What about 2018?

I have been busy catching up on various blogs and most everyone that I read posted collections of garments made, sewing goals met or not, as well as plans for 2019.

So! What about my 2018?

• I retired February 2, 2018.  DH retired January 31; he had been out of work since October with rotator cuff surgery.  Those first few weeks following his surgery required me to take intermittent FMLA to shuffle him off to the doctor or PT as he couldn't drive.
• We had begun looking for a new location to move out of the mountains toward a coast.  Mountains are great to visit but living around them feels stifling to me. I know other people who feel that way and we have had endless conversations about that.  Flatland, saltwater smell, seagulls are so pleasing to me. We moved in May to North Carolina, near the coast, not right on it.  It is amazing the cost of homes on or near water.  In the end, this proved to be a better decision because we got to experience Hurricane Florence.  Thank goodness it dropped to Category 2 when it hit or damage would have been worse. We were inland enough to not experience the damage that Jacksonville, New Bern, Wilmington, and Topsail Beach did.
• The new home is smaller, we wanted that.  Downsizing required a lot of fabrics and patterns being donated to Goodwill or given to other sewists as my new sewing space is limited. I am adapting. Still selling some patterns on eBay.
• As for makes for 2018, not near as much as previous years. Go here to see what I made and posted about on Pattern Review. I also only purchased 10 paper patterns, I think that was a record for me. I also only made 8 fabric purchases and won 1 fabric from EOS through PR.  Another record for me. I did, however, buy several indie pdf patterns.
• We have made some new acquaintances since moving and still traveling around our area to see what more there is to offer. We have found two hole in the wall restaurants that have great food at great prices.  Seems to be the place where all the long-term locals go. I also have been cooking more and have surprised myself on some of the foods that I have cooked that have been successful.  I will never be a gourmet cook!  Don't have the desire either.
• DH continues to have back issues and is currently going to PT for that.  Most all of my neck/shoulder issues have disappeared and the only flair up is when overused.  I am pretty sure that a lot of it has to do with not working and the loss of stress from that.
• All in all, not a bad year personally.  I am concerned about our country and the current government shut down.  The impact on retirement savings is something I like many others are/will be watching.  

2019 Plans for sewing

I am not great at setting sewing goals.  When I know of some event that is coming up I then plan out what I am going to sew for it and all that I need for sewing the particular garment.

I am still trying to figure out just what I need and want to sew to work with my current lifestyle. I don't need career/business style clothes now.  My focus has been pretty much on making tops and I did meet one sewing goal for 2018 and that was making a pair of pants.

I will be trying to make some shorts for 2019. The kind with drawstrings and/or elastic for the waist.

I am currently working on completing McCall's 7874 which I have written about prior to this post.  Almost done.  After that, I have a Jalie pattern to sew, more to share about that later.  I did purchase some new fabric for that project.  I want to make a hoodie, a long cardigan as well as midlength, and I want to make the Fulton Sweater Jacket fabrics are in my stash.

I hope to start a monthly sewing planner and see where that takes me.

I appreciate all of you that stop by and read my blog; I appreciate comments and do try to respond as much as possible.   Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2019!

First Project for 2019

I am making a second attempt at sewing McCall's 7874 since I ran into a serger issue with the first one.  Sewing this has been much easier and quicker since I basically made this previously.  I did add width to the sleeve biceps and added a little more to the waist/hip area also.

The fabric I am using I purchased from JoAnn's in Roanoke, VA; actually, I think this was the last fabric purchase from JA I've made.  We have no JA in the area where I live now.  Maybe someday!

This was labeled as athletic knit fabric. It is rather heavyweight and has great vertical and horizontal stretch.  It reminds me of scuba knit.  I took advantage of both sides being different colors with one side solid black and the other blue/black/purple.

I basted the side seams after sewing front to back and adding the sleeves.  The instructions have you sew them in the round, I prefer flat when working with knits.  I basted the side seams to try on for fit and was happy that with the better stretch of this fabric, thus not as close fitting as my first version.  French terry is not the best for this pattern.

To finish I just need to sew the side seams, attach the neckband and bottom bands and hem the sleeves.  Here is the work in progress

Back view

Front view, pockets don't drape when wearing

Updates to follow

Happy New Year!

Wishing all of you

Serger woes and M7874

I had almost finished making M7874.

I really like this pattern.  All of the pieces go well together. I made FBA, swayback and forward shoulder adjustments, my usual.  I had made this all the way to adding the bottom band which becomes very thick as you have numerous layers of fabric at the bottom.  Instructions have you sew the band in double stitches and the trim the edge.  I feel like that is the made at home look when the garment is finished.  So I serge finished this.  Because of the thickness, I decided to topstitch the turned up seam to the bodice for it to lay correctly.  AND THEN I NOTICED SOMETHING NOT SO GOOD.

I had done something I have not done in a long long time!  I had caught some of the bodice in the serged edges, not the part you wanted to catch.  I was heartbroken about this.  I could have probably left it alone but not me.  So now there is a huge hole at the bottom.  The perfectionist side of me can't handle patching and really hard to patch as it is in a very noticeable place.

About an hour later, I was over this and decided that there were some other concerns with the top that made this to be a test garment or muslin.  My fabric is french terry that I got in a mystery bundle for Girl Charlee a few years ago, so it was not like I had purchased this specific fabric.  

I have not sewn french terry in a long time and realized that the stretch is not really good for this pattern unless you want this to fit very close to your body.  I will say that the sleeves with this pattern are very tight and the measurement on the pattern piece, IMHO, is not accurate.  I could hardly move my arms.  Again this may have been the fabric.

However, I have gone through my fabric collection and I think I have found the next "perfect" fabric for this.  With the fit correct, except with the sleeves, and having sewn this once, my next version should be okay!

More updates to follow. 

Merry Christmas

Photo by Alisha Williams on Unsplash


Merry Christmas!

Bellavista 2 complete

I finally set up the tripod and took some photos of the second Bellavista pattern from Itch to Stitch.  After seeing myself in this solid color top, I feel fat.  I think the knit was a little thick for this top though it did match the stretch requirements.  I do like this pattern and the floral print one is a lighter weight knit and only wish I had had enough fabric for the cowl neck.

This top is fitted in the bust area and then flares from there. I did go down a size in the shoulder area from a 10 to 8 and then tapered out to a 10 for the rest of the top.  Having adjusted the back on the first version, I felt that the back fit well with this one with the adjustments I made to the pattern.

The top is a little wrinkled from sitting. I think I could carve out a little at the back arm seam, I have a narrow back.

Here is the back in the first version with adjustments.

Here are a few more views of this pattern.

I am wearing this top with black leggings.

I am going to be on the lookout for another lighter weight knit to make this top again.  Until then I am currently working on McCall's 7874.

I am enjoying sewing this pattern.  It has a lot of moving parts and has been fun to sew.  The instructions are very helpful in putting the front, side front and pockets together. The sleeves, however, are very tight.  This is the only negative I have with this pattern.  I may have needed to use another fabric with a little more stretch.

The fabric is from Girl Charlee and I have wanted to sew it for some time.

It is a french terry knit.  I hope to finish this soon and will post more about this then.

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing everyone who celebrates a Merry Christmas.

Recent pattern purchases

I have been destashing patterns for several months and selling many on eBay.  I found myself giving in to Club BMV or $1.99 Simplicity sale at Hobby Lobby.  Folks, I really don't need more patterns. 

My mother loved shoes; I love shoes.  When there was a sale and I was still living in Danville, we would go to the shoe sales; when I visited after moving away and there was a sale, we would go shopping.  My grandmother who grew up during the depression had about four pairs of shoes-beige, black, blue and white.  When we came back from shopping the sales, she would always ask why did you get more shoes, our response was "we didn't have these!"

Well, I didn't have these patterns and my pattern sales have been pretty good, so I am somewhat recycling my funds.

Without further ado, here are my recent purchases.

I gave up on the McCall's version and I have seen great success with this bomber jacket!

I have a top just like the one on model I purchased in 2017.  I love the look, so does DH. I know I can easily make this.

In the works

I also have a Kwik Sew pattern that I have not taken photos of.  I also ordered another pattern and it was not included with the KS one.  I sent an email to Butterick enquiring about the pattern and explained that the shipping statement did not reflect that the pattern was on back order or no longer available.  I got a response apologizing and a commitment to send the missing pattern the next day priority mail.  That was on the 13th.  As of today Dec. 18, I still don't have that pattern.  So sending another email asking where is it.  Then I just ordered two more Butterick patterns that were on sale and I hope I actually get them.  The response from BMV has been slower since moving to my new location.  Not sure that it is my location or an issue at BMV.  I am beginning to think it could be them.

I am currently working on the M7874 pattern above.  I have made adjustments to the pattern and have almost completed cutting out the fabric.  I also need to take photos of me wearing Bellavista 2 as promised in my last post.  There's a lot going on right now at Casa Danvillegirl.

Bellavista 2

Just wanted to post a quick look at my second Bellavista top by Itch to Stitch.  I was able to make the cowl neck version with this one.  The cowl is a double layer of fabric which makes for a nicely enclosed hem and does make the cowl drape well.

Different knit fabrics will create a different cowl drape from what I have seen from other reviews. Here is a close up of mine.

The fabric is from Gorgeous Fabrics and I purchased this in 2016.  It is a double knit.

I made a few adjustments with this after making my first one and posted about it here.

I plan to take some shots of me wearing this tomorrow since we will be stuck in again this weekend because of rain and more rain!  I am thankful it is not snow!

As I have noted previously I am an affiliate of Itch to Stitch and if you click on the link in the left column and purchase a pattern(s) I will receive a commission.  Any opinions I give regarding ItS patterns are my own. 

More details later!

Bellavista by Itch to Stitch

I finally made this pattern!  I have had it printed for some time and finally taped all the pieces together.  I am normally a "Team Trace" for pdf patterns because I like to pin fit patterns and copy paper does not work well for this fitting technique.  I decided I would go with the finished measurements for size 10 and 12. 

That worked pretty well, however, I think I probably could go with an 8 in shoulder/upper chest area.  ended up shaving off 3/8 inch from shoulder width and I think I could shave off another 1/4 inch.  My back is fairly narrow and with all patterns-indies or Big 4, the back is always too wide or full.  I ended up shaving off a 1/2 inch from each back side seams which makes it about an inch reduction.  This worked well for my back fitting.

I used the size 10 for upper chest and shoulder tapering to size 12 from underarm to bottom. I think I that worked well for bust area and after reducing the back piece as noted above, the fit was good for that area.

My DH helped with taking pictures but I did not like how they turned out so I took the bathroom mirror photos.  Not the best photos but better than what he took.

Here is a side view with a comment.

What drew me to this top originally was the cowl neck.  When I started with this fabric, I thought I had enough to make the cowl neck. Unfortunately, I did not!   So I used the view with neckband.  I have used a neckband attachment method that I saw on Threads Insider years ago and it has served me well most of the time.  As you can see in the above I have gaping at the center neckline. I reduced the length of the neckband and added width before attaching.  I basted it first and decided I did not need as much width and reduced that by 1/4 inch.  I think the gaping is more of a fabric issue than the pattern.  I also think if I had kept it at its original width it would have been better.

Other than tweaking the size a little, I really like this pattern.  You can not see the front seaming with this busy floral print.  It is a nice design feature and does allow for tweaking if you find it too full.  I think you could also do some creative seaming with this as well as color block with the centerpiece.

I like the bell sleeves. I think the sleeves are a little full in the bicep area and might reduce that fullness with the next top.  I have pulled out a solid knit fabric from stash and will measure to make sure I can cut out the cowl neck before cutting into the fabric.  Or back to the stash I go.

For full disclosure, I am an affiliate of Itch to Stitch and if you think you would like to try this pattern, you can click on the link in the left-hand column which will take you to the site for purchasing. I would receive a commission.  My opinion about this pattern is my own.

Isn't It IRONic !

I started a post last week to talk about irons and how I truly love  loved my Reliable Iron

that I purchased July 2017 from Amazon.  $169 is pretty steep yet I had seen it in use and decided I could afford it.

I really did like this iron as the steam feature is excellent.  It has an auto shut off feature that you can override as well, which I did when I was sewing.

Then Sunday, I was pressing some seams and the iron began to make a strange sound, similar to the sound it makes when the water reservoir is almost empty.  Yet this was not empty. I picked it up and the sound stopped and I set it back down.

I then went to my serger to sew and a light placed near my serger began to flicker as did the overhead light.  That was strange.  Then my iron started flashing the steam LED lights and making a noise.  I turned off the iron and the lights stopped flashing.  The iron is plugged into a wall that is not near my sewing or serger machines so I did not think it was a circuit overload.

I waited a little bit and then turned the iron on again and the loud sound and the steam lights were both flashing.  I cut it off again.  I then carried the iron to another area in the house and plugged it in and noise and flashing occurred again.

I did not know about any warranties with the iron and when you sew you need an iron.  With no backup, I decided that I would have to replace the iron.  I looked on Amazon and yes their shipping is quick but not quick enough.  I then looked at irons on Bed, Bath and Beyond website and decided a Rowenta iron was one I would try.  The next day I went to BBB and purchased the Rowenta Pro Master Excel and using a 20% off coupon I was able to purchase for less than $100.

There are some differences of course compared to the Reliable iron.  To steam a garment you have to push the steam button, the Reliable starts steaming either light or heavy depending on the feature you selected as soon as you pick up the iron.  There was no spray feature with the Reliable but the Rowenta has one.  It takes tap water as did the other iron and I like the point on the sole plate of the Rowenta better as you can get into small and tight places with that point.

I had a different Rowenta Steam system previously that lasted several years and loved it.  When it gave out then I went with the Reliable.  I have seen both positive and negative comments about Rowenta irons.  My experience was positive previously and hoping it will be again with this one.

I am glad I did not finish and post the previously planned post about how I was continuing to love my Reliable Iron.  Perhaps that was an omen!

Next up a review of the Itch to Stitch Bellavista Top pattern. (Affiliate).

Itch to Stitch

My next project is the Bellavista Pattern from Itch to Stitch.  (I am an affiliate and link in left column. I would receive a commission if you used that link.)

I printed this pattern months ago, actually prior to our relocating to NC.  I decided with our cooler weather this would be the time to actually tape the pages together.  I like the layered printing that is provided with Itch to Stitch patterns and I only needed to print two sizes to accommodate my measurements.

I like the cowl neck look with this pattern as well as a somewhat swing shape to the overall look of the top. I wish I had similar knit fabric as shown in the picture below.

I am going to use a black/pink/coral rayon knit from Simply By Ti. (I am not an affiliate)

Next steps are to trace the pattern onto Swedish tracing paper for pin fitting.  Then after any adjustments cut out the fabric.