OVER THE TOP D-DAY...

THE TOP: such a little thing, but oh so much an important part of everyone's wardrobe.  We can't be without them, and we can't have too many of them!

Tomorrow is "Over The Top" D-Day, April 1st.  Someone mentioned that this challenge is a 15 day sewing frenzy... and that, my friends, is exactly what it is.  It has ignited my spring/summer sewing plan.  Isn't this exciting?  I've got lots fabric pre-washed and I've chosen my first top pattern.   - that big stack of patterns I pulled out before is over in the corner staring at me right now wondering which one will go between the scissor blades next!!!  I'll figure that out later, but for now here's the plan for top #1.  The fabric is another piece gifted by Ebony; I call it "Jungle Wimsey":

Purple and Black Rayon???

McCalls 5977

I'll have to blame this pattern's purchase on Kelly of Sewtellme.  When she posted it here earlier this week I could have sworn I had it already, but I didn't (rats!) so I had to go out and buy it. I'm still undecided as to which view I'll make.  Guess I'll finalize it when I lay the pattern out.  I traced and altered the pattern last night so it should be a go for tomorrow. 

So is every body set for D-Day???

THESE FEET WERE MADE FOR WALKING...

...all over fabric that is.  Just had to showcase new feet (sewing machine) that arrived today from

COOPER

Sewing Machines

"The UK's largest sewing machine retailer and distributor"

APPLIQUE FOOT

BINDER FOOT

OVERLOCKING FOOT

The only difference is... this time they are for me. I do love feet because they make difficult tasks much easier.  Got to go find myself something to bind up right away.

I've got so much planned sewing wise right now - although there's not very much actual construction going on.  I did make this gorgeous infinity scarf last night with instructions from Vogue's Oct./Nov. issue.  I've wanted to make one since winter, but just couldn't "get round tuit".  (I have got go get me one of those things.)

Etymology

This is a play on words, from the idiom to get around to it. First appearing in the 1964 World's Fair which was held in Queens (Flushing) NY.

Noun

round tuit (plural round tuits)

1. (humorous) A circular object giving its owner the ability to get done everything that would have otherwise been put off to a later date.

   No more waiting until you get around to it, buy your own round tuit at a bargain discount today!

   

I just thought you'd get a kick out of that one (lol).  Any who here's a picture of my scarf - I like it a lot.  Fabric:  Compliments of Ebony J.  This one is 60" long, but next time I'll go with 70" which I think will be a little bit better.  I think I can see a couple more of these in my very near future.

First Infinity scarf

 

OVER THE TOP CHALLENGE

We're getting a really good response to the 15 day  spring "OVER THE TOP CHALLENGE". 
NOTE: Several sewists have signed up but have not yet responded to the "INVITE EMAIL".  Responding completes the process so you will be able to post on the blog.  I'll resend the invite just in case you missed the first one.
•Choose your fabrics;
•Choose your top or blouse patterns; add a new twist to a TNT pattern, refashion, or maybe even self draft a new design.
•No quotas;
•No limits;
•Challenge starts on April 1st - Ends April 15th.

1. COMMENT your interest on this post by Thursday, March 31st. 
2. INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment (ex: kathy at yahoo d0t com) so I will be able to add you as a author on the new OVER THE TOP CHALLENGE BLOG.

I'm looking forward sharing, and seeing your Over The Top spring/summer creations.  Remember to add you email address.  It's a win, win situation..... 

IT'S TIME TO GO OVER THE TOP...

....Yes, it's that time again, when the season seems to change overnight, along with my wardrobe needs.  I had to fore go the Fall Month of Tops Challenge because I was heavily involved with the famed Lady Grey Coat.  Now I find myself more wanting and needing new tops to spice up my spring/summer wardrobe.


I'm sure, like me, all you sewists already have lots of sewing plans lined up.  And those plans more than likely include adding some nice new top/blouse designs, maybe

Like This

or This

or, Perhaps This

or Even This One...

All line drawings borrowed from leko-mail.net


So I proclaim the first 15 days of April an official OVER THE TOP CHALLENGE.  It's a simple sew-a-long challenge that will last only 15 days - leaving us lots of time for other sewing projects:

•Choose your fabrics;
•Choose your top or blouse patterns; add a new twist to a TNT pattern, refashion, or maybe even self draft a new design.
•No quotas;
•No limits;
•and by April 15th we'll all have more expanded wardrobe options.  So come on, it's simple to join in on the fun:

1. COMMENT your interest on this post by Thursday, March 31st. 
2. INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment (ex: kathy at yahoo d0t com) so I will be able to add you as a author on the new OVER THE TOP CHALLENGE BLOG.

I'm looking forward sharing, and seeing your Over The Top spring/summer creations.  Remember to add you email address.  It's a win, win situation..... 

ANNIVERSARY FINALE....

 ....and it's been a good run.  I really wanted to do something different to celebrate entering my 4th year of blogging, so I decided to do a 4 week give-a-way.   It was fun, but the bad part about it is that I really wanted to award a gift to everyone who entered which wasn't possible.  But I do want to give a BIG thank you to everyone who reads my blog and/or entered the give-a-ways.

Another BIG thanks goes out to COOPER SEWING MACHINES for donating the gifts that I offered. I still cannot get the random generator widget placed in my post, but the winner of the final week's give-a-way of:

• not one,
• not two,
• but Three (3) Janome Snap On Sewing Machine Feet. 

GATHERING FOOT

ROLLER FOOT

CONCEALED /INVISIBLE ZIPPER FOOT

....REBECCA of UGLY CUTE DESIGNS

NEW BLOG AWARD:

I received this Stylish blogger Award from Toy of Life Happens Be Positive -  Trinilove - a unique and trendy name, wouldn't you agree? Talk about stylish!  This girl is producing a summer wardrobe that makes me drool.  I first became interested in her blog several summers ago when created her Essaouira Of Morocco Collection (EOM) way back in '08 (linked here if you'd like to review).  That thing had me in a trance.  I kept checking in at her blog to see how things progressed, and actually felt as though I, myself  was taking that trip - with that wardrobe.  A little day dreaming never hurt anything.
I think I'm supposed to bestow this award on 7 other stylish bloggers (I call them EYE CANDY) -  here goes:

• VICTORIA another Georgia Peach, I love everything she makes, and business-like sewing ethic.
• MISS MUSTARD SEED, she's got me CONVINCED that I can make her gorgeous slipcovers and thus transforming my living room into something no less than spectacular.
• TASIA for her really cute style, and her courage to live her dream of start her own pattern company.
• SHELIA because she knits, crochets and sews everything so wonderfully.  Love the business wardrobe she creates.
• WENDY I love this soon to be married ladies sewing style, but I stare at her quilt creations quite often too.
• CENETTA who is not a selfish sewer, but sews for her daughter, sister and the public.  She's heavily involved in preparations for a fashion show as I speak.
• ELIZABETH I loving following along on her sewing adventures, especially when she's making a sheath dress.  I'm so glad she and her boy friend made up (lol).

I'M IN ON A NEW SEW-A-LONG :

Sherry from Patterns-Scissors-Cloth 
is a clothing designer and pattern maker from New Zealand who is nice enough to share some ready-to-wear tailoring techniques!  RTW maximizes the fusible method that is used in most garment manufacturing today - where everything is completely machine sewn.  The only needle that needs to be threaded is the one on your sewing machine!  Sounded interesting to me, especially since I have 4 or 5 summer jackets planned.  I'll have to get back to that pad stitch lapel and collar tailoring technique later on.  But for now, I'm going to follow along with this sew-a-long to see if I can get some quicker RTW tailoring going on in the sewing room.

I'VE ONLY GOT ONE MORE THING TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW:
But, I think I'll save it for my next post.  I am such an information hogg, but I don't want to risk boring you so I'll cut this post off for now.  Happy weekend ya'll....

I WON'T BE WEARING THIS DRESS...

...anytime soon that is - because we've started having 55 degree mornings.  But I went ahead put the finishing touches on Butterick 5523 now, because of my "FINISH WHAT YOU START" sewing rule.  It will keep me nice and toasty next winter.  I really like the dress too; the umpire empire waist plays to the little girl that's still in me.  And I can visualize it being worn with tights and pumps.

The dress went together really quickly.  I did remember to read the pattern reviews on the pattern this time which really helped, so I knew that I had to raise the neckline of the dress before I cut it out.  I made it from a charcoal gray sweater knit that I purchased at my Mom's New York Wal-mart on last summer's visit.  Oh how I do miss being able to find an occasional nice piece of mystery fabric at my local Wal-mart stores.  None of the three in my county have fabric departments any more (boo-hoo)!  I did pre-wash the fabric so I shouldn't have any shrinkage problem with it next winter.

I also eliminated the pleating and tab from the back of the dress.  I thought both would just accentuate the height of my already high derriere.  Don't need that - do I?  So without further adoo here are pictures of my dress.

What do you know - I've already got a  jump on Fall/Winter sewing (lol). 


 Don't miss entering the final week of my blog anniversary give-a-way.  The fourth week prize was also donated by

COOPER

Sewing Machines

"The UK's largest sewing machine retailer and distributor"

• not one,
• not two,
• but Three (3) Janome Snap On Sewing Machine Feet. 

GATHERING FOOT

ROLLER FOOT

CONCEALED /INVISIBLE ZIPPER FOOT

To enter this give-a-way:

• just let me know you are interested by commenting ON THIS POST.  
• The 4th Week prize winner will be announced this Saturday, (3/19).

Click here to view Cooper's website. Or link from Sewing Machine Discount from my sidebar.

WEEK THREE GIVE-A-WAY...

...it's still Saturday and I didn't want to miss posting my Week 3 Blog Anniversary give-a-way winner.  Sorry so late with this post, but I spent a very long day at the annual Sewing & Quilt Expedition Expo.  Sewists on a mission - that's what it was all about.  But I'll save that story for another day because I'm much too tired to talk about that right now.

 

To help me celebrate by 4th blog anniversary, WEEK THREE'S GIVE-AWAY was generously contributed by:

COOPER

Sewing Machines

"The UK's largest sewing machine retailer and distributor"

generously donated my third week prize - remember:

... not one, not two, but 10 spools of beautifully colored thread.

1000 Metres 
100 % Polyester 
value:  £2 per reel 

Week 3 winner is:  Jackie of Sewing by Jackie.  A big thank you to everybody who is participating.

Week 4 is the final blog anniversary give-a-way.  This prize was also donated by Cooper Sewing Machines, and it is:

• not one,
• not two,
• but Three (3) Snap On Sewing Machine Feet. 

GATHERING FOOT

ROLLER FOOT

CONCEALED /INVISIBLE ZIPPER FOOT

To enter this give-a-way:

• just let me know you are interested by commenting in this post.  
• Week 4 prize winner will be announced next Saturday, (3/19).

Thank you so much for reading my blog.

Click here to view Cooper's website. Or link from Sewing Machine Discount from the Interesting Sewing/Fashion Sites category on my sidebar.

EVERY NOW AND AGAIN...

... a girl just wants something new to wear.  Can I get an AMEN!   I cut out this NewLook pattern (view D) in February and finally finished it last week.  Because I had that  'I need something new to wear' feeling this morning, I decided to wear this top.  This was the look I got:

It might not look like it, but the front neckline is wayyyyyyyy too low.  I noticed that it was low, but was in such a rush this morning - thinking I could adjust it after I got to work - NOT!  I HAD to wear a scarf all day long!

 I couldn't wait to get home to totally bad mouth (verbally trash) this pattern, but Ebony came by just in the nick of time and rescued me and the pattern.  She showed me how to adjust the pattern so this "low down" problem won't occur the NEXT time I use pattern.  Here's a picture of the front pattern piece with that adjustment.  The white pattern paper is where the draped neckline has been raised/extended to remedy that "look down my top and see everything" problem.

To fix the problem on the current top (so I didn't have to trash it) I simply ran a piece of 1/4" elastic through the draping hem finish (that now became a casing for the elastic).  A 5 minute fix - crisis adverted.

This gave the neckline a totally different look, but at least I can get use out of it.

I like this top, especially the band with rushing at the side seams.  Now that the problem has been fixed I do plan on making this view again for spring/summer.

****IMPORTANT NOTE****

Don't forget to enter my WEEK 3 ANNIVERSARY GIVE-A-WAY sponsored by COOPER Sewing Machines (UK) (Click here for Give-a-way details). 

... not one, not two, but 10 spools of gloriously colored thread.

1000 Metres 
100 % Polyester 
value:  £2 per reel 

WEEK 2 PRIZE WINNER AND WEEK 3 GIVE-A-WAY ANNOUNCEMENT...

...if there's one thing I haven't been able to find a remedy for - it's buying duplicate patterns.  I have a small box of duplicates on hand now, so I decided to pick one each of the big four as my WEEK 2 GIVE-A-WAY PRIZE. I went with tops & blouse patterns because they are my favorites.  My thanks to everyone who entered the contest.

This week's winner is:  ELLE of It's a Sewing Life.  Elle please email me your address and I'll get your patterns off to you first thing next week.

*********

To help me celebrate by 4th blog anniversary, WEEK THREE'S GIVE-AWAY was generously contributed by:

COOPER

Sewing Machines

"The UK's largest sewing machine retailer and distributor"

Click here to view Cooper's website. Or link from Sewing Machine Discount from the Interesting Sewing/Fashion Sites category on my sidebar.

Now on with the show:  WEEK 3 PRIZE IS...

... not one, not two, but 10 spools of gloriously colored thread.

1000 Metres 
100 % Polyester 
value:  £2 per reel 

• just let me know you are interested by commenting in this post.  
• Week 3 prize winner will be announced next Saturday, (3/12),
• Week 4 prize will also be showcased at that time....

A 37 DEGREE GEORGIA MORNING...

...at first I thought, "do I dare?", knowing darn well that the temperature would more than likely rise to the 70 degree mark by late afternoon.  Nevertheless, my answer was, "yes, I dare!".  So I put on my boots and my BRAND NEW LBD and stepped out into that 37 degree morning air.  Of course I wore a light coat because remember how cold natured I've mentioned I am.  My classroom is always freezing anyway so I was good and toasty in the dress.  Wish I hadn't lengthened the bodice of the dress, but oh well - I still like it.

Please don't let this post distract you from my WEEK 2 - 4th Anniversary Blog Celebration going on right now.  Here's your chance to add to your pattern stash if it's lacking in the blouse/top area.  If you are already/or become a follower of my blog, please comment in this post that you'd like to enter the give-a-way.

Patterns are uncut and range up to size 20

The WEEK 2 give-a-way winner will be announced on Saturday, and a NEW WEEK 3 give-a-way will also be posted (I think you will really love it too)...