Vacation!!!!

Be back end of August!

Stay Happy, Keep Sewing!

I have been busy! Just not posting!

Finished my June Jacket, McCalls 5815, view A.  (In June even)

Mine is a medium weight linen from Jo Anns.  I ended up with a fabric flaw on the front that I didn't notice til to late, so my collar is reversed.  Hides it well.  (-: I lengthened the body by 1.5 inches, as it was a bit short on me.

Next up.. Simplicity Easy to Sew button front blouse, I made view B.  I did not have to lengthen this one, it has a good length.   I used a lightweight cotton with a touch of stretch with tiny white polka dots, from Fabric.com.   I love it.

Then I needed a pair of shorts to wear with them, and I thought, why not yellow?  So here is my McCalls 5633 view A. 

I had to change the crotch length and depth (I mimicked a RTW pair that fit me well for the curve)  I used a stretch denim from Fabric.com

Finally got to wear my New Look 6020 to the wedding! 

The fabric is a beautiful 'Monet'ish watercolar floral.  I believe it is from Fabric.com.  A lovely cotton that does NOT wrinkle!


Now I am working on McCalls 6279, in an olive stretch twill from Jo Ann's.

  The sleeveless view has 15 buttons!  The buttons cost more than the fabric!  It is not buttoned on KellyGirl 2, as she is a bit larger than me right now. I cut a straight 16 (except lengthened by 6")  but took 1 1/4" side seams above the waist and 1" below the waist.  It is not hemmed yet, still just pinned.  Not sure how I want to finish the hem.

I was not going to make a self fabric belt, because sometimes it just seems to scream HOMEMADE.  I didn't like any of my belts with the dress though, and had used all of my FOUR yards of fabric for the dress, with no scraps except for the bias strips I had cut out in case I needed them for finishing the arms and inner seams.  I ended up lining the dress instead though, so I used those bias strips to make the belt!  I wish I had cut them wider, but oh well.  It will do til I find the perfect belt for it. 

Stay Happy, Keep Sewing!

Vogue 1236

I think I like it.  I am not sure.  Can't decide if it is cute summer dress or a belted house frock.  (-:  I had to raise the center front, otherwise it was cut quite low.

Finished Goods and WIP

Finished Goods:

Jalie 2908 for my sister's Birthday.  She lives in OR, she sent me her measurements, and I traced, sewed, topstitched and prayed and then mailed them to her.  They fit!!

WIP,  Work In Process.... 

So, to celecbrate, I decided to start my May jacket early.  That isn't cheating, is it?  McCall's 5815 semi fitted, lined and a very different bow collar. 

Here it is with the collar just pinned on.   My collar is on the opposite side than that of the pattern picture.  My left front had a flaw in the linen just above nipple height that I did not notice in time.  So I just reversed the collar and no one will know!  I also pleated the front pockets as the drape just did nothing for me.

 

Happy Sewing! and Happy Easter! 

Pfaff is back and I have been busy!

I finished my April jacket, spring in Flagstaff requires a jacket. The 12" of snow we had last night and today, require more than this jacket..... but, I can wait, suppose to be almost 70 by next Friday. This is the New Look 6799 again.

I took a 1" tuck out of the back and 1/2" out of the front pieces.  Was very boxy otherwise.  I also added 3 inches in length so that I could have a deeper hem.  I added ties to the back to give it a different feel and hemmed the sleeves deep, so that I could cuff them.

 

I tried piping for the first time. Not sure how I feel about it. Can't tell if it looks nice or looks cutesy. I was not going for cutesy.  I don't plan on buttoning it, so I didn't bother with buttons or button holes.  Wanted a lighter and fresher look.  There is a snap as the top closure, covered by these vintage yellow buttons.

I think it will look nice with a pair jeans.  (-:

My dress is almost finished... actually only needs hemming.  It is New Look

6020.  I am making view D in front, with the lower back of B.

 

Here are some pics of it earlier in the process.  I love the fabric, looks like a Monet watercolor.

I tissue fitted the bodice to my KG2, and could see the princess seams were not going to fit me.  I made a muslin of the bodice to get the princess seams to fit my curves.  I needed to get rid of gapping at sides above my breast in the armhole area and then the same area on the back piece. I also made the front armhole with less of a scoop, where you can see the white in the front of the arm below, I altered that to fit closer to my arm.

 The fit is much better.  So I transfered the changes I made on the muslin back to my traced pattern.

Here are my traced pattern changes on top of the original pattern

 You can see, I 'unscooped' the front armscyce quite a bit.  Hate to have that area showing. 

Here is the bodice out of the actual material.

I used 'Nancy's' tutorial to attach the lining to the sleeveless bodice.  The whole time I am following it, I am thinking, there is No way this will work!  But I followed her instructions to a T, and viola! It worked and it was perfect!

http://picasaweb.google.com/nwinning/LiningASleevelessDress#

I will post a pic wearing it once I have hemmed it.  (-:

Happy Sewing!

Backup machines....

My two workhorse machines are off to the doctors tomorrow.

I had such great plans for them this weekend. )-:  My sister's b-day present.  A pair of Jalie 2908's.

My 1974 Pfaff Creative sews  8 layers of denim as it it were butter.  My grandma's 1967 Singer 467 was my top -stitching dream.  Now I have to do both sewing and topstitching on my backup machine.  I don't know much about it, bought it at a yard sale last year.  It is a Nelco. Sews very well, and is very quiet.  Weighs about 25 -30 lbs.  Very solid.

Hopefully my main players will be back soon.  I think perhaps I need more backup machines........

Happy Sewing!

March Jacket finished!

Simplicity 2227 turns out really cute if you use the right fabric!  Here it is on KellyGirl2.

I plan on wearing this over a summer dress, so I did not want buttons.  It seemed unfinished with no closure, so I did this....

I have some very old buttons (love estate shopping!) circa 1960 - 70, I just made a loop and attached it on one side, my vintage button on the other.
If I decide to button it....

The pattern does not include a lining, but I wanted it to glide smoothly over my dress, so I made my own.  Here is the lining, I bagged it using Palmer & Pletsch's 'Jackets for Real People'  I love that book.

March jacket done!

Happy Sewing!





Take two.... Simplicity 2227 Spring jacket aka March Jacket

Ok, so I have not given up on this pattern.

 This time a chose a brown linen.  I know brown seems like fall, but I chose to think of it as dirt colored.  Dirt is definitely spring to me.  (-:  

 

 I altered the back darts to fit my curves (or lack thereof) and added to the should height.  Was not sure how to adapt the sleeve cap to allow for this, so my fingers are crossed.   (-: 

This jacket pattern is not lined, but I want this to slip smoothly over the cotton sheath dress I will be wearing it over (that I have not made yet.... for a casual June wedding)  So I used the front, back and sleeve pattern pieces to cut out the lining pieces.  Then I folded the seam allowance down on the appropriate edges of the facing pieces and topstitched them right on top of the front and back lining pieces instead of trying to redraw the pattern to make adjusted lining pattern pieces.  Then I just cut away the excess lining that remained under the facing pieces.  The lining will be a satiny slippery material that is not so friendly to work with.

I am going to use Palmer & Pletch's Jackets for Real People to bag the lining on this one.  I did it once before on my trench looking jacket.  I loved the way it turned out. 

Happy Sewing!  Got to go run! 

A wadder / stuffer / orphan

Well the Simplicity 2227 ended up a wadder  stuffer.  I don't know what happened.  Half way through, I decided I didn't like the fabric.  It looks pretty, feels awful. Shreds, verrrry stretchy across grain, no stretch with grain.  Made for some unflattering sagging across back.

Then I just lost all drive to finish it.  So, it is in the closet.  Back right corner..bottom shelf,  you can just make it out.. laying there....  I feel like I let it down.  I am sorry. 

But life is short.  Sewing time is precious.  I must move on.

So, to cleanse my palette of failure, I decided to return to Simplicity 2599.   I loved the ease and comfort of this top so much that I made another! 

This is version E with just one ruffle going around the neckline, sans the bow. With bow was just too much. Another light gauzy feeling material.  To make it easier to work with, I starched the pieces after I cut them out.  Sure made fabric handling easier and it didn't fray quite as fast that way.  I did all hong kong finishes on the inside.  Again, did not use neck facings, instead used self bias.  Much cleaner finish in my opinion.

Here is how I am wearing it tonight, DD2 is taking me out for sushi for my birthday.  This jacket is New Look 6799 that I made in February.

And the jeans..... Jalie 2908 from last October.

Happy Sewing!

On a side note.... my running mojo has returned!  It left me after the marathon Jan 2010.  Somehow it came back.  Thank God.  Taking it easy and really enjoying it.

T- shirt cure! Simplicity 2599

JoAnns is having a Simplicity pattern sale. $1.99, so I picked up a few....

Finally, an easy top to make that is not a t-shirt!

I love this pattern.  I made view D (yellow one).  It is woven, slightly shaped top with various ruffles trims. 

Close up of ruffles....

Has a small back opening with button loop closure (not needed - but looks nice)

I did not use the neck facing pieces, I used the armhole pattern piece to make bias to finish the neck line. Shoulder and side seams, all hong kong finished. Not sure of the material. Something crepe-y and sort of grainy feeling. Wore it today with a chocolate brown cardigan.

edited to add version 2!

So far this month, everyday I have worn something that I have made.  Kind of easy though.....as I have made all of my panties!

Next up is my March jacket.  Simplicity 2227

Thinking of changing the sleeves though to 3/4 length, as despite what the calendar may say, it is still cold here!  If the fit is nice, I will do again when it feels like spring with the original sleeves.

Happy Sewing!