knits!

It's hard for me to imagine now but years ago when I first started sewing I was deathly afraid of knits! Oh, I would turn that pattern envelope over so fast to see the suggested fabrics and automatically rule out anything that called for a knit. Now, no fabric takes me to my happy place faster than a great knit. This outfit is comprised of two of my favorite knits, rayon jersey and ponte. The teal/animal print jersey from Sew Much Fabric is so cool! I love this unusual combination of a geometric pattern  over an animal print:

The pattern I used is my favorite knit tunic Vogue 8952. I've made this pattern so many times and never tire of it:

As for the pants, now here is some real love! This is my first make of the Style Arc Sailor Sue Palazzo Pants and I LOVE them!

This pair is made from a wonderful camel/grey reversible ponte knit from Sew Much Fabric  that I've had for a while. Perfect weight for these pants:

I absolutely love this outfit! So comfortable and made with these fabulous knits from Roz it makes me now want to rule out using any patterns made for wovens!

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, happy sewing!

McCalls 7085: Not for the Faint of Dart!

I love trying a new pattern that I can immediately add to my TNT lineup. M7085 classic sheath is just such a pattern. Although it is drafted for a woven fabric I used this gorgeous Nanette Lepore viscose knit from Roz at Sew Much Fabric. The colors, Chartreuse, Fuchsia, Bone and Orange are just so vibrant and vivid:

I lined the dress with Tricot knit, also from Sew Much Fabric and if you've never used this lining you absolutely must give it a try!

The beauty of the pattern is the shaping from 12 darts- 4 in front plus 2 bust darts, 4 in the back and 2 at the back shoulder. I'm not that wild about making darts but I sure do love the fit they give:

I went down a size since I was using a knit and also took in an additional bit at the waist for a great fit front:

and back!

Roz still has this fabric in stock and it is the perfect weight for transitioning into fall. I have no doubt this dress is going to be an huge favorite and I can't wait to wear it!

Thanks for stopping in and until next time Happy Sewing!

How to Beat a Sizzling Summer

If you're in Texas, you're probably sizzling in this heat wave, too, so what better way to stay cool than sewing than another Sizzler Sundress from Naughty Bobbins?  This time I've used a whimsical floral rayon knit from Roz at Sew Much Fabric. As Brand Ambassador I have the privilege of choosing the fabric with which I want to sew. Last week I visited Roz in person with another knit in mind for this project, but once I spied this happy floral it stole my heart! 

 

And now for a miracle find I'm just learning out about! The front of this dress has a gathered panel so it is not lined:

 

 

However, the bodice and back of the dress are lined. Roz introduced me to Tricot for lining. What planet have  been living on that I'm just discovering this wonder fabric?? It is simply divine:

 

 

The Sizzler may be my all time favorite dress. The finishing techniques are so professional and you end up with such a neat, beautifully made garment.

 

 

In addition to the crossed front V I love the deep V in the back. But it's a perfect V- no bra peeking!

 

 

Perfect pattern, perfect fabric, perfect lining. If you have to brave the heat, you may as well do it in perfection!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and until next time Happy Sewing!

Getting Ready for Couture Camp aka The Black Vera Wang

I'm so excited about my project for Susan Khalje's couture workshop in New Orleans next month. I've veered drastically from my original idea of a trenchcoat. I saw this Vera Wang pattern and had to have it. As Brand Ambassador for Sew Much Fabric I collaborated with Roz and decided upon this gorgeous 4-ply silk to be lined with silk charmeuse. If you've never sewn with, or even felt the weight of, 4-ply silk you are in for a treat. It has the weight of a heavy crepe with a slight sheen on one side and a more matte finish on the other. It's just decadent. This is a special order item for Roz which she is happy to order for you and it comes in 98 breathtaking colors.

The pattern is Vogue 1585, an OOP Vera Wang design. It is classic and timeless. I'm making the shorter cocktail version.

 

The bodice of this pattern calls for a two-way stretch illusion and bridal button looping for the back. I plan to make covered buttons for the loop closure.

I've done as much as I can on my muslin and will let Susan tweak it to perfection:

Stay tuned the week of August 6th as I bring this beautiful fabric to life. I will be learning some new techniques and using fabric combinations new to me. Can't wait!

 

Thanks for stopping by and until next time happy sewing!

Gotta Love A Halter Top!

 

 

This halter top is Pattern #105 from the new July issue of BurdaStyle and this floral print viscose poplin from Sew Much Fabric is the perfect fabric for it! This pattern needs a lightweight, drapey fabric to show off the pleated detail on the bodice and the poplin fills the bill. Here is a line drawing for a better look:

 

 



I left off the ties and lengthened mine 2" but otherwise made no changes to the pattern. I will tell you that the side zip is not necessary. The cut-in shoulder style and deep V in front lets this top easily go over your head. Skip the zip!

I'm wearing my top with Grainline Studios Maritime shorts made from black double cloth linen that I got from Sew Much Fabric several years ago. Love that stuff!

This July issue of BurdaStyle has lots of cute summer makes:

Personally, I think my halter top is every bit as cute as the one in the magazine!

Maybe even cuter!

Thanks for stopping by and until next time happy sewing!

Summer's in Full Swing Now!

I loved my last paper bag waist pants so much I knew I had to make another pair when I saw this wonderful tropical print from Sew Much Fabric. Rayon poplin has the perfect weight and drape for pants with pleats, a full skirt or swishy dress. It's an amazing fabric that launders like a dream and barely needs the touch of an iron. These pants are from the custom trouser pattern drafted for me by Andrea of Sew To Fit.

I've topped off this summer duo with McCall's 7775 dress pattern which I shortened to be a top

and I used the Kiwi linen from SMF. This pattern is not for the faint of heart. As simple as it appears I found it to require some fairly major surgery to alleviate gaping around the under arm area. I estimate I removed a good 3" from each side in order for it to fit properly.

 

However, in the end, all of my dislike of fiddling with this pattern was made up by being able to look at this luscious green linen. I cinched the pant waist with a brown grosgrain ribbon belt that ties the two pieces together. The kiwi linen was the perfect topping for the island-y pants and I love the whole look!

 

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, happy sewing!



Molten Lava Tank Dress

My original thought for this yummy rayon knit called Lava from Sew Much Fabric was to make a top to go with the linen suit from my last blog post. However, it was nudging me in the direction of a dress instead because it wanted to be shown off. (Yes, I really do think my fabrics speak to me!) I chose the tank dress view of OOP McCall's 6355 that I've made SO many times and it's a pattern I dearly love because it's so versatile.

The colors in this fabric are all beautiful and it does look molten:

I lined my dress with beige performance knit and it worked great. I found a really helpful tutorial on how to machine finish the shoulder seams of a lined, sleeveless dress. I will definitely use this technique again. I was going to use my in progress photos using the technique on this dress but it's so narrow at the shoulders that the photos were more confusing than helpful.

This little tank will get lots of wear this summer. It was the perfect simple pattern to highlight this smokin' fabric!

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, happy sewing!

For the Love of Linen!

Nothing says summer like a linen suit and I've put together two great Burda patterns along with khaki linen from Roz at Sew Much Fabric to make an outfit that I think will be a real workhorse in my wardrobe. The jacket is Burda Style 04/2018 #102 and the minute I saw it in the magazine I knew I had to make it. It was a challenge but nothing difficult so I thoroughly enjoyed making it. Really, the only time consuming part was tracing the 17 pieces!

This jacket has so many cute design details. The front, of course, but I also love the curved cuff on the sleeves:

and also the safari jacket styling in the back:

The pants are Burda 7062 which I've made many, many times and always come back to for a great fitting pant. And I was crushing on the rayon knit Roz has in stock called Random Dot so I used it to complete my outfit pairing it with NL 6470, a TNT in my stash:

I'm completely smitten with my linen suit and can't wait to wear it. Linen is so comfortable to wear in Houston's heat and humidity and it launders beautifully, too. Run on over to Sew Much Fabric and I'll bet Roz has linen in one of your favorite colors!

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, happy sewing!