Grandmother's Hat

I mistakenly typed the title of this post in a google search, and what pops up?  A variety of rose that looks very similar to the fabric roses on my head!  How awesome is that!!

I have been going through old photos, and I came across these.  Seeing them again made me bemoan the fact that there are so few opportunities to wear a lovely chapeau in this post-COVID19 world.

These photos were taken almost three years ago at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco; I find a museum is always a wonderful opportunity to wear a hat.

But I may just have to dust off the old hat box and pick something to wear, just because it's a Thursday.

Jacket:  Made by me, Vogue 9082
Skirt:  Made by me, McCall 2698
Hat:  Grandmother's
Earrings:  Vintage
Shoes:  Anne Klein "Foxie"

Pale Pink Orchids

Sometimes a plan takes some time to come together.

When I designed this fabric, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.  I love the skirt from Vogue 4203 and wanted to pair it with Vogue 8701 to see how they would work together - I suspected things would go swimmingly!

So I carefully cut out my precious self-designed fabric.

When I ordered my yardage, I mis-remembered how much fabric the skirt requires.

My mistake meant that I had enough fabric left to make a matching jacket for my dress.  Love it!

I have been meaning to make another version of Vogue 9082 for years, and this was the perfect opportunity.

I thought the outfit deserved something extra, so I made a fascinator out of a length of petersham ribbon and some Russian veiling that I had stashed away.

I really love how this outfit turned out!

And I don't promise that I am done with this skirt pattern, either.  The only question is, which bodice to try next!

Dress:  Made by me, Vogue 4203 / Vogue 8701
Jacket:  Made by me, Vogue 9082
Belt:  Made by me
Fascinator:  Made by me
Earrings:  Vintage
Shoes:  Remix "Babydoll"

[Disclosure:  My Fabric Designs provided me with a coupon code which was used to purchase this fabric, but the opinions posted here are my own.]

The Matching Jacket

After cutting out my orchid dress, there was enough fabric left over for another garment.  My first thought was a matching jacket.

And the first one that came to mind was Vogue 9082.

I underlined the entire garment for added body.

The two layers get basted together, and I like to stitch just inside all darts to keep the two layers together during construction.  Because the stitches are within the dart legs, there is no need to remove them later.

Having made this jacket before, I was familiar with the construction, and everything went together easily.

I went with bound buttonholes, and added a piece of fusible interfacing at the opening for added stability.

I tend to use my dress form as a hanger while working on multiple projects.  It keeps me from cutting into something I shouldn't with a sewing table full of fabric - which happens to be my recurring sewing nightmare.  When this jacket went on the form, I rather liked the contrasting collar.  Not enough to go in that direction for this particular project, but I may play around with it in the future.

Ironically, I had to piece the collar facing because of the limited yardage.  Looking at these pictures, I probably should have placed that seam so I could use it to make an in-seam buttonhole for the facing, but I didn't think of it while I was cutting.

But the buttonholes turned out great, so I really can't complain.

A little catch-stitching along the hemline . . .

and a bit of hand sewing on the lining . . .

and I have a jacket to match my new dress.

[Disclosure:  My Fabric Designs provided me with a coupon code which was used to purchase this fabric, but the opinions posted here are my own.]

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

A Pink Hat

This is what comes of leftover yardage.

A matching suit set!

I have been wearing this vintage outfit a lot lately, and wanted to add another cropped jacket to my wardrobe.  This is the result.

I love this combination, and may have to make another at some point.  (That project list is getting really long!)

My closet is slowly being filled with more and more separates.  

And while I love a great dress, the versatility of separates is pretty fabulous.

This project has also reminded me of the many vintage suit patterns that I want to make up at some point.  (Add that to the list, as well!)

I think I even have enough yardage left to squeeze a pencil skirt out of this lovely fabric!  Which makes three new project ideas that came of this one. 

For the time being, I am taking a break from this particular textile.  But the black and white color combo really does feel Spring appropriate, so perhaps that pencil skirt will happen sooner rather than later . . . 

Jacket:  Made by me, Vogue 9082

Skirt:  Made by me, Butterick 6285

Hat & Gloves:  Vintage

Shoes:  Re-Mix Vintage Shoes

Black & White

With the leftover fabric from this skirt I decided to make a matching top.  The idea of a suit set was very appealing - the only issue was which jacket pattern to use.

I fell in love with the jacket included with Vogue 9082 as soon as I saw it.  I guess someone else did, too, because my local JoAnn Fabrics was sold out of the design days after the new catalog was released, and it was not restocked after months of impatient waiting.

Eventually, I broke down and ordered the pattern directly from McCalls.

I decided to go for it and cut right into the pattern without making any alterations.  The jacket was going to be short, but the wide skirt waistband would keep it from being too revealing.

A couple of bound buttonholes . . .

and a bit of hand stitching . . .

and now I have a matching set!