My obsession with this season's most popular trend continues.  

This time, it's Simplicity 8124 by one of my favorite designers in RTW and sewing patterns, Cynthia Rowley.  I went back and forth on whether to make the dress or the romper.  That dress has a LOT of fullness in it.  I'm not a fan of that style on myself.  If I lengthened it, it could go matronly quick.  I'd want to belt it.  I think it's adorable in a short length, BUT -- even with the warm temps, it's always breezy here.  One good gust of wind... y'all get it.  So no.  I went with the romper.  It's something that I will actually wear, often.

My fabric is Silky Print Fabric-Tribal Aqua Rayon from Joanns. It's basically rayon challis. I haven't worked with challis in a while.  It's really easy to sew and press.  But it wrinkles as bad as linen!  As fast as a sat in my car and buckled my seat belt, it was a wrap.  So it is, what it is.

I cut the size medium and it feels super comfy to wear.  The construction is so simple that I barely glanced over them.

The only thing that I don't particularly like is the neckline.  I've made enough of these to now know that I prefer the casing to be a separate sewn on piece, instead of simply folding the neckline over.  I feel that it affects the way the elastic lays.  Mine rolled, even with no-roll elastic.  I felt I had keep adjust and readjusting.  

I love a great black, white and red color combination.  Since last year, I've been planning to make something... anything in black and white gingham.

I've fully embraced the off-the-shoulder trend for this season.  So I'm going to be rocking it until the wheels fall off -- meaning until I'm absolutely sick of seeing myself in it.  

This interpretation is (OOP) Simplicity 3835 from 2007.  I cut the size 12 and sewed it straight from the envelope.  I made mine in a black and white cotton/spandex blend gingham shirting from Joann's.  This fabric stood out to me in a unique way because it was 58" wide and also had a bit of give.  I can't find it on the website, but if you run across shirting this wide, instead of the normal 44", I suggest your grab it!

Not only did it have the perfect subtle off-the-shoulder detail, but the sleeve ties are winners. 

I once again reached for Simplicity 8058.  I loved my navy blue version so much that I knew these had to be a repeat.  This time I reached for red.  I used the same type of ponte from Joann's.  The only change I made this time was to omit the buttons and the front tab.  I thought that was a cute detail the first time, but not needed again.  I love the high-waisted style and the topstitching.  I added a cute zipper pull because these pants were meant to have a tucked in top.  I love the fit.  I prefer a fitted flare than a wide leg pair of pants.  Fitted flares are much more flattering on me.  Wide leg pants fall from the hip and just make me look wide all the way down, from hip to heel.  With a fitted flare I need my legs to actually show and the width to begin below the knee.  And yes, I'll be making these again.

So, I guess it's safe to say that I will probably make every piece in the Simplicity 8058 collection eventually.  I'm still torn on the jacket.  I don't know if the boxiness really suits, but I do like the idea of it.  When spring finally arrives, I'll see if I'll have a place for it in my wardrobe as a topper.

After making the pants from this pattern which I absolutely love, I wanted to make the skirt.  The high-waist a-line style is a bit different from my general silhouette which is pencil styles in both dresses and skirts.  Every now and then, I like to venture off and make a flared style skirt.  I don't like the idea of always being a one-trick (fashion) pony, so I'm always open to broadening my style options.  

I wanted to get rid of my little over a yard amount of leftover stretch denim from making jeans and this skirt was the perfect project.  I cut the size 14 and added 3" to the length.  If you're leggy, it's short so take that into consideration.  It's also high-waist... very high-waist.  It sits about 4.5" above the waistline.  If you're short-waisted, this may not work for you.  Or if you're thicker through the middle, measure carefully and adjust accordingly because it's really fitted.

I omitted the front tabs and just added 6 buttons instead.  And just like the pants, this skirt is designed to have an exposed center back zipper.

I love a nautical style outfit, preferably when it's chic and not kitschy.  No one should want to walk around looking like a box of Cracker Jack.

Nautical and maritime styles are so cyclical in fashion that I would consider them classics instead of trends.  That's why I picked this navy and white stripe fabric for my second version of Vogue 9151.

I've worn my black version of this top too many times to count since I made it.  I knew it was time for another one.  I use my same View C in a size medium that I'd previously cut and sewed straight out of the envelope.

And just like before, I knew that this one would also benefit from eyelets and lacing.

And what's a nautical outfit without a great pair of sailor pants.  The new Simplicity 8058 is the perfect pattern to suit my needs.

I cut the size 14 and used a navy blue ponte from Hancock Fabrics. 

 I added around 6 or 7 inches to the length.  I needed to create a 37" inseam.

I really don't like back zips on pants, but I allowed this one.  I used a metal zipper of course.  I would never trust an invisible zipper in the back of pants.  And I used a 2" hem because I feel wide-leg and flared leg pants hang better with deepr hems.

This is a very fitted pants pattern.  If you plan to make these, you'll want to keep that in mind.  They are very similar to Simplicity 1283. The pattern says that they have 1/2" of ease.  I'm going to say that the ease is negative.  And also, do note that these pants are sized for stretch knits only.  

When I saw Simplicity 1607, it had Mikaela's name written all over it.  I knew I was going to make it for her.  

This design is from Cynthia Rowley and here's the retail version.  

I found the perfect fabric, a beautiful black, white and pink cotton sateen at Joanns.  

I cut the size 6 and graded to the size 10 from the waist down.  Mikaela is an athlete... a size 0 in ready-to-wear, but she has a solid build.

The only other alteration I made was to shave about two inches off the hemline so that it would fall above the knee.

Since the spray of polka dots ran along the selvage, I cut the skirt on the cross grain.  And also used that part for the side front pieces. 

Once I got past the criss cross front and back straps, which was like assembling a pretzel, this dress was quite simple to make.  What I really like is that it has an invisible side zip, so it won't take anything away from a gorgeous printed fabric.  This is a great dress with a lot of  youthful style.

If you do not yet own a sleeveless blazer, run... don't walk to the store or your computer to purchase your pattern. You do know what a sleeveless blazer is? They used to know be known as a... you guessed it, a VEST!

The pattern I selected is Simplicity 1756, from Cynthia Rowley.

For this project, I was inspired by Balenciaga Spring 2013... the ads were fabulous.

I chose a Mood Fabrics black Italian cotton suiting that has a smidgen of stretch (cotton/lycra and it's 64" wide).  This fabric has a medium hand, a fabulous drape and is lightweight enough for warm weather garments.  And what really impressed me is how beautifully the fabric pressed and most importantly how little it wrinkles.  At such a great price, this will be my go to fabric for basics.

I sewed this unlined sleeveless blazer straight out of the envelope.  But I did discover that it has a very slim fit through the hips.  So I'll more than likely wear it unbuttoned all of the time.

This is a great wardrobe addition and I would love to have one in white too!

Mikaela needed a dress for this past Saturday and I'd been loving Simplicity 1873 - Cynthia Rowley, view C.  I thought the shorter skirt view would be perfect for a leggy teenager.  And the fit and flare style is so trendy right now. 

Mikaela, being the little fashionista that she is wanted her dress in the color mint.  So I found this really pretty mint green swiss dot fabric at Hancock.  The pattern only suggested that you line the bodice.  But since I used cotton lawn, I added a full lining.  And I used a mint green broadcloth.

I'm a fan of orange as a contrasting color with mint, so I bought her these great Steve Madden wedges.  And an orange necklace from me and also my vintage frame clutch purse.

So, my spring sewing is off to a great start.  My plan for March is to be a beast in the sewing room!  Now, let's hope the mojo holds out!

And I also made the Vogue 1282 - Donna Karan Collection top.