For a Friday night, I decided to go with a little glitz and shine!  I found this awesome piece of sequin fabric at Joanns -- All That Glitters Fabric - Floral Sequins Navy.  I've always had the uncanny ability to walk into a store and put my hands on the most expensive thing in there.  My taste has always exceeded my wallet!  But not this time.  This beautiful piece of fabric that retailed for $30/yd was on sale.  Cha-ching... sold!  I bought it!

There was very little of this fabric left on the bolt.  I was only able to get 1.5 yds.  So I decided a skirt it would be.  I didn't want a plain pencil skirt.  

This fabric has pizzazz and so I needed a pattern of equal value.  I chose Vogue 8711.  I've made it before and I've loved my black version to death!

This pattern was already cut and altered in the size 14.  I still needed to take in the side seams and really cut the waist down.  And I went back and took about an inch off of the length.  These are baby sequins, so they're a lot easier to sew than the larger variety.  I didn't have to remove any from the seam allowance.  My needle chopped right through them with ease.  For my hem, I fused it for a clean and quick finish.  

For my waistband, I used a black ponte knit.  I didn't want to feel the sequins rubbing against my skin.  And I partially lined the skirt with a nylon tricot.  I just used the same method that I would to make a single seam pencil skirt.  I left it much shorter than the skirt because I didn't want it to show while I was sitting down.  I just needed enough coverage for the goodies!

Since the sequins are backed on black mesh, I just naturally paired my navy with black (the top was purchased).  

Thanks for the picture Adrienne!

I'm a fan of this color combo, especially for an evening look. 

For summer nights when I want to head out for the evening and I need to pull myself together quickly, a tank and a skirt is just the key!  But not just any plain skirt, an awesome midi-length mock wrap, draped skirt.

Especially when it's an all-black ensemble.  And a perfect way to break up the black is with the addition of my super cool corset belt (from Asos.com, similar to this one.)

And a racerback tank (it's a workout tank) gave it the nighttime pizzazz that it needed.  I added walkable wedges for comfort.

The skirt is Vogue 8711.  See the original review here.

Readying myself for Spring!  Pantone calls this color, this year -- Lemon Zest!

All of last spring and summer, I wanted this yellow blazer.  I even cut it out.  But somehow I became distracted and this project fell by the wayside.  But nevertheless, I rediscovered it bagged away and decided it was the perfect time to revisit it.  Well, this is Simplicity 2446.

This is an Amazing Fit pattern from Simplicity, so it's chocked full of great tips for the novice jacket sewer.  I have my own point of references I use.  The pattern was drafted in a great way. I could truly see this one as becoming my tried-and-true blazer pattern.

Since this pattern offers cup sizes, there was no need for the dreaded FBA.  So I cut the C cup and kept it moving.  This is the so-called longer version of what was offered, so I decided not to lengthen and to see if I liked it.  Since this pattern is drafted with 1" seam allowances in all of the important places, I just nipped/tucked and tweaked as needed.  This was my first time sewing this pattern and I truly detest making a muslin, so this became my "test garment".

Maybe I'm weird, but muslins just don't do it for me.  I have to have a fully completed garment to tell what adjustments need to be made.  With a muslin, I can't tell if the pockets will lay flat or how the jacket will actually wear, especially after the lining has been inserted.  If it's a pattern I really like, I don't mind making it all over again.  Like a plan on doing with this one.

The fabric is a 100% cotton twill from my stash.  I can't remember where it was purchased... I should really label the fabric before I fold it away.  The lining is Bemberg from Joanns and so are the buttons.

I love a jacket pattern with a 2-piece vented sleeve.

Here is the faux pocket flap and the inseam pocket.

As of right now, I have another version of this jacket already cut out and ready to sew.  This time, I'm making a couple of changes:

Wearing with my jacket:  Similar jacket HERE and HERE; blouse: Prabal Gurung for Target; skirt:  Vogue 8711; tights: Spanx; shoes: Prabal Gurung for Target; clutch: old, similar HERE and HERE.