Ringing in a New Year with the Savannah Swing Jacket

This pattern has been jumping off the cutting table wanting to be made.  So, I finally got it done, even though it was easy to sew together.

The fabric was a cable twisted corduroy.  It has a stiff hand, so I thought it would work well.  It does, but it is very heavy for my weather, so I can only wear a camisole under it.  The fabric does not crease well, so when I make it again, I will choose something that shows off the lovely pleats.

The construction of this jacket is easy, even though there is a lining.  I found Step 2 in the lining directions had a picture drawn incorrectly.  If you follow the picture, you will be "unsewing", but if you think through which way the fabric should turn, you will see that it is just the opposite and then you won't have to "unsew."  I wish the cuff pattern was given so I would have cut it out with the rest of the jacket and not sewn it on against the nap.....but that might have happened anyway.  Glad you can't see it in the photos.  It looks a little frumpy in the photos, but it may be due to an 11-year-old son doing the photos.

I have made a few Serendipity Studio garments and this jacket seems to be very fitted through the shoulders (or my fabric was very unforgiving in giving a little stretch.)  I love the length of the cropped jacket.  It would look great with a skirt or dress.

Happy New Year!

I can't wait to see what I can sew up this year!

Seconds on the "School Photo Dress" and "Vintage Jane"

I loved the School Photo Dress by Oliver+S so much, I made a second dress.  Ditto for the pattern from Pink Fig called "Vintage Jane."

My favorite model was very happy to show-off this dress.  The chartreuse green corduroy was a great double for a holiday dress and a plain winter dress.  My daughter can still wear her smocked Christmas dress from last year, so I didn't want to make anything fancy.  I followed the pattern exactly as it is written for the "School Photo Dress."  The front kangaroo pocket is easy and a big hit with little girls.

To make it really festive, I made a necklace for the holidays to match the dress.

For the rest of the year, I made this owl necklace to match the dress.  I decided the jewelry making class I took 2 years ago was not coming back to me quickly.  I may need to take another class before I try it again.

The above dress is "Vintage Jane" by Pink Fig.  I omitted the overskirt since this owl print was hard enough to find one other print to harmonize with it.  I love the simple lines and look of this dress.  It is a great dress for pulling on your boots and being ready to go.

I enjoyed the sale at Planet Applique near Thanksgiving.  These are a few t-shirts I embellished for the holidays.  All the designs, except the owl (StitchonTime.com) are from Planet Applique.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Bolero, Simplicity 3921

I found a perfect, black holiday tunic a few weeks ago.  BUT, it was sleeveless, which isn't all bad in South Texas.  It needed a simple jacket to make it pop and scream holiday attire.  Simplicity 3921 is the simple bolero that can be put together in an afternoon.  I used View C with a red corduroy.  I added a velvet braid around the edges and a flower from ribbon and the velvet braid that was left over.  A cheap glamour button in the center finishes it off.  

This is a great project for that outfit you need next week!

Smocked Retro "Ainsley"

This dress is based on the yoke and sleeve top of "Ainsley" by Children's Corner.  I took the pattern and rewrote it into a retro dress.

This is the original pattern cover to "Ainsley."  You can see the yoke is identical and it ends quickly after that point.

First, I smocked a cute pattern onto the navy blue pique.  

I wanted a more grown-up look for my growing daughter and used some current design elements.

The sleeves are called "lantern sleeves."  I used the long-sleeve pattern from "Ainsely" from the cap to about the elbow.  Then I cut a rectangle for the "lantern."  The width of the rectangle was 1.5 times the width of the sleeve where I stopped at the elbow.  The length of the rectangle took it close to the wrist.  I used the original cuff for the sleeve and inserted elastic.

I tried adding the belt to the original "Ainsley", but it looked dorky and I took it off.  I used the belt for the back.

To add a little color at the hem, I added two pleats and used the floss from the smocking design to make a running stitch through the bottom of the pleats.

Photos of navy blue dresses are tough to take, so I hope you can see the dress and the details.