Pants Trends 2019: Fancy Pants

Posted in Trends by The Sara Project

Hey everyone! Happy New Year!

In honor of the Fancy Pants Sewing Challenge, I’m here to chat and provide inspiration as well as inspire you with some patterns that would work great for this fun new sewing contest!

Right now I’m really into the wide leg + high waisted pant trend. I’m loving overalls and jumpsuits as well. This year I dove deep into pant making and tried my hand at 6 different pants patterns. I’m excited to share some of my makes as well as current pant trends happening now and on into 2019. I’ve provided you with store bought pants for examples of trending styles and paired each one with sewing pattern options to recreate the look for yourself. Let’s begin!

Wide Leg Pants

I love the loose fit in the leg and slightly cropped hemline. I love pairing mine with cropped tops (I’m all about that front tuck) and mules or slides for a super easy yet cool look.

Store bought: Madewell Emmett Wide Leg Crop Pants

SEW IT:

Persephone Pants:

Dawn Jeans:

Lander Pants with Zipper Expansion Pack

Cargo Pants

I haven’t ventured into this style yet but these guys are going to make a come back this year according to many online sources.

Re/Done Cargo Pants:

SEW IT: Check out the Bryce Cargo Pants ,

Tibi Checked Woven Cargo Pants

SEW IT: Sew Liberated Arenite Pants

Exposed Button Fly

I’ve made a few concealed button fly pants this year but I’m really loving the exposed button fly, this would be a fun trend to try making!

Citizen of Humanity

SEW IT: Dawn Jeans with Exposed Button Fly option, Lander Pants

Animal Print Pants

What says fancy more than a pair of leopard print pants? Another fun trend coming our way. I had a hard time sourcing animal print bottom weight fabrics but I’m sure they are out there somewhere!

R13 Leopard Pants

SEW IT: This look is all about the fabric! Try using a fun twill or denim animal pant!

Overalls

I’ve made three variations of overalls in 2018, and I love them all! Try sewing them up in a fun color or pattern for a “fancy pants” look.

Store Bought: Madewell Corduroy Overalls

SEW IT:

Jenny Overalls:

Burnside Bibs:

Kendrick Overalls:

There are so many great pants patterns out there, and this just barely scrapes the surface but hopefully it offered a few ideas for your fancy pants sewing. I’m excited to see everyone’s entries! Don’t forget to check out all of the details, giveaways and schedule of the Sew Fancy Pants challenge!! Happy Sewing!

Cheyenne with Pussy Bow Collar Hack

Posted in Pattern Reviews by The Sara Project

Hey guys! Okay, if you’re part of the sewing community chances are you have heard of the Cheyenne Tunic by Hey June; your classic button up collared shirt pattern. (It also comes in a tunic version too). Recently while browsing through the mall a few weeks ago I saw a white and black window pane flannel button up shirt with a pussy bow collar. I loved the look and catalogued it in my mind under “things to make”. A week later, Allie from Indiesew added thee exact fabric to her shop. (Okay, I don’t know if it’s the EXACT fabric but it might as well be). I purchased the yardage needed, and got to work. (The fabric is currently sold out). In this post I’m going to walk you through how to take your cheyenne sewing pattern and add a pussy bow collar. I love how this version of the cheyenne pattern looks tucked into jeans, overalls, skirts, or even underneath dresses. There are a lot of wardrobe options with this top!

Let’s get started!

Ookay bear with me, I kind of figured this out as I went along, but it turned out great.

For your collar pieces, you will need one rectangle that measures 22″ long by 5″ wide (the collar) and two rectangles cut on the BIAS measuring 25″ long by 5″ wide (the ties).

So first we need to attach the center front placket. Instead of leaving the top of the placket unfinished at the neckline, we need to finish it. Make sure to add a 1/2″ to the top of your placket pieces to allow us to do this. Before topstitching the collar on, fold the top of the placket right sides together and sew along the top at 1/2″ to enclose. Now you can topstitch around the whole placket. Unfortunately I didn’t take photos of this step, but this is how it should look:

*your neckline should be 1/2″ higher than your placket in order to sew the collar on. (Mine doesn’t look very good here, again I was figuring it out as I went along, don’t judge!).

Continue along to step 25.

Next we need to prep the collar. Sew the tie pieces to either edge of the collar, right sides together at 1/2″. Press the seam open.

Now, fold the tie in half, right sides together. I finished my ends with a slight slant. I used a marking pen to draw the slant on the wrong side of the fabric.

Sew along the the edges at 1/2″, and along the slant at the ends. Obviously, you’ll want to end your slant about 1/2″ from the bottom point, don’t do what I did. Trim your seam, and clip into the neckline seam right before where your stitching started. Turn the ties right sides out. Press.

Pin the outside of the collar piece to the right side of the neckline, and sew at 5/8″. (the inside collar edge should be free of the seam. Press the seam allowance towards the collar. Now, iron the inside collar raw edge in at 5/8″, and pin in place covering the stitches along the inside of the neckline.

Now, flip the shirt back to the right side, and top stitch along the collar edge, removing pins as you go.

There you have it! Not so bad, right?

From there, finish the shirt as the pattern instructs. I shortened my shirt by 2″ so it would be easier to tuck the shirt in to my high waisted jeans. I noticed the Madewell top was also shorter too. I omitted the pockets as well. I usually cut my plackets and pockets on the bias (because it’s so much easier than pattern matching!), but this time I cut everything along the grain and pattern matched everything. Oh, one more thing. Don’t do what I did, and make sure to sew your sleeves onto the right sides. Oops. It’s not the first time either.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and found it helpful! Thanks for reading along, and happy sewing! I would love to see your cheyenne pussy bow collar hacks, make sure to tag me on Instagram @thesaraproject_ if you share!

16Nov2018

Jarrah Sweatshirt and Dawn Jeans with Stylish Fabrics and D & H Fabric Co.

Posted in Fabric Finds, Pattern Reviews by The Sara Project

Hello, friends! I’m back with another fantastic pattern and fabric mash-up. This is a pretty loaded post involving three awesome companies, and I’m so excited to tell you about them all!

I was lucky enough to be asked by Megan Nielsen to review her new pattern collection and of course I instantly said yes. Tammy of D & H Fabric Co also invited me to be part of her first ever blog tour and the non-stretch chino twill in pumpkin from her shop was a perfect match for Megan’s new Dawn Jeans pattern. I’ve paired her other new pattern, the Jarrah Sweater, with my pants that I’ll talk about a bit further down; I used this buttery soft french terry knit from Stylish Fabrics.

The chino twill fabric is awesome! It has really great structure, and was really satisfying to work with throughout the course of making my Dawn Jeans. I love the pumpkin color too, it’s so fun for fall. This fabric also washes up really nicely and the weight works really well with the Dawn Jean pattern. It also comes in three other great color ways, including this red brick option!

As far as the Dawn Jeans pattern goes, I sewed up a size 4 in the waist and graded down to a size 0 in the hips. I took in the side seams and inseam about another ¼”. The fit is fantastic! I love the wide leg, and super high waist. This look is so my vibe right now! Next time around (and yes, there will be a next time!!) I will opt for the zip fly and shorten the back yoke by ¼-½”. I don’t know what it is about button flys but they just don’t seem to hold me in as well as a zip fly. Other than that, these pants are perfect!! I can’t wait to try the straight leg option as well.

I’ve been wearing these pants a lot lately and this chino twill really holds up well. The pants haven’t stretched out and hold their structure. This fabric is so good! Check out Meg’s post for some more pumpkin chino twill goodness!

Now, let’s talk about my Jarrah Sweatshirt! This pattern comes in 4 different views, and I really love them all! I opted for view A because I really love the simplicity of a basic sweatshirt pattern. This top is the kind of thing I live in during the winter! I sewed up a size 2 with no other modifications. It is fabbbbbbbb!

For the fabric, I used this super soft french terry knit fabric from Stylish Fabrics. This fabric contains 87% Polyester, 9% Rayon, 4% Spandex but don’t let the poly throw you off! The weight is lighter than a traditional french terry and also so much softer. It washes up great, and is a dream to sew with. Best part? It’s $5.90 a yard. You can’t beat that! I also picked up some of this magical stuff in the blush color way for yet another Jarrah sweatshirt. It’s seriously so good. It comes in lots of other great prints and colors too.

I especially love this fabric because it is great for layering. It’s not too heavy or thick and works great with a cardigan or jacket on top for an extra layer of warmth without looking too bulky. It pretty much feels like wearing a cloud, seriously! Head on over to my stories on Instagram today for a live view of this fabric.

I can’t wait to get my second Jarrah in blush french terry spandex sewn up, and also another pair of Dawn jeans in denim! I can’t decide between the straight leg or wide leg maybe with an unfinished hem. Decision, decisions….

Thanks for reading along and happy sewing!!

1Nov2018

Indiesew x Dan Lehman x Spoonflower Blog Tour

Posted in Fabric Finds by The Sara Project

I have a really fun post for you all today! I was invited to be part of Indiesew’s newest fabric collaboration with artist Dan Lehman and Spoonflower! Together they created Fool’s Paradise, a fabric collection featuring carnivorous plants that comes in two color ways and two types of fabric substrates: a flowy poly crepe and a more structured cotton poplin. You can find them all exclusively on Indiesew’s online shop.

Head on over to Spoonflower for an insider’s look into how this collaboration came to be, including a really fun video interview with Allie and Dan. You won’t want to miss it!

When Allie first showed me the two prints, I had a really hard time deciding which one to use! I loved them both! I decided to go with the lighter color way: Fool’s Paradise Light in Poly Crepe. I immediately pictured a flowy, boho style blouse and of course, my mind went straight to the Roscoe Blouse by True Bias. I’ve sewn this shirt up once before, also in Indie Sew fabric. I wear it all the time, and knew I needed another one in this fun, whimsy botanical print.

For my second Roscoe Blouse, I decided to size down one size, and shorten the bodice by about 2″. I also raised the neckline by 1 1/2″ for extra coverage. I love styling this top tucked into a pair of high waisted jeans, and boots. I’m wearing my FAVORITE madewell jeans in a size 25, the fit is so so good. For colder days, I plan to throw a camel colored cardigan over it.

This fabric is slightly sheer, I am wearing a white tank underneath my top. If you decide to make a dress with this, you might want to consider lining it.

I just really love the colors chosen for this print! The design of the carnivorous plants are so unique, and fun to look at. I can totally picture this blouse in Anthropologie. (Does anyone else try to imagine their future handmade garments in their favorite shops when project planning? If I can see them in certain shops, I feel like I’m on the right track. Pairing fabrics with patterns is an art all in it’s own!).

Go check out this unique and one of kind fabric line! The options for these fabrics are endless. I’m especially loving Allie’s idea of using it as a lining for a jacket! So fun! Special thanks to Allie, Dan Lehman and Indiesew for having me on this fun tour!

Fabric for this post post was provided by Indiesew, but all opinions are my own.

24Oct2018

Toaster Sweater with Measure Fabric

Posted in Fabric Finds by The Sara Project

Hello hello!

I’m in the thick of fall sewing this month with lots of fun things going on. First up is my third Toaster Sweater, pattern by Sew House Seven from Indiesew. You can see my other versions here and here.

The story behind this Toaster Sweater is, well not very interesting actually but goes like this. I picked this really pretty Matelasse Honeycomb Pattern from Measure Fabric thinking it was a knit. My plan was to make a cozy sweatshirt with it. When it came in the mail I noticed it had zero stretch. Not a knit. I kind of started to panic, I ONLY order fabric if I have a pretty immediate plan for it. This fabric is heavier, structured, and 100% cotton. I mulled it over for a week or so and could not wrap my mind around this fabric not being a knit, and what to make with it. So many of you offered some really great ideas, but after a weeks worth of mulling I decided a Toaster Sweater would be the safest bet. No bands, wide neckline, the only problem I saw was the sleeves being too tight/stiff.

3-4 weeks later I finnnallly get around to sewing it up. To my credit I had other deadlines to meet so I wasn’t technically putting it off. Does anyone else put things off they aren’t entirely sure about? So anyways, literally two days ago I sat down to sew it up. (The whole thing came together in a day, super fast sew). I basted the sleeves first to check the fit and they were perfect.

Yesterday I put it on with some skinny jeans, and the matelasse became softer and less stiff with wear. I was quite comfortable in it too! It’s saying a lot if I kept it on all day, I’m usually in my lounge wear/pjs by 4 pm. (I wish I could wear lounge wear/athleisure wear during the day but I just can’t, what is wrong with me?). Anyways.

As I was walking out the door yesterday morning with my kids on our way to preschool and ballet, I had the genius idea to grab my camera. In my brain I pictured backing my car up to an old wall, opening the back hatch and propping my 5 year old there to snap some photos for me. It totally worked and she did a pretty awesome job.

I love the look of this structured top! Its warm, comfortable, and lavender! I don’t have anything lavender in my wardrobe, and I’m loving this feminine color. Sadly, this color is currently sold out, but the light green color is still available. I added 1″ in length to this version, with no other alterations.

I think this fabric would work great for an overcoat type pattern, maybe like the Berlin Jacket by Tessuti or even a structured Inari Tee Dress? It’s a really unique, and equally gorgeous fabric. Just keep in mind it is a bit stiff (think structured) and heavy.

I’m wearing my FAVORITE madewell jeans in a size 25, the fit is so so good.

Thanks for reading along, and stay tuned for many more things in the near future! Happy sewing!

8Oct2018

Hinterland Dress with Blackbird Fabrics + Arrow Mountain

Posted in Fabric Finds, Pattern Reviews by The Sara Project

Hello everyone! We’re about half way into the #hinterlandsewoff and I’m finished with Hinterland Dress #2! (See one post back for all the Sew-Off details!). This pattern is designed by the amazingly talented Meg of Sew Liberated. This Hinterland Dress was made with Raw Silk Noil from Blackbird Fabrics. (Unfortunately this fabric is sold out, but they have lots of other great options for this dress). The handmade wooden buttons are from Arrow Mountain, and they are so fun! I’m very happy with this dress! The spruce green silk noil is amazing, and the buttons really add some charm to this dress.

I sewed up the size 4 with added length to the neckline and waistline. I cut the neckline out along the size 14 cut line, and added 1.5″ in length to the bodice. I think 1″ would have been better, but the waistline hits right above my natural waist, and that’s what I was going for. The darts don’t fit quite right on me. My last Hinterland had about 1″ taken out of the bodice by omitting the front placket, and it fits really well. Add the placket and the fit is a little off. I took in the side seams about 1/4″ on each side, and I was hoping that the waist ties would take care of the rest. I think I need to tie it slightly tighter next time. I also added one extra button to my half placket because of all the added length.

I added 2″ to the sleeve length for a slightly longer 3/4 sleeve.

I also added 3″ in length to the skirt (already cut at the longer version). I did a thick hem of 1/2″ and then 1.5″. I might redo it for a smaller hem so it lays a little nicer. (Sometimes you don’t notice these things until you are reviewing your photos!).

Other than these adjustments, everything else fits pretty well. I love how easy this dress is to wear. It will go great with some tights and a cardigan thrown over when the weather gets colder in the coming weeks.

Now, don’t forget to post your Hinterland Dress to enter the contest! Also, make sure to check out all of the great discounts many of our sponsors are offering during the duration of the Sew-Off. I can’t wait to see all of your gorgeous dresses!!

If you’re interested, I made a sew-along for the Hinterland Dress saved to my highlights on Instagram if you need any help figuring out how to sew this dress together. Good luck and happy sewing!

24Sep2018

Hinterland Sew-Off!!

Posted in Fabric Finds, Pattern Reviews by The Sara Project

It’s finally here! I am so excited to finally announce this fun project Tori of The Doing Things Blog and I have been working on for the past few months. We give you… The Hinterland Sew-Off! We thought it would be fun to bring the community together and host a month long sew-off. We have so many amazing sponsors and prizes. Head down to the bottom of this post for all the details about this fun event!

Tori and I decided to sew up the Hinterland Dress to launch our event. Blackbird Fabrics very generously agreed to be our fabric sponsor! The fabric I chose to use (this amazzzzing raw silk noil in spruce… no brainer, right?) is literally in the mail on it’s way to me as we speak, and couldn’t be here in time for our big launch day. (Today). So, I decided to sew up a different Hinterland Dress, and I had actually been planning this one before we even started thinking about doing the Sew-Off, so it worked out really well.

My fabric should be getting here any day, and I’m so excited to sew a Hinterland Dress right along with you during the Sew-Off. I’m also planning on doing a super casual sew-along too. Head to Instagram for all details on that, see my Hinterland Sew-Off highlights for all and any info.

So, let’s get to it!

How I hacked my Hinterland:

Bishop sleeves are where it’s at. You can find them everywhere right now and I decided to add them to this version of the Hinterland Dress. I really love how it turned out. My next Hinterland will have a slightly lengthened bodice and a longer skirt. I ran out of fabric with this one, and I’m sad the skirt didn’t end up being a few inches longer to really give this dress that “pioneer look” I was truly going for.

I used exactly 3 yards of a rayon/linen blend fabric I found at Joann’s. It’s heavenly and now I need it in every color. I made the size 4, and the fit is really good for me.

These are the main adjustments I made to the pattern:

-I decided to make this version of the Hinterland without the button placket. I simply cut the front bodice pattern piece on the fold line of my fabric, without adding any extra seam allowances.

-I cut two of the back bodice pieces instead of cutting one on the fold.

-I sewed in a 20-22″ invisible zipper into the back of the dress. Make sure to cut the back skirt piece in half, and add seam allowances. I also added 4″ in width to my skirt piece for added fullness.

-I brought the neckline slightly higher and the shoulder seam slightly over die to personal preference. I think I’ll keep it like this for my next one too, but with the placket.

-I used pre-made single fold bias binding to finish off the neckline to save some time. The pattern walks you through how to make your own bias binding if you prefer.

-And lastly, I drafted my sleeves into bishop sleeves with an added sleeve ruffle. You can easily do this yourself. Find the whole tutorial for how I did this on BERNINA USA’s blog weallsew.com.

Back to the Contest! Keep reading below for everything you need to know!

Hinterland Sew-Off Contest Rules:

What is the Hinterland Sew-Off?

The Hinterland Sew-Off is a 4 week long Instagram sewing event hosted by Sara of The Sara Project and Tori of The Doing Things Blog! Make your own Hinterland Dress and share it for a chance to win a prize. Anyone (US or International!) is welcome to participate and can enter to win!

How do I participate?

Make your own Hinterland Dress!
Take a photo of your Hinterland (must show the whole creation, so ask a friend to take it, or there’s always the mirror selfie!).
Post your photo on Instagram before October 22, 2018 at 11:59pm PST.
Use the #hinterlandsewoff hashtag in the caption or comments.
Tag Sara (@thesaraproject) and Tori (@thedoingthingsblog) in the caption or comments to make sure we see it!

Where can I get the Hinterland Dress pattern?

The Hinterland Dress is by Meg of Sew Liberated. Meg is offering 25% off if you use the code HINTERLANDSEWOFF. Head over to the Sew Liberated website to purchase the pattern!

Want to win the Hinterland Pattern for free?

Meg of Sew Liberated is giving the Hinterland Dress PAPER pattern away to THREE random winners who share about the Sew-Off! Find out how to enter by visiting our Instagram accounts and clicking on our Hinterland Dress photos (Sara’s & Tori’s)! We will announce the winners on Thursday, September 27.

Are there any other promotions during the Sew-Off?

Yes! Arrow Mountain is offering 15% off using code: HINTERLAND, and Blackbird Fabrics is offering 10% off using code: HINTERLAND10 off storewide (excluding gift certificates).

What if I’ve already made the Hinterland? Do I have to sew a new one?

No, you do not have to make a new one. Just make sure to add the hashtag #hinterlandsewoff and tag Sara (@thesaraproject) and Tori (@thedoingthingsblog) in the caption or comments of your photo to make sure we see it.

What if I make more than one Hinterland?

We are so glad you love the pattern as much as we do! Each Hinterland Dress you decide to make and post a photo of counts as one entry.

Do I have to sew the Hinterland Dress?

We’re not stopping anyone’s creativity and love to see you inspire others! This is a sew-off for the Hinterland, so it needs to be recognizable as the Hinterland Dress pattern. As long as your creation still looks like you used the Hinterland as a base, it will count. You are more than welcome to hack it!

What if I don’t have Instagram?

We invite any and all to participate in the Sew-Off, but if you would like to be entered to win any of the prizes, you do need to have an Instagram. Come on over and join in!

What if my account is private?

We completely understand the need for privacy. If your account is private, both judges will not be able to see your entry. To be entered you must have a public account between September 24 – October 22, 2018 (or whenever you decide to post your photo – until the end of the Sew-Off).

Why did you choose the Hinterland Dress pattern?

The Hinterland Dress pattern was recently released and it is a popular one in the sewing community. We both wanted to make the pattern and hadn’t yet, so we decided to make it a fun event for everyone to make and share theirs too!

How are you choosing the winners?

We will be choosing one grand prize winner and two random winners. Anyone (US or International!) is welcome to participate and enter to win.

What are the prizes?

Grand Prize Winner: (our favorite dress pick!)

$50 gift card to Blackbird Fabrics

Collette Sewing Planner

One pair of LDH Tailoring Shears

OLFA rotary cutter and seam ripper from BERNINA USA

One PDF sewing pattern of your choice from Hey June

One PDF sewing pattern of your choice from True BIas

One PDF sewing pattern of your choice from Helen’s Closet

Random WInner #1:

Collette Sewing Journal

One pair of LDH Tailoring Shears

One PDF sewing pattern of your choice from Hey June

One PDF sewing pattern of your choice from True BIas

One PDF sewing pattern of your choice from Helen’s Closet

Random Winner #2:

One PDF sewing pattern of your choice from Hey June

One PDF sewing pattern of your choice from True BIas

One PDF sewing pattern of your choice from Helen’s Closet

Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors for all of their contributions!

Good luck everyone! I can’t wait to see all of your amazing Hinterlands!! I’ll be back soon to share my second Hinterland Dress with you all!

Wide Leg Pants

SEW IT:

Cargo Pants

Exposed Button Fly

Animal Print Pants

Overalls

Store Bought: Madewell Corduroy Overalls

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How I hacked my Hinterland:

Back to the Contest! Keep reading below for everything you need to know!

Hinterland Sew-Off Contest Rules:

Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors for all of their contributions!

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