Grainline Studio Morris Blazer - Striped Ponte

Finally,  I got back to the Morris Blazer and made myself another one.  The first one was a

textured knit in blue/cream combination

Women's Raglan- Patterns for Pirates

Back in August, I was asked to test the
 Spirit Jacket
 for my little guy (aka grandson) and the jacket is great and his mom loves it.

McCall's 6711 -Ponte Blazer

I bought this great ponte knit from Fabric Mart a few months ago but couldn't decide what to make.  I posted a picture on Instagram and a fitted jacket was the most popular garment suggestion.  I went with McCall's 6711, made first just over a year ago in a stripe knit, which I love and wear quite often.  In fact, I wore it to a fundraiser about a month ago and as I was leaving a lady stopped me.  She told me how much she liked my outfit and how nice I looked.  I thought that was so sweet of her and I know I walked with a bit more confidence in my step.

I did not line this one but I serged the seams and finished the facing with a pink knit,which this picture shows.

I cut out all the garment pieces in a single layer, helping to match the pattern with the princess seams, side seams and sleeves.  As you can tell in the picture above the pattern is only on the right side.  This made pattern matching more difficult for me.  Does anyone have suggestions in this situation?

I had one side that matched really well, in fact I think this is the best I have ever done, so I am sharing my print matching happiness.

The other side is almost as good but not quite, the sleeves are nice and so is the side seams.  One thing that has happened with my almost empty nest and no school activities to attend, I have more patience and time in my sewing.  I spent a couple of nights cutting out this jacket.  A most unusual task for me.

With all this print matching, my fabric ran a bit short.  I cut my sleeves a short 3/4 sleeves, but had some scraps of fabrics to add a turn-up cuff to the sleeves.  This was a nice solution to add length.

Thanks all of those you commented on my Instagram photo and helped decide what this fabric would become.  I love your suggestion!

Which One Do You Like?

This top from Net-a-Porter is something I want to re-create.  I have some dark charcoal ponte in my stash and I purchased two trims at Joann's the other day.  Help me pick the one you think is best.

The left one is leather and the one on the right has rhinestones on black decorative elastic.  I intend on using the trim down the front, across the front like a yoke and then around the neckline.

One thing to note, this will not be made in the next couple of weeks.  My serger went in for repairs again, yes, the same serger that was in for repairs the entire month of June.  I am a bit disgusted with my Babylock dealer and their repair service.  A new serger is not in the budget right now but I would love to also hear your serger suggestions.

Picture is Worth a 1000 Words

I bought this Vogue 8856 during the last pattern sale

Description: Misses' pullover top with seam detail for this view.

Sizing:  6 to 22

Instructions:  They were good, this is a a basic tshirt with some piecing (color-blocking).  The back has the inset at the bottom.

Fabric:  The leftover stripe knit from my Stripe blazer and a lighter navy ponte from Mood Fabrics, it is a shade or two lighter than my peplum top


Changes:  The pattern calls for the back inset to be the same fabric as the back, I used a stripe for this piece, the same as the front pieces,

I made the pattern a size bigger, the pattern envelope states close fitting and use moderate stretch knits. I was using ponte without much stretch and thought I would need a bit more room.
This was not a good decision, I had to take in the top quite a bit.  Both on the front piecing, side seams and center back above the inset.

Here is my Instagram picture from Saturday night after I finished my top.

Conclusion: After I finished the top and put it on my dressform, I was very indifferent to the top.  Just couldn't decide if I like it or not.

I put on my top today, wore it for errands around town and asked Meredith to take some pictures of  me.  Well, upon looking at the first pictures, I asked Meredith to take some more because it looked terrible in the pictures.  Meredith agreed, so we took 6 more pictures again they looked terrible.  Then 6  more (I don't know why 6 she just took that many each time)  and the same results - UGHHHH, do I really look like that?  Meredith told me it did not look that way in person, Erin was here for lunch and agreed it looked good on.  I appreciated their kind comments but I cannot get the photograph out of my head.  I changed tops before Erin and I went to Columbia to get a baby bed for my house.

Here is a side-by-side of my two outfits, what are your thoughts?

My thoughts?  Still UGHHHH!! I cannot believe I even posted a picture of this top on the blog. Anyone want a new top?  I don't think I even look like the same person. What the heck is it about the navy ponte top that is so dang unflattering?

So in this instance a picture is worth one word - yes, UGHHH!

Red Pants and Navy Ponte Top

You know when you see an outfit and think I HAVE to recreate this?  Well, that was my thought when I pinned this outfit.  After, Mood Fabrics contacted me to be part of the Mood Sewing Network, I knew this was the outfit I wanted to make for my debut outfit.

I have had red skinny jeans in my wardrobe for a year now but knew a wide leg trouser style would be a perfect addition.  I perfected the fit on Burda  7447 pants and widened the legs  from the knee down for more of a wide leg  look. This Burda pattern has all the elements of a great trouser, welt pockets, front pockets, wide waistband and belt loops, it seemed like a natural choice for my red pants.

Once you get past the welt pockets on the back of the trousers, these pants go together very quickly. I selected Lipstick Red Italian Cotton Suiting for the trousers.  This fabric is the perfect weight and drape for the pants.

 One fact that helped me with the welt pockets, was to baste the stitching lines of the welt pocket on both back pieces.  This helps to keep your stitching consistent on each back piece and your welt pockets look the same!

For the peplum top the natural choice was Vogue 8815, a very popular pattern in the blogosphere for the very trendy peplum top.  I did add 1" to the bodice of the top, it looked very short on the pattern envelope.  For the peplum top, I selected a ponte knit.  Mood had the perfect shade in the  Dark Navy Ponte to complete my inspiration picture.  I did want to add a little something extra  to the back of the peplum top and an exposed zipper seemed to be the perfect addition.

Here is a close-up of the exposed zipper

For a great video on exposed zippers check out Gertie's clip from It's Sew Easy

You know when you have on an outfit and it just makes you feel great?  Well, this outfit does that for me, in my mind I stand a little straighter, have a confidence in my stride and a smile on my face.  It is that perfect combination of the right fabric and pattern to achieve "the look".  My garments turned out just like the picture I found on the internet and the picture I had in my head, gotta love that.  These pieces look amazing together but will work independently as well.  Oh, happy days!

I think my  outfit looks great here on the farm:

and it looks really good attending a baby shower for my daughter:

Yes, I am one excited first-time "nana"!

Check out my first  post at Mood Sewing Network

Hot Patterns Rivera Jacket

Another garment for my Wardrobe Basic Sewalong

and after Lynn's great post on jackets, I decided I needed a jacket more than I needed to sew a puffy vest (I have 2 in my closet).  Going on with the red theme after my red tie-waisted sweater, I pulled out some red ponte from my stash (originally purchased from Fabric Mart and a piece used on the bottom of Erin's jumper).  I thought with spring coming, a jacket with 3/4 sleeves would be needed for my wardrobe and Hot Patterns Rivera Jacket would be the perfect pattern.

I have made this jacket before, Here is the original post on the jacket.

One thing for sure, I really like this jacket more than the first one.  It is all in the fabric, the red ponte has some substance to it. This makes the jacket hang more like a jacket and not a sweater (make sense?)

I wore it with a stripe tshirt from Old Navy, necklace and watch from New York and Company.

Buttons were hard decision on color - I went with a very light gray, thought it would go with the most.

Do you know when an outfit really makes you feel good?  Well, this jacket and the striped tshirt was that for me. 

I think I will wear and wear this red jacket and it will be a great wardrobe basic.

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.