Spring Sewing: Wiksten!

In an effort to expand my spring wardrobe and do so on a budget, I just purchased my very first Wiksten pattern.  Hurrah!  I've been crushing on them for so long now.  Jenny Gordy of Wiksten just recently released downloadable PDF sewing patterns which make her limited released patterns much easier to snag.  I ordered the Wiksten Tank.  It seems like to perfect top to carry one from the spring into the summer and will still look fabulous with a cardigan.

Wiksten Tank Downloadable Pattern, Source

Wiksten Tank and Dress, Source

The design is very simple and it seems to have so many possibilities depending on the fabric that one chooses.   It can also be sewn up as a dress, which is really very nice.  I'm looking forward to many belted dresses when fall rolls around.  But for now, I'll be working with a Kaffe Fassett 100% cotton fabric.

Kaffe Fassett Asha in Grey, Source 

I've had much luck with Kaffe Fassett's fabrics, particularly his hand-dyed shot cottons.  They are a dream to work with and I think that his Asha pattern in grey will prove no different.  It seems like just the perfect pattern for spring time. 

Have any of you had experience with Wiksten patterns?  If so, I'd love to hear about them!  Which patterns and what sort of fabrics did you use?  I'm so excited about all of the possibilities!

Buttons, buttons, buttons

As I mentioned in my last post (er. only post up until now) I had plans for making the adorable Ruthie Clutch by Anna Maria Horner for a friend's birthday.  I received the fabric last Thursday and by Friday was hard at work on it.  I am so pleased with the fabric that I chose.   The Little Folk's Cotton Voile is GORGEOUS and so. incredibly. soft and smoooooth.  Ah, I just want to rub my face all over it.  Seriously.  It's fantastic.  I've got plans for this fabric.  Big plans.  

This past Saturday Dan and I headed to fabric row in search of buttons.  I am not very familiar with this overwhelming array of fabric stores.  Our first and only introduction to Fabric Row was an afternoon a few years ago in which I drug Dan through every single store in search of a fabric for an upholstered headboard that I, 1.5 years later, have yet to construct.  It took hours to find the perfect shade of green with the right texture.  But we found it, and it is now it patiently sits under our bed awaiting its impending metamorphosis into the greatest upholstered headboard ever. 

So, in order to make Saturday's Fabric Row adventure as quick and painless as possible for Dan, I referred to Dragon's Guide to Philly Fabrics.  This is a very useful site and I recommend it for anyone in search of fabric in Philadelphia.  One of my favorite stores in the city is Spool.  It is not on the list.  My other favorite store is Jo-Mar.  It is on the list.  I've got a lot of love for that place and I intend to profess this admiration in a later post.  Anyways, we b-lined it to Albert Zoll, which is described as having a large selection of buttons in the Dragon Guide.  They had so many unique buttons.  My selection: a mustard-yellow, concave wooden button for the Ruthie Clutch and an extra large one for me, another in the same style but in magenta, and finally a yellow and brown wood inlay button.  I have a feeling I will be returning to this store often as I create my various Parfait dresses.

 

I foresee a spring and summer filled with cute dresses and the most interesting buttons!  I can't wait.  But first, I have a Ruthie Clutch to complete.