A FEELING OF POWER...

I made an unplanned trip to our tiny mall today. I actually don't go to the mall often, but when I do I have to make a run through my favorite store in the whole wide world - JC Penya! I know there are better stores, there certainly are more expensive stores, but I love me some Penny's. It fit's my style and my credit card purse (lol). I also snooped at Sears today, but nothing suits my fancy like Penny's. Looking at current fashion in stores is exciting - I don't know many women who aren't excited by it. And my second tier of excitement comes when I notice that of the many things that I find that I like - I ALREADY HAVE A PATTERN THAT IS VERY SIMILAR IF NOT THE EXACT SAME! Now that's really exciting - just to know that I could possibly make garments just like the RTW ones is a real feeling of power. Knowing that if I try really, really hard I have the ability to create wearable, attractive garments that fit well is a feeling of power.

I've been piddling in the sewing room - the thing I like to do most on Saturdays. I made these PJ shorts a couple of days ago. They are from fabric left over from capri PJ's I made several months ago. I couldn't bear to throw the left over fabric away, so I used it for these. I used Leah's instructions for making the elastic casing. It was easy and makes for a nice finished look.
Now I know dog gone well that this is a dress pattern, but it reminded me of a breezy nightgown so that is what I made from it.
Chadwick's is a catalog that I've been using for inspiration lately, seeing that there's a new one in the mail once or twice a week. I really like these dresses. They look soooo cool and just the right thing for the HOT temperatures we are having to endure this month.I had about 5 yards of 42" wide black dotted swiss (I think that is what it is) that was gifted to me by my friend Mrs. Madison. It's so light weight, I thought it would make a great sundress even though it's black. I am using white piping to accent the dress (I CAN'T REMEMBER EVER USING PIPING SO THIS WILL BE A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR ME). I'm not sure yet whether I will make the tie that the pattern shows. I doubled the fabric in the bodice area because of the lightness of the fabric; I want to underline the skirt of the dress but I don't have a suitable lightweight fabric to use on hand. Hancock's only had about 1 1/2 yd of black batiste and I didn't think that would be enough so I didn't get it.

This is also a dress listed in the Chadwick's catalog - I LOVE IT - isn't it lovely! It's a pullover made from a ponte knit. It's an inexpensive dress and I could buy it, but from the looks of the picture the dress falls above the knee which would be a little to short for me. The closest pattern I can find to match this is McCall's 5655.

QUESTION: Does anyone out there know the rules for making a knit garment using a pattern designed for woven fabric??? I know that I read something about this process and I thought I read it in Sandra Betzina's Power Sewing Book - but now I can't find it. If anyone can give me some help on this one I would appreciate it.


I've been eying this pattern for a long time now but frankly I've been a little scared of it. I've seen it made up on several blogs, and earlier this week I saw Trinilove 's version and really fell in love with it so I think it will be coming up real soon.Long post I know, but let me end up with pics of some of my efforts to organize my messy sewing room. I bought these three baskets fro the dollar store today, so I hung them on the wall as a place to put some of the things that always end up on my cutting table.
Well, until next time - HAPPY SEWING!