I am woefully behind on my coat, but as we seem unlikely to get any cold weather for a month I think I shall catch up!
In the meantime I’ve been constructing an Ikea storage unit for my fabric (Expedit) and washing everything at the same time, so I haven’t been sewing much! All my fabric is sitting in folded piles in my laundry room, waiting for the shelves to be finished. Since I’m note sewing, I have spent some time to come up with my next projects, and here they are:
Did I mention that my husband got a new job? Because he did, and the new job seems to be rather big on having fancy (ish) parties. I need a dress for the holiday party (as well as my own work party). I purchased this jacquard from Sawyer brook ages ago, and it seems appropriate as the Fleur de Lis is the symbol of Louisville, and my husband works for the University. This vintage pattern is from the early 60s. I love it – it has a nice vintage vibe without being a costume!
I’m still mad for the peter pan collar, although I’m sure everyone else is tired of it! I’ve also really wanted to try Tasia’s patterns, so I’ve ordered the Alma blouse to try. I plan to make the full length sleeves altered to make a bishop sleeve and (possibly) use this pin dot lawn as the collar for contrast. Tops are still the most neglected part of my wardrobe, so I hope to make several.
I’m wearing more pants lately. It’s curious how style evolves – 2 years ago I didn’t wear pants once all winter! Now I’m about 50/50 with dresses,which is a nice balance. I’ve only made one pair of pants that I like (my Kate jeans, and oh my goodness those photos make me want to cut my hair again!) and they are dead at this point. I’m interested in the Colette Juniper and Clovers specifically because I have found Colette to have excellent instructions and I need hand holding with pants (fly fronts still scare me!) In addition, although their draft doesn’t fit my upper half, it fits the bottom really well (I think they draft for an hourglass, and I am not so busty.) The clovers are so cute, and I’m really into skinny pants lately. I’m slightly iffy on the waist of the Junipers – I prefer a thinner waistband. Vogue 8836 looks like a really great pair of wide leg pants, which I need! Finally, I adore the Paper Cut patterns pleated pant pattern, but I can’t bring myself to buy it. It’s a little expensive, and while I’m willing to buy Style Arc, they aren’t quite so much and usually offer a free pattern with each order. So if anyone knows another pattern that is similar (pleated front, tapered leg without being mom jeans or harem pants) I’d really love to hear it! I was thinking Burda might have something. Or, if you’ve tried these patterns and they are awesome, let me know that too – I can be talked into these!
Finally, I want to make the Style Arc Marita dress in green ITY from Fabric Mart (can anyone name the song I’m quoting, from one of my favorite bands in college?) I bought several Style Arcs this summer, and I’m looking forward to trying them. If they work out I’m willing to buy more – I hear good things! I wear knit dresses constantly – they are the mainstay of my wardrobe. I wanted to use a solid because the front is so interesting, so I picked up this knit (in my favorite color!)
Do you like my storyboards? I made them using PicMonkey. I own and use Photoshop, but sometimes I don’t want to deal with it (making rounded corners is an ordeal!) I was looking for a Picnik replacement after they closed. I’ve found it in Picmonkey – isn’t the craft scissors frame fun?
Tomorrow I have an important meeting – wish me luck, and that I will magically transform myself into someone who is good at making first impressions!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
You have fun plans in the works and I love your storyboards. I always love a good storyboard! I haven’t tried the papercut patterns but I’ve seen some cute ones and those pants look great.
I’m a huge fan of Stylearc pants patterns. I’ve made three different styles and they’ve all fit beautifully (although I haven’t blogged about them yet!). The only other pants pattern I really love is the Jalie stretch jeans. They should be easy to narrow and someone has already gone up a size to make them successfully in a non-stretch woven.
You have some great plans here. I love the fleur de lis jacquard – cant wait to see the finished dress and the fabric for the alma blouse is fabulous too!
I love the green for the stylearc dress. Can’t wait for you comments on the pattern as I have just bought it as well, I have a blue jersey in my stash I was thinking of using but now I want that green ! Happy sewing.
Great plans! Maybe you could try Burda 7250 for the pleated pants style.
Good call! Those look really close – I’ll have to pick up that pattern!
Not a real green dress, that’s cruel!
Barenaked Ladies, of course. I saw them in concert so many times… !
That was my thought too!
Ah, you beat me to it! I also was a huge BNL fan in college, and I’ve seen them live a ton too. Now I want a real green dress too!
I love the dresses and can’t wait to see how they turn out with your beautiful fabrics…especially the GREEN!!
Pants-wise, I just made my first pants, Vogue 1051, as part of a class, and they fit beautifully and I love them! I am amazed! Of course I know everyone’s different, but I thought you might want to take a look. They have a wide waistband, though, so maybe not for you. Now I’m about to start the Thurlow sew-along on Lladybird’s blog. I’m sort of the pear-shaped demographic Sewaholic is after, so I’m hopeful. 1051 isn’t hemmed yet so I haven’t written a review but I’m planning to. I’m curious about Stylearc pants but I wanted to get a few more pants under my belt, so to speak, (haha), before trying them. Sorry I don’t have a pleated pants suggestion!
Good luck with your meeting!!
Looks like some fun sewing is ahead of you.Really like the Marita dress and fabric. And while I love the look of the brocade, I am still having nightmares from a brocade jacket I made for my daughter’s wedding…didn’t have pinking shears to keep the unraveling to minimum.
Thank you so much for the tip about Picmonkey! Just the other day I was thinking that everyone, but me, makes such good-looking storyboards/moodboards and I have to look up how to do that. And now I don’t have to!
BTW, love green too, my favourite along with pink, love them together too.
You are so organized with your sewing plans! I am dying to sew a pair of pants that fit well. I purchased Burda 7250 and it’s quite similar to the papercut pattern.
I love the stylearc dress in green; what a great color! I also love the storyboards. I must check out pic monkey!
Jessica, I imagine you are already somebody who makes a good first impression, you just don’t realize it and are only thinking of the times you think you didn’t make the impression that you wanted, but maybe tha problem was the person at the other end ;-). Anyways, I get told that all the time, especially in regards to interviews … and having done a couple interviews from the other end, I can tell you that it really is true, there are some lovely people out there who don’t get jobs, not through any fault of their own, but because the hiring committee has some specifications that are hard to fill or not really apparent in the description. Anyhow, lovely sewing plans! I’ve been tempted by the Thurlow trousers myself – and this from the woman said she’d never, ever sew her own pants (gotta learn to stop saying that phrase, it always dooms me about 2 years down the road)
That first pattern looks fantastic. It’ll look great with your fabric.
And the storyboards are really cute, such a good idea for sharing a planned project. Thanks!
Ooh, I love that green! It’s so sassy!
Good luck with your meeting! I hope it goes well!
A few years ago I downloaded a pleated, tapered pants pattern off the German Burda site that you might like. It has english instructions that are (surprisingly) good – and have lots of illustrations. I followed them to put in the zipper fly. It may have taken a few hours to do, since it was my first one, but I thought the instructions were helpful. The pattern used to be free, but now it’s 3 euros.
I never put the pockets on the back, but I liked the yoke and it has a curved waistband. To accommodate my large hip/waist ratio I cut the pants to fit my hips and the waistband a size smaller and tapered the top of the pants to fit.
FYi: no seam allowances are included on the pattern. I made that mistake the first time I traced it onto my fabric.
Great plans and nice storyboards! I think the holiday party dress will look great. Good luck on your meeting!
I love the look of the Marita dress! Such a beautiful jewel colour to work with that fantastic feature. Awesomeness!