Perfect weather, low 70s and sunny, no humidity!

Not really conducive to sewing, but perfect for photography of finished projects.  I have two UFOs I brought to finish here in sunny Florida.

First up, is this copy of a French Terry Chicos skirt.  

I made it once before, but seem to have an endless supply of small bits of French terry.

So, since this skirt is comfy once my legs are tan (stay tuned for that), and works for dinner out, I decided to finish this UFO (rather than dump it at Goodwill with lots of other stuff today)

I love this Florida colour and it was relatively easy to sew.  Left my serger with this colour thread, too.

It has this neat, single slimming pocket and I faced the pocket with a Kaffe Fassett cotton print I've had forever.

Made this Dakota print up, to go with,

in my fav Style Arc short sleeve tshirt, Creative Cate.  Won't I look sharp at Five Guys!

Don't faint-I'm back in rainy Florida!

Made this Style Arc shirt right before we left, as the pattern came in the mail and I couldn't wait to try it out on some double gauze fabric I ordered from Harts fabrics in Santa Cruz, Ca

As you can see, the winter sun was way down in the sky as I photographed the finished shirt

The pattern has an optional button and loop on the asymmetrical long side to give it a little drape.  Double gauze barely drapes, I found.

But, the fabric is so soft after laundering and I like the pattern enough to make it again.

The back has buttons down a placket, too.  I extended the front into a button all the way down placket, since I had enough buttons in my stash to make this work.

I'm finally getting into this tunic look on my little, short frame.  Sure is comfortable to wear.

Marcy Tilton's newest dress pattern, V9081

This pattern has a nice, casual vibe, even though it's a dress, so I made a muslin while in Fl (hence the wild colors of fabric)

Then, I caught Marcys blog post of the version she made to wear in Pullyallup.  It reminded me of some houndstooth and striped knits I'd been collecting. Much more subtle colors, but fitting for our late Wi spring.

I liked making the dress, sort of like fitting together puzzle pieces.  And, it's great with boots now and regular shoes later.

Think I'll rebuy the pattern at vogues next sale and scale the fit down a bit.  But, a great travel dress for now, and my post frigid winter welter weight. . . Come on biking weather!!!

Some progress has been made. . .

I've never stitched a complete garment by hand, but this was absolutely satisfying.  I made the "muslin" for the crafty class for Alabama Chanin in navy, as suggested.  It fits beautifully, so I cut out my  A. Chanin organic cottons.  my "muslin" matches my beaded skirt ( see former post),  so am eager to have a jacket to go with. . . .

   I finally found embroidery floss, after three tries (thank you, Jo Ann, for the returns). #926  DMC

Then, my Jo Ann's in Florida did not have Jacquard paints, so I kept trying to mix paints. . . Cutting out the stencil from the course, in the meantime.

Finding myself back in winter tundra land, ie WI, I looked through my repertoire of Jacquard paints and went a whole 'nother route from turquoise, namely indigo. . . 

I am so happy with this choice.  Now to "marry" my two layers and start the hand embroidery. . . . 

Trust me, I plan to live long enough to finish this project ( but wish me luck)

and it begins. . . Fl bound with a project in mind. . .

I really got into Craftsy when they first began, and purchased Natalie chanin's course, because I loved all three of her books.  And, when I first retired, before cataracts, made three garments, culminating in this uber piece (which I seldom wear from fear of bead thread failure) 

This made from her skirt pattern, details below.

Muted Japanese Ragu bugle beads, from the sadly demised Turtle Beads in Baraboo, WI.

So, my current project is from Alabama chanin's organic cotton (above project is from fabric.com organic cotton). The latter is thinner and more appropriate for the skirt project.  The new fabric will make a better jacket from the great Vogue DKNY pattern from the Craftsy class.

The new fabric arrived yesterday in this nifty packaging:

 I started over on the Craftsy class (they let you do that!).   

My color choice is denim and dusk. . . .wish me luck. . . .

homage to our new yoga instructor

Alexsa, at Pinnacle, is so wonderful, that her class and a chocolate croissant from Batch bakery on Willy street totally rock my Sunday morning.

So, I had to make a new set of yoga threads, to go with the new teacher situation.  (Lu, we miss you wherever you are)

The first new garment was a racer back yoga top.  I used a copy of a Marika brand one, my fav yoga top of all times.  The fabric is from Marcy Tilton, fairly recently, so it might still be available (it's rayon and cotton and Lycra and I bought it in navy blue as well.)

My tshirt coverup is from the same fabric and is made with this S. Betzina tshirt pattern, that I love.   I made it a tad longer for all those down dog positions. . . 

namista

And, whomever said that Epic hasn't brought wonderful, new, multitalented people to Madison?  Eh!   

December rain. . .

What to do?   Make a raincoat, and don't forget the hat.

Used Marcy's V8934 pattern in a medium (I'd normally cut a Large), but added in the hips and down for fit assurance.  

Ordered a great SF designer's expreso brown pleated raincoat fabric from MarcyTilton.com.  The sewing was quick and easy.  Great instructions.  Used View A technique of bias binding for hem, as that's what's my other great ready to wear raincoats from SF did.  But, for the most part, made View B, without the lining.  Buttons were expensive but not good looking, so view b's hidden placket did the job.

Then, I decided I liked the results so much, I should add a hat.  Used Amy Butler's Blue sky hat pattern, cutting about 1 1/2 inches off the outer edge of the brim.  Marcy sent me another yard of the yummy expreso raincoat fabric fast, fast, fast ( guess she recognised fabric emergency in my voice.  HA)

The results deserve to go somewhere other than the mailbox, right?