I'm so excited about this week's Top Stitcher Contest because it's my turn! My opponent and I were prompted to create a "Climate Change" piece, basically, taking a warm weather pattern and turning it into something winter-worthy. I could never quite figure out who was at more of a disadvantage me -
who hasn't seen a real winter in a looong time or Jeanine who lives in
Canada and can't possible ever need summer clothes, right?First, let me redefine "winter" for you because I live in Florida! Winter in Florida or Fwinter as I so affectionately call it is basically a lot of days that feel like fall in the morning and then afternoon temperatures around 70 degrees. By evening you may want to put back on one of those layers you shed earlier. If it is snow-maggeden in the rest of the country then we just wear coats and a scarf. So winter wear around here is made up of layering and more coverage. Oh and boots!
Now that you know what winter is like I can show you what I created. I took the Winter Wear Designs (appropriately named) Riviera Romper pattern and added coverage. The pattern has options for shorts and capris so I lengthened and widened the bottom for a palazzo pant kind of vibe. For the top portion raised the neckline for more coverage and added sleeves by using the sleeve piece from the Winter Wear Phresh Blazer. I kept the scoop back because remember, when I go outside at noon I will
not need that jacket I dug out on my way to work that morning. By the way, if you haven't checked out any of Suzanne's super fresh designs I highly recommend that you do. 
Now, I am not sure if you can tell, but the top is my favorite part of
the whole thing! That is why I took this weird sequin selfie. So, about my fabrics and finishing: I chose a pretty purple suiting fabric for the pants portion and and pretty sequin material with the tiniest bit of stretch for the top portion. Both came from my local Joann Fabrics. Let me tell you about sequins: they do not like to be gathered. Also, they are just as bad as glitter. I had sequin pieces in my bobbin case. It was THAT bad. I was so grateful that the pattern calls for most of the edges to be finished with bias tape. (Hooray!) When it came to the sleeves I just went with the theme and finished them in bias tape too. I did add the pockets from the original pattern because I liked it on my summer romper. And of course I had to finish off the entire look with boots! Nothing screams it's winter (even at 75 degrees) like boots. Well, that is it for this southern girl. Happy Voting!
