Saturday, May 31, 2014

Knock off a NorthStyle blouse. Scout to the rescue.

I received a NorthStyle catalog in the mail last week.  I am not sure how I ended up on their mailing list, I had never heard of them.  They had quite a few cute pieces.  This top really caught my eye.  So this was my project today.

High Contrast Collared Top
$39.95
 
 
I bought a yard of a linen blend.  I decided to use my Scout T pattern as the base and alter the pattern to be a V neck.  I then drafted the collar pieces and a facing to finish the inner front.
 
 
I don't know what the back of the inspiration shirt looked like, but I wanted a little something back there, so I cut the back in 2 sections.  The lower section, I widened on the fold by 1.5" (so 3" total) and then pleated it.  Sorry for the lame shots, black just doesn't like to be photographed.



I used the scout sleeves, as my upper arms prefer coverage.  I did not ease the sleeve cap, but instead created 2 small pleats to deal with the fullness.

I really like it.  I think it looks great with my  denim white skirt.
                          
NorthStyle version $39.99
My version $7.99
 
 I also did some repair work today.  When I made this top, I lined it.  Oops.  I inserted the lining backwards, and did not notice until serging in the sleeves.  Durn.  I thought I could live with it.  Besides, who would know?
                                           
Well I was wearing it when my husband and I went out to dinner.  He looked at me and asked, "what is that sticking out of your shirt?"  It was the lining!  Poking out, up over the front collar band.  Egads.  Guess I can't live with it.  Then I washed it and hung it up and forgot about it, until I pulled it out to wear again, and remembered.  Durn.  Going to have to fix that...

This is the excess lining, due to inserting it backwards...
the back neckline was higher than the front. 

I cut, just the lining, along the edge of the neck band, to release the excess.

I then cut the lining level with the neck band. 
I am holding the excess I cut off.

I then folded it under and hand stitched it to the neck band.
 
This was the piece of excess lining I cut out.

  
Yay!  No lining peaking rudely out!

Hmmm.... wonder what is up next?  I am thinking a Kirsten Kimono T.... or I bought a couple pieces of denim, brown and navy.... perhaps some more Mari Moss skirts? 

Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew
look through all the pics on your phone, and smile.

MMM Day 31. Moss skirt and Scout T

This outfit had a few repeats this month.  I love it.  The comfort, the colors, the easy style. 
 
 
 
Me Made May has been good for me.  I loved the sense of community on so many blogs, and in the Flickr group.  It was a joy to see so many people enjoying and wearing their creations.  I felt as if I belonged.  It was good.  I do not have sewing friends, I don't know anyone in person who sews that lives in this state.  My daughter creates -  felts, jewelry, clothes, etc, but she lives in Portland.  )-:  I truly enjoyed the pride of sewers and the shared admiration of all the personal creations. 
 
Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew
Napping is nice.

Friday, May 30, 2014

MMM Day 30 MariMoss skirt, Vogue 8451

Final Friday....  another Maritime / Moss mashup skirt from 4/2014
 
top  Vogue 8451 5/2009
 
and my plum Miette from 2/2014
 
Really makes me happy to have items still alive and in use in my closet, from 5 years ago.





Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew
Do the Brazilian Butt workout, it's a KICK!
 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

MMM Day 29, Kirsten Kimono and MariMoss

 
May is drawing to an end.  MariMoss skirt (cross between Moss skirt and Maritime shorts)
April 2014
 
 
and Maria Denmark Kirsten Kimono.  5/2014.  1 yard, 1 hour.  Love it.
 







Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew
KNIT!

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

MMM Day 28. V8451, V8774

Today is a repeat, of day 1 I think.  V8451 top from 5/2009 and V8774 in a trouser style from 4/2014.  Target jacket from 2009.
 

 
 
 
 Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew,
it's taco night at Kachina!

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Me Made May Days 24,25,26&27 Moss everywhere

We headed out of town for Memorial Day, to escape the smoke and have some fun.  A weekend of antique shopping in Prescott.  Lots of food, art, drinks and shopping!!

Day 24  New Look 6020


Day 25, hotel room shot, sorry.  Moss and Kirsten Kimono Tee

 
Moss (again) and Lane Raglan Tee

 
Back to work today, still very smoky here.  Scout and V8774


Realizing how much I have made, and do not wear, has been eye opening. Planning and photographing daily is a LOT of work!  I am glad that I have done it though.  I think this weekend is going to be dedicated to donating those things that I kept pulling out of the closet and then putting back, because I just don't feel comfortable in them.  THAT will make room for making more items like the ones I not only will wear, but actually like wearing.
 
Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew
be thankful for the things you can do

Friday, May 23, 2014

MMM Day 23. MariMoss, Jacket hack and a Renfrew

Happy Friday!!
 
Today's outfit is a MariMoss skirt,  
 
my muslin for a jacket knockoff and a polka dot Renfrew.  Have a wonderful long weekend! 
 
Have a wonderful long weekend!  
 

         




 
 
Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew
Enjoy doing what you can do!

Thursday, May 22, 2014

MMM Day 22, Moss Mini and MariaDenmark Kirsten Kimono ... Aglow

 
 
I love my Moss Mini, but really, she is not mini.  The Kirsten Kimono Tee, a free pattern from MariaDenmark, I made last night.  I had previously traced and fit this pattern, so this make was less than 1 hour. 
 
 


The orange glow in the air, is from the smoke from the Slide Fire. Still miles away, but our sky is orange.  We found burnt ashes in our driveway this evening.  The wind carried them so far. 
          
 
Stay Happy


Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew
Pray for rain,
Actually, please pray for rain, even if you are sewing.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

MMM Day 21. V8774, Jalie 3130 Fossil knockoff

Happy Wednesday.  Stressful day mostly passed, had to teach a class most of the day, and big fire just south of where I live.  I hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
 
Today is my cropped V8774 trousers (again, love these pants)
 
 
and a Fossil knockoff from Jalie 3130 from May 2012. 
 
 
Linen jacket from Target.





Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew
Margarita time.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

MMM Day 19 and 20, MariMoss skirt & Lane Raglan, Scout & Moss Mini

 
MMM Day 19, My MariMoss skirt
and Lane Raglan (muslin #2)
 

 
MMM Day 20 Moss Mini and new Scout from this past weekend, and my Miette.



 
Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew
BBQ something.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

I love Simple Sundays and Simple patterns. Scout, Kirsten Kimono and Lane Raglan.

A new Scout.  I bought this gorgeous fabric at JoAnns on Friday.   They described it as a 'linen ,crinkle flower'  Hand wash separately in cold and line dry.  19.99 a yard.  I had a 40% off, so I got a yard for 11.99.  I promptly threw it in the washer with my jeans and then in the dryer until it was dry.  It came out of dryer looking exactly as it did when I bought it.  (-: 
 
 
I thought it would make a beautiful Scout.  I did French seaming on all seams, even the armhole!!  I don't know why I thought, I CAN'T do that!  I saw a tutorial on Grainline Studio and it looked so easy.  So I tried.  And it was.  Whoo hooo!
 
 
 
I can not get a picture to show the true beautiful deep blue, but the one below shows how see through it is.
 


Sorry for the lame pics, my DH is not available.


 
Next up, MariaDenmark's Kirsten Kimono.  I saw one made up on the MMM flicker pool.  I just loved the simplicity of it.
 
This is from Maria's website...
 
 
"The idea behind the MariaDenmark pattern line is to create simple patterns for everyday wear, with illustrated educational step-by-step instructions, making them easy to sew, fit and wear for everybody – even complete beginners."
 
I love every simple every day clothes.  It is what I wear, most every day. 
 
I downloaded the FREE pattern and taped it together.  Below is my TNT NL 6150, laying atop the Kirsten pattern for fitting comparison.
 
The darkest line, is the size(s) I am going to trace.  The XS neckline, the Large shoulder and sleeve and then XL on the waist blended out to 2XL at the hem. Same for the back. 
 
NL 6150 atop the Kirsten pattern front
NL 6150 atop the Kirsten pattern back
It was simple sew!  I ended up shortening it by 2 3/8", but that was the only alteration.   I love this pattern.  This was meant as a muslin, as the fabric (Fabric.com) was hiding in my stash.  One of those fabrics that you get and shudder and hide in the back of the stash.  What was I thinking?  Orange?? and shiny??  Then I made it and tried it on.  I love it.  I think it will look awesome with my black cropped pants. 







 So then I did it again.  This time in a ruffled knit.  Again, I don't know what I was thinking when I ordered this fabric.  (Fabric.com)  Never crossed my mind that all those ruffles would need to be coaxed into laying the appropriate direction during cut out AND all seaming!!  Not sure if I actually like this one.  I will wear it with my white MariMoss denim skirt this week and then I will decide.

The unruly ruffles, hang down perfectly
when I am not taking a picture!
                                  

I basted all edges (except bottom) 1/4" from edge to get the ruffles to lay in the correct direction.  I had no clue how to best do the neckline, so I just turned under the edge to my basting line and topstitched it into submission.  I didn't even hem it.  I trimmed the bottom to underneath the bottom ruffle, and wahla! a ruffle hem.

Last up today, Lane Raglan by Hey Jane.  I made two muslins of the raglan this weekend.  The second fit perfect, so today I cut the fabric I had planned for this pattern.  I also picked this up on Friday from Joanns. The fabric is a light knit, which I also tossed in washer and dryer with my jeans.  Another simple top that I can wear every day. 



 
Stay Happy
Keep Sewing
and if you can't sew,
give yourself a pedicure.