Style Maker Fabrics Fall 2017 Tour

It is my most favorite time of the year, Fall Ya'll!  Not the season but it is time for 

Style Maker Fabrics' Fall Blog Tour.  

Which in the blog tour world, is my favorite time, right with Style Maker Fabrics' Spring Tour.

I was so thrilled Michelle asked me to be a part of the tour again, this marks my fourth tour with Style Maker Fabrics and I love everything about it.  Michelle does such an excellent job not only finding the best fabrics but coordinating all of us with fabric, blog details and fabric (yes, have to mention the fabric twice!)

As part of the tour, Michelle lets us select our own fabric and is so helpful with this selection.  Hold on a second, let me clarify that a bit - Michelle is always so helpful when selecting fabric at Style Maker Fabrics.  She answers emails and Instagram Messages so quickly and gives the best advice about the fabric and pattern combinations.  In  my head I was going one direction with a sweater type cardigan, that all changed when Michelle sent me a picture of this fabric in an Instagram Message.  Instantly I said, yes, I want that!  That specifically being

Style Maker Fabrics' Autumn Patchwork Jacquard -those colors and the pattern are perfect for fall.

We chatted about patterns for a bit and I did some looking online and my plans were a 

Papercut Patterns Sapporo Coat, which I ordered on my own from Style Maker Fabrics.  Those were my plans until I studied the line drawing and I just couldn't bring myself to match the pattern.  The lines and shape of the Sapporo are incredible, but there are several pieces I just couldn't think of how I would make the matching work.  So my original plan was Vogue 9275  and I went with that.  This jacquard has the best feel and hand and I really wanted the fabric to be the star of the garment.  For that to happen, the center front really needed to match.  I spent some time marking my front pattern piece, I marked the seam line at the center front and used that to match.

I made sure the center front was in the middle of a square on the jacquard and paid specific attention to the seam allowance.  As you can see on the above photo, some squares have a symmetrical design and one block has a flower which flows across the block.  Can I brag?  This IS the best job I have ever done on a center front matching.  I did baste the zipper in place and checked placement several times. After that zipper was inserted, I sent Michelle a photo and told her I felt like I was home free with the rest of the jacket!  Which is the truth, the construction of this jacket is straight forward and relatively easy for a lined jacket.

I did interface the entire jacket right after cutting the pieces.  I like to interface my jackets and the interfacing helped with the jacquard's tendency to ravel.  I did add an extra strip of interfacing on the seam line for the zipper.  I did not want the center front to stretch out of shape.

One more thing with matching the pattern on this fabric, I like to draw a line at the underarm of all the pieces.  This line is then matched at the same spot on the fabric, in this case at the top of a square.  You can see in the photo below how the squares match down the arm and to the front of the coat.  This is a tip from Grainline Studio and it is one I have used so many times.  It makes pattern matching so easy.

This Vogue pattern runs large, I made this one right in the middle of a small and a medium.  If I make it again, I will go to a Small and possibly between a XS and Small.  So check those finished measurements on the pattern and know they are generous.

Michelle's sense of style and hard work always pays off in such an amazing collection of fabric.  Style Maker Fabrics' website is one of the easiest to navigate and to find the perfect fabric.  This jacquard is just exquisite in the hand, color and texture and was a dream to sew.

The lining of the coat is from Style Maker Fabrics also.  It is a black rayon and check out all the rayons

and the black collar and cuffs are Black Ponte - which is an amazing ponte with a good weight.

I did use my embroidery machine to stitch out a design on my lining, I tried to color coordinate the colors with the fabric and this design was one of the built in designs on my Pfaff.   I should of lowered it down on the fabric a bit, my topstitching line goes through the top of the design.

A couple of detail pictures - the side seam and side pocket

and just a view of the side seam

Now for the second garment in this post, my top

The fabric is Rust Bamboo Jersey, oh I love this fabric, talk about soft.  Pattern is

Angela Wolf's Ruched T

I did use the widest collar and twisted it as per the instructions.  As a result of the collar choice, I did run short on the fabric for the sleeves.    My solution was to add cuffs,  a perfect way to get sleeves long enough and then easy to push up.  I had just enough fabric to cut out two cuffs.

Here is the side ruching for this top

I do like the way the ruching looks on the side but not so much on the front of the top.  I think my top needs to fit a bit tighter for the ruching to hang correctly across the front.  

My fix for this will be to re-do the side seams and eliminate the ruching.  Right now when wearing this top, I spend too much time fixing the ruching.

The bamboo jersey is a perfect weight for any t-shirt and drapes beautifully.  The rust color is so rich and perfect companion fabric for my jacquard.  Plus it is just the perfect top to wear anytime for fall and winter.

Yesterday the Style Maker Fabrics' Fall Blog Tour stopped at The Doing Things Blog and tomorrow visit Goodbye Valentino for her fall garment.  I can't wait to see Sarah's make, I am thinking some embroidery possibly?

Here is the full line up for all the stops on the tour.  I hope you are having as much fun as I am seeing all these great garments made by such talented ladies.  I have been making my list of fabrics I want for fall but believe me I won't wait too long as I know many will sell out fast.  You all know my colors - red and blue and now a bit of rust and pumpkin, so I am loving the Americana section of the Style Maker Fabrics' website

Now I really need to express my gratitude to Michelle for including me once again on this tour.  I am so honored to be a part of the tour to promote her fabulous fabrics.  I looked back on my blog at all the garments I have made with Style Maker Fabrics and it was so fun to remember each one.  I have been a customer since 2015, right after reading about Style Maker Fabrics in Seamwork Magazine. Michelle's hard work to the sewing community is deeply appreciated by myself and I love all the fabrics she curates for the home sewist. Thanks Michelle for the great fabrics!

Have a great time planning and sewing your Fall wardrobe!

Explanation of photo - I grabbed a handful of leaves and threw them in the air.  After several photos, this is the only one that shows a few leaves falling down.  Good intention but not the best execution for the fall theme.

Disclosure - I did receive the jacquard, lining and bamboo jersey for my participation in the Fall Blog Tour but the opinions are all mine.