Cavalli Cowl
One of my favorite things about Mood Fabrics is their large selection of designer fabrics. One designer I’d had my eye on for awhile but hadn’t yet worked with was Roberto Cavalli. When I found this Cavalli jersey print on the Mood site, I snapped up a couple yards, even though I didn’t have a project in mind at the time. I just couldn’t pass up those glittery roses, and I figured the fact that it was a jersey would give me a lot of pattern options. When it arrived, I became fixated on finding a pattern that would allow [...]
Dotted Cotton Voile Shirt and Rose Denim Pants
I tell you, I love the hum of my sewing machine, it relaxes me, calms me, makes me happy. It is just the perfect hobby and activity. Now add to the hum of my sewing machine, The Great British Sewing Bee playing on my laptop in the sewing room and it just doesn’t get much better than that. As I was working on my blouse from White/Black Geometric Voile, the show just inspired me to do an even better job. I was imagining May and Patrick critiquing my garment and suggesting other options: The critiques would be positive comments on parts of [...]
A Wool Crepe Dress for Spring
I know it’s spring out. The calendar tells me so…the weather not so much! You know it’s doing that hot/cold/hot/cold thing that April likes to do. But I sooooo want it to be spring. I want warm breezes and long sunny days with the promise of fun and a wardrobe of dresses that I can wear every day. Because it’s spring although it doesn’t feel like spring, I decided to use a brightly colored lightweight wool crepe to bring a little spring loveliness to my life. This lime green wool crepe was my starting point. Somewhere I read/saw that [...]
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 [...]