Sewing Obsessed

  

Chumley and Tony are being tempted with bits of meat by Dave, (not in the picture because he's in just his shorts). Tony can stand up and get closer to the meat but Chumley has the capacity to really focus, not moving a bit until he gets the treat. 

 To explain to a reader why I don't feature myself wearing my new clothes, this is the reason. I can't get a good picture, not like the still mannequin anyway.

This fabric is tie dyed cotton from Fabric.com and I adapted another out of print pajama pattern for this shirt, which really fits great now. M4979. I didn't like the v-neck so I made it round. I have lots of regular shirt patterns, but the looser more casual shape is what the pajama pattern provides.

 And round two of that crossover top shirt pattern, this time in heavy linen, which is a perfect topper for a skirt or black pants.

I'm really enjoying  garment sewing, since using the serger is just so effortless, and the new fabric is darned wonderful too. I ordered lots of linen/rayon which is now my go to cloth. Drapes nice, washes great and very little ironing. Besides white, ivory and black, I have these colors coming.

    

A Bright Spot

A Bright Spot

Hand dyed silks and cottons, hand dyed perle cotton threads, fused, hand and machine quilted. 16x13 1/2" $100 Email me.

 Putting away my garment making clothes and pulling out my fused fabric inspired me to play a bit. One thing led to another and I was inspired to also get out my thread collection and do a bit of hand stitching.

 The yellow shantung square is inspiration for the title .

PS. I've lost 14 pounds!!!

Copying Fashion #4

 
I love all these looks and finally found the right pattern to make it.

 
 It fits perfectly and the skirt is swingy, just the way I wanted it. Cotton poly knit, from Joann's. I added a center seam so that I could squeeze out a longer length 4.5" from the fabric. And that allowed a vent at the center front to which I added a decorative brooch. For once I won't be adding pockets.

Second Version

A shirt so nice I made it twice. When I buy fabric I usually get 2 yards, for shirts and tops, even if the width is 54-60". I have a large section of leftover linen-rayon from this top. Of course I'll save it for several years before an idea surfaces to use it. 

On this top I used a heavier thread for top stitching, and took advantage of the fringe selvedge to add interest to the pockets. The necklace is polymer clay and made by Debra DeWolff, an old friend from my art quilt group in Illinois. She is making jewelry again...

Copying Fashion #3

Eileen Fisher, $238 at Nordstrom

J. Jill $59.99

Simple, simple, simple, just an all purpose pullover top. Why don't I have this item in my wardrobe? I asked myself. 

Well, I had made something similar which looked AWFUL on me, like a hospital gown minus the open back end. 
 No shape, not flattering in any way, so it stayed in my closet since October 2015. But the fabric was a lovely linen rayon blend and just too nice to ignore, so I unsewed it and used a different pattern with the salvaged pieces to make this new version.
The results: a simple pullover with  seamed-top-stitched pockets and side vents. The pattern is not a pullover, so I had to make a neck facing and guess at the center front, but I could make it again, quickly, before I forget what adjustments were made. New fabric from Fabric.com should arrive soon, so I'll get right on it.

 

. . .AT LAST! Our Fabric is Available

Dyed especially to my request, for Focus on Fusing participants, 14 colors in light, medium, and deep, in a luscious mercerized cotton, in 42 fat quarters. What a dream come true! Our MAN Antony worked his magic, staying up late to finish the last color, a leafy green, and now has these beauties posted on his Etsy site. Read all the details there. $130 plus priority mail shipping, $13.45.