Summer Blue and White Wardrobe Sewing

Wow- it's July already!  I haven't posted much this year, but I was sewing or thinking about sewing quite a bit.  If you follow my blog, you know that my daughter had a very serious surgery in May, and most of my Spring sewing was devoted to making her some loungewear for her to wear while she recuperated.  My daughter's big surgery went very well, and she is recovering amazingly fast.  She'll be returning to work in just 10 days (the surgery was in mid-May).  After we knew she was going to be fine, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted, and I immediately went out and cut off all my hair!  I don't know if that's a normal reaction or not, but it just seemed like the thing to do- to just lighten up!  I hadn't had such a drastic cut in many years, but it really feels good.

I did make her a couple of new dresses while I was staying with her during her recuperation, and, unfortunately, the pretty robe that I made for her got lost in the hospital shuffle, never to be seen again.  Luckily, I do have enough fabric to make another one.  But before I do that, I needed to make some things for the FabricMart blog using some beautiful Maggy London fabrics that I got in May.  They still have some of these available if you like them!

I'm  certain that I bought every "The Cut Line" pattern that Butterick came out with a few years ago.  These were all patterns that could be made either as a top, tunic or dress length.  I think most of them have gone out of print, but I truly loved the idea, and decided to go ahead and cut into one of them.-  Butterick 5637.   You can see the "bones" in the line drawing below- it has some really fun details.

I made View C, using a printed stretch poplin with a very large print.

I really struggled with how to lay it out, but I ended up placing the star motif right in the center front bodice, and then trying to align the starburst/floral print down the middle.

This is so, so comfortable!  I made it on the loose side, and skipped the zipper, since it was stretch poplin.  It has pockets, and a really cute gathered band in the front.

I didn't have enough fabric to make it the full length, but I had enough to made the lowest tier in half the original width.  I like this length alot.  I go up and down stairs a lot, and the full maxi length is actually just a little dangerous, as I'm always worried about tripping.  So, the mid calf length works for me.

When I was in Chicago staying with my daughter, I picked up a bad habit- going to thrift stores.  There was a Salvation Army store within a couple of blocks of her apartment, and I would go there occasionally.  I have to warn you- going to thrift stores is addictive.  Ever since I got home, I can't drive by a thrift store without stopping.  I've scored some vintage Vogue patterns, a gorgeous silk sari, and once you get that taste, you've just got to have more.  So the next pattern was one of my thrift store finds- McCalls 3919- this cost me a whole twenty cents!  I mean, really, what can you buy for twenty cents that would give you any more joy?

 It's nothing too exciting on the surface, but it was absolutely what I've been looking for for a long time- a very simple raglan sleeved tunic with a tie front.  You would think- oh, every pattern company must have one of those!  But no, no one does currently!  I swear- I checked everywhere.  Well, maybe not all of the indie patterns or Burda, but the big 4 and Simplicity do not have it.   So, here is my version using Maggy London cotton voile.  It's beautiful fabric!!  I love the colors.

I also made it in a border print that I've had for eons- probably from a mystery bundle.  The village scene with the huts reminds me of my daughter who is living in a twig house in Madagascar.  I like this pattern so much that it is going to stay in my "emergency snack sewing" drawer, where I put things like simple skirt and t-shirt patterns that I can make in less than an hour.  Sometimes a little sewing is all you need!

My last fabric was a polyester chiffon palm tree print, also Maggy London.   I used Kwik Sew 3160 for this one, because it is completely lined, with no zipper.  I've found that when working with chiffon, the simpler, the better, as the fabric tends to fray like crazy.

This one feels a lot more dressy to me, so I haven't "really" worn it yet.  I need a dressier occasion to go to.   I lined it with cotton batiste so that it is more breathable.  I had enough fabric left over for a top, so I dug out another oldie but goodie for sheers- McCalls 6204. 

I made the view with the butterfly like sleeves, and the v-neck.

You can see the design better in this white crinkle chiffon version, where you can see how the side seams and underarm seams are joined together to give it a little more shape than a loose poncho:

So, this will be my 4th of July outfit this year.  I didn't set out to make a wardrobe capsule, but that's how it ended up.  How about you- have you discovered thrift store thrills, or made any drastic hair changes lately?

Happy Sewing!
Ann