sewing patterns

05 Mar 3 Dresses 3 Fits 3 Looks

Posted at 10:18h in Ruffles, Sewing Books, Sewing Dresses, sewing patterns, The Tunic Bible, Tunics, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 47 Comments

Maybe you go through color phases like I do. I don't know where they come. Two years ago I was all about orange but lately I've been partial to blue and green. Recently, the delightful fabric designer Jennifer Paganelli sent Julie and me selections from her Hotel Frederiksted collection. We each made a tunic for one of our book signings at Quiltcon in Savannah last week. The fabrics are quilting cotton which isn't always recognized as garment friendly, but one can have fun with the great prints found in quilting cotton, and create cute casual garments! Here's mine. I decided to make a...

16 Nov Metallic Party Dress

Posted at 11:00h in Butterick Patterns, Mood Fabrics, Sewing Dresses, sewing patterns, silk, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 106 Comments

More fabric to die for……. I was sold upon reading Mood Fabrics’ narrative of this silk/viscose blend and placed it in my online cart. ‘The drape on this silk and viscose blend fabric is just so perfect, and then when you combine it with the glazed metallic sheen...

13 Jul Vogue 8904

Posted at 08:40h in Mood Fabrics, sewing blogs, Sewing Dresses, sewing patterns, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Recently on Facebook, Mood Fabrics posed the following question to its followers: When do you put aside summer sewing and move on to fall and winter apparel? Is July too soon to think about cool-weather clothes? I must admit I have actually begun to think about my Fall wardrobe in July for the first time ever. I have even begun to look at Fall Runway shows on Style.com and even started a Mood Fall board, but...

04 Apr Style Arc Embellished

Posted at 10:32h in sewing clothes, sewing patterns, Sewing Tops, Style Arc Patterns by goodbyevalentino 27 Comments

Since completing the “Kate Spade” dress last week I took a short break from the sewing machine and eased back in to the eighth month of sewing my clothes for a year with something super simple. For a moment I thought this project was so easy it didn’t deserve a post, but then I decided it certainly deserved a post just because it was so easy. After several successful experiences with Style Arc patterns, I placed another order which included the Diana top pattern. The top would have taken one hour to make but I decided to add a neckline ruffle -...

21 Feb LAST WINTER DRESS

Posted at 06:57h in Mood Fabrics, New Look Sewing Patterns, sewing blogs, sewing patterns by goodbyevalentino 27 Comments

Mardi Gras, anyone? Tonight I’m attending a Mardi Gras carnival that serves as a fundraiser for the Healing Arts program in my community. Last year was our first annual Mardi Gras carnival and I wore a brown and black dress. Yuk. Why would I show up in brown and black when most people were in costumes or festive Mardi Gras colors? Possibly because I’ve been attending pancake suppers through the years and didn’t know what to wear, or else I just didn’t have anything to wear. This year I made a purple dress using this New Look pattern. I was hesitant about sewing another New Look pattern after this, but...

05 Feb Grandmother’s Sheet

Posted at 14:29h in sewing blog, sewing patterns, Simplicity Patterns, Tunic by goodbyevalentino 46 Comments

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. One .. two….. t h r e e times in a row now for this Cynthia Rowley pattern by Simplicity! I can’t seem to put this pattern down ...

24 Jan The Latest

Posted at 21:19h in McCall's Sewing Pattern, sewing blog, sewing blogs, sewing patterns, Sewing Tops, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 28 Comments

One top costs $150.00 and the other is $29.99. Why is that? In March of 2011 I bought the blue and white top at J. McLaughlin in Charleston, SC. I thought $150.00 was expensive for a spandex top, but the sales clerk explained to me it was made of fine French swimsuit fabric, and somehow I justified my purchase. I love the top and have worn it repeatedly since I bought it. This McCall’s pattern reminded me of my J McLaughlin top, and I anticipated replicating it. I bought fine Korean swimsuit fabric – seriously, it...

21 Jan Ebony and Ivory

Posted at 22:14h in Mood Fabrics, sewing blog, sewing patterns, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Some people are influenced by what they read. Some people are influenced by what they hear. And some people are influenced by what they see. Since I started, over four months ago, sewing my clothes instead of buying my clothes for a year, I’ve become absolutely obsessed about my wardrobe. Even though I spent a fortune on clothes in the past, I never had an obsession about them. During the last four and a half months I have been abnormally aware of my visual surroundings, but only recently have I realized their impact on my life. While visiting NY in December, I lingered around the...

07 Dec Tis the Season to Wear Red

Posted at 15:45h in clothing designers, Fabric, sewing patterns, skirt pattern, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 9 Comments

Ah… D e c e m b e r ! If you’re a woman it’s stressful - period. So busy was I making the evening gown last month, that I gave zero thought to holiday apparel. Hoping to find time to make something…. anything……. to add a little splash to my ho – hum holiday wardrobe, I stopped by Mary Jo’s last weekend while traveling. I bought the brightest red I could find in the store. Then I bought this pattern. Last month I became intrigued with the Badgley Mischka evening gowns and the designer name caught my eye. What I really like is...

30 Nov Three Months and Still Sewing

Posted at 15:07h in clothes, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, Kate Spade, sewing patterns, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 13 Comments

What can I say other than I like blouses with ruffles! I made this silk dupioni top in a hurry, and now, I wish I had planned a holiday wardrobe because I truly don’t have one other than a couple of dresses. About the top – its an old Butterick pattern which was pretty simple but I changed the flounce to a ruffle to better frame my neck and dress it up a bit. I also added a sash because I didn't care for the tie. Last night I wore it with winter white wool pants and these Kate Spade shoes...