Tag: Garments

Pretty Potent Portrait Dress

~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ Leave a comment
Here’s yet another project using some of the fabric I purchased at #craftsouth last September.
The body of the dress is “Pretty Potent” rayon by Anna Maria Horner
and the linen yoke fabric was also purchased during my #craftsouth trip.
The dress pattern is Anna Maria Horner Painted Portrait Blouse and Dress.
What a great pattern!
This one is by far my favorite garment pattern in quite some time.
I sewed the size medium without any alterations at it fits beautifully.
I love how the side panels taper down each side of the back yoke.
It makes for a flattering silhouette.
The dress closure is a button and a hand-sewn loop.
So easy, so clean, so effective.
The armhole openings are finished with bias tape, which I made from cotton.
To add the machine embroidery, I scanned one of Anna Maria Horner’s designs
(from the Fields Aflutter hand embroidery collection) into my Bernina embroidery software.
Then I sized and digitized it to coordinate with the dress.
Stitching the design out on the linen before cutting the pattern piece eliminates the fussiness of
centering the design on a small piece of fabric after the pattern piece has been cut.
Have a most pleasant week, my friends, and stitch up something pretty potent.
I love to hear from you, so please leave me a comment or send me an email.

It’s a Wrap!

~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ Leave a comment
Not sure what the ‘scrunchy’ face is for!
The Colette Patterns Osaka skirt from the March issue of 
Seamwork is a quick and simple reversible wrap skirt
that takes only a couple hours to sew.
Definitely use light to mid weight fabrics for this one
as there is a lot of bulk where the seams join.
I clipped the seams and pressed them in opposing directions where they all intersect.
That helped reduce the bulk.

The lightweight denim print by Gretchen Hirsch
and the lightweight wool suiting from my friend, Linda,
paired nicely for this year-round skirt.
I can wear it with tights (as shown here) in cool weather or
with strappy sandals or flats when the weather is warmer.

There is a button closure at the top of the skirt,
and a snap midway down, where the different fabrics meet.
Those two closures are enough to keep the opening secure.
From this side angle, you get an idea of how the wrap stays closed.

Skirt:  Osaka by Colette Patterns – Jacket:  Simplicity 2728
For the reverse side of the skirt, I used another denim print by Gretchen Hirsch
and another wool suiting from my friend Linda, this time in fuchsia pink.
If you are not familiar with Seamwork, I recommend it as a terrific
source of monthly sewing instruction and inspiration.
Check it out on the Colette Patterns website.

Skirt and Cape Combo

~ Pamela Klingensmith ~ Leave a comment
Cape:  Liesl & Co. Woodland Stroll Cape   Skirt:  Simplicity 2475
First off, my apologies because this fabric does not play nice with the camera.
It is a beautiful green wool plaid from the Pendleton stash gifted to me from my friend Linda.
Second, my apologies for the skirt wrinkles, but I did just return from church service,
and well, this is real life and sometimes life gets wrinkled!!!

The pocket flaps are edged with purchased green bias tape.
I’ve sewn the Simplicity 2475 pattern a couple of times,
but this is the first time I’ve tried the Woodland Cape pattern.

 The pattern is quick to sew, fits true to size with no alterations,
and is extremely comfortable to wear.
I have big plans for this one in the fall.
I’ve already purchased the fabric and plan to sew it up in August or September.
I will post an in-depth review at that time, so stay tuned!

Until we next cross paths again, my friends, keep sewing.