clothing designers Tag

03 Dec Holiday Fasting

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...

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27 Mar Simplicity 7715 – Kate Spade Aubrey Wrap Inspired

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...

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23 Mar Kate Spade/Simplicity 7715

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...

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14 Jan MISSON(I) ACCOMPLISHED

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...

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20 Nov Robe de Soirée

 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...

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31 Oct The Great American Apparel Diet

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...

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22 Oct Seventeen Years Later

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...

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17 Oct Talbots & Kate Spade

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...

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05 Oct Doncaster Remake

           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...

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