Zenith & Quasar Sketchy Mushrooms

I'm busy packing to move, but needed to show you another great print at Preorder at Zenith & Quasar. This is Sketchy Mushrooms.

I made the Itch to Stitch Isidro Top with my yard of Sketchy Mushrooms.

It goes perfectly with my Zenith & Quasar Brown Heavy Supplex Designer Stitch Harper Pants.

There are a lot of little details in this print that are so hard to see in photos. The mushrooms are sketches with handwriting. I really love the gathered neckline of the Isidro Top. I did a rolled hem on my sleeves and the shirt hem.

The background is almost white. It's not quite cream, but has a slight tint to it. The mushrooms are shades of brown with some reddish shades as well.

Preorder closes June 29th! See all the prints and order at https://www.zenithandquasar.com/product-category/preorder-r34-reprints/

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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 Nora Bolero

I really love Bolero style cardigans. I was excited when 5 out of 4 had a tester call for the Nora Bolero. I don't think I could have too many cardigans in my closet.

The Nora Bolero has two different options. There is lined (which can be made reversible) and unlined which is finished with a band. I made the unlined version.

This is the first one I made in testing. The pattern was changed very slightly from this version. I made this Nora Bolero with Purple Cactus Flower Tactel from Zenith & Quasar.

 Last year I made these Designer Stitch Shakti Pants in the Purple Cactus Flower Tactel and made several Sinclair Patterns Shelby Tunics that matched. Ever since I have wanted to make a matching bolero to wear over the Shelby Tunics since they are sleeveless to make them more work appropriate.

 When the final version of the Nora Bolero was released to the testers, I decided to use a bright blue rayon french terry that I bought at the Dallas Fabric District. It was only a yard, but that was all I needed for the Nora Bolero.

I paired this Nora Bolero with a Halla Patterns Agnes (this one is sleeveless).

I'm wearing the Style Arc Barb's Stretch Pants made with Pink stretch Twill from Simply by Ti.

Here's a view of the Nora Bolero from the back.

I wore my Nora Bolero with this top to work recently and got many compliments. It's very comfortable on, but I do find that it slides down my shoulders a bit over the course of the day.

The Nora Bolero goes together really quick. I do think I will try a rib knit for the bands when I make it again. I'm also thinking of making the lined version with elbow length sleeves. It has a different shape in the front that I think I would like on me better. Grab the Nora Bolero for $3.95 through April 21st! There's also a kids version. You can bundle both and save.

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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.

Nature's Fabrics Bamboo Spandex French Terry

Nature's Fabrics has to have the largest selection of Bamboo fabrics that I have ever seen. I recently got a sample of the Bamboo French Terry and I love it! I need a whole winter wardrobe made from it.

This is seriously the softest french terry I have ever felt.

I just love this green color, but I'm not positive which it might be. You can see all the colors available HERE. Nature's Fabrics has all their Bamboo fabrics on sale this week and they will also be on sale for Black Friday.

I had a hard time deciding what to make with the Bamboo French Terry because I had so many ideas! I wanted to make a cardigan or joggers, but had so many other ideas too.

Then my thoughts came to this top that I keep seeing advertised on Facebook by shops like Wish & Zulily.

So, I set off to make my own version using the Designer Stitch Gemma sewing pattern as my base.  The Gemma is a twist top that has two variations - twist front or twist back. I blogged about the Gemma Twist front a few months ago. You can read it HERE.

I used the Gemma Twist Back version to recreate my inspiration. I made a few slight modifications to make it wearable with the twist in the front. Before I cut my pattern out, I traced the back neckline of the twist front version onto the front piece of the twist back version. I then cut the neckline somewhere between the two as I thought I still might want to wear this top with the twist in the back one day.

The Gemma does not include long sleeves. These sleeves were some that I drafted - but it's super easy. You want to add the sleeves before sewing the side seams. Simply measure the distance of the end of the pattern sleeve, then measure roughly how long you want your sleeves. Then draw out the pattern piece using these measurements. Taper the rectangle to be slimmer at the wrist.

My sleeves could have been made a little slimmer and a little shorter. But I think I did a pretty good job copying my inspiration.

I somehow only managed to get one photo of the back.

Nature's Fabrics is have a huge Bamboo sale right now and will have another great sale on Black Friday. Shop now before things sell out, and go back for Black Friday for some extra savings.

If you haven't tried the bamboo french terry, please give it a try. You'll ever want any ordinary french terry again. https://www.naturesfabrics.com/

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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.

Designer Stitch Gemma Twist Tops

I love testing patterns for Ann Grose of Designer Stitch. Ann keeps us entertained and her patterns are always perfectly drafted. This time was especially fun for me as my friend Sharon also joined in on this test.

The newest pattern from Designer Stitch is Gemma. Gemma is a beautiful top that has two variations - each is equally beautiful. I only had time to test one variation, and that was the twist front.

Gemma is Italian for precious stone  - a gem or gemstone. This was stuck in my head as I pursued my shelves of fabric looking for the perfect fabric to make my Gemma with. So when I came across this jewel covered jersey, I knew I had to make a gem covered Gemma.

I'm wearing my Blue Tactel Shakti pants in these photos. The Shakti pants go perfectly with Gemma.

The Shakti Pants are also from Designer Stitch. You can read my blog post about them HERE. I absolutely love the 5 pairs I made and wear them non stop.

I removed 2" in length from the Gemma for my height. I think this length is perfect on me. If I made it longer, I worry that the knot would then land right under my belly and then accentuate it.

I really love that the neckline has a very gentle v-neck shape. It's also not daringly low, but also not too high either.

Ann asked us to give a sexy look to the camera. I decided to give the camera a smoldering gaze. I think I just look pissed off.

Either way, I do feel beautiful in my Gemma.

Sharon and I met up for photos. It was a lovely day, hot, but not unbearable.  I decided to switch out of Shakti pants and put on a pair of black RTW pants.

We of course talked about Ann and her asking us to be sexy. I asked Sharon if this was sexy enough?

And she laughed at me! Then we both had a good laugh and called it a day.

I just love Sharon's mustard Gemma. If you want to read her review of the Gemma, head over to her blog Sweet Mama Life.

The Gemma is on sale through September 3 for $8. Ann is in Australia, so in the US the sale ends sometime on September 2. You can buy the pattern HERE.

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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.

Designer Stitch Shakti Jersey Pants

Designer Stitch just released the pants of my dreams - the Shakti Jersey Pants. I want to live in knit pants. I've had a ton of gastrointestinal issues and can't wear any pants with a rigid waistband. My gastric issues also cause my waistline to increase by 7 inches - which means I need pants with knit waistbands that can accomodate those changes. The Shakti Jersey Pants have so many options and I've only made 1 so far.

I made the straight leg version. The Shakti Jersey Pants pattern also includes bell, side ruched, and drawstring leg variations. 

I made this pair using Atomic Blue Tactel from Zenith & Quasar.

 My top is the Sinclair Patterns Shelby Tunic and it's made with brushed nylon from Zenith & Quasar. I tucked it in for a few photos to show the pockets on the Shakti Jersey Pants.

This photos not only shows the pocket, but the contoured waistband. The Shakti Jersey Pants have 3 waistband options - standard (contoured), yoga, and side ruched.

 I love the Tactel from Zenith & Quasar and also made a pair of Shakti Jersey Pants in Spring Green.

The Spring Green is so bright and fun. I need to search my closet to find a few tops to wear with these or I'll be forced to make a few.

 And I made a pair of Shakti Jersey Pants in Enamel Blue Tactel! I love this color!

These happened to match my Itch to Stitch Nottingham top perfectly.

And another pocket shot. I did not put pockets on my Spring Green pair - as I only had one yard of it and not enough to do pockets.

I made a pair of Shakti Jersey Pants with red brushed nylon to match my Itch to Stitch Plitvice made with the same fabric.

 I also made 2 other pairs of Shakti Jersey Pants, but did not get photos of them. The summer heat here has been horrible. I took the above photos between 7 and 8 am on a Sunday and it was 85 degrees and humid. If you notice in many of the photos my face is flush and I'm soooo sweaty. So I did not get photos of all my pants I made.

The Shakti Jersey Pants are on sale for a limited time for $8.  This pattern has so many options, that you will never get tired of it. I 'm debating on making the side ruched or bell next.

 
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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.