Tidbits

I  was surprised to see I had not posted since 3-14.  I know I had several blog post thoughts and obviously they have been stuck in my head.

I went on a pattern buying binge recently.  I took advantage of Simplicity pattern sale at JoAnn's a few weeks ago, here's what I purchased.  The McCall's was not on sale though it was 40% off as they usually are at JoAnn's.  The Simplicity was $1.99 (I think) each.

I have pin fitted the McCall's pattern taking into account the amount of ease for this full flowing top. I still made a FBA of an inch and moved the dart created to the gathering edge of the front piece that attaches to the center front placket.  I also made my usual FSA and swayback adjustment.  I went with the size S again because of the amount of ease.

I hope to cut this pattern out tonight as I am off for Good Friday and I am also taking Easter Monday as a day off.  Hope to get some serious sewing in this weekend.

I also took advantage of the recent Club BMV pattern sale and you can go here and here.

I also purchased two lovely fabrics from a new to me fabric source-The Fabric Market.  I have not taken photos of the fabrics and will do so soon.  Let me say the quality was very nice and the customer service was prompt, the fabric arrived about three days after making the purchase.

More updates soon......

New patterns

Took advantage of recent Club BMV sale.  Yes, more patterns.  These are the recent purchases

Patterns in the mail

I am trying to stop buying patterns.  I have way more than I will probably sew.  Perhaps time to have a pattern give away again.

Here's what came in the mail Saturday

I have one more but for whatever strange reason I am not finding the photo on my computer.  Maybe that it did not save right.  Updated to Windows 10 has given me some issues with Picasa.    All patterns purchased were McCall's.  The missing one is a knit top also.

Updates since last week

I was surprised to see it had been a week since my last post.  Here's what has been happening:

I made a skirt from this McCall's pattern-M6654.  I made the fuller version View G.  I used the fabric leftover from my recent top.  I did not add a casing as the pattern called for.  Instead I used a wide black elastic stitched to the top edge of the skirt.  Photos to follow later.  I ended up taking out some of the fullness.  I will have to get use to this style.  I wear pencil skirts the most so this feels and looks quite different.  Not sure I like the wavy stripes running horizontally across my lower half.

I fell off the no pattern purchase bandwagon on Saturday!  Simplicity patterns were on sale at JoAnn's for 5 for $5--$1 a piece how could I refuse.  Here are the ones I purchased.

This pattern buying binge led to taking advantage of Club BMV purchases!!!!  My last Club purchase was December 18.  Will post which ones later.

I began the pattern fitting process for the Simplicity 1199 on Sunday.  I plan to make View A, the same as the model is wearing.

I also ordered fabric and expect one package to arrive today.

We had 12 inches of snow starting Monday afternoon.  Yesterday spent the late morning digging out and the other part of the day was work at home.  Enjoyed the quite time and was very productive.

That's it for now.  More later.

Patterns from the postman

My newest pattern acquisitions came this past week, thank you Mr Postman!!!

I saw this skirt in Nordstrom's catalog as well as on website; I pinned to Pintrest and when I saw this Vogue pattern

I thought I could use this as the jumping off point to make a similar skirt; I don't have the models legs anymore so I will be adjusting so the split is noticeable but not NOTICEABLE!

One of my favorite blogs is Sew & Style by Toy.  She is always posting fashion styles which helps inspire me as well.  She also has a YouTube site where she does a great job of sharing her sewing journey with a particular pattern.  She recently made this pattern in a black ponte knit and a faux leather fabric.

I had planned to purchase this pattern previously but failed to add to my shopping bag and thus with latest Club BMV sale I snapped it up.  My interest originally was in the sleeveless color blocked dress.  I don't wear sleeveless as much as I use to as I have these "old lady biceps" that go with this "old lady".  I would use the sleeve but shorten for spring/summer.

This was another dress pattern that I probably have something similar as well already.  On Pattern Review they had a LWD -little white dress contest that I signed up for and then wondered why as I normally do not wear white or off white dresses.  I think they make me look wider/bigger and why do I want that?  There were some great entries for this contest and I did vote for my favorites. 

I also purchased a few patterns from Simplicity.  Their patterns seem to fit me better and they use to; I just don't go to their site enough to see their collection, plus they have New Look and Burda on their site also.

I was inspired to pin this top and as soon as I saw it I remembered this pattern from Simplicity.  I thought it was a gook knock off pattern.  Again I will add short sleeves. The other pattern has received good reviews on PR so decided to give this one a try also.

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.

New Vogue Pattern additions

These arrived yesterday in the mail.  There were more in my cart but these survived.

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.

Club BMV sale

I took advantage of the end of the year into the new year sale with Club BMV.  I only purchased two patterns from Vogue.  Vogue 8865 and Vogue 8866.  I wanted V8865 for the longest time; yet I kept putting off purchasing it.  I then saw in the new Vogue Pattern Magazine the jacket made up in white and for whatever reason at that moment I decided that for the next sale I would buy it.

As to Vogue 8866 I sort of like the jacket but think it has to much pleated peplum going on for me.  It was the dress that caught my eye again from the Vogue Pattern Magazine.  I really have way too many patterns now.  So one of my goals for 2013 is to sew up many of the unused patterns I have on hand.  I want say I will not buy more patterns 'cause that most likely will not happen.

No new progress to report on my jacket.  This week has thus far been all consuming with work and it is coming home with me as well.

Onto the next top

I completed the Pamela's Pattern #104 with #107 boatneck overlay.  I needed to hem the sleeves and the bodice completing that task this evening.

My next project is Butterick 5679.  I am making the version B, the short green top with self-faced collar.  My fabric is similar in color to the gold/yellow top but did not have enough fabric to make the tunic top and not sure that I really like the look of it.

I had to make a FBA and decided to keep the resulting side dart.  I also shortened the sleeve length and may decide to make a more tapered sleeve that the full sleeve shown.

The mailman delivered several patterns yesterday, most coming from the recent Club BMV sale.  I also purchased another Sewaholic pattern, the new Cordova Jacket.  More information on those later.

New patterns

Peek view of recent pattern purchases.  I came pretty close to my plan of not buying patterns for three months, but a sale is a sale.

I also purchased two other Vogue patterns but camera battery was low; will post later.

Recent pattern purchases

I am a patternaholic.  I purchased several patterns during the recent Club BMV sale.  Last night I broke down and purchased three Style Arc patterns; they are offering a free pattern with pattern purchase.  I am not sure if I bought the right size or not, I guess we will find out.

Here are the BMV patterns purchased and arrived in my mailbox last week.  The first one is a McCall's jacket pattern-6294

The one below is Vogue 1284

 This is a Sandra Betzing Today Pattern-Vogue 1291

The one above is Vogue 8787 and the one below is 8799

I will post Style Arc patterns later.  I am off to set up serger and sewing machine for the next Butterick dress.

Updates at Casa Danvillegirl

I have not been very active in the sewing room since completing the color blocked dress.  To fill in the non-sewing time I have been catching up on blogs and reading pattern reviews.  I also have been "window shopping" on several fabric sites and made a huge purchase of fabrics from Gorgeous Fabrics during their 5 year anniversary.  Purchased  some pretty bright fabrics for spring/summer sewing.

I am so loving the "tangerine" color for spring/summer.  I love orange shades and fortunately for me they go well with my warm coloring.  I began taking some photos of fabric last night with iPad and will transfer and upload those for all to see soon.

Last night I did spend time in the sewing room fitting Butterick 5672.  I had to make 2.5 inch FBA.  My challenge is the that the pattern has one bust dart in the dress bodice with pleats on that same side.  The lining bodice pattern has waist and side bust dart.  I made the FBA on lining pattern first and then the dress bodice.  In making the FBA on the dress bodice I added a dart on the opposite side.  I am trying to work through if I want to eliminate that dart to keep "true" to the pattern design.  And if I do how bust to transfer that dart.  I may just keep the new dart.  The pattern is the template and I am the editor.

While also buying new fabric, I purchased a few new patterns from a recent Club BMV sale and those arrived yesterday.  I will make a point to take photos and post all new things this weekend.

I am off to sewing room now.  More later.

More patterns, but no sewing mojo

I can't seem to get my sewing mojo going.  I did take advantage of the Club BMV sale and purchased 4 Butterick patterns.  They arrived today and kind of lit a spark but just not enough.  I am even taking a vacation day today.  But I planned the day to get all my grocery shopping done, take "stuff" to Goodwill, clean the car washed and heading for a manicure in about 30 minutes.

DH and I are visiting a family member tomorrow evening for a cookout and then I head out on Sunday for a business trip.  Sewing is just not in the cards for now.  I will be checking out what others are working on in the meanwhile for some sewing inspiration for when the sewing moment strikes.

Cutting and cutting

This morning I completed the cutting out of the Simplicity skirt pattern.  I cut out the skirt fabric last night.  I like to line my skirts and though this pattern does not call for a lining, I do.  So this AM I pressed some Ambiance navy lining fabric that I purchased earlier this year and then cut the skirt lining.

I decided to cut out the fabric for the Sencha blouse by Collette patterns.  Sometimes I just prefer to cut out several patterns so that I have several in the queue to sew.  I had ideas to cut out several other patterns but nixed that plan to move forward with the sewing of these two patterns.

My Club BMV patterns arrived yesterday so will again plan to work on the Kay Unger dress once I adjust the bodice.  I have decided not to use the black/white diamond faille fabric at this time.  I have a lovely royal blue double knit that I think will make up well for this dress pattern.  I suppose I must be in a "blue" sewing mode at this time.

Updates later.

Club BMV Labor Day Sale

Thanks Club BMV!  I can now repurchase the Vogue dress pattern and get a second chance at getting the bodice adjusted to fit right!  As soon as I saw that notice in my email this AM, I was on it!  That too led to Gorgeous Fabric site and I purchased a knit fabric that was on sale to make a dress from a McCall's pattern I purchased along with the Vogue pattern.

Time for me to get away from the computer to go sew up what I have.

Have a great Labor Day Holiday!