A simple skirt. McCalls 3830

Hey Y'all!
So this skirt isn't really blog worthy.. Not much to talk about it. It's an easy make, has only 5 pattern pieces, is a great wardrobe builder for church, work if you have a professional dress code, or depending on the material you use could be a casual pencil skirt.

I used a woven peach skin type material that had a slight stretch to it.

Pattern Description:  Its a basic pencil skirt that comes in 5 lengths. Mccalls 3830

Pattern Sizing: I made this in a 14 and made very few alterations. The alterations I did make are to eliminate the vent ( i will not do that next time) It really affects the way the skirt sits on the backside. I also pegged the hem in 1 inch on each side.


Were the instructions easy to follow? This was a pretty simple skirt to make.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? It has a facing but I will make a waistband next time. I think thats my preference on skirts.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? This is probably my 2nd or 3rd time making this skirt. I like it but probably need to look at other skirt patterns as well.

Thats it for now..
Talk with y'all soon..
NaTisha

Leggings as pants!

Yep,
I know I'm treading into dangerous territory here and I know the topic of wearing leggings as pants gets a lot of discussion both yah and nay.. I say do what you like! I personally have made lots of leggings but I would only wear them to the gym or while running, that is until I rummaged through my fabric shelves and found enough leftovers of a pretty floral scuba knit"ish" floral fabric that I originally intended as running pants.    

So I whipped them up in my most favorite leggings pattern ever. The company is Patterns for pirates the name is Peglegs. I love them. I'm too lazy to post pics of all my running pants Ive made in the past using this pattern but here are just a few that I could find quickly. All made for working out. Ive probably made this pattern at least 8-9 times.  They hold up well while stretching, bending and running.

Anyway I made them up in my regular size in the scuba knit.. And they didn't fit. I could barely pull them up on my legs, let alone over my butt. What I didn't realize is that the pattern calls for a 2 way/4way stretch (whichever phrase you use) but this particular knit only had a one way horizontal stretch. They were too small I was devastated!

But I had just enough fabric left to squeeze out another pair a size larger. (In all honesty I should have sized up more because they are just a wee bit too snug) but I decided I was gonna make them work.

 After I got them sewed up I realized I really did love them and there was no way I couldn't actually wear these out..in public..as pants... So that's what I did and I'm glad about it.

One thing I learned is that for a good fitting leggings its best for your fabric to stretch in both directions. You all probably already knew that but I learned the hard way.

decided to change the look up a bit with the shoes. But I wore this outfit with converse keeping it super casual

Do you all wear leggings as pants?
Talk with y'all later,
NaTisha

Floral jumpsuit McCalls 7099

Good Morning y'all

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday. Mine was lovely.. Church, a long nap, and I didn't have to cook. Score! To top it all off I wore this lovely floral outfit I whipped up over the weekend. I'm proud of this for 2 reasons...1. I think it's pretty cute and 2. I never sew a garment so quickly. I'm the sloooowest sewer ever no matter how easy the pattern is. Maybe 30 minutes here, 30 minutes next week, 30 minutes next month.. lol j/k but seriously I take forever to complete a garment.

Anyway, here it is  Mc Calls 7099 . After I finished I tried it on and thought, this looks like pjs, and it was way too busy. I wanted to break it up with a white blazer but of course none of the 3 RTW white blazers I own looked good with it. Once I threw on my yellow shoes and found a yellow belt that matched exactly I decided to go with it.

One thing I learned about this material is not all knits are the same. I've made this pattern before with a jersey knit and liked the fit much better. I still need to do some tweaking to my pattern for a better fit.

I don't like how the neck gapes open and the weird pull lines on the right side (my left side when wearing)

Pattern Description: Loose-fitting romper and jumpsuits have raised neckline, mock wrap, gathered, blouson bodice, front band extending to back neckline, elasticized waist, and side pockets. B, C and D: tapered.

Pattern Sizing: I made a 14 in View D

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were not difficult to follow. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked that there were only 7 pattern pieces.  I'm a fan of easy.

Fabric Used: I used a floral Poly/spandex blend (95% polyester) (5% Spandex)

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: The neck band on the pattern has a  dip or "v"in the center back. I'm not a fan of this so I eliminated that design element and did a regular neckband all around.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I'm pretty sure I will, but I have a couple other jumpers lined up first. The next one already cut out and ready to go is McCalls 7203 

Conclusion: I really like this one. I could make it over and over again. I'm pretty sure jumpsuits and maxi skirts are my new wardrobe stable for the spring.

The Cost: Fabric regularly 14.99, I used a 50% off coupon so paid less that 22.50 for jumper

I apologize for the bad shadowy photos..

Whats your favorite jumpsuit pattern right now?
That's it for now. Talk to y'all later..

Camo Maxi skirt and clutch

Hey Y'all,

This is a quick one. I have fallen in love with the simplicity but drama of the maxi skirt. This is a pretty simple pattern drafted from my own measurements. I initially used the Mimi G Regal Maxi tutorial found here and have since been whipping them up. I think I have made 4 of these so far. They are simple but the fabric choice makes all the difference.      
I'm not a big fan of camouflage on myself but when I saw this quilting cotton for $2.00/yd at a local fabric warehouse in my area I thought why not? If I don't like it, it didn't cost me much and I didn't waste a fabric that I love.. Well I'm glad I took the chance because I love the end result.

I paired this with a simple lightweight jacket/blazer trimmed in faux leather and wore this to church on Sunday. 

The one thing I have noticed that I don't particularly care for is that the gathers in all this material has a tendency to make me look more hippy than I really am, and who needs that? So in my next maxi I'm contemplating pleats instead of gathers just to see how I like it.

  This maxi can be styled up or down made dressy or casual that's what I love about it.

 I also made a matching fold over clutch but did not carry it with this outfit. I just thought it was a bit much all together but, can totally see this clutch with a cute pair of boyfriend jeans, a simple v-neck t-shirt and a pair of booties.

That's it till later,
NaTisha

Tackling UFO's New Look 6231

Hey Y'all
I don't have a lot of details or great pics on this one but decided to post anyway. I initially started this jacket back in May of 2015. I purchased the denim from a thrift store for  $2.50 total and there were a little over 3 yards in all.
So here's what happened that caused it to sit unfinished for the last 9 months.
I cut the size 18 (the reason escapes me at the moment why I cut that size) in View B.
I got it all sewed up and loved the pleated peplum, the princess seaming and the fabric but hated the huge sleeve cap. So I hung it on the back of my door where the rest of the unfinished garments that I plan to salvage are hanging out. I planned to unpick and remove the sleeve and narrow down the sleeve cap both on the bodice and the sleeve itself. Every time I looked at it I wanted to do it but the task seemed so overwhelming and I'm just not at the place where alterations (no matter how small) come easy.  I put it off and kept telling myself I will do it after the next garment, then the next, then..well you get the point...its 9 months later.
So this past Sunday I grabbed it tried it on asked my husband his opinion and he responded "Oh shoulder pads are back in style?' He was so serious, bless his heart.

  I decided to wear it as is because the likelihood of me "fixing" it were slim to none and I really liked it outside of the sleeves. So I got dressed and wore it to church even though I cringed about that boxy shoulder pad look.

Lesson here.. I understand the importance of making a muslin of items but I'm just to darn lazy to do it most times. I need to change that bad habit.

Sorry about the sloppy pics but I had been to church and lunch and grocery shopping and as an afterthought remembered to snap a few pics to share.

Despite the fashion consensus saying that peplums need to be buried I WILL be making this again in the correct size for a better fit.

I'm curious do you guys muslin every garment?
How long do you keep the muslins for? I cleaned out my office/sewing room and threw out about 5-6 garments I knew I would never ever finish.

That's it for now.
NaTisha