A jacket for PR Day in Seattle

Just a preview - I decided to cut a few corners while finishing up my jacket made from the Simplicity Threads pattern 3631 so I would have it to wear for the PR Day in Seattle.

Although I had to miss part of the fun, it was super fantastic to meet Deepika, the crew at Nancy's, and connect with some Northwest sewists. I also got to reconnect with Christina from the sewing group I hosted a few years back.
See the pics here, and here.

virtually fun!

I love to play with the Bravo games for Project Runway and Top Design - this is always a great waste of time.
Here are my outfits I created:
One

New fall PR patterns - just a little tired looking?

I just don't see anything worthwhile in the fall PR line - some patterns, although similar to ones I plan to sew for fall (like the jumper - I prefer this one , or even this one), are going too retro or keep repeating unattractive design elements from other S. patterns (like the dippy bodice line here ). I feel let down because the past two years have seen at least three good patterns in this line. The skirt and blazer are so boring I am wondering what the pattern designers were thinking. Yes, A-line is more universally flattering than the pencil skirt, but why not explore the paper bag waist. I found this OOP Simplicity 3792 on ebay, and I am willing to experiment with a muslin to see if a paperbag waist will work with an A-line shape.
To look on the plus side of things, I will be using more patterns out of my stash this fall and winter!

All links not working are to be fixed this evening.

Pictures from the manufacturers' websites.

I know who is leaving Project Runway next!

If anyone out there reads this and is curious before the August 13 show, I am happy to dish the dirt on who I saw in a local store today!

Fall wardrobe - need a vest pattern

I want to make two vests, possibly from the same pattern or two similar: a racerback style, slim fitting with a button front. No cinching buckles. I really like the HotPattern Riviera Dietrich vest, and if someone was interested in the pants pattern I would split the pattern with you. But I am really hoping that someone can recommend a BWOF issue.

The first vest will be out of menswear flannel, in grey, navy, or brown pinstripe. The second vest will be out of tan or metallic goatskin.

HotPatterns Riviera Dietrich Pattern
image from HotPatterns

so cute - so hard to resist...

Besides the fact that I enjoy a well prepared escargot appetizer, and have collected the odd (and abandoned) snail shell during hikes, I wouldn't say I had a snail fixation. But this fabric is really, really appealing...
(image from cottonblue on etsy)

I think this would be a perfect pencil bag, like the ones I keep eyeing on Lotta Jansdotter's store :)

(image from Lotta Jansdotter)

Ribbon print fabric

I honestly cannot make up my mind. I want to make the blouse in the 06/2008 BWOF, with the short sleeves and the side gathers, and I love love love this fabric, the retro feel and the great way it would pair with both jeans and skirts. This fabric would be perfect with just about any short sleeve blouse, actually.

But I am not sure it is the right fabric for my style - which attempts to be more sophisticated with a touch of bohemian than polished retro/vintage. I've tried that look, but it takes alot of work to carry it off - the right shoes, hours spent on hair, etc. My dressing style makes the fact that I only occasionally use a blow dryer seem fine.

It's a little too expensive to buy this fabric without having a plan - and my stash needs to shrink down, not keep growing!

If anyone reads this - what are your thoughts?

http://www.textilestudiopatterns.com/fabrics/R0223/R0223-05.html

(image from textile studio patterns)

Creature Comforts Birthday

"For there is nothing lost, but may be found, if sought."

-Edmund Spenser

Join the festivities over at Creature Comforts, a wonderful blog about beautiful things. For the one year anniversary there is a fantastic giveaway going on - to enter, just submit your favorite quote - I am sharing mine above. It reminds me that I haven't missed out on opportunities, that I just need to look for them. It inspires me to make changes in my life, like move to New Orleans this year, and to go after my next big goal - to study textile design in London!

Review of Vogue V1027

Paraphrased from my review on sewing.patternreview.com
Pictures are coming soon... Patterninfo
Pattern Description: DKNY Misses dress: Calf length dress has semi-fitted, pleated and lapped bodice, bias skirt with inseam pockets and stitched hems.
Pattern Sizing: AA 6-12 - I sewed a 12

The clarity of the directions was about 90% - for an "Easy" pattern some steps were glossed over that have been explained more in other patterns I've used, and the amount of seam binding is not specified - you only need 12 inches, and it could be any color since it ends up concealed in the shoulder seam. It took me about 8 hours to cut out and sew, over the course of two days.
It was easy to align the pieces, and I love patterns with no zippers to put in!
I had a eureka moment when I remembered this nylon/lycra knit in my stash - a white bamboo print on a grass green background. I even had matching thread in my stash. I had almost given up on using this fabric since I had changed my mind about making a swimsuit with it. It has a great feel to it, which is very important to me - I have a problem with synthetic knits sometimes because of their scratchiness. And it doesn't wrinkle!
Alterations: Well, I didn't hem it - I imitated the look of my favorite Kenneth Cole cotton knit skirt and left the edge unfinished, but it doesn't detract from the dress. Sometimes when it said press, I had to baste to a fold because the nylon/lycra doesn't like ironing.
I love this dress with its effortless style, and I look forward to sewing another - I may use this pattern to teach my sister to sew.

Search for the perfect suit pieces

I'm sitting here at home with my fibromyalgia plaguing my limbs, watching the new "Room with a View", and looking for a great skirt pattern. I would love to use the trumpet pattern from HP:
but- my mother says this style doesn't work well for girls with a bum. I want some a bit more flirty than a more sensible A-line.
I will definitely use this jacket from HP:
And this is the fabric (much nicer in person):

Wrap dresses and other obsessions

For the past few months I've been hoarding wrap dress patterns, hitting the stores when there is a pattern sale occasionally, but mostly combing ebay...
As a result I have between a dozen and twenty patterns, some clean and modern, some ruffled and feminine - over half are great vintage patterns.
Of course, fabric is another issue... I have a few good pairings, which is enough for now. I will take some pics of everything and put them up soon. My favorite pair is a 1970's wrap mini dress with a ruffled shawl collar and this rose pink hammered silk charmeuse I got from fashion fabrics club.