Every year new patterns come out from the top four pattern companies and also from new individuals and companies.

My take is… that is all well and good and I’m glad. Some of them I like and will eventually get around to purchasing and sewing. At the same time I have a couple of oldies but goodies that I will turn to in a hot minute. Take for instance McCall’s 6079 and Simplicity’s 9418. My oh my do I enjoy these two patterns! These two patterns for me are like Honey Buns I may not eat them everyday but when I do…it’s fire, so delicious!

       

Let me back up and explain, first off McCall’s 6079 is a pattern I purchased way way back in 2010 when it came out. At the time I used to write a lot of poetry and I had this amazing idea. I was so amped about creating some new tops that were borderline tunics, and flowy at the bottom. I was so excited when this pattern came out because it meant I did not have to create the pattern from scratch. Part of the notion at the time was to have my tops in boutiques where I resided. Well to make a long story short (I’ll fill in the gaps over time)  and fast forward to this year, I decided to make this top  again, this time out of a fabric that has been in my stash about a year. That’s the best guesstimate I have at the moment for the fabric lol! Anyway it’s a light mint and white top and this is at least the fifth time I’ve made top. And I would still at this moment make it again if I needed it in another color.

The other pattern I was telling you about is Simplicity’s 9418. This pattern I’ve also had for a few years. I found it at a thrift shop some years ago and it matched a few of the bell bottom pants my mom had in her closet, so of course I purchased it. The only limitation I found when I first made the pattern was that in some areas it was too tight. Mind you this is a pattern from the 1960’s or early 70’s I believe. I will go check the cover. I love the pattern but I literally cannot touch it because it will rip. I have pattern software I use for my clients who request custom garments. I pulled out the software and made a jumpsuit pattern as close as I could to the original Simplicity pattern to my measurements. Well look below! I do say she came out pretty well indeed. I liked the jumpsuit so much I inserted it to my collection in my shop. 

I told you I would be back with a pattern review. I have newer patterns but you know sometimes you have to go with your gut and that’s what I did.  I’ve worked them so many times I know them well and they are fabulous. I hope you enjoyed reading this review,  let me know if you have any questions, concerns or comments regarding these patterns.

Talk to you soon!

Vintage Teal Cream Dress

I mentioned in a previous post how much I love vintage items. It all started with my mom’s clothes from back in the day. As I child I would put on her dress clothes in hopes of one day making my own dresses. That aspiration has not died and I have made a few vintage styled dresses, tops and jackets.

Here is one of moms dresses I have adored for years. It is a teal and cream cotton jacquard with silver metallic. Mom calls it the green dress.

 

OMG Stunning!!!!
Despite taking this photo at night

 

I always wondered when looking at vintage dresses where people were going? Where did they get it? What was the designer thinking when they crafted the dress?

Most of these questions I may not get an answer to except mom said she was going to a party in the 60s. I can understand that, I do not see this dress as one to sit around the house... It is way to beautiful. Well I hope she had a great time. I know I am having a ball imagining a grand venue and people decked out to the nines!

Thanks for reading and I will talk to you next time.

Floral

If you have ever looked at my Instagram or my Facebook pages, you can tell I love flowers. So it’s not a surprise I find fabric other than lace that has flowers. This year it seems to be craze. I have been using it for years and I don’t really plan on stopping. The thing is when you make clothes you can make yours different than what is sold in stores. And that’s usually what I do for myself and my clients.

Here’s the fabric, a light-weight cotton jersey.

Here’s the lace, a sheer and sparkly navy floral lace.

Let’s marry them ❤

I’ll show you the top and bottom later in this post. I did mention in an earlier post I was addicted to lace. See it continues lol.

The pattern I used for the lace top is one I’ve had for a while. I wanted to use it and I figured these pants with this top would make a nice addition to my summer wardrobe. Butterick 4988 without the extra trim on the sleeves. I didn’t do the scalloped hemline as this lace doesn’t exactly have the bottom for it. Had the lace flowers been a closer pattern to allow it, I would have done it. Well that leaves room for me to do this pattern again.

The pants are a McCalls pattern 6404a, they suggested stretch knits, which is fine I wanted some light pants almost leggings for summer. So I went at it. The pattern was pretty easy. Next time I would take out the pockets as I don’t really like them but they don’t really show with the top. Otherwise it is fun and breathable for this hot summer we have had.

Well there is more sewing going on here so please stay tuned and thanks for reading, talk to you soon.

Thanks for reading, talk to you soon.

Lovely Lady Lace

Oh la la!!!! I say while dancing with Meghan Trainor’s All About That Bass playing in the background. When I get in my zone (my sewing happy place), I have the music playing (loud), while I cut patterns, drape fabric and sew fronts to backs. Add in a two-step and spin here, lol!!

 

It not just a job, it’s becoming a lifestyle…hmmm I will have to explore this more but my point is I’m passionate when I get in here and make what Disney would call magic. Taking a flat piece of fabric and literally dancing with it until it is complete and a garment is made. Only a few people knew the studio was like this… (yes a mini party) few were present and heard the music and felt the atmosphere, still it is where I create these custom beauties.

Well ok, the last few months I have had a serious addition to lace. I think it started before then, but anyway I will not argue because I do love pretty lady lace. I have made so many things with it and still have plans on making more lacey cuties. I don’t want the ordinary you can get this down the street, something with a bit of sparkle and sass. In colors besides black and white, I already have those… As I will show you later I made a black lace dress that is so perfectly lady like. It was a client request and I was happy to oblige. I did several others for clients and still I want more.

 

If I were you I would stay tuned to see what else I make and say. I don’t plan these conversations they just come out. If you have any sewing questions I’d sure love to hear them. I also have Facebook and Instagram pages if you would like to follow me there as well.  

LaNae Designz Instagram

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Silk

The Red Orange Silk Halter Top
 

Red Silk Halter

Silk fabric to me is always fashionable and timeless. It’s one of those special types of fabrics that has extra care written all over it. I could give you a detailed history about silk, but you can Google it for yourself. Some important things I want you to know though is:

You cannot treat it the same as cotton, which is also a natural fiber. Silk comes from the fibers of the silkworm’s cocoon and is woven into fabric. Then it is dyed in various colors.

Silk is used for many things like dresses, tops, pants, jackets and more. There is also silk thread, which I found is like many other fabric threads in that it comes in many colors, but it is not as strong as cotton and polyester threads. It can be and is used in sewing garments but I would say if you have an item that is 100% silk please be careful with it.

The top I showed you last month with my silk skirt…remember that?
Well here it is again just in case.

Silk Tapered Mini Skirt

I made this top to go with a matching skirt but when I made the tapered mini I had to line it up with this top.

For this top I used a vintage pattern 1365 by Simplicity. As you can tell from the pictures I made a couple of tweeks. It’s a beauty and one of my favorites.

I have several colors of silk here; perhaps I will make another in a different color. The pattern was pretty simple, as always though I make my adjustments.