Aberdeen in Polka Dot Sweater Knit

The official first make of 2016, an Aberdeen by Seamwork in a gorgeous 

Style Maker's sweater knit

Stylemaker's Sweater Knit - On the Eighth Day of Sewing

Have you all been keeping up with Michelle of Style Maker Fabrics  and her 12 days of Sewing?  There are some fantastic gift ideas, not to mention quite do able in these last 17 days until Christmas! Michelle asked me if I wanted to participate in this event and I jumped at the chance to be part of the fun.   The two of us tossed some ideas back and forth and decided on a quick garment sew.  I went with Style Maker Fabric's plush sweater knit in teal.    Let me tell you this is an incredible fabric, soft, lush and washes beautifully.  

Now for a pattern, the  Oslo by Seamwork has been on my to-do list for quite some time.  You might be thinking I don't have time to make this for myself or for a gift.  I want to say yes you can.  I did this in three small sewing sessions.  One night last week, I cut it out.  Saturday morning before heading out of town for the night, I did about 30 minutes of sewing.  This included the shoulder seams,  setting in the sleeves and side seams.  When, I got home on Sunday, I did the cuffs, hem and collar.  Ta-da, done and beautiful.

The Colette blog and SeamWork has great sewing with sweater knit tips.  On this sweater knit, I used some knit interfacing (non-stretch direction) at the shoulder seams and used the differential feed on my serger to attach the collar.  If you are using a twin needle to hem, I like to use the knit interfacing, in the non-stretch direction at the hemline.  This helps prevent the tunneling you get at times with a twin needle.

This Oslo cardigan would be great for gift sewing, it is quick and one that does not need much fitting.  Or better yet, sew one for yourself !

Now to keep this Holiday theme related, let me reference some of my favorite Christmas Songs

I love Baby It's Cold Outside, particularly the one with Lauren Bacall from All I Want for Christmas

 and this sweater knit is great for the cold!

And of course the classic, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams. 

I have to share this one coincidence, I did the photo with the sign last.  After that, I put my camera, tripod and sign back in the car.  This time of year, my radio is mostly on a Christmas song station, which I love, family not so much!  I will give you one guess as to the song playing on the radio when I turned on my car.  Yep, it was It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year by Andy Williams!  That brought a big smile to my face as I looked at my canvas that was part of the photo shoot. Today only, Tuesday, December 8, 2015, all sweater knits are 20% off and there is a special price on the pattern notcher, too. Disclosure - I was given this fabric by Style Maker Fabrics to be part of the 12 Days of Sewing, the opinions of the fabric greatness are all mine.

Aberdeen in a Sweater Knit

Seamwork Magazine is a great monthly digital sewing magazine and each month comes with two patterns that take 2 hours or less.   Here is the pattern information   Purchase previous patterns here for only $7.

Or, subscribe for just $6 per month and receive two new patterns each month plus $2 off any patterns from previous issues.

Seamwork Magazine

Have you read about this on the
 Coletterie blog?

A digital magazine from Colette Patterns coming soon, December 1st, to be exact.

Not One but Two Cooper Bags

When Colette Patterns released The Cooper Bag, I knew I had to make it.  I really enjoy making bags, something relaxing about the construction.  I think it is the straight sewing, lots of topstitching and occassionally, I just like not having to fit.



 Canvas and faux leather are some of the recommmended fabrics, which particularly appealed to me. Mood Fabrics' Beige/Silver Sparkle Canvas was my main fabric choice, which in person has more of a gold look.

Cooper bag - Strap and Lining

Tomorrow the finished Cooper will be on the Mood Sewing Network, so check out the finished project, it is a fabulous bag.

I have a blog post with some basic information about the bag and sewalong link.  If you plan on making this bag the sewalong is fabulous, tutorials are good and you might want to purchase The Cooper Companion, an extra pdf full on photos and little extras for the bag.  What type of extras? bag feet, self-fabric strap, key fob, etc.  Well, worth the money.

Since Colette Patterns has such great tutorials, videos and The Cooper Companion, I really don't have too much to add on the constructions.

Here are a few tips:

I used a ruler when lining up the straps to make sure they were straight.

The magnetic snap......the instructions have you put the female snap on the bag.  The flap is constructed next with the male snap on the flap.  I had better luck, waiting on the female snap.  I completed the flap, basted it to the bag and then marked the placement for the female snap on the bag.  See the pink dot?  That is my placement.

Waiting on the female snap makes it easier to line up the straps.

Next the pockets on the lining, which is quilting cotton.



First step is press the bag body and pocket in half, that way they will match up.  Another perk, the pocket is perfectly centered.

Colette instructions have you press up the bottom edge of the pocket and just stitch to the body lining.

Instead I pressed up the bottom edge and  drew a white chalk line on the body of the bag.  This white line, which is the stitching line

I stitched on that pressed line and then trimmed to 1/4".

 Press the pocket up and pin in place

Edgestitch on the sides and bottom of the pocket.  After edgestitching, stitch again a fat 1/4" and that enclosed the trimmed edge at the bottom of the pocket.

Finally, topstitch  the center of the pocket, I always stitch from the bottom up, eliminates a pucker at the bottom of the pocket

Here is a picture of the lining in place

Cooper Bag

Frigid temperatures and blowing snow are a great combination for staying home and spending the day in my sewing room.  I finished up a couple of projects and then went to work on my next Mood Sewing Network project.  That project is Cooper by Colette Patterns

source - Colette Patterns

My fabric for the main is this canvas, Beige/Silver Sparkle Canvas

with Brown Solid Faux Leather

Colette Patterns had a sewalong for this pattern a month ago.  Their tutorials and sewalongs are excellent, so if you are planning to make this bag make sure you use this resource.

Colette Beignet Skirt

This skirt has many reviews and some great looking finished garments.  I love the front buttons, side pockets, belt loops and shape.

Picture from Colette Patterns

Description :High waisted straight skirt provides a very flattering shape with paneled styling: not too loose or too tight around the hips, with a very fitted waist. Buttons up the front, has side seam pockets, and includes a self tie belt, which can be swapped out for your own narrow belts. Skirt has a faced waist, button placket and full lining.

Sizing:  0 to 18, I made a 10 according to the size chart

Directions:  They are incredible, easy to follow and you have a gorgeous constructed garment when completed.  

Fabric:  a stretch corduroy I have had in my stash for a couple of years.  I started this skirt while snowed in the house for a couple of days.  I ordered the buttons from Wood buttons and actually selected 3 styles.  

Likes/Dislikes:  As stated earlier, I was drawn in by all the wonderful completed garments online, the lines of the skirt, the button front and the belt loops.  Dislikes - this style doesn't work the best for me, which I knew but the allure of this pattern just drew me in!

Conclusion:  From the side this skirt looks pretty good on me

'Then I turn to the front and things quickly change.  

I think I am too straight up and down for this style.  It really doesn't do much for me at all.   I do think the skirt is a bit too big making it more shapeless.   I have two opinions from the twins, Kaitlyn says it makes you look like a bag lady!  Meredith says it doesn't look that bad an you, mom.  Mike (hubby) says the skirt with all the buttons, I liked that on the hanger.  You don't like it?  No, I don't at the moment.

So if this style of skirt looks good on you, yes, buy this pattern, it is wonderful.  If this style isn't great for you, invest in a different pattern.

I am disappointed, I really wanted this to work for me.

Camel Skirt

Time for another installment for Wardrobe Basic Sewalong, the camel skirt, what a great basic, perfect color for any season.  As always let's start with some inspiration.

JCP skirt

Net-a-porter skirt

Romantice style by Anthropologie

Lace from Dillards

Modcloth

Or check out a great assortment at Polyvore

Is your head buzzing with ideas?  Mine is.  In fact, I have purchased 2 pieces of camel fabric for this SAL. One is a camel corduroy and one is a lightweight suiting.

Now patterns (just a few, there are so many skirt patterns out there)

Samantha skirt at Style Arc

Vogue 8711

McCall's 5523

Butterick 5566

Colette - Beignet

Now fabric.........just looking at camel colored options and just a few options

Camel fabric from Fabric Mart

Ponte knit from Emma One Sock

RPL from Emma One Sock

Some camel fabric from Fabric.com

Camel wool jersey - Gorgeous Fabrics

Cotton Sateen - Fashionista Fabrics

So what are your plans? 

I think I am going to make one skirt from New Look 6079 from the corduroy and  Amazing Fit Simplicity pattern for the suiting.

Wardrobe Planning -Black Ponte Pants

Time to plan your black pants, I am going with ponte fabric for this post and these pants.  Now the pants can be what is best for your body and your comfort level.  You can go with a legging, a skinny pant, straight leg, bootcut or flare.

To start let's get inspired from RTW.

From Kohl's bootcut ponte pants

Link to Kohl's pants 

Cabi bootlet -ponte

Cabi flare ponte pants

from net-a-porter - Michael Michael Kors skinny ponte pant

From Kohls,

Ralph Lauren skinny ponte pants

Vera Wang ponte pants from Kohls

Jennifer Lopez skinny ponte pants - Kohls



Then an entire selection at Neiman Marcus so take a look at all that ponte pant eye candy!

Then we need to talk patterns:

McCall's 6515

McCall's 6440

McCall's 6404

Butterick 5539

Kwik Sew 3807

Kwik Sew 3540

New Look 6977



Jalie 2561



Colette 1019

Burda 8341

New Look 6983

New Look 6082

New Look 6922

Style Arc - Elle Pant

Style Arc - Linda Stretch Pant

Now let's move onto fabric selections

Fabric Mart ponte

Gorgeous Fabric ponte (didn't see black here)

Fabric.com ponte

Hancock's ponte fabric

Marcy Titlon's ponte fabric

Emma One Sock black ponte

Fashion Fabric Club


You can Anne at Needle Nook Fabric for her ponte selection

Nancy Notions ponte fabric



Now if you have made it to the end of this blog post, I hope you find it helpful and not overwhelming.  This list of RTW inspiration pieces, patterns and fabric sources is in no way a complete list but a starting point for you to find the right style, pattern and fabric.

Good luck.  Please let me know what you find and what pattern you are using.