51 Shades of Grey...

(Thanks Bek!)

Soooo, in my last post, I whined about discussed how I have like 7,281 grey, black and white things. One could find it very ironic that the Sew Simple A1636 pattern that I made was cut out of...you guessed it! A b/w/g fabric. DOH!

And then...Since Jess of Sometimes Sewist made me complete my mini wardrobe, I needed a SUPER quick 5th piece. I decided on the Maria Denmark Kristen Kimono tee...in gray.

I've made this like 7 times so nothing new to add...well I did bands on the sleeve and hem to make it fast. And for the first time sewed them flat. I really liked this approach on the V1395 dress and on a casual item, I will definitely use the flat method from now on. I just did tiny stitches at the serged seam to keep it "down".

Laughing (HARD) at myself; I immediately redeemed myself by cutting another version of A1636...in a bright floral!

YAY! COLOR!

I had been looking for something like this for awhile and then Dina posted it here. I seriously went to WalMart the next day and bought it. I'll grab a couple more on my next trip and do a blog giveaway. 

So this pattern is like, the most awesome. It's super awesome. Super, really awesome. WHY don't regular Simplicity patterns fit like these?! This is my 2nd SS pattern and they are made so well and have really good instructions. Sheesh.

Front, back (bodice and skirt), front and back facings, pockets (optional-more on that later). Easy. Easy. Easy. It is so well made that it would be great for a beginner!

I cut a straight size 14 and made no adjustments. NONE. It fits very well at the neck/shoulders and the armscye is like, perfect.

Both dresses are made from rayon challis from Fabric Mart. I only had 1.5 yards of the snake print so it got a little dicey. I ended up having to do bias tape for the armholes from solid black challis. The floral print doesn't have pockets because pockets took a lot of time on the first one. I spent about 4 hours on dress 1 and exactly 2.5 hours on version 2. 

On BOTH dresses I miscalculated the width I needed on my bias tape and it doesn't cover the serged stitches. Oops.

The facings were sewn on, seams pinked, under stitched and I stitched in the ditch at the shoulders. I serged the loose edge. I will still need to tack it in a few places as it wants to move when I'm wearing it.

The pattern calls for 1/4" elastic but I used 3/8". I added 1/2" at the waist seam to account for the difference. Oh and it's kind of short. I don't know how long the finished length is but I know the hem is 1 1/4" and I did a 5/8" narrow hem. It's not too short but it's short.

And for kicks...

My daughter said "Mom, that's weird". hahahaha!

I'm going to be traveling but do have a couple of posts scheduled; a collage of my Mini Wardrobe and  my July wrap-up. 

Have a happy sewing weekend!!!

I'm here. I'm here!

It's always weird (to me) when so many days go by between blogging. Eek.

Work has been super busy. One of my coworkers is out on extended leave and I'm doing both of our jobs. 

I is tired. 

Yesterday I realized I hadn't sewn in days and started having twitches. But, my hand and wrist hurts so badly I knew I couldn't do much cutting. So starting DDs jacket was out. 

I went down, rifled through like 6 different patterns that were already cut out, and put them back and came upstairs. 

Ok, what do I *need*? I need short sleeve tops and pants. Ok, pants are out. Too much hand work. 

I had McCalls 6702 on the table for awhile. 

Then Erica B posted hers again yesterday. 

http://www.ericabunker.com/2014/06/what-im-wearing-weekend-wear-open-back.html?m=1

I pulled THAT out like, YESSSS. 

Wait. No. 

I need shirts for work. 

So I pulled out Simpliciy 2594 which I'd made sometime last year and this pretty (poly? Rayon?) that I got from Hancock fabrics. In the summer orange and yellow are MY colors! I get all tan and goldeny brown and they just pop. (Yes, goldeny is a word! Haha!). 

On Lily (hanging til it can be hemmed. It's a bias cut top) 

Super yummy fabric!

Them I cut a Maria Denmark kimono tee. Which is a 13 second project. I used a jersey from FabricMart

I added bands to the sleeve to have just a little more arm coverage

I just measured the circumference and matched it. I didn't want to lose any width. 

Last Monday when I was doing unselfish sewing, I had also cut another New Look 6150 out of ITY. The color looks great on me but it fits a litttttttle closer than I'd like. I decided to get it finished too...but then I did this:

AND it's in the front :( 

I have to unpick it, which serger stitches aren't that bad now, and redo it. 

I also went to see a band Friday night with my husband, went to see X-Men Saturday night with hubby and went to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier with the kids yesterday. 

And probably won't get back in the sewing room til Friday. :tears:

Did you have a sewing weekend?

Updated Skirt Pics and Finished Items: M6886 and Kimono Tee

So, don't mind my random grey tank...I liked the burnt orange with the brown...

I don't hate it as much, but I still don't love it :/

eh.

I also needed to sew today. Y'all know what I'm talking about...when you NEED to sew. When life is throwing lemons at you and it's the only thing that'll keep you sane!!! 

I was going to start a more complex top but didn't want to deal with possible frustration. I made another Kimono Tee in this CRAZY INSANE kinda different burnout, weird knit from FabricMart. It's animal prints and plaids and circles and crazy!! Sooo you have to make something super crazy simple. Enter my 1 yard, 1 hour pattern. I lengthened it 2 inches and tried to do rouching/shirring/gathering/whatever on the side seams. I just winged it and shirred 5" of fabric with a 3" length of 3/8" elastic. 

Now, you may ask why I have a bow on my shirt? Well, I accidentally cut it because apparently...that's what I do. So...at first I was going to put a button there but it didn't fit but somehow, a bow does.

Then, I had to make something else and decided on a new pattern from the McCall's spring lineup.

M6886 is a t-shirt dress with round or v-neck, 3 different sleeve lengths, and 3 (I think) dress lengths. It's such a simple pattern which makes it easy to showcase your knit of choice. I had picked up this fabric from SR Harris awhile back. I could've sworn it was weightier like a double knit, but it's kind of thin. The print is crazy and the color isn't something I'd normally choose, but I like it!

M686

(I don't know why this pic is so crappy...)

This weekend, I also "made" a blanket for my son for Christmas. When I first learned of the fleece tie blanket craze, I made like, 1 for everyone! But my son's was made with just over 1 yard of fabric and he complained ever since. Then one day, I sent it home with my nephew who didn't have on a coat when the temperature dropped. So he lugs his bed comforter down to the basement all the time.

I had such a tough time finding a fabric suitable for his 14 year old self!!! I went with a checkerboard (sorry, it's already wrapped) black & white, backed with solid black fleece. I serged around the entire blanket (holy buckets!!) with white thread. It's huge. I went with 2 1/2 yards so it should be plenty big for wrapping up on the couch.

Then I spent many hours on Friday and Sunday making this Lekala jacket for my daughter. Oy. Here's a little preview and full review to come after Christmas. I think the fit of the finished garment is really of the most concern with Lekala, so I want to know it worked out before reviewing it!

I have four projects in my head that I want to get done. Can they be cranked out before year end?!? :)

Burda skirt in navy moleskin

Burda tank in ivory cotton/silk voile

Vogue pants in a black/white/blue/green plaid (it isn't that crazy. the blue and green are very subtle)

New Look top in purple cotton shirting

A Sewing Filled Weekend! Finished Items: M6844 & Kimono Tee

This will be super fast as I've made both of these patterns a few times now!

I did a ton of sewing this weekend. Tons. I put the Vogue pattern aside temporarily; I'm just unsure what size to cut. And who has spare knits around for muslins? Meh. I'm going to trace the pattern pieces and assemble the paper pattern. Then I'm going to take flat measurements. I'm going to cut a 16 or an 18 but I'm just unsure. And with Vogue's now costing $4.99 on sale, tracing it is.

So, I have two other items to blog but don't want to overload this post and they both require full discussion! Plus one I'm unsure about the fabric I chose for one so I have to work up the nerve to do the final touches it. L inspired me with her last post about her jeans so I'm thinking I'll go for it!

Here is version #3 of the McCall's 6844 cardigan. I think this is it for now. I think ;-)

I used a slate gray slinky knit from Fabric Mart. I cut a medium and could have cut a small because this knit is so stretchy and well...slinky. I ended up taking in a bunch at the shoulder seam and a little extra at the side seam.

I constructed it COMPLETELY on my serger save for the hems. I was quite proud of myself!! I even put the sleeves in on the serger! I didn't cut any chunks of fabric off and I didn't hurt myself. SCORE.

(Must start adjusting for that swayback! Grr)

Not meant for walking. Only to the car, to the venue, back to the car. No extraneous walking! :)

Next up was the Kimono Tee - again - in the cool striped knit I got from Hancock. It took about 90 minutes from pulling the pattern out, ironing it, lining up the fabric, cutting, serging, bindings and hem. I wore it out yesterday and got a compliment at the restaurant! She was intrigued because it was "so different"! Yessss! :)

The colors are so vibrant! I hope it stays that way. Ahhhh.

Stripes - MATCHED.

Also, on Friday I was insanely jealous of the US edition of Burda Style being available to everyone but me it seemed. I called all of the JoAnn's, Michael's and Barnes & Noble stores in my immediate area. No luck. I found an eBay listing that was ending today and was planning on buying.

I went to Hancock on Saturday to buy thread to hem my cardigan and...YES! They had it!

Aaaaand finally, JoAnn had 60% off notions today. I didn't go too crazy but got a much needed ham. 

All for $17!!!

Maria Denmark's Kimono Tee Muslins...plus other randomness...

So, did you know there is a thread on Pattern Review full of free patterns? HERE

While browsing, I came upon the Maria Denmark Kirsten Kimono tee pattern. You can download it free, at either Pattern Review or Craftsy. It's a simple tee that is fitted through the shoulders and bust and then more relaxed through the waist and hip. And what do we love most?? It only has two pattern pieces (ok 3 if you add a neck binding), is totally able to be constructed solely on the serger (BONUS!) and uses max, 1 yard of fabric! Wooohoo!

 

So, I am looking at the measurements and thinking, this is a knit so I don't want tons of ease...maybe 0 ease...and I cut a large. I used some peachy (weird to me) colored knit I got in a free Fabric Mart bundle once. Oh. There are no seam allowances included. Oops...

 

I constructed it on my serger-- first garment ever!! and used the smallest SA I could get away with...trimming off only 1/8 - 1/4 of an inch.

 

 

 

Kind of snug. I don't know if those are "swayback wrinkles" or slightly too tight wrinkles. It's pulling at the arms, across the back and at the bust. ok...maybe I should redo it with SAs added!! :) This knit fabric was also in the FM bundle but it has more stretch than the peach fabric. I still cut a large, with about 1/2" SA. I still constructed on my serger as well. But it seems a bit big.

 

 

I took a 3/8" wedge from CB, adding the length back at the hem. The back fits better but the front looks too big at the neckline. Is it the fabric? Possibly. I'm going to cut one out of fashion fabric and sew it on the sewing machine so I can check the fit before finalizing it. I mean, who in their right mind wants to unpick serger stitches!?!?

 

This pattern will be great for that "must have" fabric that you can't get a lot of. And because it's so basic, there's tons of options on fabric choices and layering options -- hey, I'm a Minnesotan, layering is in our blood!

 

In other news, I have been chomping at the bit to sew for the teen. She hemmed and hawed and NOW, now she wants me to sew a back to school top to go with her floral jeans - Yay!

 

Or so I thought.

 

This child is 5'7", 120 lbs (max). She is all legs. She has a 35" inseam and a "normal" length shirt is about 20" for her. 20"!!! I think for me it's about 23-24"! I thought *I* had a short torso...sheesh. Her back is broad meaning the back pattern piece needs quite a bit more room than the front. She only has a 1.5" difference between HB and FB. Her arms are ridiculously long. Uhmmm...I'll take my relatively minor issue of shortening shoulder to bust length, "need" for an FBA that I usually cheat on by just cutting a smaller neck/shoulder size and swayback that I simply ignore :-)

 

She's getting NL 6216 , the long sleeved version, in a olive-y green knit and she asked for M6702 in an off-white linen. But that linen is WRINKLY. So wrinkly. She doesn't like to iron so we'll see...

 

She's smaller than the smallest size on both of them, so I'll be sewing and then adjusting the finished garment. Should be FUN! ha!