Work and no sew!

I traveled to Williamsburg, VA for a conference on Sunday returning Tuesday afternoon in time to shower and dress for our Annual Event.  I find driving 4 hours to be grueling.  On my trip to Williamsburg I lost two hours sitting on Interstate 81 due to two wrecks in two different locations.  For those of you who know this area and have traveled on 81 you know how it can easily become a parking lot.

So not much time for sewing this weekend.  I did cut around the pattern pieces for my next project
Simplicity 1063.  Next I need to pin fit to make adjustments.

Here are the fabrics I will be using

The solid color was acquired from Fabric Mart and I used some of it in a recent project

The floral print fabric is one that I have had for quite some time and not sure if I acquired from Fabric Mart also.  I am searching my photo files of fabric to determine stash time.

I don't think I will have enough to make the top front and the longer sleeves in the solid color; thus I am thinking of using the print for the main pieces with the solid for the back overlay.  I am making the blue version just reversing the contrasting fabrics.

I printed two indie patterns recently as well.  I attempted the Itch to Stitch  Paulina Top previously but fabric choice as well as size choice proved to be all wrong.  I also printed the Tabitha Top by Love Notions.  I am playing around with other fabrics from my stash to determine what I will use to sew up both of these items.

I need more tops for work and play.  It is amazing how I have worn so many of the tops I made over the past two years and have worn them out or just simply tired of wearing them.

More updates later.

Next up-Butterick 5922 knit top

Completed V8742 version 2.  I really love this pattern.  Two versions are enough for now!

Up next

This is my new purchase taking advantage of the Memorial Day sales at Butterick.  

This is fabric from my stash and has been around for a very long time.  I acquired this the last time ASG National Conference was held in D.C.  and I think that was 2005.  The underlay will be a cream/tan knit fabric acquired from EOS several years ago also.

I wanted you to see the scalloped edge of the fabric.  This will be the bottom of the top and perhaps the bottom of the sleeves, hoping that I can squeeze everything from the yardage on hand.

The pattern fitting process is in progress.  Completed adjustments on the front bodice and front underlay piece.  I wanted to have this top for a dinner out at the beach.  

Cleaning up and moving on

I decided that I really needed to clean up the sewing room and get rid of a lot of stuff that was just laying around; I also vacuumed up all the debris on the floor.  I then sorted through a huge bag of patterns that really needed to be put away.

I have a fabric storage room-I like the sound of that- but let me clarify that the room stores other stuff as well such as Christmas ornaments and the like.  Plus I have my grandmother's sewing machine and sewing table in this room also.  The bulk of it is plastic containers of fabric.  I am periodically traveling from sewing room which is at one end of the house to the storage room which is at the other end of the house.

I had pulled a lot of fabric for potential sewing projects for the fall and winter.  There were just too many in the room and I decided to cull through the stack of fabric and put it back in storage.

So now that patterns are put up, excess fabric out of the way and floor vacuumed I proceeded to put out top/blouse patterns and fabric to sew up over the next few days.

I will give the Alma Blouse a try later on.  Let me also state that the pattern is a good one and the issue with the pattern is operator error not the pattern.

I will share with you later what I plan to work on next.  Off to the sewing room now.

Productive day for my last day off

Today has been very productive sewing wise.  I decided to make another Vogue 8669 now that I have got the pattern tweaked to for a better fit.  I had some black crepe knit in my stash, acquired from Les Fabrique in Charlottesville, VA.  It is at least three years old.  I love the rich black color of this knit and the texture.  I had enough of this fabric to make two tops.  So the second top I made was Pamela's Perfect T-shirt pattern #104.

I was surprised about the fit of the Pamela's Pattern.  I had made one from this pattern before, but it was huge.  I decided to give it a try again though and went with the small due to high bust measurement and then made a one inch FBA.  This turned out well.  I did use the front pattern piece with the dart.  This resulted in a good fit.

I wear a lot of black for my job.  I never seem to have enough black tops., either RTW or custom made by me.   One of my favorite black tops is one I made from a Sandra Betzina pattern that it is now looking fairly worn.  I decided to give it to Goodwill.

So now I have two new tops to start the new year.  Photos later.

Kwik Sew 3764

I began the pattern tracing of KS 3764.  I am going to make View A ( jacket on left) with all the zippers.  I found several sources for separating zippers; the one with the most selections of colors and sizes was Erica's Sewing and Craft Center.  The fabric I am going to use for this was purchased several months ago from Hancock's in Richmond, VA.  I washed and dried it and it did very well.  I think it is in the denim family; I thought maybe linen like but it washed and dried with hardly a wrinkle.

All pieces are traced except for the sleeve and that I will do soon; hopefully I will be able to pin fit pattern this afternoon. I have an upcoming business trip that I need to get ready for and the weather promises to be in the mid to upper 50's today which makes me want to be outside for a brief period of time. 

More later.

Extended sewing time

I am enjoying my holiday off today.  I got to spend more uninterrupted time in my sewing room today-very productive time I admint.  I have completed my skirt except for the hemming and attaching a hook and eye at the waistband. 

I again used El's facing technique for an invisible zipper and actually stitched down the lining of the skirt to the zipper tape, making a more polished look than I cannot do with my hand stitching.  I will take some better photos of this later and post.

I am taking a much needed break now and going to take a shower.  I saw a pair of black pumps the other day and decided I am going to go shopping and hope they have them in my size.  My birthday present to myself, a couple of days early!!

This photo was taken with my Black Berry so not the greatest photo, but let's you see the completed skirt.  Strings hanging down are serger threads where I serge finished the skirt and lining hem edges.