Hacking Made Easy With a Free Pattern

Happy start to the week!

I'm back from my trip to Maine. What a glorious week I had. The trip not only feed my body, but my spirit. I'll post more about the trip in another post. 

I had hoped to post this last week, but internet reception was a bit spotty at best. In order to call my husband, I actually would go out on the fire escape and stand facing the cell phone tower. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. 

I was introduced to Waffle Patterns last year during Sewing Indie Month. I really like Yuki's patterns. They are easy to make, the instructions are very well laid out, and the designs are fun, hip, and on trend. One aspect of her patterns that I especially like is that they are layered. All of the sizes are printed on the pattern, but before printing, you can actually choose the size that you would like to make and then  just print out that size. Wow, no going blind trying to cut on the correct size line!!! Or, if you are one size on top and another on the bottom, choose the two sizes and print out just the two. It's a great feature. 

The Zippered Blouson is part baseball jacket and part motorcycle jacket, but with a very soft edge.

When using a Waffle Pattern, be sure to look closely at the pattern dimensions as they are quite generous in ease. For instance, the size 40 has a 36" bust, but the finished measurement is 42". That's a full 6" of ease. So depending upon how you like your clothes to feel on your body, you may want to go down a size.

For those of you who would like to try a little pattern hacking, but feel a little intimidated, Yuki has made it easy with her free add on hood pattern for the Zippered Blouson. You can find the free pattern HERE. The hood is a three piece hood. Sit's beautifully on the head and looks great when it's down and laying across the back. I have made her hood pattern and I really like it. 

Yuki posted this option of the Zippered Blouson. I absolutely love the faux fur collar.

If you think that you would like to give a little pattern hacking a try, but with a guiding hand, you can find Yuki's Zippered Blouson pattern HERE.

If you do give the pattern a try,be sure to read about the layering of her patterns and just print out the sizes that you would like. As I said, it really is a great feature. 

Have fun!

Monday Morning Inspiration

It's a beautiful day here in Chicago. The cardinals are singing their little hearts out and that makes my heart happy too!

In the spirit of just having a little fun, I thought I would do something a little over the top and call this post, Fashion Overdone. Actually, when fashion, art, creativity in general is pushed, it can inspire the most wonderful ideas. So yes, most of us would never wear many of these things just as they are, but I hope you'll have fun taking a look and maybe they will spur a idea of your own.

 Although this is way too much for my taste, I would love to be able to see this jacket in person. Are the bows tacked on, or are they a part of the design lines?

 Big buttons and a big band. Rather fun!

 I see you!!! And from every angle :)

 Interesting cuff design

 Love the collar on this coat.

 Geometric shapes on a sheer ground. Interesting.

The hobo look. Great cuffs and I'm intrigued with the wrap. It looks as though it is a coat wrapped around the waist, but look at the huge pockets.

 Is it a bow, or is it a collar? Who cares, it's pretty!

Love the high low jacket.

  A different take on trim.

Lots of layers, but pretty.

 

 Look closely at the pants. They have a huge pleat that will give them the look of a skirt.

 I love a billowy sleeve.

A little more gingham. Not as pretty as some of the other pieces I've found, but I do like the mix of the sizes and the addition of the red.

Yes, I know this looks like an afghan, but to me it somehow works 

 Mixing prints and stripes.

I have to give this a try. It's just a piece of fabric draped around the body. The trick is figuring out how to do the drape so that it works!

 For all you biker jacket loving chicks out there. Fabulous trim.

I saw this scarf and I immediately thought of ripping some wool strips and zigzagging them together. Might be fun.

 A little graffiti like, but fun

And finally, a little too sheer, but wouldn't this be fun to wear to  a musical event!

So that's that my little dog and pony show for today!
Wishing you all a lovely week and I hope you find something to make your heart happy as well!
Rhonda