ALONDRA'S ENSEMBLE

Well, I've been on Spring Break from my night job. I've had 7 lovely weeknights to spend at home doing JUST WHAT I PLEASED!!! I came home every night and went straight to the sewing machine. I've been doing some sewing for my sweet daughter Alondra who recently got a promotion on her job and needs to dress the part. I made a short jacket with matching elastic waist cropped pants, matching long pants with zipper in back, a blouse with cuffed sleeves, and the white long sleeved blouse that was included in my last post. Here is the picture:

The jacket and pants are done in a kakhi colored gaberdine type fabric; the blouse in a stretch poplin type fabric that has a blue and maroon stripe running down it. I love the blouse, it has just the right amount of stretch the only thing about it that gave me a problem were the number of pattern pieces (8 pieces). A collar and collar band, a sleeve and cuff, front, side front, back, side back...TOO MANY PIECES. I need to search through my stash for similar pattern with not as many pieces. This was the first collar with a band that I done since I started sewing again. Now I remember it. I have prayed over this project for my daughter, praying that: 1) it will fit, 2) that she will like it, and 3) that it will be something that she will want to wear. We will find out soon as I hope to get it in the mail to her by Monday. If I make one or two more tops that match this fabric, she will have a mini swap going on.

Sewing for My Girl

Just finished this long sleeved blouse with cuffs for "My Girl" Loni. I am learning from each project that I work on and complete. What I learned from this one is:

1. The language in Burda instructions are a little different from patterns instructions for the big 4. This was the first Burda that I ever made, and I did have a little difficulty deciphering the instructions.

2. The fabric that I chose for this blouse was not as suitable as I first thought. I chose a dull satin, and after adding the interfacing the garment was too stiff. Maybe I chose the wrong weight interfacing. The blouse just turned out a little heavier than I thought it would.

3. I think I will make this blouse again using this pattern. Just got to find a lighter weight fabric to make it out of.

Anyway it is finished, and I did learn some things that will help me with the next project.

A GOOD DAY FOR SEWING...

I went to Hancock's right after work yesterday (This has become another one of my hobbies lately)...IT WAS PATTERN SALE DAY!!! These are patterns I got for myself...
and these are patterns that I got for my daughter ALONDRA NICOLE (LONI).
I am still trying to learn how to use this Blog thing. There is still so much about it that I don't understand. But I guess like anything else, if I keep trying and just don't give up I am bound to learn what I need to know. I just completed a pair of gauchos/crop pants (sometimes it's hard for me to know the difference) for my Sister Brenda. and I'm including a picture of them in this post (I hope). These are made of a Black Gaberdine that I purchased last fall. Brenda gave me her measurements over the phone, and I did the best I could in making them to what I thought would fit her. Well anyways HOPE THEY FIT....AND IF THEY DO, HOPE SHE LIKES THEM AND ENJOYS WEARING THEM!











This next picture is a pair of cropped pants that I completed for myself a couple of weeks ago. They are made of a Grey light weight wool that I fell in love with. I haven't worn them yet because I don't have the right style boots to go with them and because our weather is changing so fast here. We are experiencing several seasons all in one day. If I dress for the winter in the morning when the temperature is in the mid 20's, by lunch time I'm burning up when its in the mid 70's... it's crazy but what's a girl to do. So I'm dressing in layers and disrobing as the day goes along. I may have to save these for next winter, besides I'm getting Spring Fever really bad now especially with day light savings time starting tonight. I'm tired of dull, dark colors, I want to experience bright, lively colors of spring. This will be easier said than done for me because I tend to gravitate to dark colors (black and navy) safe colors. But I really want to venture out and start using some brighter colors.












I'm having a problem with the placement of my pictures. I can't seem to get them placed right after the text that describes them. I just figured out that I can use the cut and paste options and thats helping a little bit.

Now I have to learn how to use the edit feature for the blot and then I'm on my way...

My next project will be a long sleeved white blouse for my girl Loni. It has wide cuffs and a color. I bought a fabric called dull satin and will be cutting it out from this Burda (#3663) today. I'll also start sewing it today. Maybe I can have it finished to send to her by next weekend.

I've also heard of the S.W.A.P contest that a lot of seamtress' have entered and I've gotten interesting in possibly doing one myself. The contest was started by a fabric company from Canada and started December 1, 2006 and will end on April 1st. It consists of sewing 11 coordinating garments that when put together total something like 48 possible outfits. Sounds like one of the smartest thing I ever heard of.

I also found information about a Mini S.W.A.P that consists of making 6 garments that yield 12 outfits. The Mini Swap sounds more doable for me right now. 12 outfits would do my closet good especially with the season about to change. Maybe I could do two Mini Swaps for 24 outfits...man that would take me through the entire summer in real style. By the way S.W.A.P. stands for "Sewing With A Plan", and is a whole lot smarter than sewing without one which is what I'm doing now.

I've picked the patterns that I like, now I need to choose three colors and stick with them until I get this thing done. The 11 garment swap consists of: 1 Jacket
4 Bottoms (Pants and or Skirts)
6 Tops
48 Possible Outfits

The 6 garment Mini Swap consists of: 1 Jacket
2 Bottoms (Pants and or Skirts)
3 Tops
12 Possible Outfits
The are rules that apply to the contest, i.e., one garment must be made using a striped, checked, plaid or a print fabric. You are allowed to purchase one garment, and one garment must be made reversible. It's too late for me to enter the contest, but not to late for me to reap the benefits of done one of these swaps. I'm thinking about using one or both of these patterns for my Mini (6 piece) Summer Swap. What do you think???? Well I guess that's enough blogging for today!

A NEW MONTH...

I haven't posted since February 10...when it took me that entire Saturday to get this thing set up. But I did enjoy the experience of learning something new! Even learned to use the digital camera that Pat gave me. (Still experimenting with that (lol). I have still been reading the posts of my favorite bloggers, (Carolyn, Erica) and still being inspired by them. I did make this knit top for my daughter Alondra, and put it in the mail to her last Saturday. She says it fits really good. It's sort of hard to sew for and fit from a distance. This top raps in the front.

I also bought my first serger, which I am already in Love With. Still don't know a lot about it, but even if I don't do anything but finish my seams and do an occassional rolled hem it will be all worth it.

I started these gaucho/crop type pants several weeks ago. I used Sandra Betzina's front fly zipper technique and was so proud of the outcome that I had to take a picture of it cause it turned out so well. The only thing about these pants is I HATE the waist band!!! It has one of those contured shaped bands (curves). I would have been more pleased with just a plain waist band. I haven't finished sewing on the band yet, so I may take it off and try to add a regular band instead. Who knows, it might work out fine! I made them using a really light weight wool which I love.