Birthday Sewing Plans 2015
The week before last, I was really confused when I received several retailer emails with special offers for my birthday. “It isn’t anywhere near my birthday,” I thought. Until I realized it had snuck up on me, hidden behind the excitement of exams and a trip home.
I doubt we’ll do much this year, although we may spend some time with Pittsburgh friends to celebrate both my birthday and becoming ABD since I ran off to MN the day after my oral. One thing I do think I’ll do to celebrate both my birthday and the arrival of warmer weather is sew up these fabrics:
I saw them during one of those massive JoAnn sales a while back. They were a great price, and I thought they would make the perfect addition to my warm weather wardrobe.
The bicycle fabric will become a button down shirt, likely Sewaholic Granville and likely with short sleeves. I say likely because I haven’t yet mocked up the Granville, and I want to make sure the fit will work without extensive alterations. If it needs more tweaking than I’d like, I may go back to Vogue 8772, which fit me nicely right out of the envelope. I have a few more versions of that one planned, though, so I hope trying a new pattern will work out.
The blue and white fabric is a jacquard, and I wanted a very simple skirt pattern to show off the bold print and take advantage of its full body. I chose the skirt pattern from Simplicity 1202, which I think will work well. I also like the top in this pattern, and I’ll have to make up a few of them for work.
Last year, it was really important to me that I finish my birthday dress in time to wear it on my birthday. This year, I’m not so concerned about dates but just want to give myself the time to enjoy the process. I have some larger, more challenging projects going on, and I think these separates will be a nice break. As long as I finish the pieces while it’s still bare-leg season, I’ll be happy.
Red Knits 
I bought the same jacquard fabric and still have some leftover. Can’t wait to see the finished 1202!
i have similar jacquard fabric – blue and green instead of blue and white! i was thinking it would become a pencil skirt but i am very excited to see how yours turns out! happy birthday sewing (:
I remember your birthday dress as I made it too! Do you still wear it? Mine was only worn about 3 times! Since then I prefer making things that I’ll wear more, but do still make frocks for occasions but don’t go too mad with interlining sand stuff like that.
Happy birthday in advance….looking forward to seeing your shirt made up. I’ve the archer traced off but not gotten round to choosing fabric yet.
I do still wear it! In fact, I brought it on my recent trip to MN to wear it to my grandpa’s birthday party. I’m also planning to wear it to see an orchestra performance of Fantasia next month. It’s certainly not an everyday dress, but I like pulling it out for special occasions.
I find myself in the same position as you, though: I like making garments that I know I’ll wear a lot. My lace dress (which I haven’t photographed yet) was a total slog, and I’m pretty sure that was because I won’t wear it often. This birthday outfit is bound to get a whole lot more wear simply because it’s separates and less formal.
The Archer is a lot of fun! Hope you get to try it out.
love that bicycle fabric, it will make a fun, useful shirt. 🙂
Thanks! I think so, too!
Love those bikes!!