clothing designers Tag

03 Dec Holiday Fasting

Posted at 08:17h in Mood Fabrics, Ready to Wear Fast, sewing blog, Sewing Dresses, Sewing Tops, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 31 Comments

A funny thing happens when sewers quit buying clothes…… they become very clothes conscious. At least that is what’s going on with the RTW Fasters, and it certainly happened with me. I became obsessed with all things clothes. I recently asked the Fasters to briefly comment on the experience so far and to date no one said they miss shopping for clothes – quite the opposite. Many have expressed a new sense of freedom as shopping for RTW is becoming a distant memory. So what are they doing? Robin bought a practically new Bernina Artista 200 last month and is all over the place...

22 Apr Ice Cream Social – Vintage Simplicity 7715

Posted at 09:41h in Kate Spade, Ruffles, sewing blog, Simplicity Patterns by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

What would Kate Spade wear to an Ice Cream Social? ...

27 Mar Simplicity 7715 – Kate Spade Aubrey Wrap Inspired

Posted at 11:29h in Kate Spade, Ruffles, Simplicity Patterns by goodbyevalentino 69 Comments

Making this Simplicity 7715 pattern evolved into one of those s p e c i a l projects………. piece by piece, hour by hour, day by day…………… I was starting to hate it but now that it’s over I love it - much like childbirth as I recall. The gory details are here on the Pattern Review website if you want to know more. I'll just say every pattern piece but one required a redo - planned and unplanned. One positive aspect of the pattern is the wonderful ruffle, which I equate to finding an oasis in the middle of the desert. With the...

23 Mar Kate Spade/Simplicity 7715

Posted at 08:32h in clothing designers, Kate Spade, sewing blogs, Simplicity Patterns by goodbyevalentino 15 Comments

You may already know how much I love Kate Spade clothes although I don’t own a single Kate Spade garment. One of the dresses I’ve admired over the years is the Aubrey Wrap Dress, which Kate Spade introduces in new fabrics every season. Whether or not I can recreate this dress remains to be seen but I’m trying. In November, Tracy kindly introduced me to this vintage Simplicity 7715 pattern when I was contemplating evening gown patterns. Three months later, after losing the e-Bay bid Tracy discovered, I found it on Etsy – even in my size! Hooray and thank you Tracy! Not only is the pattern...

14 Jan MISSON(I) ACCOMPLISHED

Posted at 07:20h in clothing designers, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 19 Comments

It’s done. I love it, and I’m glad it’s over. My Missonish fabric has become a dress! It was one of those sewing projects that didn’t come together until the very end…. as in when I basted the hem in place. I glanced over nearly 100 reviews of this very popular Very Easy Vogue 8379 pattern on the Pattern Review website before retrieving it from my pattern stash. One promise I made to myself during this 365 day challenge is that I will not be in a hurry when I sew, and I dutifully made a muslin of the top before I cut the fabric...

20 Nov Robe de Soirée

Posted at 18:44h in clothes, clothing designers, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 22 Comments

It has been eighteen days since my last post! Making an evening gown consumed every precious free moment I’ve had – physically, intellectually and emotionally. The ball is in five days and the dress is finished! Up until making this gown I have really enjoyed sewing again, but I put such pressure on myself to make a dress that will match up to the others (including the ones I bought for my daughters) the experience has been stressful, but I persevered. Other than several dyslexic incidents brought about from working on a one-shoulder dress, this Butterick pattern was easy enough and presented no...

31 Oct The Great American Apparel Diet

Posted at 07:57h in Fashion Sewing by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Over the weekend upon hearing about my blog, a friend told me that she and a group participated in The Great American Apparel Diet during Lent 2011. I never knew this organization existed, but two years ago I did the same thing on my own during Lent. I made it until Easter but quickly learned this diet was not the way for me to go, for I indulged in some serious shopping shortly after Easter making up for whatever I didn’t spend during those six weeks. I l o v e sewing clothes again. Deprivation from shopping for clothes has been...

22 Oct Seventeen Years Later

Posted at 12:01h in clothes, clothing designers, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, Kate Spade, Simplicity Patterns by goodbyevalentino 12 Comments

Well, I did it! I am now wearing the beautiful silk that I’ve been afraid to touch for 17 years. I finished it just in time to take on a business trip with my husband to Palm Springs and wore it last night. Making this top from some polyester in my stash a few weeks ago gave me the confidence I needed to pick up my scissors. I’m grateful for the inspiration from LaRoque in Columbia, SC, and doubt I would have noticed this Simplicity Cynthia Rowley pattern without first admiring these cute tops designed by Annabelle...

17 Oct Talbots & Kate Spade

Posted at 22:21h in Fashion Sewing by goodbyevalentino 11 Comments

If I like Kate Spade so much, then why is my wardrobe brimming with clothes from Talbots? [caption id="attachment_284" align="aligncenter" width="127"] I love Kate Spade's color combinations![/caption] I’ve been in a wardrobe rut for a while. My mother worked at Talbots until she earned a lifetime 40% discount, hence many of my clothes are from Talbots. I’ve been in such a Talbots rut that I have bought things on my own without the 40% discount. It’s easy…. the sizes are reliable… and of course, they are good old basics which have added up to a predictable and unexciting wardrobe. I’m not knocking...

05 Oct Doncaster Remake

Posted at 21:13h in Refashioning Clothes by goodbyevalentino 8 Comments

Will the real homemade blouse please come forward? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? How did you guess? Never mind……… Last year I discovered how much I love wearing sleeveless silk tops. I bought the two above last fall, and I wear them all of the time. The safari print is a St. John and the red...