Vogue 9275 Kaftan Variation

I’m working my way through 9 yards of this fabric! More on that later – but this is a wonderful and easy variation of the tunic top included in V9275.

I stripped it down to essentials (no curved hem or collar cord), and added 40″ to the length, marked from the waistline. For reference, I’m 5’7″, and 57″ from shoulder to the floor. And I sewed the size XS – this is a very roomy top. But the sizing really extends its possibilities across many sizes and shapes.

It’s hard to see details on black fabric, so Emile is modeling the kaftan to show the inside:

I love the cowl – it’s just about perfect in this cotton/lycra jersey.

The sleeves are deep enough to be very comfortable, and long enough not to allow inside peeks.

This is one of my favorite projects this year!

 

The fabric. I mistakenly ordered two fabric kits from Fabric Mart, instead of one. For $8 each. The kit included 4.5 yards of jersey and the Christine Jonson #526 wrap dress. I’m actually glad I did it, this print is so appealing.

And it will show up again soon, in an Itch to Stitch Paro Cardigan!

And I’m off to work on the cardi. Bye for now – Coco

PJ play…

Girls just want to have fun 🙂

What could be better than warm jammies with big flowers? It’s in the 60’s today, heading down down all week. I know that doesn’t sound cold, but to someone accustomed to temps in the 80’s, it is!

As with my previous PJs (here), this set is a combo of Love Notions Sabrina Slims and a modified Wiksten tank top. The fabric is cotton/rayon/spandex jersey from Girl Charlee, and it included a small disappointment – a hole about 4″ from a selvedge edge. I was able to work around it, but it bugged me.

The challenge was avoiding a big flower on each of the girls, resolved by putting one front and center instead. No other print matching attempted!

I’m starting one more set today…

Parting shot, I love getting these notifications (fabric of course).

Wishing all a happy and joyful 2018! Coco

New PJs – essential sewing!

At last, cool weather has arrived. For those of us in south Florida, that means night temperatures in the fifties. Not cold! But what a difference. Our dry season has begun, with lower humidity and the beautiful temperate days that bring so many people to Florida for the winter. Best of all – open windows, fresh air, and no A/C!

I get the urge to sew new PJs in the fall and in the spring. I’m wearing these as I write, and I might not take them off until next year! It’s my only matching ‘winter’ PJ set – I admit that most of my PJs are collection of T-shirts and leggings that have been downgraded from the closet to the drawer 🙂 Terrible… and I plan to grit my teeth and do something about that! Soon.

The top is a modified Wiksten tank, and bottoms are Love Notions Sabrina Slims.

 

These are two great patterns that I’ve used over and over. The Wiksten top is designed for woven fabrics, and I’ve sewn some cute sleeveless versions in simple cottons, but it works beautifully with knits as well.

In a totally different direction, I just finished a nightgown that’s pretty enough to wear all day. I’m so in love with this rayon challis print from Cali Fabrics.

The gown is a mix of elements – I used a favorite bodice sloper, with a 1.5″ wide waistband (it’s faced on the inside), and a gathered skirt that’s simply a 50″w x 38″l rectangle.  

When I wear this, I match my house 🙂

I hope everyone has a nice weekend, spent doing favorite things.

Bye for now – Coco

Butterick 6296 – More PJ fun

I’m feeling pretty spiffy with my new PJs. I knew one set was not enough. Now that I’ve sewn another, I’m not sure that two are enough! These PJs are definitely fun to sew and wear.

This cute fabric is Michael Miller Color Me Black Fish Frenzy, printed on wonderful Cotton Couture broadcloth.  The design credits on the fabric selvedge sent me looking on the web. Surprise – the print is by Hayley Crouse of Mouse House Creations (designer of the Julia Cardigan and lots of children’s patterns). Michael Miller collaborated with Hayley on a ‘color me’ fabric concept in 2015.

Source: Michael Miller Fabrics

Originally the prints were deliberately ‘childish’ and targeted at children wielding fabric pens, but eventually the collection featured more sophisticated designs in black and white reverse prints (here’s a link to Hayley’s blog post about her fabric).

I love fish! and all sea creatures, in art, fabric, mixed media, however they come. In this case, on my PJs…

Something I forgot to mention on my first PJ post – I added a back facing to the top, instead of the suggested collar finish (turn and tack the edge of the upper collar). IMO, a facing is a much nicer finish, and it’s not difficult – it’s much easier than piping or edging details, banded hemlines, a collar… Bad on the pattern company for taking a shortcut.

Nonetheless, I forgive them – this is an intriguing and versatile pattern. It would be easy to use the top for a camp shirt, the pants for shorts (great slant pockets), and I’ve already made a pair of out-and-about pants. Not to be overlooked, pajamas as street wear…

Source: Harpers Bazaar

I’m not sure I’m ready for the full monty, but I do like my fish version.

Parting shot: a lot of my own artwork features the ocean and its denizens, and often it reflects the vibe of a place that was special to me. I did this pen and ink when I was living on Key Biscayne in the 90’s. The shells were collected over many visits to Sanibel Island, a shelling paradise on the west coast of Florida.

Pic taken thru the frame/glass, no flash…

Ciao! Coco

Butterick 6296 Classic PJs – Jammin’

Sewist at work – a candid fit-photo in the sewing loft.

It’s time for summer PJs – I’m really really tired of leggings and tees!

 

I decided to start with a short-sleeved top and long-ish pants.

They’re sewn in Michael Miller ‘Meet Me in the Meadow Spring Bloomers’, a quilting-weight cotton I found on sale at Hancock’s of Paducah.

After my recent angst about Emile, my dress form, and my thoughts of replacing her, I found just I couldn’t do it. I apologized, and we’re still BFFs…

The pants are terrific, so I decided to make a Capri-length pair for street-wear.

I re-used the fabric from a tiered maxi dress that I made in 2015, and have never worn. It was just too much sea life – but I’ve always loved this Tonga Batik from Timeless Treasures Fabrics.

A few sewing notes – this pattern is really well-drafted, so my changes were really for style, not fit.

• I sewed the top in size 12, and the pants in size 14.
• I shortened the pink pants by 7 5/8″ inches, and the octopus pants by another 1 3/8″.
• And I added 1″ to the length of the sleeve.
• Going for comfort, I left off a couple things: the pockets on the top and the yoke on the back of the pants piece. That yoke is kind of a lost detail anyway, and it might be bunchy below the gathered waistband.
• The pattern has lots of piping detail, which I addressed by leaving off most of it, too. On the sleeve and pants bands, I used a contrast broadcloth edging instead. I cut 2″ wide bias strips, folded them in half, and attached them the same way the piping would have been sewn.

More PJs are underway –  this is fun, easy sewing.

Bye for now! Coco