Everything Old is New Again

I found this gorgeous silk at Gail K's some ages ago and there was maybe 1.3 yards of it left. I was trying, for the life of me, to find SOMETHING I could make out of it. The only pattern was this silk tank/blouse thing from an old McCalls pattern (#4525 image here) that was floating around in my stash. I had to do a full bust mod, and also widen the back a bit as it is non stretch and its gotta go over the girls. The fabric is scrumptious and drape-y enough that it hangs beautifully, but I really prefer it tucked into my vogue skirt. I even made my own bias binding! Happy day!(see, bias binding)

I wore this to work with a RTW jacket I've had in my closet for a while now. It matches the skirt quite well. I got tons of compliments on the outfit, which made me very happy. Of course its always nice when people appreciate the things you work hard on. And this particular item has been in "the works" for weeks. Maybe months. Well since before Mom had to go into... yeah. Lets not talk about that, k?

A few notes; 1) I'm wearing shoes I JUST got in the mail. Those are not the ones I bought at work, but I heart them much. Now that I can wear heals again I seam to be on a shoe-buying binge. 2) I'm also wearing my favorite pair of tights that have polkadots (click to make bigger). Though I fear they are at the end of their life. The necklace is thrifted.


I'm not really sure what the blog title has to do with this, maybe the pattern being old and making something fun and fresh out of it? Or maybe a reference to spring? You decide. In the meantime, all ya'll northerners get a view of my lovely azaleas! Its springtime here, ya'll!
P.S. Oh Oh! I just have to edit one more thing in. I used some of the ancient cotton thread my Mom gave me that she got from somewhere else. I found out if I took off the top layer its JUST FINE to use. This meant I didn't have to go out and BUY thread. SCORE!

Another Sew-A-Long

That's right boys and girls, I'm doing another sew-a-long. But not to make it a crazy thing, I'm working on one of the projects I had chosen for my Spring Palette Challenge. Since Spring in the Western Hemisphere is not technically over until June 21rst, I'm going to say that the Spring Challenge is still ON.

So I've signed up for Pattern~Scissors~Cloth RTW Tailoring Sew-A-Long. My chosen project will be Newlook 6564. Though I haven't quite decided WHICH view I want to do. I have plenty of my "wearable muslin" fabric in black (pictured above) for View C, but my floral linen I may only have enough for View D. I'm not doing ruffles. No, instead I am going to be making piping out of the green crepe pictured to the far right.

I'm leaning toward View C due to the fact that, given my shape and size, it will be much more flattering for my figure. Any thoughts or comments from the peanut gallery(I mean that in the most loving way possible)?

Stay tuned for my silk tank top (almost done!) and my Vintage Sewalong (I can see the light at the end of the tunnel).

Colette Patterns Spring Palette Challenge

So, after much consideration and thought, I have decided to join the Colette Spring Palette Challenge. I had already put together a "plan of action" of getting my wardrobe spring/summer work ready. I put together an "inspirational board" though I don't know how much it has in common with what I actually want to sew. I am fairly sure about the Bella Pant from Burdastyle, however. I will be using the dusty grey denim from my stash to make those, and probably steal some buttons from my mother-in-law's massive stash. But as you will see in the pictures below, I am embracing the "florals and prints" of this season.

So, in no particular order:

1)Bella Pant in dusty grey denim

2)Colette's Crepe in the blue/grey floral

4)Liz Blouse out of the shabby chic white/pink/blue floral

3)New Look cropped jacket out of the cream/honeysuckle floral (view D)

The gold fabric is a silk jersey and I already have it laid out to make another TNT 3/4 sleeve cowl neck. I'll have enough left to make a tank in View A

of the New Look pattern. And I've already cut that same cowl neck out of this crazy silk charmeuse, but with butterfly sleeves. I adore this print, its pretty wild, but working with it makes my eyes cross in weird ways(also, its slippery). Hopefully it will have the same distracting effect to others when I wear it.

In other news, I did try on muslin #3 and it fit fairly well except I still needed more room in the bust. Le Sigh. The dress itself works into the palette but I don't think I'm going to try and count it. I was getting sick of it so its been set aside so I can whip up these TNT shirts come my next day off.

So I think that's my plan. Make a couple of shirts out of the work horse patterns and then I will start tracing and modifying the other patterns I plan on sewing up over this 10 week period. In the mean time I should probably do some studying for that 'professional life' of mine. You know, the one that pays the bills? That part might be taking some exciting turns soon. I don't know, we'll see.

In the mean time, STAY FABULOUS!