Three skirts-30 days.

The BWOF skirt is complete! I left off the belt carriers so I don't restrict myself to wearing one size belt. I used the blind hem stitch on my sewing machine to hem the skirt and topstitched the lining hem; quicker by machine. I am glad this skirt is complete.

My plan was to have a month of skirts, thus these three were done in 30 days. The BWOF is the first completed project for 2010. From left to right:Butterick 5249 ( my third skirt from this pattern); New Look 6918 has contour waistband and skirt front overlay. I added a lining; BWOF January 2009 Skirt #112.

And the skirt goes on

Today, I am taking new measurements! I ended up having to take up the skirt even more. So basically all of my fitting adjustments were for naught. For someone who has sewn a long, long time, fitting myself for skirts is rather frustrating. In the past, the issue has always been the skirts were too tight and had to let them out as much as possible; and sometimes that was not enough. I know it is better to take up than let out but!!!! Enough ranting.

I love a challenge and thus is why I choose to try numerous patterns instead of making my same TNT one all the time. Maybe it is the style and the fabric but with the last fitting I thought I had made enough adjustments for the skirt to fit. I had to undo part of the waistband stitching to take up the side seams another 3/8 inch on each side.

It is now ready for hemming. I am debating on whether to use the belt carriers or not. I do plan to wear a belt with this but with the carriers I will definitely limit the belt width. Off to hem now.

Update on BWOF skirt

I am making progress on the skirt. I truly thought I would be finished with it and ready to start on some dresses.

As I stated in an earlier post I made adjustments to the skirt pattern. I added width to the waistband area and added to the skirt as well. In retrospect and from fitting the skirt I did not need to add to the skirt portion except at the top edge that would attach to waistband. Thus I ended up taking deeper seams in the side front area of the waistband and also taking a smidgen in the side back areas of waistband. This resulted in my cutting off about an inch on each side of the skirt front and back. This is the amount I added from top to bottom. This seems like a lot of wasted work but truly I rather have the too big issue than making something that is just too tight. All in all, this is a learning opportunity.

I now have to go back and make the same adjustments to the lining pieces. Once all of those are completed, I will need to hem both lining and skirt. I really like the look of the skirt and look forward to wearing it when I return to work next week.

I now leaning toward sewing some dresses. I am getting encouragement from DH as well.
More updates and photos later.

WIP-BWOF January 2009 Skirt 112

I began working on this skirt yesterday and made good progress. I probably could have finished it but wanted to spend some time with DH.

I began working on the skirt this AM. Yesterday I determined that the front and back facing pieces were not going to cover the entire waistband area. I do not understand why those pieces were drafted that way. I checked the pattern pieces in the magazine and I had traced appropriately. This would look unfinished and rather ugly. You can see what I mean:

My solution was to cut out waistband pieces from lining fabric and will attach to skirt lining. This pattern did not call for a lining. I like linings in my skirts most of the time, and particularly for wool. I drafted a lining for the skirt portion when cutting out the pattern. The waistband pieces will be from silk fabric acquired from Fabric Mart last year. (Odd saying that since this is the new year.)

Here is parting shot of the skirt front. More later:

BWOF Skirt 112-1/2009

I pin fitted this skirt today. I really I needed a larger size than their largest for the waist area. I am truly proud of myself. I made fitting adjustments in the four waistband pieces and for the skirt portion and after making those, everything lined up perfectly! Now let's hope that it does so for the actual skirt when making this one.

I am still considering what fabric I want to use to make this skirt. I am glad I have some choices. More later.

Skirts

After the MOT, I decided to make a few skirts. I cut out my TNT Butterick pattern B5249
(Photo courtesty of Butterick Patterns Website) this morning. I decided to make View D with the ruffle. I used the recently purchased brown, wool herring-bone fabric purchased from Fabric.com. I have perfected the fit of this skirt and this will be my third version so should be fairly easy to sew. The pattern does not call for a lining but I use the pattern pieces to make a lining. I can not wear wool against my skin without itching.

I also pin fitted this pattern, a new one for me, New Look 6918. (Photo courtesy of Simplicity Patterns Wesbite). I plan to make View E (the yellow one). I am going to use a dark gray fabric that I acquired a couple of months ago from Schoolhouse Fabrics in Floyd, VA. I have not cut this one out yet, but plan to do so shortly. I still have a few BWOF skirt patterns I plan to trace and cut out as well.

MOT and what next

I had a great time participating in the Month of Tops sew along with Faye Lewis. Thanks again Faye for doing this. This sew along got me out of the sewing doldrums I was in. Now that I have completed several tops, I am going to make some skirts.

There are a couple of BWOF skirts I have been wanting to make and I am trying to use fabric in my fabric collection. I did buy a brown herringbone wool fabric recently from Fabric.com that I will include in the skirt projects. I have a favorite Butterick skirt pattern from which I have made two skirts , so will be making another one from this pattern. The fit is perfected now and I can probably sew this in my sleep.

So many skirt patterns and such limited time.

BWOF Jacket

As requested and because DH was available here are some shots of me wearing the BWOF jacket.

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Pocket closeup-no flap

Pocket closeup-no flap
Originally uploaded by Danvillegirl

I really like this pocket. The pattern called for a flap with a button. I just thought it would be too much for that area on my body. I saw a jacket from Spiegel that had a similar pocket style.

The sleeves had turned up cuffs but I just could not get them to look right. Part of the problem was that I could not get smaller buttons for the cuffs and the size I used for the front just pulled the cuffs down.

The sleeves had not been pressed with I took this photo. I am thinking I may topstitch at the edge to match up with the topstitching at the hemline and center back and center fronts.

KS3658

I started on the KS knit top. The knit I used was purchased in Richmond, VA at the Hancock's on Midlothian Turnpike. It met the 35% stretch requirement called for with this pattern. I did not sew as much as I wanted today. There were some necessary house cleaning projects that DH and I committed to do today. I hate housework!

I did not work on the Burda jacket yet. I am thinking that the hand sewing required can be done this evening while watching TV. I only have to hem the sleeves and sew on the buttons and it is finally complete.

I did order some fabric today from Fabric.com. Here is what I purchased, mainly knit fabrics.

All three are a poly-lycra matte jersey. The first two are aqua and chocolate. The bright one is coral with taupe bead like design.

I also purchased a wool herringbone in brown, this will become a skirt.

That's my sewing adventure for this weekend. Somewhat boring!

Sewing this evening

We (DH and I) went to Danville to visit MIL and DH's niece. We returned home and picked up Chinese takeout for dinner. After eating I spent some time in the sewing room. I decided to finish up the Burda jacket. That became a real task.

First I tested the buttonhole on a scrap of fabric. That worked well. When I attempted to sew the first buttonhole on the jacket, the fabric puckered. I decided to reduce the foot tension which was a good idea. My sewing machine-Husqvarna SE-has a sensor button hole foot that for whatever strange reason did not work like it is suppose to. With this foot, you program in the button size and the machine is suppose to sew the correct size buttonhole.

The sensor worked on the first buttonhole; the second it did not stop at the beginning point and I had to manually move through the buttonhole steps as if I was not using the sensor foot. The results on the third was not very good either. This is the first time I have had this issue with the sensor foot. Not sure if it was the fabric or the foot or combination of both.

The jacket calls for a turned up cuff. I am not happy with how the cuffs look and have decided not to attach them. I turned up the hem after serge finishing the edge. I will sew the buttons on tomorrow.

I like the jacket but don't think I will make another one from this pattern. I think I will wear the jacket more as a casual one. I will take photos of me wearing the completed jacket tomorrow.

On the Road Again

This week I will be attending a regional conference in Charlotte, NC. I will be driving down tomorrow. I am hoping that I have some free time to visit Mary Jo's in Gastonia. I need to Google or Bing for fabric stores in Charlotte also. I miss Hancock's and maybe one in the area. At least the one we did have in Roanoke had great button selection. Plus they carry KS patterns.

I am definitely on a quest for buttons for my BWOF jacket. Of course, if any fabric jumps into my cart, I will just have to live with it.

I can tell my sewing mojo is slowing down, not stopped just cruising at lower rate. I think part of it is stress at work and sewing, unfortunately is not the therapy that is working now. I am enjoying viewing what others are up to; viewing other blogs is and can be a good sewing mojo booster.

pocket closeup

The pockets are pleated at the top edge and then edge is turned under and topstitched. Of course, this was done before you attach to jacket.

pocket closeup
Originally uploaded by Danvillegirl

I basted the side and bottom edges of the pockets that I turned under. Then I pinned them on the jacket. There is a pocket flap that requires a buttonhole and button.

I need to search for the right buttons for this jacket. So I am coming to a halt until I can find what is going to work.

Front with back in mirror

I took this shot so you could see the front and get a glimpse of the back view in the mirror. (Note to self--clean mirror.)

Front with back in mirror
Originally uploaded by Danvillegirl

Front with pockets pinned

Front with pockets pinned
Originally uploaded by Danvillegirl

Here is jacket in progress. Pockets are pinned to the front and are to be topstitched to jacket.

Sewing and Blogging--Not Much

I haven't posted much this week, just have not felt like blogging or sewing. Work has been busy and sometimes in carries over into my personal life.

I did sew on the BWOF jacket, it is almost complete. I am rather pleased with the outcome, though I have decided I should have perhaps trimmed down the neckline, or reduced the width of the collar stand and collar. Yet when I look at the model wearing the jacket the collar seems large and somewhat floppy as it looks on mine. I will finish it today except for the buttons/buttonholes. I just don't like what I have in my stash for the jacket. I also think the jacket is more casual looking than I first thought and just may not work with the recently completed skirt.

Yet I need some new casual clothes and this will work nicely I think. I will try to take photos today, as pictures are worth a thousand words. Later.

Learn something new

I began working again on the BWOF jacket this AM. I made considerable progress. As I posted before, I am following their "sewing course" that was included in this issue of the magazine and was written for sewing this particular jacket. As many who sew patterns from BWOF, they mention often the confusing instructions. I ran into some confusion attaching the collar band and collar to the jacket neckline and thus I got bogged down with trying to understand what I was being directed to do.

Part of the confusion in the end was not that I misunderstood what was written but the mechanics of what they were instructing the reader to do. Their method of attaching the collar/collar band to the the jacket was a completely different method from any I have used. Normally I would have attached the collar to the collar band and then attach this unit to the jacket. I would then would stitch the front and back facings together. Then I would attach the facings to the jacket. Then trim and press.

I took a photo of the collar/collar band attached per their instructions once I got my head around what they were instructing one to do. Let me say, that I missed some markings that were on the pattern when tracing. In one case, I had marked the pattern piece but was not clear as to the purpose of the mark. It become clear what this mark was for after proceeding to attach the collar/collar band and front facing. (You can click on the photo and get a larger view of this.)

Their method would have you attach the front facing piece to the front and bottom edge of the jacket; and attach the front facing to the upper neckline stopping at the "mark" that I should have made on the fabric that was on the pattern piece. They do have you attach the facing front to back, but you stop attaching this unit at the mark. They then have you sew the collar to the collar band. Next you sew the sides of the collar bands, leaving a seam allowance width to stop sewing at the bottom edge of the band. Since I used 5/8 then I stopped at the 5/8 seam allowance and left that unattached. You then sew the outer (interfaced) collar band to the facing pieces and the edge of your collar band should line up with where you stopped stitching the front facing at the neckline. The good part was that my pieces did.

Now you are ready to sew the other side of the collar band; this is stitched to the jacket. The instructions are to trim and press the seams open. Then you will line up the collar band joining edges and topstitch all of this together. I have yet to get to this step. I think I have my mind around the fact that topstitching will join all of this together and you will have a nice enclosed collarband and facing.

I recognize that I could have finished the jacket if I had done it my usual way. I could then be typing now telling you I completed my jacket and I am ready to start the next project. It was important to me me to follow this through as it is good to learn new things. That was one of my goals for 2009. I will probably not use this method again in the future. It does seem to take more sewing time to do this; especially since I had never used this method before. I am glad that I did it. I am also very proud that all the pattern pieces lined up nicely to sew this; IMHO that is sign of a well drafted pattern. Also I traced well !!!

When I do topstitch the collar band at the collar band joining edges (as they describe this area), I will not have a lot more to complete. This has been a good sewing journey.

Feet for Sewing Machine.

Yesterday in catching up on reading some blogs, I came across this post by Dawn at "Two On, Two Off." She pointed readers to "You Tube" videos about sewing feet. I have acquired over the years, various sewing feet. Some proved to be great investments, some I tried and did not get good results or just did not live up to my expectation; and yes, I have acquired some that have yet to use.

One of my frequently used sewing foot is a topstitching foot that is used for left side topstitching. It has a red etched marking on the left side of the foot. You line up that mark with a seam or edge to the left of your sewing foot and this helps you keep your topstitching aligned.


Here is a shot of the foot; I used it to topstitch the center back seam on the BWOF jacket.

Saturday afternoon sewing

I made pretty good progress on the jacket for Saturday afternoon. This is a shot of the jacket on my dress form-AlmaMarie. This particular pattern was part of the sewing project detailed in the Feb. 09 BWOF. I decided I would follow along and try their method for sewing. The overarm/shoulder seams were basted in this photo. I wanted to make sure that I did not need to take a deeper seam before adding the collar and front facings.

The first step in sewing this jacket is to sew the darts at the front armscye; then the center back seam. They then have you press the back seam and then topstitch. I basted the side seams and shoulders before topstitching to be sure I did not need to take a deeper back seam. All was well and I then topstitched.

Here is a close up of the topstitching.

BWOF Jacket and Faux suede fabric

Just an idea of how the jacket will look.