Monday, April 30, 2012

Update on SPC/Sew Colette

Here I am wearing my third and fourth completed items for the Spring Palette Challenge!  The Iris shorts and Taffy blouse.  I originally thought to pair them together, but due to some difficulties mentioned below - I just don't think they pair well.

For the Taffy blouse which is also part of the Sew Colette Sew Along, I tried something out of the box.  The pattern calls for very lightweight fabrics like chiffon and charmeuse, but I really wanted something a bit more casual and summery to go with the shorts.  I ended up choosing a light weight cotton with yellow polka dots and finishing it with white bias tape.  Due the fabric choice the blouse is a little stiffer than my previous flowy version and doe snot have as much stretch.  However, it fits what I wanted to accomplish- it is still light, summery, and super.  As I mentioned, after getting both pieces together I just didn't like the way they paired together, but this blouse will be great with jeans (like the picture above or several of the cute skirts I have in my closet.


For the Iris shorts, I kept it simple with a stretch, yellow twill and made version A without the buttons.  I was a little afraid when I received the fabric that it might have too much stretch, but it was so soft and comfortable against the skin and too tempting not to give a chance.  Well, there is too much stretch, but in a weird way, instead of getting "hot pants" I got sad saggy pants! That is one of the reason that I just don't think it looks well with the crisp Taffy blouse. I think these will be more of a pair of house or gardening shorts than for wearing out, but a lesson learned!

The pattern was wonderfully simple to follow.  I thought the pocket area might end up being complicated, but it really wasn't, and I am looking forward to adding buttons or piping to one of the later versions.

Next up in for the SPC challenge, my second Hazel dress.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Craftsy Block of the Month - April





This month's Craftsy blocks used the English paper piecing method. I really enjoyed making these blocks but due to the large amount of hand sewing they took a long time!  I couldn't really imagine making a whole quilt using this method right now!  Maybe someday or working on a few blocks every couple months!


The first block pictured was the second block in the course and the instructor made a sunshine and had it titled Sunny with a chance of Hex.  She urged us to branch out and make our own design if we wanted.  I decided that since I had this tree like fabric (she had a grass border) that I would do trees reaching up towards some bluesy clouds.   It kind of reminds me of rain - something we really need here in California!


For the second block pictured we were to stitch these straight up and down on the side of one of the blocks.  However, my mother in-law stitched hers like I stitched mine above going across the quilt.  I stole her idea as I liked how it took up more of the background of the quilt!


Stay tuned for next month and our wonky log cabin blocks!  Also, it isn't too late to join in - Craftsy is still offering this course for free! And it is great for first time quilters (this is my first quilt)!

Monday, April 23, 2012

SPC Item #2 - Cotton Candy Stripes



My second item for the Spring Palette Challenge is complete!  I chose a pink and white striped cotton and Colette's Hazel pattern.  I had purchased the fabric several months back with Colette's Ginger pattern in mind. I am glad I waited because this dress is so perfectly me!

Since the stripes are mostly going in other directions or gathered there isn't a real need to be too matchy - matchy with the stripes.  I didn't have enough fabric to make the bodice stripes horizontal but since they were cut on fold of the fabric - it does match up with the center of the skirt.
I am definitely going to be making another striped version of this dress and this time making sure I have some extra fabric to play with the striping a bit more.

I love the shaping/silhouette of this dress!  It is a simple sundress, but all of the shaping makes me feel extra girly and polished enough that I could throw on a cardigan and where this work.

The pattern was an absolute breeze to sew up and as usual the Colette pattern instructions were excellent.  This dress is not only a wear again, but a make again as well!

Next up in the SPC is the Yellow Polka Dot Taffy Blouse with the Yellow Iris shorts.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Mint Truffle





Pictured above is the third garment (March - I am a little late) in the Sew Colette Sew Along and the first finished garment of the Spring/Summer Palette Challenge.  I blogged about my plan for the SPC here.

I absolutely love the way this dress came together!  For the fabric I used a soft, light weight cotton I bought while on a trip to Portland.  I wish you could see the detail in the pictures.  It is a beautiful mint green with white polka dots!  It is fairly sheer so I had to line the dress in a white cotton batiste.  This was my first time completely lining a dress and since the pattern didn't call for it - I followed the instructions for lining the bodice and sort of winged how to add in the skirt portion.  The instructions for this dress are so simple and easy to follow!

The dress feels great on and is going to be a favorite - I can tell already. I did notice after the pictures the straps are a little loose on my shoulders and there is some gaping in the back bodice.  Do any of you more experienced people know what the fit problem might be?  Maybe I need to do an SBA, but would that affect the room in the back or just the fit for the front?  I am finally at the point in my sewing that things like this are starting to become noticeable.  I guess it is time to find some good fit resources.

Next up for the Spring/Summer Challenge the Pink and White striped Hazel Dress!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Spring/Summer Palette Challenge

I am so excited that I will be joining in the fun of the Spring/Summer palette challenge hosted by Colette patterns. I had a hard time with the Fall palette challenge.  It was hard to stay motivated since we do not have much of a fall in California and I also suffered from time constraints, material shortages and the like.  Not this time!

Spring time in California is gorgeous!  And I have been itching to get out in the sunshine in beautiful sun dresses and shorts! So, I decided that I would sew 4 sun dresses, a summery capelet, 3 pairs of shorts and a blouse to go with each pair of shorts!  It sounds like quite the feat but the shorts will be made out of the same pattern with just some simple modifications and most of the patterns are rated as beginner.

Here is the inspirational/mood board that I put together. My inspirations are a little bit vintage, rockabilly, one part romantic, and a little bit modern.



Here are the patterns/fabric I will be using:

1. Truffle in a mint and white polka dot cotton.  I believe this is a voile or lawn as it is very light weight.  I am lining the entire dress in a white cotton batiste.  This was a purchase back in December from my trip to Portland.  This garment is also part of the Sew Colette Sew along I have been participating in.  I am behind - just a little as this was March's garment but I will be finishing it here for the 1st week of this challenge.

2. Hazel  in pink and white striped cotton.  I have two yards exactly of this fabric so I may need to get creative.  My thought is to add in and eyelet to the bodice triangle but I still want to feature some nice stripe action!  This was also a fabric that I picked up on my trip last trip to Portland

3. Hazel #2 I saw Gertie in this beautiful green and purple floral print from Ascher studios and I nearly swooned!  I had to have this fabric and thought it would make a perfect Hazel!  By the way, I realized that Gertie is like the Kate Middleton of the sewing world!  I wasn't the only one calling in/coming in to get this fabric after having seen it on Gertie's blog and they were nearly out!

4. Lily  in a lovely lilac twill.

5. Iris x 3 in pale pink, sunny yellow, and bright mint twills! I plan to add cute buttons and maybe even scalloped edges to at least a pair of these!

6.  Taffy in a beautiful yellow and white polka dot blouse weight cotton.  This is also part of the Sew Colette Sew along!

7.  Violet in this beautiful Nani Iro floral print.

8. Vintage Advance 8339 version 1 in a mint and white striped shirting.

9. Butterick B5032 the sun dress capelet in a white daisy lawn.

** I do have a bonus garment! The Licorice which is also part of the Sew Colette challenge.  I didn't include it in my palette because I have not been able to chose a fabric!