My Mini-Wardrobe Is Done!

I'm really excited that I got this finished in time to enter it into the patternreview.com contest. It's the first time I've actually finished a contest. I only had to change one garment from my storyboard, which is pretty amazing. It helps that I used all TNT patterns. I'm telling you, everyone needs to have a set of basic patterns already fitted in the pattern drawer. Then when you want to sew something in a hurry, all you have to do is cut and sew. Alterations are so tedious, but very necessary. At least for me they are.

Anyway, there are some fantastic wardrobes entries into the contest, so be sure to check them out. Also, don't forget to vote in the contest. If you like my wardrobe, you can vote for me!

The first of the two pair of pants I made were these pull-on slacks made with Burda 2569. I've made these pants half a dozen times and need to make more because I've worn them to death. This pair in a classic charcoal color is going to be a well worn pair of pants as well. They fit great and are super comfortable. I absolutely love RPL, rayon, polyester, lycra. It washes up perfectly wrinkle free and because of the poly, won't fade, but because of the rayon they have beautiful drape. The lycra gives it enough stretch so I can sit comfortably while they are cut close to my body. What's not to love?

These are my TNT jeans pattern that I've used about half a dozen times as well. Like I said, get a good fitting basic pattern and you'll never want to try a new pattern again. I'm disappointed with the way these fit. The last time I used the pattern, I had gained a lot of weight so I enlarged the pattern. Now I'm down in weight and took those alterations back out, but forgot that I was using a stretch denim. I had to take them in even further, but they are still too big. However, if I had taken them in any more, than I wouldn't have been able to put my hands into the pockets. All in all, they still do fit and I will wear them. Especially when I want to feel like I'm wearing my pajama pants. They are so comfortable!

Next up is NL6940. It such a cute top pattern, very trendy right now. My fabric choice works very well, the flower placement happened purely by accident but I like how it turned out. I got this poly/lycra jersey from Michael Levine's Loft in downtown Los Angeles. This is the store where all the fabric is $2/pound. You have to do some of what I call dumpster diving, but it's really cardboard boxes you have to dig your way through. Sometimes I even find a great piece of fabric, like this one for example. I bought enough so that I can also make a dress for the summer with even some left over for a skirt.

This last pattern is NL 6735. I spent some time in my last blog post on this top so I won't discuss it much here. I'm really loving the placement of the embellishments. The flowers make this plain charcoal t-shirt look like something special. I had to add a belt to finish the look. I think embellishments and accessories are going to be my theme song for this year. Did you notice that I managed to sneek in the animal print fabric from my reject garment? I cut a strip of the fabric, didn't even finish the edges, and turned it into a scarf. I've fallen in love with animal prints, lucky for me they are in fashion right now!

I almost forgot to mention the last piece of my wardrobe. The contest rules required you incorporate a garment already in your closet. While I haven't had this jacket long, I didn't think I had enough items to wear it with as it is made with a fancy woven poly jacquard fabric in a basic color. I couldn't decide if it was dressy or casual. Now that I have pieces to wear with it, I think it can be both. Because it's poly it is really warm, but since it's not lined, it's very lightweight. Great to take with me when I travel, it won't wrinkle either. I picked it up when Khol's was having a big sale--but when are they not? It's a size 1X and was too large so I had to take it in at the sides. I didn't take in too much because I wanted it to be a layering piece.

Up next will be a new wardrobe based on a dark navy pair of denim pants. I haven't decided what pattern to use. I think they will just be some pull-on skinny pants. I already have a TNT pattern for them, of course.

Mini-Wardrobe, Plan C

Plan A turned out to be an epic failure. The lace is too stiff to drape well at the neckline and the stripes run the wrong way! Yes, I did that on purpose. It's the direction of the stretch on the fabric but I was hoping it wouldn't be noticeable. I know you had to read more once you saw the photo. You were hoping I wasn't ever going to actually wear this out of the house. Don't worry, I won't. But it left my my mini-wardrobe lacking one item.

Plan B was also an epic failure, which I have already discussed since I sewed it before I sewed the garment that was already planned for the wardrobe.

Plan C, DING-DING-DING, we have a winner! This top is the ever popular New Look 6735 that I sewed up in a gray rayon lycra knit. In the photo, I don't have the sleeve hem or the bottom hem sewn yet. I need to finish with the black thread in the serger on the jeans before I move it onto the coverstitch machine. What makes this a winner is the embellishments I added to it.

This is the most fun I've had in the sewing room in a long time. I did some major google searches on embellished t-shirts from RTW and then I googled different ways to make fabric flowers. I took a bit from several inspirations and then worked on placement until I found just the right look. I really love the look. It transforms a plain, but really nice t-shirt into a very expensive looking t-shirt.

I can't wait to get the jeans sewn up so I can do my photo shoot. I ordered some red shoes and some leopard designed shoes, both from Naturalizer, and think I can style these pieces to look fabulous. Now if I can only get the jeans sewn up, the reviews posted, and the photo composite complete before Thursday.

Two down, Two more to go

I finished the gray slacks for my mini-wardrobe but didn't get them photographed. I really like them. So much, in fact that as soon as they were finished, I wore them out to dinner. Even before I could get them completely pressed! I also completed New Look 6940. It's a pattern I've made before and really like how it looks on me. I will need to wear a cami definitely under this one because the knit was a bit stretchier than the last one I made and it shows my bra.

As a back-up top for my mini-wardrobe, I made this Burda Style 2-2011-138 mock wrap tunic. The fabric is a poly knit burnout velvet. It's a bit dressier than I wanted but the color was right for my mini-wardrobe so I decided to use it on this pattern in case one of my tops didn't work out. I sewed it first because the fabric was so lovely and I wanted to see how the pattern would look on me. I'm very impulsive in the sewing room. Something went wrong because all I can see when I look into the mirror is this:

Besides the too dressy fabric, the pattern isn't flattering my body shape. Maybe some time in the magic wardrobe (closet) and it will grow on me, but for now I'm not going to wear it. I haven't even finished the hem yet because I'm not sure how long to make it. I think it also needs some shoulder pads. Oh, how I envy those of you with square shoulders. Round shoulders on a round short girl just adds to the oompa-loompa-ness of my body.

I need to get another top done and some new jeans before the end of the month. I will also have to do a photo shoot for the composit photo. I really want the prize for this contest, so wish me luck!

Still Sewing After All These Months

I've joined a Pattern Review contest to make a mini wardrobe with 4 sewn items and one item from my closet. I also want to do the Spring 6-piece collection or 6PAC at Stitcher's Guild. I'm in need of new clothes for attending the Pattern Review meeting in Chicago and thought this would be the perfect time to really get my sewing grove back.

I have been doing some sewing, just not blogging. Here are a few things I've made in the last few months since my mother-in-law passed away. Amazing how something like that can really knock you off your feet.

This one is S2283 and I really like how it looks on me. You can't see all the great detail with the wild print I used, but you can read more about it in my review.

This top is my muslin of Burda 7-2007-124. It's a nice twist top that has a sort of shawl collar which helps it to be more modest than most Burda Magazine patterns. I think the sleeves are hitting me at an awkward location and will make them either shorter or longer next time I make this top. And there will be a next time!

This is a really cute tunic and it looks good on me, so I'm not sure why I haven't finished hemming it yet. I'll have to get that done while I'm on spring break this week as well. The pattern is B4856.

Sorry about the bad picture, I was trying to mess with the lighting so you could see the details of this really cute top. It's KS 3621. I am behind on writing my reviews for most of these tops but will get that done during my spring break as well.

I'm going to try not to neglect my blog anymore this year. Hopefully all will stay safe and healthy around here and I can go back to doing the things I love the most. Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think of my latest sewing saga. I miss you guys!