I can't believe I went this long without embracing the fringed trend.  I dabbled at it bit with a fringed chiffon kimono that I love.  And I wanted something like that for cold weather.  I wanted to keep my fringe trend mild, because a lot of what I saw was almost too trendy to for me and Lord knows, I love a great trend!

What I like about this (is it a poncho, a wrap or a cape?? ), -- I'm going to call it a fringed wrap -- is that even though it has a fringed trim it's really classic.  And a piece you can reach for when it's chilly for years to come.

I was inspired by this gorgeous Etro fringed poncho worn by Nausheen Shah.  I'm totally hating I didn't take the time to add pockets!  How chic is she?

This piece is completely DIY... and cut free-handed.  I had a chuckle with Oonaballoona on IG because I refused to call this drafting.  Slicing up the middle of fabric and hemming does not constitute drafting.  This wrap was very simple to make.  It was really a spur of the moment project and I didn't take time to photograph while making it.

My fabric is a Linton tweed boucle' that I've had for several years, that was hanging around waiting to become a Chanel-style jacket.  I made a Chanel-style jacket before... with ALL of the hand sewing hoopla.  It hangs in my closet for the sentimentality.  It's too big now and I doubt I'll ever wear it again.  Unless oversized Chanel jackets become tres chic!

So briefly, here's how I made this, it's ridiculously simple:

I folded my 2.5-3 yds of fabric in half, cut ends together.  Then I folded in half again, longwise.  I put a pin in the top of the fold.  This marks the center where the neck will be.  You need something circular to use to make a cut the size of your neck.  I used a bread plate and trace half the circumference on the side of the fold that will be the front.  I drew straight lines down each side of the half-circle's points.  This created the front opening.  And I cut that part out.  You now have a poncho-wrap.  For my finishing I fringed the bottom.  I decided how long I wanted my fringe to be and I stitched above that.  Then I removed all of the cross yarns.  This part takes a while.  Put on a movie or a TV show and go for it.  Then I hemmed the opening with a 5/8". 

If I find another great piece of fabric that wants to become a poncho-wrap, I'll make sure to take detail pictures and give you a much better tutorial.  

Stay warm!

This is a time when procrastination worked in my favor!  I've have two giant, industrial size garbage bags full of clothes that I've been tossing in there for almost a year and have yet to drop them off.  Which is actually a good thing.  Every so often, I'll see something and think, "I have one of those!" Then I remember it's in one of those bags and thank the Heavenly Father that my lazy behind still have them sitting in a corner of my bedroom.  

I sleeveless coat, long vest, gillet or whatever name you choose to call it, is still a great way to update your fall wardrobe.  Some even question if this garment is practical?  It's about as practical as a fleece or puffy vest that's commonly worn during cooler temps... this one is just way more polished!  So, case closed on that...

I decided to upcycle a RTW Louben coat that I've had for years.  It's a leftover from my days of corporate dressing.  There were pants, a skirt and even a sheath dress that I had with this look, that have long ago been donated.  But the coat was the only piece I kept.  It's a beautiful marsala 100% virgin wool with perfect tailoring.  The shape was perfect for a sleeveless coat.  Here's how I created mine:

Instead of cutting the sleeves off, I carefully removed them with a seam ripper to preserve the seam allowances.  I noticed that most of the seam allowances on here are 3/8" in some places and 1/2" in others.  These are 1/2".  

I created bias facings from the discarded sleeve and hand sewed them down.

I love the way it turned out.

In the process, I scored awesome uncovered shoulder pads, sleeve heads and 6 beautiful 5/8" buttons.  These shoulder pads and sleeve heads will probably be going into the coat I'm working on.

And it also has beautiful center back vent!

And it was a perfect game day look to cheer on the Alabama Crimson Tide!  Roll Tide, Roll!