I skipped the PR wardrobe for myself this year - working on one for each of my children. So I could not miss the small one as well. One of the most wonderful tricks I learned on Pattern Review was to pick on theme and color scheme each season and try to sew & shop with it in mind. Each time I've done that I ended with easy to coordinate outfits. My favorite one so far was the pregnancy wardrobe I did in 2015 in blues and teal.
In 2016 it was black and white and while the combo is timeless I somehow did not felt myself in it as much as the previous one. There were a few items that I really loved there - like the V tee and the cardigan but it did not felt like a huge hit to me.
So this year I am back to blues and I love it. Being a summer wardrobe this time I went from royal blues to white and pink and I love the results.
I all started somehow with the dress I did for a may wedding:
Even if it was not an elegant evening dress I felt really well in it and unique. One comment my husband had on it was why I did not used the inverse colors - the answer would have been the fabric structure and to much white would not have been OK for a wedding but that got me thinking and what come out of it was a new top - McCalls 7538:
I used the same technique of making my own striped fabric for the bigger cross panel and this time using 5 stripes rather then 3 and just contrast for the smaller diagonal parts. I really loved the effect. I felt in love with the tee right way and it just set the tone for the rest of my wardrobe:
I always include the latest patterns I worked with good results in the wardrobes and this year was the turn or Lekala 4177 peplum top to join the fun.
After 2 attempts that didn't quite coordinated with the tone set by the tee I finally found a new fabric for in in a white/blue plaid. It was a bit to stiff for this pattern but somehow I love how it played out. I used white lace applique for a few neckline and white crochet lace to highlight the sleeve hem and waist.
A long time ago I sort of promised myself to have one McCall's peplum cardigan each season and all my previous entries had one after I discovered the pattern. So this year will be no surprise here. Another McCall's 6844 just the way I like it - round collar and larger sleeve, straight in the front and flounce in the back- this time in white:
On a moment impulse I also did a very fast Lekala 3050 skirt to give the wardrobe some new looks. I went with the modified version I did for last year with front flounce as well:
The last item was the hardest to pick and I ended up doing 4 of them and choosing the muslin...
It is all bout the popular McCall's 7542. I had it on my mind and table for quite some time but never having the right time of fabric for it until now:
Taking many of my stash fabrics out I found this light pink floral fabric and at 1st I thought of using it as muslin fabric and try the most dramatic sleeve first - view B. I was quite impressed with how the top fitted right after the 1st try. I often get really odd darts placement. I also liked how pink worked with my other colors and decided it would be a good addition to the collection.
I liked the pink so much that the next one was also a light pink one with more comfy sleeves and a twist for the neckline:
This also coordinates nice with a dress I made in this fabric last fall:
The next one is in the skirt fabric. I initially purchased the fabric for this top and I am so happy I managed to get the skirt and top out of it without having to buy more.
The last one was just for fun with a stray fabric from stash and I am pleased how it somehow worked inside the theme as well:
Also since the last time I counted I bought 2 new fabrics from aliexpress - one arrived and one is scheduled for Friday and 2 new fabrics from local stores - 1 knit to stash and the blue fabric I used for this post in skirt and top so my debt is up to 94 items but I sewed 9 items as well and that got it down to 85 ( just one item less but still a step in the right direction maybe).
