SisBoom Patrica Tunic

Bet you thought I wasn't going to finish this one, huh? The funniest part of these photos (to me) is that I combed my hair and slapped some tinted moisturizer and lipgloss on. All to just cut my head off anyway. I must have snapped 20 photos, and my head was chopped off in every. single. one.

(Oh well! It's summer. I'm not sweatin it! But trust me. I look good.)

I really love this tunic! I want another one (or three) pronto! Such a cute style! I was pleasantly surprised at the subtle shaping too. Not sack-like at all. In fact, its pretty darn flattering.

There are princess seams in front, but a single piece back. The pattern itself runs very true to measurements. I made the XL (16-18), based on my full bust/waist/hip. I didn't do an FBA, but I probably could have used a small one for more room through the bust. (Or I could have went up a size). It was a conscious decision to use the straight XL for a closer fit through the bust.

The instructions are excellent, and there were several little things that I had never done quite that way before. The front and back hem is completed before the side seams or side vents, but the side vent ARE pressed into place first. The vents are stitched after the side seams are sewn. It ended up being a very neat looking finish when it was all done.


The yokes are applied to the top like a facing, except on the outside. I love them!! Such a great opportunity to use my fun zebra print! You get to choose the front slit depth while making the top (there is no marking for the slit, so this is one of those times that if you're squeamish for not having a dot or marking, be prepared to just go with it!)


While we're looking at the back facing, check out that sleeve head on the right. The sleeves are set in flat, and you "walk" the seam, pinning as you go. When you get to the shoulder seam you stop and start again from the opposite edge, walking the sleeve & pinning until you meet up at the first set of pins. You end up with an excess of fabric (what you would typically "ease" in). Instead, you make a little inverted pleat. SO cute!


The sleeve fits very well too, nice and roomy. I made the Weekend Sewing tunic last summer, which I wear to DEATH, and the only thing that bugs me is that the bicep is a little snug on it. Not so with this one.

All in all a great tunic pattern. Great place to use those cottons you're not sure what to do with too. It's not so big and sack-ish that you'll feel boxy with a fun cotton print; there's plenty of shaping and fit opportunities with the princess seams.

Definitely a keeper!


I purchased my Patricia Tunic here. Just a reminder, it is a downloadable pattern with a printable booklet. You have to tape your pieces together, but it went together without a hitch and was easy to do while watching tv one night. Also, you don't have to print ALL the sizes. There's a key in the booklet (excellent, excellent instructions!) for printing off just the size you need. I wrote about Jen's patterns here, and I started the top here if you need a little more info!

built by me. again.

You might remember this cute Built By Wendy Simplicity pattern from last summer, I had good luck with it in a woven (although it's technically for a knit). Simplicity 3692:


I'm thinking another woven, something light and airy. I have lots of cotton prints in stash that would love to be used up (so I can buy more...uh, more on that in a minute.) I also have a striped knit that would like to be that nautical version.

I also want to make this one up again. You'll remember I just did reconstructive surgery on a top (adding sleeves) here. (Hmmm. I never did show you the finished product did I? Will have to get on that asap.) Simplicity 3835:


Both of these patterns remind me of my beloved Japanese craft books. If only I didn't have to do such major alterations to these patterns (i.e. grade WAY UP) to make them work! (The ONLY reason I haven't ordered Machiko Kayaki's newest book.) They're mainly for inspiration.

And about that need for new fabric...The more I sew up my stash, the more my stash begs to be replenished. I've been trying to stick to "sales" and ebay or etsy. All of these cute finds are winging their way to me as we speak...

Jessica Levitt Timber - Apple:


Adover Ohh La La Paris Market:


Bernatex Happy Trails Cowboys:


Heather Ross Equestrian:


Heather Ross Frog Pond:


Erin McMorris (Free Spirit) Go Bicycle:


I am SO in love with the little gray bicycle fabric!!! Oh ok, I'm in love with all of them! As usual I only have a very vague idea of what they'll end up being in garment form, but that's half the fun.

Guess I better finish that stack of UFOs and take some pictures before they all get here, huh?

ps...Weight loss update...I'm at the halfway mark! Woohoo! I don't know how that happened. I fully expected to be stalled this week (again) but no! I lost! Just in time too. I was maybe a tad discouraged the past couple of weeks, and this has pushed me back into the eating better groove.

have a great Monday everyone!

cheeky pj pants.

I say, if you're going to be home all summer in your pj pants anyway (i.e. NOT WORKING. NANNER NANNER.), they may as well be freakishly CUTE pj pants.


Am I right or am I right?

Pattern used: Simplicity 5074, my favorite drawstring/pull on pant pattern. It just fits, no tweaking.

Fabric: The previously mentioned Laura Ashley-esque blue rose print (which I've had in stash since Lu was a baby. Ahem.)

Too old for ruffly legged pants? Naaaahhhh. Besides, you can't be shy about things like a grown up woman in her 30s wearing floral print ruffly capri's. Go big or go home, I say. Besides, I love the swishy way they move when I do my rendition of Swan Lake across the backyard.



The ruffle is one layer so that it is lightweight with lots of movement, the edge turned under twice & topstitched for hem.


I added the drawstring waist using the elastic in back/drawstring in front method (with buttonholes in the front for the drawstrings to run through).


But the absolute best part? The cheeky little secret?? (You mean it gets better than Laura Ashley-esque floral and ruffles??) Yup. A polka dotted rickrack'ed back pocket.


It's like a little vintage apron on my bum.

Here's a closer view of the pocket, two dotty prints and vintage pink cotton rickrack.


No pattern used for the pocket piece. I just freehanded a rounded edge patch pocket, and widened it so I could gather it up nice and sweet at the top edge. The tiny binding is a strip of yellow dots from a jelly roll. Since it's a straight edge across the top of the pocket, no need to use actual bias!


And that's what Chris Pine & I did yesterday afternoon while catching up over Star Trek.

I really heart summer.

summer day 2.

New summer purse, via my local flea market:


(note how the yummy goldenrod color was throwing off the tint of the photo though...the bottom portion of the wall in that pictures is the more accurate wall color!)

Please tell me why even though I have two NEARLY finished UFO's, all I want to do is start something new? Maybe involving vintage feedsacks and scruffy old laces?


Or polka dots in blues and sunny yellow begging to be a pert little pocket on a new-but-thinks-it's-a-vintage-Laura Ashley-print??


Hmmm? Why does that happen?

Good thing I'm off tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that. And the day after that...and the, well, you get the picture.

OH! The cactus bloomed today...only happens once a year and I've been waiting for it! Oh, you weren't? Sorry. I took a picture for you anyway.

(Unusual choice for a farm dog, but we'll keep her.)


Now, I gotta run. I just popped the yummy Chris Pine in the dvd player. He & I have afternoon plans. We're cutting into that Not-Laura-Ashley print and thumbing our noses at the pile of UFOs. What? You wouldn't pair Star Trek, large rose print, and cheeky dotted pockets?

Well, I live on the edge.

Priscilla asks: "Have you stopped and smelled the flowers yet today?"

edwardian lover.

(And no, that's not someone who is Team Edward.)

It's ME! I love Edwardian...it may be my favorite clothing era (after the late 30's/early 40's obviously.)

I love beautiful things like this (which is actually a peachy-pink, and technically probably dates to the 30s anyway. Thus the mucho lovefest in my heart.) These photos are from vintagetextile.com, and I think both of these garments are currently available for purchase.


Yup, it's a nightgown. Look at the up-close details!


Wouldn't that be a great summery top?? All light and floaty and ethereal (because you KNOW I'm angelic. It's even part of my NAME. hee hee.)

This is gorgeous too, and probably dates closer to the correct period. You could do closures, or just a CF on the fold instead of an opening:


The next one is from this etsy seller, and image credit goes to that shop. Same beautiful lace detailing, same floaty and light feeling. Excellent (and easy to recreate!) summer top:

Can't picture this for current day clothing? White lacy, delicate tops have made an appearance in fashion the past few years, often paired with scruffy denim. Check out this anthropologie top from last summer (which I vow to recreate in the aqua colorway):




I even have robin's egg batiste and ecru laces in stash. But I really, really love the white too.

I'm out of school now. Finally!! So after my brain recovers from the endless packing/grading/planning/cleaning...I'll be refreshed and ready to roll on some summer sewing!