Seamwork Taylor Dress

 Seamwork just dropped 2 new patterns yesterday and as an ambassador, I get early access. I chose to make the Taylor dress this month. 

I am 5'3" with full bust of 41, waist 35, and hips 44. I chose to make a size 14. I made a muslin of the bodice and oh boy, I'm so glad I did. Holy cleavage batman! Not only was the v-neck very low, there was significant gaping along the front neckline, likely due to my small bust. I am short waisted and shortened the length of the bodice by 1/2 inch. I needed to pinch out the gaping in the neckline which was about by 1/2" each side. I raised the neckline cross-over point by 1 inch. This significantly changed the neckline in such a way that the provided facing piece no longer fit. I created a new facing piece by tracing a 2 inch width along the neckline of my new front bodice piece. I kept the length of the skirt the same, I prefer longer dresses these days. 

The fabric is from StyleMakerFabrics.com, sadly sold out. It is a rayon crinkle crepe with a lovely green background. 

I'm so happy with this dress! I am really glad I took the time to make a muslin because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have liked it and wouldn't have worn it. 

~Jenny 

Seamwork Mel and Skipper

Today I'm showing you a couple pieces from my Fall/Winter wardrobe capsule. They are my last two makes of 2021- the Seamwork Skipper top and Mel pants. I can go matchy-matchy or mix and match them with other pieces which I love. 

I used a wonderfully smooth, beefy, ponte knit from Style Maker fabrics in a deep teal color. Fleece can be too heavy and warm in my climate. I was a little worried about using ponte for these styles but the fabric worked out perfectly for this. 

The Skipper top is essentially a classic sweatshirt style. The neckline is a slight boatneck, not quite a crew neck. There is the option of an oversized patch pocket. I initially added the pocket, thought it would be unique. But ultimately I thought it looked better without and took it off. I made a size Large (my measurements are a 41 inch full bust, 35 inch waist). This worked out perfectly. I do find Seamwork's sleeves to be extraordinarily long on me and shortened them by 1 inch. 

For the Mel, I cut a size 14. I've got 44 inch hips. Again, This worked out great. Shortened the length by 1 inch in the legs.

I had no issues with instructions or construction. Just about everything was sewn on my serger with the exception of 2 buttonholes and some waistband topstitching on the pants. 

The ponte is perfect! It's not quite has hot as fleece can be. It keeps me warm but is breathable. 

I've been a Seamwork ambassador for about a year and a half now. This means that I have a free unlimited membership, basically access to all their patterns, with the trade off of making and sharing 5 items per year. There are no affiliate links in this post. 

~Jenny 

Fall Capsule Release 1 Callahan, Laura, Emmie, Elliot

 I'm excited to finally be able to show off part of my Fall/Winter 2020 capsule! I wanted to be able to demonstrate the versatility of the pieces, so needed to wait until several pieces were done. My plan is a 15 piece capsule. Today I have 2 tops and 2 bottoms that I can mix and match to make 4 outfits! Our Winter months are very mild in the hot desert land of Phoenix, so there isn't a need for anything extremely heavy. But I will be adding in some layers. 

First up is the Callahan pants by Seamwork patterns. Gosh I love these pants. This is actually me second pair. I made my first pair in a gray twill and posted them to instagram, but they didn't make it on the blog. The Callahan is a high waisted, wide leg pant with a fly zipper. Both the front and back legs have a pintuck detail. They are surpisingly easy to make. If you are new to zipper flys, the instructions are really great. I made a 14. My first pair was a little too tight around my upper thigh. I added 1/4" inch to each inner thigh piece (where they come together to join the crotch), and graded out a smidge in the hip area. I used a rust colored corduroy, I'm not sure where I got it from. Both the color and the corduroy are Fall essentials! And although rust isn't traditionally a neutral, I behaves as one when I mix it with other items. 

Next up is the Elliot Sweater by Helen's Closet. This pattern features raglan sleeves along with different neckline and hem options. I chose the cropped version with the cowl neck. I knew the cropped version would look fab with the high waisted trend. The fabric is a black waffle knit from Fabric.com. I made a size 16/18 without adjustment. I sewed it all on the serger and coverstitch machine in about 90 minutes. This top is a wardrobe staple and I would love to make another couple of versions in some ribbed knit. 

My Elliot Sweater also pairs nicely with the Seamwork Laura Skirt. The Laura skirt was released several months ago and I've never thought much about it. However, in putting together my capsule, I went back through the Seamwork catelog and realized this would not only pair well with multiple pieces, but would be a perfect match for this light blue Tencel fabric I've had in my stash. Fabric is from Joann. I made my typical 14. The waistline is easy to fit considering it is a wrap style. And in true Seamwork fashion, it was an easy make. It is cut on the bias. One tip that I utilized that Seamwork does not mention, is that you need to hang the garment for 24 hours prior to hemming. The bias fabric will stretch as it hangs, causing an uneven hem. By letting it hang, you can true up the hem prior to putting in those final stitches. 

And finally I have the Emmie Top also by Seamwork. I don't think I've met a peasant blouse I don't like. What makes this one special is the elasticized neckline with hook and eye closures, and the billowing sleeves. I used this floaty rayon voile from La Finch fabrics. I made a 14, no adjustments to the sizing. Don't let the frills and gathers intimidate you, again they are easy to do following Seamwork's instructions. 

That's it for now, I'm plugging away at the rest of my capsule along with a few one-off projects. And then comes the sewing for the holiday season (mixed emotions about that one). 

Until next time!

~Jenny