The Joy of Sewing

At last, I have something in common with Debbie Cook! It's not her amazing ability to fit and sew. No, it's her consideration of alternative titles for a blog post. I had trouble with this one. My alternative titles are:

1. How to Practice Your Use of Not-so-nice Words and Learn New Ones (probably the most accurate)

2. The McCall Vest (boring)

3. Picking the Worst Possible Pattern for Your Body (not something I would encourage)

I decided, finally, to stay positive. After all, I'm learning to sew. Learning new skills are part of the joy of sewing, but sometimes that is painful - especially when there are fitting issues.

All righty: I decided to make the vest from McCall 5193. I keep thinking that this is a Vogue Pattern because the fit was so difficult. Usually, I only have minor issues with McCall (in addition to my standard adjustments which I expect). Fortunately, I knew that I had to make muslin since it is a close fitting vest. Honestly, I think I could have drafted the pattern from scratch a lot faster. That muslin had so many tucks, fabric additions, etc. etc. that there was no way I could transfer all that "stuff" to the pattern. Finally, I got it to fit! I am proud of myself with that. So often, I just give up and go to some other pattern. I had this vest in my head and come h___ or high water I was going to do it. I ended up cutting the vest apart on the seam lines and tracing the muslin pieces on pattern paper. (The muslin fabric was flimsy (a mistake but I thought I might has a wearable muslin. lol). Here's a picture of my work in progress:

On the fabric, the white "thingys" are my fabric weights and the yellow stick dots show the piece and what side. Yes, I had to fit each side separately since I am assymetrical and it REALLY showed with this pattern. After I traced the fabric piece, I added the seam allowance. I'm accustomed to American patterns and didn't want to thread trace my stitching lines. I have cut out the vest and started sewing it. So far, it is going together well. That is the Joy of Sewing: learning new skills and meeting a challenge. I sure hope the sewing continues to go well so I can keep up the positive attitude.

Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday. You are looking at our refrigerator message board where we write important things like meal plans and stuff that we'd better get done right away. Usually, those things are chores or errands. It's nice just to write a fun message. Below the message board is a close up of the smiley faces drawn by DD and her husband. I smile whenever I look at them. They are a great way to start the day.

It's been a wonderful day so far. I took a class at the local Bernina Center to learn sewing on leather. It's so easy that I can't believe how long I avoided it! Actually, I sewed a pleather fold-over purse that's finished except for sewing on a button. Sewing friends are so much fun!! As for my age, I'll just say that I'm at an age where I'm grateful that I'm healthy, feel good, and can haul my heavy Bernina to class.

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Here's the blue embroidered blouse with the sleeves eased from notch to notch. I still don't think it is a very flattering style made in heavier fabric. If I ever made it again (which I doubt), I definitely would use light weight fabric. The capris are Lois Hines Cruise pants. I love the in-seam pockets. It's one of my favorite quick and easy TNTs. The fabric is a tencel/denim - winkle free and one of the most comfortable fabrics I've ever worn. I wish that I could find some more of it. Yes, I know, Tim Gunn, I should never wear capris as they make me look shorter. Sometimes, I had rather be comfortable than look tall. Besides, I wasn't planning on meeting Tim Gunn for a critique or a runway show.

Parting Shot:

This is my youngest DGS and DH playing checkers at Cracker Barrel. Aren't they adorable?

Turtle Progress

I'm back from vacation and, mostly, caught up with all the after-vacation stuff ... the e-mails, the snail mail, bills, laundry, etc. I'm ignoring things like weeds in the yard. This vacation will go on record as the worst yet because DH was sick, coughing day and night and grumpy! Also, he loosened the screw on his glasses. I would have had fun with "he has a loose screw" but decided not to joke with a man who doesn't feel well. My vacation challenge was finding an optician in an area where directions were things like "You know where the old Albertson's was - it's right there". Actually, I did find an Optician - not the one I called but one who could fix it. On the plus side, the condo was super and so was the weather. I went walking everyday on the beach. I finished reading "World Without End" which was long but excellent. Then, I settled into vacation reading of Nora Roberts. One was a romance novel - so boring I can't remember the name. The other was "The Hollow", the second book in a trilogy. It's the typical Nora Roberts: amazing woman finds amazing man and together they fight demons. I enjoyed reading the book - perfect for vacation. I'll read the third book when it's available in December. Sometimes, I like knowing there is a positive ending and the demons are killed or suppressed. I sure wish the world would be like that - soon - I can use some good news on the tele and newspapers.

On the sewing side, I'm progressing at a slow, steady turtle pace. I finished a pair of tencel/denim capris and fixed the blue blouse with the puffy sleeves. I wore them on vacation and got several compliments on the blouse. I'm glad that I made the effort to fix those sleeves. As soon as my photographer stops coughing, I'll get a photo to post. Also, I just need to hem the Vogue 4076 blouse that I made from the deco dress fabric. It looks a lot better than the dress. I want to use my new coverstitch machine for the hem. I just haven't made the time to play with the machine that is still sitting in the box (sad!). I purchased it on sale at a good price, knowing I might not get to play with it for a while.

Mr. Postman brought me this brown and natural organic cotton while I was on vacation. It's another sale item, of course. It's still pricey but excellent quality with a good drape. The stash light-weight cotton twill goes with it perfectly. I plan to do some kind of tailored blouse with it. That means the vest needs to stay opened. Right now, I think that it would look better if I didn't do buttons. We'll see once I decide on the blouse pattern. Here's the M5193 pattern for the vest and skirt:
I plan to use the brown blouse fabric for piping around the vest. I've done piping on a pillow but this will be new learning with the corners on the vest. I've checked Kenneth King's "Cool Tricks". I hope that he rescues me!!

Parting Shot:
This is my fabric consultant, Harry, in the afternoon sun-a dailey ritual. Since he is a white cat, he prefers black fabric (leaving white hair to mark his spot). Since I've been home, he paws and kisses my face numerous times during the night. That interupts my sleep but I have a hard time fussing at him when he's being so loving. I believe he missed me.

August Mini Wardrobe Complete!

Oops, it's already October. I can believe how fast time goes! I did finish the wardrobe in September, but didn't get around to posting. It's much too late to show the entire wardrobe together (The white skirt and jacket will be wonderful next summer, but not right now.) Anyway, I finished a pair of beige pull-on pants to wear with the blouse. I used the MyLabel pattern and added side pockets from LH Cruise Pants. I can wear both of these items for the next couple of months here in Florida.

The pants fit great (love My Label for pants!). The hem on the blouse is level when I wear it and the sleeves on the same length. My right side is just lower than the left. DH is so busy now that I don't want to wait for photos wearing the garments. Here's a review of the blouse:

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Pattern Description:

Loose-fitting, yoked, 3/4 length sleeve. There are various other sleeve lengths.

Pattern Sizing:

6-14 I made size 12.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

It looked similar, but the sleeves were different.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I love the yoke front with gathers that do not look like maternity wear. I disliked the sleeves. These sleeves are too puffy for me.

Fabric Used:

linen for the yoke and light weight rayon for the blouse

Pattern Alterations or any design changes that you made:

I did a lot of alterations for this pattern. Most of the alterations were ones I typically make.

I inserted the sleeve with ease from the notch to notch rather than higher at the dots as instructed in the pattern. That works okay for this light weight fabric but still has too much ease for heavier weight fabric. (I made another one in embroidered cotton.) Also, I reduced the width of the sleeves by an inch. When easing, I sew 2 rows of 2.5 length stitches (rather than basting) and pull the bobbin thread to gather. I can control the ease much easier that way. Other adjustments were a slight FBA on the right side, lowered the right side by 1/2", my typical sway back adjustment, and shortened the length by 2". I stitched on the sleeves and then sewed the side seams and sleeves at one time which I find much easier. Although the pattern didn't state it in the instructions, I understitched the yoke at the neck edge.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I probably won't sew this pattern again. If I do, I will reduce the sleeve ease. I might use the yoke in another pattern but I doubt it. There are too many patterns out there that I want to try. I do recommend it to anyone who looks at the pattern carefully and likes the puffy sleeves. It probably would be a good pattern for someone much younger than I am.

Conclusion:

This is an easy to sew pattern with a well designed yoke. With the very puffy sleeves, it probably is more suitable for teenagers or someone in their twenties.

Well, I'm off to finish packing and straighten the house a bit. We're leaving for Ft. Myers tomorrow for a week of R&R. In the sewing department, I have a few things that I'm finishing up (including the blouse from the Deco Dress fabric) and, then, I'll work on another contest that I entered. Yes, I know that I never finish a contest on time but I do finish them later. Maybe this time I'll meet the deadline. lol

Parting Shot:

Yes, Judyl, the water from Fay finally drained away and, fortunately, we did not get much rain from the following hurricanes. This picture was taken a few days ago. I can walk on the grass although it is a bit soggy. I do miss seeing the ducks.

The Saga of the HP Cosmo Dress

Here's the finished dress - well, finished except for the hems. I was sooo excited about making this dress. It's just too bad that it looks awful on me. I would never wear it. I even tried on the muslin again to check if I just missed something. It looked okay but not great. I thought the problem was just ugly fabric. The muslin was a dark brown jersey which didn't make me look as heavy as this lighter colored dress. As DH said, this dress is not one of my finer moments. Part of the problem was not enough fabric in the blue print to make the dress. I spent an afternoon trying different combinations and just could not quite make it. What a bummer! I think the dress would have been wearable in one fabric. That is history, unfortunately. I searched my stash and found a white knit that worked well with the blue print. Actually, things went along pretty well until I sewed the side seams and tried it on for hemming. I looked awful and would never wear the dress. Then, I had to decide. I could make it a wadder (the trash can looked pretty good right them), finish it and take it to Goodwill for someone to wear, or make a blouse out of the skirt fabric. I finally decided on the third option and V4076 is in process. Wow! I almost bowed out of labor day activities to stay in my sewing room and finish the dress in time for the Mini Wardrobe Contest. Okay, I thought about it for about 2 minutes.

Since I last posted, life has been beyond chaotic. I have finished (except for hemming) a pair of brown rayon pullon pants which works well with the other 3 garments in my mini wardrobe. I am determined to finish the wardrobe although the deadline is long past. Also, I'm working on a white jersey top from V4076 (sewing it assembly line method with the blue print). I'm leaving for Philadelphia tomorrow to spend a long weekend with my daughter, her husband, and 3 German Shepherds. I am more than ready to get away and this trip promises to be fun (although not sewing related -- I need a break!) When I get back, I am hoping to get these projects finished and post pictures --- of some things that I can wear!

Simplicity 2938 - Jacket

Project Details:

Pattern: Simplicity 2938

Fabric: 100% Tencel from Sewing Studio

Notion: 1 inch double fold bias tape

Description: Loose fitting, unlined jacket with raglan sleeves

This is my first completed item for the Mini-Wardrobe contest. Actually, I have the matching skirt completed except for the hem (on the agenda today!). Both the blouse and dress are about 1/3 finished. Yep, I'm cutting it very close. Will I finish by midnight Sunday? I'm going to try my best. If I don't have any major problems or unexpected events (like a Tropical Storm coming through), I probably will be done.

I like this jacket a lot and so does DH. He caught me trying it on and had lots of complimnets. I'll make this one again for Spring and Summer. It will be great to wear in those chilly restaurants. I used a lighter weight fabric than suggested. I simply have to use some stash fabric. I've had the tencel for a couple of years. With a cotton batiste underlining, it worked fine. Since I'll be taking it on and off frequently, I didn't want serged seams. The bound seams did the trick, but I plan to try french seams next time. I tried many different buttons and, finally, decided not to use any of them. If I want to dress it up a bit, I plan to use a decorative pin. I shortened the jacket 2 inches and another 1 inch in the back (not sure why it was longer in the back, but it just looked sloppy). That was the only alteration I made. Usually, I have a laundry list of changes, but this is one of the advantages of a loose fitting garment.

Parting Shot:

This picture of the backyard was taken on Sunday (2 days after Faye had left the area). Our property line ends at the grass at the back of the picture. We did have a "bit" of flooding. If you look closely, you can see the 3 ducks taking a swim in our yard lake. I'm glad that "lady" has left our area although we still have flooding. In some areas near the St John's River (about 20 miles from us), it is bad. I am grateful that our only problems are lost sewing time and a slightly warped boat dock. DH is unhappy about the latter problem