Sewing

I’m on a wardrobe renewal kick right now.  Skirts and shirts I made a few years ago are looking old. Or maybe it’s me and I want a new wardrobe. Either way I’ve been sewing.

New skirt, old shirt, both made by me. I guess I’ll be keeping the shirt since it completes the outfit. This was stash fabric, you may recognize it from the cloth napkins I made recently. Now I can sit down to lunch wearing the skirt and using the napkin at the same time – how’s that for coordinated wardrobe!I had to buy new skirt patterns. Yup, my waist has gotten thicket, age is doing it’s thing. I do like how this one has a large pleat in the front, just that detail.Sewaholic’s Granville shirt has become my go to for a cute button down. I think I have made this one at least 4 times already. I am very glad that I payed extra for the printed pattern, no way would I have kept a pattern that I had taped together, I simply don’t have the room. I just bought the fabric downtown. The fabric district is such a hit and miss, right now I’m really not liking what the jobbers have dumped in the stores. I finally found one store that had some cute floral cottons as well as some bottom weights for skirts. The contrasting fabric is one that I found in my quilting stash. For me, button down shirts call for that extra oomph of contrasting fabrics on the cuffs or the collar.This is all I had enough fabric for, the under collar, the collar stand, the cuff and the sleeve placket. Really this is all that I need, had I made the button placket out of contrasting fabric I think it would be overkill. Also, no pockets for me on this kind of blouse. Unless it is a super simple stripe, but I don’t see myself making that kind of shirt.  Happy to use some of my cute mother of pearl buttons. I do love binding the bottom of the shirt rather than just making a hem. To my mind, it’s just one more elegant touch. All these little details add up to a one of a kind shirt, one that can’t be bought off the rack.

And now, I have a few more skirts, shirts and dresses to make.