104 outside and thinking about Fall

My sadly small, overworked summer wardrobe can't catch a break. Projects in the sewing room aren't progressing, and I still feel too stingy to clothes shop. Why pay for clothes I don't really love? (see first post.)

Still tweaking the New Look wing collar blouse, making it larger around the bust and spreading the sleeves a whopping 2 inches. Yikes, Popeye! The cantaloupe fabric is cut out and marked, but I haven't tackled the interfacing yet as I want to re-read a post by Gorgeous Things who explains the dos and don'ts of successful techniques. Plus, it's very hot which makes one very lazy indeed.

About fall: It will arrive (in late October/early November) and I will want something fallish, if not warm, to wear. Thinking again about twin sets and how very much I need to fit an easy, friendly pattern. I went to my modest pattern stash and fished out this little easy-to-sew wardrobe builder number, Simplicity 4503. I actually purchased this pattern a year ago and tried making the cardigan, but it failed miserably due to poor fabric selection. Also, it was around the time I discovered I would never be a straight out of the envelope kind of sewer, but instead must resign myself to executing multiple alterations if ever I hoped to achieve a proper fit.

Interestingly, I see that Simplicity has given this photo montage a fresh Photoshop update, changing the model's clothes to appealing shades of rust and red. My pattern envelope depicts the same model wearing outfits in boring ol' brown and beige. I predict the visual change will improve sales.

The cardigan is very shaped, almost an hourglass silhouette. I'll need to "relax" the waistline, as nature has already given me shape. My standard alterations include 2" wide back adjustment with shoulder dart, forward shoulder rotation of 1-1/2", fat arm spread, full bust spread of, oh let's say 3 inches (and since there's no dart, we'll just cut out the bump where dart legs would normally be) and let's make sure the whole thing hits at the top of my hip bone. Otherwise I'll never have enough fabric to encompass the backside. Whew! so much work for four pattern pieces (five if I want pockets, which I don't if it's shortened). The shell won't require much work, just a bit wider across the front and rotated shoulder seams. The pattern calls for an open back neck, closed by a hook and eye. Nah.

The purse is actually nice looking. I may find some interesting brocade or leather and have a go. The price of handbags is absurd, even at TJ Max. I'll leave the pants alone for now; I haven't the courage to tackle crotch curve with first purchasing a flexible ruler.

OK, enough planning. Off to bone up on interfacing.

Peace.