I dunno

I bought Vogue 1315 right after the new Fall line came out and they went on sale at JoAnn's. Then I started keeping my eyes peeled for a good knit to make it up in! Last weekend when the clearance fabrics at JoAnn's went and extra 1/2 off, I took a quick look and found a Project Runway rayon knit, which I got for only $3.50 a yard (normally $12.99)! I snatched it up, even though I knew there wasn't quite as much as the pattern envelope suggested. I shortened the sleeves out of necessity because of my fabric shortage and here's how it turned out:

I was pretty excited about it while making it, but in the end, I'm just not sure it's me. It's an edgier look than my usual vintage, softer style, but that's not really the problem. I don't know that it flatters me very well. It's a little too blousey up top. I like it styled with the belt and boots, but I wish it were a more versatile piece, I guess. If I made it again, I would take in the side/underarm seam in a little so it fit closer on top. It will definitely get worn, but maybe not as often as I wanted, since I have to belt it.

What do you think? I'd appreciate some honest opinions!

Fall patterns!

Does anyone get super excited when any one of the major pattern companies puts their new season of patterns up online?? Or stalk the sites daily just to check if the Fall lines are out yet?? I DO! I loooooove looking at the brand new designs! I'm liking a few that are already out and am anticipating the latest from the late-comers. But, first, I wanted to share this top I made before my big trip:

It's McCall's 6359 and I used a rayon knit I found on major clearance at JoAnn:

 The racerback is my favorite part of this pattern:

I shortened it quite a bit to make it less of a tunic. It's not my favorite top, but I love that it's light and easy to wear, does not require a cami (cause it's too hot for that!) and I do like the back a lot. I would like to try the other view on the pattern, but it includes a built-in shelf bra. I can't pull that off (nor can most women!) and I wouldn't really know how to omit it. Oh, well.

On to the Fall patterns!!!

Several bloggers have already said hilarious things about the ridiculous styling and positioning of the models in Vogue's new patterns! So weird!! It's hard to even see past the awkward poses to the lines of the garments! So I'll post the pictures of the gals standing normal :)

I really like Vogue 1315:

It's a simple, but interesting long sleeved knit dress. I can see this worn with skinny jeans, or made a bit longer and worn alone. I like it. The pockets are cool, the neckline finishing is different and I think it would a good casual dress for my everyday.

I don't know if I'll actually buy 1317, because I'm not sure I'd have much occasion to wear it, but I think this dress is very classy and has that Mad Men vibe that is so in right now. The only way I would use it would probably be for a Christmas dress, but even then, I don't know how comfortable it looks and I like to be very comfortable in my clothes, even the structured ones.

Vogue 8829 is one I looked right over twice, and can you blame me? Look at this awful fabric choice!!!

 EEK! But, look at this version, where you can actually see the waistline seam:

Much cuter. The other views are all nicer than the mock-up. This pattern has potential. Bad call, Vogue, on the crazy shiny green fabric, though.

Some Simplicity patterns are out too. 1755 is the only one I like (other than some of the costume patterns!)

 

 That plaid and green version is hideous, but the gold dress is stunning!!! I don't know how much sense it makes in the colder months, though, so for me it might become a summer pattern--unless we suddenly get invited to several formal events where shoulder-baring would be normal ;)

I must be in a Fall sewing mood now, because here's my haul from Denver Fabrics last weekend:

I can see a color palette emerging! And I'm liking it a lot.

summer skirts

Skirts and Summer go together like P.B & J. if you ask me! If you're not into tube tops and Daisy Dukes, skirts are simply the best way to keep cool, am I right?? Especially in light, swingy fabrics like rayon, of which I had a few chunks set aside just for this purpose!

I had bought New Look 6129 a couple months ago because it's a long, basic skirt and I needed a pattern for one like this. Now that I've made it, I know I've found a pattern I'll use over and over again.

I love it in this classy floral rayon from Denver Fabrics! The side slit makes it extra cool on hot days. The fit is perfect, the waist isn't super high (like other similar patterns) and the pockets are awesome. I will absolutely be making this again, short, long and medium lengths. I like it that much :)

This next skirt was a happy accident. I had bought a rayon lawn that was an interesting border print, planning to use it for a Vogue dress pattern. With the border, though, I just couldn't make all the pieces fit. So, I cut out this pattern instead. I made view A with the tiny ruffle around the collar ... and hated it. The bodice was awful, it was kinda big, didn't lay right and was just way too "sweet" looking for me this season. My style has long been evolving away from the juvenile sweet look. Even things I made and liked last Summer in the sweeter styles are just no longer doing it for me. 

But, I really liked the main part of this print and you just cannot beat the flowiness of a rayon lawn! So I hacked the bodice off and turned it into a simple flowy skirt. I'll admit, I usually cannot pull of the full skirt look, but paired with this fitted Newport News blouse from my thrift store, it really works! I feel classy, cool and pretty in this outfit and I'm glad I could salvage the fabric! Actually, another favorite Summer skirt of mine, a long one, also morphed out of a dressmaking disaster. I'll have to take a pic of that next time I wear it. 

Now, I just have to share this. Am I the only one who despises all the polyester, rubber-band-around-the-waist, never-the-right-length slips, especially in the heat of Summer?? Really, who wants to put on a nice cool sundress or swingy skirt and then have to put a layer of sweaty polyester under it?? I had some white rayon jersey sitting around, just waiting to be turned into a solution for this. I went to Hobby Lobby for some white Fold over elastic (also known as FOE) and traced a well-fitting slip to make this:

It fits, it sits on my hips instead of squeezing my waist like a vice, it stays put and man, is it so much more comfortable to wear than all my other slips!! I was concerned since it's jersey that it would cling funny to my skirts or be staticky, but I had no problems with that at all. It was 106 degrees when I went downtown for a luncheon yesterday and I never had to think about my slip at all. Ain't that a first! I added some pretty lace to the bottom just because :) I plan to make more cool slips like this in several lengths and maybe some little tap pants to serve the same purpose too. Soooooo glad I finally did this!

In other news, I'm sure you've heard about Colorado and our crazy wildfires. Never do I remember so much fire in our beautiful state. The fires are still raging and in a big city like Colorado Springs, it is especially scary and sad. Please pray for Colorado and those that have been ousted from or already lost their homes! Also pray for those who begin to question the Lord's providence at times like these--God is always, only good, even in the midst of devastation.

Vogue's newest convert

Can you believe I've never sewn a Vogue pattern before?? I think I'm just way too cheap. When other patterns go on sale for 99 cents, it's tough to pay Vogue's sale price of $4, ya know? Well, regardless of how I feel about their newest line (not good), I tried out an older pattern, after seeing some pretty great versions of it online. Here's my new dress!

 It's Vogue 8685. Isn't this a beautiful knit!? I was pretty hesitant about that yolk piece across my gut, but it's actually really flattering! But, having birthed three babies, I'm ever-conscious of said gut, so I would omit the yolk next time, to avoid the need for Spanx :)

But, wait, there already was a next time! Right after I finished the above dress, I cut out the next one. I had bought this awesome border print knit with a maxi dress in mind, but there wasn't enough for that, so in the fabric closet it went. I knew it would be great for this pattern, though. The bodice is so comfortable, so I made the same bodice and just cut a rectangular skirt, gathering it in the front and back. Love it! This is a more casual version and so it's sure to get a lot of wear!

While browsing the Butterick site this morning (they're going on sale soon!), I discovered Marfy patterns, newly added to the McCall's/Butterick/Vogue site. I've never seen these before!! They're expensive! But, OH, they have some amazing designs!
Like this one:

And this one:

And WOW, this one!

I was starting to get really excited! And hoping that since they're on the McCall's site, maybe they'll show up at JoAnn someday?? But, then I clicked on a "more info" link and read that these are Italian designs with NO seam allowances and NO INSTRUCTIONS!! For advanced sewists only. I consider myself advanced, but some of these have very unique design elements, so I guess I'm not that advanced. I could probably tackle some of the simpler ones, but what I liked about them were the un-simple ones. Oh, well. Have any of you made a Marfy before?? Please, do tell!

Simplicity 1800

I had bought a nice cotton chambray with a particular pattern in mind for a church dress, but have come to realize that I could use more casual dresses. Last summer, we went to several events that required more than jeans, but not so much "church" dresses. So, I made this one instead:

I used this pattern:

I reviewed it here. This is the first time I've made one of these Amazing Fit patterns and to be honest, I found it less than amazing. I don't usually have fit issues and I almost always sew a straight size 12, so I found the extra fitting features confusing. When it was done, it was huge. I took the back seam in a lot.

Also, I don't love halters because they're just too shifty. I criss-crossed the straps and sewed them down in the back and like the resulting dress a lot! Probably won't make it again, but ya never know. 

The new Vogue patterns are up on their site today. Not impressed at all! There might be a couple I'm interested in, but the rest are just really not me. Not even a little bit. Everything seems overly drapey and baggy and I guess I like things more fitted. The ones that aren't loose are dresses that are super tight, short and low-cut. What gives, Vogue??

Ah, well, it's not like I don't have enough patterns as it is, ha! 

formal gowns? anyone?

I decided a few months ago, I am going to attempt sewing my military ball gown this year. The ball is every November and last year, it was difficult to find many choices at that time of year. I got a great black dress that fit really well, but this year I want to make something fabulous instead! I've been perusing patterns online for months now and have determined that it's the fabric choice that matters maybe more than the pattern.

This one is a major contender:

I like the white version, the one on the model, but what is the trim on there?? I know this is a style that I could easily pull off and would be comfortable sitting for several hours (because that's what you do at these things. How they're allowed to call them "balls", I will never know!)

Slightly more risky, but another that I'm seriously considering is this one:

I say more risky, because I really don't know how this style will look on me, with the gathering at the side. I really like the view on the top left. Come to think of it, actually, it's possible my gown from last year had those side gathers. Hmmm, I'll have to go check it out.

Okay, until a few days ago, I was almost sure I was going this route:

Obviously, this is not a formal gown, but I would adapt it to be floor length (I noticed short is a kind of unspoken no-no for this event) and in a formal fabric, I think it would work and could be really great. The little satin belt makes me happy and I know this would flatter me just fine. I went ahead and picked up this pattern last week when Vogue went on sale for 3.99.

BUT, a few nights ago, while watching How I Met Your Mother, with Casey, I shouted "Oh, my goodness, Casey, look what Robin's wearing!" He had no idea what I was going on about, but check this out!

This is the dress! However, I am not lovin' the fit of the bodice here at all--look how it's pulling at the waist and it's also way too low cut for me to feel comfortable. Not at all how it looks on the pattern envelope. So, now I'm having second thoughts. I do already have the pattern and I'm sure I can dig up some fabric to make a muslin, so I might as well just see.

I'm rather surprised that I can't seem to find many photos or reviews of formal gown patterns. I guess I'll be pioneering :)

In any case, what would YOU do????

In with the new!

Ahhhh, we got new windows in our house this week! I am SO happy, because after a week of frigid temperatures, I was freezing!! They are so beautiful, totally worth it. Kelby watched the whole process, continually asking the guys what they were doing.

Other than that, I haven't been up to much this week. So, I'll just point you in the direction of some things on the world wide web that I've enjoyed recently :)

1. My sister has been posting a series called Nitty Gritty Homeschool Tips. You can find them here. They have been so encouraging to me this past week, as I have a reluctant learner on my hands ;)
2. Then her husband, my brother-in-law, a pastor, posted some wise words for parents on his blog here.
3. There's a new series on TV called Cape. Casey and I watched the first two episodes on Hulu. Pretty good! We also like No Ordinary Family. Superheroes must be in vogue right now. Whatever, better than vampires, am I right?? 
4. I'm going to be painting the girls' room this weekend (pink, of course). I found this pattern while browsing the McCall's catalog online, bought it when it was on sale at JoAnn and am going to make one. I got some like-new sheets, some curtain panels and a vintage pink table cloth at the thrift store, so hopefully I'll have enough fabric. (It takes a TON!)    

                                                                                                  

     5. My Aunt led me to this fabric line this week. She wants the apples for her kitchen. Cute, right?

While I was looking, I spotted this one. It may turn into the inspiration for my sewing/guest room!

That's all, folks!