Only An Afternoon

Although I'm a slow sewer, I made Jennifer Lauren's The Afternoon Blouse and hemmed Silhouette 3600 pants in one afternoon. This blouse is quick to make and that includes putting together the PDF pattern and tracing it. I decided to make this blouse after seeing the version made by Shanni. I originally planned the blouse as a muslin, hopefully wearable. I did wear it for a dinner out with family but I know that I won't wear it often. It definitely needs some fitting work. The jury is still out on the wearable part.

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I was surprised at how easy the pattern is to tape together. The sewing is simple for the most part. The front seam and neckline is a bit fiddly, but not hard to do. I did have to topstitch to keep the facing down around the neck and front.

The major problem for me is the bust fitting. I'll have to think about how to fix it, but I definitely need more room. This problem is more obvious in the side view. There is a gap on one side of the neckline. Also, there is a little jag where the circle design connects to the center seam (hard to see, but I know it is there). I don't like the way the sides poke out at the bottom (an easy one to fix). The back needs a slight sway back adjustment (normal for me).

I've finished with the blouse for now, but I haven't given up on the pattern. I would like to make in a lighter weight, solid color fabric. I may use this blouse as a muslin for fitting so that I don't have to make another one. That would make it no longer wearable, but I probably won't wear it much anyway. That's an issue for another day.

The Pants

Silhouette 3600 is a new pants pattern for me. I love it! I had Peggy Sagers fit the muslin at her Atlanta Workshop in March. Peggy was sick the last day so she didn't see the pants made in fabric. After looking at the pictures, I think that I will take in the side seam 1/2 to 1 inch. There also some twisting going on in one of the legs. I'll have to check it. It may be my quick hemming job or it may be cut off grain (in which case the pants will become capris or shorts).

The contour waistband is so comfortable that I could wear it to bed. It is easy to sew. Since I was sewing with one hand at the time, the topstitching is little off in places. It's good enough for me and not a fault of the pattern design. If anyone looks at it that closely, they had better be interested in sewing.

MMM ROUNDUP WEEK 2

This is a quick post to document my made-by-me for the week

Friday, May 9th

I took my dog Roxy to the groomer to get rid of her winter fur. The top is Hot Patterns Sunshine top and the pants are RTW. The look is: "I've got to figure out this camera phone or I'm going to be late for our appointment".

Sunday, May 11

I'm dressed for Mother's Day. The dress is Vogue 1250. The look is: "I'm starting to get this phone camera thing - now I have to learn to hold the phone higher so it doesn't hide part of the garment".

Wardrobe notes:

While the loose top is comfortable for local errands, I prefer tops more fitted.

This dress is the only made-by-me dress that has short sleeves. I'd like to add at least 2 dresses to my summer wardrobe.

UFO progress:
I've finished a pair of pairs and a top except for the final pressing-will blog about them soon.

Me-made-May, Week1

Week 1 round up is a bit late due to technical difficulties. Without further ado, here's two days of made-my-me garments.

Friday, May 2

Although I live in Florida, Friday was cold and drizzling rain. I had a bunch of errands to do so I wanted to be comfortable. The jacket is M2 Again Quilted Jacket by Timeless Designs. I love the hood for rain days and really like this loose comfortable jacket for on-the-go days.My husband thinks that it's too busy so I save it for days that I'm on my own. The tank top is Textile Studio Basic Top, made sleeveless. The jeans are Silhouette 3300.

Saturday, May 3

We went to a casual dinner and play. The top is Silhouette 195 and the pants are Silhouette 3400, both TNT patterns that I make a lot.

Wardrobe Notes:
The weather already is getting hot. My light weight, short sleeve tops are getting that worn look. I need to add more summer tops to my wardrobe. This year I won't buy any (like usual) so I'd better get sewing.

The theater was icy cold. It normally is but I forgot as we only go to that particular theater a couple of times a year. I need to remember to wear a jacket. I need to add casual jackets to the sewing list.

It's Too Bad

It's too bad that I missed another deadline. This year I wanted to participate in Me Made May 2014 but it's after May 1 and too late to sign up. I wanted to participate for several reasons:

1. My sewing is lacking focus. Nothing seems to be getting finished. I have a good plan, good fabric, and projects started. My sewing lately can be described as "The Whim of the Day".
2. I'd like to document my sewing with pictures. I have many finished garments without photos. Since DH is hard to lasso long enough to hold a camera, I need to learn to take the pictures myself.
3. I'd like to get back to the habit of blogging.
4. My UFO area is stuffed full.
5. I like the interaction of other sewers.

While I still lack some mobility in my broken arm, it has healed sufficiently for me to be confident cutting good fabric. For a while there, I was just sewing muslins. I have quite a few of those finished and ready to turn into wearable garments.

THE GOOD NEWS

I have stuck to my pledge not to buy any RTW. I'll admit that I was tempted to use my injury as an excuse. I like wearing new clothes! Instead of buying, I explored my closet, discovered many hidden treasures and got rid of things that I would never wear. The experience was close to wearing something new.

May 2015

There should be another year to participate in the Me Made May. Hey, wait a minute. I could be an unofficial participant. I'll miss some of the fun of participating with others, but I can pretend and work on the things that I want to accomplish.

MY PLEDGE

I, Rose of rosessewingroom. blogspot. com, sign up as an unofficial participant of Me-Made-May '14, I endeavour to wear one item of made-by-me a minimum of two days per week for the duration of May. I also will take photos of these items and post them on blogger. I also will work on one UFO each week and not start anything new until that UFO is completed.

I am aware that many (if not most) sewers out there never start anything new until an item is finished. Me, I like to multi-task so this part of the pledge will be hard for me. That's who I am, but this multiple tasking has gotten out of hand and needs to stop NOW.

I'll still follow along with the the MMM journeys... It's time to stop talking, go hem those pants, and wear them this week!