Wearing the faux leather skirt

I actually posted a photo of me wearing the faux leather skirt earlier this week, but the photo looked "wonky", so took down the post.  I tried posting via Picasa and it just did not work right.

So without further ado, here is the faux leather skirt as worn to work on Wednesday.

Front view, lighten to help view the topstitching

Back view with exposed zipper.

Side view, skirt is hanging even.  

V8750-Faux leather skirt

My November Garment a Month project is the faux leather skirt.  This is my third version of this skirt.  My first one was a denim fabric with lace look woven into the fabric, I acquired it from EOS.  I love this version as it works for fall, winter, spring and summer.

My second version was fabric from Fabric Mart that was also a fabric similar to denim yet the second one was a stretch woven. The bottom side pieces on this one were cut on the bias.

Here is the front piece of my faux leather version. 

This is lovely and easy to work with fabric I acquired from Sawyer Brook in 2012.  I would love to acquire this same type faux leather in another color.  The pattern calls for top stitching of the upper, middle and lower front side pieces; also top stitching of the front seams.   I decided to not do that on this until the skirt is more complete.  I have a concern about the "give" of this fabric and I think it will do okay yet if not I did not want to have to undo top stitching because holes appear in the fabric and remain when removed. 

Updates to follow.

Garment a Month

I am continuing to make slow progress on the jacket.  I am participating in the Make a Garment a Month and I have decided that the project will be a faux leather skirt using some fantastic faux leather purchased last year from Sawyer Brooks Fabrics.

It's time to sew this loving fabric.  I am thinking that I will have enough left over to use as a design feature with something else.  What I have not decided is what skirt pattern I will use.  I have several skirt ideas pinned on my Pinterest board that will become the inspiration for whatever I choose. 

I have some stay-cation time coming up at the end of this month-can we get an AMEN!  So needed and so looking forward to it.  I plan to not only sew this skirt for my garment of the month but have several knit tops I want to sew up as well.

Sew much more later!

Vogue 8799

My intentions were to take photos of the completed Butterick dress.  It just was to wrinkled to do that.  So while I had the camera and tripod set up I decided to take photo of Vogue 8799 as all the photos I had of the completed dress were of those of the dress on the hanger.

This is the front of the dress. The fabric print is so busy that you cannot really see the unique front seaming lines of the dress when worn.

The shoes are a recent purchase from Zappos, Steve Madden pump in coral.  They look rather red in the photo. I am still thinking about whether they will blend enough with the orange in the dress to wear with them.  I have a pair of patent leather kitten heeled shoes that match the pink shade in the dress perfectly.  So I have another alternative.

Here is the back of the dress

And a side view

As I noted in the photo I still have fullness in the tummy area.  I took this up some and may do more before final wearing. 

Butterick dress photos soon.  Dress is on ironing board waiting for me to press it.

Next up for sewing is skirts.  I am going to try Pamela's Patterns Magical Pencil Skirt.  I have some red double knit fabric cut out and ready to test now.  Reviews for this pattern are pretty positive over at Pattern Review.

Update later.

And sew it goes

I was happy to begin sewing the dress this AM.  All pieces have been serged finished and the fabric is true to dream to work with.  The front unit is complete (photos later).  I have sewn the upper side and lower side back pieces.  Next step is to insert zipper, will use an invisible zipper.  Sewing back pieces together after that and then beginning sewing the lining pieces.

This is proving to be a nice pattern so far.  All pieces fit together appropriately.  And did I say the fabric is a dream to work with!! Love when all goes well when making a new garment.

Updates later.

Next up-jacket and dress

I fell in like with Vogue 8799 when new spring patterns were introduced.  As any good Club BMV member would do, I waited for a sale and purchased this pattern.  I have not made a jacket since the faux sherpa jacket this past winter. Thus making this jacket will be a new adventure.  I also plan to make the dress as well; this too will be an interesting journey as well

After arriving home this evening and having some free time, I visited the sewing room to look at knit fabrics and patterns thinking I would make one more top for the Starting at the Top sew along.  I just was not feeling the love for any of my knit fabrics that I have in the sewing room.

I was feeling the love for several woven fabrics and decided that I was going to start to work on making some other items.  This pattern was laying on the top of a stack of patterns and that led me to finding the recent "tangerine" cotton herringbone fabric I recently purchased from Gorgeous Fabrics.  This will be the jacket.

This is fabric I purchased in 2011 from Sawyer Brook and the orange is close match to the jacket fabric.  This is a woven cotton with a raised pattern.  This will be the dress.

The back of the pattern envelope states this is an unlined jacket nor does it reference that the dress, top, pants or skirt are lined.  However the pattern pieces clearly states how many pieces to cut of fabric and lining.  This was unexpected so I will be going through my lining fabric to see if I have the appropriate lining or do I need to purchase tomorrow.

I have cut around the pattern pieces, but have not begun the pattern fitting and measuring yet.  I have worked up an appetite so decided it was time to fix a small dinner for me.  More updates later.

Without further comments

Here are a few photos of the finally completed Butterick 5460 jacket and dress:



And without jacket:

So glad to get this completed.  I just could not move on from this until done. 

Is this the right jacket?

My plans were to make the jacket that is included in this pattern.  I am not sure that I really like this jacket; I do like that it is loose and not so fitted particularly when the weather gets warmer. The fabric I am going to use is this one from Sawyer Brook, a silk rayon woven. 



I fell in love with this fabric the first time I saw it on the website.  I acquired this piece in January/February during one of their sales.  It is perfect with the fabric used in recently as well as another piece or two I have in collection to sew this spring/summer.

I am just not sure if this is the right jacket for me.  Sometimes I think I look lost in this types of jackets-that is those with drop or no shoulders.  Yet another jacket I am drawn to is similar.  Decisions, decisions.

More later.



Another item for Goodwill and moving on---

The McCall’s dress is complete except for hemming.  I will not be keeping the dress as I just don’t like the look of it.  Even using a size 12 in shoulder/upper chest area, the neckline is just not flattering on me.

I just did not feel like handling it again and trying to make it work.  I am just not feeling the love to continue to work on it.

So I am moving on to the next project.  This will be Butterick dress and jacket.  It is Butterick 5460. I plan to use this fabric acquired from EOS earlier this year.

The jacket will be made from this fabric, a silk rayon purchased from Sawyer Brooks in January or February.

I cut out the pattern and pin fitted it to determine adjustments needed.  Of course the usual swayback and FSA were necessary.  I also needed 1.5 inch FBA. I also added some width to the front armsyce area as I did not like how the sleeveless area was sitting at the front.

I have the thread, the zipper and I am ready to go. 

New Fabrics

I mentioned in a previous post that I had purchased two fabric pieces from Sawyer Brook that arrived recently.  Today the fabric I ordered from Denver Fabrics came.  So without further ado, here are some shots of the new fabrics:

Green mid-tone silk rayon fabric from Sawyer Brook, I think it was called Avocado. 

This is the second piece from Sawyer Brook.  It is a cotton with raised circle designs woven in the fabric; I suppose a jacquard.  I think this will be a summer sheath style dress.

Today’s newest additions:

This is from Denver Fabrics, a knit geometric and stripe design.  I am thinking a Jalie knit top with tie.

This is an animal type print in olive green and white.  Also from Denver Fabrics.  Probably will become a knit dress.

I fell in love with the colors and not really sure what this will be but it is a lovely stretch lace fabric.  It is really a lovely fabric in real life, more so than seen on Denver Fabrics website.

Now off to fix dinner and hopefully find time to cut out the KS jacket.  I made some additional fit adjustments to the pattern this afternoon and I think it is a go now!

Sewing related purchases

I was in Richmond for the past three days.  Sometimes while there on business, I get an opportunity to visit Hancock's, not this time.  It was mostly all work and no play.  I was happy when I arrived home this evening to find two boxes were waiting for me.  One was from Sawyer Brooks; I ordered two fabric pieces from their current sale.  Both pieces are for spring/summer garments.  The other box was from Birch Street Clothing; I ordered two rolls of Swedish Tracing Paper and you get the third one free.  I use this paper a lot.  They are so prompt in sending.  I have another order from Denver Fabrics that I am not sure when it will arrive.  I really have not received any response from them as to the status of my order. 

I got an email regarding my zipper order.  Some are not currently available and are on back order.  The key separating zipper is on its way to me and hopefully the others will follow soon.  I have to say I am envious of those of you who live in or near a large city with sewing notion sources near by.

I am so anticipating doing some sewing this weekend.  Later.