Fall Inspiration

It's only August, but already I feel fall is on the way.  The smell of freshly sharpened pencils always brings back fond memories of the excitement of going back to school.  Yes, I was that kid.  Even though it's still cookin' outside and I'm not going back to school, I can't stop thinking about cool weather clothes.

This week a box of fall inspiration came in the mail.  You never quite know what you're going to get when you purchase fabrics online and in the case of knits you not only can't feel texture and see color, you can't tell how much it stretches!  You can imagine how happy I was when I opened this box of knits from FabricMart fabrics and found cozy textures, accurate colors, and perfect stretch.  Ahhh...fall sewing is here.  I think I'll make two sweatshirts in the burgundy and teal/black stripe using my dolman sweatshirt pattern, I'm not sure what to do with the black and white textured knit (any ideas?) and the lavender knit is begging me to turn it into a sweater using McCall's 6796.  Can you hear it calling to me?

Come September....I dream in plaid.  I love plaid skirts, shirts and this year I'd like to find a plaid flannel dress in my closet.  

These flannels with lace and florals would be great made up in the "Archer" pattern by Grainline (for sure I'm the only sewer out there that hasn't made one....and yes, I'll match the plaids).  

I'm off to buy spiral notebooks, a new lunchbox and plaid fabric.  Fall is here!

McCall's 6744 - Dressed to Chill #2

This is the second time around for McCall's 6744 and I love this version too!  I made a shortened version of View C in crinkle cotton purchased from Fabricmart Fabrics (sadly it sold out).   Just like the first version, I left out the elastic on the shoulders and opted for pleats instead.

Here are my reviews on PatternReview.com and Kollabora.

 These are more pics from our trip to Ojai. Oh I wish I were there!

A view from my cherry spot by the pool.  Ahhhh.

Simplicity 2373 - Ojai Dress

Well...this is one of those projects that was difficult to get through.   I find this hard to believe since this is one of my TNT's (tried and true pattern) and some leftover linen I had in my stash.  I made the bodice and the straps and for some reason I just wasn't happy so I left it sitting on my cutting table for a day.  I have a stack of other projects I'm excited to start but I'm not a sewer that can have any unfinished projects lying around. I knew I'd have to figure out my problem or call it a "wadder" and trash the dress.  I forged ahead and I'm so glad I did.

I used the dress pattern from Simplicity 2373 and added a couple of inches to the bottom.  Since I was unhappy with the bodice, I decided to experiment with some decorative stitching and ended up using a technique I used on this skirt.  I hand wound light gray embroidery floss (all six threads) onto a bobbin and top stitched from the wrong side so the embroidery floss showed on the front.  So easy and yes, washable.

Here are my reviews on PatternReview.com. and Kollabora.

My daughter took these dress pictures on a recent trip to Ojai, California.  If you ever
can get there....do it.  It's a beautiful place.  We laid by the pool most of the day and this was my view.  Nice, right?  I can't wait to go back.