Cold Weather Cruise Wear

I love to cruise! I do love the beach and tropical ports, but I also love going on the New England & Canada cruises. I'm headed to New York City to board the Carnival Sunrise. I'll be stopping in Boston, Massachusetts, Portland Maine (where I am taking an excursion to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire), Saint John, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia! While the temps here in Texas are in the low to mid 90's, I will be traveling where the highs will be in the 70's to low 80's in the US stops and the Canadian stops will be in the 50's and 60's. Our excursion to Mt. Washington will be especially chilly and we may even see snow!

I've very excited about my trip and decided I really needed a good undershirt and some new jeans.  My undershirt is made with a nice organic rib knit. I used the Greenstyle Creations Green Tee (FREE Pattern!) and raised the neckline. I am pretty sure I'll get lots of use from this tee this winter.

I've had intentions to make myself some new jeans with some stretch denim that I bought at Wherehouse Fabrics for about 2 years! I found this amazing denim that had 50% stretch. I knew it would make great jeans for traveling. I will be so comfortable even when stuck on a plane for 3 hours. I made the Itch to Stitch Mountain View Pull-on Jeans.

Of course I plan to pair my Mountain View Pull-on Jeans with my Orono Top. It layers perfectly over my Green Tee.

I also made a pair of Love Notions Sabrina Slims with my super stretchy denim. I hacked these to have front pockets. I am wearing my George + Ginger RuLo on top of my Green Tee, I made this RuLo with a reverse French Terry and it's like wearing a cozy blanket. It's my go-to slouchy lounge top for when I'm feeling cold.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. I'll be posting photos of what I'm wearing and doing on my trip. Once I get back, I have some Halloween and Dia de los Muertos sewing to do.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Bella Sunshine Designs Sansa Flares

I have always loved pants with a wide flared leg. I think I get it from my mother and her love of bell bottoms. I was so excited to make the Bella Sunshine Designs Sansa Flares!  Before I cut into my cute fabric below, I made a test pair - I suggest you do this too if you are like me and blessed with thick thighs and fat knees. My test pair was way to tight on my thighs and my knees! I did a full thigh adjustment and added 2" to the thighs all the way down to the knee.

That adjustment was just perfect! I used a double brushed poly (DBP) for my Sansa Flares. I wanted to make the Sansa Flares with a bold print and wanted something with a little bit of drape. Plus - when making very fitted pants, I find that a busy prints hides my cellulite better when using a thinner fabric like DBP.

The Sansa Flares have just the right amount of flare. I might have to make a pair with a ponte so that the flare is more prominent. But I'm digging the relaxed look of these.

 I love the Sansa Flares for fall to wear with all my solid colored tunics. My pants are colorful and will match a lot in my closet.

The Sansa Flares are currently on sale for $7. The sale runs through September 26th.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Itch to Stitch Spotlight September

I always look forward to the Itch to Stitch  Blog Tour. This year's theme is September Spotlight! Each blogger is highlighting a pattern or two that was released back in the early days of Itch to Stitch. Select patterns are on sale during the tour each day for 25% off.

Here are the Bloggers for the ITS September Spotlight Itch to Stitch Blog Tour

September 16th 

Sewing Vortex, mahlicadesigns, Katie Sews Things, Sewing with Sarah, Flaxfield Sewing

September 17th 

Sewsewilse, replicatethendeviate, Needles to Say, Sewing with d, madebymanagir

September 18th 

Jot Designs, Auschick Sews, itsewcolorful, Sewn by Lone

September 19th 

Prairie Girl Knits, happilysewnafter, Back40life, MeMade, La Casa Cactus

September 20th 

Sweet Mama Life, Sewing Scientist, The Petite Sewist, Liviality, Buttons and Bobbins

I chose to make two patterns for the blog tour. First up is the Marbella Dress. The Marbella Dress was the first pattern released by Kennis on October 8, 2014! It is a very classic silhouette and very versatile with two skirt options.  

It has pockets!

Both skirt options are knee length. As you may know - I'm not a fan for showing off my knees or legs. So I decided to make a maxi length Marbella Dress.

The pattern comes in cup sizes - which is especially handy for those that normally need to do an FBA. It has a wide boat neckline with the front and back both having a yoke with a seamed bodice. The Marbella Dress can be made lined or unlined and has an invisible back zipper. I am quite proud of my pattern matching of the back center seam. I have a sway back and should have done more of an adjustment than I did. I'll know better for my next one.

I used an Anna Maria Horner Ghost Wing in Dusk on a linen/cotton blend. I found this fabric at Super Textiles in the Dallas Fabric District for only $3/yard. This fabric is how I met Sharon (Sweet Mama Life - be sure to catch her blog today as well!). I'll have to share that story another day.

I bought about 8 yards of this fabric. I made curtains with it for my sewing room and the rest has been sitting on my shelf waiting for me to use it. When I decided to make the Marbella Dress, I knew this would be perfect.

I tried to very conscious of the design as I cut my pattern pieces and looking back, I wish I had done it a bit differently. I now wish I had tried to pattern match my front yoke with the center front panel and I wish I had done a solid grey for the side panels. I still love how my dress came out and I have a felling it will get lots of wear.

September in Texas us still very hot. Our average high temps don't get below 90 until mid October/ So I will have plenty of opportunities to wear my new dress. My arms often get cold when I am indoors at work and wanted something cute to wear on top - especially as we go into fall.

I've had the Salamanca Cropped Jacket on my "must sew" list since it released on March 7, 2016. It released concurrently with the Zamora Blouse which I tested. Back then, I was scared to try to test two patterns at the same time.

I've become quite fond of cropped jackets and I have been wanting a denim cropped jacket for some time. The Salamanca was perfect for this lightweight medium blue denim that I grabbed at the Dallas Fabric District. I tried my Salamanca on before I gave it one final press before doing the buttons and quickly decided that I loved it without buttons and didn't think I would ever wear it buttoned up.

I did remove 1.5" from the length of my Salamanca for my height.  I think I could have removed another 0.5" and might for my next one. One my maxi length Marbella, I gave it a bottom center slit to ease in movement - but I probably would have been fine without it.

The Salamanca is super comfortable and this denim will go with so many items in my closet.

The Salamanca is also lined. I used a pretty quilting cotton from my stash for the lining.

The construction of the Salamanca was so interesting and resulted in a perfectly finished item inside and out. It had me scratching my head at some points, but a few steps later I was mind boggled by the genius of it.  But all of Kennis's patterns are like that. I learn something new each time.

For today only the following patterns are on sale for 25% off with the code 920itsblogtour25

• Tierras Woven Joggers
• Mountain View Pull-on Jeans  (See my blogpost on them HERE)
• Samara Pants 
• Marbella Dress
• Liana Stretch Jeans
• Zamora Blouse (See my blogpost on it HERE)
• Salamanca Cropped Jacket

Visit our Sponsors and enter our Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of 2 amazing prize packages:

Prize # 1
Itch to Stitch: 3 PDF patterns of choice

Raspberry Creek Fabrics: $100 Store Credit
D&H Fabrics Co: $50 Store Credit
Simply By Ti: Prize of $20 Store Credit

So Sew English Fabrics: Prize of $40 Store Credit
Sly Fox Fabrics: $25 Store Credit

Prize #2
Itch to Stitch: 3 PDF patterns of choice
Beautiful Textiles: $100 Store Credit
D&H Fabrics Co: $50 Store Credit
Surge Fabric Shop: $20 Store Credit
Knitpop: $50 Knitcoin Credit

Rafflecopter begins Monday September 16th and will close at 11:59pm ET Sunday, September 22nd. 2 winners (1 per prize package) will be drawn and announced Monday, September 23rd. Rafflecopter HTML: a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Zenith & Quasar Marble Preorder

I am in love with each and every print Zenith & Quasar has in the Marble Preorder. The geologist in me needs them all. Lilly sent me the Mud Pie print and it's awesome!

It happens to go great with Toffee Athletic Brushed Poly.

I made this top after making the two I previously posted with this print. For this one, I used the Shwin Designs Hamburg Dolman.

Since I was running short on fabric at this point, I cut my top at the shorter cut line for the banded bottom version.

I doubled the height of the bottom band for mine as I find a talled band is more flattering on my figure.

 This is one of my favorite patterns for fall. I don't think I have ever made the short sleeve version of the Hamburg Dolman!

Here are the other Marble prints in the preorder. I ordered some of each! I will have a whole marble wardrobe when I'm done!

Preorder closes on September 20th! Order at https://www.zenithandquasar.com/product-category/preorder-r36-marble/

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Sew Long Summer!

Today I'm ending off the Sew Long Summer blog tour this week. There have been some really fun and inspiring creations this year and I hope you go check them all out.

Sew Long Summer is all about getting those transitional wardrobe pieces ready; finishing up all those things we meant to make this summer; and well, basically whatever Sew Long Summer means to you.
 

The full tour includes these talented sewists, so I hope you'll follow along and comment on their posts this week. Sept. 9th Sewing A La Carte, mahlicadesigns, Sewing Vortex, Sewing With Sarah, Fils Anddraps Sept. 10th The Bear and Pea Atelier, Auschick Sews, Stitched by Jennie, Miss Marah Sewn Sept. 11th Sew Cute Couture by Kathy, A Rose Tinted World, mahlicadesigns Sept. 12th Little Heart Threads, Lulu and Celeste, The Crafting Fiend, Sept. 13th Petite Font, Sew 4 Five, The Sewing Scientist, Sew Cute Couture by Kathy, Kitty Makes It

It's time to say so long to summer. I love summer, but living in Texas, by the time September rolls around I am ready. The days of 100 degree temps take their toll on me as August comes to an end. But they often don't stop until we are a week or two into September. We don't get super cold here and I don't make many items that are truly wintery. To get me through Fall (and most of winter) I sew up lots of 3/4 length sleeve tops and pants made with heavier stretch wovens.

In preparation for fall, I made a Love Notions Margot Peplum and Sabrina Slims. I really love these two patterns and had not made them in some time. I felt like it was a great time to dust them off for some new pieces  to add to my wardrobe. The Margot Peplum has so many options - two bodices, three skirts, and 4 sleeve options. The Sabrina Slims are also versatile as you can use a stable knit or a stretch woven. They also have two different styles.

I have had this Art Gallery Fabrics Splendiferous Knit in my stash for a few years. I'm not a floral person, but was drawn to the colors and there was something about the pattern that caught my eye. I also purchased this design in the Art Gallery Cotton Woven - it is still sitting in  my stash as well. 

I loved that the colors are a mix of autumnal colors (mustard, rust, and shades of taupe) and spring colors (fuschia, soft pink, and mint). I made the solid bodice version of the Margot Peplum to prevent breaking up the design with the princess seams. I also used the swing skirt for my peplum along with the 3/4 length sleeves. I will be able to wear this from now until May.

I made the Sabina Slims last year with some cheap fabric to check fit and have had good intentions to make some with my "good" fabric. I had a stretch twill in my stash that I bought at the Dallas Fabric District that happened to match the denim blue color in the Splendiferous print really well. It also had the required 30% stretch for using a woven with the Sabrina Slims.

This outfit has me ready to embrace the fall season while also adding a few year round pieces to my wardrobe.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Sinclair Patterns Nova Raglan

Sinclair Patterns are amazing! Each pattern comes in petite, average, and tall sizing. It's so nice to be able to print a pattern and not have to make adjustments for my height! Their newest pattern is the Nova Raglan. The Nova Raglan is a relaxed fit and has a couple of options that make it the perfect cold weather raglan.

For this version, I made the drawstring  hem and did the neckband.

I used cotton lycra for this Nova. The mustard is a solid cotton lycra from Made Whimsy and the Goldfish & Waterlily print is from Jumping June Textiles.

For my next Nova, I decided to try a few other options. I used the cowl and did a band for the hem.

I used Mud Pie Athletic Brushed Poly from Zenith & Quasar Fabric and a distressed reverse french terry from Mily Mae. Mud Pie is in the current Marble Preorder at Zenith & Quasar.

I LOVE how this Nova turned out!

This Nova is so comfortable and cute and I am dying to wear it! The day I took these photos it was 100 degrees! As soon as it is cool enough, I am wearing this top!

The Nova Raglan is on sale for $7.99 through September 18th. While you are there - be sure to grab the Sunset Lounge Pants to pair with it. They are free and amazing - see my photo below! Use the code SINCLAIR to get them for free.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

5 out of 4 Patterns - Sydney Peplum and Dress

Ever since I saw my sweet friend Sharon's Sydney Dress from 5 out of 4, I've been thinking of making a maxi length version. See her post HERE. I had 2 yards of this gorgeous Mud Pie Marble from Zenith & Quasar and knew it would be perfect. However, I am sad to report that there was no way for me to get a maxi length skirt for the Sydney with only 2 yards. In fact - the maxi length skirt pattern piece is wider than 60 inches - So I would need to make the skirt less full or cut my skirt cross grain. Sigh

So instead, I decided to make the Peplum version of the Sydney with my Mud Pie fabric.

I wasn't sad for long. I love a great peplum top and that meant I could make something else with my glorious marble fabric.

The Sydney features peplum, knee, tea, and maxi length skirt options. For me it was either peplum or maxi. I just can't do anything in between. The peplum ended up just the right length on me unhemmed. But I hate leaving an unfinished hemline. I am debating on how I want to finish the hem.

The bodice is fully lines which gives a nice clean finish. I lined my bodice with a solid athletic brushed poly to leave myself extra of the marble print for other projects.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Made Whimsy Winter Magic

It's not often that a fabric drives me to bake holiday cookies over Labor Day weekend, but that's exactly what happened when I sewed up some Winter Magic from Made Whimsy.

Because - If you make a holiday apron, you obviously should wear it while making holiday cookies.  Right?

The Winter Magic round is full of cute prints for the holidays. I couldn't picture myself actually wearing any of the prints as a shirt, but I knew they would make a cute apron.

Mandy sent me a Candy Cottage Panel, Candy Cottage Border Print, Candy Cottage Candy Stripe, and Candy Cottage Waffle (Large Scale).

My mom came to visit me over the labor day weekend and we spent Sunday baking cookies. I think we made 8 dozen!

My apron is a modified Rebecca Page Ladies Vintage Apron. This is a free pattern and it is so cute! The pattern calls for flounces for the three tiers of the skirt. Since I had a border print, I really couldn't do the flounce - so I substituted rectangle and just gathered them. I used the height of each flounce as a guide to  cut my layers.

I did use the pattern for the bib, straps, and waistband. The instructions were great and it went together so well. I hope to make a flounced version soon.

 I couldn't let any scraps go to waste - so I made a potholder with them.

Now if only that Winter Magic could have brought some cooler weather with it! Get some Winter Magic for yourself at https://www.madewhimsy.com/winter-round/. Preorder closes on September 13th! Use the code WinterMagic at checkout.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.