Tag: contrast print

Vogue 9026 – – Bring on the sweater knits!

Published on by ellegeemakes10 Comments

IMG_6016Brrr! It’s cold out there! We’ve had our fair share of stormy days over the past few weeks and I’ve taken to wearing layers. There are still a few leaves left on the trees (as you will see from today’s photos) but not many, a signal that bleak days are ahead. I’d resent the arrival of those cold days, if it wasn’t for one thing – – they’re the perfect excuse to add cozy fabrics to my stash.

On one of our first cold days this month, I happened into a fabric store (Fabric Depot) where I found the yummiest sweater knit ever. Not only was it soft, but it had a nice weight too, and it came in so many colors, I could hardly believe my good fortune. I dithered for a long while, trying to decide which color to buy, before arriving at the perfect solution…. I bought three, one yard of each; turquoise, blue, and a deep dark purple.

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Of course, I had no choice but to use them to color block. The only challenge was figuring out which of my lovely colors would go where. After draping my dress form a million different ways, I decided that the front panel would be the blue, the sides, the back and the sleeve bands would be the darkest color (the purple), while the bright turquoise would be used as an accent on the neck band, the pockets, and the sleeves.

The pattern I used is Vogue 9026, a long sleeved top with a front panel and a side and back panel, perfect for color blocking. I made the crew neck option of view B, eliminating the bottom band as I wanted the top to be comfy and loose.

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This top went together quickly because it’s designed so that the back and side panels are one piece that wraps to the front, creating the illusion of side panels. Cutting it out is a breeze, as is construction of the top.

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I cut a size small, making my usual adjustment for my narrow back.  The pattern doesn’t call for pockets but I decided the top needed more of the contrast color, so I drafted a couple of small, five inch pockets and positioned them on the front. I used that same color for the sleeves and neck band. Sometimes, neck bands can be a bit challenging for me as I struggle to get them to lay perfectly flat. But this one went on easily, probably because the fabric was so perfect in stretch and weight.

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This top is so cozy to wear! If you’ve been eyeing a sweater knit at your favorite fabric haunt, I would encourage you to take the plunge. I found the fabric easy to work with, forgiving, and without a lot of fuss. I used the overlock stitch on my machine, but I’m guessing a zig zag would work too? This knit is as soft and as warm as cashmere. All in all, I’m pleased with this top. Sometimes a fast project can be a bit unsatisfying, but because of the color block process, I really enjoyed this, and it was such a fun change from my last project (matching plaids…argh).

What projects have you tried with sweater knit? Did you find it as forgiving as I did? Happy sewing and thanks for stopping by!

I’m having a That Seventies Show moment

Published on by ellegeemakes19 Comments
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I took to heart the advice I saw in a fashion magazine recently. When it comes to fall fashion and prints,  more is more! Apparently, the old maxims about print on print should be damned.
Okay. It’s nice to know that my over-the-top shirt is on-trend, because then, perhaps I’ll have the guts to wear it! Personally, whenever I look at this shirt, all I can think of is ’That Seventies Show’.
imagesThe gang here, giving us some attitude!
I guess that isn’t a bad thing because some fashion experts insist the ‘seventies comeback’ trend in fashion is here for a second season. Okay! Bring it on because I Am Ready!
How did I end up with this print/look? Well, it’s a now familiar story. Both fabrics were in my stash, and I’ve been so In Love with the mixed print look that’s all around in RTW!
Here are some of my favorite examples. Burberry Prorsum is mixing up the prints in their Autumn 2015 RTW line.
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OMG. I need that. The seventies’ vibe is pretty obvious here with more of a folksy interpretation.   I’m going to have to find some fabric to recreate a mix and match look like this soon.
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Love the print and texture overload here, accented with bands of black.  And the fringe on that bag. Please! Can I have some!
Here’s a close up of my wild print. Sure, it’s not as cool as the Burberry print, but it cost only $12.99 a yard…Ha!
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I used one cotton print for the bodice, skirt and sleeves, and used the contrast for the front bands and the collar band. The cotton is so crisp, it sews like a dream (Fabric Depot). I think this cotton is meant to be used for quilting, but that’s never stopped me before, nor will it in the future. The fabric has just enough body to give the peplum a bit of a kick, and what’s not to love about that.
The top I made is Butterick 6097, a fitted shirt with a collar and peplum variations, princess seams and a front button band.
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I chose this pattern because I’ve made it before (here) and I like that fact that it has a bit of structure. Also, the style works with all sorts of bottoms; shorts, skirts, and jeans. To me, the peplum style has a slight retro vibe, which I always, always love. Peplums are nice for Waistless Girls like me, because they fool folks into thinking we actually HAVE them.
I made view B, a long sleeve version that I modified. My sleeves are closer to 3/4. I added a 3 inch cuff, so that I could push the sleeves up if it got too warm (rolled up here because we’ve had more than a few 100 degree days in Oregon this summer…EEK!).
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Because the pattern is so fitted, I chose to go up a size in the waist (since I don’t really have one), then cut my usual size through the hips. These adjustments are the same I made in my previous version. The pattern went together easily and it fit with just a bit of last minute seam adjustment at the sides. The peplum pleats were super easy to sew. You just have to mark them well.
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So, what do you think? Is this print just a bit too much? I’m not sure, but I think I’ll wear this top anyway. The fabric feels so good against my skin, and for me, that’s often the bottom line in terms of a garment’s wearabitliy.  I do love this Butterick pattern, so much so, I’ll be making another version of it this week (more is more?) and posting it here and on the Monthly Stitch Blog, since the August Challenge is ‘Two is the magic number’.
Happy sewing and thanks for stopping by!!

A shift dress that mixes it up

Published on by ellegeemakes5 Comments
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How’s this for using up a bit of my stash?
As you all know, my stash reduction project is in full swing and this dress is the result of my new stash busting rule.
 During the summer, I can only buy a piece of fabric, if it replaces a piece of equal size. So, nothing comes in unless something goes out.
No doubt, keeping to my rule will be very, very hard.  Think of all of the summer clearance sales I’ll have to miss! But my stash will thank me. There are fabrics on my shelves that have lived there for over two years. They deserve a better life. They deserve to be worn.
That’s why this project made me feel a bit virtuous. To make this spring dress, I used almost two yards of fabric from my stash – – a yard and a half of floral cotton AND a half yard of a contrast cotton print for the sleeves and hem border. Two yards down!
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The pattern for this dress is McCall’s 6465, a loose fitting pullover dress with bust darts and short sleeves. The style is simple and basic, which makes this pattern a good template that’s easy to modify and embellish.
The neckline is what attracted me to this pattern initially. It’s wide enough to slip the dress over your head, but not really a scoop neck either. It’s almost a boat-neck, a shape I absolutely love. Other than shortening the bodice length a bit, I made no other adjustments to the pattern.
I love the crisp feeling of this cotton fabric, but there are alot of flowers on it (and you know how I feel about florals.) So, I decided to mix things up a bit by using a contrast print on the sleeves and hem border. It’s hard to see the details of the print in the photos, but it’s a black background that’s swirled with swooshes of gray. The sleeve hems are edged with solid black just to give it a bit of an edge.
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This was a super easy pattern that you can make in an afternoon and it doesn’t have a zipper. Since this is the perfect time of year to be outside, I spend less time sewing, choosing projects that are simple and instantly gratifying. This one was perfect. You can finish it in a few hours then head outside!
Do you have a stash busting rule of your own? What kinds of sewing projects work for you when the weather is warm? Thanks for stopping by!