Monday, July 30, 2018

New patterns and what's next

Topstitch in GA conducted a sale a couple of weeks ago and I purchased two patterns,  One is from a company called Friday Pattern Co.  I have not heard of this pattern source and purchased a square neck T pattern.  The other source was Pauline Alice who I am familar with but have not tried her patterns.  I had my eye on this pattern for sometime so with the sale I decided to buy.

I traced the Square Neck Top pattern and plan to pin fit the pattern this evening. The fabric I plan to use has been in the stash for sometime. I searched my pictures of previous years fabrics and could not find it.  I think that it may have come from Fabric Mart also. It is light floral print and I believe it is a cotton knit.  

I have made the tweaks I posted about in my last post about the Bobbie Top from Jalie.  I also cut out the fabric which is a black and white striped poly knit from Fabric Mart.  I purchased this fabric along with several solid knits in 2013.  Most all the solids have been sewn and this has been waiting for the right pattern.  Hopefully I lined up the stripes well when cutting.  I did eliminate the bust dart that I had in the first version.  I was concerned that the dart would misalign the stripe matching at the side seams. I also made a 1/2 inch horizontal tuck in the upper chest and back as another tweak to this pattern.  I think this will help bring the underarm seams up and a better look for me.

More later!

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Wearing Jalie Bobbie Top

As posted yesterday, I wore my new top to Surf City to see a friend from my previous job.  The weather was very accomodating, no rain and we had lunch outside on the deck at Buddy's Place-fish tacos.  And just as I started typing this I realized that neither one of us took selfie shots.  Oh well!

I took these photos of me wearing this top this AM.  As you can see it is rather loose and I think a little large.  It felt comfortable though and the liner/facing did not ride up or get fiddly.  Yeah!

My friend said she thought I had lost weight!  This picture does not say thin to me.
Upper chest looks a little large to me.  I have some gaping not much with this top.

Here is a side view and underarm view.  This liner/facing design idea is just the right idea for this type top.

All in all I like the way this felt today.  There are some tweaks to be made with the next one, which I am looking through my fabric collection to find the perfect fabric to sew.


Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Bobbie


First I realize that I have not correctly typed the pattern name in earlier post(s).  I am happy to report that this is my first sewing project since February and my first after relocating/retiring and first in the new home.

I jumped on the Jalie Bobbie bandwagon after seeing the first review of this pattern on Pattern Review.  I ordered the pattern and had to wait as it was on back order for a short time.

The fabric I used was a poly spandex knit with significant stretch and purchased from Simply By Ti fabrics.  It was called Paint Splatter Yellow.  I think it was aptly named.

I like Jalie patterns but I always seem to have some struggles with determining correct size. I used x for upper body and y for waist down.  I also made a 1 inch FBA and kept the dart.  Unfortunately the dart falls below my bust point and that is okay and better than being to high, also not so visible in this fabric design.   I probably did not really need this adjustment as the top is rather large on me.  I reduced the length of the shoulder by 1/2 inch and perhaps next time I will shave off a little more. I reduced the length by 1 inch prior to cutting out the pattern and ended up cutting off another inch before hemming using a 1 inch hem allowance. I am 5'3" and rather long waisted for a petite; still 3 inches removed and now seems right lengthwise.

I also, like some other reviewers noted, sewed the underarm area an inch higher.  With the liner/facing underneath, the still low underarm area is okay because of this design feature.  I did end up taking a deeper side seam on the liner/facing piece to help pull in the top some and to eliminate the rolling out of the fabric at the v-neck.  Not sure why I had that issue as I understitched as the instructions required.  I think some of it has to do with fit and the other is the stretch and weight of the fabric. 

After stitching the facing to the top at the shoulder seam allowance, I still had some rolling out and decided to topstitch all around the neck area which took care of this problem.

I plan to wear this top tomorrow as I am going to have lunch with a former colleague who is vacationing at Surf City.  Unfortunately we are having a monsoon and days of rain can make for less days on the beach.

The photos that follow are not of me wearing the top; I am not picture worthy today!
Back

front
These are close ups of the neck, the dart and the hem

Neck

Hem

Dart
I will make this again with adjustments for size.  I will take some photos of the me wearing tomorrow.

Next project to be determined which may be another Bobbie.  I just have some other top patterns I want to try and now that my sewing room is now functionable I am ready to work on several projects.





Thursday, July 19, 2018

I am actually working on a project

I am finally getting an opportunity to work on a sewing project. 

I am making final tweaks to the Jalie Bobbi pattern.  This is first sewing project since February of this year.  Feels good!


Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Award



I was nominated for this award by the very creative, talented and lovely Ellen of Ellen's Sewing Passion.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I so enjoy reading her blog.  She is very talented sewist and has participated in the Norwegian Sewing Bee challenge.  I think I was once the same size as she is now; if only I was now I would definitely purchase some of her garments.  Her garments are beautifully constructed. Thank you Ellen for nominating me!

Here is the description of the award

"Mystery Blogger Award is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious post. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging, and they do it with so much love and passion." Created by: Okoto Enigma

I am not sure my blog lives up to the description but I do try.


Here are "The Rules" to the "Mystery Blogger Award":
  • Thank whoever nominated you and include a link to their blog
  • Tell your readers three things about yourself
  • Answer the questions from the person who nominated you
  • Nominate 10 - 20 bloggers you feel deserve the award
  • Ask your nominees 5 questions of your choice, with one weird or funny one
  • Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog

THREE THINGS ABOUT ME:

  1. I am an only child, growing up I had two male cousins who came to live with my family and became like brothers to me.
  2. I inherited the sewing gene from my grandmother and I began sewing in the 7th grade.
  3. I never flew in a plane until I was 25 years old.  My first flight was to Philadelphia. I have never been a good flyer and avoid doing so like the plague.
Answers to the 5 questions Ellen asked:
What do you do to cheer up your partner?

  • Give him Haagen Daz Chocolate Ice Cream

If I ask you to sing spontaneous, what song would that be?

  • My Girl

Your favorite topping on the ice-cream..

  • Cherries

What makes you feel uncomfortable..

  • Being asked a question about something I know nothing about.

What kind of competition would you like to participate?

  • Dance contest.
My 10 nominees are the following and I will be sending you a comment in one of your newest posts about the nomination:

Dress Making Debacles
Rhonda's Creative Life
Maddie Made This
Fayes Sewing Adventures
Sie Macht
Anita by Design
Coco's Loft
Cashmerette
A Stitching Odyssey
Girls in the Garden

My 5 Questions are:
What do you like to sew the most?
What is your favorite fabric to sew?
What is your favorite movie?
What is your favorite book?
If you had a million dollars what would you buy first?

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

The tale of the cutting table

I know that you dear reader  are probably tired of reading about moving and setting up my new sewing space.  It is basically finished, though I am searching for some nice art work (inexpensive) to hang on a wall.

One thing keeping me from finishing the set up was my cutting table.  My DH gifted me a lovely sewing room fabric/pattern cutting table when we lived in PA (2000-2003).  It was a table that I kept set up to its full length as it had fold down tops.  It survived the move from PA to VA; I had that table for 17 years.  When drop leaves were folded down, there were two movable parts that folded in when not opened to its fullest.  When I folded it down for the move, plastic pieces broke off.

The table was substantial in weight and try as we might to fix this, DH and I could not do so.  I donated the table to the Salvation Army as they provide home pick up of furniture.  We could not lift the table to take it to them or another charity.

I searched Sam's Club, Bed Bath and Beyond and of course Amazon.  I needed a table that if needed I could take down or at least move easily if needed around the smaller sewing room.  Being a Prime Member I found that I got the best deal from Amazon. (Note: I am an Amazon Associate so I do benefit from someone clicking on a link to Amazon and actually making a purchase using the link from my blog.)

I found several tables that you can fold in half and store. This was also considered except for the height.  I then found a light weight, 4 foot table with extension legs.  It does not fold in half which really is better as I can see that might prove to be an issue with cutting patterns or fabric.  Reading the reviews for this, I read that several people used it for their sewing rooms.

The table arrived on Friday and I was able to set it up myself.  It is very lightweight and fits the room well.  The other issue with my previous table was that it was going to be way to big both width and lengthwise for the sewing room.



Legs fully extended

Extended legs

Cardboard table board from Hobby Lobby

I am happy with the new table and have actually starting a sewing project!  😂

More news later!

Saturday, July 07, 2018

New patterns/new fabric

As promised here are photo shots of my recent fabric purchase.  Both fabrics have been washed and ready for cutting.  The dark floral one seems a little faded after washing so not sure how well this will hold up to constant wear and wash. Also the camera has lightened the look also as the background color in real time is much darker.
The other fabric is a knit, not rayon.  I saw this fabric sewn up as the new Jalie Bobbie top and yes, I am going to copy what another blogger used to make the same top.
My first two hard copy pattern purchases for the year arrived yesterday.  Both are Jalie's.


The skirt pattern is similar to one or two other skirt patterns I have or had.  However the back seaming is different and has a yoke.  I have not yet decided what fabric I will use for this.

I am getting ready to trace the Bobbie top and may actually sew something soon.  DH and I are going to Wilmington tomorrow, so most likely will be sewing Monday.  More later.

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...