What a Difference A Day Makes

You'll have to give into my latest moment of fantasy and optimism (and schizophrenia, apparently) as I near the end of the coat project.

Yesterday I bought the Oct./Nov. version of Vogue Patterns - how about that awesome orange suit on the cover - and I felt truly excited about the prospect of sewing some new things.

Everyone's been talking about the mag's new editorial policy (which is to say "something other than ads and crappy photos of outdated styling"). Let me concur. It makes the experience enjoyable.

I mean, how often have you flipped through Vogue Patterns and thought - oooh, I want that, just like that! - as if it's Elle. You may have thought: Hmmm, if I use a different fabric and I modify it a bit and I try to ignore that hideous felt, I can get with that.

Well, the times may be a changin', or so we can hope.

I felt for the first time yesterday, as I looked at the garments, that I can actually sew my own wardrobe.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no expert, or even experienced, but I have proven to myself in the last year (yay 1-year sewiversary to me!) that I have: the patience to read a pattern, the fortitude to handle the unexpected, the grit to stick with a project for months, if necessary, a great space in which to create, an organized archive, systems that work, a fantastic community of sewists and blog friends who help me to stay motivated (that means you, btw), a really good eye, a love of fabric, the ability to create things that fit me well and awesome taste.

Really, I kick ass.

And I'm modest.

In truth, if I ask myself why I sew, it's not to be stressed by outcomes or to further empower my (very out-and-proud) critical self. It's for love. For love of beautiful textures and the alchemy of turning fabric into garments. For love of the potential, wrapped in each pattern envelope - a metaphor for the potential within me. And for enjoyment.

So I bought this pattern (and a few others), recognizing fundamentally, that a shirt is just a shirt - when it's not busy changing my life.


Yeah, it may be fancy looking on paper, but if Vogue Patterns says it's AVERAGE, really what can go wrong??! :-)

So, has anyone made this? If yes, what did you think?

OR, Let's say you never intend to sew a thing in your life, if you found this in a store, would you try it on?