No 8. Day dress

This is the day dress I did for the Tim Gunn Sewalong on Patternreview.com. He suggests a day dress and when I got this fabric from Gorgeous Fabrics I knew that’s what it had to be! I think this fabric really has a Tommy Bahama feel to it.

It was the Bernina My Label basic dress pattern but, of course, I had to change some things. I put pockets on the front because I always wished dresses had pockets! Hey, I made it so I can do whatever I want with it! I put the slits in the front as opposed to the one in the back and added a placket neckline. I finally mastered doing plackets so now I want to use them more often!

What is a Blazer anyway?

All blazers are jackets but not all jackets are blazers.... it's beginning to sound like Algebra.

According to Wikipedia

A jacket is a type of sleeved hip- or waist-length garment for the upper torso. A jacket is generally shorter, ending just below the waist, and often lighter. Some jackets are fashionable, while others serve as protective clothing.

Blazer, similar to but more casual than a suit jacket; single- or double-breasted of sturdy material, commonly with metal buttons.

I've even read definitions that include striped cloth school or club colors.

So the search for the Blazer....
When I think of a Blazer, I think of school blazers...like Thom Browne's collection for Brooks Brother's under the Black Fleece label.



The net-a-porter.com versions.....



Now to peruse my patterns for possible blazer candidates...



I'm thinking 7421 is my best bet, I'll just have to tweak the collar a little, and drop the neckline.

I had to look at what's available at the Vogue website and didn't find a lot, but I did find

McCalls 6172 - Palmer Pletsch jacket in three lengths, and that one on the right looks like a silhouette Stella McCartney has been showing in her spring collections.



Butterick 4610 - Looks like a nice pattern for a basic blazer you could do a lot with.

No. 10 Sweatsuit Alternative .... continued

Here are some simple (easy) patterns for summer skirts, which will also be my sweatsuit alternatives.... because casual clothes are always welcomed.

Vogue 1247 - Rachel Comey (pattern released March 2011) - cotton plaid blend - read more on my blog here.

Simplicity 2451 - View C - stretch denim - for a closer look.

No. 4 White Shirt

This my interpretation of the white shirt. I used the Bernina My Label tailored shirt pattern and using David Coffin’s book and DVD I flat felled the seams and did the placket the way he instructed. It’s much more professional than the one that came with the pattern. The fabric came from G Street Fabric and is a white on white stripe.

I could not resist using the embroidery on my Bernina Artista 165E to do a monogram on the cuff. When I originally got that machine I didn’t realize how much I would use the embroidery but it’s great for things like this.

No. 3 Classic Dress Pants

These are my completed black pants. I used the Bernina My Label flared pants but narrowed the leg. I also omitted the back pockets as I didn’t see any reason for them. The back is much smoother this way. I used a classic fly front and belt loops. The fabric was a black on black stripe silk suiting fabric I got in a Michael’s Fabric bundle a while back.

No. 2 Trench Coat - Vogue 1180

I really love this trench!!



More on the blog...

No. 5 - Jeans that make you look great

Vogue 1034 - Sandra Betzina... thank you.





Not as the designer intended but my version has no pockets (equals no bulk), added length, and a dark wash. These will be a nice basic under hip length tops, and very comfortable.