STYLO no. 3 Grey Zone

Photo (and graphic added) by Stacy

Yesterday I shared my Peaches and Cream look for STYLO issue three. Now today I’ve got my Grey Zone look to share. Again, just like for the Peaches and Cream photos, all of the Grey Zone photos featured in STYLO were taken by my friend Stacy ~ thank you Stacy!

This whole outfit came together because I was really inspired by the black and white pins found in the STYLO no.3 Mood Board. Black and white can be so classic, classy, and chic. So this is my little Diane Keaton look. Or maybe it could be Mary Tyler Moore since the photos were taken in downtown Minneapolis. I love the contrast going on here, black and white, masculine and feminine. Anyway, just something different for STYLO and maybe something a little different from what I usually make… maybe some people are surprised I didn’t sew a dress!

Here are the details about my Grey Zone look...

Sis Boom Ethan Shirt 
Fabric: white cotton, from SR Harris
Notions: white Dill buttons, from Michael Levine
Size: 6
I’ve already used this pattern a couple of times and it’s a really good button shirt pattern because it has a collar with a separate collar stand. For this white shirt I eliminated the front patch pocket.

Oliver + S Art Museum Trousers
Fabrics:
black wool with white dots, from SR Harris
lining: black and white graphic print cotton, Night and Day designed by Kim Schaefer for Andover Fabrics, from Michael Levine
Notions: 
black Dill buttons, from SR Harris
white zipper, from SR Harris
Size: 5 with size 6 length
This was the fourth time I’ve used this pattern, it’s my favorite pants pattern. I used this zipper fly tutorial and this was only my second zipper fly! On these pants I eliminated the belt loops. I absolutely love this black wool! I need to go back to the store to buy some more because I would love to sew myself a pair of pants with this fabric.

Oliver + S Forest Path Cape
Fabrics: 
black wool coating, from SR Harris
lining: black and white graphic print cotton, North Star “GRAPHYX” designed by Mark Hordyszynski for Micheal Miller, from Michael Levine
Notions: black Dill buttons, from SR Harris
Size: 6
I love this cape! It has such a nice shape, great style, and comes together so nicely. I would love to sew myself one and lucky for me, there is a women’s version of the pattern. And how perfect is the name of the lining print ‘North Star’ since I live in Minnesota where the State Motto is “L’Etoile du Nord” which is french for “The Star of the North” and the most common nickname for Minnesota is “The North Star State."

Peaches and Peanuts The Tie 
Fabric: black and white graphic satin, from SR Harris
Size: Child S/M
This is the first tie I ever made! It was such a fun sewing project and I would never hesitate in the future to sew another tie using this pattern. A tie can really add something unique (to an outfit) whether it’s a print or a color. I love how in the first photo the lines on the tie echo the lines in the window of the building in the background.

I did bring my camera along to the photo shoot and I got exactly one photo and this is it because right after I snapped this shot my girl went running off! (The wind was gusty at the top of these stairs ~ look at her hair!) She was particularly more difficult to photograph during this photo shoot because she was running around all over the place. Stacy performed miracles to capture a few photos of her! That being said I’m sure you can understand why I’m very grateful to own a dress form :)

You must go check out the details about the Grey Zone look that Stacy made for her daughter.

Thanks to Michael Levine for providing some of the materials for this look. Use the coupon code 'Stylo10', which is good for 10% off your entire purchase.

Thanks for stopping by. I just love sewing and it’s a joy to share what I create. One of the things I love so much about STYLO is that it brings the online sewing community together. Thank you STYLO!

Ethan Shirt

 Ashley and Emily over at Frances Suzanne are hosting another year of "Flip this Pattern”. Today I am kicking things off for the month of August with the SisBoom Ethan shirt. I’ve got two creations for you today, both an unflipped and a flipped one. First let’s start out with the unflipped version. I sewed one up by the pattern for my tween boy.

 Over a year ago I was very inspired by this Sketchbook Shirt which was sewn by Cindy of Siestas and Sewing. I had to sew a similar one for my octopus loving son.

 First off, here is some basic info about the Ethan Shirt for boys:

• $10
• sizes 1-14 (most children's patterns go up to size 12, so what a bonus that this one goes all the way up to 14)
• 166 pages (each size is separate so that’s why there are 166 pages)

 I remember for The Great British Sewing Bee series 1, for the finale they had to sew a man’s buttons shirt which included a collar stand, but without cuffs and they had to complete it in 4 hours. Thank goodness I didn’t have the time constraint of 4 hours!

Sewing it up by the pattern, this project took me more than 4 hours. There are a ton of diagrams, but a few of them were incorrect and when you are a visual learner like me, this can become frustrating. I wonder how these mistakes get past the testers. Maybe I’m just super picky when it comes to the visuals. 

There are lots of time consuming tedious steps: front pocket, front button placket, collar stand, collar, 2 sleeve plackets, cuffs, lots of pressing and gluing, topstitching on almost every piece (are you still with me?) So this project is not for the faint of heart!

At one point there were many layers of fabric I had to sew through, this was at a corner of the collar stand, trying to sew through all those layers I broke a needle! I found attaching the sleeves to be a bit tricky, they didn’t ease in as easily as I’d hope they would. 

Once you follow this pattern and instructions you will have one very well made shirt which I think would meet the high standards of judges Patrick Grant and May Martin of the Great British Sewing Bee. 

 Another note, in my experience, most American sewing patterns use a 1/2” seam allowance and most European ones use a 3/8” seam allowance. This one it’s 1/4”.

With these instructions you have everything you need to know with the many step-by-step diagrams for a well-designed button shirt with collar stand. Having a collar stand was a huge thing for me, that’s what I was looking for in a button shirt and not all button shirt patterns out there have a collar stand.

The instructions show you how to do your very best sewing. Going through all the steps you notice the small details and I think you learn to respect the craftsmanship it entails.

During this whole project I was following the pattern with accuracy and consistency and doing my very best sewing. With the end result I have a huge sense of accomplishment.

At $10 for the pattern, it is a good value for your money. 

 Next up for my flipped version, I sewed a blue sleeveless dress with pleated skirt for C in size 6. The very full skirt makes for a very twirly dress!

 I was inspired by this pin.

 I took the shirt, made it into bodice and made it sleeveless by adding bias tape around the armholes.

 I added a skirt with a lot of fabric, it has many pleats that all go the same direction all the way around the skirt.

 And I added in-seam side pockets.

 I found this tip and tutorial helpful: sew sharp collar points.

 Last but not least, I have some more inspiration to share over at my button shirt inspiration Pinterest board.

Now go visit visit Frances Suzanne for a discount code for the Ethan Shirt, giveaways, the sew-along linky party...