After the sewing comes my favorite part: the wearing!

I love linen weather. What is linen weather? It’s the time when the seasons gets milder and all I want to wear is linen. When that magic time rolls around, I start thinking about sewing myself something new.

A few days ago I wrote about making a jacket and posted some photos of it in progress. Today I finished the shift that goes with it, and so wanted to model the two pieces.

The jacket is a charcoal gray mixed texture linen, and the design has tails at the sides that can tie together. I like to wear the sleeves rolled up.

The sleeveless shift is a charcoal and white striped linen, and the hem is uneven, dipping down at the sides. I especially like its apron-like quality. Both pieces are  semi-sheer and are designed to be worn as layers with other garments. I think that I bought both of these fabrics at Joanne Fabrics a couple of years ago.

I was inspired to make my outfit after seeing some vintage type designs online. To get my designs I altered an Amy Butler tunic pattern, redrafting the extra small size into different shapes. If you are interested in making or altering your own patterns, a couple of good books are The Colette Sewing Handbook by Sarai Mitnick, and Design-It-Yourself Clothes by Cal Patch.

I loved the step by step color photos and the 5 full-sized patterns in Sarai’s book.

I definitely want to make one or two of the designs in her book.

After finishing a project I try to make time to clean up my work area before delving into something new. But I may just start another sewing project since I am all set up. So now that I have come to my favorite part — the wearing, I come to my other favorite part — the dreaming!

What is in your dreaming-to-make file?

What is your favorite part?

Have a great day ~ Karen