NEW PROJECT SUNDAY EVEN THOUGH IT'S MONDAY ...

This Sunday's project, although not as planned, found me working with Vogue 8815 yet again.  I know, I know.  How many of these do I need?  I love this top and love wearing them - so there might be even more.  I was so intrigued with Erica's and Rachelle's knit versions that I felt I needed one for myself.   I was a bit timid even though I've made 3 of this pattern with woven fabric.  I toyed with going down a size, but after talking with Rachelle about it, went with my regular size.  I did not use a zipper and things work out just fine - HURRAY for that!  I finished the top this afternoon, which by the way feels a lot like Sunday even though I know it's not.  Been wondering all day long if I should have gone to work  - I know, sad right?

Black Ponte de Roma from Hancock's 30% off  - because I am a bit obsessed with this fabric.       Added 2" to the peplum back and front.

Increased the width of the front peplum to add a set of four pleats on the left side.

Used a self Single-Fold Binding technique from "The Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques (Linda Maynard) because I needed to try something new.  Title can be found here.

Now I'm feeling the need of some off-white (I'm still not free yet, but I am working on it ) skinny leg pants.  Boy oh boy, inspiration will sure keep you working... 

CARNIVAL OF SKIRTS ADDITION (IS THIS THE YEAR OF THE SKIRT OR THE PEPLUM)...

...I have been sewing; however, slowly.  I guess I can call myself a slow and deliberate sewer.  All of my projects seem to take forever.  My slow production could be attributed to my watching so much television while sewing.  But I really don't see that changing anytime soon - it's habit and I really do enjoy it.  Last weekend I I started a project that had been floating around in my head for a while.  A  novelty suede animal print peplum (Vogue 8815), paired with a faux suede pencil skirt (McCall's 3830).  I finished the top during my Friday night sew-in, but only worked on the skirt a little bit on Saturday because I sacrificed sewing time to give my house some semblance of order.  Can you believe that?  The skirt was finished on Sunday night.  It's underlined as well as lined because it gives the faux suede more weight  - which is more to my liking.

Somehow or another there are vertical wrinkles radiating from the neckline of my top when worn by Lady Faye.

  But they don't show up nearly as much when worn by the real Faye.

 

 
I lowered the neckline about 3/4" from the center front - tapering to nothing at the shoulder seams (advice taken from Smoking Needles) because I was hesitate to do so.  After making this pattern twice before I did know that the neckline is just a little bit too high (almost a bit of a choke factor if you know what I mean).  I added thread belt loops at the side seams because I might want to wear the top with a thin black or brown belt.  I also took designer's liberty and lengthened the back part of peplum 1 inch.  I like this top and couldn't wait to make it in this animal print.  Now I want to make a long sleeved knit version.

My closet is sort of smooshed up  - guess I need to do a bit of a purge.  That closet will just have to make some room for my new suede outfit, and all those yet to come...

PEPLUM STYLES...

...I just cannot seem to get enough of them.  And to think that I use to think that  peplum styles were not for me.  I thought that it would make my hips seem massive - but to the contrary this style tends to make the waist appear smaller, giving the illusion of an hour glass figure.  JUST WHAT I NEEDED!  I worked up my second Vogue 8815 this weekend  in a black peachskin that I scored for a song at WalMart while on vacation in New York earlier this summer.  And although I've used this pattern twice, I have visions of at least one more in the very near future.  I'm hankering for an animal print peplum, and it must come in to reality.

Front

Back

Black does not photograph well at all, and this black peachskin certainly doesn't press up ideally either, but I still needed to add pictures to document my project.  I love this Vogue pattern, but I'm still attracted to the details of  New Look 6130.  I incorporated the asymmetrical detail from the New Look pattern in my last top, and this time I borrow the slit center neck opening and added back and front neck facings.  Why don't I just go ahead and make up the New Look pattern and get it over with?  I just might do that for my visionary peplum - we'll have to wait to see. 

I love the invisible zipper in this top.  I think I mentioned before that I use the Colette tutorial every time I do this type zipper.  In case you didn't know, she has now added a video of the application,  found here.  It's clear and concise - I love it because it's a big help to me.

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It's NEW PROJECT SUNDAY so I'm off now to start my prep work.  Have a great week ya'll...,

SEWING MACHINE REPAIR & VOGUE 8815....

...First lets talk about a maintenance issue.  While working to finish the Vogue 8815 peplum top project of the weekend, my machine made a horrific sound and then jammed my fabric.  I couldn't believe that the entire bobbin case had become completely dislogged (one screw loosened the other had come out completely out).

Fear arose - this was something I just didn't need.  I'm just not handy with screw drivers, hammers or nails.  In fact, I hate having to use tools.  This was the culprit:

a pile of fuzzy lint!!!  I should be ASHAMED!!!  This pile of lint  pushed the bobbin case out of it's seat - screws and all.  After taking several deep breaths I was able to get the screws in and the bobbin case back in place.  Repair bill averted!  Now my Singer is purring like a kitten, a completely new and different sound.

Do you have a schedule to remind you to clean your machine???

I did manage to get my project finished after my machine repair session.

Vogue 8815 with my asymmetrical twist

I purchased this fabric two years ago at a little Mennonite quilt shop not far from Augusta - now closed.  The fabric is a type of poly-rayon woven stained glass print.  I'll take my top for a test drive tomorrow with my navy linen pants...