Simplicity 1783

SUMMER : : SIMPLICITY 1783

Simplicity 1873, Sewing Welt Pockets, Dressing Your Truth Type One

 

 

August is The Sewcialists Tribute Month. An opportunity to pay homage to a sewing blogger that inspires. It was my intention to watch from the sidelines on this one. You ALL inspire me…tremendously. You might be a sewer, or a forty plus personal style blogger. You might be a foodie, a wordsmith, an artist. You might work your magic in the garden or your home. Whatever your medium, you inspire with your creativity. Yep, I didn’t want to stress about who to choose, so I decided to just buckle down and sew a couple of projects that have been waiting in the wings. Like these shorts. Summer is half over after all. It was actually pretty quick sewing, these lightweight summer shorts, Simplicity 1783, and a self drafted t-shirt. So, why did I wait until August? Well, I really wanted to add welt pockets to my shorts. Let me re-phrase that. I really wanted welt pockets on my shorts, but I really didn’t want to sew them. Let’s be real. Raise your hand if you actually utilize those cute little welt pockets on your backside? Thought not. But. For whatever reason, don’t you think they up the style factor on a pair of pants, or in this case, shorts? The thing is…welt pockets…tricky beasts they is. Or so I thought. Until now. You see, Nicole of Nicole at Home posted a welt pocket tutorial complete with pattern PDF here. I’ve had it printed off and ready to go for months, and I finally decided it was now or never. I followed her flawless tutorial step by step, with nary a hiccup. not. one. Not even a scratch of the head, or a huh moment. And then it dawned on me. Lovely Nicole, had not only inspired me to up my sewing game, but she had also provided me with the tools and support to make it happen. Um…yeah…talk about a home run. So yes, this post is with special thanks to you, Nicole. I met you a year ago during the Super Online Sewing Match. Back then, I had you pegged as my main competition. Now, I have you catalogued as some serious inspiration.

Okay guys, here’s a good one for you. Last Saturday, the mister and I were getting ready to go see Red Rock Diner, a rock ‘n’ roll musical with a Vancouver plot. Set in 1957, it was a no-brainer that I would wear my Betty Draper Dress. We had matinee tickets and we are routinely a bit rushed to get out of the house on time for these early shows. We have long done the check dialogue…you know…keys, check; glasses, check; tickets, check. As I picked up the tickets, which may I say are not nearly as special now that they are printed on our home printer, I gave pause. Errrmm, I thought…is it the 16th today? Odd. I thought today was the 9th. oh. dear. and. oops.. Wrong Saturday. Sheeesh…talk about a full dress rehearsal. I guess the bright side is that the tickets weren’t for the week before. but. really. With an afternoon suddenly free, I switched out my fancy-schmancy for my Midnight in Paris Dress and flip flops and off we went to Trout Lake Farmers Market, upping our total number of market visits this summer to about six so far. Not bad, eh? On Sunday, we did a long, but leisurely cycle on The Vancouver Seawall. Yes. I had my camera. No. I didn’t take photos. Managing a bike and a camera at the same time was not working well. Next time, I’ll try harder. Okay, that’s all she wrote today…thank you for reading, and inspiring me!

Shorts : : Me-Made, Cynthia Rowley Simplicity 1783
T-Shirt : : Me-Made, Self-drafted Pattern
Espradrilles : : Payless

Linking up with:

Sewing Adicta: Share In Style


47 Comments

  • Reply Heather August 15, 2014 at 8:06 am

    Cute outfit and good job on the welt pockets – they look awesome! I feel the same way as you – how can I choose just one person to pay tribute too when everyone inspires me. My husband and I have done the same thing with concert tickets only we missed the show!! Boo! Hope you enjoy it this weekend!

  • Reply Anonymous August 15, 2014 at 8:13 am

    gorgeous….love the shorts

  • Reply sabine August 15, 2014 at 8:24 am

    Hello Sue,
    What a lovely summerly look! The colors seems to come from a summer meadow the style perfect for a leisure day at the lake. I must confess I envy you a little bit. Summer is gone here for the moment.
    I can picture you in your vintage dress ready for the event, luckily you can look forward to tomorrow. Have fun!
    Sabine xxx

  • Reply Shirl August 15, 2014 at 8:28 am

    Lovely post and lovely, soft colors on you Sue. Yippee, I got your post after re-subscribing!. Lovin' those new shorts!

    Shirl

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 15, 2014 at 9:11 am

    Aw…that is too bad! We also felt lucky that we noticed before we left, rather than at the theatre. That would have been a little embarrassing, although they probably would have tried to accommodate us. You have a great weekend too Heather!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 15, 2014 at 9:12 am

    Thank you! I see more shorts from this pattern in my future!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 15, 2014 at 9:13 am

    Aw, thank you Sabine. You are so poetic with your words! So, about the weather….we've had a little bout of much needed rain, and we were actually getting sprinkled on as we took photos…so much for the sun.

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 15, 2014 at 9:14 am

    Thanks Shirl! Happy to see that you are once again receiving the emails!

  • Reply My Kurves August 15, 2014 at 9:35 am

    I just love to read your posts and you always provide a little chuckle. Those shorts are too cute on you and the colors are a must have. Congrats on making such a nice shirt and shorts!

  • Reply pastcaring August 15, 2014 at 10:48 am

    These shorts are just great, Sue, and I love the aqua/pink colour scheme!
    Now – welt pockets? I don't know what they are! I mean, I can see what they are, but I didn't know that was the name of them. Blogging is educational! And yes, inspiring too.
    Good thing you were a week early rather than a week late for the theatre. Still, you got to go to the farmers market again, and you still have the show and frocking up in that divine dress of yours to look forward to – lovely! xxx

  • Reply Margo B August 15, 2014 at 11:16 am

    I always love your bright color combinations! Cute cute shorts. You are an inspiration to us all as well!!

  • Reply Flo August 15, 2014 at 2:26 pm

    I love those, the fabric, the color and the welt pockets look great! There is nothing better than a good shorts pattern, I used to make a lot of my own. Have fun at the show THIS weekend 😉

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 15, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    Thanks Flo! Now, that would be the worst….forgetting to go tomorrow, LOL! Have a good weekend!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 15, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Thanks Margo! You have got to be the best dressed Canadian sewer!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 15, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Well, there ya go! It's the same for me…I'm always having little ah-ha moments reading things on blogs that I follow!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 15, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Thanks Neti! Always nice to hear from a fellow lover of all things colourful!

  • Reply Anonymous August 15, 2014 at 5:06 pm

    Pretty colors. Fun clothes. Cute shoes. Gorgeous smile. Beautiful scenery. And, as always, joy in life. 🙂

  • Reply Melanie August 15, 2014 at 9:48 pm

    Seersucker, just the name of the fabric makes my heart leap. Awesome shorts. Welt pockets – I'm had a couple of run-ins with them. I won one, I lost one, actually, a faked another. Heh. This outfit is perfect for summer and your splashy colours against that beach backdrop are incredible.

  • Reply Vix August 15, 2014 at 11:47 pm

    What a joyful, colourful outfit. those shorts are such fun and the shoes make me smile.
    Fancy getting all dolled up a week early. It'll be perfect this weekend! xxx

  • Reply No fear of fashion August 15, 2014 at 11:51 pm

    A perfect beach outfit. I love how you combine the green with the fuchsia/pink. Makes such a good combination. I am not a big fan of shorts or bermudas, never have been either. But that is me. The rest of the world loves them, so I am the odd one out. And for going to the beach they are perfect of course. (Was it early evening when you took the photos? Or just not so sunny?))
    You are indeed a skilled sewer to be able to sew those back pockets. Good instructions or not, you need skills and talent to be able to follow those instructions. Very kind of Nicole to provide them. Yes you meet some kind people in bloggers country don't you?
    Greetje

  • Reply Louise Perry August 16, 2014 at 2:13 am

    Wowzers, you have smashed it again. These look so simple so stylish. Going to check out that tutorial for welt pockets now because you are so right they totally up the style stakes. Enjoy the show.

  • Reply Kristin Buchholz-MacKillop August 16, 2014 at 4:56 am

    You really know what colours you rock…cute shorts. I wish I could wear shorts here. The weather has been absolutely APPALLING for the past week and a half with no end in sight. SIGH. Probably the end of summer in the Highlands.
    http://www.highlandfashionista.com

  • Reply Nicole August 16, 2014 at 7:14 am

    Oh my goodness, Sue! I don't even know what to say to your wonderful tribute. Wow. Thank You! *big hug!*

  • Reply Val S August 16, 2014 at 9:25 am

    You are always awesome! All your colors and your bright smile make it summer all year long!

    I have taken my camera with me on bike rides, and like you, never used it. I need to take it when I go alone, because then I can stop and start all I want and no one (ahem, I'm talking about you, Mr. S) gets impatient.

  • Reply makingtheflame August 16, 2014 at 12:00 pm

    Great look! It's nice to see you change it up and do a more subtle look — but I love the shoes. You're still colorful! How nice that you finally did find your inspiration, and share it with us.

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 17, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    I love everything you've said here! Thank you!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 17, 2014 at 6:23 pm

    Oh yeppers, the very word takes me back to grade school and summer and frozen popsicles all rolled into one.

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 17, 2014 at 6:24 pm

    And yes it was perfect this weekend! We enjoyed the show and I whippet quick in getting ready to go this time!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 17, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    Well…I can't say I LOVE shorts…but there are certainly times when they just seem suitable attire…and yes…a casual beach jaunt is one of them. And you are right on both counts…early evening and was just starting to rain, actually!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 17, 2014 at 6:26 pm

    Thanks Louise! I do hope you copy and save the PDF. You will find it valuable as you continue on your sewing journey!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 17, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    Honestly….the weather in the Scottish Highlands has no comparison. I do hope you get at least one last summer hurrah before autumn!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 17, 2014 at 6:30 pm

    You are welcome Nicole! You really do have a talent for teaching! Tutorials are not easy, and you REALLY did a fine job with the welt pockets!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 17, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    Thank you Val! That's just it….the stop and start…something to be particularly careful of if someone is right behind you. Solo would be the way to do it!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 17, 2014 at 6:32 pm

    I HAD to add in the shoes to pump up the colour a bit. Glad you appreciate them!

  • Reply Joni James August 18, 2014 at 5:52 pm

    I can imagine riding a bike and taking pictures would be difficult. It would make me fall off for sure! And in these cute shorts you most definitely want to be careful not to skin your knees or worse!

    I love the soft pinky watermelon cardigan over everything.

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 18, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    Yep. I can only take photos on our outings if I come to a complete stop, take the camera out, snap the photo, put the camera away….you see where this is going, don't you? And my legs are still in rough shape after the hives earlier this summer!

  • Reply MIS PAPELICOS Sacramento August 22, 2014 at 4:27 am

    Absolute perfection, dear Sue.
    Thank you so much for joining the Share-in-Style family
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

  • Reply The Style Crone August 22, 2014 at 5:06 am

    Fabulous ensemble Sue. Your sewing prowess shines through with these shorts. Combining them with color creates an outfit that sings on your gorgeous beach background.

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 22, 2014 at 8:20 am

    Thanks Sacramento…it's always a pleasure to join you and Rosy!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 22, 2014 at 8:21 am

    Thank you Judith! I DO love outfits that sing!

  • Reply dan August 22, 2014 at 10:45 am

    I Always find it so nice when bloggers inspire each other! Your relaxed, summery outfit looks comfortable and the colours are lovable! Shorts look horrible on me, so I don't wear them, but on you are very cute!!

  • Reply Sue @ A Colourful Canvas August 22, 2014 at 7:01 pm

    Thank you Dan! I would think that you would look very attractive in shorts, but you know yourself best…and you do look always so lovely in your summer dresses!

  • Reply Bastoni di fashion August 23, 2014 at 4:41 am

    I like yuor blog..great look…kisskiss

  • Reply Rosy August 25, 2014 at 2:34 pm

    Dear Sue, you are an eternal inspiration for my !!! Love those shorts and so soft colors you always use, I feel cool breeze in my eyes when I watch your pics. Please … do not ever change!

  • Reply Jessica Cangiano August 27, 2014 at 2:35 pm

    Adore these vibrant, beautiful colours! I was sporting a similar palette myself earlier this summer for a photo shoot (and off camera, too, of course). The combo of pink + aqua is perpetual favourite of mine. I could gleefully live in it pretty much 24/7. 🙂

    You really look, and are, so very lovely, dear Sue!

    Have a splendid tail end of August,
    ♥ Jessica

  • Reply shams September 1, 2014 at 8:52 pm

    How cool that you were inspired by Nicole! She is a lovely lady and I'm sure a great teacher. That is a great summer look!

  • Reply Nicolene Richards September 1, 2014 at 10:22 pm

    You are very multi talented, stylish and an excellent orator! Love your style of writing as much as your outfits!
    FF

  • Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.