Pattern shopping

I had to hoped to have something new to show you today, but the truth is that I am just too tired to pull myself together enough for a photo shoot, even for arranging a photo shoot if I use Matilda as the model.

At the moment I am too tired to do much of anything, although I do have the brown rice on the stove and the rest of dinner will be very easy and quick to prepare, so I have a few minutes.  DH and I took a couple of very short walks today, total for all three was probably less than half a mile, although I supplemented my walks with a trek on the exercise bike and treadmill in the new workout room.

The builder also called and he is coming out tomorrow with the stonemason to install the bluestone that is supposed to finish off our pool.  That meant that I had to get outdoors and pump off the water that accumulated last week while DH was in the hospital and I wasn’t paying attention, get the accumulated leaves and winter gunk off the pool cover and the deck, and get the cover open so they could work tomorrow..  Luckily it was sunny today so it was quite pleasant in the sun, but still a bit brisk in the shade. None of it was a big job, just time consuming, and I was frequently running back and forth from deck to house.

When I came in I made a double espresso and sat down and perused the new Vogue patterns.  Thank you Marji for bringing them to my attention.

Of course I ordered a few, especially the two new Ralph Rucci patterns. I have a huge file of pictures of Ralph Rucci garments I have gleaned over the years, even though I haven’t actually knocked any off yet.  Hopefully this will get me a bit closer to that goal.

I also really like the new Issey Miyake pattern, it looks quite interesting and wearable as well as fun to make.  Issey Miyake retired a few years ago so the designs are either several years old or were designed by someone else.  The label still exists in stores although I don’t know the name of the current designer.  But then, I believe the lower priced Miyake lines were designed by someone else before Mr. Miyake retired, much the same way the lower priced Armani Collezioni line designed by someone else, not Armani, although it is designed under his supervision by someone who understands the "Armani look".

Besides, I am buying the pattern because I find the pieces very intriguing, especially the jacket, and I would probably buy it no matter whose name was on the pattern envelope.

I also bought this dress pattern because it is very pretty and wearable and I like this kind of style.  I suppose I think there is no such thing as too many variations on a flattering shape. If can get myself to actually make it, and perhaps even more than once, it will be the kind of dress that will be the mainstay of my summer wardrobe.

Then there is this pattern:

The dress is pretty basic.  I probably have jacket patterns that are similar enough that I could cut and paste and come up with something like this, but why bother when I can just get the pattern.  I like the raglan sleeves and the cut of the jacket, I like the jacket and the dress.  Mostly however I am buying it because I immediately see it made up in a fabric that has been sitting in my stash for some time, a fabric I still love but haven’t made up.  I don’t remember how much I have off hand, but I hope I have enough.    I basically haven’t made it because every time I look at the fabric I see the garment I originally intended to make, a garment that would now look somewhat dated, and I hadn’t found anything else that I liked as much.   Now I hope that I get it made up this time around before the new pattern looks really dated.

I also ordered two pant patterns.  The new Alice and Olivia pattern is just cute and even though I have several patterns with variations on this shape and cut, what is one more?  It might be different right?  The Sandra Betzina pattern is one I know will look good on me as that has always been a flattering pant shape.  Besides I tried on the prototype and know they will look good.