Thursday, May 31, 2018

14 New Jalies!

You guys probably already saw, but Jalie just released 14 new patterns. I thought I would highlight my favorites for you (because I'm not a Jalie fangirl or anything . . .).

I always love their swimsuits for my girls. They are like me and are thin with long torsos so off-the-rack swimsuit don't fit them well. This pattern has the cutest wrap-around tie.





I also love this Mimosa pattern. It's a great basic with a ton of different options. I have one with the short-sleeved ties (I helped to test these patterns). 



I love this Adele top too. I want to make this in skirt length. And my girls with want 35 of these. 




I freaking love this pattern. I have made many of these already and the top and bottoms are SO COMFORTABLE! I love the shelf bra/camisole combination. I love that I can use up all my small knit scraps on the panties. 



I love the men's patterns this time. I will make a bunch of these for my son as pajamas and long underwear. 




Again, I love that this pattern is just for men. I will make tons of these for my son and husband. 




And how freaking cute is this top? I love it in the shoulder ruffle version and also the no ruffle, neck-tie version. 



What are your favorites? Do you have a top one or two that you love??





Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Completed Capsule Wardrobe

Well, even though I was unable to go to PR Weekend at the last minute*, I DID get my capsule wardrobe done. I think it turned out rather nicely, if I do say so myself. I made three shirts and two bottoms. The dress was already done. If I was really taking this on vacation, I would change up the shoe choices. I would include a pair of flat tennies and a low-heeled, neutral sandal.



I love all the pieces individually and I love them together. I added some detail shots below so you can see individual details too. 

Jalie 3355 and Jalie Vanessa Pant

I really like how this sweatshirt turned out. At first, I was worried it would be too baggy, but it turns out it's the right amount of slouchy and dressy (if you can say that about a sweatshirt). These pants are dead comfortable. 


Jalie 3130

I love this button-up shirt pattern. It fits so well with zero modifications and it's fabulously drafted! There are close-up and detail pictures here


Jalie 3243 - Pull-On Pants

I love this pattern and have made it so many times. There are more detail pictures here


Jalie 2788 - Twist Top

I love this top and have made it many times too. This time, I made it out of a rayon knit. I added two straps across the back. I love this fabric. It's Nicole Miller fabric I bought on clearance (shhhhh, don't tell!). 






*Unfortunately, there was just no way I could go - long story. I'm super sad about it, but there was no way to avoid it. Maybe next year?!?!??! 





Friday, May 25, 2018

Mini-Capsule Wardrobe for PR Weekend

I love to make Capsule Wardrobes, especially for travel. This time, though, I am cutting it pretty close with other commitments, the end of school, and life. I'm still not done, as of today, but I'm hoping that I'll get my last top done tomorrow. I'm posting it on here, unfinished, because I want to be able to show you these pieces before I have to leave. I get on the plane Sunday night. Yikes!


Here was the plan:





These are cropped Vanessa pants and they are like the best, secret pajamas, EVER. They are a denim blue Tencel. They look a bit like denim but they are flowy and soft. 




These are the Jalie 3243 pull-on pants in a brown linen. I'm not sure how great these will be in a travel wardrobe since they will wrinkle like a bitch.  






This is Jalie 3130 and it's my favorite button-up top. I especially love this version. The fabric is soft, like a flannel, and it's a dream to sew. 







Isn't it cute with the Rova dress?
 



Then there is this Jalie sweatshirt #3355. By the way, when I started this wardrobe, I didn't set out to make all Jalie patterns. But, when I thought about easy, fast, patterns that fit, they all turned out to be Jalie. I used the sweatshirt pattern to attempt to create a drapey, luxe sweatshirt. I'm not sure I love it. It's a sparkly knit and I created a facing for the bottom and back. 



I folded the facing to the right side and left the edge raw. 


The back is two pieces and overlaps in the back.



I don't think I love it with the Rova dress under it. It looks a bit sloppy. My rule is always that you need something form fitting either on top or bottom. This is a loose on the top and bottom.




Well, that's all I have done so far. I was going to make a tank with a blue fabric, but I might make a t-shirt with sleeves instead. I'm still pondering the last piece . . . 


Monday, May 14, 2018

Ottobre 03-2018 #34 Off The Shoulder Top

I recently bought an off-the-shoulder top for one of my twins. She liked it so much, that I decided to make another out of the (*cough, cough) copious amounts of fabric I have. I bought a very pretty rayon challis a while ago and it was begging to be turned into a girls' top or dress. In diameter, they measure exactly on the size 134 even though they are 11 years old. They are long and lean, these two. I ended up making the size 140 but lengthening it to the 152 length which was about two inches. Thank goodness for that since she needed the extra length. It's a simple top with elastic at the bottom of the arms and elastic around the arms and across the bodice and back. The shoulder ties keep it up on the shoulders.






I made the bodice/back/upper arm elastic a little smaller than they recommended and I probably shouldn't have done that. It's snug and makes the top want to ride up a bit. It's not too bad. We'll see if she gets annoyed. The directions called for making a casing and then sliding the elastic into the casing and then connecting it. Instead, I attached the elastic like I usually do to a knit and serged it onto the raw edge, folded it over and zig-zagged it. It's great except it's not easy to modify the elastic is needed. Dang it. I like the cute little shoulder ties. 






This time of year is always SO BUSY. I'm hoping in the next few weeks I'll be able to actually sew. I am going to PR Weekend and I'd like to make some special stuff but I don't know if I'll have any time!!!