Been Sewing and Will Do More—from Last WEEK!

I couldn't find my camera—so I never posted this...Got the car washed yesterday—and found my camera—which had slipped under the seat. So, with photo's—it's time to post!

The newest shirtdess

The first thing to know is while I do have some favorite colors, I love every color. I especially love purple (from the deepest darkest, to the palest shades, from blue violet to red violet, and the purest shades—I love them all.)

But purple isn't loved by everybody—and it comes and goes in popularity when it comes to fabric. There are years when you can't find anything in purple—and then a brief flowering, and then back to nothing. In non purple years I wear every color in the rainbow—Blues from pale to navy can always be found, and turquoise, too. Browns, too, and there is no shortage of the other 2 staples in every modern woman wardrobe—Black and denim! There are fair amount of neutrals (grey taupe/kahki, and brown) and there are always some wild and wacky colorful prints and knits. Orange is the least common color (it really doesn't go well with my pale skin) but there are some splashed of it—at least in some prints.

An other (new too) collarles version

The second thing to know is I practically wear uniforms. For more than 40 years, my wardrobe has always been made of a few staple styles. First—the shirt dress. Some times waisted, sometimes not (and sometimes with a front only waist feature or back only waist feature)-Shirt dresses are a perennial favorite. The details change –simple collars, or tailored ones, Yokes (front or back or shoulder) come and go, and buttons are replaces with pearl snaps, or even on occations, zippers. Most often they have sleeves (short) but some are sleeveless (and summery) and some are shortish, and sleeveless (and worn as tunics  with leggings and turtle neck shirts!)--All--all the time, have pockets... Usually side seam pockets, but some times patch pockets (especially chest pockets!). At least 2 (the side seam ones) sometimes more.

This version is a few years old.

Part 2 of "uniform"  are  A line skirts with VESTS. Sewn ones, or knitted-- I like the finished look a vest gives to an simple skirt. I have a nice selection of blazers and jackets—but these are often too formal—a vest finishes of a simple skirt and top with out being too much –Besides, I have a problem with sleeves--(I am very picky about the length, and thickness, and fit) but of course, vests never present problems!) This problem with sleeves makes if very difficult for me to find outwear (jackets and coats) that I like—but that is a whole 'nother topic!

I like jumpers, too. Simpler than shirt dresses, with scooped necks and easy arm holes—Just pop them on and you are dressed! (My grandchildren call them “Apron”dresses (or more correctly “cooking clothes”-the word apron isn't cemented into their vocabulary)

I go a few years wearing print skirts with solid tops—and they I flip flop and only wear solid skirts and print tops...and the same goes for the shirt dresses—a few years of only prints used, followed by a few years of solid fabric ones...(I am about to switch from print dresses to solid ones.) 

60% of my clothes (outer wear vs. underwear) are home made—either hand sewn or hand knit—at times in my life, the percentage was higher, and other times lower...but I have never really stop sewing.

I try to make one or two new things a year—clothes do wear out, and get damaged.   A few(5?)  years ago I was very busy and sewed up a lot of new things—and now the time has come again to add some new stuff--some of my older (20 years +) has worn out, and I need a new influx.

So first—a new shirt dress in a bright summery print--done.   Coming soon (already pinned out) a skirt and vest in a coordinating blue solid. There is enough blue for left over for a half skirt—and I will make one—a hip yoke of the blue, and lower tier of the print. Left over scraps of both fabrics will be come small appliques on T shirts- So I will have a shirt dress—to wear as is, or with the blue vest (I also have a solid yellow vest, too!) the blue skirt can be worn on its own, or with the blue vest, same with the 2 toned skirt. The solid skirt & vest combo can be dresses up with a nice shirt—or be more casual with T shirt (lots of different color T's go with blue) or a store bought print knit shirt—I have a few of those too.

Since I started this posts, (last week) the skirt and vest have been cut--and the linings and the interfaces, too.  I have thread and buttons, and have made 2 bobbins set up too--Today I will overstitch the edgings, and iron on the interfacings.. 

A print(a vest to be) and some solids that will be skirts

My second big set will be based on a vest of this printed fabric(center) I love it!  The solids, (all cotton twills) will become skirts that are great go-withs—Reddish plum, a dark purple, dark grey and not too common color for me, a bubble gum pink—Add a few T shirts that  will get some trimming with the print—and everything will go together—I have a lot of purple accessories—so out fits can be dresses up (a dark purple skirt with a pale lilac linen shirt and hand knit silk lace scarf made from ombre yarn—will make a nice, some what dressy outfit. But the same dark purple skirt with a white T that has a purple dragon fly decal—and its a simple every day out fit.

I still have a large store of fabric—But you can never have too much, can you? There are 2 lengths of blue (one indigo, one prussian blue) that will likely become solid shirt dresses (I think I have enough print ones!) and there is always a stock of denim—some heavy stiff ones, some soft and drapy ones—that will turn into vests, and skirts and jumpers—The denims range from black, to dark indigo, to medium blue—one print remnants will become vest--(I already have 3 denim vest—but the great thing is, I can always use another!) I even stocked up on needles and thread—A few weeks of sewing, and I will be bored and will put my sewing machine away—but by then my wardrobe will have healthy injection of color!