A year later

My ever-patient little brother asked me for a custom shirt. A year ago. He has trouble finding shirts that fit, as he is 6'3" with broad shoulders and long arms from years of surfing and a slim build. Off the rack shirts fit his shoulders but billowed around his middle, or he always had to roll his sleeves to conceal how short they were. He was dutifully measured, questioned, and sent to buy fabric. Did I mention he has fantastic and expensive taste? He came back with yards of the softest white Egyptian cotton from Britex in SF, thinking it would be such a treat for me to sew such otherworldly fabric.

Uh....the receipt fell out of the bag when I was unpacking his fabric, and I had a panic attack. He wanted me to cut into THIS?! Oh good grief. I was scared to touch it, for fear of making a tiny mark and just general fear of screwing the whole thing up. Also, once I mustered up the courage to try, ALL my chalk marks were visible from the right side and I was fearful that they might not wash out all the way afterward. This is SERIOUSLY sheer cotton! And even though I had made a muslin, there were enough fiddly bits to alter that I was, shall we say, a bit nervous.

So it's not a surprise that this project sat for a bit, oh, say thirteen months or so! He gave up asking about it after six months, nice guy that he is. Meanwhile, the guilt was killing me! So, just in time for his birthday on June 26th, I bought the Colette Negroni pattern and used some blue cotton oxford cloth I has thrifted months earlier and whipped up a shirt for him in about ten days. I used his earlier measurements and did some alterations (without fear, I might add, as I have about two yards of fabric left over). The sleeve packets were a bitch, but I religiously referred to the Male Pattern Boldness sewalong and made it through. 

Anyway, here it is. Sadly, I don't have photos of him actually wearing it, yet, but I hope to post one soon. It fit great, although it was a little long for his taste. 

Ginger II

I haven't been this obsessed with anything called Ginger since the last Gilligan's Island marathon on Nickelodeon!

This version used my 'real' fabric, a lovely wool suiting I found as a remnant for $11 at Stonemountain. With some careful planning, I was able to cut two skirts since I couldn't decide if I liked the right side or wrong side better!
The light side version, which I shall hereby name Alpha, has a pronounced chevron pattern woven in, which made the cutting way easier for me. I love to go all OCD on stripes! I added some ric rac on the waistband to keep it from looking too corporate and to add some vintagey quirkiness to it.

 

The waistband facing is leftover from my magical skirt-to-hat experiment earlier this year. I need to hem this thing and then start on the Omega version. That one will really need a pop of some color to liven up the dark heathery grey without limiting what I can wear it with. Any suggestions?

Ginger!

It helped immeasurably that I already washed and cut the fabric out, so that when I had a free hour today I could crank this thing out in time to wear tonight!

Here I am in my kitchen wearing my new Peter Pan Gertie blouse and my new wearable muslin Ginger skirt of black twill from Stonemountain. I cut a six, but the waist feels slightly too big. I have some nice grey wool for my 'real' version, coming soon!
One more shot:

The waistband has a fun print inside. Please excuse stray dog hairs! Miss Olive the chihuahua has to sit on my lap at all times, especially when I'm sewing.

New Obsession

So, you all know how I feel about my Peter Pan blouse, but as I wear it ( a lot!) I notice that it rides up in funny ways over the chest and shoulder. I'm always having to tug it down. Since I happened to pick up a Violet blouse pattern at the Colette book signing this past weekend, well, ho hum, it looks like I may have to make one. Or two. I'm thinking the buttons down the front and set-in sleeves, as opposed to kimono style, will address my fitting concerns. Especially since I picked up these fabulous fabrics at Verb for 15% off during the event.

 

The striped fabric is actually woven in, not just printed on. I'm thinking it needs a pop, like scarlet piping around the collar and my red vintage buttons from my recent haul. The pinwheel-y retro print didn't jump out at me until I saw it on Jesse J's store sample Rooibos and again on Lea's Rooibos. Then, it was obsession. Thankfully I found a bit left on the bolt! I want to do some kind of contrast for the Peter Pan collar, but can't think of what! Not a solid pink (I'm not much of a pink person), maybe ivory? Any ideas? Help a sewist out!

Real Live Bloggers

Such a treat last night, not only to see Sarai Mitnick of Colette Patterns, but to meet some awesome local blogstresses! Above are the charming Laura of Lilacs and Lace on the left, and the lovely Amy of Sew Well on the right. That's me in the middle, feeling a bit like the stepchild at a family reunion. These folks are so talented, and all seem to know each other! I have to say, though, that everyone was so friendly and encouraging that I felt right at home in no time. I really enjoyed meeting Lea in her Rooibos, and Daiyami in her beautiful Chantilly also! Much like knitting get-togethers, before too long we were all admiring garments, inquiring about fiber content and construction, and leaving full of inspiration, resolution, and with an undoubtedly lighter wallet.

Here's Sarai, in her own Lily dress pattern, and me in my Simplicity 2588. She graciously signed my book and listened to me ramble. I managed to score one of the coveted Anise coat patterns before they sold out, as well as the Violet top I'd had my eye on.
I was happy to find the last Juniper pattern for Erin (Miss Crayola Creepy) while we were waiting in line, I can't wait to see what she does with them!