My fabric pile and patterns to sew this fall is stacked very high and seems to be growing!
This past week, I went to work on this lovely Mood Fabrics' Cranberry and Blue Wool Brocade which is a wonderful brocade and fabulous to work with. I think either side of the fabric would work for a garment, this side in picture shows more cranberry, I used the other side which shows more blue.
and had every intention of sewing it up into a blazer, Simplicity 2250 to be exact.
Well, I am not sure what I did but after setting in the sleeves I tried on this jacket and I could not move my arms. It was a wonder I could get the jacket off! I am not sure what I did wrong but the jacket does fit I have made it twice before.
The fabric is just so wonderful and I had plans for the rest of the yardage I had left, so no sleeve re-do was in the plans. Instead I did some searching on Pinterest and decided a sleeveless blazer would be fine (I know it is a vest). The only think I wasn't sure was this pattern doesn't have lapels but it was worth a shot.
I took off the sleeves, deepened the armhole and bound the armholes with bias binding, which is how the entire outer edge of the jacket is finished.
I am still debating if I love the look, I need to spend some time thinking about the styling.
Let's see
- tighten the belt
- overlap the fronts
- longer necklace
- blouse or t-shirt?
- white shirt or stay with navy or denim?
What are your thoughts on this look? Can you help me look more "put together" Is it a piece I should keep?
I did not line this but finished the seams with a Hong Kong seam finish
Now to see what I did with the rest of the yardage and one more garment, head over to Mood Sewing Network, it is something I really like.
Note - the post at Mood Sewing Network will be up mid-morning.
Play dress up in your closet. Try a wider belt. Try a belt of a completely different color (maybe metallic). Blouse? Fabulous fix and the color is divine.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I bought a wider belt on Monday. Thanks for the encouragement.
DeleteYou can make it work. Wear it over a denim shirt.
ReplyDeleteLayer it over a gray tee, overlap the fronts and add a chunky belt…you are tall enough to pull it off. And wear it with a midi length skirt. Long chunky necklace
Layer it over a long sleeved long tunic tee and wear it with some skinny jeans or leggings and booties. Again, Long chains or necklace.
I think it could be cute over a dark colored floral floaty tunic with leggings.
Worn open over over a striped tee or a graphic print tee. Something unexpected.
Thanks, Lynne for all the fashion advice. I will try several of those looks.
DeleteAll of the above! Way to go! Remove those sleeves and keep it moving. That fabric looks gorgeous. I think you did great with the styling....seriously I wouldn't change a thing. Cute skirt too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, the fabric was too pretty to just let a jacket sit in the closet. I think I will wear this vest throughout the winter. I would like to find a navy knit dress (or make one) that would look good with the vest.
DeleteOh! I'm working my way backwards through my blog roll, and I hadn't seen this post before commenting over at MSN. I think you've styled the sleeveless blazer quite nicely. I really like the color on you, so I hope you can find a way to wear this out!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amy.
DeleteThis is cute with the belt and jeans!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Levone.
DeleteWhat pretty fabric! I'm sorry the sleeves didn't work out, but I do like the sleeveless blazer/vest. About the styling - I like the way you've styled it here and I agree with everything Lynneb wrote (I think I may need her to style me too). Your garden looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shar, I wish Lynne was my neighbor, I would head to her house every morning and say - "fix me"! LOl. The garden is staying pretty this fall, nice rains to help it look good.
DeleteLove the fabric and so enjoy your garden!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Coco, I do love my flowers.
DeleteI looked at the swatch over at Mood; it is really lovely. I wish I could hold it in my hand. Okay, I wish I had a few yards of it to make one or two things from it. I am a vest lover. I live in western New York, where we have real winter, so learning how to dress for the season is really important. And keeping the body's core warm makes a huge difference. I can wear a turtleneck and a vest and I am just as warm as when I add a bulky sweater. Okay, with that out of the way... I really like the vest; I'm not sure about any belt. Perhaps a clasp (like the ones on those Icelandic sweaters? KWIM?) to hold the two sides together at the center front waist area? Something like the ones toward the bottom of this page:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.schoolhousepress.com/buttons.htm
Is there enough fabric left to make a patch pocket or two? I am also a pocket lover. :) Just saying how I might add to it a bit. Or leave it just as is. Follow your heart!
Thanks, Sandra for all the ideas, I will check into the clasp. I also thought of a brooch to hold it closed. You are right, vests add warmth. Thanks again.
DeleteI am also catching up on old posts. And, interesting to me, I don't agree with everybody! I do agree that this is an excellent addition to your wardrobe. If it were in my closet, it would get more use as a vest than it would as a jacket. I think, however, that the dark blue underneath the vest makes the whole look too dark. But I see that others think it's perfect. I also like the belt and very fitted jeans a lot for lucks and high usability. I'd wear a light colored blouse/shirt or tee underneath. Maybe a very light gray another responder mentioned? But I'd probably wear something in white or even possibly super pale pink (if it worked). Alsoooo.... what about that Robert Kaufman lilac gingham shirt you made? It would either look super odd or absolutely great. Something you just have to try out. That's on my mind because I bought that same gingham when you made that shirt, and I have a nice shirt halfway sewn (from another pattern you once sewed!). I tried to finish that shirt before classes started, but didn't make it. And now I'm hard at work on drafting my jeans pattern, which is taking forever. I'm learning a lot about fitting myself however. (Learning I'm glad there are commercial patterns out there that is!)
ReplyDelete"looks" I mean, not "lucks"!
Delete