I don't know about you but for me navy and white just seems like the perfect summertime colors. It might just be me as I do have a thing for blues, it is my favorite color. After participating in Me Made May, I realized I needed more summer clothing. It is heating up here in Missouri and if you spend anytime in the humidity here, natural fibers do help to combat the heat and humidity. Mood Fabrics' Navy and White Stretch Cotton (which is sold out but here is a
blue stripe ) is just so perfect for my
Grainline Studio Maritime Shorts. This fabric is a nice lightweight cotton-lycra blend, another plus for summertime. Note on the houndstooth - I wrote this blog post on Thursday night (it went on MSN Friday) and the houndstooth was available in navy-white and red-white. Friday morning I checked the links and the fabric was sold out, I knew I should of ordered that red-white houndstooth!
Now for the top, I used
Mood Fabrics' Marc Jacobs Ensign Blue Cotton which has the look and weave of linen. The cotton was just the right weight for a blouse and I used
McCall's 6436. I am just so happy to have summer here and I can enjoy the outdoors, especially after this past winter. The only downside is a bit of limited sewing time, I am like a kid in the summer. No, I am not coming in, it is still light outside. This shirt was a perfect summer sew, I was able to set aside an hour a night for three nights and I had a beautiful summer shirt. I did lower the bust dart and take 1" off the length. Now that is saying something about the length of this shirt as I usually add 1". I left the shirt out for the above picture, just so you could see the details and the fabulous fabric. Here is more details, check out the epaulets, the loops on the epaulets and nice pleated pockets.
The Marc Jacobs cotton pressed and sewed beautifully. I used the fabric for the bias binding for the armhole finishes. I just am amazed it isn't linen, it has so many similarities.
Now to that houndstooth, my first thought was a skirt but Paige (my oldest) said, "Mom, this fabric needs to be shorts." She was so right plus that was perfect for my need for summer clothes. I really do wear shorts quite a bit in the summer and it helps me stay cool and keeps me from being grumpy in the summer! I had seen so many great versions of the Maritime shorts, I knew I had to try that pattern.
My first change was to lengthen the shorts to my go-to length, which is 6", I am a Nana and that seems more appropriate for me.
I went down a size after making a muslin and I did have to take in almost 1" in the center back just below the waist. On this pair of shorts, I did a bit more tweaking in the size. The cotton-lycra blend has nice stretch and I took in a bit more on the side seams. I can't wait to make more of these shorts, each pair can be a bit different. Adding more topstitching, belt loops, different back pockets or embellishements on the pocket, to name a few. This pattern does have the most unique way to sew the front zipper but it gives great results. Another thing to point out is this a quick pattern to sew, I made these Wednesday night in about 2-1/2 hours (I did have these shorts cut out). There is a
tutorial for the Maritime Shorts available at Grainline Studio.
I could not ask for better fabrics for summertime in Missouri, Mood Fabrics' has great selection of
cotton-lycras and
linens for natural fibers to beat the heat.
I plan on sewing, enjoying the outdoors and hanging by the pool this summer (of course, work, too).
What are your summer plans?
Whatever your summer plans and summer sewing plans, I hope you have a very fun summer.
