White Linen Pants and “Butter” Cotton Shirt
One of my goals since joining the Mood Sewing Network has been to create garments that coordinate with each other. It’s frustrating to have a closet full of cool pieces when nothing goes with anything else. Having sewn my bold Marc Jacobs taffeta jacket and shorts last month, I now wanted to create some classic pieces I could wear with them. I am a huge fan of linen, so I decided to make myself a pair of white linen pants using a gorgeous, medium weight linen I found at Mood. Choosing from their huge and varied selection, I was careful [...]
Blue-Green Emerald Brocade Dress
Ok so can I just say that I am so incredibly happy that this dress turned out. The entire time I was making it I kept thinking to myself “what the heck am I doing.” Haha, I’m just not used to using such thick fabric for dresses so I was not expecting it to work. Turns out I was wrong because I love it! I actually think it might be one of my favorite dresses I’ve made so far. I love the brocade; because it makes the dress look so much more professional looking or something. I’m not really sure why [...]
Cheetah-Print Ponte Party!
Since joining the Mood Sewing Network, I’ve really enjoyed sewing with new-to-me types of fabrics. It’s really pushed me to develop my skills and do more research before I cut into a new fabric. Today, however, I’m revisiting a fabric type that I used once before to make a garment that was an irreconcilable failure… ponte! I’ve never purchased or really seen garments made out of ponte, but once I started reading rave reviews of it, I was curious! So about a year ago, I picked out a gorgeous black ponte from Mood and admired its heft and drape before [...]
By: Ginger Makes
Sunny Golden Plaid Boyfriend Shirt
It’s hard to start writing about my new favorite shirt while I’m still reeling about the unnecessary violence at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday. The attack hits so close to home for me. Running is a huge part of my life. I ran the Boston Marathon last year (and in 2005), I had friends running this year, and I spent most of my Monday morning watching the live streaming of the race. My heart goes out to all those who have been impacted. [Huge, deep breath.] Okay, so about my awesome new shirt. I’m almost embarrassed [...]
Oscar de la Renta Silk Mikado Dress
I spotted this floral on Mood Fabrics’ website a few months back and thought it was really pretty. I’m gravitating towards large florals these days and I liked all the empty space around the flowers of this print. It’s described as a silk and wool blend (silk mikado) which intrigued me. It’s also an Oscar de la Renta fabric, so I knew it had to be luscious. Editor’s note: Silk mikado fabric is a favorite of designers for its soft hand but stiff drape, which gives it the ability to be shaped into dramatic curves and flounces. It’s a beautiful [...]
A Flouncy Wool Crepe Pencil Skirt
When I was visiting the Mood Fabrics store last month in New York, I had no intention of even stepping foot in the wool section on the top floor. Don’t get me wrong – I love wool, and I ESPECIALLY love wool crepe, but as Tennessee rapidly approaches summertime weather at breakneck speed, I was afraid I would have little to no use for a big piece of cozy wool until much, much later in 2013. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want stuff my gorgeous fabrics away in a bin until the seasons flip – I [...]
Seafoam Green Linen Jacket
I know you all think all Lori can make is jackets, right? Two of my three posts have been jackets for the Mood Sewing Network. Well, I am going to up the odds to three out of four. I do have a thing for jackets, especially in the spring, when a light jacket is just what you need for the cool, crisp air. This time I wanted a very versatile jacket, one you could wear with so many outfits. I also wanted to use a good color for spring, something to freshen up my closet and existing garments, so I [...]
Mandarin Orange Lace Dress
Sometimes I make embarrassing mistakes, and for a while I thought ordering this white cotton/nylon lace from Mood Fabrics was one of those times. The flat lace reminded me of a tablecloth upon pulling it out of the box, revealing my inexperience in selecting lace. What can I say – I felt stupid for placing such an order when so many beautiful laces were available. B u t w h a t ’ s a g i r l t o d o ? After three worrisome weeks, I bought my first bottle of Rit Dye. Thirty minutes later….. I [...]
A Lace Skirt for Mimi
When I realized the weather would be too cold to wear my navy lace dress for Easter, I set it aside for Mother’s Day, but I didn’t give up on such a pretty lace making its Easter debut, and made daughter Mimi a skirt with the extra lace from Mood Fabrics. During the Mood Sewing Network Lace Challenge, several readers suggested lining the lace with white or nude to make it pop which was a great suggestion! To give the fabric the structure it needed for a straight skirt I underlined it with a medium weight silk organza and constructed [...]