UPS came yesterday

I ordered some knit fabric from Fabric Mart earlier this week and expected it to arrive next week.  What a nice surprise to see a box on the front porch this AM.  I took advantage of their 30% off ITY knits and bought several solid color knits as well as a black and cream striped knit.

I also ordered a boucle knit fabric in a cream/almond color.  It was not exactly what I thought it was going to be.  I had hoped that it would be suitable for this McCall's 6844.  It does not have quite enough stretch.  It still may be suitable as all of the reviews I have read indicate that the pattern runs large.  I had put this fabric aside and thus no photo of it at this time.  I have a few other jacket patterns that I think will be suitable.

More later.

Patterns and more Patterns

Recently while blog reading I read several post about the new fall patterns from Vogue.  It is interesting to read people's opinions about the latest offerings; McCall's had some new ones also.  It seems many people are in the camp that the offerings are not so great and others found some they liked.  I like reading the differing thoughts on this.

I have subscribed to Vogue Pattern Magazine for a number of years.  Some earlier issues this year presented a new format that was found lacking.  There were some potentially good ideas there but the articles were too focused on the sewing industry, or fabric development, etc.  I can get that information from other related magazines such as Threads.  This is a PATTERN magazine and that is what I want to see-patterns. 

The recently released edition has reverted back to the older format and showcased lots of patterns; and a lot of garments were made up in winter white.  To me, way to many winter white garments;  let me say I truly got the message/point that winter white is IN!

I also realized ,and this pertains to me personally, is that I OWN MOST ALL of the patterns being show cased!!!!!!  This also means to me personally that I really don't need to be buying so many as I have not made up half of the ones I have purchased over the past few Club BMV sales. 

This depicting of pattern repeats in new color way tends to support what many bloggers are saying when they write that they are not seeing anything new from Vogue.  I actually did find a few that because of reduced prices they appealed to me enough to purchase.  Nonetheless, they are similar in style to other patterns I own and probably with a few tweaks to those I could make them into the new pattern currently  being offered.

Here are my recent purchases:

I also picked up three other independent patterns on PR that I will post about  later.

I have decided that these patterns will be my last purchase of patterns until March 2014!  I am going on a pattern diet.  I plan to give some patterns away to charity and truly toying with a pattern giveaway on this blog.  I have never done that and really want to plan how and when I do this so that I can honor a commitment to be timely in sending out the pattern(s).

I have now finished my second cup of coffee after returning from my CURVES exercise and now I am off to the sewing room. 

Thanks for stopping by and more posts later.

New Kwik Sew patterns

I took advantage of the recent BMV sale and purchased more patterns (like I really needed them).  I actually purchased a few Kwik Sew patterns that I have not purchased since taken over by McCall's.  They have not been as appealing to me as they were previously.  There were a few new ones that caught my attention.  I also purchased one-a vest pattern-that has been in their line up for a number of years.

I liked the look of the red jacket.  The pieced jacket looks fairly nice as well; I would use color blocking for this one.

I liked the look of the top on the left and was the reason for the purchase.

 The view of the top on the left side caught my attention.  The top is a cut on sleeve with an attached cowl neck.  The one on the right has a cut on draped cowl neck.  Long sleeves are sewn to the cut on sleeve.

This patten has been around for a few years.  I made another KS vest pattern with the faux sherling fabric as seen here but I was not happy with the results. So I decided to try this one.  I have enough left over fabric to make this one.








One change made with KS patterns is the pattern paper.  Previously it was heavier paper.  I found that it stood up well to multiple tracings.  The paper now is still white but less heavy.

V9771 wearing

 

I took photos of V9771 #2 last night.  The back of this one pools at the center back and this one feels a little snugger in the hip area.  I don't recall this from the first one and did not make note of this on the pattern if it was the case last time.    I don't anticipate wearing this out as it shown here as normally I tuck tops/blouses in my skirts or pants for work.  This of course could be a casual top and those are worn out as seen here. 

More patterns

I fell in love with this peplum top pattern after reading A Sewing Life's blog and post on Pattern Review.













When I read the following from her review at PR, I knew that I wanted to try this pattern:
"The peplum portion of the top flares only at the sides, keeping the front and back panels straight. Since I consider my front-to-back depth to be more of an issue than my side-to-side width, I thought this type of peplum might work better for my figure than those which have a flare that goes all the way around the body."
So of course, I went to Jo Ann's to buy the pattern and they did not have it in my size.  I also liked this NewLook pattern.

Of course, they did not have this in the drawer.  So I ordered from Simplicity website paying a little more than I would have at Jo Ann's but less than full price.

Since I am on a top sewing jag at this time I plan to make the peplum top next.    I have a lightweight, faux leather fabric from Mood that I plan to try.  

Fabric Mart purchase

I have fallen off the wagon on buying fabric.  Probably due to change of season and not really liking anything particular in my stash.  Here is collage of the fabric I purchased this month.

Top right is silver metallic boucle fabric.  This was not what I expected and I will have to ponder on what type jacket I will use to make this.  More glitzy than I thought it would be.  The left top, second and third from left top are free fabrics from Fabric Mart.  The second from right top is a cotton suiting fabric in lemon, white and gray.  The iris/orchid floral print is rayon challis.  The bottom right fabric has been sold on various websites and I finally bought it.  I have seen dresses and skirts made from this fabric; my thought was dress.  The bottom left is teal, gold floral rayon challis.

Foot Magic and Patterns

The mailman delivered recent purchases.

In a previous post I mentioned Foot Magic.  This is a packet of 5 small pieces of stick on Teflon you can apply to various sewing feet to make them glide over difficult fabric.  Easy instructions to follow and will be trying on my buttonhole foot this AM so I can complete the KS jacket.

I also received new patterns from the recent Club BMV sale.  I have to stay away from this site.

Off to the sewing room now.  I cut out the KS vest pattern and that should be an easy garment to sew.  But first I am going to make that buttonhole.

It is a jacket

I have two more things to do to complete the KS jacket; but it is jacket nonetheless.  This is the  jacket on Alma Marie.  I used my iPhone to take this and the color is really washed out.

I need to topstitch around the front, collar and bottom of the jacket.  I also need to stitch a buttonhole and either make a button from the fabric or find a button.  Also need an inside snap.

Here is a view of the back.
Again a washed out look.  I don't like the wrinkles that appear in the back and more noticeable in photos than in real life.  I will post some shots later of me wearing this after topstiching and adding the button.

Sewing Saturday

We got more snow yesterday; we did not lose power as we did last week.  Yeah!  So this AM I was able to start sewing on my jacket for some nice uninterrupted sewing time as DH is sleeping in this morning.

I cut out the lining fabric last night and this morning I completed the lining unit except for inserting sleeves.  I am taking a neck/shoulder break at this time and wanted to post update on my progress.  I believe I will have this jacket completed today.

I have a lot of sewing ideas going on in my head and not sure what will be next.  I have a navy blue skirt I completed in November and this jacket will go with that.  I also have a stash fabric  that goes with this jacket in terms of color very well; I only need to decide is it a skirt or a dress.  I am trying to visualize this jacket as being one I could wear with a dress.  More auditioning is needed at this time.

I also have another jacket I want to make out of black/white fabric I acquired from EOS last year.  I have so many black pants and skirts that this will be an added jacket and not necessarily do I need to make anything to go with it.

Updates later.  Going to look at the new Vogue patterns I read about on other blogs late last night.  Yeah, like I need more patterns.  I am still waiting for my StyleArc patterns that I ordered.  Hopefully the postman will deliver soon.

A box and some fabrics

Returning to work after a holiday can prove to be a long day; it is like a double Monday sometimes.  It was nice to come home and find a box on the porch.  This was the box

This was inside the box:

This is a gray metallic viscose/rayon knit.

Left side of photo is the wrong side of the fabric and right side of photo is the right side of the fabric.  I think I will use both.

 

 

 

This is damask in black with gold floral print. I fell in love with this fabric awhile back and after seeing these pants  I decided I had to buy this fabric.  I will not be sewing up a pair of pants.  I just don’t sew pants, maybe someday but this will either be a skirt which was my original plan all along but it could become a sheath style dress.

When I purchased this fabric I also broke down and purchased a few Style Arc patterns.  The postage is a killer but I do like the pattern line and wanted a few of her top patterns.  Yeah, like I really need more patterns.  I am running out of space now.  Such is the life of a fabric-patternaholic.

Progress on KS Jacket

This is an interesting jacket with the multiple back jacket pieces.  It feels like piecing a quilt. All back pieces have been stitched together.  One piece, the side back panel piece, did create a small issue and is due to the pattern not quite matching up the way it should.

While pin fitting the pattern pieces previously, I found this pattern piece not working well with the back panel piece it is attached to.  I thought that part of the issue is where I transition from medium to large and in part it is.  However when I matched up the original pattern piece, not my traced version, to the other original panel piece using same size I found that there is a fitting issue as result of the pattern draft.  Even with the adjustment I made to my traced pattern piece there was still an attachment issue but very solvable.

I basted the side front piece to the back jacket unit at the shoulder and side seams.  I just wanted to get a general idea of the fit.  The instructions call for topstitching the back panel pieces and I plan to do this as I think it will help with the bulk/weight of this fabric.  With several pattern pieces throughout the back area it will help this with the shaping also.  I am using a faux suede fabric and the wrong side looks like twill or denim, so there is some weight to this fabric.

The pattern calls for it to be lined and I have not cut out the lining fabric yet.  Sometimes when I am making a garment I sew up the lining first and fit that.  This jacket lining has a solid back piece so I decided I needed to sew the back panel pieces first for better fitting.

I will baste the collar and front piece so I can be sure that if there are fitting adjustments needed to the back, I can make those before doing all the topstitching.  That is a pain to remove those stitches to make those adjustments.

Updates later.

First Garment of 2013-Magic Pencil Skirt

Yeah!  Completed my first garment for 2013.  Hopefully this is good omen for sewing for 2013.  My review is below and will post on PR.  I have not posted much there in the past several months.

Pattern Description: Pamela’s Patterns-Magic Pencil Skirt

Pattern Sizing: Small

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

Were the instructions easy to follow? Super easy instructions to follow.  The instructions include fitting suggestions, how to attach elastic, etc.  Excellent pattern for any beginner to try.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I love the ease of making this skirt.  There is not much to dislike at all.  Once you have perfected the fit you could sew up several in one setting.  I have made three skirts thus far; the new one I added a lining.

Fabric Used:The fabric I used for this one is a printed light weight double knit from Vogue Fabrics.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:  The only change I made this time was to add a lining.  I attached the lining at the waistline by serging the edges together.  I then attached the elastic at the waist.  I also do not totally stitch around the bottom edge of the elastic, preferring to attach by stitching in the ditch of the darts and side seams.   This way when I wear it there is no tell tell elastic waist should I have my top tucked in.  I don’t wear belts much so prefer this method.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  I have sewn this skirt three times now and I am sure I will make additional ones in the future.  I highly recommend this pattern whether you are a beginner or advanced sewist.

Conclusion Easy to make skirt pattern.  Suitable for skirt wearers of any size.

Here are some potential looks with this skirt and other garments in the wardrobe.  The first one is a purple sweater jacket from Macy's with the skirt.  The second one is teal top that blends to black at the bottom of the top and sleeves.