AN EASY BREEZY WEEKEND...

I actually did not have a clear cut sewing plan for this weekend - all I knew is I really wanted to sew! I knew I wanted to finish my first ever dec project (a little home dec is in my 2010 goal list). I haven't talked about it here, pictures are forth coming as soon as it's finished. I didn't finish the project because I ran out of trim for the project. It's for a friend so I'll have to wait until she can come up with the extra.

I also knew that I wanted to make a quick dress (discussed in my last post). Quick dress, you know the kind that is so simple, but turns out looking like a million. I was so enthused with the outcome of the dress I completed yesterday....(I'm calling it my "PURPLE RAIN " dress),



and after being encouraged by my sewing buddies, I made another one. They encouraged me on to the second one because they think I have a large knit stash. Mind you, I don't think I have enough. But, being hyped by sewing success, I dug in and pulled another piece from the knit drawer.See, don't you think I need much, much more - like maybe two more drawers full - then I think I'd be happy!!!!

The two knit pieces I used this weekend came from my NYC shopping trip last summer - both from Metro Textiles. After I got the fabric home, I started having buyers remorse. Most of the fabric I bought there were much larger prints than I'm use too. When I looked at it after getting it home my first thought was "What in the world was I thinking??? What am I going to make from these big prints???" I was just so overwhelmed when I finally found that store, and he had such a large selection that I just bought - because I knew I wasn't leaving there empty handed. Well, I ran out of summer and had to start fall sewing so the huge print knits were packed back. Now that summer's here again I AM SO GLAD THAT I HAVE THEM, big prints and all, because there is nothing to be had in Warner Robins in the way of knits right now.

My second bold print success of a dress is called "POSIES IN THE JUNGLE".

Simple, yes! Fits well and comfortable. An easy to take care of, jump in and go dress that no one else in town has, that makes the wearer proud!!!

SO EASY - YOU COULD MAKE 12 IN A DAY....

...I'm speaking of McCall's 6074. I needed another quick, easy, breezy summer knit dress. ( I only have two or three obsessions-knit fabric being one of them.) So me and one of my sewing buddies (Ebony) were on the phone last night tossing up options to fit the bill. We simultaneously reviewed 4 or 5 patterns via the internet, blogs and pattern review, and with Ebony's youthful eye for detail, settled on M6074. Ebony is the fashion guru that helps me whenever there is a question as to whether a style is too matronly or whether it will age me. Mind you, I DO NOT MIND BEING A GRAND-MOTHER, as a matter of fact I am quite happy with my status. However, being a grandmother does not mean that I have to look like one. Now back to the dress - I really wanted something easy and quick, but cute. We couldn't find a review of this pattern anywhere, so I opted not to use my best knit to try it out. Instead I chose a knit that I like, but was not madly in love with (just sort of). So I guess I can call this a wearable muslin.
The pattern states: "1 Hour Dress". That description should mean quick and easy, and in this case it was true to it's word. The dress could actually be completed in just one hour. There are only THREE pattern pieces. Not three main pattern pieces, but just three. The 1 hour dress would have taken me only one hour, but (and you know there is always a but) I was sleep sewing last night, and serged the front side seam to one side of the center back. If I hadn't had to de-construct that seam I could have completed the dress last night well within an hour.

I didn't add any of my usual over thinking, "I know better than the instruction sheet" techniques to this project. I simply made it up following the exact directions. I really thought about adding self bias binding to the armholes and neckline - but you will be surprised to know, I held myself back. I am quite pleased with the way it turned out! Does it look like the pattern envelope? Exactly! I really thought it was going to turn out to be a mumu, but it's actually fitted throughout the waist area with full swing below the hip - rather jazzy for a three piece pattern with just four seams. I hemmed by machine, - a time saver. And now I have a new Sunday dress.Will I make another one? Not quite sure, although I do like the look and fit of the dress. I might make it again if I need a super quick project other than a top.

Saturday afternoon; the house is clean, the wash is done - think I might take a really short nap and then go to the gym for a couple of treadmill miles. Happy weekend all!.......

CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND SUITABLE FABRIC FOR MAKING SUMMER WHITE PANTS????????

After a month of tops, and six dresses, I am finally back to pants fitting again - in particular summer white pants. I think I made a pair of white pants last summer, or maybe it was the summer before, but alas, I was not actually happy with them after the first wearing. I think they were made from some type of white sportswear, but it turned out the fabric was really stiff even after washing several times. I'm not into rearing cardboard pants! During my 2009 Sewing Expo trip I bought some stretch cotton sateen for white pants because I had read some where that it was suitable for pants. I finally got around to using the sateen last week for my summer white pants. The results...wrinkled fabric that I really don't think I'll be able to iron to perfection. Egad!!! CAN SOMEONE PLEASEEEEEEEE RECOMMEND SUITABLE FABRIC FOR MY SUMMER WHITE PANTS??? I know what I'm looking for:

• a fabric that is completely washable
• something with a little stretch
• something that I can at least press the wrinkles out of.

Does this type of fabric really exist??? Like I said before I tried sportswear, and I've also tried the gabardine that is available at Hancock's - and it has to much drape/or is a little too light weight. In searching the internet I found two stores that sell a stretch chino twill, but I don't know exactly what that feels like. I once owned a pair of RTW pants that were said to be chino and I LOVED THEM, but I'm not sure the stretch chino twill is the same thing.

Well, anyway, here's a picture of my wrinkly new summer pants. Will I wear them? Not sure yet.I worked with my slightly vintage TNT Simplicity pattern - which I still find myself tweaking. The last time I used this pattern I adjusted the crouch. This time I decided to go down a size because previous pairs were just too big on me. I had to finally realize that I am not size 20 in the hip area. In using this pattern before, I cut the larger size and just increased the seam allowances to fit. I decided that trying scale down the larger size was just creating too much work. Fitting fear has me bound. I always figure you can always decrease, but it's not always possible to increase the size. I'm just afraid of making the pants too small and wasting my fabric.

(shirt in to show the fit)

(did you notice that I installed my zipper to the wrong side. It was too perfect to remove, so I just left it in)

(Shirt out...shirt will be worn out)

I just need to do the buttonholes/buttons and hem and they will be finished. Then to see if I'll wear them.

WEEKEND SEWING GOALS MET...

I only had two sewing goals for the weekend:

1) Hush up the Jalie top pattern by getting it made, and;

2) Make up Butterick 5456 for Autumn, the student who does all of my photographs.

I'm so happy to report that both goals were accomplished! I just need to find pants to wear with the top that I've named "Pretty Sweet", because it's definitely being worn to work tomorrow. The fabric used is a really soft and nice feeling Wal Mart find. It's left over from a dress that I made for my Mom for Mother's day.

JALIE REVIEW: As I said before, I've seen this pattern all around sewing blogland. Although I've never sewn a Jalie before, the popularity made me lust after the pattern (I'M SURE YOU'VE RECOGNIZED THAT I AM A PATTERN HOG!). A quick review of the pattern instructions left me feeling a little intimidated at first, but I also felt compelled to take the challenge. While making the top I was reminded of a Bisquick Impossible Pie - the ones in which the crust miraculously rises to the top. During the construction I remember thinking "it will be a miracle if this works"...and so it was, because it did indeed work out.

After attaching the back and fronts at the shoulder seam, the right side of the collar is attached to the wrong side of the top. The top is then rolled into the collar - jelly roll fashion, and then the collar is sewn together to form a tube (that actually contains the entire top - minus the sleeves). You leave a 1" opening in the tube and then proceed to pull the back and fronts of the top through. When that is accomplished the result is a concealed seam that connects the collar to the top. GENUS!!! All that's left to do is sew the center seam, attach the sleeves, hem top and sleeves - and it's finished.

I also need to mention that the sleeves went in with a glitch. No need to gather or ease stitch, it just fit wonderfully! So no need to remove any sleeve ease - which I've started doing with all of my sleeves because I can't stand a sleeve pucker.

The pattern has three views, and I do intend on making the sleeveless version very soon. I think that this is a wonderful pattern. So, if you've been thinking about making it, know that it is a breeze to put together. I've officially coined this a TNT pattern.

Here's a picture of Autumn's Butterick dress. She got her fabric from Hobby Lobby according to the yardage requirements that I gave her. Mind you, the yardage I quoted her did not include the amount needed to line the bodice - DUH! So I had to rummage through my scrap box and lucky found a piece of poly-knit to make up the difference to line her dress. I wanted to kick myself for that mistake. I was not into making a Hancock run this weekend. Believe I am seriously trying to stay out of that store - trying to visit only every other week. My budget needs a break!

Here's the key holed back of the dress:


This time I just topstitched the neckline, arm hole area, and the keyhole area. The last time I made this dress I understitched the entire thing per pattern instructions and it was quite a miserable experience. Although I enjoy the benefits of understitching, when the pattern instructions tell you to understitch as far as you can go, right then and there you know it's going to be a difficult procedure.

All I need to do now is bag up the dress and put it in the car today so I won't forget to take it to school.

So that wraps up the sewing week for me. I'll be working Monday and Tuesday nights and then I can get back to sewing at night again. Now I'm off to start preparing for Monday, hope everyone is having a wonderful Mother's Day!

E D I M D....

HUSH! HUSH! SOMETHING IS CALLING MY NAME...

...it's this Jalie pattern. I've never made a Jalie, but was blessed with one by my sewiest friend, Adelaide, from clear across the country. THANKS AGAIN PRETTY SWEET! This pattern has shown up on sooooo many sewing blogs, and has no less than 27 Pattern Reviews - I know that you've seen it by now too.....

I guess the pattern knew that I have the next two days and three nights off, so it has been softly calling my name all day long. I guess taking the instructions to peruse at lunch today did nothing more than heighten the anticipation of getting home to the SEWING CAVE. You must know by now that I have a serious affinity for tops - and better yet, a knit top.

So, a Jalie muslin it is for this weekend and also another one of these (the short version):Butterick 5456 - I wore the first one I made yesterday and I love this dress, it's so comfortable.
The one I'll start this weekend is not for me this time, but rather for one of my student photographers. I guess I had to pay the piper one day... so it will be a dress for her. She purchased the fabric, and I'll take care of the labor of course.

I'll pull a work double on Monday and Tuesday of next week, and then I'll be back to my regular schedule. So lets see how far I get with my weekend sewing goals. Happy Sewing to each of you all, and Happy Mother's Day too (ESPECIALLY TO MY OWN MOM, YOUR PACKAGE IS FINALLY IN THE MAIL - and let us not forget - in the words of my own dear Mom: EDIMD (EVERY DAY IS MOTHER'S DAY)!

THE END OF THE SPRING MONTH OF TOPS SEW-A-LONG...

...increased work load, fatigue, and not feeling all that great kept me from meeting my sewing goals for this week. Oh well, that's the way things go sometimes. I had planned on finishing one last top by Friday to complete the sew-a-long (well, that didn't happen). I had also planned on cutting and completing another dress, but sometimes the best laid plans don't come to fruition. I did get the top finished on Saturday however, so I am still going to count it as my 6th for the challenge. Initially, I committed myself to only 4 tops, but pushed just a bit further because:

• #1 I love having new tops - they give a little added boost to my wardrobe without a lot of effort. Most tops are easy to sew up (especially those made from knits).

• #2 I felt that since I started the challenge, I should at least make 6.

I loved the tops that Sheila made for the sew-a-long from New Look 6915 so I borrowed her idea.It's been a great Sew-A-Long! It is so nice to interact with other sewists from all over the place. We've shared pattern/fabric choices, techniques, ideas and style. Here's a few sew-a-long stats:

• 27 sewists signed up for the challenge (16 actually participated)
  
• The blog amassed 22 followers
• There were a total of 49 posts
• A total of 44 tops were added to our wardrobes
  

I'd like to THANK everyone who participated! I had fun and hope that you did too....

STUCK - IN THE SEWING ROOM...

not that I can't get out, but this weekend I just found myself in a precarious place that I call stuck. I had a really hard time trying to decide on what my next project was going to be. Mind you, this doesn't happen often because it just works out that I have so many sewing projects planned that the process usually flows pretty smoothly. During my last frenzy I cut out three tops and a dress. The results of that cutting frenzy has kept me busy for two weeks - I put the finishing touches on this Butterick wrap dress on Friday night.

So by Saturday I needed to make a decision on my next sewing projects, and just couldn't come up with any ideas. I finally decided to give New Look 6936 a try. I was able to get this dress done in a day as it went together easily and without a hitch.

The Spring Month of Tops Sew-a-long is in its final week. Initially, I committed to making 4 tops - but I was able to get 5 done. I'm now thinking that I might be able to squeeze in one more top this week. So I cut it out today and hope to complete it by the weekend....

IT AIN'T EASY BEING DOWN.....

I've been down the past few days, and it was no fun! I didn't realize just how much I really depend on the internet until I couldn't get on. It was miserable! But I have been sewing and have three finished projects to boot:

My favorite TNT t-shirt pattern - New Look 6735. Isn't this the most gorgeous knit you've ever seen? I love it so much that I stopped several times during the construction to give it a little hug. I purchased this from my friend Ebony the end of last summer and it's so soft and just the best knit ever. I'm currently working on a dress from this very same fabric - I thank God for Ebony (and KEITH for the internet).

New Look 6901 surplice top that has a little ruching on the side. I've tried this type top several times with no success - others have gapped really bad in the front. This time I prayed and took a chance on yet another version - AND IT WORKED OUT FINE! This is another Ebony fabric that you will be seeing again in an upcoming dress.

Finally, I used New Look 6940 with my Vogue Expo fabric. The top looked much better on the pattern envelope, and I wish I had selected another pattern for my fabric. Hind sight is 20/20, right? The top is too low cut - Thank God for safety pins, ad has too much ease overall. It is however wearable.


Not a bad sewing week after all.......

THIRD SUMMER DRESS, SECOND SPRING TOP...

Well, my quest to add cool dresses to my summer wardrobe is going quite well. My third one is another Butterick, 5456 that I fell in love with when it first came out. I liked it first because it was a cool knit, and secondly because of the key-holed back detail. When I saw that Susan made it up for Easter and I knew it was time to jump on it. I did a little scrap box dive and came up with two lengths of fabric that worked out perfectly for this dress. This is the second garment I've made this month from leftover scraps. Why scrap dive?...Why not! I try not to save too many scraps because I sew a lot and they pile up so quickly. But if it is a large enough piece of fabric that I really like, I save it in hopes that I can add it to something or make it into something later.
This dress is so comfty! And fits very well coming to just above the knee. Thank goodness I increased the length of the band at the hem, because without it this dress was just a tunic or mini dress. If you decide to make this one pay careful attention when connecting the shoulder area. That was the only problem I had when putting it together besides the understitching in tight places. This will make a great (jump in) dress this summer as our temps continue to rise. And because knit dress don't really stay on hangers very well I'm glad I learned this tip from EM - instead of hanging, just roll the knit garment up and place in a dryer. Most knits don't need ironing, so to wear just unroll and jump in - viola - ready to go.
I also completed my SECOND Spring Month of Tops project - Simplicity 2422. I wanted something colorful, cool and quick so I chose this pattern. Easy to put together project, that fits really well especially I decided to stop being scared of patterns and go ahead and cut the right size according to my bust measurements rather than going up a size. I love the feel of this colorful fabric and the fit. The only thing I didn't like about this pattern is that the ruffle does not connect to the shoulder seam. If I make the pattern again, I'll just alter the pattern to do just that.

Well I'm off to select patterns for new projects - another top, and another dress....

SECOND DRESS, FIRST TOP...

On Saturday I worked on this dress that I had started the week before. Although the SPRING MONTH OF TOPS officially started on April 1st, I have this UNWRITTEN RULE that I must try my best to complete anything that I've already started before embarking on a new project. So I finished what started out a wearable muslin late Saturday afternoon AFTER A THIRD ATTEMPT TO HEM IT. That's right three hems! There was something really different with this knit that I couldn't get a decent hem - the stitching was just wonky. I even tried doing a zigzag hem and it was wonky too. So after talking with my friend Lisa, I took her advise and used Steam-A-Seam Lite and then got a perfect hem.

Like I said, initially, this was to be a wearable muslin just to try the pattern out before using it on some of my Vogue fabric that I picked up at the sewing expo last month. Well, that will never happen with this pattern. Although I call myself an advanced beginner, I had the hardest time deciphering the pattern instructions. The instructions for the tucks/pleats just didn't make sense. I ended up JUST DOING IT MY WAY, and making up my own directions. Although I was able to produce a wearable muslin - suitable for a run to the store, a shopping trip, or maybe even a back yard cookout, I will not be making this pattern again.

This is a picture of my first Spring Month of Tops project. It's made from McCall's 5884, a pattern I bought last year but never got around to making up. I used a piece of fabric from the scrap box that I made a top from last summer. Since that top was gifted to one of my Sisters, I thought I'd make up another style for myself.

This top went together easily, and was a nice one day project - which I need some times. I didn't have enough fabric to cut the collar/tie on the bias, but I had no problems getting it attached properly. I also liked the self fabric bias cut facing for the armholes. I really like the style, but was surprised at the amount of designer ease in the pattern. I think I would like to make this pattern up again - maybe one of the sleeved versions, but I think I'd remove just a little of the ease.

Now I'm off to choose patterns and fabric for dress #3, and top #2......

TEES, TUNICS, BUTTON DOWNS...

RUFFLES, FLOUNCES, BOATNECK, OR COWL.....
I think that blouses (or tops) are the most versatile garments in my closet. I always feel that I can dress well (and quickly) if I have enough tops to mix and match with existing pieces.

That said, I need some new spring/summer tops, and thought other bloggers might be interested in joining me in a SPRING MONTH OF TOPS.

It's a simple sew-a-long challenge:

•Choose your fabrics

•Choose your patterns (or self draft), or add a new twist to a TNT pattern, or refashion an existing blouse or top

•No quotas

•No limits

•and by April 30th we will have a number of added wardrobe options.

To join in just comment and PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS on this post no later than Sunday, April 4th. This new blog has been set up for THE SPRING MONTH OF TOPS. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of spring/summer inspiration....