Blue, Birds and Flowers

I joined weeks one, two and three of Project Sewn but I was not planning to join this week's  challenge.
I sew so little to myself (a lot more for my kids of course...) that I honestly can't say what my "Signature Style" is because I think I don't have one yet...

As always - when I don't know something... - my brain kept thinking about it and gave me no rest until I was able to find my style... or at least a style I own or like... 

First I went to my closet. After all, the colors and prints and styles of the clothing I wear should say something about it, right? The first findings were: I wear mainly blues and reds (followed by black and pink), and I wear flower prints (what?... that many? I didn't see that coming...), polka dots and plain color blouses and tops (and these outnumber jeans + trousers + skirts all together).

Then I looked at my garment fabric stash. It seems that I have been hoarding fabric for blouses and tops... (Once I make something out of them all I will have a different top or blouse for every single day for several months...) And most of them is in (can you guess?) a flower print , followed by... bird prints! (Really?... Did I really have to buy so many flower prints?... And birds? What was I thinking?...)

After considering these findings I would say my style is: blue and red, flowers and birds, blouses and tops. (Can't say I am totally happy with that, but it is what it is... and I don't want to think much now about what does it say about me... Shhh... Don't say it!...)

So, it was almost lunch time this Thursday when I decided to join this week's challenge... Meaning I had just a few hours left to make something... It had to be simple...

The pattern is really easy to sew and quick to make (which seems also to be one of my signatures...). 

It is self-drafted (after models I have seen here and there) using my body measurements and has only 4 seams (two on the shoulders and two on the center sides). It has a drape look on the sides and I like that.
I have made one before (here) and I am really happy about the way this pattern looks and fits. And I get a lot of compliments on this...

I used a silky fabric in navy blue with flowers and a bird (it is hard to see it in this pictures though...). I have finished all the hems (all around) by hand (don't tell me about it...) with a blind stitch because I don't like the look of topstitching on silky fabrics...

So, this is it. I am pleased with the result! And I have to admit I love this print... 

Pink and shades of blue!

I have several favorite colors. Red, Pink and Blue. But f I had to choose just one that would be... blue! Or... pink! 

I am finding myself these past weeks facing some of my sewing fears...

At the beginning of January I made my first pair of jeans! Although I have been sewing clothes for a couple of years now this were the first pants/trousers I have ever made because I was really scared of sewing trousers (don't ask me why...)... I used the Small Fry Skinny jeans pattern by  Titchy Threads (it is amazing!) and they were great!
Then I refashioned two pieces of clothing of my girls - usually I just give them away and I was afraid of spoiling them while trying to repurposing, but they were OK!
And I just keep making things with knit fabrics without a serger... (some here and here) 

This week I made this top. Well, actualy I made it today in just a couple of hours...

It is a very simple top. I drafted it from a Burda Style pattern with a few changes. I will be posting the (free) pattern and tutorial for this top so stay tunned! 

I used a lightweight jersey knit fabric. I was so glad to have found this pink & blue knit fabric in my stash! I really love the colors and the way it looks with jeans. 

And again I was able to match all the side stripes! I realize now it is just a matter of paying close attention when cutting the fabric - both front and back pattern pieces have to be cut at the same level with stripes matching -, and pinning (or basting) the side seams with all the stripes matching and being careful not to stretch the fabric when sewing so the stripes won't move up or down on one side...

This week's theme of Project Sewn is - Make it Pink!
And I also made it thinking about the sewing challenge Shades of me - my shade being Blue!

Fashion Icon - Project Sewn

This week's theme of Project Sewn is: Fashion Icon!
The challenge is to create a piece (or a complete outfit) inspired by our fashion icon.

Early this week I was trying to find out who my fashion icon was I immediately thought of two great classy ladies I have always admired because of their overall style: Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly.

It was a hard choice to choose between them so I tried to find something they would both have in common. 

They both had glamorous sophisticated looks on one hand, but on the other hand they both had a simple everyday look. Think sweatshirts, simple trousers or jeans and ballerina/ flat shoes - I realized this is pretty much my everyday style too. Being a mom of three little kids I like to dress practical pieces yet stylish.

Audrey Hepburn (Image sources here, here and here)

Grace Kelly (Images source here and here)

I didn't had much time to go for the glamorous style (so many sewing projects in hands...) so I had to go for the everyday look and I found they both have in common a simple striped sweatshirt! 

This is the Plantain shirt - a free pattern by Deer & Doe. It is very easy and quick to make. 
The Plantain comes with three sleeve lenghts (short, 3/4 and long).

Sewing knits is always a challenge because I don't own a serger... I have to improve my skills on topstitching (not always perfect...) and hemming.

I was able to match the stripes on the sides, on the shoulders and on the sleeves! I am really happy with the result as this was my first time matching stripes.

I was very careful when I was cutting the fabric. I displayed the pattern pieces carefully on the fabric so the stripes would match, so I guess that helped...

Oh, by the way, if you need great (I mean awesome!) tips on how to sew knits check the amazing guest post series at Made by Rae - the KNITerviews!



O tema desta semana do Project Sewn é: Fashion Icon! (ícone de moda)
O desafio é criar uma peça (ou um conjunto completo) inspirado no nosso ícone de moda.
This week's theme of Project Sewn is: Fashion Icon!

No início da semana, estava a pensar quem seriam os meus ícones de moda e lembrei-me logo de duas mulheres cheias de classe que sempre admirei: Audrey Hepburn e Grace Kelly.

Seria uma escolha difícil ter que escolher apenas uma, por isso tentei encontrar alguma coisa que ambas tivessem em comum.

Ambas tinham um lado super glamoroso e sofisticado, mas também tinham um lado simples, de dia-a-dia, bastante prático. Pensem sweatshirts, calças simples ou de ganga e sabrinas! Apercebi-me de que este é basicamente o meu estilo do dia-a-dia (ainda que ande mais de blusa do que de sweatshirt, mas o aspecto geral é praticamente o mesmo). Sendo uma mãe de 3 filhos pequenos gosto de me vestir de uma forma prática mas com algum estilo.

Não tinha muito tempo para costurar alguma coisa do estilo glamoroso, por isso tive que escolher uma peça do dia-a-dia, e descobri uma que ambas tinham em comum: uma simples sweatshirt às riscas!

Usei o molde da Plantain shirt - um molde gratuito da Deer & Doe. Muito rápido e fácil de fazer (num par de horas). A Plantain tem 3 tamanhos possíveis de manga (curta, 3/4 e comprida).

Coser malhas é sempre um desafio porque não tenho uma corta-e-cose... Tenho claramente que melhorar o meu pesponto (nem sempre perfeito) e a costura das baínhas.

Consegui que as riscas ficassem lado-a-lado, nos ombros, laterais e mangas! Fiquei muito satisfeita com o resultado, já que foi a minha primeira vez a costurar riscas.

Tive muito cuidado a cortar o tecido, dispondo os moldes cuidadosamente em cima do mesmo de forma a que as riscas batessem certo entre as várias peças (devia ter tirado uma fotografia...). 

Ah, já agora: se precisarem de bons (óptimos!) conselhos sobre como costurar com malhas vejam esta série de publicações da Made by Rae - as KNITerviews!