February Wrap Up & March MAGAM Challenge

I didn't sew a ton this month! I knew last month was some sort of freakish stress management sewing craze but...in the month of February I managed to do very little it seems!

I acquired another 19 yards of fabric (dang you Fabric Mart!!) and only used 8. Oops.

Stash used/items sewn:

• McCall's 5523 in black - 1 yard
• (2) Deer & Doe Plantain in red plaid and white - 3.5 yards total
• (2) Burda Style 11/2012 #136A in black and offwhite polka-dot - 2 yards total
• Newsboy hat in camel/white - .5 yard total
• Butterick 5965 in lavender - 1 yard (cut but not yet sewn. Was to be worn with black skirt)

 I decided to pass on sewing my February project right now for MAGAM; the Burda Illusion jacket as it's just still ridiculously cold here and it won't be worn anytime soon and that makes me sad.

Did you see Melody's version?! Check it out here!

For March I plan to sew the high waist pants from a Simplicity 1940's retro pattern!!

S4044







I wanted this pattern anyway and then I saw Shanni's version
 
 
And uhmm - yes please! I think they will look pretty good on me and I certainly have some type of suiting in my stash that would work...so I am going for it!

I will be in the sewing room this weekend as the hand is feeling much, much better. I won't over do it though...or at least I will try not to :)

Since I couldn't sew the other day (and yesterday was a 14 hour day almost), I cleaned. I am so ready to get in here and get some stuff done!

 

I need to make nicer covers!

 

I sold a TON of my yarn stash last weekend. Bye-bye crocheting :-(

The fabric stash has infiltrated the knitting cabinet

 

Stash. Stash. Stash. 

 

Burda tracing sheets in ziplocks and watermelon pop rocks. Don't judge me! ;-)

 

The random table I scored for free. This table is invaluable when I am working! Keeps my cutting table free of the extra stuff

 

This is the first time I am wearing this top and I made it MONTHS ago. For some reason, I don't like it though I feel like I *should* like it. It fits pretty well and it has raglan sleeves (!!!!). I want to sew some simple, light tops with my ITY and this should be a candidate...but I haven't fallen in love with it.

Party Wear and February MAGAM Challenge

Still feeling blah.

I did not sew this weekend. It was so horrid. I tried. I tried to go into the sewing room but I felt so weak and nauseous on Saturday that I just couldn't. Wahhhhhh! Makes me shudder at how the entire month of September I did not sew, I did not buy fabric, I did not buy patterns. It was all utterly depressing. I wanted so badly to go to JoAnn's on Saturday to use my 60% off fabric coupon but I couldn't.

I did start the cataloging of patterns though. I've already found a few that were not in PR and about 4 that I have duplicates of. Oops.

Friday when I left work I was on the search for a sparkly cardigan. I had 20 minutes. As I was driving I remembered I had to pass Clothes Mentor. It's like "Once Upon a Child" for grown ups! It's not really a consignment store...you sell your "gently worn" (I hate that term) clothing to them for pennies and they re-sell for profit. They do carry some designers (way overpriced, imo) and I've totally been told they don't take garments from like Target and Express yet I saw garments from Express/Limited (same, imo) and the dress I bought is a Mossimo dress! Oy!!

ANYWAY, I tried on like 7 dresses and they all had sausage effect. I was discouraged. I also did not want to pay $22 for a used Gap cardigan (it was silver and sparkly and cute but $22?!). I found this simple sheath in the XL section (I was initially looking in the M which is why everything was horrific, apparently) and it was only $8! EIGHT DOLLARS! Snatched it right up. I liked the way it fits too. Of course I noticed right away that the neckline is too big on me (gaped a bit at front and back) and the armscye was too low. hahahaha! But I don't seem to have the same problems finding RTW that fits as many of my fellow sewers so I will consider that a blessing. While slightly too big at the neckline/armhole, it fit very well in the bust, waist and hip. And the length was perfect. Totally taking measurements from this dress when I am ready to make a sheath.

**I got lots of positive comments about sewing a lined dress however, I do not like the Cambie! (sorry!). Any other contenders for first lined dress you all can think of?

I also was tsk tsk'ing the dress for not having facings. So I kept thinking the lining was going to turn out in the front. But it was $8! Paired with my fa-vor-ite teal suede pumps and stockings (I *LOVE* stockings, hate pantyhose, and these have cool silicone strips so they actually stay put and don't slide down! And I've owned this pair for years, and have no clue where I bought them. :sadface:)

 

Overexposed to show the metallic threads

 

Ignoring the cat hair that has made it's way on to the dress... :) A little detail shot

 

I heart these shoes!

As usual, it was a great party, the food was SPECTACULAR and I only had 2 deserts. ;-)

For February I was thinking a vest (which I may still make) but I really want this jacket for spring and I am willing spring to come by March 1st. (it totally won't but a girl can dream)

It's reissued in the US edition of Burda Style; one of the patterns that is available for download vs. traceable in the magazine. It was originally in the 10/2012 edition; the Illusion Jacket. It has ponte sleeves which I think is pretty cool. I'm using this wool blend boucle from Fabric.com and pongee lining from FabricMart. Although after getting this pic, I'm thinking the lining is too green and I need something with more blue. We will see.

 In other news, my sweater is well on it's way! This yarn is one of the nicest acrylics I've ever used; but now I'm wishing I would have used a superwash. I don't think this yarn will hold it's shape well...although I also don't think I'm going to love the sweater. BUT I knew a test knit would make me "just knit a dang sweater already" and I won't be afraid to go ahead and start another one with the nicer yarn that I have.

 

Organization (again?!?!) and Sewing plans

I discovered a horror upon horrors...TWO patterns that are in my stash were not cataloged on Pattern Review!

GASP!

I keep my pattern stash updated there as it's easy to sort by company, category or both and decide what I should sew next. I like both sewing the popular things with tons of reviews and sewing the potential "sleeper" pattern with no reviews. So I was not happy about finding patterns that aren't in the log because I use that more often than my physical patterns to decide on a project.

So I printed out the list and will go through them sometime in the next week. I sorted by pattern name (you can't sort by 'type') because I should be able to then quickly go through and check things off.

Also, for my February MAGAM project I'm thinking a vest. I like vests...and I want a vest...My two patterns I'm deciding between are McCall's 6149 (view C) and Simplicity 1499 (view C).

I'll have to go home and "pet the stash" a bit to decide on a fabric. Definitely a dark color - you can never, ever have too much grey or black! The McCall's pattern is lined (which presents the opportunity for something fun on the inside), the Simplicity pattern is not. But the simplicity pattern has that cool asymmetrical zipper...while the McCall's pattern has a cool angled hem line. Decisions. Decisions. :)

Also, I cannot stop looking at the weird hip wrap that was a part of the 10-2013 US edition of Burda Style Magazine.

 

It's impractical. 

It's a bit weird. 

I like it.

I would make it using stash fabric...I have a cut of flannel, a cut of some heavy black fabric (twill?) that I got from the remnant bin at Hancock and some faux suede. It can't take that much fabric...

I mean, what's to lose?? We all know I am very good at laughing at myself and then moving on to something else! :)

Not much sewing will be happening today. Even though I planned ahead and picked up a rotisserie chicken for dinner tonight, my daughter needs help with precalc and when there is any sort of homework help going on between her and I, boy-oh-boy. She has already told me I should never be a teacher. ;-)

I hesitate to lay out plans because then I want to (quickly) diverge. But I'm thinking in the coming week I'll be sewing my BurdaStyle magazine pattern (that I traced!!), this hip wrap and perhaps a plain white (knit) top.

WAIT?!?!

Did I mention I scored BIG at Hancock the other day?? I happened to stop in for a Butterick pattern and spotted a knit fabric on the spot the bolt table that I liked the last time I was there for the stb sale. Well the dang fabric was $.69/yard!!! So I went back and grabbed every knit that I liked. There were no "good" wovens (I bet that wool got snatched up quickly!). And now, I'm upset I didn't grab that khaki colored cotton sateen!

Anywho, I ended up with 6 1/3 yards of white cotton knit(SCORE!), around 2 1/4 yard of the green heathered knit I was interested in, almost 2 yards of a purple/black argyle knit and about 2 3/4 yards of a funky red plaid knit for...$10!!! TOTAL!!

So expect a few white tops around here! :)

Finished: January MAGAM

Back on 1/1 (1/2?) you know...back then...I posted how January would be "The Month of the Jacket!!

And then last week explained my confuzzled brain will not allow me to digest complicated information right now so there's no jackets.


But my January garment is "a jacket"! Yay!


I made McCall's 6844 - for the 4th time. Hey, there is something to be said for making a garment that you've sewn a bunch of times already! Time flies!


I cut this out right away, perhaps on New Year's Day even and just hemmed it this morning. I just could not find matching thread. The thread I ended up using is a tad too light, but since the fabric has these lighter flecks in it, I think it's fine. Well, it is fine. I am wearing my cardi today.

I won't review it again; versions 1, 2 and 3 can be viewed on the blog! On this version I did do a 1/2" narrow shoulder adjustment, which helped a ton. 

This fabric is ahhh-mazing. It's a medium weight, fairly stable ponte from FM.  There's a little bit of it left!! (HERE)


Fabric: $11.19
Thread: $1.07



THEN I also forgot that I cut and got started on the S1699 jacket. And I hate it.

I'm going to add at least one sleeve to be sure it should just be scrapped...but it's too short, I don't like the fabric choice, and boooo! The good thing, it was a somewhat quick sew. It's a 3 piece pattern with only bust darts. Lining in the body but not sleeves (you can sew the whole lining and pull it through the sleeve opening!). Perhaps with a more stable fabric. This stuff was all shifty and is too fluid, imo.

 

It looks all loosey goosey

(pardon my messy room!)

 

Boooooo! Bag city.

 

What in the world happened here?!

I'm not one that feels a burning need to finish UFOs. Why waste precious time?? But I will try to fix that neckline business, attach a sleeve, and reassess.

Mojo-a-Go-Go

I have 2 other finished items, one in the works and possibly a 4th by the weekend. I want to get some good pics and considering it's dark when I leave home and dark when I return home...I'll just wait and take pics and blog on Sunday. 3 of the 4 are items I've made before so "easy", somewhat mindless sewing. Just what I needed this week!

December Garment Finished: Simplicity 1783

Simplicity 1783



Meh.

Not much to say; review below.

Review:

Pattern Description: 

Misses' pleated blouse with a peek-a-boo slit and bias bound neckline with long or short sleeves. Cropped pants and mini skirt have fly front and patch pockets with optional top or side entry; skirt has front inverted pleat. Cynthia Rowley Pattern Collection.

Pattern Sizing:

12-20; I cut an 18

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

Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes. It was pretty straightforward and the fly instructions were good. The front inverted pleat is super easy to do; I thought it was more complicated than it is.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I didn't like the shape of the fly shield, it's odd.

I don't like the boxy shape and the length. However, it was my fault for not noticing it says "mini skirt" and not checking the finished length.

Fabric Used:

Dark brown corduroy from Hancock

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

Slightly larger seams from hip to waist. I should have cut a 16 waist, grading to an 18 hip.

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

I won't sew it again. I had high hopes when I initially bought this pattern and when I saw Rachel's version, it was bumped up in queue. It just looks so blah on me...

Conclusion: 

Meh. I am starting to realize every time I take a day off and spend it in the sewing room, I end up with a wadder!

**********gratuitous cat shot************

She was "lost" in the house for nearly two days. I was worried out of my mind!!!! If you've got time, you have to read through the stories on Pattern Review. Cats are crazy! :-)

December Garment of the Month, Finished NL 6230... and Stuff

I didn't finish my November garment. Wait...I didn't start my November garment. Tis okay...no one will be flogged. Right? Right?!?!

I have a ton of gift sewing to do for December so I am going to make my December garment an easy one. I've been wanting a corduroy skirt and picked up some brown (not pinwale but a small wale...) cord from Hancock. I think I am going to make S1783, view D. It has those cute patch pockets and an inverted pleat in front. Love. Love. Love.


I got all of my gift patterns traced off and (the pattern) cut out. I finished one small thing yesterday (can't blog yet!).  Today, I'll be working til 8 p.m. so I won't get any sewing done but hopefully I can cut a couple of things out.

I also ordered a bunch of fabric. Yes, I bought some stuff last week but that wasn't for me (edited to add: that's a lie. In my Black Friday haul I got moleskin and lace and a knit that I made into a tee. I lie. I lie.) and plus FabricMart had suitings for $1.99! 100% wool! Rayon/Mohair blends, Wool blends...for $1.99!! Plus they had a bunch of bright lining material for $1 and I couldn't resist. I have 8 yards of lining and a bunch of other yardage of fabric on it's way to me. Will blog about fabric hoarding when it arrives.

Finished another view of NL 6230 with the plum knit scored at Hancock and some leather-look fabric (also from there in the dancewear/costume/etc section)

Me and that left shoulder...

 

 

Worn with my "new" <$5 jeans! With the yellowish lighting the color is off, but the sleeves and neckline are black, the body (front and back) is this deep plum. It's super cute.

 

Simplicity's site is slow yet AGAIN and I can't link to the site...Boo you Simplicity!

 

 

 Check out Adrienne's SUPER cute version of the tee, HERE

*************************************************************
So, when I make something, I am immediately blogging it. I'm too excited about it not to. BUT, I think I am realizing how important it is to wear something first so you can give a more accurate review of the pattern.

I found this

And HAD to have it. It was gorgeous! The colors were so vibrant and I loved the thick/thin stripes. It had a bit of a sheen to it too and I knew it had to become a fun weekend-top.

Well, I wore it ONCE. And well...

 

Yes, the pic is dark but you can still see that that blue is NO WHERE near as bright as it was before AND it sprouted holes. And my husband is the laundry whisperer. (I'm the type that washes and dries e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. And...Dry Cleaner? What's that?)

 

 

So, yeah. I was really tempted to buy more of it when Hancock had their knits on sale because I could see it being a SUPER cute summer dress. But not if it wears that poorly. Ah well. Live and learn.

 

In other news, I'm knitting a cowl for a test and it's going along well. One day, I will replace all of my acrylic yarns with yummy luxe yarns. One day :)



Back to the Cave!

I am getting a divorce.

JUST KIDDING! LOL!!!

Last night, my husband assured me there is no evidence of rodents in the sewing cave - BUT - that there was evidence when we first moved and that the old dryer that was being stored in the corner had a dead mouse underneath

I was HORRIFIED! How can you keep this from meeeeeee?!!? So he's moving the old fridge and dryer out and I will still make him set traps over in that (kind of scary) corner. Deepest sigh, ever.

However, I have not even started sewing my jacket for my November garment. Boooo. I just concluded that muslining isn't for me. I have to have the right circumstances...because it just makes my interest drop in the garment. I sew for fun and that is no fun! I'm going to push myself to do it because I really like that jacket and I like the fabric I chose for it. I also scored 3 "new"* pair of jeans today and think it'll be cute to wear to work with jeans.

*"new" as in my 15 year old has put me up on thrift shopping. Today the entire store was 20% off. I got a duplicate (EXACT DUPLICATE) of a pair of pants that I loved and that had died. I planned on taking them apart to use as a pattern and I found them again. Woohoo! Although...the new pair is a size larger than the old pair (sad face). I also got a pair of DKNY jeans that make my butt look good and a pair of Tommy Hilfiger jeans. All 3 for $15.38 (we don't have sales tax on clothing here which also means fabric(!). A reason to love the tundra...)

My sewing goal for December?

To be the unselfish seamstress. I have several gift items I want to make. I can't say specifically on two of them because my friend reads the blog (HA! I see you!!) but gifts for my 2 friends for sure.

This apron for my mom:

M5720, the ruffled version with the top added (to make it a full apron)

These pj bottoms for my dad:

M4244 (which for some reason has a finished inseam of like 30.5")

This jacket for my daughter:

Lekala 4011 in thee brightest green sweatshirt fleece ever.

And this sweatshirt for the boy, if I can find the fabric I have in mind. I'll have to go to SR Harris to have any hope, I believe. If I can't find it, I'll be making him pj pants too :)

M6614

And other sewing plans, not for Christmas gifts:

M6614 again for my daughter and a matching sweatshirt for baby K using M6393. 

That seems like a lot of sewing but...the apron and the pj pants are each a one day project. The other gifts I'd say a weekend. And then for the kids' sweatshirts, I have longer than I have for the things I'm mailing...so I think I'll be okay.

Today I cut them all (rough cuts) and tomorrow will do the bulk -and hopefully all- of the tracing. 

(I want that Lekala sweatshirt for myself too!!!!!!)

I did a little Black Friday shopping...got fabric for some of the above gifts, got 2 yards of navy moleskin for something for myself and scored an 8 yard bolt lightweight fusible Pellon interfacing on JoAnn.com for $2.99 with FREE shipping! I got two. I should be set for awhile. I should've bought more!!! :)

********

Edited to add my ($65) Black Friday haul

3 yards of fleece, 1 1/2 yd of knit, 7 yards of broadcloth, 2 1/2 yards of quilting cotton, 3 bolts of lightweight fusible, 3 patterns, 5 colorful denim zippers, 4 buttons, 4 spools of thread, 2 packs of bias tape, a fat quarter, a lace remnant, and 2 yards of moleskin. Not bad at all.

Make a Garment a Month Challenge: November Plans

I have tons of plans in my head but the garment I'm focusing on for the challenge is this collarless jacket from Simplicity 1699, a 'Sew Stylish' pattern.

I'm going to use this cotton/rayon blend plaid from Fabric Mart, scored for the low, low price of $4/yd! :)

The part on the right shows the color the best

But this photo shows the pattern

I have several plaids that are a little bold for pants but that would make great jackets and blazers. I figured this pattern would be good to cut my teeth on because it doesn't have too many seams. Bonus --  this jacket uses less than 1 1/2 yards of fabric. I will have a whole yard left!!! Pencil skirt?

Now, what color lining should I use??

I'm not sure if I'm going to do the trim but am thinking I might take the risk and make welt pockets. Eek! :) I hope to get a muslin done in the next week!!

Finished Items: Butterick 5926 and McCall's 6796

I finally finished the jacket!

I had intentions on adding bias tape to the seams but since it's a little too large I won't...I'll save that for jacket #2.  I think it's a solid pattern despite my issues with the collar. It fits well and went together quickly. I will not add interfacing on #2 if I use a similar weight ponte. I will only interface the buttons and button hole areas. Well and the collar.

I wore it all day yesterday and it was pretty comfy. Due to the shoulders being too large, I ended up rolling the sleeves up (it's striped on the inside!). I thought it gave it a more casual look that helped with the large shoulders

At Charming Charlie with my favorite girl! :) We had lunch at Smash Burger then bought some cool accessories!

On Lily

Weird puckery collar deal. Meh.

Pattern Review here

So, instead of getting all worked up, I continued ahead with my SWAP plans. I made this top, McCall's 6796 in a light jersey knit. It's black with a silvery stripe throughout. But it's kind of see through! Oops! I hate that I'll have to wear a cami under it (cami + top + some type of jacket or sweater because it's sleeveless) but...it was pretty easy to view the cleavage in the bathroom and those lights suck.

You can see Lily's boobs!!!! LOL!

Pattern Review here

I started my pants and got to the zipper and completely blanked on what to do. I'll be refreshing myself with YouTube vids! They're a black/grey fabric and will have a purple zipper and purple hem tape - yep! :)

After the pants will be a button front shirt in light purple and a white top (probably Maria Denmark's Kimono Tee).

I cut a vest too. That I plan to make in an animal print. Me. Animal print. We'll see if I wear it. I'm making it in fleece so as to not get too broken hearted over it if I hate it. Fleece is cheap. I can always make one out of nice fabric if I love it!!

Lastly, I have taken over my lunch bag to be a project bag for the socks I'm knitting. So I quickly (like in under 10 minutes), sewed this little bag to tote small in progress knits.