Beach trip (suitcase view)

I think my last post was about what I wanted to sew for my beach trip. Well, the beach trip has now come and gone and this is what actually make it into my suitcase....

Oh and 2 bathing suits which I didn't save a picture of (and luckily my hubby hasn't posted any pictures on facebook). 

There were 9 pieces of clothing which could be used to make a dozen outfits:

The most versatile piece that I brought was the yellow shirtwaist dress that I finally finished from a fashionable stitch's shirt dress sew-along!

The first day I wore the yellow shirtwaist with the sailboat skirt (and forgot to take a picture because we left so early).

I also wore the shirtwaist dress by itself (I took this picture before accessorizing for some reason)

And I wore it with the circle skirt (I made during Casey's sew-along) over top of it (which is my favorite way ).

I also wore the circle skirt with the afternoon tea halter top (that I talked about a couple posts ago).

The halter also matches the sailboat skirt (which I made into an a-line from a vintage gathered skirt and does not have the yellow coloring in it that I thought it did. It is still really cute though), though the colors don't quite look like it in the pictures.

The white sorbetto (that I posted about making earlier) could have been worn with any of the skirts/shorts as well.

I wore the sorbetto and the pink linen pants to hang around in the beach house, it was very comfortable. The pants are vintage, though they are newer that usually my style. I really like them though they have an elastic waist which I do not love. Is there anyway to edit those to not have the elastic (add a zipper and waistband)? 

So, I didn't get all of the sewing done that I had hoped to, but I kind of expected that. I would have really loved to have replaced that jean shorts outfit with a cute 2 piece play suit that could possibly have mixed and matched with the other pieces. And I would have loved to have made two vintage inspired swimsuits (one of mine is vintage inspired, but the fit isn't too good). But, I am pleased with what I did accomplish and wear.

Beachy color scheme (and ripping off other people's ideas)

I have decide on a color scheme for my beach projects. Not everything I will pack will have to fall into this scheme. It is mostly for the separates to make sure that everything is interchangeable as much as possible.

Well here it is.

 

 

I mostly started with the skirts that I already have since I knew what it would look like and then went with what colors would go well with them.

So here are the two skirts I have to start with that the color scheme is based on...

The circle skirt I made as part of Casey's circle skirt sew along. I think I am going to bind the bottom (or at least re-hem), but besides that it is done.

The sailboat skirt that I still do not have a picture of and am substituting a photo of my finished inspiration.

My mother got mine for me at an estate sale mixed into a sewing fabric stash basket. Yes my mother is an enabler in my ever growing fabric stash LOL. It needs shortened (it is ankle length), but I don't want to lose the border print which is what I love most about the skirt.

The other bottoms will include three shorts (playsuit bottoms, Bermuda, and capris/pedal pushers - I never did figure out which length refers to which. I am looking for right below the knee)

So the tops that need to match are

- swimsuit (which seams to be the most difficult to find fabric for).

- 3 tops (halter neck, sleeveless, short sleeve)

- playsuit top

They don't all have to match each one, but I would like each piece to at the very least go with two pieces.

A more organized and less hurried person would sit down and plan each piece out before even starting to sew. I am just too excited and I want to get sewing while I am still on a roll. So I am going to go ahead and make this first top.

Since I only know two skirt fabrics so far, I am going to make my top work with both skirts.

So I am thinking yellow. I am not sure if that is because I love yellow so much and tend to lean towards yellow tops, or because I really like how well this person did on their version of this same pattern...

 

I also like the mint green little bow. Hm... thinking of just copying this completely. I think there might be some blogger etiquette that you are not suppose to just rip someone else's idea off....
I do live in WV and no one will likely ever see/know the both of us....
And I put a link back to where I got it from....
What do you think still no good?

Afternoon tea trial

So, I made up my muslin of the afternoon tea top. You thought I would never get around to it did you?

I made two small adjustments to the pattern. I added straps (which I think I must not have measured exactly because one side looks slightly lopsided) and I made the darts seams.

Here is how I did the darts.
First I cut the darts out of the pattern paper and then cut straight down to the bottom for the part below the dart.

Then, when cutting the fabric I made sure to add seam allowance to the new seam I made.

I made this out of old baby receiving blankets.

cute little detail that was on one of the blankets and made it into the top :)

 

One was not quite large enough so I ended up using two of different patterns but I like the result.

here you can see the lopsidedness

There are just a few changes that I will make to this pattern when I make it out of my fashion fabric.

1. I will gather the top front before attaching it to the bottom part. It will make attaching it to the base harder, but I think it will make the gathers themselves look much nicer. Oh and ill use matching thread. I used bright in the muslin just so I could see it better.

maybe a half inch or so too low

2. I am considering shortening the bust section or maybe just gather it more. I'm not sure yet, but I know it sits a bit to low.

3. I will shorten the pattern. I put my hand on my natural waist for the photo. Because the shirt is so long it is quite tight around my hips and bottom

For the swimsuit version, I am considering getting rid of the back facing and just put that part into the bottom back. I will also need to figure out how to add bra cups. I pinned directions for how to do this, so I'll check that out closer to time.

So, next step...

I need to decide on a color scheme if all of these tops and bottoms are to be interchangeable.  I will need to do that before making the top out of fashion fabric, which will complete one beach wardrobe necessity, a halter top. Then I can move to figuring out the bottoms and making this swim wear.

Oh, the pattern said this is not suitable for stretchy fabrics. I have seen that other people have used them though, so what considerations do I need to take or should I just scrap this idea and go back to the Burda's Allison swimsuit pattern (that I picked up back when it was free)?