What to do while waiting for Florence

We made the decision to stay along with several neighbors in our area.  Cloudy this AM, but now we have wind gusts and off and on rain.  From what we are hearing, Florence has reduced from Cat 5 to Cat 2 and when hits landfall should be Cat 1.  The rains will still be intense.

To keep busy, I taped the True Bias Landers Short pattern together and began working on what size will be right for me.  I am using a pair of shorts that fit me very well, though they are not high waisted, to determine what would be the best size to try and what other crotch or back adjustments I may need.

No photos for now as all you can see is a taped pattern. Once I complete the task above then I will trace around the pattern for my correct size.  I always trace using Swedish Tracing paper and then pin fit.

Later.

Do I Stay or Do I Go

I had some great sewing plans for this week using two indie patterns for shorts and a top.  They are printed and ready for cutting and taping.  Then Florence has happened and it is anticipated that she is going to pack a wallop. So for two days DH and I have go back and forth with staying or going.  I have heard from several people that they are staying and others not.  Fortunately we made the decision to live close to the coastline, not on it. However, we keep hearing about sea surges.  We know about flooding, the month of July we had only 5 days WITHOUT rain. Still this is huge hurricane.

We have decided twice to stay and twice to go.  What we are hearing and through website views, the highways are jammed pack mostly from people coming through from South Carolina going wherever.  Hotels are booked, roads are jammed and dealing with hysterical drivers are as much of a concern as dealing with the storm itself.

I lived through one hurricane while living in Corpus Christi, TX and it was not a Cat 4 or 5.  We moved to Santa Rosa, CA and two weeks after arriving there was the huge earthquake in San Fran and Oakland.  We were impacted also.

So I guess it is only fitting that we have another adventure with Mother Nature.  So we will hopefully decide one way or the other by tomorrow when a mandatory evacuation begins for our county.

Prayers are appreciated for the NC coastline!

Wearing My Kalle Shirt Dress

Today I decided to wear my new dress.  It is really hot out and having on a dress is cooler to me than shorts; especially because it is cotton.

I wore it to Walmart and grocery store.  As I was walking down an aisle, I heard a voice say-"Oh, lady I love your shirt." I turned around to see if they were talking to me and she was.  She kept saying how cute this was and where did I get it?  I told her I made it and her comment was you did good.  That made my day.  Even before leaving the house, my DH kept saying you need to make some more like this, it is perfect for where we are now.  Twice in one day😄 with the compliments

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DH took some pictures of me wearing before I left the house, were going to shoot a few outside, but way too hot for standing and posing.

Front view

Hand on hip view of front

I think with the cotton fabric that is does not drape as a rayon challi or silky fabric would.  I have to get use to the fullness.  I enjoyed that fullness when walking to and from my car to store.  The heat coming off the parking lot was stifling.

Here is the back view it looks pretty good in the photo; yet I think I could take out a little more fullness in the center back around waist area.  I have a narrow back and narrow waist in the back. I did shave off some width on the back piece after trying it on for fitting purposes.  I think I need to make a deeper swayback adjustment as the side seams swing toward the front when viewing the sides.

 I also have orange sandals that are about two years old and they have gotten a lot of mileage recently.  They go very well with this dress.

Some of the changes I made were :

• taking a deeper seam in back area to reduce some fullness in center back at the waistline.
• scooped out the neckline by 1/4 inch as collar would be too high on me.
• kept the length of the pattern as many reviewers said it was short; I am 5'2" and the above gives you an idea where the front was right at knee area.

Tweaks for the next dress and/or tunic-not many at all!

• forward shoulder adjustment.  When sitting the back pulls and the front neckband hits right under my chin
• make a deeper swayback adjustment.

Wearing this as I type,it feels comfortable and loose. I am glad I made this as I kept putting if off.  The instructions and tutorials on Closet Case website were very helpful with some steps that were different for me.  I like the neckband method used, it was an alternative to the norm and I think I would incorporate this with other patterns.  Burrito method for yoke is included and very familiar with this method so that was a nice instruction included in the pattern.

Here is one more pose-semi side view

Thanks for stopping by!

Finished Kalle and What's next

I completed the Kalle Shirt Dress!  This was a longer project than I thought it would be; I chose to use the directions in completing this and learned some alternative ways of sewing neckband and a placket.  I sewed the buttons on last night and while doing this in front of the TV, my DH said that is a pretty dress.  I thanked him and not sure he will have the same opinion when I wear it as it is very different style.  It works for my lifestyle now and perfect for the continued hot weather.

Here is a glimpse, hopefully will take full photos when I wear it in the near future.  I plan to do a full review at that time also.  I will make this in the tunic length as well trying the long sleeve extension pattern.

As I shared in an earlier post, my first buttonhole turned out wonky after completing three test buttonholes.  I will be sewing the button onto this through all thicknesses as I can easily pull this over my head with the last button closed.

I did not make bias tape from fabric for this dress, I had planned to do this. I was looking through a drawer with bias binding in it and saw this orange binding.  Not sure when or why I even bought that color, most bias binding I have has been around for a couple of years.  So got lucky that this matched perfectly.

I am continuing my sewing projects focusing on using Indie patterns.  I have decided on two with one being a shorts pattern as it is time to get past my sewing block on sewing shorts and pants.  I have read several reviews about several short patterns and have decided to try True Bias's Lander shorts.

The other project will be a Blank Pattern pattern-Austin Tee with tie at waist.

I actually purchased this one twice😜.

I washed and dried the fabric for the shorts.  Just need to cut and tape pattern pieces.  I then trace and try on using pin fitting technique.  I also have some muslin fabric as I may break down and do one of those!!!!!  The fabric is from Cali Fabrics and is a Ralph Lauren poly-twill woven with some stretch.

After washing it felt less thick and more to my liking.  More updates to follow.  Thank you for stopping by.

Touching base

First, I received a question from a reader about issues she was having on finding me on Ebay as I had provided information about my selling patterns there.  She could not find me when she did a search.  I found that you have to click on Advanced Search and scroll down close to the bottom and click on Seller, then click on specific seller and type in seller's Ebay name; mine is lamona7.  So if anyone else tried this and maybe did not know how to find seller (including me) that's it.

Second, I have just about finished the Kalle Shirt Dress and it has been a great sewing journey in that I learned how to do somethings different than I normally would.  I have okay with my dress but I think I would prefer to use a lighter cotton fabric than I did.  I know that I will make some additional tweaks with future makes from this pattern.  I have even purchased the long sleeve extension pattern for this fall.  Not sure how fall feels in our new location.

Third, I dread making buttonholes because no matter if you have a fancy buttonhole attachment and program with your sewing machine it never fails that one, sometimes two buttonholes get wonky.  I tested making three buttonholes for the Kalle dress on same weight and thickness of fabric and they turned out lovely.  I make my first one on the dress and it does not connect the top part of the buttonhole correctly.  The rest turned out okay. 

Fourth, I have not always liked my JoAnn's store where I used to live but I miss them now as all I have here is Hobby Lobby with a small section for sewing.  I was able to find buttons for this dress today, but pickings were slim.

Hope to show the finished project in the next day or two.

Closet Case Kalle Shirtdress Update

I am making progress with the Kalle Shirtdress!

I think the instructions with this pattern are very good.  I have sewn the placket, the pocket and have attached the yoke to front and back.  The burrito method for the yoke instructions were so easy peasy.  I have used this method with past garments but it had been awhile so referred to the instructions when I sewed this step.

I basted the side seams to check fit and have to make some width adjustments with the back piece.  I have a narrow back and really need to go down a size for most patterns for the back piece.  This one is no exception.  Most of the fullness is at mid back.  The hip area fits well in the back.  I will curve out the back waist area to make this adjustment.

With 20/20 hindsight I should have tried on the dress with just one yoke attached and then baste the front pieces to the back.  I could use a forward shoulder adjustment and did not give that any thought before moving on to the burrito yoke attachment step.  I can live with this but the next one will be adjusted.

I also will need to trim out the neckline before attaching the band collar.  It will just be too high.

Other than that I am pleased with this pattern and my dress to be.

I took a few photos of the work in progress.

Back

Front

Yoke

More to follow; thanks for stopping by.

What's in the works?

I began working on Closet Case's Kalle Shirtdress and Top pattern. Pattern was pin fitted and based on finishes measurements and tissue fitting I decided to sew Size 12.  I did make a swayback adjustment and did not shortened the length of the dress as it appears from pattern reviews it seems to run short lengthwise.  We shall see!

Here is the fabric I am using.

It is pretty orange fabric somewhat like an orange sherbet.  It is 100% cotton and I acquired it when I visited my friend who lives in Myrtle Beach off and on during the year.  It was from a sewing and fabric store that caters more to quilting than apparel fabric. 

I like that with this pattern you have options for the collar and the front opening.  I decided to use the popover placket for my version. The instructions for the placket were well written and well illustrated, yet I still had a what the heck moment. 

I have always had issues with plackets, but this one I admit is my best one to date. The great thing about this pattern is that there is a tutorial or sew along for various phases of making this pattern. I definitely used this for the placket.  I have to admit though the wrong side of my placket does not look like the tutorial and I decided that was okay.  Next time, it will.  I will most likely be the only one to see that side anyway. 

I have decided to use just the band collar for this and not the collar stand and collar.  That's the nice thing about this pattern you can mix and match looks as you like. 

There is a front pocket if you chose to add this and I have that sewn and ready to attach to the shirt front.  Next step for me is to decide whether you make a block pleat or an inverted pleat for the back that is attached to the yoke. 

More details to follow.

More listings on eBay

I am continuing to downsize my pattern collection.  I have way too many patterns.  I have listed quite a few on eBay and added more this week.  I also have listed two sewing related books as well.  If interested go to eBay and search for lamona7.

I have more I will be listing this weekend.

Quick Post

I snapped a few photos of the striped Jalie Bobbie pattern when my photographer (DH) was not able to take some photos.  I shot them with my iPhone 8 in the bathroom mirror which needs cleaning after seeing these photos.

Not my best photo but hate taking photos with my phone.  I realize that it is not a happy look and actually I am pleased with the outcome of this second top.  The tweaks I made worked as planned and hoped for.

Awkward pose for a back shot.

Of course I had to let you peek into the facing/liner.  This is the side where the stripes at the side seam meet, the other side does not line up so well.  I normally don't go around raising my arm for people to see the underside, so it won't be that noticeable.

I am starting to work on my next project, the Closet Case Kalle Shirtdress.

More later.

Pattern Stash Reduction and Next Project

I was going through patterns yesterday and found that several patterns I had planned to sell or donate made the move with me to our new home.  I decided to take advantage of eBays selling options and have posted several (about 27) patterns there.  If interested, you can go to eBay and look for lamona7 to see what I am selling.

I plan to list some more in the next few days.  The patterns include the Big 4, New Look and Indie patterns such as Collette and Loes Hinse.

I washed some fabric I purchase last year at a store in Myrtle Beach. (I failed to take a picture after purchasing last year, so not able to show it at this time.) Currently my idea is to use this woven cotton fabric with Closet Case's Kalle shirt & shirtdress pattern.  I think I have enough of it to made the shirtdress.  I just need to decide on size since I have not sewn anything from this pattern line. If you have made this pattern, please give some feedback on the fit for you and any thing that may need added attention.  I always appreciate comments.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bobbie in Stripes

I finally finished my second version of Jalie's Bobbie top.  I decided to use a black and white striped knit from fabric collection (stash).  I purchased this from Fabric Mart in March 2013.  5 years of aging was enough.  The weight of this knit as well as the stretch were perfect for this top.  Though after making it in horizontal stripe I am not sure that this was my best idea for this fabric.  Nonetheless, here it is. (Not on me as I am not photo ready as of this writing.)

I made several tweaks as I mentioned in an earlier post.  I took a 1/2 inch horizontal tuck in the upper chest and back; this brought the armholes more in proportion with my petite frame.  It also raised the neckline which I thought was needed with the previous version. 

I removed the dart that I had in the first version and then I had to adjust the width of the waist/hip area because of this.  I did not want that dart as it would have messed up the stripe matching at the side.  I did keep the dart in the facing/liner. Unfortunately one side has matching stripes while the other doesn't.  This will not be that visible but I know it.  I decided not to agonize over it.

I also took a deeper side seam from waist to hip on the top to eliminate some of the boxy look. I did remove an inch at the hemline as I did previously and used a 3/4 inch hem with this one.

I was very happy with the neckline with this top.  In my previous version, in spite of my under-stitching the neckline facing, it still rolled out after heavy duty pressing so I had to topstitch the neckline on the first one and that eliminated the roll out.  With this one, I did not have that issue and I really am happy about that as I did not want to topstitch this one; I thought if I did that it would break up the stripes. I think this happened because of the weight and drape of this fabric as well as the neckline fitting closer.

I just had to take a shot of the matched stripes.  Sometimes I shy away from striped fabric because of taking time to match up the stripes.   I see unmatched stripes in RTW as well as with plaid matching. My grandmother always said she knew when someone was wearing a ready made dress or top because the stripes or plaid did not match up appropriately, no seamstress would do that.  That plays in my head whenever I sew stripes.

I know in my last post I mentioned I was going to make the Square Neck T-.  That pattern needs some tweaking and I decided that the fabric was not what I wanted to use for that particular top pattern.  Because I knew what I needed to do with this pattern I decided to make another.  I will put this pattern to rest for now.

I have decided to switch to sewing some woven fabrics next and I am truly working on making a pair of shorts, I just need to decide which pattern.

I will try to take some photos of this top when I have on some make up and washed hair.  Thanks for stopping by.