Last blog of the winter season

Only a short time until us snowbirds begin our migration from southern Florida to Madison, WI.  I can hardly wait, as it's warmer now there.  I should be cleaning out the refrigerator, but . . . Here's a beauty shot from our yard, a Walmart plant, no less.

So, this post's fabric goes way back to Christmas season before last when Lou gave me this gorgeous hand dyed silk chiffon at the Gayfeather annual fabric swap.

I had almost three yards and couldn't decide what to make out of it.  Then Style Arc published these two patterns made to be worn together.

I used the two patterns pretty much as is, but put the sleeve in a short version into the chiffon tabard piece, allowing a little on the sides of the pattern piece meant for knits. Have yet to gather it with the button and loop as I'm not sure if it will look like I caught it in my underwear, or not.  Here's the underdress in a thin rayon knit from Michael Levine.

And here's a couple of shots of the tabard.

One little pattern, B6328,

But lots of fun things in the making from it.  

Here's view D in a stash lace I plan to wear with jeans.  The pattern picture above has the faille I found for the armhole binding. 

Got this idea from a RTW vest in cotton lace I bought last fall in CA.  It was so hot in Orange County, the lace vest was a perfect, cooler third piece over many of my travel outfits.

I had to hack off four inches on the hem for my petite almost frame, but otherwise, the pattern works!

Finishing up the hand hemming on this View C stunner from Marcy Tilton stretch cotton.  I try to resist ordering, but I can't!  This one I'll wear home, for sure.

Ok, it's more tshirts, but indulge me, here. It's my birthday!

And, here I am on my way to my birthday crab cake in Stuart.  Skirt is a Chicos copy in French terry.

Tshirt fabric is from Harts Fabric in Santa Cruz and is 100% delightfully soft cotton.  I copied a J. Jill shark bite t.  This picture shows the the full "bite". Thank you, Sheila, my faithful assistant.

So, I was trying to think how I could not bore you with yet another tshirt post.  They are my fav. Thing to wear and get old, so I do make a lot of them.

Anyway, the one new thing about tshirt construction I learned this year (never too old,  etc.) was to use Steam a Seam II in the hems.  Again, my sewing guru, Sandra Betzina taught me this, recently.  It is an incredible product but don't be fooled by look a likes, like this Pellon product That was all Jo Anns carried in PSLucie, FL, where we winter and in spite of its cover ad, this is a sticky, guncky product.

You can order the genuine article from Jo Anns website .  Order before you need it, as they are very slow shippers.  But, it beats standing in line forever at the store for sure.  They have free shipping ever once in a while, too.

One more completed t.  This is a Fresh Produce fabric from Fabric Fairy.  The Fairy actually emailed me and said they had a bunch of these cottons just in.  Love their prints.  Pattern is my Wild Palms copy.  Matching flowers was a challenge, for sure.

Another adventure in teal

joAnns stretch Denim made with Jalie fav. jeans pattern.  

Then, I noticed this wild print from Gayfeathers Madison, Wi. matched the jeans. 

  Made up Burda 6878 in the rayon woven.  

Almost wish I hadn't gotten rid of all my rayon years and years ago.  I usually find the fabric way too fiddley and difficult.  But, this great fitting Princess seamed top was easy to sew and so delightful to wear,  I wore it on the plane to OKCity to see my 91 yr old Dad.  Not pajamas, like some, but very comfortable.

Even found this great Luck scarf t so go with me