Work Worthy Button-up and Pencil Skirt

And here are two more additions to my work inspired capsule collection. 

For this shirt I used Simplicity 1941. The fabric is a white specialty cotton from Joann Fabrics. It was $19.50 for the fabric. I really love the texture of the fabric with its embroidery detail- you may not be able to make it out in the photos. 

I like the princess seams of this pattern. This pattern includes fit-as-you-go instructions. I ended up nipping it in a little here and there for a more fitted look. I also like the pleating of the sleeves. It gives it a more feminine look without going overboard. 

This was very easy to sew and a great addition to the work wardrobe. It will go with a variety of bottoms, toppers, and accessories. 

For the skirt, I used Hot Patterns 1011. First let me reminisce- this is the very first pattern I blogged about here! Man, I looked young! I still have the denim version of this skirt and continue to wear it. 

The fabric was out of my stash. It is a gray, stretch suiting from Gorgeous Fabrics. I don't remember exactly how much I paid but I would imagine between $10-$15 a yard. I used about 1 yard for this.  I love the feel of this fabric- the perfect weight and stretch for work-wear. 

This skirt was super easy to sew!

I've already worn this skirt several times. It works great with several different blouses I own. 

~Jenny 

Black and White Wrap Dress

I've actually been doing quite a bit of sewing! Lately, I've been sticking to a capsule-wardrobe plan for everything that I've been making. As a nurse, I really don't put much thought into what I wear to work. It involves solid colored scrub pants in a small variety of colors and a solid, white scrub top (yes, white!). When I graduate from my master's program to become a nurse practitioner (9 months away!), I will actually have to put some thought into what I wear. I've created a sewing plan that includes a wardrobe of several pieces that can be mixed and matched with each other to give lots of variety. As I continue to post more and more items, I will add them to my capsule page, which you can click on at the top to visualize all of the pieces together. 

So my first piece, is this black and white faux wrap dress. The pattern is New Look 6097- apparently out of print. 

I used a black and white ponte knit from Girl Charlee. I no longer see this print, but they have several other options. I spent about $19 for fabric. I love the beefy hand and graphic print! 

The construction was quick and easy. I made a few design/constructions changes: 

• I wanted the longer sleeves without the extra bulk of the cuff and tabs at the hem. So I simply omitted those details. 
• I opted against the belt buckle and made a tie belt instead. I added length to the belt piece so that it would be long enough to tie. 
• I initially top-stitched the neck binding down as the instructions would have you do. It ended up looking bulky and the binding tended to flip out. I ripped out the top-stitching and hand stitched the binding down instead. This made for a much cleaner look. 
• I added about an inch to the overall length with wide hem tape. 

One change I wish I had made that I didn't was to add more length to the hem before cutting the dress out. I intend to wear this dress in an office setting and it's just a bit too short in my opinion. I wish it hit a little below the knee. It's not terribly short, but as a matter of personal preference, I would prefer if it were a bit more longer. 

Overall, I really like this dress. It's easy to wear and the wrap style is super flattering! To change up the look, it is easy to throw a cardigan or blazer on. I've shown it here with a black blazer I picked up at Target. 

~Jenny