Saturday, January 31, 2015

Weekend

I have not had time to post this week.  Last night after dinner I finally got to do some sewing on the McCall's top.  I should be able to finish this and start on the simple skirt pattern from McCall's as well.

I am still on the no pattern purchase band wagon, made it through 30 days thus far.  I have been very tempted.  I do so like some of the new Vogue patterns and a new StyleArc top pattern.  I am working also to organize my patterns.  I have all the dress patterns sorted into boxes/bins using the pattern company as the sorting process.  I had been taking photos of the patterns and cataloging them using Evernote.  Good idea, slow process for me.  There is just not enough time in the day to do all that I would like and my energy/stamina is not as it use to be.

More to follow.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

This and that sewing

I had sewing plans for this weekend.  Due to illness on Friday and only partially well on Saturday I did not get all plans completed.

My snap setter from Amazon arrived as predicted on Tuesday, today I attached a Black Metal Snap to B5789 and it is now complete.  I took some shots of the snap and will post another when I wear the knit jacket.

The SnapSource snap setter is really a nice gadget to use when you want to add snaps to a project.  They have several sizes, colors and designs to choose from.  For this fabric I found the snap was a better closure piece than making a buttonhole.

I finally also completed an infinity scarf using the instructions from a Nancy Notions's booklet on making several styles of scarves.  This scarf was made using left over fabric from a McCall's top with color, fabric was from EOS.

And I completed making pattern adjustments to McCall's 7019.  I am making View B with View A's peplum which is not longer in the back as the other views.  I have the fabric cut out and ready to sew.

Hopefully sewing plans will be back on track soon.


Monday, January 19, 2015

A day off!

Well today was a holiday and my birthday!  It has been a while since I have had my birthday as a day off.  I had lots of plans for the day, way too many for one day.  I did get pattern adjustments made to a McCall's knit top pattern. I plan to make View A but use a contrast for the back piece that comes around to the side.  I  will make a skirt from the same fabric using this McCall's pattern; not sure which skirt yet.    These were among the last few patterns I purchased at year end.

I am going to use this fabric that I just purchased from Sew Much Fabric.  I did get it washed and dried so it is ready to be cut when I can get back into the sewing room.
Back to work tomorrow!

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Mentoring event and V9024

As noted in my earlier post, I had an event to go to last night.  The perfect event for me to final wear Vogue 9024.  DH gave me high compliments on the dress and said "Alma would be impressed".  Alma was my grandmother who taught me to sew and from whom I got the sewing gene.

I was/am pleased with the fit of the dress with an exception of the back.  I posted a little about this during the sewing process with this dress.  It is apparent that there is still pooling in the back and I did not insert shoulder pads as I thought about doing.    Of late I have been doing almost an inch adjustment to back length on many patterns and when you viewing the back view in the picture I should have taken another 1/2 inch with this.  I can live with it as it is now.

So without further ado::::::
Front view-fabric Mood and Gorgeous Fabrics

Back view, with pooling

Left side view-princess seam

Right side view-waist and bust dart, peplum is attached at side seam
The temperatures last night were in the 20's so running from car to event center was not so bad with a lined mostly wool dress.

The event was a great success with over 100 individuals in attendance.  Staff did a great job of putting this together and was a honor to acknowledge mentors who give of their time and talents to support at-risk youth.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

No buttons for me and more fabrics

Butterick knit drape jacket is complete except for the button closure.  I made some test buttonholes on the fabric scraps as I had a concern about how a buttonhole would sew with this particular knit.  Not good at all from my test.  I used a washable stabilizer and still did not get good results.   My sewing machine makes good buttonholes on most fabric.

I then decided I would use my SnapSource and have in my stash several nice snaps.  Could not find my Size 24 Adapter for larger snaps and best for this garment. All my other size adapters were in the drawer, not this one.  I took everything out of several drawers thinking I had maybe placed it in a different one. Given the fact that I have not used this particular tool in several years, I really have no clue as to where it is.

I did find a lot of other "stuff" that I probably could give away to charity or possibly a giveaway here on my blog.  If anyone reading this does a lot of felting with felting machine or hand tool, leave me a comment as I have lots of merino wool yarn and other items that work well for felting projects.  They need a good home.

I go online to see if JoAnn's has the Size 24 Adapter and they do online only; my plan was to go right over to my local store and get one.  I ended up ordering from Amazon at a decent price and free shipping but will not get it until Tuesday.  So my jacket remains a UFO until then.

Now I have to decide what to sew next.  I have lots of ideas floating in my head and cannot settle on one.

While I have your attention, I realized that I have not posted photos of recent fabric purchases. Here are my latest; both of these fabrics are from Sew Much Fabric, a shop located in Texas. I purchased these in December. These items are way better than I expected.  The first one is black/gray/silver metallic/golden brown stripes.  The second one is full body double knit with white back ground with black squiggles.  There are raised areas on the white background.  I saw a lovely top and skirt review with this fabric on Pattern Review.


My recent purchases are from Mood and Sawyer Brook.  The first one is the Mood fabric, a black and white poly jacquard.  My plan was (is) to make a skirt from this.  I saw something similar on Pinterest.  The bottom one from SB is actually a polyester/rayon/lycra overprinted ponte knit.  It looks like leather but isn't, not even faux leather.  I saw something similar in a Chico's catalog and wanted to find similar fabric to make a sheath style dress.  I got an email from them detailing some of the new fabrics and jumped on this quickly.  I also decided to join their fabric swatch club.  Now I am even more tempted as the swatches they sent were lovely, yet somewhat pricey.

All for now.  I have to go get "cleaned up" for a benefit this evening that my agency is putting on promoting National Mentors Appreciation Month.  One of the programs that I oversee is working with at-risk youth.  Great group of youth who are making improvements in their lives with the help of mentors.  I am sure it will be a great event.  More later.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Same pattern plan, different fabric.

Saturday evening I spent time sewing up the black and white fabric for B5794.  Yes it did have 4 way stretch yet the drape was not good at all.  What you can not see from the photo of the fabric is that it has ridges for the black stripe and after attaching at the shoulders and basting side seams I realized that the fabric is to "stiff" to drape.

The other discovery was how big the pattern was going to be length wise as well as width through the front.  The pattern has no finished measurements printed on the pattern piece for the bust or hip. Since it is a medium (12-14)  I knew that it would fit, but the ease is a lot.  I came up with fixes for both.

Sunday sewing:  I had reduced the length by two inches before cutting out the fabric. I reduced it another two before cutting out the second fabric.  The second fabric is solid black and from my stash; an ITY knit from Fabric Mart.  Lovely feel and drape,much better for this pattern.

The front edges call for a 5/8 inch hem; I sewed one inch hem along the front edges, thus reducing some of the width.

I only need to find the perfect button and make the buttonhole and I will be finished.  It really is a simple pattern.  I dislike that it did not have finished measurements printed on the front pattern piece.
Here are photos of the back and front WIP on AlmaMarie.




Saturday, January 10, 2015

Saturday AM

It is freezing cold here and I did not have the motivation to put on exercise clothes and go to the Y this AM.  Instead opted to read PR reviews and some blogs; then into my sewing room.

I cut out this pattern while in the sewing room this morning.  I made pattern adjustments last weekend so it was ready to go.  I am making view D which is the gray color one in the right upper corner.


I saw this one button cardigan at Nordstroms; this is just one example of several I saw in a December catalog.  I immediately knew I had a pattern to make this.  I am using fabric from my stash


I have had this fabric forever, perhaps 6 to 7 years; purchased from Fabric.com.  It has 4 way stretch and very light weight.  I remember when it arrived I was not thrilled with it as it was not what I thought it was going to be.  Numerous times I have thought about giving it to Goodwill and then would decide not to.  I think it will work well for this pattern and if not then I will chalk it up as my test garment and then try something else.

I went for easy peasy this time after completing the Vogue dress that took more time and effort and worth it I think.

I have gone 10 days and not clicked buy for any patterns.  I bought some banker boxes and putting those together to better organize my current pattern stash and have been trying to catalog my patterns on Evernote.  It is a daunting project but keeping me on the "wagon" so to speak.  

More later.

Sunday, January 04, 2015

This and that for Sunday, 1/4/15

I am ending my PTO/Holiday today; it has been fun to be off from work.  I have to admit though I am getting antsy and ready to go back.

My Vogue dress is complete and will post photos of it later but not on me at this time.

I am putting myself on a pattern diet.  I wish I could say I will only buy x for 2015.  Heck, I am just trying to make it one day at a time.  I am at least going to stay on the pattern diet for the first quarter and see how that goes.  Just reading blogs and Pattern Review has me wanting/wishing for X patterns that I don't have.  Though if I was honest with myself and dug through what I have I would probably find something similar.

I did buy a bunch of patterns at the end of December and that included StyleArc patterns on Etsy. Most of the patterns were McCall's as Club BMV sale for McCall's was right after new releases and is so hard for me to resist.

I am not putting myself on a fabric diet; I should as I have a lot and want to try to sew up what I have. Having said that, I purchased  black and white jacquard fabric from Mood which arrived earlier this week.  Love it!  Need to take photo and post.  I just placed an order with Fabric Mart for taupe sweater knit and signed up for Julie's Pick Membership.  I had been a member before and let it lapse.
Last year I did a year end wrap up; not this year.  I just don't feel the need; that's my personal feeling/preference and others who do it are entitled to do as they wish as it is their blog.  I actually enjoy reading those, I don't enjoy the work for me to do it.  I have a page on the blog that lists my projects completed for the year and maybe for 2015 I will just post a photo and not do just a list.  One can click the link if they like.

I am not going to quantify how many projects I will complete for 2015.  I am really focusing on quality sewing and find that when I do that, the project is better and the fit is perfected.  Just like the dress I just completed.  The work that went into that took up most of my holiday sewing.  And that is okay as I do like the fit and look of the completed dress.  It is definitely a cold weather dress as the wool and double knit I use has some body to it.  Again more about that later.

I am trying to decide what to sew next.  Still thinking.

Wishing everyone spectacular sewing for 2015.  Going to my sewing room now.



Friday, January 02, 2015

I won a pattern!

I have been a member of Pattern Review for years.  Recently I have been reading posts there more frequently and participating in some discussions.  I receive a daily digest and enjoy reading through that early AM before getting ready for work or play.

Recently there was an article about Janet Pray, owner of Islander Sewing System.  I found it most interesting and learned more about her background.  Commenting on the blog post entered you in the opportunity to win a pattern, and I WON!!!   I recently signed up to take her class on Craftsy.

I am so happy about this pattern as it is another version of a moto-jacket.  I think I have the perfect fabric for this one.



Off to the sewing room!

Thursday, January 01, 2015

Almost complete

I have been productive today with the Vogue dress, my December Garment of the Month.  I attached the lining and the sleeves.  Need to finish the sleeve seams by serging or attaching snug hug tape.  Views of the lining back and front below:




Here is views of the dress hanging.  I need to hem the dress, the lining and attach the lining at the front skirt vent.  I also need to add hook and eye at the neckline and then I am DONE!


August Sewing Simplicity 7295

 I am not doing well as a blogger. I have been working on this project since July 30. Today, I finally finished it. It has been a stop-and-g...