Marilyn Dress

I started my next project- Marilyn Dress from Style Arc patterns.

I haven't sewn many dresses lately. I have seen this pattern several times either on Pattern Review or another blog.  I see similar dresses on TV or in magazines.  I like the sleeve style with this.  I ordered this pattern through Amazon thus having multiple sizes to choose from.  I ended up tracing the 12 and 14, making a small FBA adjustment.  The swayback adjustment will be made using the center back seam, taking a deeper seam through the back waist area.  The waist line is not clearly marked on the pattern.

I decided to use a fabric that has been in my stash for several years.

I am not sure of the content. It has a linen look to it when you see it close up, but the feel and the no wrinkles indicate to me that it is definitely not linen.  It also has a crepe feel to it but not the raveling I usually get from crepe. I did not do a burn test.

I know that this fabric is over 5 years old; I purchased it from a Walmart that has now been replaced by a Super Center Walmart and no longer sales fabric.  They were selling Simplicity Learn to Sew patterns as well as New Look, now they no longer have those.

I remember I purchased 3 yards of this fabric twice.  I think it will have the right drape for this dress.

Being a holiday weekend, we spent considerable time doing family stuff so only had short burst of times to be in the sewing room.

The pattern is adjusted and the fabric is cut out.  Serger is set up for narrow serge for finishing the edges as the seam allowance for this pattern is 3/8 inch.

I hope you had a great holiday weekend if you celebrate Memorial Day.

Not much sewing this weekend

I lost my sewing mojo and hope to rekindle it soon.  😧  A lot happened at work last week and then plans for Saturday and Sunday with DH did not include sewing time.

I am trying to select my next project so did get in the sewing room for a brief period of time this AM.
I have some nice fabrics from Fabric Mart and ESO calling my name;I just need to match them with the right pattern.

I am looking forward to next weekend because of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.  I do plan to get some sewing in with that long weekend.

I want to thank everyone who provided me with fitting suggestions with my gaping back armhole with the Cold Shoulder Style Arc pattern.  I am going to the next size up which is a 14 but keeping the 12 for the upper chest/shoulder area.

More later.  Hope you have a nice week ahead!

Weekend sewing

I completed two garments this weekend. One I posted on Instagram, another Maria Denmark Kirsten Kimono Tee.  I think this is the fourth one I made.  Fabric from JoAnn's and leftover from another project.

I also completed the Style Arc Cold Shoulder top.  This was a test garment and I have some fitting issues.  I wanted to show these to you.  I need some suggestions on how to fix the gaping at the shoulder armhole.  I made a size 12 with some fitting adjustments-FBA, FSA, and swayback.  I definitely need the size 14 for everything starting at the bust down.  Size 12 shoulder seems right for shoulder and upper chest.

Here is the gaping.

The back is too tight for my comfort. I did a 5/8 forward shoulder adjustment, but I don't think that has anything to do with this gap.  Your thoughts please!

Here is another shot and you can see that it is tight in the upper arms and bust, going up a size should help with that.

The knit fabric I used is a midweight cotton, which actually worked well for this top.  Sewing 1/4 inch seams are so fiddly so the weight of this knit helped with that.

Again I appreciate your comments.

Vacay continues

Vacation continues today. I was able to spend some time in my sewing room this morning. I cut out to patterns; one is the Kirsten Kimono Tee and the other is the Cold Shoulder Style Arc top. As noted in the my previous post the fabric for the Kirsten top is a leftover from a previous skirt make. The Cold Shoulder fabric is a cotton knit purchase from Cali Fabrics.

I made several adjustments to the Style Arc pattern. I chose to print and use the size 12 though I may have needed the 14 for the bust area. I decided to use the pivot and slide pattern adjustment technique.

The serger is threaded; I have tested the stitches and it appears ready to sew both fabrics. I will post some updates on my progress.

Beach Vacation

I got back Tuesday, a day sooner than planned.  My friend had a death in the family and needed to return for the family viewing and funeral.  Though cut short by one day, I had a great time at the beach. The crowds are not there during early May but will be arriving soon.  The weather was pleasant but very cool at night.  Friday, May 5, we could not go onto the beach because of high winds and the sand blowing so hard it felt like you were being sand blasted.

I did find a quilt shop who was a Janome dealer and were well stocked with cotton fabrics mostly for quilting.  I did find two fabric bundles that I liked to be used for tops.

I wore several tops that I had made and only took photos of two of them for MMMay 2017.  I also took my completed McCall's 7542 top.  I posted on Instagram and Pinterest.  I wrote a review on PR.

I love my version of this top, using a rayon challis which gave it more drape than a stiff boxy look.

The fabric is from Style Maker Fabrics.  Instead of using the border print horizontally, I used it vertically to give the illusion of being taller.
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Instead of retyping my review of the pattern, please visit Pattern Review.  I believe that I will make another version of this again using a similar fabric with more drape.

Since coming home, I spent time today in my sewing room.  I cut out some leftover fabric to make another Kirsten Kimono Tee.  Easy peasy to sew and uses up the last of a knit fabric I purchased and made this skirt with it.

I also printed and taped together the Cold Shoulder pattern from Style Arc.  I made some fitting adjustments to it and planned to cut out using some other leftover fabric as a test garment.  I still struggle determining the right size to use with SA.

That's all for now.

#MMMay2017

Here is my first item I made that I am wearing this week.  This is Simplicity 1316.  I am starting my vacation today, getting ready to go to the beach with a high school friend.  I wore this to run errands today and to get a mani/pedi for the beach.

Here is an enhanced photo to see the fabric details.  Excuse the pose.  

The side view below shows a fairly dissent shot of the shape of the back; got a better swayback and high upper round back adjustment with having back center seam.

I hope to finish the McCall's 7542 later today as I do want to take it with me to the beach.  More later.

Back from travel

I have had to travel two weeks in a row-work related.  So I am back in the sewing room again today and plan to finish McCall's 7542.  I have attached the lower sleeve portion to one sleeve and now working on the other one.

Once the sleeves are inserted and all hemming complete, I will be done.  Will review all later.

Me Made May 2017

'I, Linda L of www.danvillegirl.blogspot.com and danvillegirl on Instagram,sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '17. I endeavor to wear at a minimum 3 items made by me a week for the duration of May 2017'

I 'm back

I did not realize that my last post was 3 weeks ago!  I feel like I am on a stationary bike and not going anywhere.  Crazy and busy time at work.

I 've done a little sewing.  I completed the Simplicity top and yet to review here or on PR.  I am currently working on McCalls 7542.

I am actually excited about this project.  I love the fabric and purchased it about a year ago from Style Makers Fabrics.  It was Shibori as it does look similar to some shibori projects I have seen.  It is a rayon challis fabric.

Back view

Front View

For the back, I chose to add an invisible zipper.  I am not fond of button loops and buttons.  I also don't like hook and eyes much either.

I am going to use the sleeve from View D, the third one down on the left.  I love that this pattern has various cup sizes, no FBA.

I did make my usual FSA and swayback.  I ended up taking 3/4 inch back seam as I am probably a 12 in the back and larger in the front.  This blouse has shoulder dart in the back and I took a deeper dart width and length wise.

I plan to finish this in the next couple of days.  

More later.

McCall's 7542

I failed to take a photo of these patterns and mentioned them in an earlier post today.

Of special note is this pattern from McCall's

M7542

Earlier today I was viewing photos on Instagram and came across a post from McCall Pattern Company.  They have created a sewing contest to make the above pattern between now and May 7.  You can make as many versions of this pattern and post it by May 7 to be entered into the contest.  That was motivating to me.  The prizes are $100 gift certificate to Vogue Fabrics, one year subscription to Vogue Fabrics and $100 worth of McCall's Patterns.

I  had planned to make this recently so now I am more motivated to do so.  I have pulled out some fabrics from stash, some new and some that have aged awhile.    I  cut around the pattern pieces and will do some pin fitting of pattern soon.  Another great thing about this pattern, cup sizes for A/B, C and D!  No FBA for me!  Thank you McCall's

Here's a link to post on Instagram for McCall's Sewing Contest.

S1316 complete

DH and I decided that today was the day to stay in and do nothing but read, sew or whatever.

For me it was sewing.  The mojo has returned and completing this top was top of mind.  I like the top somewhat; there are a few things that I am not happy about and should I make this again I will make these adjustments.

Because it is a DDND-don't do nothing day.  I did not wash and style the hair and have on limited make up so to see this on will be another photo day.

My likes with this pattern:

1. Separate front pieces for Cups B, C and D.  Yeah no FBA!
2. Variety of front neckline options.
3. Easy to sew and with shoulder princess seams, adjustments are easy to make

I don't have any dislikes of the pattern.

What I needed to have done was raise the neckline a little.  After stitching the facings, it lowered and widened the neckline on me.  I have an old neck and unless I wear a scarf or some sort of necklace I don't like how that looks on me..

The swayback adjustment I made was PERFECT!  Sorry you can't see that now.  I was truly pleased how well the back fits with no pooling.

I also sewed the center back seam all the way up as I was able to pull the top over my head, so it did not require hook and eye or button and button loop.

The fabric was somewhat slippery to handle and could easily get distorted.  I serge finished all seams. One other thing I did with understitching the facings at the neckline was to use a zigzag stitch and it truly helped keep the neckline from rolling out.  I got that idea from watching a Nancy's Notion program and seeing the guest-Pamela Leggett do this with a knit garment she was sewing on Nancy's show.  I works well for woven fabrics also.

I topstitched the neckline as well as the sleeve and bodice hems.

Ii may sew this again but not anytime soon.  I have so many other patterns to try.  More photos of me wearing later.