Win Some, Lose Some: Vogue 9032, InHouse Kimono Tee, Butterick 6104

Another pair of Vogue 9032 pants! Dark denim so details were hard to capture...however I love them -  of course!

We shall say I put the fly shield this way on purpose; a design feature of sorts!! ;-)

Can never get that part of the waistband to turn when I use contrasting fabric for the facing. I don't tuck shirts so it's not a big deal but...grrr!

I added 1" to the waistline as I was afraid the denim wouldn't have enough give. I don't think I needed it...

These are an awesome addition to my wardrobe!

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Earlier this week, Pattern Review had 20% off all pdf patterns and I had PayPal money 'burning a hole'. I went ahead and scooped up the In House Kimono tee (and the Named Jamie jeans).

When I should have been quilting; I was sewing a new tee! 

I have a lot of this animal print fabric (I made capri length leggings for pj pants from it) and knew I would have a black scrap big enough for the yoke. I decided this would be good muslin material -- if it failed I could have a crazy animal print pj set and if it was good I would have a cute little tee!

And SCORE!

The medium has a finished bust of 43.75" AND the same measurement at waist and hem. In some magical, mystical way, this shirt manages to be boxy and flattering. I really, really like it!

I think the center front is a tad too short (but I like the slight dip in the back hem) and I need some more room in the arm opening. 

Gathers at the shoulder? Awesome

V-neck? Awesome

Speaking of...I've not yet sewn a v-neck and was a bit nervous to do this one! The instructions were straightforward but I still managed to screw it up a bit. I did this part on my machine (no way was I going to attempt it on the serger!) and it's *okay* but I know I can do better. I'm almost certain it will not stop me from wearing this tee. tomorrow. 

There's a seam at center front and back. You could eliminate the CB seam if you weren't going to say, do a swayback adjustment or if you are using stripes and aren't trying to have extra seams to match up!

Again, this pattern is drafted for a D cup which is a total and complete WIN for the busty! 

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Yes, I did say you lose some.  I finished my B6104 jacket and was so excited!! But it doesn't work. It just does not work. It fits so differently from my red one and I don't like it :(

I'd worked pretty hard on it too!

Looked good here...

Pretty insides!

The faux-pels...

I made a 1/2" shoulder pad and pinned it in on the right side so keep that in mind when you look at these photos! LOL!

ALL of these pictures to show that no matter what I did, I STILL did not like it.

Hopefully I can find it a home.

*I bought my denim fabric from Hancock fabrics and animal print knit, brown wool and pink pongee lining from FabricMart! :)

November Wrap-Up

I'm just going to stop saying 'I won't sew much'.

This month I've sewn:

• In-House Belle blouse in printed voile - 1.5 yards
• S2061 sweatpants in black & grey - 1.5 yards
• M7046 top in blue/white printed jersey - 1 yard (wadder)
• BS7136 shirt in blue shirting - 1.5 yards
• V9032 pants in black/grey herringbone suiting - 2.25 yards
• S2054 sweatshirt dress in grey fleece for my daughter - 1.5 yards
• BS6919 dress in black ponte - 1.5 yards
• BS6990 turtleneck in charcoal ponte - 1.5 yards (Needs to be saved from wadder-ville)
• BS7136 shirt in plaid shirting - 2 yards
• V9032 pants in denim - 1.75 yards (wip)

Total yards sewn this month: 16

Fabric in this month - ZERO! ZILCH!! NADA!!!!! :-)

I'd have to call my V9032 herringbone pants my favorite this month. I've only had them for 2 weeks and can't tell you how often they are worn! Definitely a go-to pattern for me! I'm also smitten with my Belle bow blouse and feel like my life won't be complete until I sew it in challis! ;-)

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Burda 6990 was on my wish list for like, ever. And the last time they went on sale I snatched it up. At one point I tried it on and ended up sewing 3/8" seam allowance through the sleeve and bust and went back to a 5/8" SA below. Great! 

And then I sewed on the turtleneck.

And I *KNOW* I have a big head. Well...I have a big neck too, apparently!  I thought I was going to faint. My breathing was being cut off and I had to get it OFF! BUT I know that I can remove it and either change it to more of a cowl or just use a bigger piece. I'm sure it's because it's ponte (e.g., there's not much stretch. I should try it in a rayon jersey...)

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Simplicity 2054 for my DD. She wanted a sweatshirt dress (tunic) and though I knew a raglan would be perfect, I was being lazy and didn't want to cut a new pattern (was going to use NL 6298). I had her try on my black & white version and she liked the oversized fit. 

So I used the size 14, folding the neck/shoulders back to a 10. I am enamored with the deep hem!!! I think it's 2.5". It made it slightly tough to sew since the dress flares but it was worth it.

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In the thick of the Fabric Mart contest, I started a second B6104 (first one here) in brown wool. It has languished in it's blue bin, awaiting it's turn to be sewn!!!

I wanted to sew but didn't want to cut anything out and in my infinite wisdom... I'd labeled all the pieces and had them pinned together!

I COULD HAVE KISSED MYSELF!!!!!!!

At the last notions sale I picked up another box of pins because, where the heck did they all go?

My princess seams were pinned and waiting to be sewn! HA!

I assembled the shell and hemmed and hawed over lining colors and went with the light pink(again). I cut it all out last night.

This pattern has fake lapels. Faux? Pseudo? We'll see how it comes together.

The lining is about halfway assembled. I just need to sew the peplum to the bodice, set the sleeves, and I'll be ready to bag it.

Random Post #817

That's a made up number. I often make up numbers and they almost always have a 7 in them. 7 is my favorite number!! :)

First, THANK YOU everyone for all of your kind thoughts on my winning last week's challenge!!!

I had an amazing time with my mom and brothers (and one of my sister-in-laws!) in Chicago this weekend. Friday night I got 2.5 hours of sleep! 2.5! It was crazy but felt so good. I ate copious amounts of bad-for-you Chicago-style food. I had pineapple soda!!! Mmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!! And I got to see a cousin who is now 20 years old that I haven't seen since she was about 2.

I usually look but don't buy when I'm there because their sales tax is north of 9% and here we have no tax on clothing or shoes. I really(!) liked this pair of Sorel's but I can totally buy these anywhere.

But then I saw this and we no longer have Wilson's Leather stores near me so I grabbed this beauty

I got home and had a FabricMart order; I don't have a picture. I got 3 yds of the same black/white stripe I made the asymmetrical Burda tee from, 1.5 yds of winter white pinwale corduroy to make a skirt and 4 yds of white ponte.

Then today I got a package from an Instagrammer. A great assortment of patterns! I only own 2 of them already so it was super cool to get some new patterns for the stash.

There is a saga to tell this week about my FabricMart bundle challenge outfit - that'll be Thursday. After I finished my outfit I needed to sew something. I needed something easy but not fast and chose to cut my other Butterick 6104 jacket. There's no rush on this one :)

This as far as I got. Well...I also have the other pieces pinned and ready to sew. 

Lastly, be sure to check out the new Vogue patterns! It's mostly holiday dresses and then a few other odd (to me) patterns.  Nothing stands out for me as a 'must buy'. 

I keep begin swayed by raglan tops/tees. They're just so cute! But I have at least 4 or 5 already and I know it's not the best for my narrow shoulders. (LOOK at that last view!). Sigh...

I really like this Tilton jacket (not the fabric chosen for the photo though). I might buy this one.

Do you have any new patterns you're itching to buy from the Winter collection!?

September Wrap-Up & FabricMart Fabricista Challenge Week 5

I WON!!!!!! 

Oh my gosh! Thank you everyone who voted for me! I get freeeeee fabric and sewing goodies this week! 

Yay me!!! 

Head on over to the Fabric Mart blog to see next weeks challenge. We got mystery bundles and we have to create an outfit using FOUR of the fabrics we received. There's pics of the bundles we received on the blog :)

Now, Hold on to your hats.

September was a record month. It started out like any other month...

Wait, no it didn't! I started the month off with a 5 day weekend and though it was an over-scheduled one, I knew I'd be having some sew-a-palooza. I started out sewing a second pair of pants (The 1st was technically sewn in August). And the rest is history. (what's up with me and bad quotes today??)

S2700 pants in black cotton something blend: 2.25

B6104 jacket in red print cotton/wool blend suiting 2

Grainline Scout tee in black challis w/ivory charmeuse overlay 2 (contest sewing)

S1317 tees for my daughter 3.25

NL6123 dress in purple wool crepe 2.5 (contest sewing)

V8993 cardigan in black/grey 2.25

V1411 pants in berry ponte 1.75

RTW copy top in printed jersey 1.5 (contest sewing)

S1775 cape in carpet fabric poly woven 2 (not yet blogged)

S1314 dress in red moleskin 2 (contest sewing)

Burda Style 08/2014 #132 tee in black/white stripe 1.75

Kwik Sew 3299 tee for my son in blue jersey 1.25 (not yet blogged)

M6612 tee in hatchi knit 1.75 (not yet blogged)

M6360 leggings in animal print jersey 1 (not yet blog)

Total Sewn: 27.25 yards 

I can't designate a favorite this month. It's too hard!!! :) 

I'm not making any plans for October. 

1) Luckily, I am still in the contest - yay! and there are 2 more challenges. 

2) I am traveling like 40% of the month.

I have SO many things that I want to sew. SO MANY. 

I went through my UFO bin and there are a few things that really need to be finished and put into my wardrobe. A few are summer items so I put them back to revisit later.

I should easily (hahahaha!) be able to stick to a fabric diet for the month. I need to sew some stash before buying more. Seriously. No, I'm for real!!!

I need a break from pattern buying too but I really want this new Style Arc pattern!!!!

Finished Item: Butterick 6104

I don't have great pics, sorry! I don't know why this haze is present!

Butterick 6104 is the only pattern from the latest release that I had to have. It has several views which gives different collar and length options,  princess seams, and is fully lined. 

Initially I freaked out and was all 'IT'S LINED TO THE EDGE!! WAHHHH!!!' but the front piece of the lining is cut from the fashion fabric.

Still deciding on closures...probably go with large sew-on snaps

I think part of the diagonal wrinkles are due to the lower left side of my body

I'll never wear the neck up like it is on the pattern envelope and like letting the collar just fall. Either it comes up higher than it appears on the pattern or I have a short neck. Whatevs.

I bagged the lining using Grainline's tutorial again. It's genius. I don't like hand sewing and don't mind the sleeve lining having visible stitching. I cut the sleeve lining 1/2" shorter than the sleeve and then used a 3/8" seam allowance.

I mentioned in my last post that I did a 1/2" narrow shoulder adjustment, lowered the front princess seams 1/2" (they could be another 1/2" lower). 

I used flannel cut in 2 1/2" strips on the bias for sleeve heads. When I used fleece in my other Butterick jacket, it felt a little too full. But this flannel is too thin. Ahhh. The sleeves went into the armholes beautifully. Thank. Goodness. 

I was pretty excited about this pattern until I reminded myself that I would have to sew alllllll those seams again in the lining. Bleh. Front and back princess seams, side seams, shoulder seams, all the peplum seams, sewing the peplum to the body, the sleeves. GOOD GRIEF! But the princess seams work so nicely that it's worth it!

Next time I'm going to do a slight swayback adjustment -- it looked good when I pinched out about 3/4" and pinned it. The back was nice and smooth. I will probably also cut the first peplum piece in the fashion fabric too.

Fashion fabric is a cotton/wool blend from FabricMart, lining is poly pongee in a pale blush pink.

Can we just talk a minute about fabric?

So, I sewed my floral S1696 pants in a 100% cotton. Then I sewed my S1803 dress in 100% cotton. Then I sewed the S2153 vest in 100% cotton. And this is a cotton/wool blend.

OHMYGOSH. EVERYTHING should be sewn with cotton!!! :)

Just sooooo easy to cut, mark, sew, press. Ahhhhhh

I thought this fabric was 100% cotton until I went to double check the date (Pattern Review fabric stash contest is running). That's when I saw that it was cotton/wool. Yes, it frays but holy cow was it well behaved!

I am taking a 2 day hiatus from sewing (yes, me) until the next challenge is announced -- assuming I make it to week 2!

Ciao!

WIP...and Stuff

Blogger.

Ugh. I think it's time to move platforms. I get that it's free but even if you're offering something for free (and you're GOOGLE), it should work. Seriously. 

Does anyone know if you get any better service when you have a paid site through Blogger? 

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We got our first challenge yesterday! We are to make a basic pattern...not-so-basic.

This challenge is actually going to be tough for me! Mainly because I'm not an embellisher. I just don't really have that type of eye. Secondly because I've avoided the Scout like the plague!  A dartless, pleatless, gatherless woven tee is scary when you have a full bust! So I'm kicking around some ideas to create a cute, one of a kind top that I'd love to wear. Wish me luck! :)

Read all about it here

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My jacket is progressing. I made a few tweaks to the pattern but perhaps it's not enough. The shoulder still looks a little too wide (maybe it'll improve when the lining is inserted?) and the bust point looks a little too high still.

(sorry to chop my head off...I looked crazy in this pic!)

Looking in the mirror, it appeared as if I had TONS of excess fabric in the middle of my back. So glad I finally got someone to take pictures...it isn't as bad as I thought. I'm guessing this is a swayback adjustment needed?? Also, I always forget about my lower left shoulder. Sure, I could cut two fronts but we know that's not going to happen. I usually just sew a slightly larger shoulder seam and "fix" it that way.

Does anyone know what to do about this little 'dead space' at the back of my upper arm? Is there a sleeve adjustment for this or is it just the way I'm standing? I'm not sure...

I had it on with a long sleeved knit tee to be sure multiple layers works. it was fine. I think the sleeve is a little full (from the bicep down) and perhaps shorten the sleeve hem just a tiny bit more (the right sleeve hem is pinned up).


Also, if you look at the front and back pics, the right sleeve is wonky!!! :) I set it first and thought it was pretty good...until I set the left one. It went in darn near perfectly and now ALL I can see is the right sleeve wonkiness! I'm going to be a good seamstress and rip it out and reset it.

 

ahhhh. The joy of finding PERFECTLY matched thread. Do you see red stitches?!? Me neither! LOL!

Now, I WILL wear this jacket as-is but I am also treating it as a wearable muslin. I love this pattern so far and want to make the view A (without contrasting lapels) and view D as-is for a lightweight fall coat. So I want to hash out the fitting issues.

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Jess of Sometimes Sewist is hosting Sew Selfless September! Now, when I started blogging I really wanted to call myself "the selfish seamstress" but she already existed (and should come back already!). The idea is to pledge to sew something for someone else this month. I do sew for my daughter here and there but think that this month I'll try "sewing for the boys" too.

She wanted a makeup bag but I pretty much have done horribly at making any sort of zippered bag/pouch/etc. So I was hesitant.

I found this tutorial by Flossie Tea Cakes and whaddya know! It worked!!

 

DD picked it all out after I gave her a pile of quilting cottons and the zipper basket to choose

Even with minor wonkiness I was SO proud that I immediately wanted to make another one!

For this one, I used this tute by Sew Mama Sew. I made it err, a little bigger... :) **I just realized I missed a step. I was thinking "this doesn't stand on it's own"...I forgot to do that part! If I can pry it away from her I might change it. Or just sew ANOTHER one! :)

 

I picked out this combo and she loved it.

I REALLY love these two together. I hope to get some more green zippers from Wawak and whip up a few of these for my nieces (I have like a thousand nieces! Ok...I have 8. But 3 of them are ADULTS. Sheesh!!)

Also, today is my parents 40th anniversary. YOWZA!  Love those two :-D