Fruit Salad

In an effort to finally post a few of the neglected projects on the blog, I have been exploring old folders of photos and I came across this blouse.  I made the blouse in 2016, but did not get photos until at least a year later.  The time stamp on these photos got messed up when they were copied to a new drive, but I remember it was a very cold morning, and from the fallen leaves, I would guess it may have been November or December of 2017.

This was actually the second version of this pattern that I made.  The first was made in a quilting cotton, and I was curious how it would work in a more 1940s appropriate textile choice like rayon.  I had just enough of this rayon challis left from a dress project that I thought I could squeeze out the pieces with my fabric remnants.  Spoiler alert . . . I did manage to cut everything out!

This is a pretty basic blouse except for the scallop details which really set off the neckline, sleeves, and the peplum.

So apart from the slight aggravation of clipping out all of those tiny bits of fabric so that the curved scallops press nicely into place, the pattern goes together with a minimal amount of effort.  I did change the construction slightly on this version so that the side zipper opens into the hemline instead of closing the last inch or so of the scalloped hemline.  Having the hemline open makes the blouse much easier to get out of!  The only reason I can imagine that it is drafted with the lower edge stitched closed is because of the scallops, but it was easy enough to keep the border looking nice with a functional zipper running through the hem.

And then I had to find an appropriate skirt to match the quirky print.  This proved to be more challenging than expected, since I didn't want to just tuck the peplum into a skirt and hide all of the scalloped detail.  A 1950s inspired circle skirt was the last garment that I thought would work, but somehow it did.

So please excuse me playing fast and loose with my stylistic choices that span a couple of decades, but I rather like the way this outfit turned out!  

I do have more rayon remnants stashed away and I sometimes pull them out hoping to make them into something wearable, only to find that I really do only have scraps left.

Because this blouse has a waistline seam, it becomes easier to get creative with cutting layouts as the pattern pieces are smaller in size than a two piece blouse.  I really should pull the pattern out again and see if I can match it up with some of those fabric scraps that I just don't have the heart to get rid of on the off chance that I find a use for them.

And I wouldn't mind having a few more 1940s style skirts in my closet.  In fact, this Simplicity pattern comes with a matching skirt pattern.

I have made the skirt before, and while it is not the most exciting design out there, it is a useful basic.

Once again, there are just too many patterns to choose from, and too little time to make them all!

Blouse:  Made by me, Simplicity 1644
Skirt:  Made by me, Stanwyck Skirt
Necklace:  Rafael Jewelers
Shoes: Kristin Cavallari for Chinese Laundry "Copertina"

Autumn Hues

While I was working on this Britex project, I was concerned that I did not have a skirt that was going to look right with the finished blouse (also known as the perfect excuse to make another garment!). 

The skirt is actually from the original pattern I had pulled for the silk/cotton blend.  It is a very basic 1940s style skirt, and since it was already out, I though I would give it a try.

And then this fabric jumped out at me (I have a bad habit of pulling a bunch of yardage out when trying to find a suitable match to a pattern and never putting it away).  It was intended for this dress, but there was no way to fit all the pieces on the seriously shrunken rayon.  What was 54” off the bolt came out of the wash more like 44” – not to mention the length that was lost!  Does anyone know why stretch wovens shrink so darn much?!   

The prints are not an absolute match, but the colors and the overall floral theme was just too close not to pair them.

What I originally thought was going to be a rarely worn skirt has already seen quite a bit of action.  I really must make more of these!

Blouse:  Made by me, Simplicity 1692

Skirt:  Made by me, Simplicity 1644

Shoes:  Oh, Deer!

Earrings:  Liz Palacios

Scalloped Apples

I do not do well in the direct sunlight (just call me a vampire).  Long ago, I gave up on the idea of looking bronzed by the sun – a few attempts as a child only led to lobster-colored skin and a couple of really bad burns.  Have you ever had a sunburned scalp?  If not, I suggest you avoid it at all costs.

My mom and I attended the Marin Symphony’s Waterfront Pops Concert last weekend, which was the perfect event to debut my Fall for Cotton top.  With the addition of an umbrella to shield my pasty skin, along with multiple layers of sunscreen, I made it through the day unscathed by that ball of fire in the sky!

And once the sun went down, I could focus on the beautiful music.  Hopefully the event will be an annual one!

Simplicity 1644 was the design I initially had in mind for my latest Britex project.  And since the pattern was out, and I knew I was going to “need” something new to wear to the event, a quick little cotton blouse was just the ticket.

I love my apple skirt, and have been meaning to make a matching top with the leftover fabric for some time.  The scallops were too much of a design coincidence to ignore!

Just like the skirt, I used some contrasting red and white cotton gingham for the facings.  And while the instructions include inserting shoulder pads, my cotton was crisp enough to stand out on its own.

I just wish I had made the top earlier this year so it got more of a workout during the summer months!

Top:  Made by me, Simplicity 1644

Skirt:  Made by me, Spadea 1149

Shoes:  Miz Mooz

Necklace:  Rafael Jewelers

Tons of Tiny Triangles

Okay, so it is not actually tons, or even a ton – they weigh very little, in fact.  But I have been clipping away, cutting out more little triangles than I care to count.

This is the price you pay for scalloped edges.

I want to make myself a wearable muslin for this pattern, instead of messing about with boring old muslin.  There is plenty of that in my future, so for a change, I decided to dive right in.

The upcoming Fall for Cotton sew-along was my inspiration, and although I am starting a bit early, I thought all of those quilting cottons that are tucked away should come out to play.