I can't believe it's already July 1st! We're halfway done with this year. Wow... time is flying by. I've been feeling like I haven't been sewing a lot as compared to my prior years. But that just tells me that I have nice and full wardrobe that's efficiently working for me. I've added some really cute pieces this season, but I have a lot of things from previous seasons that are still in major rotation. Cheers to effective wardrobe building!

So, with saying all of that, I can guilt-free enjoy sewing things I like rather than sewing things  I absolutely need. Which leads me to this really adorable two-piece outfit. As with suits, sewing matching sets just increases your wardrobe by adding new amazing separates.

I found this amazingly fun fabric at Mood Fabrics.com. It's the Jadeite and Bright Orange Floral Cotton Twill. It's a lightweight twill... a little heavier than a poplin and it sews like a dream. I prewashed and pulled it straight from the dryer and it smoothed out with the iron perfectly.

The top is McCall's 7929, view A. Right off the bat, I know that the button-up back wasn't going to work for me. Trying to button up the back and twisting the top round, and working my arms through the sleeves really didn't appeal me to me... at all.

So, I decided to modify the back by created a center back panel of shirring. This way, I can just pull it over instead of struggling alone or needing an extra set of hands.

A couple of years ago, I made Mikaela a shirred bodice dress and created a tutorial. You can check it out here.

The skirt is McCall's 7725, view C.

I finished my seams with a Hong Kong finish. And a button and buttonhole instead of a hook and eye.

And I added an inch to the length of the upper part of the skirt. I left the hem of raw because I felt the skirt would would hang better.

These little silk bias camis have the possibility of becoming so addictive. This is my second one... I'll blog about the other one soon.

This is Just Patterns Kate Bias Top. It's so well-drafted and the sizing is dead on. Whatever your measurement is, pick that size! 

My fabric is Navy Silk Georgette from Mood Fabrics.com. This is a very delicate silk to work with. And I decided to challenge myself by cutting it on the bias. My tip: Spray Starch to keep the fabric from crawling away.

Just Patterns are basically just the pattern itself and an order of construction. That's all you get. They assume that you're experienced enough to figure everything out. You don't get any hand holding if that's what you're looking for. You have to take it and decide you how you need to finish every. Since my fabric is a sheer silk georgette, I self-lined it and used French Seams and narrow hems.

I added an inch to the length to make sure that when I'm not wearing high-waisted pants, the shirt will stay tucked in.

The pants are McCall's 7726, everyone's favorite high-waisted pair. My fabric is Yellow, Navy & White Polyester Twill from Mood Fabrics.com. 

The fabric has a nice medium weight denim feel to it. It sews beautifully. However, I was reminded that it is polyester if you left the iron on the fabric for too long. But other than that, the fabric wears well and when I pre-washed it, it required very little iron. That's always a plus.

I made my normal alterations. A 1.5 inch full seat adjustment and added about 3 inches to the length. Being that the fabric print is composed of uneven stripes, I had not desire to match them. This is a casual piece and they can ride as is. If you want to see how uneven stripes should be matched, you can see what I did here. 

The pattern calls for a self-tie belt. I'm not the biggest fan, so I decided to make my own belt.

I'd made a couple of these belts before and I had a few inquiries about them, so I decided to make a tutorial.

Sometimes in life and sewing, you need a do-over. And that's what I needed with this pattern. I would often see it in my pattern cabinet and think how it's such a pretty pattern but how it didn't work for me. It's amazing how we tell ourselves things and they become facts. Because it's not that the pattern didn't work for me... it's the fact that I just didn't sew it well -- at all.

I originally made this dress way back in 2006. It was my very first time ever sewing with a jersey knit. And y'all! I admittedly didn't know what the fuck I was doing! I stretched the hell out of the neckline. And look at that wonky, wavy hemline. But at the time, I was so proud of myself for one, tackling a Vogue Pattern. Back in the day, people would always warn you away from Vogues, because they were supposedly "too hard". And two, working with slinky jersey knit. I was definitely treading in deep water. That experience left me even to this day with a negative experience regarding sewing with knits. I still claim that knits aren't my favorite thing to sew. And I know this is the reason why.

This pattern is Vogue 7898 and it's long out-of-print, but the style is still pretty relevant. Wrap dresses never go out of style and asymmetrical hemlines are still so chic.

My fabric is this Pink Orbs Printed Cotton Jersey from Mood Fabrics. When I posted this dress on my Instagram account, I was asked about what skills have I learned in the last 13 years to redeem myself? Well, here are my some of my sewing with knit tips: 

The wrap tie is held with a D-ring.

I just want novice sewers to take from this that even though when you first start out and you end up with undesirable outcomes, just keep going. The more you sew, the more sewing you see and the more you read about sewing, it'll all fall into place.

I haven't made a jumpsuit in quite some time. The one-piece wonders have been one of my favorite closet staples for years. They fill in the gap for me when I could wear a dress, but I really don't want to wear a dress. You feel me?

This jumpsuit is Butterick 6691. I liked that it is designed for a silk type fabric instead of a knit. And I found this perfect silky leaf print fabric at Jo-Ann.

I made my normal alterations that I would make for a jumpsuit. I lengthened the bodice by an inch. I modified it to accommodate spaghetti straps because I didn't like the look of the wide straps. 

Here is the inside...

I brought the top of the bodice to sharp point...

And I made the same modification to the facing. I drafted my shoulder straps 17" x 1 1/4" and cut them on the bias.

I sewed the jumpsuit using French seams.

My bodice lengthening alteration gave the perfect amount of length to make the the bodice blousey enough that it would cover the elastic waist. 

I made a full seat adjustment. This has become an alteration that I just can't skip on pants. It keeps them from dipping down at the center back.

I lengthened the pants by 5", because even the full-length view were pretty short.

I love this jumpsuit and I hope I get around to making a couple more iterations in solid colors too.