Sewing Vortex

Figuring out your color season is a thing this year in my Get Your Pretty On style group. The 2021 Annual Membership came with some resources to explore what my personal Color Season might be. As I worked through the materials, I  struggled with Bright Winter vs Bright Spring. So, the next day, I spent my coffee time considering my color analysis and photos taken of myself in this last year. (Even though I haven't blogged in the last two years, I'm still sewing, testing and sharing regularly in my FB groups.) I have come to the conclusion that I am a Bright Spring, but that I can pull a bit from Bright Winter, depending on the color/combination. I never thought that I had a warm skin tone, I feel pale and pink. But the evidence is below and it appears that I usually look better in a warmer, brighter color! Go figure! My Style Of Draping: SELFIES! These seem to be my best colors. Bright and saturated, neither too dark nor too light. Left: modified Uvita, Balboa skirt both from I...

I call this hairstyle: Sea Salt Spray Failure.  I do not look beachy-fresh.  I look slightly frazzled.  Fortunately, my new top is fabulous! This is the Sienna Drawstring Knit Doloman Top from Sinclair Patterns . The Sienna was free for about a month or so with a code in the Sinclair Patterns FB group, and naturally, I snatched it up.  Pattern Details   Sienna is a casual top with cut-on doloman sleeves in 2 lengths: Short like mine, or 3/4. It also features a banded neckline, cuffs and some crazy fun side tie rouching.  This pattern has been getting tons of love in the Sinclair FB Group, and there was a video sew along for it recently as well. I won't reinvent the wheel here; you can pop into the Sinclair Sew Alongs Group and find the videos by searching #SewSienna.  Along my journey to fine-tune my self fitting skills, I've discovered that I have a small shoulder joint and that I often benefit from shortening tops betwe...

I'm starting to have doubts that we are going to have a true fall this year in Michigan. Though we are halfway through October, we are still having 70 degree days pretty frequently. While it's annoying that I'm forced into short sleeves and sandals when I really want to wear boots and tights, I know this can't last forever... Winter IS Coming, and I intend to keep sewing cool/cold weather goodness! I have a new pattern to share today: Alexis Hoodie Dress by Sinclair Patterns . The Pattern The Alexis Hoodie Dress from Sinclair Patterns is based on that classic hoodie style we all reach for when it's cold, but depending on the fabric and fit you sew, you can create a mid-thigh dress to wear with tights and boots, or a structured tunic to wear with jeans and leggings. Design Features - Lined hood with wide band -Elbow length or optional layer-look long sleeves -Mid-thigh hem length -Large "kangaroo pouch" pocket -Gentle bell shape w...

I'm back for the 2017 Sew Long Summer Blog Tour, Hosted by Mahlica Designs ! Cross your fingers that I don't accidentally delete this post right before publishing like last year... I didn't leave myself any rewrite room this time. It's no secret that fall is my favorite season. Boots, tights, wool and cool weather, what's not to love? The Pattern A shift dress is an iconic thing that never really goes out of style. I've wanted to add this classic shape to my closet for a long time, but I've always feared that the loosely fitting waist wouldn't flatter me. In August, Oxana Sinclair of Sinclair Patterns invited me to test her newest creation: Reese Shift Dress and I just couldn't resist. When I received the printable files, I was absolutely delighted to discover the dress was being offered in both a standard draft AND a petite draft for the entire size range! Design Features -Jewel Neckline -Sleeveless -Invisible zipper closur...