Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Sunset Over the Sea


I've decided that I need to make time to do some sewing for myself. After losing weight this past summer, I gave away all my cute clothes that I've made. Now that I've gained it all back, I don't have anything to wear. I have been spending time shopping at the thrift stores so I'm not completely nakky, but I'm not dressing as cute as I used to. So, as I journey through weight loss again, I need to make some things to wear.


While searching through my fabric collection, I've found some pieces that will work together for a mini wardrobe SWAP (sewing with a plan). I'm calling it, "Sunset Over the Sea," based on the photo at the top of this blog post. My pieces will include a black and a white cardigan, three printed knit tops and two pair of pull-on pants. Each top will go with each pair of pants and the cardigans should go with everything as well.

I started with the pant fabric choices, which are eggplant and teal. It was a lot of fun shopping in my collection. I have so much fabric that I really won't need to buy more in my lifetime. Of course that would be ridiculous. However, I'm planning on shopping in San Francisco for the Patternreview meeting at the end of April, so I'm saving my money for shopping then.




These three knit prints are from Michael Levine's Loft, which I've mentioned before. I always find the greatest knits there. I remember Gigi Louis saying that good knits are hard to find, so you need to get them when you see them. This probably isn't true any longer, especially for me since I love so close to Los Angeles, but I still live by that idea. 

 

Burda 2569 is my TNT pull-on pants pattern. I've probably made it a dozen times or more. It's made for stretch fabrics, so every pair I've made from the pattern fit weather I'm up or down in my weight. I've also made pajama pants from the pattern with quilting cottons, but I add one inch at the side seams for a very comfortable fit. Unfortunately, the pattern is out of print, but you still might be able to find it on-line somewhere. The eggplant fabric I'm using for the pants is a Rayon/Poly/Lycra woven suiting fabric from JoAnn's and the teal fabric is a poly/cotton/lycra stretch twill from my local mill-end store. Both have just the right amount of stretch for my pattern. Luckily, I haven't lost this TNT pattern yet. I need a vault for all my TNT patterns. I still haven't given up hope for finding my TNT t-shirt pattern, although I have run out of places to look.


This is the pattern from my mini dress from my last blog post. I'm going to make the top with 3/4 length sleeves from the knit fabric with the colorful zigzag stripes. I think the print will be interesting with all the twist and gathers in the pattern.


I'm using this pattern with the straight hem for the knit fabric with the black background. It has a pretty large print and would benefit from a pattern with few seams. I will eliminate the center front seam and the sleeve tabs. It will be a quick and easy top to make since I've already made it once before and know it fit me large last time. Oh goodie, a pattern I won't have to enlarge.

 

For the last knit fabric, the one with the green, teal, and purple with a white background, I'm making this hotpatterns top with the short sleeves. I've made the pattern before and really like it. The last time I made it I shortened the tie which makes it so much more wearable. This top will look good with either the black or white cardigan.

Because one my tops has dolman sleeves, I decided that I needed to have one of my cardigans with dolman sleeves as well. I'm making the drape front cardigan from a black rayon/lycra jersey that has lots of drape. It's not very heavy and won't be warm, but it will help give my new wardrobe some polish. I should be able to wear this item with each of the tops.


The other cardigan I'm making will be the jacket from this pattern. It's a raglan sleeve shirt style with no closure. While knit isn't one of the suggested fabrics, I will be using the heavy white cotton lycra knit. I will be adding a FBA rotated into gathers in the raglan sleeve seam. I think the fabric will be soft enough to handle the bulk of the gathers. The knit will also make this jacket easy to fit, especially since it has a pleat in the back for more room to drape over my behind.

My plan is for these pieces to be quick and easy to make and fit without a lot of alterations. I hope they will be too big for my once spring is in full swing. Tomorrow I have a friend visiting after work, but by Friday, I should be able to get started cutting everything out. I expect to bang out a few items this weekend. I can hardly wait to have some cute, made by me, clothes to wear next week.

20 comments:

  1. What a plan! I love your colours and can't wait to see your new garments.

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  2. What awesome colors! I almost can't wait to see your finished projects!

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  3. I learned the hard way to always keep my clothes stored for a long while after I would lose weight and ditto for the ones that I outgrew. Being petite every thing I don't sew has to be altered which is a real pain. I love that you are sewing new stuff and you have some beautiful fabric and patterns matched up. I hunted down your tnt pants pattern and had forgotten about it. I remember really liking how it looked when you made it up before as most of the larger sized pants patterns have really full legs. I need to shop for some knit pants weight fabric and give it a try. I found some petite pants at a macy's that fit fairly well so have been wearing those and another brand from the mall but need to commit to getting that pants pattern fitted up. Hope you find your t shirt pattern. I know how that feels. I lost a pj pants pattern for one seams that I loved so much that I had all the fitting kinks worked out and I am still sick over the loss. The new pj pants I sewed don't fit nicely in the legs like the old pattern despite a lot of fitting work. sigh I too can't wait to see your new pieces.

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  4. I've battled weight my entire life, so I know your distress very well. I do believe though, that it's essential to dress yourself well, especially when you may have some extra poundage. If anyone needs a self-esteem boost, it is those of us who have difficulty with our image. Sew, make beautiful things. You are a beautiful person and worth it.

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  5. Love all the patterns and fabric you've chosen. Can't wait to see the finished products.

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  6. You really have it all planned out; I admire that so much. I'm so ADD when it comes to sewing it seems. The colors are fabulous. Can't wait to see the finished wardrobe!

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  7. Love the fabric choices as well as your chosen patterns. Great plan!

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  8. Oooooo! I love the colors and fabrics you've chosen for your Sunset over the Sea collection! (And the inspiration photo is gorgeous!)

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  9. How exciting! Love your fabric choices. Can't wait to see it all done up.

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  10. Great plan you have going there Sherril. Looking forwarding to seeing it come into being.

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  11. I love the patterns and fabric choices. Can't wait to see your new collection.

    Betsy

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  12. Love all your fabrics and your inspiration!!

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  13. Good luck with your new wardrobe! I'm sure you will end up with some wonderful new pieces.

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  14. What a great wardrobe plan! And so smart to choose pieces that will be easy to sew and won't require too much fitting. That way it won't feel like the plan is dragging on and on and getting boring.

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  15. Beautiful fabric choices, Sherrill. They will make for some great pieces!

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  18. Have you ever tried Kwik sew patterns you make them the size you want and they have a master pattern you use I love them and also Stretch n sew patterns.You use something called do sew ? as the pattern piece material. You can alter easily.I love them for knits used them for 30 yrs now both.
    I saw your entry about your Morse sewing machine I bought a Morse IV for 40.00 ! with cabinet but had no bobbin case. They wanted 60.00 but I said no because of no bobbin case and they were 20.00. It doesn't zigzag so I'm going to clean the cam stack if that doesn't work then I will take it to the sewing machine repair man . It was in very nice shape cleaned it and was a little rusty around the bobbin case area. The cabinet in excellent shape also .You are right it has a beautiful stitch for sure. hopefully I can get it to work I bought a manual for 10.00 and a set of attachments for 10.00 on e bay so that was a good deal . Nice to see someone else loves the machine like I do .Reminds me of a soda shop mini jukebox at your seat with all the chrome lol.I love the oldie machines!!!!!! Debbie Kelly sewgal49@yahoo.com

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  19. Hi! Miss hearing from you............hope all is well!

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  20. I love your plan!!! Can't wait to see the finished garments!

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