2015 Wrap Up! My 5 Favorites

I love year-end wrap ups! I didn't sew as much this year as I did last year, but I did go way outside my usual sewing zone which feels pretty productive. My favorites:

I have a lot of love for the Deer&Doe Pavot jacket with the triangular buttonholes.  I highly recommend the pattern.  It's a great spring coat. 

McCalls 6506 was my first ever make from a Big-4 pattern (I'm not kidding) and it turned out really well.  My fabric choice ended up feeling a little dressier than I was going for initially, so I'll probably revisit this pattern next summer in a more casual fabric. 

I've made the Sewaholic Granville three times now, so it definitely makes the cut for favorites.  This was my first. 

I ventured into the world of Spandex with the Closet Case Files Bombshell swimsuit and I have to admit it wasn't all that bad. 

I only have one Sewaholic Oakridge but I love wearing it.  Such a happy print!

Overall I'm pleased with the work I produced.  I participated in the Goodbye Valentino RTW fast for two years and that had a very positive impact on my sewing skills.  A big bright world opens up when the focus shifts to making instead of buying. 

I Made An Outfit!

 

 

I'm trying to make more of an effort to make pieces that go together instead of random pieces that don't quite mesh with the other things in my closet. I made a Colette Moneta awhile ago that I was planning to wear with tights in the winter, but I never wear it in the winter because I didn't make the red cardigan that would look best with it.  This time I picked three patterns and three fabrics and went to work.

The cardigan is the Seamwork Oslo in ponte knit.  I'm underwhelmed by it.  I was roped in by the promise of completing it in 2 hours, so I overlooked the fact that it's really not my style.  I tend to like things with a little shape to them and the Oslo is the opposite of that.  I cut a size small but the finished result was not great.  I chopped 4 inches off the bottom (which made it too short) and took in the sides a bit but it still doesn't work for me.

I made pants! This is my first ever pair of pants and I feel pretty good about it.  Since I'm a novice I find myself in the position of not being able to tell what might be wrong with them or what I should do differently, but I'm trusting that I'll figure that out as I sew more pants.  I do know that they are the most comfortable pair of pants I own right now and I don't find myself repeatedly pulling them up at the waist all day.  I used the Sewaholic Thurlow pattern and Lladybird's tutorial which is so helpful. 

There are wrinkles on the backs of my legs but I did read that you need some excess fabric there in order to be able to sit down.  I'm not sure if I have too many wrinkles.  Thoughts? In the picture they look tight in the bum but they don't feel that way when I wear them.  The material is very cotton-y and has quite a bit of stretch but was labeled denim on Mood.  I'm pretty clueless about choosing denim on-line but I think I'll get the hang of it with experience.

I think my fly went together pretty well for my first try.  I can zip my pants so I think this is what it's supposed to look like. 

My welts went together well but one of them came apart on one side when I washed them.  I'll have to take extra care next time.  I've definitely got room to improve but for my first shot at pants I'm pleased!

And last but not least we have my third Sewaholic Granville (see here and here) in Art Gallery voile.  There's not a lot to say about it by now.  If you don't own the pattern, buy it.  And then make it over and over.