Crepe High Low Tunic

Last week I attended a work conference in Mason City.  One of the attendees was wearing this gorgeous top from Banana Republic.

  I of course did what anyone else would do and rushed to the fabric store to purchase some lovely crepe suiting.   As soon as I got home I searched my pattern stash for the perfect pattern.   Butterick 5509, view A,  from 1991was the perfect match. 

I added 6 inches to the back, squared off the sides and used french seams on the side and shoulder seams.  I finished the arm holes and neck edge with seam binding.  The front and back hem was finished with a 5/8 hem which I then folded into a 2 inch hem.

 Overall, I am very pleased with how my top turned out.

The Perfect Tie-Neck Blouse

The InStyle Fall 2015 issue has left me full of sewing plans.  Clearly the Ultimate Fall Style Guide as the cover states. 

The Perfect Tie-Neck Blouse was first on my list.  

I was sure I had a pattern somewhere in my stash and sure enough I found this 1979 McCall's pattern #6865.  I made view D but without the sleeves.

I had some lovely, blue, satin in my fabric stash perfect for this project.

Without sleeves I only needed to cut 3 pattern pieces.  Unfortunately I bought this pattern used and I discovered it was missing the front piece for view D.  The front pattern piece for view A was what I ended up cutting with modifications made to the front neckline.  The pattern was easy to sew and went together within a couple of hours.  

I found a great tutorial on line to show me how to attach the collar.
http://www.burdastyle.com/techniques/bow-collar-for-blouse.com

Eileen Fisher-Refurbished Jersey Tank

Browsing through InStyle magazine and came across this beautiful Eileen Fisher black jersey tank and fell in love.

Searching through my fabric stash trying to find black jersey and it hit me! I had and old black jersey dress, that has exhausted it's useful life, and I knew that this was what this dress was meant to be.

I brought my dress to the dining room and began cutting.

 I chopped the sleeves, made my bottom angle, and a narrow double-fold hem finished it off!