WEEKEND POST

My sewing class was postponed last night, so I decided to get started on the jacket that I cut out earlier this week from this New Look pattern. Last weekend I finished the skirt (except for the waistband) and now I'm waiting for my next sewing class to do a bias tape waistband treatment.
I am almost finished with the jacket except for the lining (that I need to go out and purchase) button holes and hemming. The jacket would have gone together easier BUT for some reason I choose to just skim the instruction sheet rather than READ it. I had a problem inserting the sleeves but finally got them in right. Then I interfaced the back of the jacket - should have done the front. After I realized what I had done, I also interfaced the front, AND then realized that since I had interfaced both the back and the front - I also needed to interface the side panel. UGGGGGGGGGG! Now mind you, I interfaced the back before sewing the shoulder and side seams, but had to do the front and side panel as an after thought with not only the shoulder and side seams done but with the sleeve already inserted. NOW, WHAT KIND OF SEWING WAS THIS? I guess it serves me right for not thoroughly reading the instruction sheet huh? But I thought I could wing it (l0l). Considering the fabric that I'm using for this project the interfacing really does make a difference in the overall look of the jacket. It makes it look much more (crisp) for lack of a better word.
#1FRONT, #2 BACK

Hopefully I'll get out to get the lining material today or tomorrow. And I still need to make a decision concerning what type of top to make to go with this. I had thought about pink but now I'm uncertain. I'm getting a little jump on my fall sewing with this jacket and skirt duo - I plan on wearing this outfit with boots.

After I finish these two pieces and the top to match, I'll get back to the jacket and pants that will match the first skirt that I made in sewing class (gray pinstripe). I think I need three Jacket/pant and or skirt combos for fall. That added to the things I already have should make dressing a little bit easier in the morning for work.

I wanted to show this lamp as a parting picture to this post. I found it at a yard sale and thought it would "shed some light" over my cutting table. It holds three bulbs so now I have plenty of light in that area too. IT ONLY COST $5.00!

WEEKEND SEWING PROGRESS

So this was the second week of my sewing class that is being taught by my friend Lisa. Even with my BUSY schedule (and I know everybody is extremely busy now a days); I fit this class to learn something new techniques, get better fit, and make my garments look more professional. Last week we learned: taking proper body measurements in areas pertaining to a skirt; how to make pattern alterations at waist and hip areas, and a sure fire way to insert a center back zipper. Although these are all things I do already, there's nothing like having a quicker, no guess way to a more professional look. She also taught the difference in pressing and ironing and demonstrated the proper way to do both.

The second class reviewed the zipper application, and taught the waist band application with ban roll. Next week we will learn several more waistband treatments. Our first skirt project was to be finished at home this week and be presented to the class next Friday. I finished my skirt yesterday which was from McCall's 3830.

* I had to make a 3 1/2" increase adjustment to the waist,
* And a 2 1/2" decrease adjustment in the hips with this pattern.
* I added a full lining because I just like the feel of a skirt with a lining.

And guess what, MY SKIRT IS A PERFECT FIT! To make the adjustments I used the Pivot and Slide method by Nancy Zieman. I used this method to adjust the two skirts I made for my sister Brenda earlier this year, but hadn't used it again until now. It actually works great, but involves tracing the pattern on pattern paper or interfacing before making the adjustments; then making the adjustments on there rather than on the pattern itself. You know laziness will creep in, but it is worth the extra work to get the PERFECT FIT!

I finished the skirt Saturday, and again the pictures on the dressform do it no justice but I wanted to show it anyway. This skirt is actually the first to three pieces. I have at least 5 more yards of this fabric that I purchased at Hancocks months ago at a extremely great price of $2.99 a yard. So I plan on making a jacket and a pair of pants from the same fabric. I need to find a pretty baby blue fabric to make a nice top to go with the set.

In preparation for the next class I also made up another skirt last night and finished it all except the waistband because Lisa is teaching a bias tape waistband treatment next week that I want to use on this one. I've had this pattern on my inspiration board for a long time now because I think it is so cute. I really like the little tulip like flare at the hem of the skirt. I can just see myself wearing this with black boots this winter. It seemed to me that this pattern would make up nice in a stable knit such as ponte. But I've also have 5 yards of this fabric that I got off the $1.00 table at Wal Mart way over a year ago that I envisioned for this pattern. It's black with a pink pin stripe. I already have a pink knit fabric to use for a top to match this skirt. I just need to decide on the jacket pattern for the suit. I want to make a jacket with a lining from this fabric and use a hong kong finish on the inner seams of it. So that's about all for my weekend sewing...

2 DAYS - 2 TOPS

Every time I try on a garment to see if it fits, the telephone rings (lol). I started Vouge 2980 last night and finished it after Church today. Well, I no longer have to be afraid of this pattern. It went together pretty easy even though jI thought it would be complicated even after reading all the reviews on it. It just look ed quite complicated. I had planned on trying to attach the sleeves using the flat insertion method which I love, but I forgot and serged the side seams. The flat insertion method just works out better and faster for me than working with all those pins in a circle. Putting them in as the pattern suggested took more time. The fit is pretty good, although I'm wondering about the left side of the front a little bit. I'm a little one sided in the bust area, so I might have to make a minor adjustment on that side of the front to take up a little slack. I'll wear this with white slacks or black ones. Later on I want to make the long sleeved version in a print knit that is less drappy. I used size "F" for the shoulder sleeve and bust areas and tappered out to almost size "G" in the waist area. I guess you could say I used a size F and a 1/2 (lol). I was quite unsure about how this top would fit, but it turned out pretty good. I used TRINA'S suggestion of using a strip of interfacing at the lower edge of the front self facing to prevent it from curling. This is the second Sandra Betzina top pattern that I've used. The first one was a no go since it turned out way to large using my measurements to figure out what size to cut. The next time I make this I'll use a knit with a little more strength to it. I'm pleased with this.....I think it an elegant sort of dressy top.

4 EASY PIECES

This is one of the patterns that my friend Noni got for me at the Walmart pattern giveaway earlier this week. It was my favorite of the bunch so I found some knit fabric that has been in my stash since I started sewing again in late 2006. The fabric (a brown and pinkish paisley print) is not fabulous but actually sewed up rather nicely. I made view D of this dolman style sort of kimonoish top this afternoon - mainly because I really needed to make something easy in order to get me back into my SEWING MODE.

So here's a picture of my finished project, I think it turned out rather nicely. It had been made by and reviewed by lots of sewers on Pattern Review and of all the review I read only one was negative. I can wear this top now and into the fall so it is being considered transitional. I think it will look be a quick put together outfit for work when paired with brown slacks that I already have in the closet.I attended the first session of LISA'S sewing class last night. IT WAS GREAT! Great also to be in the mix of other sewers. I really learned a lot from the fitting information that she covered, and she had some great handouts too. I can tell that this is going to be a great learning experience.

I was finally able to pick up the fall issue of Sew Stylish. I think it's a GREAT ISSUE. When they first started the magazine I subscribed to it and then they ended the subscription before it was even over because they said they were discontinuing it. Then they started selling on newsstands so I had to search for it. I made three trips to BooksAMillion just to look for this issue and of course it wasn't there. Last night I was out near BAM so I stopped in and it was there. I guess the next time they send out an email advertising it I'll just order it - CAUSE I'm tired of trying to track it down! Most of the time it's really good, the spring/summer issue however was sort of a let down.

NEXT UP: The Sandra Betzina Special
I've actually liked both the long and short sleeved versions of this pattern for a long time now...but have shied away from it because of the attached shrug effect, thinking it would be hard to put together. I'm off to read PR reviews on it now....

I KNOW, I KNOW...

it's been over two weeks since I last posted. I have missed posting, but did not really have anything sewing related or otherwise that I thought note worthy. But I know how it feels when you regularly check in on favorite blogs and THERE IS NOTHING NEW! Well here's an update, (I still don't know how note worthy this information is). I started my second math class on July 8th and it is kicking butt; and that's all I have to say about that.

My friend Noni (who also sews) called me yesterday telling me that she was at Walmart and they were "GIVING PATTERNS AWAY". I never heard of such a thing - (wonder what Walmart is up to now - discontinuing patterns and fabric at yet another store?), but she asked if I wanted her to pick me up a few - being the patternaholic that I am, of course I said yes. I stopped by her house this afternoon and this is what she gifted me.This one is my favorite of the bunch, and I am so making it right away. I've seen more than a few bloggers make this over the last year or so and although I always liked their finished products, I never bought the pattern for myself. It looks ultra easy and I know I can check plenty of reviews over at Pattern Review.com for advise and or suggestions on making this pattern. I'm not sure which KNIT fabric I'll make it out of but I'm sure I can find something in my tiny stash to still this itch (the itch to make something up) CAUSE YOU KNOW JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE TO SEW KNITS! Hopefully it'll come to life this weekend just in time for back to school next week. Don't we all just love wearing something new!

In other news....I will be starting a new sewing class tomorrow evening. I'M EXCITED! My sewing buddy LISA will be teaching the class for the next 8 weeks at the store she works at. She says we will be starting with a straight skirt, center back zipper and different waistband treatments. The part about the different waistband treatments will really help me because I have problems with waistbands other than just straight ones (especially the contoured two piece ones). I'm hoping to learn lots of new things and fine tune the skills I already have. Got to get up now to look for a straight skirt pattern with a contoured waistband treatment, and to get my sewing stuff ready for tomorrow. You know I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THIS LEARNING OPPORTUNITY...

FINISHED GARMENT

I finished New Look 6748 last night. Those who know me well know that I name everything, (it's a carryover from a game my siblings and I played when growing up); so the name of this dress is Gail K of course (lol). This is the one and only fabric purchase made on my first visit to Gail's. Wheeee....Gail's prices are nothing to play with. I actually tried to get out of the store without making a purchase, mainly because there was so much there that it overwhelmed me and it's hard for me to make a purchase when there are so many chooses to make. But my "Sister's With Scissors" weren't having that so they helped me make my one selection.

This fabric is a nice knit but has an enormous amount of Lycra content. It was hard to pin, and I had to watch to make sure my stitches were catching because of the strength of the stretchy fabric. The instructions called for two buttonholes that would be used to run a drawstring through a casing, so I decided to do a practice buttonhole first. When I started making the buttonhole the fabric got stuck (and I mean REALLY stuck in the throat plate). I had never removed the throat plate on this machine and was unable to remove because the factory had tightened the screws as if they never wanted them to be removed. I had to make an early morning run to a repair shop (good thing we have one here) to have the fabric removed. Making buttonholes in this fabric was not easy either even though I reinforced with interfacing. Anyway I did get it finished and here is dressform photo of the Gail K.















I stopped at an estate sale yesterday and saw a three drawer cabinet similar to the one I purchased for pattern storage. The price was really cheap, but I couldn't think of a place to put it so didn't buy it. I thought about it again today so went back to the house where the sale was to see if it was still available. Well the sale was over and I guess the people took what wasn't sold yesterday and placed it out for trash. I was able to pick it up for free. (Call me Mrs. Sanford and Son I guess). It was quite dusty so I cleaned it up and now it's full of patterns. I can spread out with room left for upcoming pattern sales (lol)!










I'm a big procrastinator but I have got to get some order going on in the sewing room. I'm thinking about hiring someone just to fold patterns and put them back in their respective envelopes. But in the meantime I need to do this myself. This afternoon I cleaned off the shelf of the closet in the sewing room because I really need a place to put my little stash. Right now it's kept under my cutting table and is a little bit of an eyesore. Here's the start of that process.
LindseyT is back from her sewing expo in Chicago and had some really good information to share. I need to repeat to myself that I don't have to be a perfectionist in my sewing. I need to remember that!

AM I THE LAST PERSON...

...to find out about the company called ETCETERA ?
I was lurking around at Artisan's Square and someone posted this link so I thought I'd check it out. I REALLY like it a lot and thought that just in case you hadn't seen it you would like it too. They also have a gorgeous 47 page storyboard with all types of styles pictured (I liked 99% of them - lol). The extensive STORYBOARD can be found here. I think it might help me in planning a SWAP of some type. Artisan's Square has a July sewing capsule going on (an extension of the June one), but even if you didn't participate in the June one you can still join in on this one. I'm still having committal issues, but I think I might try to do a silent capsule since I actually did accidentally end up doing a 4 piece swap in June. So I know it's possible for me to do. I just have to be careful of getting too bogged down in the planning stage and then getting frustrated and not trying to do one at all. Making a four piece capsule would really help me out with back to school outfits for August.









I've got some lovely white fabric that I bought at Walmart last summer that I've been wanting to do something interesting with and maybe this great story board can help spur me along. There's still enough summer left to wear a white outfit. I've got to finish that New Look dress that I started before I went on vacation,









and I've got a black dotted swiss sun dress that I cut out weeks ago that still needs to be sewn from this pattern and didn't start. I haven't sewn anything this week; just been resting, and I started my math class for the summer quarter last night so that will slow me down a bit but I think making four pieces in July is still doable. We will see...

I'M BACK...

and it's a bittersweet homecoming. Saying goodbye to my family at airports has gotten to be much more than I even want to deal with. But now I'm back home missing my family like crazy. I HAD A MARVELOUS TIME WITH THEM!!! I love going home, but then again who doesn't? I tried to s-t-r-e-t-c-h those days. The weather there was like our spring, and it even rained quite a bit while I was there - I LOVED IT! Elmira is not that large which is to my liking. I just love being there with my family. Good food, good conversation and much love. I even got to see my daughter Alondra and my grand-children who were in town just for the weekend for a graduation. I figured out how to add a flicker photo album to my blog in order to post all of my vacation pictures.

We visited a quaint little quilting fabric store in Corning on a rainy afternoon, don't know why I didn't take pictures of that. I loved it, and I did get to go to Joann's twice while I was there to hit the pattern sale. What did I buy while there - not much. I'll tell you this thing with baggage and the airlines is a mess. I guess next time I'll really pack light, two or three outfits to leave room for what I want to bring back. I almost had to leave my three pieces of fabric at the airport because I was 2 pounds over, two knits and a pinstripe woolen blend. My Mother gave me this plaid pleated shirt that I will refashion into a straight skirt. I found these great wooden buttons at Wal-Mart while there. Picked up some cone thread and more pins (can't have enough of those).

This is the New Look pattern I started before I left on vacation. I didn't have time to finish it so it didn't get to make the trip with me. Because of the deep v neckline I decided to put in an insert (which I call cleavage protection) - the pattern did not include an insert. I had seen a friend with a similar RTW dress and asked if I could see how the insert was put in. (This is a picture of the wrong side of the dress bodice.)
The insert is sagging just a little bit, but after reading Carolyn's blog I now know what to do to take care of that problem. I will attach twill tape to each side at the shoulder seam and attached to the insert. This will give the insert additional support and should alleviate any sagging. It really pays to check in on the sewing blogs regularly-you never know what you will learn...

I also wanted to trace another Burda Pattern before I left but didn't get the chance. I got it done today and wanted to post these pictures for my Mother because I wasn't able to explain the process well enough.

This is a model picture of a pattern in the Burda Pattern Magazine.

This is a picture of one of the two pattern sheets. Each sheet has patterns printed on both sides of the sheet, it looks like a road map. You locate pattern pieces for the items that you want to make, it's color coded and in this case the pattern pieces that I needed to trace was coded green. In the case of the PJ's it was only two pieces. Picture #2 is the see through pattern paper (with polka dots on it) pent to the pattern sheet. I use colored pencils to trace the pattern on the pattern paper, and add a 5/8" seam allowance to all seam edges. The first time I traced a burda pattern I used Lisa's double tracing wheel and tracing paper to trace the pattern off. I haven't gotten a double tracing wheel yet so I just used the colored pencil and a ruler to get the job done.
This is a picture of the finished two traced pattern pieces for the PJ's. I hung them up on the dark wall so they could be better seen. The next thing I will do is use these pieces like a regular pattern to cut out the pajamas.










I'll just choose simple Burda patterns (those with few pattern pieces) until I get use to tracing and the Burda instructions. After a while I'll be able to branch out to more detailed garments.

Long post, but I had a lot to update...

PREHAPS....

....this will be the last time I post before I leave on my trip (I don't know though (lol)). I love seeing what all you other ladies make, and I also love showing what I create. I had enough fabric to make another taupe tank (only shorter) to go with my tiger PJ's so I made it Tuesday night- added a bow on the pj top for a little DETAIL.









And from these I made ...









This top last week;









These white capris last night:









And this white knit cami tonight because I thought I had a white camisole but they all turned out to be light beidge. I needed this to wear underneath because the top is so sheer.For this total look.









Oh, don't I wish I could take my sewing machine on the trip with me...