Another candidate...and new glasses!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I changed my mind, and made another candidate for inclusion in my travel wardrobe. This is B5786, View D.

The fabric is a lovely Italian cotton check from Fabric Mart, purchased several years ago. I lengthened the top by 2 1/2 inches to cover my bum, in case I do take it to Iran. I also cut separate front facings on the bias, and did bias sleeve

plackets and pockets.

It's quite comfortable to wear, and goes with my favorite Eileen Fisher slim pants in Ash. These are fabulous to travel with and I'm taking them in black, as well.  The only reason the shirt may not make the cut is if it wrinkles too much. It is 100% cotton, so I'm wearing it often to see how it does.

I have some new sun readers from EyeBobs, designed by one of my favorite
fashion divas, Iris Apfel (blogged about here).

Aren't they cute?

And I got these several weeks ago, designed by Melissa Eyewear;

Still no eye makeup, although my allergies are MUCH better.  I DO love me
some flashy glasses!

We leave two weeks from tomorrow...I'm off to the studio to make a travel vest (with POCKETS!).

This and That...

Here is Katherine Tilton's new top for Butterick, 5891:

and with the collar closed

I used a batik from B&J Fabrics and a striped quilting fabric for the trim. I had a few problems with this pattern, and I still didn't get the "peplums" to look like they do on the pattern envelope. I added a facing to the collar so I could wear it open. It's got potential, but the jury is still out.

Several people asked some questions about the "scarf lifter" I mentioned in my last post which I made to avoid having "flat scarf head" when wearing my hijab

I took a couple of raglan shoulder pads and covered them with black knit

zig-zagged around the stack o' pads and sewed a strip of Velcro to the top;

added a corresponding strip of Velcro to the appropriate spot on the scarf

and Voila...

I can sew Velcro strips to other scarves, too, so I can have a change of hijab!

                                          ******************

I didn't make this, but I think it's a cute look...it's from Banana Republic:

It's a sleeveless peplum, so I'll only wear it under a jacket...

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While browsing Lafayette 148 the other night, I was struck by how much difference   

styling makes, whether for merchandising, or when putting together your own outfit.

Look at the difference between the pictures...the lightweight linen top is the same, but oh, the difference the styling makes. It's interesting to me that Lafayette 148 has both pictures on their site, maybe the "styled" outfit is too much for some?

And again:

Look at these two...I never would have looked at the plain one, but immediately was drawn to #2...I find this fascinating!

Till later...

Here There Be Dragons...

and...a 4th and final Manteau! (Unless I change my mind...)

This time, I used V8626, which is OOP...

I made the shorter view, but added the collar. I like the pleats in the back.

The fabric is a wonderful quality cotton stretch print from Marcy Tilton which I bought last year; she has the same fabric, in green, on her website right now. Since I BARELY had enough fabric, I used a striped ikat cotton from Stonemountain Fabric for the facings. It's so cool when your stash yields JUST
the right fabric!

Since I was born in the Year of the Dragon, I felt this fabric had to be mine...

And HERE...is my hijab

I used a wonderful french "seersucker", also from Marcy, which is lightweight,
cool, and does not slip. To avoid the dreaded "flat scarf-head", I made a little
"lifter" out of two shoulder pads, covered in black, and velcroed to the scarf.
Never let it be said that sewists aren't ingenious!

We leave in 3 1/2 weeks, having received our "invitation" from the Iranian government.  I'll do a Travel Wardrobe post soon...

A Lot of M's...

MANTEAU #3

Our trip to Iran is a month away...so I made another cover-up, AKA "Manteau".
I went back to my TNT shirt pattern B5526, which I've made too many times to count and came up with this:

It's got front and back princess seams, I added side-seam pockets,  lengthened it to just above knee level, and added a belt.

i

The fabric is a wonderful hand-dyed cotton from Marcy Tilton called "Shibori Moon". Isn't that an evocative name? It's quite light weight, so will be good for the hotter days.

MARFY I made two "MUSLINS" in my search for a pattern for my MOTHER-OF-THE-BRIDE jacket for DD's wedding in October. I have a gorgeous fabric and am looking for a worthy pattern. I dipped my toe in the
Marfy pool (an Italian pattern company) and tried these two patterns:

which was pretty, but too large, and not really right for my fabric... and this

which was a smaller size, but still just not right  (do I sound like Goldilocks?) I am eager to try this vintage YSL

but will have to wait till I get back from Iran.

I found this picture on a blog I've been following, Manteaus Daily,

which shows some Manteaux in a store...they're brighter than I thought they'd be, but I don't see any patterns. We shall see...

MORE FROM MARGY LATER!