StyleArc Harmony to + cigarette pants

This summer I ripped one pair of RTW pants and made a new one using the old as pattern. I was quite pleased with the result and determined to do more. So I have made 2 more pairs. I kept thinking what top would be best with this pants and had a few favorites in past patterns but in the end decided to try a new one - Style arc harmony top:

The first version I did as actual pattern. It was not bad but the neckline is a bit too high and the dart also should hit a bit lower for me. The pants are in a stretchy fabric this time so I took them in a bit in the upper part and used silk for pockets lining. It was a real pain to work with it but feel like it worth it every time I put my hand in the pocket and get a nice feeling there.

I was very happy I managed to finish this combo in time to submit it for Pattern Review Match Your Shoes Contest. I only managed to get phone photos on the last day of the contest with my son behind camera as I was on a family trip that week but I was happy I finally managed to submit something and felt a bit like my old self.

The pockets are along the entire waistline in the front and I think I like them very much like this. More stable , less gapping. I used french seam for them and added pocket facings after. 

The second pair of pants done in a vivid neon salmon color with waffle texture is a bit larger as the fabric was more stiff and no stretch. They feel quite great. The top is a floral cotton batiste. Very very light fabric. Maybe a bit too light for this top. I did it very slightly larger and fixed the neckline and the dart. The neckline and the ruffles on the sleeves are finished with self bias fabric. Love this finishing. Both tops are longer then the pattern.

And some small eye candies in the end. My daughter sow some hair bands with bows in the store she really liked but the fabric from with they were made was really crappy so I promised her I will make some better myself.  For two weeks she kept asking when will I make her bows so here they are. Really cute. I have so many fabrics I should make more.

The pink pants fabric is from this summer. I only did one "fabric shopping trip" and bought 5 or 6 fabric and happy to say that 3 of them are already sewn. The other 3 fabrics ( the blues ) are from last summer crop. Feels like my stash is going just a little bit down but I still have so many fabric ... I need to find some way to donate some and be a bit more picky when I buy!

Trying to get back to sewing - brocade pants

Long time no sew ... A lot of people asked how did I sew so many items with so many other things going on in my life. I always thought is my desire and love for sewing that kept me going but taking a small break I understand a new detail. Sewing constantly keeps you in shape. Warmed up. After a small break even easy projects seem impossible to start let alone finish... My son started school last fall and I wanted to spend a little more time with the kids, do more projects with them, teach them how to read, paint with them... I also did quite a bit of work in our country backyard painting the kids wook house , the fence and anything that I could get my hands on. I don't have a talent for drawing but that didn't stopped me :))

I terribly missed sewing though. We had a few free days  free at the end of last month with the kids being away on vacation with the grandparents and I knew I just have to get something done. I went shopping for fabric, not that I needed any but usually buying new fabric always gets me into sewing mood ... On of the fabrics I picked was this beautiful pink brocade and I decided I wanted a fancy pair of pants. I usually buy my pants but the one in the stores are so boring.. I had quite a bit of experimenting with pants patterns from style arc last summer/fall and I was getting close to making some I really love but this time decided to take another route. I ripped out one of my favorite RTW pair: - you can see some pictures with it here

It was not so hard to rip them. They were really worn out :)

I cut them one night after a long day working in the backyard installing a new ground pool for kids return and managed to sew them in small sessions over the next 2 days.

I had a lot of reserves over this but the fabric is really nice and all their imperfections are easy to hide with a longer top as are most of mine. And I am pleased to say that I wore them a lot since then and love them so much I will try to make at least one or 2 more pairs as I have so many pants fabrics stashed over the years...
   The day I had to do the finishing touches I was alone with Eva so I made a deal with her. If she will allow me to hem my pants I would make a doll dress for one of her dolls.

Here is what I did for her very quick and dirty... this doll was usually headless thrown somewhere in a box. Since she had a new dress Eva got her in her bag for two weeks or so and took her everywhere with her. that made me think that maybe I should start sew more doll clothes.

Catching on - July sewing Burda, Butterick and StyleArc

I have been so busy sewing last few weeks that my sewing is way ahead my photographing and reviewing. I love to keep track of everything I make but this is a problem I love to have... so I will try to quickly catch up on some not so glamorous sewing I have done lately.
   So after a long time of burda break I finally went back to it and bought the last 2 issues. I wanted to try the  Capris 07/2018 #102. They looked so cute on the model:

The good news is that they are a really easy and quick sew. The bad part is that they don't have pockets and I didn't bother to add them. I really should have!!! And I don't think those ties are as cute and comfy on me. But the fabric I used is really pleasant to wear so I thought this might make a good backyard pair of pants so I was looking on making a top to go with it.  I think I am slowly becoming a big Style arc fan. I had the Amber blouse ordered and already did a simpler quick version and was very pleased with the fit so decided that my fabrics are perfect to make the full design.

  So here it it my new set. Not sure about the style and the lack of pockets but love the colors and the fabric feel. I still have some simple blue fabric so maybe I can make one more pair of pants to go with my top. I wanted of some point to use pippingtoo and was to lazy to make mine and foolishly believed a red one will look cute. But after seeing it in the back and the extra thickness it added I decided to drop it while it was not too late. Maybe I should go back and unpick that one too but I really don't feel like doing it. I would rather make a new amber. Quite a catchy design to make!

I think it is really important for this top to be done in a soft drapey fabric and the one used for applique to be lighter or at least just as light and fluid as the main fabric.  I was lucky for this set as my two fabrics were purchased together were technically the same:

The next set is a last week production. I really wondered how will the StyleArc luna stretch pants will hold with zero stretch fabric if I add some ease to it. So I added around 3 cm to each of the 4 big panels from waist to hip and then gradually lessened it to zero as I went to the knee so the lower leg is not wider than the original. The extra waist width I transformed it into 2 darts and in the back and 4 small pleats in the front. Once again the small pleats in the front got me rid of all whiskers and artifacts so my mommy tummy needs some adjustments to better fit in similar to the ones I did with my blue pair. Suck a happy accident and discover :). The top is my first version of the amber blouse in simple drapy fabric. I probably should have ironed it a bit more before taking pictures but the fabric wrinkles really easily and I will wear it in the backyard at the countryside where comfort is the only rule and I don't think anyone will be checking my ironing.

 The last 2 pieces are done way back in the beginning of july for the lady who helps me with the kids and the house from time to time. She has a big wedding in August and I keep promising her I will help with a dress. The pattern is Butterik i have been using for both my mom and my mother in law special occasion dress.

I had this really beautiful royal blue lace with 3D flowers from china so I only need to find a simpler and coordinated piece for the bodice. This were the 3 fabrics I selected for the project:

We picked the last one that was most simple and closer match.

And as a bonus for having the pattern figured out for her a nautical polka dots and stripes dress bonus:

I still have lots of items that need be reviewed even if I worn a few of them quite a few times!
Sewing 122 - Shopping 99.