After making the Vogue 9220 dress, I realized that I really didn't want to spend Sunday trying to race through a dress/jacket combo to come up with another outfit for work. That's when I thought of the black linen pants that were still languishing on my to be sewn list.
I have this black midwt linen jacket that I made at least 7 or 8 years ago. It was made during the longer jacket phase and occasionally I pair it with a short black linen skirt for these corporate meetings but I just wasn't feeling it this time. So I got the idea to shorten the jacket just a little and add the black pants to make a new pantsuit for this week.
the myspace bathroom shot!
The pants are made from my TNT pants pattern and are unlined. There is nuthin new about them. They truly were lay them down, cut them out and sew them up. However, it does get one more item off the list and into the closet.
The jacket took about as long to adjust. I cut the sleeve hems off at the hemline because they were dragging and bothering me. Then I measured up another inch and a quarter for the hem, making them bracelet length. The edges were serged, rayon seam tape sewn to the hem and after pressing and hand hemming them, the sleeves were adjusted.
I really wanted to change the hem on the jacket by two inches. But due to the button placement, I settled on an inch.
Since the jacket is unlined, I undid the hem...opened the facings up and sewed another inch from the previous seam. Cut the excess out...pinned up and then pressed the new hem. Another hand stitched hem and I was done.
It's not a huge change on the hemline but it feels different. Changing the sleeve length definitely helps with the new feel of the jacket and I'll add a white tank and some pearl jewelry to make it a work outfit.
Here's the "new" pantsuit (with hair & makeup!):
It was the perfect solution for my meeting needs and a relaxed Sunday afternoon of sewing. And since the black linen dress is cut out, I will work on that next weekend or the following one. I need to get busy on my version of B5147 - since August 13th is suppose to be the deadline for the sew-along.
Oh, can I share one more thing with you. Because I like to sleep as long as possible in the mornings, I pick out and iron all of my clothing during the weekend. Here is a shot of the outfits hanging and waiting to be worn for this week:
I know...I know but there is no standing in front of the closet in the morning, wasting time, wondering what to wear! *smile*
...as always, more later!
You found me out! I used to line up my clothes just like that, because otherwise the closet was a black hole that would consume 30 minutes. Swear *raised right hand icon*, I walk into the closet and when I walked out the clock had advanced 30 minutes!
ReplyDeleteLove the refashion. I think its very current, and unless you've lost a lot of weight recently, it's slimming!
I think you use your time wisely with this practice! "Work smart, not hard" is my motto. You have too much time required for commuting to not do this.
ReplyDeleteI love the refashion. It works well and looks great!
Great idea lining up your clothing on the weekend, beats my method....staring at my closet hoping something jumps out yelling, wear me!
ReplyDeleteIn awe, I tell you. Totally.
ReplyDeleteyou are so well organised, i wish i could just be a tenth as well organised, my life would have to be less stressful :-)
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten all five outfits out at once, but I do decide what to wear and get it out the night before. As for my kids, that's why I love school uniforms! Choose among the blue, green, yellow or white polo shirts and the plaid skirt or the khaki shorts or pants. Pretty easy for Mom.
ReplyDeleteThe black suit is very smart.
ReplyDeleteI like your organised clothes. Sometimes I work out for the next day what I plan to wear but don't usually plan further ahead than that. I may have to give it a try!
Carolyn, I have been an avid silent reader of yours for over a year...Your work is outstanding and also inspiring....I love the suit on you very RTW....
ReplyDeleteGreat refresher for your jacket! I always try to do this on Sunday evening for work prep. It's much easier to change you mind on 1 outfit than to stand in front of the closet every morning figuring it out! Great post!
ReplyDeleteGreat suit. I wasn't feeling the "my space" shot but the suit with hair and makeup and real photographer is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteSuper outfit! You'll welcome those pants and jacket this winter, for sure, when temps are sub-zero. You're very organized with your outfits ready to wewar for a week of work. Wow!
ReplyDeleteGreat style freshening! Love that you redid something you already had to be better and more stylish.
ReplyDeleteNice "new" outfit. I so admire you that plan out your outfits for the week. I must have missed that gene! Darn, I could really use it too.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how a couple of little tweaks can make a garment feel brand new. The whole "new" suit looks fab!!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great idea! I think I might have to try sorting out my workwear outfits at the weekend. Do you find that you are more creative with your outfit choices and do you think you get more wear out of more of your wardrobe as a result?
ReplyDeleteLove the piping on this. Did you buy it ready made?
ReplyDeleteOrganization does save a lot of time when you need to get out of the house on time.
I don't think it's odd at all to pick out a weeks worth of clothing at once. Although I do think it's more common to do so 1 day at a time as others have mentioned. There are people who cook a whole weeks (or months) meals on a weekend, so it's not really any different. Me - I don't plan that far ahead for clothing or food. Fortunately, I can wear jeans and a shirt/sweatshirt where I work, so not so much planning is needed.
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline, Thank you very much for another inspirational posting. You look fabulous in your clothes. From reading about your sewing experiences I am acquiring a lot of sewing knowledge, which I hopefully will increasingly implement.
ReplyDeleteLynda (Persevering on SPR)
Isn't it amazing how just an inch or two can change the porportions of an outfit. It looks very fresh and contemporary.
ReplyDeleteLining up your clothes for the week is soooo clever. Great time saver. Do you keep an emergency outfit "on call" just in case a hem falls out last minute, or a zip breaks or sticks? :)
ReplyDeleteGreat quick outfit by adjusting your jacket length. I would call that a productive sewing weekend.
Oh, I like! I'm so used to see you in skirts and dresses, but I love this pants suit on you, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally lay out my outfits like that. Granted, I do it nightly, but it's the same idea. I don't have to think about it in the morning and when I'm still half asleep, it makes getting out the door in the AM a lot easier.
I love your re-styling of the jacket. I envy you for having the space to pick out your outfits for the week and the organization. You take sewing to another level for me. Thanks for the inspiration (always)!
ReplyDeleteWow! You're totally working that suit. It looks super stylish and 'put together' but of course both pieces will also work wonderfully well with other garments in your wardrobe. What a great idea to refashion and update a jacket to go with your new pants.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say- I have just found your blog and I am loving it.
ReplyDeleteI am also a plus sized woman and just really getting back into the spirit of sewing. I even host a "sewing party" for my church sisters once a month. You really inspire me and I hope to get as good as you are. Wow, sewing for 40 years.
I think I have maybe 5 years under my belt and I still have soooo much to learn- especially with alterations. I would love to have someone who could mentor me and show me how to alter a pattern to fit me. There are alot of patterns out there I would love to purchase but they are not the right size or length I need them to be.
Great! I've always thought you looked good in pants.
ReplyDeleteI do that too! The pick out/iron outfits part, anyway. Once I'm back working regular hours (I'm a teacher) I'm up at 5:30am and out the door at 6:30am. Needless to say I'm not at my swiftest at that time in the morning. I do as much the night before as possible, make my lunch, pack up my school bag, clothes out, coffee set up.....My husband thinks I'm crazy, but it works for me!
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing sewist, I wish I had your energy and output!
Great black suit! You look UBER professional!!! Good deal about laying out your clothes for the week. I've got to learn how to do this (wink)!!!
ReplyDeleteNice job altering the jacket! I have an older RTW jacket that I wore to death while clerking but is still in great shape, but the length is off for current trends.
ReplyDeleteI choose my clothes the night before and lay them out on my dresser. I am NOT a morning person and trying to decide when I wake up would set me back about 45 minutes.
Way to Go! I love my TNT patterns. The jacket looks new and fresh with the linen pants.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, you look great in the pants suit. The refashion was a great way to put together a stylish, professional outfit.
ReplyDeleteExcellent rework of the jacket - it looks better and the whole suit is nice. I like that piping at the edge of the jacket.
ReplyDeletewe don't often see you wearing or sewing pants, but you look amazing in that black pants suit!
ReplyDeleteLovely jacket. The piping around the edge is so effective.
ReplyDeleteI used to do the same thing with my outfits when I was working! It is so worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteAnd the jacket refashion is just fabulous. It is wonderful what wonders can be achieved with just a few changes.
Great jacket rework. I know you don't wear pant much, but this pants and jacket combo looks so good on you! And it coordinates so well with a lot of pieces you already have. Makes me think I need a similar jacket/pants combo for my closet.
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