Sunday, January 28, 2018

Who Would Have Thought!

I wanted to wear my Halifax Hoodie; still need to add the drawstring.  Shoe laces have been recommended for this. A friend of mine had on a RTW hoodie and the drawstring was definitely a shoe lace. 

My husband is like Turtle on Entourage, a HBO (?) series no longer showing.  Turtle was obsessed with buying tennis shoes (kicks).  So was my husband for a period of time.  Many of the shoes came with colorful laces.  Many of the shoes were purchased at Foot Locker.

During lunch break on Friday, I hop over to the mall which is five minutes from my office and go into FL only to find that they don't sell shoe laces!!!!!?????  They have some great looking shoes with matching or contrasting shoe laces, yet they don't sell any in case you need to replace them or choose to wear another color.

Who Would Have Thought that a store that sells these type shoes would not sell them.  The sales associate suggested I go to Target or Walmart.  What a missed opportunity.  With retail sales changing, it seems to me that you would want to provide something that compliments what you are selling.

I did not have time to run to Target or Walmart and pretty much stay away from the mall on the weekend, too many people.

So I did what I usually do when I can't buy local, I searched what I needed on Amazon. (Yes, I am a Amazon Affiliate and if you click on my affiliate link and purchase an item I will get a small commission.)  This comment is not intended for you to click and purchase, only to express my dismay at a Foot Locker store one cannot buy shoe laces.

Lucky for me, Amazon had a source where I could buy a rainbow of colors and purchase 12 pairs for $5+.  They will arrive Monday!  I will finally finish this project and have something new to wear.


Sunday, January 21, 2018

New Fabric and New Project

As I posted previously, I will be retiring soon. I do not really need more fabric but I got a lovely email from Cali Fabrics offering a discount because I have been a frequent buyer of their fabrics. And because it was my birthday I decided to take advantage of the offer. They have some lovely knit fabrics that I have purchased and sewn. However this time I bought a lovely rayon challis fabric.

The other fabric I purchased was a Ralph Lauren green stretch poly woven. I am bound and determined to make a nice fitting pair of pants in 2018. I thought this would be a great fabric for this.

I didn't actually plan to purchase the fabrics to go together but when they arrived it really was a great match.

I decided on my next project. I thought first I would sew a topper but decided not to. Instead I am going to sew a jacket using a Simplicity pattern. The fabric I chose to use is one that I acquired from Fabric Mart in 2016.

Either side could be used. The photo above has been lightened to show that it's blue. Here you can see the reverse side, this is a midnight navy blue shade. It almost looks black.

This is the Simplicity jacket that I plan to make.



More later, thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Halifax Hoodie

This is my first make for 2018.  All fabrics are from my "curated collection".



The sleeves and cowl neck is fabric from LA Finch Fabrics.  I used it to make the Pamela's Pretty Peplum top.


The bodice is from fabric I purchased from Girl Charlie Fabrics.  I thought it was from Gorgeous Fabrics and I did buy a similar shade from her, in a beefier double knit.
The cuffs and waistband are from ribbed knit that I acquired from Fabric Mart along with several other colors.

It is rather colorful and if it did not fit well then I was not going to be overly upset if it was a wadder.  The mustard fabric was about three yards.  I have enough left over to make something else.

I still need to add a drawstring to the collar.  I am looking for either purple, gold or teal shoe laces.  I am never in need of shoe laces or rarely so, hoping to find some soon.  Otherwise I will have to use fabric to cover some cording for the drawstring.

The fit with this pattern was not bad at all.  I cut the large size, adding about a half inch at the bust area.  I ended up cutting off about 3/8 inch from the shoulder width, which puts this in the medium size for the upper chest area as well as shoulder.  This is rather typical with most patterns I sew.

The pattern is drafted for taller women thus I reduced the length for the bodice and the sleeves.  I reduced the sleeves by 1 1/2 inches due to the extra length that would be created by adding the cuffs.
I ended up taking 1/2 inch seam instead of 3/8 when I attached the cuffs which was a perfect idea.

I am a little disappointed with the depth of the cowl neck; I do love how the cowl neck pattern piece was drafted though. 

I plan to take some photos of my wearing this soon.

Onto the next project.

Yesterday, Jan. 19 was my birthday and as a gift to myself I purchased this magnetic needle holder from Style Maker Fabrics.  Not only do they have great fabric but sewing novelties as well.


Monday, January 15, 2018

Life in 2018

I decided to participate in the 2018 RTW Fasters and continue to participate in MAGAM.  I am off to slow start with both, at least it seems slow to me. 

My first garment for the year is still a work in progress.  It is the Halifax Hoodie by Hey June.  The instructions are good, though they jump around a little.  It is drafted for much taller women that I.  I reduced the length by 1.5 inches, reduced the sleeve length by one inch but ended up taking another 1/2 inch off because when I add the cuffs those sleeves are going to be really long.

I used fabric from stash-Girl Charlee Mustard Ponte and LaFinch fabric used in the Pamela's Peplum.  Plus the cuffs and waistband are from ribbing knit acquired from Fabric Mart last year.

My plans are to sew more casual clothing for 2018 and to finally  make a pair of good fitting pants.  My current casual/business tops are being worn to death.  Some will last forever, I am just tired of wearing them.  Others are beginning to peel and hate that look.

My other reason for focusing on casual------I am retiring on February 2, 2018!  I had originally planned to retire in 2021; however the way things are where I work has led me to decide to move that up three years.  So I am now faced with what will I do now that I am all grown up!  I know I will have more time for sewing, but less money to continue my fabricaholic and patternaholic lifestyle.  Thank goodness I have curated a collection of both that will probably last me the rest of my life.

I am feeling thrills as well as chills as I move into retirement and what will be the future.  I find the current state of our country very surreal and troubled which adds to my concern of the future.  Retirement brings some uncertainty on its own.  Many of my friends who retired much earlier than I have said I will love it!  Hoping so.  I am such a people person that I know I will need to find something that allows me to interact with others.  Having worked in the non-profit world for over 39 years, I know I want to be able to help in some capacity with involvement with another non-profit in a volunteer capacity.

My husband and I plan to move toward a coastal area in NC or SC; and will need to travel to some areas we are considering to see what is available for our more relaxed lifestyle.  Right now we have a lot to sort out in the way of downsizing from a home we have lived in for 14+ years.

Sewing has once again allowed me time to reduce the stress of winding up my career, preparing my successor to assume my job duties and dealing with all the challenges of securing my future for retirement.

I hope you will continue to follow my blog as I enter into the next phase of my life!




Saturday, January 06, 2018

2017 at a glance!

This year garment sewing slowed to a crawl.  I read other blogs and many bloggers  garment output was triple and quadruple compared to mine.   I sewed garments using mainly  Big 4 patterns witha Style Arc, Pamela's Patterns, Sewhouse 7, New Look and the Tunic Bible patterns as part of the mix as well.

Here is a recap of 2017

McCall's

Style Arc

McCall's

Butterick

Pamela's Patterns

Simplicity

The Tunic Bible

Simplicity front

Simplicity Back

Pamela's Patterns

New Look
Simplicity
Vogue
Vogue
Simplicity
Sewhouse 7

McCall's



I have given some thoughts to 2018 garments.  I need more tops; I find I am wearing the same ones over and over.  Some were made 1 to 2 years ago.  

I also want to sew some cardigans as well as topper.  I am definitely going to get serious about sewing some pants.  I don't know why I keep putting that off.  I think it is the fitting issue with pants, that many have overcome.  I am going to have more time to focus on pants and have pulled out some patterns to consider making.

I decided to participate in the 2018 RTW Fast that Sarah Gunn with Goodbye Valentino has started.  I think I can do this!  I got the fabric and the patterns to sew up so should be an interesting challenge for me.

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...