Category: Fashion Inspiration

Welcome to 2024

Hello, My name is Riesha, also known as Riesha Nicolle on the socials. I am a fashionable, fitness foodie, that loves to sew, workout, and cook daily. Follow me on my journey of sewing a new wardrobe to match my new physique, as well as making delicious meals and working out to keep it. I am also the owner of my own online t-shirt and accessories shop, known as SixTwentyTwoLLC. I am a married mom of 2, a girl and a boy. My family is my world.

I started my fitness journey, seriously, in 2014 when my mom passed away from stomach cancer. This is also when I started sewing. I used fitness and sewing to help with the grief of losing my mom. My t-shirt shop name is her actual birthday, 6/22, the name was my husband’s idea.

Now that you know a little bit about me, let’s get into my goals for 2024.

Goal #1 – Finances – Financial Freedom

My main goal for 2024 is to achieve Financial Freedom. I have a few bills that I have created over the past few years, that I just want gone. In order to do this I have put myself on a personal budget and will be spending less. I want for nothing when it comes to material things. I have a sewing space that includes any any and everything you could possibly imagine, some of the things I have, have never been used. Such a shame.

An action plan for the month of January is to not buy any fabric or sewing patterns. I will be using all the things I have in my space. If a project calls for a fabric that I don’t have, I will be choosing something else to create my next project. I did not come up with this idea on my own, it is part of the group Sew Much Talent on Instagram. I am so excited for this challenge and I think it is going to kick start my no unnecessary spending.

Goal #2 – Personal Development – Expanding My Sewing Skills

This is a tough one. I love to sew with Knit fabrics. So, in 2024 I will be using more wovens, oh gosh did I really just put that in writing? Okay, yes I did. It is going to be the only way that I grow. I have used wovens before, it’s not like they are brand new to me. I just don’t always go to the projects where they are required. 2024 is a year of growth for me. Here is a list of a few things that I am going to master:

  • Zippers
  • Woven Fabrics
  • More Tote Bags/Purses
  • Specialty Fabrics – Fancy Fabrics

Here are a few of my favorite items in a woven or little to no stretch fabrics.

Goal #3 – Health and Fitness – Staying Consistent with Taking Care of Myself

I have a plan that I am using, actually working with an online coach, 2 more months and it will be cancelled. Not that the program is not working for me, because it is, but I am using all that I have learned to be able to do the workouts and meals on my own. This way I am taping into Goal #1 – financial freedom, and using the plans accordingly on my own. My plan is 4 days of strength training, Lower body – glute focused, Upper body – shoulders and arms, Total body, and a body weight only workout day. I do cardio 3 days a week, Saturday and Monday are Xtreme Hip Hop Classes, and Wednesday is a traditional step class. I take the classes because I am not disciplined enough to do cardio on my own, I don’t like it. LOL!!!

Be Consistent

It’s Fall, My Favorite Season to Sew

Hello Sew Friends,

it’s been a while since I posted to the blog. Today is the first day of Fall, my favorite Sew Season. I thought I would share a few things with you about what’s to come on rieshanicolles.com blog page. Lots of Jumpsuits, Cardigan’s, and maybe some sweaters will make an appearance this fall. Dresses are a given as I am loving the fall looks with a dress, tights, and a cute pair of booties.

The last pieces that I created were strictly for summer and I am making the transition of summer to fall outfits, now sure why, because there a few days of 80 – 90 temperatures in the upcoming forecast. I really need it cool off.

Here are a few of my fall outfits that I have made in the past. Stay tuned for October makes will be shown soon.

Clothes can help you transform into who you need to be perceived as. `Kerry Washington (Olivia Pope, Scandal)

Getting ready for Return to Office

Well not sure when that is going to be as the date keeps changing. That is not a complaint, it allows me more time to get my wardrobe together for when that date does happen.

The Simplicity 8982 pattern is a great starter to get your SewJo flowing again, mine never left, but if you are stuck in a funk and want to sew something quick and cute, this one would work to satisfy both of those elements.

I like easy to style and easy to dress up or down patterns. This pattern has a dress, 2 tops with different sleeve variations, and 2 skirts of different lengths. I am not a fan of the skirt, made it in 2019 and it just does not fit my body type. It was not cute. I have seen other sewist wear the skirt and it looks good on them, but not on me.

I had enough of this pretty fabric left from a jumpsuit I made for my wedding anniversary dinner in 2021. There are a few scraps left which I may turn into earrings or a bag. Stay tuned for those items, still deciding.

This is the 3rd dress that I have made with this pattern and it makes me happy each time. I love the fit and it the simplicity of the pattern. You can view my review of the first and second dresses here. You will see the skirt on the mannequin (Brittany), she wore it well.

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Up next on the blog: Vogue 1754 Misses Cape

Fashion has two purposes: Comfort and Love. Beauty Comes when Fashion succeeds. -Coco Chanel-

Me Made Monday

Now that I have somewhat a “NORMAL” schedule, whatever that means, I am sewing more. July I made a few pieces, shorts, pants, tops, and currently on the sewing table is a kimono. I need to install the facing, but not sure I want the facing on, due to the print on the fabric to me it takes away from the print. I will pin and see how it looks. I may even do a poll on Instagram for some feedback. Here is the kimono in its unfinished state. I am using McCall’s 7790 View C and the sleeve variation from View B. I love a dramatic sleeve. I know some of my sew sisters have their eyes on my lining, but it hasn’t been pressed yet, get your eyeballs out of there, I know it’s showing.

For the next few weeks, I have my work cutout for me, yes pun intended. I have matched fabric and cut out several patterns to make for the few weeks. Hoping to have a small get away with the husband for our anniversary. Fingers crossed that COVID cases don’t shut us down again.

Any-who enough of that talk, you want to see what I have up next? Well here goes…

  1. Simplicity 8177 – The Coat

I am making the coat version for our mini trip, this way I only need one coat to wear with every outfit. I picked a black ponte knit fabric for this one.

2. Simplicity 8790 The Hoodie in View D. The fabric selected is a gray sweatshirt fabric for cooler mornings as I like to walk in the morning to start the day.

3. Simplicity 1167 The Tank Top. Black Knit Fabric for the win. I can wear this with the pants that are number 4 and the coat from number 1.

4. Simplicity 8605 The Pants View E. I choose view to see if I will need to take of the usual 5″ of the bottom due to the pattern being 5″ longer than what I need. Once it’s cut I will measure it to see what, if any, alterations I will need to make. This fabric is a leftover piece from another project I made.

5. Simplicity 9268 Top and Pants

This one is not for our trip, but I love this outfit and I found this pretty pale pink . I think this a gauze. I will have to find the label for it, for details when it is completed. For now I am making a muslin of the top for fitting. Although is not a close to body fit, the size I think I need is really big, so I am making a muslin and will alter from there if needed.

I will need a few other pieces to go along with the ones posted here, but for now, so I am not overwhelmed this is all I have set out. I will add additional items when these are completed. Have a great week!!!!

My christmas outfit

I can’t believe Christmas is 2 days away, 2 days.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. All the love you feel, the joy it brings, the decorations, the lights, the food, family (social distance style of course), and most important of all JESUS is the reason for the season.

I love everything about this jumpsuit. The color, the ease of the pattern, the fit on my body with one alteration to the length.

Pattern Description: McCall’s 7910 Misses’ Jumpsuit Close-fitting, pull-on knit jumpsuits with lined bodice and leg variations. 
I choose the one shoulder bodice (pattern piece # 3) and wide leg pant leg variation (pattern piece #5). 

Pattern Sizing: 6-14, I cut a size 14.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it looks like the photo on the pattern envelope.

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were easy to follow. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved the look of all the bodice’s, but didn’t like the exposed waistline, line. I made a belt to match the embellished shoulder, with a faux diamond studded trim and a bracelet that I found at Michael’s. 

Fabric Used: Red Luxury Stretched Velvet from Califabrics. There are a few other colors available.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Like all jumpsuits, pants, or maxi dresses, I needed to remove 2 7/8″ from the length of the pants. The luxury of being able to create pants that fit me due to my height. 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I would sew this again, using either of the other bodice options and possibly the pant (pattern piece #6) that has the side slit on the pants leg. There isn’t anything wrong with the straight leg pants, it is just a personal preference for me on a jumpsuit to have a wider leg.

Conclusion: I loved how this turned out, the fit was perfect, no other alterations needed outside of the alteration for the length. 

Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for following my blog!!!!

Bye for now, Time to go Sew Something!!!!