Wardrobe Planning - week 2

Thank-you so much for your comments about my first week of wardrobe planning - I have to say that I recommend it to you all . . . wardrobe planning that is!  I found that my mornings ran a lot more smoothly and that I had a everything that I needed.  So here I am again this week, with my next selection.  I am also showing that jewelry that I have selected as I am trying to use more variety there as well.  So here we go - week two (which is a four day week due to Easter Monday) including the accompanying bling!!

White, cotton Sorbetto top - the fabric is the leftover from one of the dresses that I made for Miss Sharon.  The gored skirt is lined. and black with tiny white dots and the cardi is my purple rayon Burda.  It is going to be warm tomorrow so I will start my week here.

My bling consists of amethyst earrings from a little country shop that I try and call in on when I visit Red Deer each month.  The earrings are made locally and I met the designer when I was in there last.  I always feel good buying locally made goods - especially when I have also met the artisan, it makes them more special.  The net bracelet is one I made many moons ago - I wish I could find the pattern as I have some more beads shouting to be made into jewelry!  These seeds beads have a purple/green iridescence and match the earrings better than this photo gives credit!

Yep, another Sorbetto - this is a natural colored linen and I will wear it with these grey pants and brick cardi.  I like to wear scarves - I tend to wear them rather than necklaces, and this one with the fringe works well.

The bling will be kept simple - Swarovski crystal earrings and a braclet that I made with a kit from my local bead shop.  The bracelet was supposed to be elasticated - but I think that looks rather cheap on me.  Instead, I used beading wire and added a simple clasp and I am very pleased with the look.

You may need to take a seat here as my top is a RTW stretch cotton poplin that is probably a couple of years old now.  I will wear it with the blue franken cardi and my lined houndstooth pants - we are expecting quite a bit of rain this week and a drop in temperatures, so I think that this will work well.

My earrings are from the same Red Deer shop as the purple amethyst earrings above, and the bracelet is one of my Mum's that I came across after unpacking some boxes that have been sealed up since she passed away in 2009.  I don't think that she ever got to wear this, so I am happy to be able to get some use out of it - it is surprising light and dainty.  The earrings are some kind of blue ceramic/glaze and I love wearing them!

And finally;

One more skirt combo to see me through the week - I made the lining a little long and the lace edging peeks out at the bottom - I was going to alter it, but I rather like the look!  I will wear it with a natural colored linen shirt and a pink cardi.  My scarf has some lovely splashes of turquoise in it - hence my earring selection!

Sadly, these are not real turquoise, I can't remember what the stones are, but they are frequently dyed to look like turquoise - and that works for me!  Worn with a simple silver bracelet - that will see me through the week.  This selection has made me realise that I need to make some more tops out of stretch cotton poplin (I have one or two Sorbetto's, but a shirt or two would not go amiss) and I should really get round to sewing up the two black cardis that I have cut out.

Phew - it takes me longer to write the post than it does to make my outfit selections!!

TNT Houndstooth Pants

My TNT pants pattern (based upon McCalls 5239), is probably the hardest working pattern is my arsenal!  I picked up some lovely brown/black houndstooth fabric (rayon/poly) in the sales and made up a lined pair for work. 

The houndstooth is so tiny, the fabric looks more like a tweedy brown.
 

I will probably wear them with this cardigan - smart enough for work!

My heels were sinking into the carpet . . . . !

The trousers are lined with some mid-grey Bemberg.  I like my linings to hang loose, and it makes them feel very luxurious!

What are your most popular TNT's?

24 Hours Earlier

Have you noticed the proliferation in TV shows (Criminal Minds, CSI, NCIS etc) where the opening scene is one of shock/horror/devastation, often with one of the main characters apparently dead/seriously injured.  Then cut to the next scene, and a comment on screen saying something like '6 hours earlier' and you know that the show is now going to tell you what happened, leading up to the events in the opening scene.  Well, whilst this drives Mr. SDSC nuts, I find it quite funny, and found myself in that position earlier this week.  It is more of a headslap than an OMG scene, but nonetheless . . . . .

Opening Scene:

I have been busy working on a fitted skirt, using a pattern I first used here.  I'm not sure what pattern it came from, but it had four darts in the front (two per side) and four in the back (again, two per side).  It is a straightforward pattern, centre back seam with an invisible zip.  The fabric is a houndstooth that I bought from Fabricland and it had been reduced by 70%.  Whoop, whoop!!!

I was really pleased with the waistband finish - I used a 3" strip of fabric and applied it like bias binding along the top of the waist, handsewing the inside as I love hand sewing, and forming a small tab at one end for a button.  I intended to make the tab a bit longer, but got a bit scissor happy and cut it rather short!!

I thought long and hard about how to close the waistband - hooks and eyes, trouser closure, button etc?  I was concerned that any closure would pull on the fabric, and I did not use interfacing/grosgrain on the waistband, so that was another consideration.  I considered using a button and buttonhole, but really was not inspired about that - and then I remembered a tip that I had read somewhere (if you are reading this, please let me know so that I can give you credit!!  Edit - here is the link!) and I dug out one of those elastic thingys used for pony tails.  As you can see - I would not have use for them (hey, I like my short hair!), but I had read about using them as closures on small clutch handbags.  And what is good for a bag is good for a waistband!  And of course it gives you a little 'give' that is most welcome!  The button I found in my collection, and although it is plastic, it is rather fun.  I also added a plain button for the inside, just for a bit more strength. 

So what does it look like?

I am wearing a RTW cardi and t-shirt.  Incidentally, I have a 'spot' somewhere on my camera (I have cleaned the lens but I just can't get rid of the mark) and you can see it on the photos, the one above, it is slightly up and left of centre.  Grrr!

I love this skirt - it took less than 1 metre, and is the type that my Mum used to make all the time.  I have about 10 lengths of tartan that she never had a chance to use - so I will be making some more of these!  I made this shorter than the previous one, and did not add a vent.  Although it is not really needed to walk, I think that is why I have wrinkling near the bottom of the centre back seam - I have worn this to work once this week, so this is how it looked at the end of the day!  I will add a vent or a godet next time round.

I had to take out two of the darts in the front, as my waist:hip ratio is pretty close to 1:1, as well as generous 1" side seams to get this fit which I am rather please with.

I really like the look with a white top and cardi, and have some cotton jersey to make my own so I do not need RTW.  Watch this space!

24 hours earlier:

I love catching up on blogs, sitting down and reading a few days worth of sewing, sewing, sewing.  Love it!  Sometimes I am inspired, sometimes I learn something, and sometimes I read a blog, like this entry by Goodbye Valentine about autumnal fabric such as houndstooth . . . 'This time each year I get the craving for a houndstooth something. I’ve bought it all throughout the years, but never tire of the crisp design' . . . . . and think 'Ha!', I would never go out and buy houndstooth fabric when I already have some in the stash waiting to be made up . . . . . .

Screen fades to the writer, standing in Fabricland making her subconscious purchase and producing the skirt above . . . . . the End.

o-O-o

Sheesh, who would have thought that I have other bloggers inside my head!  Thank-you Sarah for the great post, that I read and consequently forgot, until I finished the skirt!!!