A Matched Set

On this first day of Spring, the weather took a bit of a backward turn, and last week’s gorgeous sunshine was replaced with gray skies and rain.  Boo.

This skirt was what I pulled out of the closet this morning to brave the wet weather, along with a sweater, a pair of pumps, and some red lipstick.  It was a bit of armor, if you will, to face the week.  

The first outing for this skirt, however, was back in December.  It has taken me this long to get through the photos, and there are quite a few other finished garments that I would like to get around to posting at some point!

This daisy print was originally destined to be something else entirely, but I have managed to make a cropped jacket, a full skirt, and a pencil skirt from the yardage.  So, all in all, I am going to call this a success!

These three pieces have become staples in my wardrobe.  They are in heavy rotation from season to season, and I think they will continue to be for many years.

I love the opportunity to go all out with an outfit, including a hat and gloves, but I am also finding it very helpful having more and more separates in my closet.

Now I just need to make friends with solid colored fabrics so more of those separates will work with each other.

But I am not sure I will ever be able to resist a textured floral textile, and I am not sure I want to!

Jacket:  Made by me, Vogue 9082

Skirt:  Made by me, McCall 2698

Shoes:  Royal Vintage “Marilyn”

Hat:  Made by me

Necklace:  Grandmother’s (borrowed from Mom)

Earrings & Brooch:  Grandmother’s

Gloves:  Vintage

Anyone need a napkin?

This blouse is my first foray into McCall’s Archive Collection.  And I know some people think that neck-tie designs have a tendency to look like you are wearing a napkin . . . but I love them!  I suppose slurping tomato soup might present some problems while wearing this particular blouse, but I can work around that.

The description of this pattern includes the phrase “loose-fitting.”  

It may have something to do with my fabric choice (not very drapey) or perhaps the underbust seamline, but I was unable to get the garment on my collapsible shoulder dress form (which is smaller than me).  This was rather distressing.  Thankfully, I can get it on my own body without any issue.  Strangely enough, the sleeves are a bit loose, which may be a first for me.  

But that is what a muslin is for!

I wonder how popular these Archive patterns are since there are no new designs included in the latest catalog release.  What do you think of the newest reproduction collection?

I think McCalls made a mistake not including the original illustrations.  Perhaps they are trying to appeal to a wider audience (although the model photos on the envelope are clearly styled with a retro flair), but the vintage drawing are so pretty . . . why not use them?

Has anyone come across the original 1933 pattern?  I have not been able to find the original online.

But in any event, I am very pleased with the way my wearable muslin turned out, and I definitely plan on making this again.  And in the interest of more readily available 1930s blouse designs, I hope the Archive Collection continues.

Blouse:  Made by me, McCalls 7053

Skirt:  Made by me, McCalls 2698

Shoes:  Oh Deer

Brooch:  Monet

Two Piece

No bikinis here . . . just my new outfit.  This one is going to get a lot of wear, thanks in part, of course, to the fact that it is two pieces!

I am so glad I had enough fabric to make the combo.  I would have been happy with just the skirt, but now there are so many more possibilities.

Perhaps this means 2015 will be the year of separates.  I have plans for lots of skirts and blouses . . . we shall see how that goes!  The lure of so many pretty dress patterns may stop me in my tracks.  

The bodice lining wants to peak out at the back neck opening, so I am going to add a line of pick-stitches to keep everything in place.  A neckline obviously needs under-stitching, but I completely forgot about the center back slit.

The other change I might make, if I get around to it, is to weight the hem of the top.  The wool is rather lightweight, even with the addition of a silk organza underlining.  It has a habit of “catching” on the wool of the skirt waistband.

My main concern with the skirt was that a lack of a center back vent might make it difficult to wear.  The good news is that a godet works nicely in place of a back slit or vent.  If I try to take a really large step I start to feel a bit of restriction, but not enough to make the skirt uncomfortable.  I foresee more of this alteration in my skirt-making future!

Top:  Made by me, Vogue 4203 (altered)

Skirt:  Made by me, McCall 2698

Shoes:  Miss L Fire, “Rosita”

Earrings & Brooch:  Gift from mom

Wooly Woolens

In an attempt to finish a few more Winter appropriate items before it's too late (daytime temperatures in the Bay Area have been hinting at a season change), I decided to move forward with this outfit.  

I stalled out on the project after inserting the side zipper on the bodice back in December.  The unfinished garment sat on my sewing table, looking pathetic.  Every time I went in there (usually to get something for my Alabama Chanin skirt), I would feel guilty.  And the pieces were taking up enough space that it did not feel right starting something new.  Time to get to it!

There are no shoulder pads in this top, but I did think adding a sleeve head was a good idea since the wool is rather drapey.

Then out came the tracing paper, the pattern pieces, and the bemberg lining.  It really is ridiculous I have been avoiding finishing this for so long . . .

There are a whole lot of red button options in my sewing room, but nothing matched this wool.  Fortunately, I had a lone covered button left in its packaging that needed a permanent home.

The matching skirt needed a hem, as did the bodice sleeves.

A couple of thread tacks later, and the project is almost done!

It still needs a good press.  

And I keep finding bits of basting thread in the seams, so I will have to do more exploring in the daylight hours for any rogue pink and turquoise silk threads.  But the sense of accomplishment feels great!

The Basic Pencil Skirt

With the leftovers from this dress, I managed to cut out a pencil skirt (just barely!).  The pattern was out because I am still working on this skirt, so why not start another?

The rest of the project was cobbled together with stashed items.

The bemberg lining was purchased online years ago . . . when it arrived, the color was not what I was expecting, but it has finally come in handy.

I interfaced the waistband with leftover quilting cotton.  And there was even a suitable invisible zipper on hand. 

The boning is the cheap stuff, and the casing it comes in is garbage.  The stuff frays like crazy and it was almost impossible to get the boning back in once it was stitched into place.  Of course, I could have made my own channels, but I was feeling too lazy for that.

I am not having much success with completing projects so far this year, but that does not keep me from starting the next.  Case in point, this skirt still needs a few thread tacks at the hemline . . .

So this one is staying on the dress form and in my face until I find the motivation to finish what will probably take a total of fifteen minutes.  But at the moment, I would rather work on my Alabama Chanin skirt . . . so, what can you do?!

Crop Top

Somewhere in the middle of cutting out my skirt pieces, I decided that it might be possible to make a matching top from the limited amount of leftover yardage and scraps.  But it was going to be a really, really creative cutting layout.  And no second chances on this one.

Muslin time!

I loved the fit of Vogue 4203 so I borrowed the bodice muslin pieces for this project.  After narrowing the fabric intake on the darts to make it less fitted, I put the bodice and sleeves together to see if I liked the combination.  It works!

So there has been more hand basting around these parts.

This will not really be a crop top, since my midriff will be covered with the wide skirt waistband, but I am excited about a slightly different silhouette to add to my wardrobe.

My first thought was that I wanted a three-quarter length sleeve, but there was no way to squeeze two of them out of the wool.  And who knows, I may end up liking this even more than my original idea.

Hidden Details

My wool skirt is coming along nicely.

Instead of a back vent or kick-pleat, I decided to add a godet.  I am excited to see how this added bit of shape at the back turns out.

And then there was a whole lot of catch-stitching to do.

Being a wool pencil skirt, this garment definitely needed a lining.  And I happened to have some bemberg rayon that is an almost perfect color match to the wool, which was quite handy.

The waistband is boned to help keep its shape.

I normally do my best to avoid plastic boning.  But when it is only two inches long, and will not extend past the waistline, it works.  

And I have some stashed away, so I might as well use it, right?! 

Then there was some more hand stitching . . .

Until all the pieces were put together!

Next, the bulk was graded at the waist seam.

The skirt still requires a hem, but that is for another day.