I was on a roll making the ever-popular Closet Case Ginger Jeans left and right, but I had yet to make them from something other than denim. The pattern calls for a stretch fabric since it's for skinny jeans, so I wondered what else would work. I saw this olive green heather ponte de roma fabric and thought I could give it a try. And what do you know, it worked! ...
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What do you do when you have a large pattern stash but an idea for a piece that doesn't quite fit what you already have? Why, you dream up the perfect Frankenpattern, of course! UrbanDictionary.com defines the term "Frankenpattern" as: frankenpattern To pattern using multiple styles and mis-matched pattern pieces. The end result is a combination of the garments that leaves the patternmaker horrified as to how it was put together, but usually no one else knows ...
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When you live in the desert, it makes sense to have cactus-inspired clothing. Even though I'm a swamp/New Orleans girl at heart, I couldn't say no to this adorable cactus double-brushed poly spandex knit! Although it bears little prickly friends, this fabric is legit the most comfortable you'll ever put on your body. Double brushed poly spandex is "brushed" on both sides to make for a super-soft texture. The good news ...
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When I told my Mom that I was making a stretch velvet dress for Christmas, she wasn't too sure about my creative decision. I assured her it would be a magical throwback to the '90s where velvet skater dresses reigned supreme. I made sure I didn't disappoint: I've had an itch to make something in stretch velvet ever since I saw Tami's awesome silver shirt and Becca's inspiration post on how to ...
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I have finally reached a point where instead of making the latest, greatest, shiniest thing, I'm making wardrobe staples to replace the ill-fitting RTW (Ready-To-Wear) clothes in my closet. It might sound boring to some but I find some of the greatest satisfaction in making clothes I will wear the heck out of and not just for special occasions. Enter the Sewaholic Granville Shirt: I LOVE this pattern to make shirts ...
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When I was a teenager, I went through that grunge/punk/emo phase where all I wanted to wear was black or camo... you know, to match my mood ("I'm so goth it hurts"). Since then, my style has evolved - into what, I'm not sure - but I still have nostalgia about my style of the past. As a 34-year-old, I don't think I can get away with baggy black t-shirts and ...
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One of the things I love most about sewing is you can totally change the look and feel of a piece of clothing depending on the fabric you choose. I decided to have a bit of an experiment with the True Bias Ogden Cami and some very different fabrics from Cali Fabrics. Let's take a look! 1. Silk Ogden Cami (AKA Dreamy Cami) 1 This was my first time working with real silk and ...
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When I first started sewing, I was all about making clothes out of the coolest prints I could find. Now that I'm trying to make a more cohesive wardrobe, I find I'm leaning toward solids. But I still crave that little bit of "cool" since most people (or just me) think solids = boring. That's when texture comes into play! When the Blackwood Cardigan from Helen's Closet came out, I knew I ...
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Let me start this post off by saying that yes, I am 33, and yes, I still want to play dress-up. But running around town in a full-on princess dress just doesn't cut it in "civilized" society unless you're under the age of 6. Not fair! But thankfully, sewing has given me the freedom to still throw in some fun (some may say childish) ideas when I make clothes for myself. I started ...
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Hot cocoa. Twinkling lights. Thick fuzzy socks. Cozy cardigans. Winter is a wonderful time to hunker down with a good movie or book and get all snuggled up on the couch. It's also a wonderful time to make and show off those cold-weather sewing projects! I have a couple of RTW (ready-to-wear) cardigans I use at work, but they're so thin and boring. Sigh. I have always been on the hunt for ...
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One thing I love about being a Cali & Co contributor is I am introduced to and use new fabrics I normally wouldn't think about twice. I have to admit my knowledge of fabric is fairly limited, but I'm slowly learning more and more each year that I sew. I usually rely on my sense of touch to determine if a fabric will work for a certain project, but that ...
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The holidays are finally in full swing! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of food, family, and fabric. ;-) I know most of you are probably bundled up in cozy sweaters but down here in Tucson we are still rocking the lighter garments. At least it's finally boot weather! And what better to go with jeans and boots than a spiffy striped top? When I first laid eyes on ...
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Do you feel it? The sweltering nights are getting cooler, the days are getting shorter... that must mean fall is coming! Maybe fall is already here for you northern U.S. (or European or whatever other country you're from!) folks, but down here in southern Arizona it comes gradually and hits us full-on in November. Wait, make that December. Sigh. So whereas fall-appropriate clothing usually consists of cozy thick cardigans, knit beanies, and ...
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Hi again, everyone! I'm super excited to share my next project with you... this one puts a smile on my face and a fry in my tummy. :-) When I was perusing the Cali Fabrics knits, the French Fries on Black Stretch Brushed Jersey caught my eye. Heck, it caught my eye, my heart, AND my stomach! And I'm not the only one who fell in love with it. Check out ...
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Hello sewing world! I'm super excited to be here to share my first sewing project with the Cali & Co. family! Lately I've been having a rayon love affair - I never realized just how comfortable and breathable it is! Where have you been all of my life?! Why did I not know about you growing up in the sweltering summers of New Orleans and for the past 7 years in ...
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Hello there! I'm Rachel from Sew RED-y, but you can call me RED! I was born and raised a New Orleans girl but now I currently reside in Tucson, Arizona. My partners in crime are my husband, 2 cats named Tasso and Boudin, and 2 chickens named Caroline and Chickie von Poopenstein. I am a supervisor by day but my real passion is sewing! The love-for-sewing seed was planted when I ...
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