The Catherine Coat

I have been popping over to Hawthorne Threads from time to time to enter their giveaway contest. Well you know that after a few visits I couldn't resist placing an order for some new fabrics. One of the fabrics that I purchased was this lovely cotton by Micheal Miller called Delilah. I didn't realized until it arrived that is had glittery gold incorporated into the print. I didn't know what I was going to use it for which is often the case when I buy fabric. I decided it would make a nice lightweight jacket I could wear to work in warmer weather. I used The Catherine Coat Pattern by Serendipity Studios. I had some light grey sateen weave cotton leftover from a pair of pants I made last year. There was just enough to make the collar and the faux pocket flaps. I thought it coordinated nicely with the Delilah print. This jacket is unlined and quite simple to put together. I pretty much followed the pattern except for the sleeve. Where the pattern had a separate cuff that the sleeve was gathered into I opted for a 3/4 sleeve with one pleat in the center. I had some vintage gold buttons to complete the look. I used four on the front and one on each sleeve. I like the look of this jacket and it fits very well. The only thing I wish I had done differently is match the print on the front. I never thought about it until the jacket was complete. A bit to late to do anything about. It would have been nice to have those large motifs match at the front. I have worn it several times already. The fabric does shed a lot of glitter for the first few times of wearing. I will probably make this coat again. I already have some fabric picked out for the next coat. I am thinking about incorporating a vintage doily into the design.

Kay Whitt Design for McCall's

I was pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago

when I discovered several Kay Whitt patterns in the McCall's pattern selection. Since the patterns were on sale for $1.00 I picked up two of them. This one is McCalls's 5882. In Kay's typical style the pattern includes various length options as well as ideas for contrasting design elements such as hem bands and tie belts. There is even an embroidery design included. I chose view B the tunic length top. The pattern has a shorter top and several lengths of dresses.

I had the brown and turquoise floral linen in my stash. It was leftover from a skirt I made a few years ago. I found the embroidered brown linen to coordinate for the bodice. I had the turquoise silk dupioni in my stash that I used for the hem band. I also wanted to show some of that silk at the neck edge. My original plan was to make a bias piping at the neck edge. Well when I tried to make a continues bias strip something went wrong and my strip did not end up on the bias but the straight of grain. Since that would not lay well around a curved neckline I opted for a narrow ruffle. I did make the tie belt included in the pattern but I didn't like the way it looked on this top so I removed it. Overall I like this top and the way it fit. One thing I would alter for the next top or dress I make with this pattern is the neckline in the front. For some reason almost every pattern I use the neckline end up being an inch or so to big in the front. I am still wearing this as it is a minor issue and probably the only one who would notice this is me. But it is an easy change to make the next one better. All in all I like this pattern and this top.

Claire Cami Top

Ever since I made the Claire Cami Dress for my swap partner I have wanted to use this pattern for myself. I thought the shorter tunic lenght would be a great summer top. And it is dressy enough for me to wear to work. I loved the way the dress fit me so I knew the top would fit well.

For the top I used a black and white floral linen rayon blend I picked up on clearance at JoAnn Fabric. for the coordinating trim I used a quilting panel from my stash that had quarter yard strips of various black and white prints. I love sewing and wearing this patttern. It is quick to sew and easy to wear. I think this top has an oriental look to it. I do want to sew up a dress next. I really liked the one I sent to my swap partner.

I joined these link parties!!

Handkerchief Tops

I have acquired quite a collection of vintage hankies. Some belonged to family members a few I picked up at antique shops and several I purchased from online auctions at Shop Goodwill . I love looking at my hankie collection and dreaming up ideas to use them. However I have a very hard time actually cutting into one of my vintage hankies. In fact many of my hankies are still folded in their original form and I can hardly bring myself to unfold them. They have been folded in that shape for many years so it is quite easy to refold them. They are so pretty and unique they should be shown off and used for something pretty.

I picked up a copy of Hankie Style by Amy Barickman for Indygo Junction. This book has several apparel and accessory projects all using hanker chiefs. Some use hankie fabric and new and vintage hankies. I do have several new hankies in my collection too. I thought I would be able to cut into the new ones more easily, but they came in such a cute package and were folded so cleverly that I didn't want to disturb them either. I decided to take the plunge and use a few of my hankies to actually make something.

My book has two full size garment patterns included, a cardigan and a tunic. The cap sleeved tunic looked like the perfect project to try first. It only used one hankie and I needed some light weight tops to wear to work. I had recently purchased this sweet Swiss dot fabric at Hancock Fabrics . It is very lightweight and has a nice vintage look. I went through my hankies to find the right ones to match my pink dot fabric and the pretty pink floral dot fabric.

The Cap Sleeved Tunic was very easy to put together. It only took me about an hour and a half to cut and sew my first top. For the first one I used the pink floral with a rose windowpane hankie. I picked this one first because the hankie had a small hole in one side so I didn't feel so bad about cutting it up. I like the finished top except the neckline is slightly to big in the front. I fixed it by stretching a piece of elastic at the very edge of the neck. This gathered it up slightly causing it to fit more closely to my neck. The next top I altered the pattern to make the neck smaller before cutting the fabric. The second top made with the pink dot fabric fit much better. The hankie I picked out for this top had a large bouquet in one corner and I wanted to highlight that feature. I turned the hankie on the bias and let the point float freely beyond the seam. I like the way this one turned out and I wore it to work today. I will probably make more of these tops because they are so quick and easy and really could be made without a hankie. Next project from this book perhaps a scarf or a T-shirt embellishment.


I joined these link parties!! My Repurposed Life and Amy Lou Who Sew-N-Tell.
Sunday Showcase at Under The Table Dreaming.

Ruffle Top

It has been a really long time since I posted any of my sewing projects. I have been sewing some but just haven't found time to take pictures and write up a post. I have been trying to make some lightweight tops that I can wear to work. This ruffle fabric has been getting a lot of attention around the blogaspear. People are coming up with some adorable projects using this sweet fabric. http://www.rufflefabric.com/ Check out these tutorials,http://www.rufflefabric.com/tutorials-with-ruffle-fabric. I think the Coastal Curtsy Skirt is so pretty. If I were younger and thinner I would make myself one of those. I do have a younger thinner daughter but she doesn't think she would wear that skirt but requested a more basic skirt made out of the ruffle fabric. More http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/05/ruffle-skirt-and-ruffles-on-shirt.htmllike this one. I think I will be able to whip one up for her. I am happy to because she so rarely wants anything I sew for her anymore. I don't sew for her unless she asks. Mostly what she ask for is costumes.



I found my ruffle fabric on the clearance rack at Hancock Fabrics yay because it is a bit pricey. But most projects only use a little. I got this pink and some red ruffle fabric. This is slightly shear but the ruffles cover most of the see through factor. I thought it would make a nice T-shirt. I used my old standby pattern New Look 6735. I have made the 3/4 sleeve T-shirt many times. For some reason I have not sewed anything else included in this pattern. This shirt has a seam in the back for a more shaped shirt. I eliminated the seam and just cut the back on the fold. That made it even easier to make. I don't need more shape in my T-shirts as I don't really have a defined waist. I need to loose a few pounds.

This top went together quickly. You don't even need to hem this fabric as you just leave a ruffle edge. It is a bit tricky to cut out and the seams can be tricky to as you must make sure the ruffles are all flat and going in the right direction. The only edge that needed a finish was the neckline. I used some pink fold over elastic for that. I really like this top however I wore it to work and that was not such a good idea. The fabric seems to be a bit delicate and snags easily. I work as a tailor in a men's store and it seems the edged of my tables and presses have tiny burrs on them. And this top seemed to be attracted to them and kept getting snagged. So I will save this top for other occasions when I am not constantly rubbing against a table. I have some leftover fabric so I think I will make my daughter a skirt with it. For a skirt I will have to line it with some kind of knit because the fabric is so shear. But it will make a cute skirt for her.

I added this to this show off your stuff party.

Surf Fishing

I know this post has nothing to do with sewing or crafting but I wanted to share my fish story. I went surf fishing at Cape Henlopen yesterday. I had such a nice time with my new guy friend and he taught me how to surf fish. I have never been much of a fisherman before. But I found that surf fishing is a very relaxing activity. The beach was beautiful and the weather was nice. I was a bit chilly because the wind was strong. We had a nice picnic of roasted chicken and good conversation. After only about 10 minutes after putting the baited line in the water we had a catch. Greg showed me how to reel him in and we found we had caught a striped bass. Around here they call them rock fish and this one was big enough to keep. But we did throw him back.

I actually did do a bit of crafting while we were fishing. While waiting for something to bite I knitted about half of a new washcloth. I like to take some simple knitting along with me to the beach. Washcloths are perfect knitting for the beach because they are easy and you don't have to worry about getting your project ruined by sand and sea. Because wash cloths are for washing so hey just wash them when you are finished.

All in all it was a very good day. By the way this is the only fish we caught that day. But that doesn't really matter it was all about enjoying time spent together and a fun activity.

Sewing Blogging Anniversary Giveaway: Japanese Edition « The Sew Convert

Look at this great blog I just found today and she is hosting a great giveaway too. Some cute Japanese fabrics and a copy of a Japanese sewing magazine Cotton Friends. I have been trying to get my hands on a copy of that magazine for a while now. I hope to get back to posting on my blog soon. I have made a few new tops that I want to share but just haven't found the time to get pictures and write up a post.Sewing Blogging Anniversary Giveaway: Japanese Edition « The Sew Convert: "Home > Fabric, Giveaway, Japanese sewing books > Sewing Blogging Anniversary Giveaway: Japanese Edition"