Everyone needs a Holiday Capsule Wardrobe right?

I've been quite intrigued by the capsule wardrobe concept recently.  I have a mostly handmade wardrobe now, but without a lot of thought as to what I needed and what actually goes together.  I'm very big at just sewing what I like.  I have little time to sew, so I often don't want to bother with the boring stuff.  Thing is, boring stuff is actually pretty easy to make!

So I thought I'd test out a mini capsule, by making stuff I REALLY needed.  Christmas outfits. [Insert hilarious laughter from my audience]  Seriously guys, I have a problem, I did not need more Christmas clothes.  What I do need is pants, and more separates.  This plan did have a silver lining though. I DID actually make several separates that are totally not really Christmasy and work together in various combos (when I don't wear them with Christmas socks ;) so it was actually a win-win for my wardrobe!  Actually everything I made an be worn beyond.  I do have two pretty kitschy pieces, but I made them in previous years, and they serve to Christmas up my outfits!

Lets start with the subtle:

Sloane Sweater (basic sweater knit) with double gauze inserts.  Super comfy and casual for every day.

Now pair that sweater with a crazy Gnome print skirt and red tights?  CHRISTMAS PARTY TIME. Seriously, I wore this to my work party.  We went indoor glow in the dark mini golfing.  I beat my bosses boss.  That's good for my career right?

Now on to the less subtle:

Washi (expansion pack version with the BOW clearly) in Christmas washi fabric!  My mom knows my love of Christmas clothes and bought this for me this fabric in the summer and told me to make a dress.  So OF COURSE it had to be a wash.

Don't worry I don't normally go around with no sweater in the winter.  (Sweater hand knit by my fabulous mother in yarn first dyed for this sweater and now a standard colour over at Indigo Dragonfly yarn)  and red tights of course.

Now back to the subtle..

Day Tripper (Shwin Designs) in this super soft bamboo knit and a self drafted gathered skirt in this neat woven Japanese fabric (it's probably really to light and stiff for a gathered skit and I probably should have made a pleated skirt, but whatever, to late, and it's still works.

I also tucked it in, but I think I need a different shirt maybe to do this with (time to make a red tank for summer? haha)  This shirt also goes will with my other skirt and even just with jeans!

And just to round out this post and confirm I like kitschy Christmas sewing, here are some pieces I've made previously but have no good photos off!

Who doesn't need a Made by Rae Ruby in Rudolph fabric (with bodice mod to allow nursing)

Lane Raglan (lengthened probably 4 inches) and self-drafted tights in Christmas Sweater knit fabric!

Strawberry Season!

I'm going to attempt to blog more regularly, and am hoping to give this here blog some spring cleaning.... here goes on the more regular blogging part!

As you fine readers may have noticed... I love dresses.  And lately, I love sewing with knits.  I also love strawberries.  So well yeah, when I saw this fabric on L'Oiseau Fabric's site, I clearly had to buy it.

After some thought, I decided to make something simple and not childish.  Thankfully Salme Pattern's had recently released a V-neck Dress pattern which fit the bill. 

It went well, I cut a size bigger than my normal thinking I needed too based on measurements (I actually have a thick waist compared to the rest of me, surprising, I know.)  But I ended up taking it back in.  I also realize how much I hate facings on knits.  I don't care what you all say, they Do.Not.Stay.Down.  So I topstiched anyways.

I also added some red knit to the shoulders for some interest.  I'm not yet sure if looks neat or vaguely military. Thoughts?

Also, my oldest son is a crazy kid, and insisted on being in the photos, so I thought I'd share his silliness too.  Just wait till you see some of the photos of him modelling some new pieces I've recently sewn for him.  Man that kid has the poses down!  If I didn't know better, I'd have thought he'd watched Zoolander.

Final note.  I recently discovered some ridiculously awesome Canadian retailers of serious awesome patterned knits.  Simplifi Fabric in Ontario, and the aforementioned L'Oiseau in Alberta.  Not to mention a few awesome Facebook groups.  My sewing budget is basically blown.

A very belated Me Made May round-up

It's been a busy few months and I've been a neglectful blogger!  I admit with time short I tend to post to Instagram and forget to blog!  

But! I'm planning some blog changes soon and plan to get back in the grove as I'm involved in some exciting things coming up soon!!

I am however NOT lacking in sewing product these days though!  I've made a ton of new clothes for me and some for the boys.  

I'm planning more specific posts on some items in the future but to tide you all over, here's a round up of some new items I posted to Instagram that I made during Me Made May!  

Top Row: City Girl Frock (See Kate Sew), Wiksten Tank (with added side vents due to lack if fabric!)

Bottom Row: Another Wiksten Tank, Julia Cardigan (Mouse House Creations) 

Top Row: Another City Girl Frock, Colette Monetta

Bottom Row: pre-blog 1940's pattern reprint dress (simplicity?), another Wiksten Tank (see a theme)?