Category: Women’s shirts

How many poodles can you fit into one outfit? Finished top & surprise finished skirt!

My loud scrap busting sewing continues with the poodle top!

This was the leftovers of the blue squares blouse that was too loud… and I think I’ve transformed it into something else that is also… kind of loud

Here’s where we left off. I was finalizing the fit and it was SO MANY poodles!

This peplum used only a forward facing pleat and not a box pleat. That made it have a little less volume as a box pleat includes two pleats that face in toward each other.

From here, I sewed on the peplum and decided to drop the neckline into a v-neck. I think this makes the outfit a little less busy.

This also inspired me (who are we kidding? D totally said I should just make this) to make a basic black pencil skirt. I used the skirt block we developed at Mood U. That pattern is the ULTIMATE pencil skirt and I’m so happy with it.

I think these go well together. 🙂

Look who tried sewing! The poodle peplum

I am so proud of D! One night we were talking and I asked if he would ever want to try to see how it worked and he agreed that it could be cool.

With that in mind, last night I started to make the poodle peplum to expand further my Carolina Herrera print wardrobe. At first I was working on all the bodice seams for the front and back panels. It then became time to attach them at the shoulder and when I looked at the very straight seam it occurred to me that D could do it!

I grabbed him from the other room and picked up a scrap of I folded in half.   From there I showed him how the presser foot went down and then how to hand crack a few stitches forward. I also briefly lifted up the fabric to show how the shuttle circled around to pick up the thread. From there, it was pedal time! He did a great job going forward and then we backstitch a little!

It was time to try again on the final pass on the french seam! I had already sewn the inner seam and so we flipped it inside out and d sewed it down!! I’m so proud of him! See below for more bodice pictures.

Continue reading “Look who tried sewing! The poodle peplum” →

New Shirt Flounce Blouse

After I made this first white blouse from Joannn’s by tracing a shirt from JCrew, I really liked it but when I made it I forgot to account for seam allowances. It was a little tight when it was done.

One day in Chicago it was so hot and humid and I started to go crazy. My sister in law let me borrow a tank top and when my shoulders were free I almost wanted to start buying all my clothes again (omg stretch fabrics are so comfy and I dont sew with them that often)

Something had to change with that white top. I still wear it all the time so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to make a second. I found a white cotton in the eyelet section of mood -it basically has little puffs of threads kind of in a polka dot pattern.

It was time to try and make a new – slightly bigger – shirt!

It turned out great!

Big Blouse Weekend – return of the Blue Squares

After working through a series of fabrics that I had accumulated in my summer fabric pile (the podcast I listen to calls it a fabric collection) I felt like I had gotten to a place where I could think about some transitional pieces for fall and winter and try to make some nicer work dresses with sleeves. I got a few things at mood… stay tuned.

First though, I also wanted to make a few more basic work tops that I could match with all of my skirts and continue to use all of my fabric as resourcefully as possible.

I try to bring some balance to my sewing with this approach too. So if I buy new fabric, I need to make sure I’ve used most of the earlier stuff. Similarly, I try to keep an eye on old fabrics and see if there are cute projects I can use for the leftovers.

A while ago, I had discovered that my blue poodle Carolina Herrera fabric seemed to match the blue squares. I had said I’d make a top. Before I dig into my new fabrics, I decided I needed to make this top so that I still had time to wear it in the summer. From there, I could make another blouse with something new.

See below for the process and final look!

Continue reading “Big Blouse Weekend – return of the Blue Squares” →

Vacation Part 5

Today was my last full day in Vancouver!

We biked out through Kistalano beach to Jericho Beach. From there we got dressed and headed out to the market and shops at Granville Island!

It was poodle skirt time

We took the AquaBus through the False Creek area. It’s so much fun!

Now we are cooking dinner at home and when it eventually becomes dark it’s quite beautiful.

Good night Vancouver! See you next time!

Vacation Part 4 – the Vancouver Sewing Scene

We were back in Vancouver and so we biked around the sea wall of Stanely Park and had some wonderful Ramen and red bean pastry desserts!

We then headed home, showered, and headed out to look at some fabric stores near Gas Town.

We went to Dresssew Supply and Atex Fabrics.

DressSew had the largest selection of buttons I’ve seen yet! As well as many other sewing materials and fabrics. I wore my Kanye dress and my mom wore the new shirt I made her!

At Atex fabric my mom and I found this wonderful floral linen!

From there we met up with my dad for dinner and had a nice night!

Cotton Flower Shirt Part 2

Why make one shirt when you can have two???

Fresh off the sewing machine and ready for our summer weather! This is a new version of a boxy blouse that I bought in my old store-shopping-life from JCrew.

Paired here with the latest Carolina Herrera poodle print cotton pencil skirt. See more pics below!

Continue reading “Cotton Flower Shirt Part 2” →