It's a Pajama Party!

 A few years ago, I read Madame Chic by Jennifer Scott, and thoroughly enjoyed it. You can find all 3 of her books HERE. I've read them all and enjoyed each of them. 

In her first book she talks about going to France and being an exchange student(something dear to my heart). Not long after she arrived, she had given her clothes to her host mother to wash. Her host mother took 1 look at her pajamas, at least what she was wearing for pajamas, I think they were an old pair of sweat pants that had belonged to her sister, and an old sweatshirt. They were full of holes. Her host mother was horrified as she thought that she may have done something in the wash to cause the holes. Jennifer told her that no, the holes were there. Her host mother just couldn't understand why she would want to wear something like this. The conversation prompted her to go out and purchase a proper pair of pajamas, and she said that she was amazed by how much better she felt, and how much better she slept.  

This prompted me to take a closer look at what I was wearing to bed. Not the best. So, I have been on a mission to revamp my bedtime wardrobe, and find pieces that feel wonderful, that I enjoy wearing, and will keep me warm in the winter. I thought I would share my makes as they are simple, comfortable, and I actually look forward to putting them on at night.

I have found that I REALLY love wearing leggings to bed, at least in the winter. They stay in place, and aren't riding up my leg during the night. The legging pattern that I have used over and over again is the Loveland Legging pattern from Sew News. I can make these in less than an hour. The top that I am wearing below is a free pattern from Fancy Tiger Crafts. It's their One Hour Top pattern, and you can find it HERE. I lengthened the top a bit, and lengthened the sleeves. Love it!     

I recently made a pullover out of a wool fleece blanket that I love wearing. I used an old Great Copy Pattern that is out of print. It's their New York Style Pullover. I looked on Etsy and found a number of Great Copy patterns, but not this one. But, if you are persistent, I'm sure that sooner or later it will pop up. For cold mornings, it's just the perfect pullover to wear with my pajamas.   

This pair of pajamas is exactly the same as the pair above, just in a different fabric. 

I absolutely love the dolman style sleeves.  

The pajama pants that I am wearing below are another free pattern from Martha Stewart. I have used, and used this pattern, for pajama pants to street wear pants. You can find the pattern HERE. I've paired it with another fleece top, the La Megeve Pullover from Naughty Bobbins Patterns.  

Underneath the pullover, I'm wearing my favorite pajama top, the Molly Tee from Pattern Union. 

The next 2 pairs of pajamas are both made with the Loveland Leggings pattern and the Molly Tee. This has become my standard pajama outfit.

My friend Cennetta of The Mahogany Stylist makes pajama pants for her family for Christmas. She loves the idea of the leggings and tee shirt. I told her that if she makes these for her family, she is going to create a monster as they are going to want more and more. Leggings and a tee to bed is just the best!!! :)

Happy Sleeping!!!

Rhonda

There Are Patterns That Deserve To Be Made Over and Over

 Do you remember the old 'That Girl' sitcom that Marlo Thomas starred in? Well, there's a channel that has been playing the reruns on Sunday evenings. I was still quite small when it came out, but I loved it. Even as a little girl I always looked forward to see what she would be wearing. Some of the costumes are very dated, but some are just as adorable today as they were all those years ago. In my next Monday Morning Inspiration post, we'll take a look at some of my favorites. But,for today, please bear with me while I try to catch up on my 1 year challenge posts. 

Today's roundup takes me from September 15th through September 28th. As you'll see,there are a few patterns that I love so much that I have made a number of times. But I guess that if you love it, then why not? ;) 

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I so love a rectangle, so when I found out about the Envelope Dress pattern from Cris Wood, I had to give it a try. I loved it so much that I just had to make another. For this dress, I used a border print, and was so pleased with how it turned out. The Envelope Dress is not an actual pattern, but instructions on how to make your own. So easy, and well explained. It's one that you just can't mess up! :)  

 

I have so enjoyed this dress. It's one that proves that a pattern can be super simple, and yet fun to wear. Of course the red ponte knit adds to the fun! The pattern is from Sew News, and it's the Estes Dress. I paired the dress with a little pair of boots that I got from Muck Boots. I so love the red buffalo plaid on the sides of the boots. Super fun for winter :)

ellie

Another repeat make. I initially made Vogue 9237 this past summer in a fun orange floral linen. Once I got the first made, I knew I wanted another. I was going through a drawer and found this fabric that I have had forever. Loved the floaty quality of the fabric, and thought it would be cute in this pattern. I changed the sleeve to mimic the floaty quality of the dress. I was really happy with how it turned out!

The top I'm wearing below is the Easy V Express Top from Islander Sewing. It had languished on my sewing table for longer than I would like to admit. But I finally got it finished. Paired it with an out of print pattern from McCall's, McCall's 6081. I so love the skirt, and I really like the top, but I won't be putting the 2 together in the future. That's one of the many benefits from doing this little challenge, I get to really see what I like and don't like.  

This skirt and top have been a long time favorite of mine. I made the skirt for a Fabulous Free Pattern Friday post. You can see it HERE. The top was done for a Sleeves on Saturdays post. You can find the sleeve HERE. 

The skirt is one that will swish when you walk. It's all about being a very happy skirt ;)

This romper pattern from Ellie and Mac has become another new favorite. At this point. I've made 2, and I'm hoping to make another. I really love it. So comfortable, and I think the neckline is especially pretty. You can find the pattern HERE. 

If you've been following along with my 1 year challenge, you've seen these pants before. I really love them. Self-drafted, so no pattern. A friend gave me the jacket. Just made for such a fun outfit. 

The top I'm wearing under the jacket is the Presto Popover Top from Naughty Bobbins Patterns. This is the perfect under a jacket  top!

Some days, ya just gotta clean the house ;) Especially when it's warm out, I love to wear a dress made from those pre-gathered dress lengths from the fabric store. Just 1 seam and 2 shoulder straps and you have a garment! I look decent, and the dress is super easy to just throw in the washing machine once I've finished my cleaning! 

 

Jeans and a t-shirt is a true staple in our wardrobes these days. As you've heard before, I absolutely love the Ginger Jeans pattern from Closet Core Patterns. I have no plans to ever purchase another pair of jeans. Another pattern that has become a true staple in my wardrobe is the Molly Tee from Pattern Union. It fits SO well, and it's so easy to make. Once you've made 1, you'll make a ton!!!

We've finally made it up to September 24th! And, what I began this post with, I'm also ending it, another Envelope Dress from Chris Wood Sews. I had gotten this fabric from Tessuti. It was a remnant, and I thought it was so pretty. when I received it, the print kinda threw me for a loop as I had no idea what I would do with it. I was going through my "collection" of fabric, looking for another piece of fabric and came across this piece. As I looked at it, I realized that I just might be able to get an Envelope Dress out of the piece. It worked!!! There's a seam down the front and back, and I was able to match the pattern. So, what initially stumped me has become an absolute favorite!    

Before I go, I just want to thank all of you who cheer me on. It really is such a gift. I have now been blogging for 10 years. There are times that the road has been bumpy, and times when I've wanted to give up. But, as I said, so many of you continue to cheer me on, and it's you that gives me to desire to carry on. 

Thank you so very much!!!

 Rhonda

Monday Morning Inspiration/Casual Inspiration for at Home Wear

Over the weekend, I talked to a friend. It was great to reconnect. During the course of the conversation, she commented on my recipe posts, and asked if I will be getting back to them. I also received another note from someone who has followed the blog for quite sometime. She told me how much she enjoys the blog, and how much she has missed my "regular" posts. An apology is in order. I've been cooking, a LOT!!! And too, I still look for inspiration. It's just that I haven't been sharing. 

This past week, I thought of 2 of my favorite designers, and wondered if there would be a spring collection. Since the collections are typically done a year in advance, I hoped that there would be, and thankfully, there is a spring collection for both Carolina Herrera and Maria Pinto(a Chicago based designer).

As I looked through their collections, what inspired me the most were pieces that would translate into everyday wear. Things that I will enjoy whether I'm out and about...or not.

This palazzo pant from Carolina Herrera reminded me so much of the Winslow Culottes from Helen's Closet. 
   

This tiered evening skirt is not something most of us would wear at home, but it reminded me of the Phoebe Maxi from Pattern Union.     

This fabulous little dress screams spring, and works beautifully with flats or sandals. Love the appliqued flowers along the bottom. 

For something rather fresh, this mix of plaids is quite fun!

How could one not be happy with the mix of polka dots???

Maria Pinto has incorporated mesh into her collection, and I LOVE it!!! A mesh dress over a pair of tights and a tank, such fun!

Here she used the mesh on the back of a jacket. Would look super cute with a fun print tank underneath.

I'm really loving knee length shorts. The picture on the right shows how easy the outfit can be to wear in a more casual manner. 

This asymmetrical skirt is so flirty. The lantern sleeve turns what would be a rather boring t-shirt into something much more interesting. You can find my tutorial on the lantern sleeve HERE.

Nothing could be more simple to throw on than a lightweight denim dress with a center front zipper. The pockets make it all the better for keeping your cell phone handy. 

I hope that a few of the pieces have inspired you. I can't wait to get into the studio and pump out a few new pieces! 

If you know of patterns that closely resemble some of the pieces I've shared, let me know in the comments, and I will share them on the blog.

Wishing you a lovely week :)

Rhonda

For Whom Do I Dress?

The last 3 weeks have been interesting to say the least. When the call came for businesses to close, and everyone to stay at home, it seemed a little surreal. A friend of mine even commented that it felt like the movie, "On The Beach." But once reality began to take hold, I like everyone, felt a little out of sorts. Daily routines have been interrupted, there's no where to go except the grocery store, pharmacy, maybe a hardware store, and even those should be visited the least amount possible. Last week I had to pick up a prescription. As I was getting ready, it suddenly occurred to me that I was actually excited about going to the pharmacy. I got dressed, put on my makeup...even earrings!!! Here something that has always been considered an errand was now an outing! As I thought a little more about it, I asked myself, "for whom do I dress?" Is it just for others, for myself, or a combination of the two? I think for most of us it's the latter. We like to look nice, but we also want to present ourselves to the world in the best possible manner. 

As the day wore on, I noticed that I felt so much better about myself. It really didn't matter that the only person that would see me, other than those that I encountered on my quick trip to the pharmacy, would be my husband. Dressing was important for me. So, I decided that this would not be a one day event. I would get up, shower, dress, and put my makeup on just as if I had somewhere to go, and document it :)

Here are the last 3 days;

On Sunday I dressed as if I would be going to church. It made the entire day special. I'm wearing the Sumekko dress from Pattern Union. I added flanges to the armholes, and made an infinity scarf from my leftover fabric to give the dress a cowl collar look. Underneath I am wearing the Londa's Terrific "T" from Londa's Creative Threads.  

Monday's choice was the free Monroe Turtleneck pattern from Tessuti Fabrics, and the Barb Pant from Style Arc patterns. This is the first top I have made using the Monroe Turtleneck pattern. I really like the pattern. The Barb pants, I've made quite a few. They are quick to make, and easy to pull on. You can find a link to get the Barb Pant pattern for free HERE.     

Today I decided to wear one of my favorite outfits, the Molly Tee from Pattern Union, and my cargo pants that I blogged about HERE. 

Here's a better picture of the outfit. I just love how the outfit came together :) I always feel great when I put this on! 

So, what have you been doing? Are you getting dressed, or staying in your pajamas? 

I will be posting my pictures on Instagram and using #Idressforme It would be great if you would join me!

Rhonda  

Pattern Testing/Naughty Bobbins Patterns

Back in December, I had the opportunity to test the new Bon Matin dress pattern from Naughty Bobbins Patterns. So, I have been sitting on this dress for quite some time. What I especially appreciated was that Coco really wanted the input of the testers, and the pattern was not finished until she had received the comments. 

The sketch of the dress gives the impression that it is a little high-waisted. It is not. It sits beautifully at the waist. The dress is quite feminine, and because there are no zippers, or button openings, it's one that you can literally throw on and be out the door in minutes.   

Pictures of me in the dress will soon follow, but here is what I made. I had a little fun with the pattern of the fabric, using it horizontally for the bodice, and vertically for the skirt. As I said, the waistline is elasticized, and the skirt features side seam pockets.

   

The sleeves(and you know I love a good sleeve!)are 3/4 length, slightly gathered at the shoulder, balloon out at the bottom, and have a small edged finished. 

I absolutely loved how the neckline was finished. The binding is serged on 1 side, but the end of the tie is sewn and turned. The process is very well explained in the instructions. The neckline is feminine, and just a bit alluring with the opening and the tie. 

I had thought that I would order a red belt to wear with my dress, but I remembered the Sobi Obi Belt pattern from Pattern Union. I have some leftover red suede, so I think that will work out just fine :)

I just ordered the pullover and stirrup pant pattern from Naughty Bobbins Patterns. Really looking forward to putting this one together!

By the way, the Bon Matin dress pattern lends itself to some wonderful hacks. The bodice would be lovely lengthened into a tunic. I actually have it on my cutting table :) Hoping to finish it over the weekend!

Happy Sewing!

 Rhonda

A 2019 Look Back

A belated

Happy New Year!

This past year has was a little quiet, blog wise anyway. Last February, I broke my arm in 2 places just above my wrist, and that kinda set the tone for a quiet year. But, all in all, it really was a great year. I found a cousin that I had no idea that I had through Ancestry. She is such a lovely person, and someone that I am very proud to call a cousin. I also reconnected with a family member after 30 years. This brought home to me that no matter how bleak something may appear, never lose hope. 

I've posted more on Instagram than I have on the blog. Not that I am moving exclusively to Instagram, it's just a platform that's been quick and easy. So, to close out 2019, I thought I would share my most liked Instagram posts.

My cargo pants, they have been a favorite. This was a challenge that Cennetta of The Mahogany Stylist and I did. Berkley and I do a lot of hiking, and cargo pants have become my favorite go to pant as I can carry my phone, money, credit cards, and I am still completely hands free.      

I took my first ever weaving class at Chicago Weaving School. Loved it! I don't know that it will become something that I will invest a lot of time doing, but I would like to learn and explore more about the craft.

This is an old make,but I posted it as an outfit of the day. The jacket is one that I made from a Kantha quilt that I ordered from India. When I initially made it, I went back and forth about cutting down the collar. I finally elected to just leave it alone. The jacket is a free pattern from Sew News. You can read more about it HERE. My jeans are the Ginger Jeans from Closet Case Patterns. I don't think I will ever purchase another pair of jeans as this pattern is absolutely fabulous.   

This dress was a favorite go to dress this past fall. I began with a t-shirt pattern and then added the rectangle drape. So easy to make. It's from my Fabulous Free Pattern Friday collection. You can find the original post HERE.  

Another favorite. I wore this jacket throughout the holiday season. You can see my post on the making of this jacket HERE. 

Another Closet Case Patterns favorite, the Ebony T-Shirt and Dress pattern. I have worn the dress with heels, flats, and even tennis shoes! Fun and easy to wear.    

This is one of my favorite outfits for summer. In the top picture on the right, you can see that I am actually wearing 2 layers. The top layer is sheer. I can take off the sheer layer and just wear the underneath layer. The sheer layer can then become a wrap. Perfect combo for traveling. 

A favorite go to pattern for pants is the Barb Pant from Style Arc. I think I may have 4 or 5 pairs of these pants. The t-shirt is another that I have made more times than I can count. It's the Molly Tee from Pattern Union.  

The top that I am wearing was made from vintage tea towels. The pants are linen, and I added a drawstring casing to the side seam for a little added interest. Wore these all summer long. 

The dress below was one that I did for Sew News. It's the Magic Bias Dress from Fashion In Harmony. This is another dress that's easy to throw on. Love it!  

Another Magic Bias Dress. It's also a summer favorite. I didn't shorten this version. It's amazing how different the dress looks in another fabric.

Yet another Closet Case pattern, the Amy Jumpsuit. I had a few fitting issues with the pattern, but all in all, I like it and plan to make it again.

And finally, my favorite make of 2019. Thankfully, I took the class prior to breaking my arm. I used my own watercolor painting that I had printed at Spoonflower for the center panels. The bag pattern is the Poppins Bag from Annie's Two Patterns. You can find all the info HERE.  

I love to laugh. After all, it's good for the soul. I saw this on Facebook and just had to share it! I think that most of us can relate :)

Here's to a fabulous new decade. May it be our best yet!

Rhonda