SATURDAY NIGHT RANTINGS

I got up early today and started the sewing project that I had scheduled for this weekend. I started this dress last weekend and had hoped to finish it today but didn't.

I finished it all except tacking down the lining around the neckline, armholes and along the zipper. I had wanted a really simple summer dress pattern, however every pattern I looked at called for a lining. I wanted a sleeveless dress with facings for the neck and armholes, but couldn't fine one. The dress is made of pique (which I just love) and I debated using a matching single fold bias tape but opted not to. Then I drafted facings for the areas that I needed to cover but chickened out on using them. Rather than one of these options I went ahead and lined it as called for with a light weight batiste. Here's my dress so far...

Maybe I'll be able to finish it sometime tomorrow - (fingers crossed). Next I'm thinking about making a white jacket to go with this dress because the office I work in is a freezer.

I also wanted to post the two skirts that I finished last weekend. I wore this beige one to work on Thursday with a RTW top, and felt quite comfortable in it. After being away from sewing for so long, I'm feeling a bit self conscious about wearing things that I make. But little by little I'm building up my confidence about this.And here's the denim one made from the same pattern...

I also added another book to my sewing library this weekend (yes, I'm a book fiend). This one is "More Fabric Savvy". It list lots of different types of fabric and gives their fiber content, care, tells you what size needle, presser foot and method of marking the fabric. I had been looking at it for months now and when I was at Hancocks on Friday and couldn't make a fabric selection, I went ahead and bought it. The book is by Sandra Betzina. I already had two of her books (Power Sewing and Fast Fit) and since I thought both of them were EXCELLENT!!!, I felt the third one would come in handy as well as enhance my knowledge of fabrics. It also has some really good sewing tips.

I bought this Singer book several weeks ago when they had a sale on books at Hancocks. It's a handy guide with really good pictures of lots of different techniques. I am sure I will use all of these books over and over again.

Well, I guess that's enough for tonight....

CAN'T WAIT!!!

I finally broke down and ordered this dress form on Memorial Day, and was sort of hoping that I could pick it up at Hancock's today but alas, it did not arrive. They said that the next truck won't arrive until next Friday. I guess I can wait until then, and hope this will help me with some fitting issues...

TRASH OR TREASURE

I finally finished my cobalt blue crop pants. Seems like I've been sewing on them for several weeks now. Boy, this fitting thing with pants has really worn me out. But I presevered and now I have a new outfit to wear to work next week. (Was supposed to finish them last weekend), but oh well... Here are two views of my finished product.

Now to talk about the mistakes I made. The top is a cute and summery which is what I am wanting now. The colors are a nice change for me (THE EVERY THING BLACK AND BROWN PERSON). I am really trying hard to break out of dark colors. The colors of this outfit are still dark, but I am taking it a step at a time, easing into brighter colors...WHY IS THIS SO HARD. I was trying to talk on the phone and sew at the same time and mess around and sewed a wrong side to a right side on the bottom piece of the top. I had already serged and trimed the seam in two places before I realized what I had done and it was really too late to do anything about it, so the front bottom section of the garment is lighter than the top section. I still plan on wearing the garment, and if anyone says anything about it, I will just tell them that it's my fashion statement. MOTTO: Put the sewing down when the telephone rings. I have really been trying hard to get my old skills back, and really trying hard to create perfect or nearly perfect projects - but alast, Rome was not built in a day, and neither am I getting my skill up to the level that I want it to be. I will juest have to keep plugging alone, and it will come back little by little - I HOPE! The pants fit pretty good, so I am calling this project a TREASURE even with my mistakes!

STILL DETERMINED, I started on my next project this morning. Fell in love with this pattern after I saw one that Erica Bunker (www.boundbymyhook.blogspot.com) made several weeks ago -McCalls 5330, View A. I already had the pattern but had not done anything with it, but after seeing her skirt made up from the same pattern, I craved it...so I made it. This girl is so inspiring, positive and such a great sewist! I love her site and visit it often. I have learned so much from reading her blog. Even emailed her a couple of questions and she emailed me right back. She is so helpful. Anyways, I'm making View A in a kakhi sports weight poplin. As a matter of fact it's all done (took me all day long) but sewing on the buttons. I am going to make a denim one by view A also which will be my next project. Might start it tomorrow after Church.

I'm going to be making this top (View B-bottom left) to go with it.

Until next time....FAYE.

MY PANT FITTING DILEMIA

I am still fighting with this pant fitting thing...I am really trying; preshrunk my material (something that I never use to do), made the muslin and even tried to make the adjustments to the pattern afterwards. My pants are still to large in the waist and the hips, eeeeeek! All I want to do is get my pants to fit properly - but who doesn't want that. When I use to sew before, I found a pattern that fit pretty good and made and remade the same pattern until I could almost make it in my sleep (pattern was almost shredded up), but it still worked and I continued to use it.

I love a side zipper so I made these crop pants

and they are still to large. Like I said before, I made the muslin, then tried to make the proper adjustments on the pattern, then cut my fashion fabric. Of course it's hard or next to impossible to make adjustments once the zipper is in. So that I am about to embark upon tonight is taking the facing out, removing the zipper and redoing these to try and make them fit...a real bit job but someone has to do it. But them again would it be worth all that time???? Will they be Trash or Treasure - I'll have to decide.

Anyways, I think this will be the next pattern I will try. I still want the crop pants (atleast that is what I call them) but this pattern is different in that they have a front fly zipper and a traditional waistband rather than the side zipper and waist facing. Well I'm off to sew now, will let you know how it turns out.

NUMBERS CAN KEEP US BOUND!

I was thinking about women and how we relate to numbers. Numbers freak women out - including me! For instance: our shoe sizes. How many women have you seen a woman wearing a pair of mules that are a size and a half too small with the heel of her foot clearly hanging over the back of the shoe? I have, and it looks very painful to me. How about a woman tipping around because her shoes are literally killing her. My shoe size, although I don't like it, is one thing that I cannot deny. I truly cannot stand foot discomfort or foot pain. What about women who cannot own up to size in clothing (me for one). I am highly displeased with my RTW clothing sizes, but I cannot stand to be uncomfortable in my clothes so now I'm buying some 14's and some 16's (eeeeeek). I don't want my clothes squeezing me all day long. The numbers that shows up when I step on the scale are enough to send me into a deep (temporary) depression. My body measurements (which have steadily increased) are not very pleasing to me either. My age, which is another pair of numbers, is just something I am trying not to trip out about, cause it is definately one thing that I cannot change and the alternative is not something I want to deal with. Since I have started trying to get back into my sewing thing - pattern sizes are tripping me out. I keep wanting to cheat on the numbers hoping that "oh well, maybe since I'm in a 16 in RTW surely I can fit into a 16 pattern" - not so!!!! I once heard Oprah say "we have got to own the numbers".

Ok, I'm gonna start owning this pattern number. And I'm going to start owning up to some other things when it comes to sewing, to name a few:

• I am going to make a pants muslin and learn to make adjustments to my pants pattern with the time I have left this weekend.


• I am going to pre-shrink my fabric (got some pre-shrinking as I write as a matter of fact).

I am so ready for spring and so ready for spring clothes. I am so tired of dark colors. I am breaking out! I bought this today:

And this:

And this I already had in my stash:

And this is what I am going to sew it all up on:I got a great deal at Tuesday Morning's on Thursday. Regular price $179.00 on sale for $89.99. Plain and simple but I think it will get the job done. My Singer Diana that was about 25 years old bit the dust (would have cost $250.00 to fix). I have a machine, but wanted to make sure I had a back up so this price was marvelous for that reason.

Well will let you know how I'm doing with "OWNING THE NUMBERS".

NEWS FLASH

OK, just got the word this afternoon from Loni that she received the box that I sent her with the clothes that I had made her. Here's the skinny: she says the jacket and blouses fit perfectly but the pants are too large in the waist, hips and crouch. Well now I know. I won't be able to sew pants for her unless I am there with her to check on the fit while sewing. I took her measurements and bought the patterns according to the measurements but it still did not work! Well I tried, and I know that she appreciates what I did but I won't be able to make pants again...bo ho, bo ho. I'll just go to town on blouses and tops for her and hopefully that will still help her out with her work wardrobe. She said the jacket fit, and it is a easy pattern with a minimal number of pieces to it so maybe I can make her another jacket or two and she can just buy her pants and jeans.

Another thought, maybe she has an old pair of pants that fit well. Maybe she could send them to me and I could de-construct them to make a pattern. WE WILL SEE!!!!

New Top for Loni

Just finished this Lavender knit wrap top for Loni today.

This top is made of a light weight lycra knit. The drape on this hanger does not do it justice. I made this from Butterick 3785. I made it a size larger because of the way lycra hugs you. I made this top using the long sleeved view several weeks ago and she said it fit good and she liked it. Hope she likes this one as well.

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.