Faux Fur Jacket - Your Opinions Please!

I'm getting ready to sew up my faux fur jacket for the Wardrobe Basics SAL, but I'm on the fence about style and pattern. For reference, this is my fabric.

It is a faux mink from Fabric Mart in a chocolate brown color. I am planning to sew a jacket rather than a vest, and other than that, I'm really not sure what I want in terms of style. I've sewn up a couple of muslins. They are very different, and I was hoping that you would all weight in about what you like and dislike about each one.

The first is Simplicity 2149. It is a hip length jacket with front princess seaming and raglan sleeves.

The fabric kept wanting to curl back, and I need more room in the back, which is why it is flying open at the hips. Still, the shape is there.

The 3/4 shot gives you a better look at the shaping, I think.

The second is Burda Magazine 12/2010, number 117.

The sleeves are a little less extreme in fur, although Mitch got a good laugh at their expense.

This one would need an FBA, so I would have to figure out if I want to add another dart. It obviously wants one.

So, cards on the table, what do you think? Simplicity? Burda? Frankenpattern? Something else entirely?

Wardrobe Challenge SAL Plans

I think many of us have the problem of many clothes but nothing to wear. I know that I tend to sew very haphazardly - making whatever strikes my fancy at the moment without much thought to whether or not I have anything to wear it with. While I do occasionally sew wardrobe basics, I am much more likely to get distracted by something shiny. So, I decided to join the Wardrobe Basics SAL over at Girls in the Garden.

The basic premise is that we will sew a series of basics that coordinate and can be mixed and matched for different looks - much like sewing a SWAP. Now, I don't have a very good track record where this sort of thing is concerned, so I am hoping that all of you will help keep me on track.
For the SAL, we are making 9 basics. They are:
1. Black slim pants
2. Dark skinny jeans
3. White button down shirt
4. Black turtleneck
5. Camel/Khaki skirt
6. Tie Waist Sweater
7. Puffy Vest
8. Faux Fur vest
9. LBD

One of the other participants, Jayme over at Straight Stitched is also incorporating Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Wardrobe Elements. There is a lot of overlap, naturally. One component of the Tim Gunn list that I would like to add to mine is the trench coat, so that will be my #10.

I've already made #1 and #4. So, for the rest, here are my plans.
Dark skinny jeans: 

I'm planning to make these with Vogue 8330, which I made in a lighter denim here. I'm already pretty happy with the way these fit, so I'll just be able to sew them up.
White button down shirt:

Can you believe I don't already have one?? White isn't shiny. Anyway, I do have some nice white stretch cotton shirting and I am planning to make Vogue 8747, which is a cup sized pattern, so it should only require minimal tweaking.
Camel/Khaki skirt:

I'd love to knock off this Alexander McQueen. I'll have to look through my pattern stash. There are a couple of burdastyle magazine skirts that come to mind. They always have fun details. I have some stretch bengaline in that color.
Tie Waist Sweater:

I like this long sweater/jacket from last Winter's MyImage magazine. I have a great leopard print sweater knit that I've been planning to make this into for some time. I like the idea of a self fabric tie belt for it, and I may make some thread loops to hold it in place, but we'll have to see how it evolves.
Puffy Vest:

I know, it isn't puffy. I don't like to add bulk to my upper body. Nature gave me enough there. Still, I like the idea of adding a vest as a layering piece in my wardrobe. New Look 6008 caught my eye. I love the interesting straps and the peplum is on trend.  I have some fun brown suede with gold painted areas, but I also think this would be nice in tweed or wool suiting. I'll have to comb the stash and see what I come up with.
Faux Fur vest:

Right, not a vest. I'm not a fan of fur vests, but I do have a couple of yards of faux mink from Fabric Mart that I have squirreled away to make a jacket. I'm not sure I love the collar on this one, and I may want a bit more shaping, but this is the basic idea.
LBD: I'm thrilled that this is on the list, since it is one thing that I have wanted in my wardrobe for some time, but haven't yet sewn. I think part of my problem is that there are so many dress patterns that I like for this, I can't make up my mind.
Trench Coat:

I'm planning to knock off this Burberry trench seen on Kate Middleton. I find single breasted styles more flattering on me, so I may do mine that way. This burda magazine pattern from August '09 is a dead ringer for this.

So, this is a start! I'm sure I won't just power through and sew these all up, as there are other projects that I want and need to do. Obviously, pattern and fabric choices are subject to change as well. I'm excited about sewing up some basics!

Easter plans

Now that I have 3 kids to sew for, I have to get on the ball for holiday sewing!  Easter is coming up, and I'd like to make new outfits for the kids (and maybe slip a dress for myself in there!)  When I was a kid, Mom sewed for us, so instead of doing big "Back to School" shopping, our school clothes trickled in over the course of the year, but we could always count on new outfits for Easter!  Since my kids are still too young to object, I can even coordinate them.

So, here is my current plan.  I started out thinking I'd make matching gingham check shirts for the boys, so I was looking through my Ottobres for shirt patterns in both boys sizes.  Of course, I did.  Duncan's is from the 03/2008 issue, and Logan's is from the 6/2010 issue.  They are your basic long sleeved shirt, but with a mandarin style collar.  While I was flipping through 06/21010, I came across this dress,

which I have wanted to make for Myra.  I realized that this would be the perfect design to coordinate with their shirts.  Amazingly, I even have a big piece of blue cotton in the stash - enough for the body of the dress, as well as matching pants for the boys!  So, the plan is to make gingham shirts and blue pants for the boys, and the dress for Myra, with the main body in blue and the pintucked inset in gingham.  Maybe on the bias?  This is going to be so fun!

Mini Wardrobe anyone?

Since one of my goals for this year was to participate in a contest at PR, I've been watching the contest threads and contemplating the offerings for this year.  I thought about joining in on the lingerie contest, but I missed the boat for that one.  I like the idea of the mini wardrobe though, and I think it is a good way to get my feet wet, so to speak.  The requirements are to make 4 garments, all of which coordinate and which will create 4 distinct "outfits".  All that has to be done in 4 weeks.  Since I am jazzed about my jeans, they are going to be the central element in my wardrobe.  I'm thinking of a "Blues" sort of theme, with all of my fabrics being in blue or purple.  I did some pattern and fabric stash "shopping"  and this is my preliminary lineup.

I know.  Even Mitch thinks it's boring.  Still, it's where I'm starting...

Left to right is a dark denim that will become McCall's 5142, the lavender jersey burdastyle 02/2010-122, the grey suiting with blue pinstripes will be OOP Vogue 8157 in the capri length, and the blue stretch poplin New Look 6704 view C.

I'm thinking that I really need a print to break up the monotony of all those solids, but there isn't anything in my stash (at least, not that I could immediately uncover) that goes with this color scheme.  Mitch suggested a stripe for the burdastyle top.  That's how it is styled in burdastyle and it is pretty cute.  I'm not sure I want to do a stripe though, since it has to go with my pinstripe.  Of course, I could toss the pinstripe and make a flowy skirt...  Maybe this one in navy linen?  Bleah.  Another solid.  What's a girl to do??  What do you think?