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Jacket & Vest — Butterick 5891
Over years of traveling, and a tendency to overpack, I’ve developed a sewing and wardrobing strategy to help insure that the pieces I sew will actually make the final packing cut. For my upcoming Paris spring trip, I’m heeding my own advice, using a plan for a core wardrobe that was developed over years of teaching. The theory behind the core wardrobe works for any season whether you are traveling or not. It is a common sense and fun approach to the never ending question, ‘what shall I sew next?’.
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The Way We Were & What We Wore
A blank book covered in a familiar fabric, and after a minute of head scratching, realized that I had made the cover. When I opened the book, there were just a few photos of a trip to Europe back in the '80's that Sandra and I organized.
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The Versatile Vest — Vogue 8982
When I go to St. Paul to visit my family, I always stop by Atelier 957, a chic clothing store, to shop and visit with Marina, the savvy owner. In the past, Marina had a custom clothing/alterations business upstairs, and would make garments for her customers. Marina used many different Tilton patterns, though Vogue 8982 was the pattern she used the most. Marina told me that it flattered all sizes and shapes, ‘I change the neck, lengthen it, change the sleeve, make it for all seasons.’
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Slouchy Pocket Dress & Secret Pocket Strug — Vogue 9358
Vogue 9358 is a fluid, slouchy dress with an asymmetrical pocket and hem, sleeveless or with sleeves, plus a shrug coverup that has a secret pocket hidden in the front band. Both pieces are designed for knits. Good choices for the dress are rayon/lycra, cotton/lycra, poly/lycra ITY jersey knits or light weight ponte. All of these will work for the shrug as well as linen knit, lace and mesh knits.
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DIY Linen Sheets — Easier Than You Might Think
I was privy to all the excitement around the arrival of the Pratesi linens here at MarcyTilton.com. There was some talk about using this wide fabric for making bed linens and I thought ‘oh sure’ — meaning ‘I don’t think so’.
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Stable Sewing with Mesh, Lace & Net
Stitching over the open spaces in lace and mesh could cause problems. Totally Stable to the rescue.
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Georgia O'Keefe sewed and dressed like she painted
I caught the magnificent Georgia O'Keefe exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum right before the show closed. What a treat!. Not only were there paintings I'd never seen as well as those I've seen and loved, but photographs of O'Keefe by the greats from Steiglitz to Ansel Adams to Bruce Weber and more. But for me, the big thrill was the clothes displayed mixed in with the art and artifacts. I've been intrigued by her for years, reading biographies, her own writings, visiting her home in Abiquiu and the O'Keefe museum in Santa Fe.
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Little Black Cardi — Vogue 9193
The ONE item I know I will aways wear is a black cardigan, I COLLECT them in different weights for all seasons, some hand made, some purchased. The version featured in this blog is the result of my resolve to sew things I wear in everyday life (as opposed to too fancy-schmancy). After my last closet clearing frenzy, I realized once again that I have far too many 'special' garments in the closet that are much too 'good' to wear for my daily working life at home.
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