A Change of Plans, and a New Skirt

If you were following along for my Summer Sewing Plans post, you saw that I had several projects lined up and ready to cut out. I had two linen-blend fabrics, one a brown and white that I said was going to be a skirt, and a turquoise and brown that was going to be the bottom half of a dress. Well, when I got ready to cut things, I changed it all around! I decided I had enough of the other fabric for the dress to make it all one print, and that the turquoise and brown would make a more interesting skirt, since the pattern is pretty simple. That means the brown and white has made it's way back to "I don't know what I want to be when I grow up" land. haha.

So this skirt is based on a Cynthia Rowley pattern, Simplicity 2215. I'm not sure if I even like the dress from the pattern, but I picked it up on sale because I didn't have a good pleated skirt pattern. Following my EmersonMade inspired shirt, and the iron burns left behind from hand pleating, I wanted to make something mind-numbingly easy. This pretty much fit the bill. I did learn how to install a zipper in the same seam as a pocket in this skirt, which was something I'd been resistant to before, but went ahead with for this one. I did find it comical that the pleats are rather hap-hazard and the pattern feels the need to warn you with the following:

"Note: Designer's Touch: Pleats are not evenly spaced or folded."

LOL..soooooo I guess uneven pleats make a designer garment???

I quite like the finished garment and it's the perfect weight to stay cool the rest of the summer because at 104 degrees, it's necessary to dress light! I'm excited to wear it to the Art walk this weekend that my husband is required to take me to, since I played softball last weekend in the heat :) Now I just have to figure out what to do with that other linen!

Summer Sewing Plans

I have 3 more tops I'm working on, and then I will have to start cutting out projects again. The tracing & cutting patterns, laying out fabric, and cutting fabric step of the sewing process is probably my least favorite. I prefer the actual construction part. What I do is take a day and cut out several projects so then they are just ready to sew. It works pretty well for me, and then I can clip along at a pretty good pace when I'm actually sewing. Here are some projects I have lined up to cut out next!

This first one is another linen blend that I'm going to use to make the full skirt from this Cynthia Rowley pattern. I thought about making another pair of shorts, but this is almost the same fabric as the Crazy Green Shorts.

So for shorts, I am doing a solid....gasp! Yes, a solid. Haha I'm really a big fan of prints, but they can't go with everything, so I'm going to do another version of these shorts in this cotton twill. They are still a bright color, though, so far from a basic!

Then I'm going to do the dress from this Suede Says pattern (the view on the right). I questioned doing the romper, but I think this one is a little edgy for me. I'm doing the cotton lawn on the left for the top, and the linen blend on the right for the skirt portion. I hope it works ok, but I don't have enough linen to do the whole thing, and the cotton is a little too lightweight for a skirt. We'll see, but I think it has the potential to look pretty cute, because the colors are exactly the same, just a different scale on the prints. I'll probably have leftover in the cotton, so I might make another Pendrell with that.

Next up is a summery tunic. I haven't decided which view I'm doing yet, but I'm doing the pink print on the right as the body, and the brown on the left as the contrast yoke. The pattern envelope shows them all as the same fabric but I think it will be a much more interesting design detail with the contrast.

Then a DKNY pattern with a blue/white stripe seersucker. Similar to the pattern envelope. Why mess up a good thing?

Here's where it gets crazy....a romper. Yes, a romper. I'm doing the wrap top version with the shorts. I think it has potential for cuteness, but could be risky. We'll see how this one goes. The fabric is a poly knit, so if it turns out, this would be a great piece for travel because it won't wrinkle. Not that I have a lot of travel coming up....lol

The next is a Lisette pattern in a cotton broadcloth. The print is really fun and reminds me of spirographs. Remember those things??? I loved them! So it's just a basic shirt dress with some cute pockets. Will be great for casual or work, I think.

This one looks boring but you'll have to stay tuned because I have some fun ideas for embellishment. It is a grey chambray, and I'm making it up in the Anda pattern which I have made before. I will definitely make it longer this time, because after washing, the other one is questionably short for work. It's ok for the summer, but only ok with tights for work.

Last but not least, (for now) another top. This one is going to be a blue chambray, and I'm trying to make it like J.Crew's popover on the right. I think I'll start with the thrifted vintage pattern on the left, but I'll have to make some alterations. This one could be tricky, but I think will be fun to work on. I'm looking forward to re-creating the entire look from that catalog page actually, since I have a grey skirt now, and some Chucks. :)

So that's all for now! Tomorrow I will hopefully have the top finished that I am working on, using a vintage pattern. Friday I'm thinking of starting a new series with photos from the past....what do you think? Anyone want to see pics of high-school age Sasha looking like a dork in things she made? It could be a winner....lol!

Recent Finished Projects

Here are some sewing projects I finished up at the end of the school semester.

This top is an adaptation of the Cynthia Rowley pattern with cut-out shoulders, Simplicity 2406. I like how the top turned out, and I think I'll probably make one of the dress versions later.

Another Cynthia Rowley pattern, Simplicity 2512. I LOVE how this skirt turned out. I realized not long ago that I needed more skirts in my wardrobe because they work for my shape, and are just as comfy as pants. I also loved this fabric that I found at Jo-Ann's (which sadly blew away in the tornado in Joplin!!!). It reminds me of the watercolor prints that have been so hot on recent runways. Also, this skirt is probably the most professionally finished garment I've ever made with everything serged and neat on the inside.

Another skirt, this one pretty simple and self-drafted. Pretty much it's a rectangle with an elastic paper-bag waist. Cute and simple.

A scarf wrap inspired by some I saw on my trip to New York at the DKNY store. I love that place, and it's similar to their cozy, which I wear ALL THE TIME in the winter. It can be worn a couple of different ways:

A fun stripe top made with leftover fabric from this dress. The stripes were white/blue and I dyed it this aqua color because I didn't need more white stripes (I'm clumsy!). Turned out pretty cute, and is just a lengthened version of Simplicity 0447.

That's all for now, but I've got lots more show and tell on the way. Right now I have 8 garments cut out just waiting to be sewn, and a few more already done that just need to be photographed. I'm hoping this fall if I participate in Self-stitched September again, my handmade wardrobe will be a little more well-rounded to make the experience more fun than stressful! The last couple of times I got to a point where I was scraping for outfits, so the goal is lots of options, and more casual clothes this time!