Ideas for Labeling Your Handmade Garments

When I was little, my mom used to make a lot of my clothes. She had bought these cute labels with my name on them (and a second set for my brother) that she used to affix on the inside of all of our garments, handmade or not. I think they were mostly for the purpose of helping us recover our clothes when we inevitably left them somewhere. I know I did that a lot.

As an adult, I don't attach labels to everything I make. Cute finishing details aren't my strong suit and, generally, they don't seem necessary to me. However, there are a few instances when I've been in need of a tag. For one, there are those shirts where it's hard to tell the back from the front. My favorite Mandy Boat Tee (I'm wearing it as I type) is one example - I always have to hold it up at the shoulder seams and compare the neckline to determine the back from the front. My bridesmaid dresses this summer were another occasion for a tag. I knew that five dresses would get all mixed up if I didn't somehow identify whose was whose! While they were nearly identical, they were drafted to suit each bridesmaid so it was important to keep them straight. Finally, on the occasion that I do sew for others, it's nice to have something to leave my mark.

So, today I'm sharing a few ideas I've used to label my handmade garments:

-

Garment Tag Idea #1: Lettered Beads

For times when just a single initial will do and you're feeling a little fancy, I love the idea of using lettered beads as the tag. This worked perfectly on my bridesmaid dresses using antique-style silver-plated pewter round alphabet charms. I got mine on Artbeads.com, which sells the beads individually at an affordable price - perfect for buying different letters for different bridesmaids. I also just ordered a pack of Ms for myself from Amazon, which is cheaper in bulk if you just want one letter. 

-

Garment Tag Idea #2: Custom Labels

Just like my mom did, there are a number of options for designing and ordering your own custom garment tags. This year, the Dutch Label shop let me try out their service for free and they have a range of options from Basic Woven Labels where you choose your font and a graphic, to fully customized Woven Labels that you can completely design yourself. They also offer Care Labels, Hang Tags, and Stock Labels for those looking to go into business. This is definitely a great option for professional, customized garment tags. I love that you can get them printed to say whatever you want, from "Made with Love" to "Made with Blood, Sweat and Tears!" Ha!

I was really impressed with their customer service and range of options. I even got a personal email with a proof and suggestions for the right size tag for my design. If you want to try out the Dutch Label Shop, use code madebymeg15 for 15% off. I already used the code to order my mom some!

-

Garment Tag Idea #3: Scrap Materials

Not all labels have to have lettering. If you're just trying to tell the back of your garment from the front, what about using a ribbon, piece of leather, button, or other material as a marker? I've even sewn some decorative stitches in contrasting thread on the back of my neckband before folding it under. A great example is this waistband patch for jeans, which Thread Theory sells for just $2. 

If you have other ideas, I'd love to hear them below! Or maybe you're just not a labels person? 

Work Wardrobe Plans

After neglecting the rest of my wardrobe for the past eight months to sew my wedding dress, I was itching to sew up some simple, easy pieces for work. I started a new job at the beginning of this year that's mostly remote, so I needed some casual, comfortable pieces to make getting dressed in the morning more fun.

Before I could get started, though, I needed to organize my thoughts and match things up with what's in my stash. I had seen a lot of people sketching things online, so one night I sat down and had fun working up a croquis and tracing my ideas on top. Here's what's up next in my sewing queue:

Reversible Dress: My mom gave me this beautiful plaid double gauze that's sat on my shelf for a while now. At first, I wasn't feeling the plaid, but one day I turned it over and realized the other side was a beautiful blue and white stripe. I was going to feature that fabric but then I thought, why not make something reversible? Figuring out the back zip and the seam finishes will be the most challenging part of this simple dress

Style Arc Madeleine: I love the shaping of this Style Arc Ponte Top, which gives a bit of interest to an otherwise simple shirt. I would love to tuck it under a blazer for a work meeting or wear it as-is on a warm day. I may also make one up in white.

Style Arc Dimity: This idea started with the fabric, and I've been trying to find something interesting to do with it. I like that this Style Arc Top, which is a simple boxy tee but with some interesting neck gathers. Made up in a stable knit, I think it will be comfy and easy to wear.

Ruffle Top: I was wearing a loose-fitting white t-shirt the other day and wondering why I didn't have more. To dress it up a little, I'm going to try the sleeve ruffles trend. I'll make it up in a free fabric I got at a swap in case I don't end up liking it.

Pants: Finally, I bought loads of stretch bottom-weight fabric at Stone Mountain and really need some more pants in my wardrobe. I'm going to start with these blue ones. With the right details, they should work equally well in a client meeting as hopping on my bike to ride to the office.


Oh and I almost forgot! I also have plans to sew up the SBCC Rickey Blazer in a navy fabric in my stash. Even though the pattern is drafted for petites, I love the collar and shape so much I'll un-petite it just so I can sew it up.

Actually that reminds me, I've also ordered the Victory Patterns Ulysses Trench to pair with a wool I have in stash. I was really inspired by this coat and am determined to use the trench pattern for a similar effect. I won't sew this one up though until after the fall though, when we usually have our warmest weather lasting through early November. And of course since writing the first part of this paragraph, I have also purchased another coat fabric on sale at Stonemountain and Daughter.

Ok, well I think that's plenty to keep me busy for quite some time! Do you have any cool patterns or ideas you're working on?

Fall Sewing Plans

Packing up my closet at the beginning of this summer (we rented our place out while we were gone), I had a bit of a clothing crisis. I realized I really could do without the majority of my wardrobe. Next month when we head back, I'm seriously rethinking if I will put everything back or just pare down and start over.

Of course, there are some things I miss (especially my pants!), but a lot of the tops I have are disintegrating or ugly or just not fitting right. There are a lot of wearable muslins in there (hello four versions of the Granville shirt!) and some tops made from poor quality fabric that don't look that great after a few washes. Plus some things I've picked up at clothing swaps that were more experimental than permanent.

So I've spent this summer dreaming about some new things to add to my wardrobe. I'm giving button down shirts for work a bit of a break and focusing instead on knits to go with my Lazo trousers. I'm also hoping to make some shirts (and dresses!) that are more suitable for fun, and will feel special when I pull them out on a Friday night. Here are some things that have been on my mind:

First Row: 

• Simplicity 8425 - I snapped a pic of a woman wearing a dress like this in Amsterdam - a deep V with a choker collar. Then I promptly saw several other women in the same thing. I think it's a fun take on the choker trend and a little bit sexy with that low neckline. 
• McCall's 7429 - I have been missing a slim fitting jersey dress in my wardrobe, and I love the knot detail on this one. Burda might have a variation of this, too. 
• Vogue 1126 - When I went shopping last month, I wanted a feminine, floral wrap dress. It's not a wrap dress, but I might pull this pattern out of my stash and see how I feel about the ruffle. 
• New Look 6488 - I have resisted the sleeve/cold shoulder/whatever-you-want-to-call-it trend long enough. I am in love with this dress and very much wish I had it right now. 

Second Row:

• Loose-fitting collared shirt - I've had some lace-ish fabric in my stash for quite some time now and I think I've finally figured out what to do with it. I will probably modify some existing pattern I have for this. 
• TNT Top Pattern - I still need some basic knit tops for work, and a boatneck would be just dandy. 
• TNT Pants Pattern - These tartan trousers from the Tessuti blog have me drooling. 

Bottom Row: 

• BurdaStyle Blouse 3/2012 - I've been meaning to try this one out from my stash, and I have a scrap of silk that might work in a sleeveless style.
• TBD Cape Top - I have been obsessed with this cape style shirt from Victoria Beckham for ages and think I may be finally close to figuring out how to draft my own.
• DP Studio LE 600 - Another top idea I've been obsessed with, and finally found the right pattern for. It's a top that looks like it has an origami tie folded in! Too on the nose for a work place? We'll see. 

As I was dreaming up this post, I realized I had written another inspiration post from a fabric haul a while back. I wondered if I had even made anything from it, and actually surprised myself to discover that I had sewn up 3 of the 7, cut a 4th one out, and used the fabric from the 5th thing to make something else. Pretty good! Three of those items even made it into my suitcase for traveling, so they have gotten a lot of wear. We'll see if this new batch of ideas holds my interest when I get back in September.

Will It Work for Me?

While I love sewing clothes to my exact specifications, I think you will agree that one of the major downsides to sewing is that you don't get to "try before you buy." You might make a muslin or even sew up a few versions, but all of this takes a considerable amount of work before you can decide if a new style or fabric will work for you. 

Personally, I have the habit of talking myself into something based on a single flattering example. I convince myself that a style I've seen on Pinterest will be my dream outfit, or that a cute pattern will work for me. I then get all caught up in the details of how to reproduce the look without really stopping to think about how the proportions, drape, or style will suit my tastes. It isn't until I'm most of the way finished (and the point when I am most exhausted and frustrated with my sewing), that I try it on and see that it is all wrong. If this were a dressing room at a store, I would never buy this garment!

I think there are probably a number of ways to avoid this problem. The more you sew and think about clothes, the more you figure out what works for you without all the trial and error. To test out new styles, I've also heard of people popping into their favorite store to try them on first before making something up. Lately, however, I've been trying out what I call the pessimist route. Rather than imagining how great a garment will look on me, I try to imagine all the ways it might look wrong. It's not as fun, I know, but it has helped me think of places where I might go wrong and fix it before I even get there. 

Take the new ruffled sleeve trend. I wasn't that on board with it until I saw a beautiful young woman in Paris wearing a shirt similar to the one I recreated above. It looked stunning! It had a dropped shoulder detail with wide ruffles hanging off the ends in a light shade of pink. It was boxy in a crisp fabric, and wouldn't be that hard to recreate for myself. What beautiful inspiration!

But before trying it on myself, I wanted to see what it looked like through pessimist eyes. For one, that color is not great on me. Anything too close to my skin tone and I start to get washed out. Secondly, I'm not so keen on boxy shirts lately, and adding ruffles might make me look like a linebacker. Still, it would be fun to have a shirt with an interesting detail to spice up my main t-shirt and pants look. 

Above are some modifications I'm considering. A more neutral color such as blue or black would fit better into my wardrobe without washing out my skin. To tone down the volume, it would also be interesting to try this shirt in a soft knit rather than a fabric with a crisp hand. I would have to play around with the length and angle of the ruffles, but this top could work for me. At least it has a better chance now that I've thought through some of the details.

What do you do to make sure something will work for you before you take time and effort to sew it up? 

Fabric Haul Inspiration

I don't usually publish much besides finished garment posts, but I recently took in a massive fabric haul and needed to jot down my inspiration. At the Bay Area Sewists fabric swap meetup last week, I snagged a printed rayon, buffalo check, and about four yards of polyester for muslins. Then I headed down the street to Stone Mountain and Daughter Fabrics, where we get 20% off on meetup days. I had been saving for this occasion, and admittedly went a little wild. But oh man it was fun!

Here are some tops I've got planned from this shopping trip. I'm focusing on adding some more comfy but stylish knits to my wardrobe, and also couldn't resist a couple of printed wovens (at bottom).

1. Turtlenecks - maybe from My Image Fall/Winter magazine?
2. Cowl top - inspired by the new cowl add-on to the SBCC Bronx Dress
3. Presto! Popover Top
4. Mandy Boat Tee
5. Maya Top
6. BurdaStyle 07/2013 #130

First up on my sewing table though is another Pattern Magic dress. I loved making my first one, but felt it could use a few more tweaks such as firmer interfacing. I'm going to try it out this time in a strapless version, and hopefully have it ready for the Bay Area Sewists Frocktails event this weekend. If you're interested in joining us and haven't gotten your ticket yet, contact the Chuleenan on the event page!

Let's hope my sewing goals aren't too large for my sewing time...

Choosing Patterns

BurdaStyle recently included me in their list of the 50 Best Sewing Bloggers for the year, and gave me the opportunity to choose five patterns from the site. Thank you Burda! To further illustrate my pattern selection process, I wanted to share with you how I went about choosing which patterns to get.

BurdaStyle patterns aren't very expensive, but I still felt I had to choose carefully. I'm on a strict budget, not just financially but space and time-wise too. It was important to me to get patterns that were unique and added value to my collection.

BurdaStyle has so many patterns that it was helpful to first knock off some that wouldn't work for me.  Here are a few patterns that I didn't choose:

Tops
There were a lot of great shirt options, but I quickly realized that some could be easily created from patterns I already own. The tops with the fold, crossover detail, and cute bow could all be done by modifying a basic t-shirt block, like the Scout Tee. I decided not to buy these patterns, but save them to my Pinterest for inspiration instead.

Shawl Collar Jacket

I don't have any grand coat or jacket plans this year, but I do have some fabric in my stash for a shawl collar cardigan. I have struggled in the past to draft my own shawl collar, so I decided to check out the jackets and coats patterns. Because I was looking for a specific design detail, I focused on how the shawl collar was constructed more than the rest of the jacket details, which could easily be modified. That said, I'm still not sure any of these are the shape I'm looking for, so I'm going to hold off for now.

Dresses

I wanted two new dress shapes: a sleeveless shirt dress and something akin to this Guy Laroche pattern from Vogue. While BurdaStyle has a huge range of dresses, I unfortunately didn't quite find what I was looking for. I could have gotten something similar and modified it, but I think I could do that with what's in my stash anyway.


Next, I narrowed down the patterns I did want:

Pants
BurdaStyle has a lot of great pants options, and I've had good success with the fit of the printed Burda patterns. I wanted a pair of pleated pants to add to my collection, so I compared the different features to choose a winner. Looking at the line drawings really helped me pick a favorite. I ended up going with the one that had double front pleats, single back darts, a zip fly with one button instead of elastic, and a pocket flap option. If the pattern works for me, it will be a great block to add to my collection. The selected one are the Satin Trousers 07/2015 #117A.

Tops

Along with the pleated trousers, I opted for some interesting knit tops, including the Assymetric Jersey Top (a BurdaStyle favorite) and the Funnel Neck Top. I also chose the gathered neck Blouse, and for my last pick threw in the Retro Top. The Retro Top technically doesn't meet my criteria of being a novel design, but I liked that it included both bust darts and back shoulder darts, which give it more shaping than a Scout shirt.

While the samples aren't always my style, looking at the line drawings and comparing them to patterns I already own really helped me make my selections. I'm inspired to have some new patterns in my collection, and I hope I get to sew them all up for you!

I also learned that BurdaStyle has an affiliate program which could be cool for some of you out there, but I'm currently not participating so these links are just my personal faves. 

Wardrobe Architect

When Wardrobe Architect came out, I read each post with great interest. But I also new that, for me, it could quickly become an all-consuming project. I am the type of obsessive person who would easily get sucked in to compulsively filling out each worksheet, trying too hard to define a perfect and inflexible style. Inevitably, I would make the rules too rigid, the demands too high. 

Instead, I let the idea stew. For over a year I casually took note of which garments I wear most often, what makes me happy, and what I am most comfortable wearing. Rather than planning out future projects, this Wardrobe Architect is a reflection of my current style and some of my projects in the works. The hope is that this will help me focus on filling any remaining gaps in my wardrobe and sew new pieces that fit right in.

Here are some things I like: classic, simple shapes; a neutral palette; flowy tops with fitted bottoms; cottons; knits. I like things that can work on the weekend and at my job, and are easy to wear:

What I love about these shapes is that they can easily carry me from picking out my clothes for work in the morning to throwing on something easy for the weekend. Made up in a crisp white, a button-up shirt is great for meetings, while a soft plaid is perfectly snuggly for a cold day in the park. My general uniform is a boxy top with slim pants, and changing the fabric or pattern allows me to create tons of different outfits while still sticking with what works for me. They combine easily into simple silhouettes:

Source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

As for a color palette, I mentioned that I gravitate toward neutral pieces like navy and denim, black and white, a few pops of color like mustard, green, or red, and I wear stripes so much that they might as well be considered a color:

To keep me inspired, I also took the opportunity to refresh my physical inspiration board. I first put one together four or five years ago to keep track of current inspiration and fabrics, but I really haven't changed it since. So this time I loaded it up with my favorite shapes and pieces that have inspired me for years:

As I said, I won't make any promises about grand WA sewing plan, but I love putting it all up there to be inspired by!

Wedding Season Inspiration

Wedding season is coming up, and I appear to have reached that stage in life where everyone is getting married. Luckily, this gives me an excuse to play dress up and make some of those fun pretty dresses that I never seem to have an excuse to sew/wear. I browsed through my Pinterest files and came up with these picks for four upcoming nuptials, (from left to right, top to bottom):

1. Storybook wedding:  I have been obsessed with the idea of a storybook dress ever since I saw this promo pic with Ryan Gosling and co-star Faith Wladyka. A few days ago, Sara Lawson posted an adult version, which I think would be perfect for my fun and funky friend's wedding (pictured here in a band with Mr. Made). Alternately, I've been shopping around for some sort of fun graphic print. Keep your eye out!

2. Alaska romance: I love florals on a dark background, and what better to wear to a wedding in Alaska than this moody, floral inspiration! I think I can feel both dressed up and at one with nature in dress like this.

3. Fun and playful: After Jessica and Robert's wedding in Alaska, Robert's twin brother Jeffrey will be getting married in Tahoe. The bride, my friend Jen, has a style that is funky and punk and romantic all at the same time, giving me the perfect opportunity to sew up this playful dress. I have been wanting to make it for a while, and have already purchased the fabric and dye.

4. Vegas wedding: Finally, in September my cousin will be getting married in Las Vegas. She has asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding so I may not get to choose my dress, but maybe she will be one of those brides who sends you off with a color swatch and let's you choose your own. If that's the case, I'm definitely going to try my hand at making a bustier dress with my TNT bra pattern, inspired by Mahaila.

A note about colors: I'm sure the astute among you have already noticed that two of these dresses prominently feature the color white. I understand that this is can be a big no-no at a wedding, so I'm already brainstorming ways to make these my own. I am planning on dying the third dress a light yellow with a darker yellow accent, similar to this inspiration pic. For the storybook dress, the colors may be fine as-is because it is more of a print, but perhaps I could stain the background with tea to be a bit more off white. At least they don't feature lace! Any thoughts out there from brides or brides-to-be on the subject of wearing white at a wedding? 

A note about shape: I really love fit and flare dresses for these types of events - easy to wear, flattering, and very romantic. I could also see having a number of these dresses in my closet for later events; they're dressy, but also fun and casual enough for a dinner out or an artsy party. I have one princess seamed bodice pattern that may or may not fit, but are there any other fit and flare patterns that you are loving?

Rain Gear

BurdaStyle Women's Rain Cape and Bike Seat Cover

The first rains of the year have finally hit California. And while I am grateful for a few drops of water on our thirsty state, showing up soaking wet to work is never cause for joy.

Lucky for me, BurdaStyle just released some new rain-friendly patterns to make my bike to work a little more enticing. First up is the Women's Rain Cape, which has lots of room for breath-ability, and also a great hood. And to go with it is a great little Bike Seat Cover! After drafting my own once, it's so great to have a simple little pattern for it.

Of course, I may make some alterations to make the Rain Cape more bike-friendly. I'm thinking mine needs to be a bit longer to cover my knees, maybe with some snaps to hold it closed. More like this:

via Reroys

Some other designs I really like include:

• Leena.com's Rain Cape, although the pattern seems to come from a defunct program so it is no longer available.
• Iva Jean's Women'a Rain Cape, made in Seattle specifically for bikers!
• The Cleverhood, also made for bikers, but I don't want to draft my own pattern. 

This style, although popular on the 'net, doesn't look that safe at all!

For whatever I sew, I will also be keeping Caroline's guest post on Sewaholic handy - she made the most beautiful waterproof jacket!

Next Up: Tops!

I've been absolutely itching to make myself some more tops. Couple that with some recent pattern releases and discoveries, and these beauties are next on my sewing list. I've already bought half the fabric...

1. Tessuti's Our Fave Top is the drapey casual top I've been dreaming of!

2. Bluegingerdoll's Stella Blouse in a soft hue would be perfect for the office!

3. Some modifications to my standby McCall's 6164 and I've got a great basic cowl neck!

Any other top patterns I should check out?? I still have some fall inspiration stuff on my mind, too. *Sigh* so many patterns, so little time!

Fall Inspiration

I have been high on inspiration and low on sewing time lately, so I took a sec to gather all my Pinterest inspiration to keep myself organized. I think I could have a couple complete outfits if I sew even half the way through this list. I've been loving seeing everyone else's fall sewing plans as well!

via Julia Topaz, Lekala Patterns, Pinterest

via Riches for Rags, Vogue Patterns, Burda, Boo Dogg & Me, Barneys

via Style Arc, Article&, En Tout Point, Cape Cod Collegiate

via People, BurdaStyle, McCall's

via Brooklyn Tweed, Kollabora, Tobi

Confession Time: I Want to Make Shoes!

Can I tell you all about a secret desire I've harbored for most of this year? I want to make shoes! Not the fabric covered ones, or embellished ones, or re-colored ones (although those are all lovely), but real, made-from-scratch, designed-by-me footwear.

As you can tell from the links above, while shoe decoration is par for the course for many DIYers, making actual wear-it-outside, made-from-scratch shoes is virtually unheard of, which makes it exciting, uncharted territory. My suspicion, of course, is that shoes are often left to the pros because they are highly technical, and probably require industrial equipment and special forms. But I'm tired of cheap overseas made flats that really just appear to be some rubber soles and fabric sewn and glued together. What is more, I'm allured by the idea of creating a comfortable shoe on the cheap that I can style however I want!

As an avid blog reader, blogs were the first place I turned to for help. But unlike our beautiful little sewing community, I had a hard time finding a group of cobbler-bloggers just waiting to fill me in on the deets with picture tutorials and tweet chats at the ready. *Sigh*

Not to be deterred, my internet searches over the past few months have occasionally turned to shoe-making, and a few little nuggets have shown themselves.

Barefoot Shoes: Many amateurs who make their own shoes come from the barefoot running/hiking camp. For them, minimal foot protection is key, and form and style follow much further behind. These are meant to be functional shoes, but they just weren't for me...

via XeroShoes

Shoe Kits: Next up were the sites offering shoe kits. These are kits with all the necessary materials and handy instructions for putting it all together. But for me I see very little point in spending the same full-shoe price on a shoe kit, especially if I don't have the opportunity to modify it. (Of course, some could probably say this about sewing as well.)

via SimpleWay

Inspirational Shoe Makers: You can sometimes find the online crafter who makes shoes. And some of them are very, very pretty. Inspirational - yes! Instructional - not so much. 

via Cloves on BurdaStyle

Online Instructions: There was also the occasional blogger who posted about their adventures in making fashion shoes.While this got me very excited, I found that I probably need a little more instruction and support to make my first pair. My number one questions: how do you attach the shoes fabric to the sole? And where do you source the materials? 

via Avishoes

Tilly Made Shoes: A few months in to my shoe-making obsession, Tilly made shoes! Of course, she got to do it with the help of a professional, but I was more inspired and determined than ever. Plus, I was able to scour the post for some helpful information: neoprene glue. Lots of it!

via Tilly and the Buttons

Make Your Own Shoes Book: It was about this time I stumbled up on Mary Wales Loomis and her Make Your Own Shoes book. This woman tore her own shoes apart, figured how they were made, made her own, and wrote a book on it!

via Mary Wales Loomis

Books and Courses: A while later I came across another option for learning to make shoes - the trendy and cute I Can Make Shoes site. They offer courses, materials and books on sale at their site. And man do they look cute! I also found online shoe-making courses available at Shoe Making Courses Online and Svetakletina.com.

via I Can Make Shoes

Feeling inspired yet? Here's my plan: START SLOW. Before jumping head in and buying/making the shoe lasts, investing in a gallon of neoprene glue, and stashing up on leather and canvas, I think I'll try to turn a basic clipper patter into a wearable fabric flat and take it from there.

Women's Slippers Pattern via Etsy, Shoe Goo, Shoe Foam via Etsy

With a little slapdash proto-typing, I think I'll be able to tell about whether I want to pursue this or not. And if I do - imagine the possibilities!

But don't hold your breath on anything any time soon... I'm still recovering from the Fashion Challenge, have about a million garments I want to sew, and haven't even completed my last make-it-yourself adventure BraQuest 2013(-2014??). 

In the meantime, has anyone out there in blog land attempted to make your own shoes? Slippers? Shoe embellishments? I am beyond curious about this new realm!

Update:  I started a Pinterest board to keep track of my resources and all your amazing suggestions. Thanks to you, I'm feeling very motivated and a lot more informed!

Fashion Challenge Diary: LBD Inspiration

This week is the fourth challenge for the Fabric Mart FashionChallenge, which means we're halfway there! This week was the LBD (little black dress) challenge and, as it goes with LBDs, there are so many options! So, I'm sharing some of the options I considered when sewing up my project this week:

Honestly, if someone gave me a pile of black ponte and said, make your ultimate LBD, I would make a long-sleeved, knee-length body con dress. It's totally versatile - can be worn with anything, dressed up or down, is comfy, and works for me. 

Clockwise from left: Katerina Petrova, Top Shop at Nordstrom, US Trendy, and Stockholm Street Style


But that's not very interesting for a Fashion Challenge. And, let's be honest, everyone really just wants to look at party dresses, anyway.

Clockwise from top left: Net-A-Porter, The Outnet, Fashion Not Fashion, ModCloth, and a Bebe ad

But Christine is a different kind of girl. She's stylish and fashion forward, but likes to keep a bit of mystery in it. For her - a cape dress!

Clockwise from top left: Etsy, Alexander McQueen, DKNY, L.A.M.B. and Hailee Steinfeld

Are you a simple girl like me, looking for a party dress, or willing to step out in something daring? I know the pretty party dresses really grab everyone's eye, and I'm a bit worried that that might be the case with the Fashion Challenge. So I'm putting out something a little different to see what the interest is!

Check out all the styles, and for your favorite dress on the Fabric Mart blog!

Fashion Challenge Diary: Inspiration for Mixing

We're in the middle of Challenge 3 for the Fabric Mart Fashion Challenge! So, once again, I'm posting up some of my inspiration pics for mixing fabrics and print. I seriously had so much inspiration for this challenge that I've been dying to make!

And if you haven't voted for your favorite yet, head on over there!

Clockwise from top left: Jill Stuart, Vintage Valley, She Inside, Claudie Pierlot

Clockwise from top left: Miss Wu, Fashionologie, Ideeli, Bergdorf Goodman

Clockwise from top left: The Fashion Spot, Then Let It Be, Nike, Elf Saks

Now go check out all the lovely entries!

Fashion Challenge Diary: Yoke Dress Inspiration

We're still in the middle of Challenge 2 for the Fabric Mart Fashion Challenge! Today, I'm posting up some of my inspiration picks for the Salme Yoke Dress. Can you guess which one I chose?

And if you haven't voted for your favorite yet, head over here!

Inspiration: Sarah Seven wedding and bridesmaid dresses

Fabric: Fabric Mart's Black Nylon Dotted Netting and Black Silk Charmeuse

Inspiration: T.I.L. Darling

Fabric: Fabric Mart's Paisley Netting and Chambray

Inspiration: Quicksilver

Fabric: Fabric Mart's Paisley Netting and Cotton Muslin

Inspiration: Pinterest
Fabric: Fabric Mart's Velvet Burnout and Black Netting

Now get over there and vote!

Navajo Quilt Inspiration

Another quilt that has captured my imagination was this Navajo-inspired log cabin design. It seemed easy enough to make up with just squares, and some gingham + black has provided some funky inspiration:

My design

Wide Quilt Backing in Black + Printed Gingham Linen

Wide Quilt Backing in Black + Hill Farm Gingham

And here's the line drawing: 25 x 29 squares:

That's 725 squares: 344 gingham squares (47%) and 381 black squares (53%). So I will be ordering 5 yds of 108" black backing for the the black squares and the back, and 5.5 yards of 44" gingham for the other squares.

For other things you can create in Excel, check out this guy! 

Chevron Quilt Inspiration

From my quilt post earlier this week, I have been particularly inspired by this fabric, which I think would make a great print, and could easily be done with a simple chevron quilt pattern:

Ghastlie Angle Green

Basic Chevron Pattern

So I mocked up some color combinations to see what my version might look like. Here are three options. Virtual quilt-making sure is easier than the real thing!

Tiny Square Stripe Black +Broadcloth Bright White + Kona Cotton Black

Michael Miller Faux Bois Stripe + Broadcloth Soft White + Kona Cotton Ash

Gilt Trip Line Work Metallic + Broadcloth Straw + Cotton Supreme Solids Navy