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.

I love a good coordinated outfit. And this one is so perfect for a good play on stripes. I'd had this fabric for around a year. It was a purchase from Fine Fabrics in Atlanta. I'd held on to it because every time I pulled it out, it wasn't quite right for what I had in mind. 

The fabric is a bold, red and white lightweight canvas, denim or twill. The fabric descriptions at Fine Fabrics are extremely vague, so you're never completely sure of compositions. I know this one isn't 100% cotton. It had that synthetic smell while pressing. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, because when I wore it, I wasn't all creased and wrinkled from sitting in the car.

This pattern is Simplicity 8927. I knew going in, I'd need to make pattern alterations.

Here's the FBA I made to the bodice.

I modified the should straps by adding buckles and eyelets.

For the skirt, I cut view C. There's no way that the other view would've been long enough for me, so I went with the midi length.

I needed to make a full seat adjustment.

This is such a cute pattern. I love how the top meets the skirt's waistband. It almost looks like a dress. I think it would look just as nice in a solid color as well. 

Mikaela asked me to make her this skirt. This is McCall's 7392.

I'd previously made view A for her summer of 2016. I cut the size 6 in a stretch denim. I topstitched with silver contrasting thread and used silver snaps. She has worn this skirt so much in the last year and a half that she asked me to make her a similar version with a straight edge in corduroy.

This version is done in a 100% cotton goldenrod corduroy. How 1970s does this look? Very! I still used the size 6. This version is basically view C, but in the same length as view A. And I left off the belt loops.

I also used buttons and matching thread for topstitching.

I made a slight 3/4" full butt adjustment. Last year when I made a muslin of this skirt, it was hiking up a bit in the back. And that small alteration fixed that. 

This is such a perfect wardrobe addition for fall and she loves it already.

Sometimes, the simplest garment can pack a powerful punch in your wardrobe. And that's what this red skirt is doing for mine. I love the color red. It's a color that makes me happy and on the occasions that I need to be "on", it evokes confidence. 

This skirt from Simplicity 8175 fits that need. It's a self-belted midi length pencil skirt with a front slit. I created mine in a stretch wool-blend crepe that I've had in my stash for a couple of years. I think I bought it from Hancock Fabrics. I'd held onto this fabric for so long because it's not a "true red". It's warmer and what I would call a "fall red", because it is pretty close to the Pantone Fall 2017 - Grenadine 17-1558.

I cut the size 14 and I didn't have to add any additional length. I like the length straight out to of the envelope.

I really like the center front slit. I don't have a skirt like this in my wardrobe, so this is a unique piece for me.

 It's unlined, so I finished my seams with my serger and made a blind a hem.

Normally I would use an invisible zipper, but I was making this at night and I only had a standard red zipper in my stash. So I went with a center lapped zipper.

I made thread belt loop.

I love the length of this skirt. It will work perfectly with heels, obviously and flat riding boots and loafers which are my staples during fall. 

I am collaborating with Style Maker Fabrics for their Fall Tour. Michelle allowed us to select fabric cuts of our choice so that we all could create pieces that perfectly suited ours styles and personalities. 

I picked this fabulous black lace that's fused over a white knit. I decided to create one of this season's best jackets - a bomber jacket. I picked Burda Style 7210 (can't find it on the site).

I made this jacket 3 years ago and I've literally worn it to death ever since. I reached this particular pattern because I absolutely love the lines, the various characteristics such as the slanted welt zipper pockets and of course I had it already sized and cut out.

Since the lace is fused on a bright white knit, I left the jacket unlined and finished the inside with a lovely Hong Kong finish.

With the lace being fused onto the knit, I had to be particular with what type of needle to use because this fabric has a lot of structure. I initially started out with a Ballpoint, which didn't work at all. This fabric sews like a neoprene. So I switched over to a Microtex. And it worked perfectly.

I wanted my jacket to resemble high-end RTW, so I modified the front...

Sewing Tip!

I wanted to give my jacket a mid-strip. It's that piece that you see in RTW bomber jackets that's sewn on one side behind the zipper. It's similar a fly shield in pants. 

I drafted my own by measuring the length of the front edge of the jacket front, from the neck (minus the 5/8" seam allowance) to the fold line at the waist. 

My width is 3". I cut 2 of these and interfaced one of the pieces. 

Here is how it looks front and back after it was finished. 

And I picked up my zippers (22" metal zipper and 2 - 7" metal zippers for the pockets) and rib knit from Joann's. I love this fabric and I have a little bit leftover that I plan to use again. But here's something you need to know: even though this is a lace over a knit, it has almost no stretch. So I would definitely treat this as a woven.

My second piece of fabric is this luxurious faux black suede. I've worked with genuine suede and I've worked with faux suede. I made this great faux suede skirt last year and I'm dying to pull it back out. So I'm accustomed to working with this type of fabric with positive results. And I've also worked with some faux suede before that left me sad because it was too structured and was probably meant for upholstery instead of being a fashion fabric. So I know what I look for in a good quality fashion faux suede. And this is a great fabric.

I wanted a suede skirt, but one that was interesting -- appealing to look at. I didn't want a back pencil skirt or an a-line. So I picked this New Look 6418. I love the seam details of this pattern. It's the same lines that you would find in suede and leather in RTW. So if you're actually thinking of using genuine hides, this pattern is already cut out and ready to go.

I cut the size 16. I generally go up a size in New Look patterns than I would normally cut in Big Four. I find that New Look patterns run about a size smaller and have less ease than the others.

This skirt is noticeably similar to the white skirt I just recently made. The white skirt is completely self-lined. The New Look skirt is unlined. 

So for the top portion of the skirt, I flatlined it with a flannel back satin that I had in my stash. Flatlining is slightly different than underlining. I plan to do this again so, so I'll give an indepth tutorial on how to do this.

I zhooshed up my skirt, because that's just the kinda gal I am! I wanted mine to be ornate and not just basic. 

Sewing Tips!

I started out by adding eyelets to each side.

I made my markings on both sides of the side seam lines.

And used a mallet and the eyelet tools. For the top, I used rivets that were left over from my chocolate leather skinny jeans because those eyelets were not going through all of those layers of fabric.

I was on a roll, so I continued the multi-sized rivets across the front. And I laced the sides with suede lacing found in Joanns in the leather/suede section.

So, these were two great fabrics and I have to thank Michelle for including me in on this tour! Don't forget to check out Helena's project tomorrow on the next stop of the tour!