PR Sewing Bee Challenge 1: Living Coral Cardigan (Part 1)

Round 1: Sew a Knit Cardigan Inspired by the Pantone Color of the Year, "Living Coral"

"An animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge. Vibrant, yet mellow Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment..."

I'll be honest... The first thing I did was google it! And I saw this:

Coral isn't a color I wear often, and I know there isn't a coral knit in my fabric stash (which needs to be depleted before I make any new yardage purchases). Two things came to mind... a teal blue knit in my stash and the Kacey Musgraves "Golden Hour" album cover.

If you're not familiar with Ms. Musgraves, you should check this country music "yeehaw queen" out. She's sassy and sweet, has a little country twang to her sound, but this album is different from her previous releases. Aside from the cover art coordinating with "living coral", this album was described in the following way:

 Throughout the songs on Golden Hour, the East Texas singer-songwriter is radiant, awestruck, taking the scenic route to the bar just for the hell of it.On Golden Hour, everything sprawls and swells and gushes, a gaping sky that makes the sonic landscapes of her previous albums feel like mere set dressing. 

You have to listen to the album to understand how it captures the "living coral" description of being life affirming and vibrant... the songs are soft and give me great comfort. So, that's it... my cardigan will have to encompass those traits, as well!

This McCalls pattern 7254 has been in my pattern drawer for while now, I just love the curve and depth of the collar and how it "swoops" around to the hemline. I like the extra length, so I've chosen view E.

The fabric is a double knit that I've had for 10 years! I got it from a fabric co-op I was in, and initially bought 3 yards with the hopes of making my mother-in-law a jacket or sweatshirt. Time passed and it was shelved... until now! Speaking of "living coral", this fabric has a tonal curled pattern to it, which resemble OCEAN WAVES. I took it as a "sign", and that pretty much sealed the deal for moving forward with this project! 

But, I don't just want to make a blue cardigan with a wave pattern on it. I want to incorporate the "living coral" color, as well as invoke a little "Kacey Musgraves" vibe while I'm at it. I did a few more Google searches and this image spoke to me... the flowers decorating the lapels of her jacket. 

Maybe that's how I can include the coral color, in a nod to the "country western jacket" style? I dug through ALL my bins: the scrap bins, the stash shelves, the trims bin, and the sparkles bin. Here's what I found:

Pretty crazy, right? The good news is, I know EXACTLY what I'm going to do next!

Do You Like to Read (Almost as Much as You Like to Sew)?

Hello, again.
I'm shaking my head at myself... I've disappeared from blogging before, only to return with lame excuses and apologies. Again.  Sorry, it's just that sometimes it feels like I failed, but if I'm being honest, I really needed to lighten my load and remove a few things from my "plate".  I could tell you the whole story, but it wouldn't make for a "fun and enjoyable" read, so I'll skip it and just hit the ground running.

Today was my first day back at work after a 2-week winter break. It was lovely. It was restful. It was relaxing. I read THREE books. I sewed TWO garments... FOR MYSELF (more on that in the next post).  I returned to work today not with an ounce of dread or regret, just a promise to myself to make time for the things I WANT to do, and not make excuses for leaving myself for last.

I stumbled across this book, "The Gown" by Jennifer Robson at Costco during break, and the back cover synopsis had me captivated!

London, 1947: Besieged by the harshest winter in living memory, burdened by onerous shortages and rationing, the people of postwar Britain are enduring lives of quiet desperation despite their nation’s recent victory. Among them are Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, embroiderers at the famed Mayfair fashion house of Norman Hartnell. Together they forge an unlikely friendship, but their nascent hopes for a brighter future are tested when they are chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime honor: taking part in the creation of Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown.

Toronto, 2016: More than half a century later, Heather Mackenzie seeks to unravel the mystery of a set of embroidered flowers, a legacy from her late grandmother. How did her beloved Nan, a woman who never spoke of her old life in Britain, come to possess the priceless embroideries that so closely resemble the motifs on the stunning gown worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her wedding almost seventy years before? And what was her Nan’s connection to the celebrated textile artist and holocaust survivor Miriam Dassin?  
With The Gown, Jennifer Robson takes us inside the workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in history was created. Balancing behind-the-scenes details with a sweeping portrait of a society left reeling by the calamitous costs of victory, she introduces readers to three unforgettable heroines, their points of view alternating and intersecting throughout its pages, whose lives are woven together by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship, and the redemptive power of love.


After dinner tonight, I threw on my comfy-cozies and my favorite blanket, thinking I'd just read for a little while. One chapter lead to two... lead to three...

Did you know that Christian Dior's sister, Catherine, spent time in the concentration camp Ravensbruck? Details here, but... I love historical fiction, it makes history so much more fascinating! I'm on page 24 and had to stop to tell you about it because I'm already convinced it's going to be a great read!  I also grabbed another title that day, "The Paris Seamstress" by Natasha Lester. That book will be next after this one, probably... Thanks, Costco!!!

Have you read these? Hear anything about them? Have other similar titles you'd like to share?
One more thing... If I fall off the face of the planet again, you can always find me in Instagram @couturebykristine  Fingers crossed, I come back and post again within the week!?

Riverdale Skater Dress

This plaid skater dress reminded us us something that Betty Cooper would wear at Pop's to share a milkshake with Jughead, so I'm calling it the Riverdale Skater Dress! It was inspired by the gray plaid dress shown, which she spotted on the Forever 21 website. I wasn't sure I could beat the $19 price tag, but since I was able to use everything I already owned, that makes my version FREE, right?! ;)

I was pretty surprised to find ZERO skater dress patterns in my cabinet, but I managed through the challenge... I used the top of Vogue 8949 and the bottom of Butterick 6019. I had to make some minor sizing adjustments (she's a petite 5'1") and of course, pockets had to be added!

I was a little concerned about marrying the top to the bottom, but simply removing an inch from the top of the circle skirt gave me the matching measurement to the waistband. I also removed the back darts to give her some more wearing ease... you'd never know!
The fabric is lovely linen that I bought years ago when I belonged to an online fabric co-op. I had about 3 yards of it, which was more than enough. It was very easy to work with, and I lined just the bodice so give a clean finish to the armholes and neckline.

It's got that "twirl factor", too! We were going to go to the malt shop for the photo shoot, but the weekend ended up being jam-packed and by Saturday afternoon I was too exhausted (party pooper).

I really hope that she wears it and enjoys it... it's so sweet and simple and feminine!

We have a funny coincidental tradition of me making her a blue and white dress in the spring... Every time she is a little bit older, a little more beautiful, and fills my heart a little bit more than before! I'll have to find the old pics to share next time.

Copying: Crime or Compliment?

Isn't this Alexander McQueeen dress lovely? I love the way the two patterns of fabric are positioned vertically (with no seam at the waist) and although I have NOWHERE to wear it, I've always been a sucker for an off-the-shoulder dress!

It appeared in my Instagram feed quite some time ago and I just love it. I'm not crazy about the $700 price tag  though! So, I searched online and did some thinking, dug through my patterns and found some lace online that might work for it. I can remember where I bought it from, it's been that long!

But, I'm really perplexed... I'm feeling some guilt every time I try to get started on the pattern work. I'm a teacher, so there is no debating with me... copying is wrong! But, if I'm not trying to pass it off as my design, is it ok to knock off a designer? Perhaps I should make a dress that's "inspired by" this look, rather than a replica? On one hand, I really like the challenge of adjusting a pattern to create an exact "knock off". It would be time consuming, but gratifying (if it's successful). But, it would be faster and easier to just use an existing pattern with a similar "vibe". I'm not in a great place with my body these days, so investing a lot of time and trouble into a garment that I might not be wearing for a long time seems like a negative (IF I shrink soon).

So, if I were to take the "easy" way out, these are the patterns under consideration...

This one (McCalls 7466) is my daughter's pick. Very wearable, very similar. I could use the chevron lace and place it diagonal, like the stripes on the illustration. 

McCalls 4510 (OOP) came from a swap, I think. The wavy color blocking lines are fun, but would the linear stripes "clash" with the curves?

McCalls 7538 could be interesting, with the diagonals at the waist being a contrast. This pattern also has a scoop neckline (which I prefer), and the stripes of the chevron lace would make the "X" of the waistline even more defined.

So, what's your opinion... Is copying directly in bad taste or a form of flattery? If I use one of these pattern instead, which one do you favor?

p.s. The dress for my daughter is in the final stages and if the weather cooperates, I should be able to photograph it this weekend and post it in a few days! It SO super cute!!! We have a fun plan for the photo shoot, too!

Ok! Take Two!

Wow! I wasn't expecting the response I saw, and it made me SO happy! You like me... you really like me?! :)

So, let me explain. I left blogging when I decided to put my energy into growing my sewing business.  It didn’t take much to go from occasionally doing alterations and creating a couple dresses a year to a calendar full of appointments. Spring formals led into bridal season led into Homecoming season led into the holiday season... Add in a few stage costumes for fitness competitors and before I knew it, I’d been going nonstop for over a year without any breaks.

I’ve missed sewing for myself and my family. So, I flipped the “Gone Fishing” sign, and closed my doors... until August 1. I’m thirsty for something fun, so my daughter and I have a game plan!

She likes to shop, but that’s no fun with a mom like me. She’s grown up hearing me say, “I can make that!”   so, we’re going to make a game of it. She chooses a “look” she’d like to own, and I will create a similar version using only patterns and fabrics I have on hand!  May sound crazy, but it will be a great way for me to reduce my fabric inventory, and having her help tracing, pinning, and cutting will help the projects go faster (not to mention having good company in my sewing room)!

Our first project is already well underway, so my next post will have all the details! Here's a sneak peek... See you again soon! 

Is Anybody Out There?!?

Does anybody still follow this blog??? I'm debating about starting fresh or resurrecting this one...

It's nice to see where my sewing journey and the internet started... but, if I move will people find me?

So, if you're out there and reading, can you send me a sign? A comment, maybe? How about a "Hey, there! I love to sew pretty things, too!"

I've Moved!!!

You can find my sewing posts at a new location: www.couturebykristine.com

I'll be posting sewing updates about important new projects there, or at my facebook page, Couture by Kristine. You can also follow me on Instagram at (you guessed it), couturebykristine

During my blogging hiatus, I've been sewing more and more for clients, so I rather than try to keep up with a blog and a website, it just seems easier to post all in one place. I really hope you'll "readjust your GPS" and keep following me in my sewing adventures. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for all the encouragement, support, comments, feedback, and help you've given me.

Thanks and see you soon (I hope)!!!

Kristine