Love Notions-Kwik Sew-Muse

As I posted earlier, I completed Love Notions Sybil Illusion Swing Skirt.  I hemmed the skirt last night using my coverstitch machine.  I was still trying to decide what pattern I would use for the red pepper rayon knit fabric that I wanted to make to go with this skirt.

I viewed several long skirts with tops images on Google and determined that a shorter, more fitted top would look best with this skirt.  I thumbed through pictures of patterns and went through a box and drawer of top patterns.

I  found three KS patterns with top and cardigans, two I have never used.  I finally found the one I have made previously with good success and is a top/cardi that I still wear.  I decided I am going to use this pattern for the tank top.  I then decided I will use the Muse pattern to make the waist length cardi that I made previously with good success, with the exception of the length.  I added an inch and 1/4 to the length of the bodice.

I wanted to show you the control panel attached to the skirt.  I think this may be something I will try with other skirts when I need a little tummy control.  It is a power mesh knit from EmmaOneSock. Elastic is sewn to the seam allowance where the panel and skirt waistband is sewn.  It leaves a nice finish to the waist line.

Here is a closer look of the skirt waist and hip area from the outside.

I looked through my closet and found two RTW tops that will go well with this skirt also.  It's nice to have a skirt of so many colors.  It is also a style that I don't wear much, but  I like the look and swirl/swing of it.  Photos wearing coming soon.

Holiday Sales and Muse Jenna Cardi

Making progress with the cardi.  Using a real fiddly knit fabric for this test version. Here is the cardi on Alma Marie with neckband pinned to neckline.  Alma Marie has much wider shoulders than I do, so fit is off.  Speaking of shoulders I used a 38 for the neckline, shoulder and upper chest.  The shoulders were just too wide and I cut off 1/2 inch and fit is better.  I still may need to shave off more on another version. The bust to bottom I used a 42 for the front and 40 for the back.

I am making the waist length, 3/4 quarter sleeve version.

I took advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales following Thanksgiving.  I purchased several patterns from Sewaholic which arrived yesterday. Here's what I purchased

I also saw a review on Pattern Review of a flared leg pant that I liked. McCall's 6515 is now OOP and I found it on Etsy.  I also saw a cute jacket pattern, also OOP by Vogue.  

That's all there is for sewing this weekend.

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.

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.

Sewing Staycation Success

I truly enjoyed my time off this past week.  I was able to complete three sewing projects.  The first one was posted here.

The second project was another McCall's sweater knit top, M6796.  My first version of this pattern was a year ago.  The second version I deemed a success.  There were lots of side seam matching due to the design.  I cut both front and back pieces as a single layer so that I could get stripes and design patterns to match up.

Here is the finished top on a hanger.  The above side view was a work in progress photo.  Wearing photo will come later.

I decided to use the striped area at the shoulders and the floral design for the bottom.  This created I thought less matching issues at the bottom.  For the collar I wanted to have the floral part of the fabric at the neckline to tie in with the floral bottom portion of the top.  The tops shown on the pattern envelope show adding buttons to the collar.  I am not going to add buttons to this one as I think the fabric should be the focal point at the neckline.

The final item I made and finished hemming this morning was another McCall's pattern.  The fabric used was recently acquired from Fabric Mart.  It too is a sweater knit similar in weight to the fabric used with the top above.  That fabric was from EOS and was purchased about a year ago.

Here are a few shots of the cardigan with back peplum.

AlmaMarie (dress form) has wider shoulders than I do so the garment looks quite different than on me.  This was an easy peasy pattern to sew.  I made my usual adjustments, FBA, FSA, swayback and back length adjustments.  I think I still need to make another FBA adjustment; because there is no closure this current size works but I would like it to be a little more closed than it actually is on me.

I think this will work with pants, dresses as well as top with skirt.

I have enough of this fabric to make a short sleeved top with turtle neck of which I have a few patterns that fit that design.

I think I am now ready to move on to some other more challenging patterns.  It was nice to get immediate gratification from these garments.

New Fabrics

I purchased a few new fabrics taking advantage of sales.  Of course there are more sales today and I am tempted.   Here is a view of recent purchases.

The top four fabrics are most recent purchases from Gorgeous Fabrics. The bottom three are from FabricMart.

The large hounds-tooth black and cream fabric is a nice sweater knit that will not stay in the stash long.  I have already begun the pattern adjustments to this pattern.

Fabric has been washed and dried, and is now ready to be cut.  More updates later.

Sewing Tidbits for 12-29-2010

First it is a balmy 39 degrees at 11:15 AM. High today expected to be in the id 40’s. I know this is much warmer than those of you in the northern regions are experiencing, and even FL is getting hit with colder weather.


I completed my Butterick cardigan. I want to thank all of you who gave me your thoughts on which side of fabric to use. I decided to use the wrong side and got, I think, a very nice contrast.

I did a review at PR this AM. For some reason it would not let me post this photo in the photo gallery.
Here is a side view of me trying on the completed jacket last night.

I really need a silver or grayish belt to wear as option with this cardigan as well.

Today I have been working on performing (it felt like a major performance) a FBA on a one piece front pattern, KS 3790.  Couple this with side gathers and the straight of grain going one way with the center front at an angle until you sew and gather the left side. I had to really think through this process. Here is what I did:

1. Made sure the pattern was laying on cutting table on straight of grain.
2. Folded pattern in half to line up the underarm seams and measured two inches down to give a reference point for bust point.
3. I then drew two horizontal lines after holding pattern up to make sure bust points were lining up and in the right place. 
4. I then drew two lines parallel to straight of grain line and angled each line into the right and left armholes. I then drew drew line from side to bust point. This is the Palmer/Pletsch method for FBA. I tackled the right side of the pattern first

I eliminated the resulting dart which then added width to right front and side. I then reduced some of that width.

Next I tackled the left side. Again eliminating the dart that was formed and split the addition into two areas creating more gathering at the left side.

Here is the overall look of the pattern. I had to adjust the center portion between the two lines I drew to makesure they matched the adjusted lengths.

And there is where I stopped for the moment. I am babysitting two cats for my neighbor so took a much needed break to go feed them. My plan is to sew this afternoon. I am using some fabric from stash that I am not totally in love with so if this is becomes a wadder then I won’t be too disappointed.

Here is my parting shot showing the fabric I will be using. It is from Fabric.com and have had it for sometime now, perhaps two years! Which reminds me-- I decided to sign up for the fabric stash contest on PR. I wish I could count the cardigan I just made. Contest starts Jan. 1. If this pattern works out, then I have another fabric piece that I want to make up into this top and it too came from Fabric.com. I will wait until January 1 to start on it.

Post Christmas sewing

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas.  We spent time with a family friend who is almost 96 years old and his daughter.  He lives in an retirement center.  We had lunch with him and then spent time visiting.  During this it was steadily snowing.  After coming home, I spent time just dozing and watching TV.  Just a relaxed Christmas day.
Today I cut out Butterick 5394, a cardigan and vest pattern calling for sweater and/or stable knits.  I wanted to make this cardigan, View D at the beginning of fall.  I did not get to it at that time and thought with my current holiday/vacation time I would make this a priority.  It is a simple and very easy pattern to sew.
I decided that after pin fitting that I did not have to make a FBA.  I did shorten the jacket by 1.25 inches, made a forward shoulder adjustment along with swayback adjustment.
The fabric was purchased from Gorgeous Fabrics about a year ago.  It was not exactly what I expected when it arrived.  However the colors have grown on me; I have been wearing more silver jewelry of late and this fabric has silver metallic threads along with gray and pale lavender with a touch of black as well.  I think it will go well with black and gray pants.  I also think it will work with a black sheath style dress as well.
I’ve sewn the front and back pieces together.  The next steps are attaching sleeve and neck/front bands.  I am considering using the wrong side of the fabric which has more silver, black and gray weave.  Here is photo of the contrast side of the band pinned to the front:

And this is with the right side of the band pinned:

Please share your thoughts about what side to use.

A little sewing here and there

I got in just about 20 minutes of sewing last night. That enabled me to pleat the collar portion of the jacket and then to sew the collar seams together. Following along with the pattern instructions, I then sewed the collar center back seams together and then topstitched 1/4 inch from the center seam on both sides.

Next steps are to sew the back neckline to bottom of the collar; then I will baste the side seams for fitting purposes before serging side seams together. I will probably insert the sleeves before the final side seam sewing. The instructions call for inserting the sleeves in the round. Most sewists like to insert sleeves in knit tops using the flat method.

The final steps will be the hem stitching and I will finally get to use the coverstitch machine. Got to run, I am actually cooking dinner tonight.

Knit cardigan started

Knit cardigan started
Originally uploaded by Danvillegirl

I was able to make pattern adjustments, cut out the pattern and began the sewing process. The FBA resulted in a bust dart and I decided to keep it. I sewed the front and back shoulders together. Perhaps after dinner just a few more stitches.