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!

New Look 6799 Finished.

February 2 and 2 jackets made in 2011.  I love the bow addition on this collar. 

New Look 6799

Christa 'Sewing4Nine' posted this jacket on PR, she was inspired by a jacket at Talbots.  It came out so nice, she inspired me!  Christa's New Look 6799

Mine is a lightweight stretch denim in a khaki green.  Can't really tell that from the pics.  Bow and sleeve are just pinned on at this point, but I think it is going to be cute.

Wow, this would be my second jacket this year.... Maybe I am in the JAM club and don't even know it! 

M5816 Finished!

I finished the McCall's 5816 jacket last night just in time to wear out to dinner!

The fabric is from Fabric.com. It is designer stretch twill in chocolate brown.  55% rayon 45 % cotton.

This was my first outerwear.  My first attempt at interlining.  My first lining bagging.  I love it. 

The pattern didn't require much tweaking other than to lengthen the sleeves and body.  I interlined the upper sleeves and body with a stretch cotton.  I was not sure what I was doing, so at first I had attached the interlining to each of the front, back and sleeve pieces fully.  After some sagging of the interlining while pressing the pieces, I did some reading and found out I should have ended the interlining half way down the sleeves and approx 2-3 inches above bottom hem line on the front and back pieces, and to not attach the interlining at the bottom edges of any pieces.  Once I made those changes, things went much more smoothly.

To bag the lining, I used 'Jackets for Real People' with Martha Alto, Susan Neal and Patti Palmer.  I highly recommend that book.  (I also have the Pants for Real People)  Their method ended with a professional looking lining. Even down at the bottom front where the lining/facing meet.  No hand stitching required anywhere except to close the opening left in the lining for turning the whole shebang right side out.  At first I was quite intimidated about trying it, but as is true with most things, it was much easier to do than I had thought!

Front

Front, Inside lining

Back

Back lining, inside

Filling time...

McCalls 5816 is coming along very well.... I hesitate to start the lining for some reason..... so here it is so far....

The brown mod fabric is the interlining and the white collar is the interfacing, neither of them will show once the lining / facing is inserted.

I interlined the body and upper sleeves and lengthened the sleeves to be full length, as it is quite cold here and I wanted this warmer.

I also insered pockets on the front lower princess seam line.

I really like it so far.. which is probably why I am hesitating about the lining... I don't want to mess it up!

So ... instead, I will post pics of the Christmas presents I made for my family!

Camo PJ's for DH ( sweatshirt material outside, fleece inside! warm)

For my handsome son, warm fleece PJ's

For wonderful DIL

For DD1

For DD2

and for DD3

A co-worker in our office is teaching quite a few of us to knit, so I knit and crocheted some gifts as well!

Knitting is fun, but boy is it hard for me!  I did a lot of ripping out and cursing until I became pretty good at 'unknitting'!  But is sure is a lot slower than sewing!  It took me longer to knit my first scarf than it does to make a pair of Jalie jeans!

I hope to find my nerve tomorrow night to start the jacket lining....... Thanks for stopping by!

Something new for the New Year

McCalls 5816 is up next.  Going with view B, with full length sleeves though. In a brushed stretch chocolate brown twill.  Since it is barely above freezing here, I am going to give interlining a try for the first time. (Hence the new comment)  (-:  Also going to try to insert welt pockets on the front princess seams below the belt.   Wish me luck!

Happy New Year!

This year has flown by.  I hope to sew more, exercise more, stay a non smoker and enjoy my family and friends.

The biggest thing on our horizon this year will be a trip to Scotland for our Anniversary.  Awesome.

I wish you all a healthy, happy and propsperous New Year!

10 White Shirts project.....Shirt #2 Complete!

Ok, so it's not white, but everyone needs black shirts too!

First, the collar.

Then the sleeves.

Then put it all together.

Trying to get a picture of the back where I could focus on anything other than my back rolls was depressing.  Where did they come from?

Two down.... now, I need to find some white fabric for at least some of my shirts!

Sewing weekend!

I procured black interfacing, DH works all weekend.... I feel a sewing weekend coming on!  I am also preshrinking some stretch denim....We will see how far I get.

My second white shirt....

Is ....  BLACK.  But I haven't any black interfacing, so it will sit all cut out, waiting patiently.

Guess what I am learning how to do???

KNIT!  As soon as I can uncramp my hands, I may post a pic or two.

Sewing 10 White Shirts?

Sounds crazy to me.  I keep bumping into this idea on blogs I visit.  I think it started by Barbara at http://sewingontheedge.blogspot.com/.  I have never been able to sew a button up shirt that I will actually wear.  The fit is always wrong and I don't know how to go about fixing it.

Yet this intrigued me..... I have had a shirt in my closet that I have outgrown... that has shrunk.  But I like the style, and when it fit, I thought it looked good.  It was RTW....   So.. I disected it.  Changed a few things and traced out my own pattern.   This was my test run, but I think I might actually wear this one!  I wish I had made the sleeves and inch or two longer, as the cuff hits right at my elbow, but next time. 

So... I guess that means.  1 down.... 9 to go.  (-:  Thank you for the inspriration Barbara!

Boo!

No Sew

Traveling for a conference this week, so no sewing.... my wardrobe for 4 days is made by me for 6 of the 8 pieces.  (-: Not bad.  My only creative outlet this week will be crocheting, as that was easier to 'carry on' than my sewing machine.  (-:

Wow. Where has the time gone?

I have not been absent from the blogging world, just unposted.  I have been lurking and reading and wondering where my mojo went......

So..To get into the swing of Fall sewing, I decided to do the Jalie 2908 jeans again..... and NOT because the last ones no longer fit.... ok, so maybe not JUST because the last ones no longer fit, but also to see if I still had it. The mojo.

I am a little out of practice, but it sure was fun.  My dd liked my pocket design, but said the layout had to be this way, as she thought the pocket design appears to be saying 'Ta Da' .....where when the pockets were reversed, the design appeared to be saying 'Droopy Butt' 

Can't have that!

Run when you can

Walk when you need

Crawl if you must

Just never give up!