I love a casual but festive look for the holidays. The color red is de rigueur when it comes to holiday dressing. And denim always gives an outfit a more subdued feel. But instead of wearing jeans and a bright colored top, I chose to flip the look. I'm pairing a chambray blouse with bright red trousers. 

Keeping in line with the oversized sleeve trend, I reached back to out-of-print Vogue 7604 from 2002. The oversized Bishop sleeve is nothing new. Styles like these are always cyclical. So when these trendy patterns are released, I like to collect them even if I don't want to sew them at the moment. You never know... It just may take 14 years to get around to it!

This is a pullover pussy-bow (collar extends into tie ends) blouse with a keyhole back. It has oversized Bishop sleeves and wide button cuffs.

My fabric is this gorgeous Italian Blue Topweight Viscose Denim from Mood Fabrics. I cut the size 14 and I lengthened the body by an inch. I also lengthened the top part of the sleeve so that it would fall right at the elbow. And also so that the I would have a lot of fullness on the bottom.

On the back bodice, the instructions suggest that you interface the area around the the keyhole opening. But I didn't want to do it that. 

And I also have enough experience to know that for me this process works a lot better by interfacing the the facing and understitching.

I wanted to also make sure that the keyhole was obvious. So I again stepped away from the instructions and did my on thing.

I added an eye & hook.

I'm head-over-heels in love with this top! I've already worn it twice! It works so perfectly with my Simplicity 8058 pants.

Wishing you all, a very Merry Christmas!

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.