2008 SEWING GOALS

One of my 2008 sewing goals is to have no UFO's flying around! Well, does a garment that you actually complete, but just don't like count as a UFO? I think not! After I finished this blouse I just didn't like the way it looked. I tacked the front facings but they just would not lie flat - they kept rolling out - even though understitched. And I didn't like the full puffy sleeves. I decided to alter the sleeves to salvage the blouse, but after spending a full hour trying to remove serger threads from one sleeve without pulling the fabric - I have decided to let this UFO FLY ON AWAY. IF I ever decide to make this pattern again I will definitely decrease the sleeve width, and try to figure out something that will make the facing to lie flat without rolling outward.

Hancock has this same print and color in a knit fabric. I have a 40% off coupon and intend on buying the knit maybe this weekend. I really like the beidge tones and the fact that the print contains black, brown and gray. It has real potential for a wardrobe stretcher. So I won't classify this as a UFO, and I am now shaking off the bad feeling that goes along with spending so much time working on an item and having it not turn out right, and trying to figure out WAS IT THE PATTERN...OR WAS IT ME. So in the words of Mary J, I'm putting my runway stride on and keeping it going.

INVISIBLE ZIPPER!

Well, I got my VERY FIRST invisible zipper in! I followed the tutorial at Sewing Divas. There it's suggested that you sew the two pieces together first (in my case it was the two back sections of a straight skirt). The method uses a regular zipper foot instead of an invisible zipper foot which I do not have. I actually should have done a practice run first, but I think it came out pretty good - especially since it was my first try. THANK YOU SEWING DIVAS!!! I had to use a 12-14 inch zipper instead of the 7-9 inch that the pattern had because that was all Hancock's had in black. Hancock is changing over to Coats and Clarks from YKK zippers AND THEIR SELECTION IS STILL LACKING! I've been having problems finding the zippers that I need for several months now. I am truly glad that we still have the store, but I really wish we had some competition here.


The invisible zipper application was not on my list of sewing goals for 08', but I decided to add it because I really LOVE the look. I think I am going to buy this zipper foot for one of my machines since I like the look so much. I think it would be a bit easier to get right up close to the zipper teeth with it.

I've added a list of sewing goals to my sidebar (that are subject to change) just as a reminder to myself that I need to break out of my norm and try something new every now and them. I've complished two goals this month. The french seam and the invisible zipper (got to work on this some more).


I wore my Vouge dress (the Darn dress) to work today. I was in an ALL DAY meeting with our State Board testing agency and wanted to feel special about the way I looked. Being in a room with about a 100 other cosmetologists can be intimidating when it comes to the way one is dressed. I love my dress! I saw a lady in a short double breasted jacket with the same collar as my dress. I think my collar can be added to a jacket pattern with a little work. Maybe combine the collar from the darn dress with the pea coat look of the pattern my sewing buddy Lisa gave me. Hmmmmm, it might work but definately need to do a muslin first.