May Wrap Up

A much quieter May than April, that's for sure! :)

This month I sewed up 11 2/3 yards:

• McCall's 7094 top in animal print rayon challis - 1.5

• McCall's 7167 romper in ponte/shirting - 1.5 (for my daughter)

• Burda 03/2014 #101 jacket in blue/gray suiting - 1.75

• Butterick 5760 skirt in blue/gray suiting - 1

• Vogue 9032 pants in blue/gray suiting - 2.25

• McCall's 6559 robe in floral linen/rayon woven - 3 2/3

1 top
1 skirt
1 pants
1 jacket
1 robe
1 gift

Favorite: I did a great job this month of adding super lovable garments to my closet - yay me!  However, as we type, I am staring (with the side-eye) at my M7094 top. I swear I pretreated the fabric -- I've gotten to where everything is washed when it comes out of it's FabricMart box and/or SR Harris/Hancock Fabrics bag! :) And it's a crinkled hot mess.

Accomplishments: I won 2nd place in the wardrobe contest! Yay!!!! Also, I did something that I've wanted to do since I first started sewing; a 3 piece suiting collection. I totally have enough fabric left to make a sheath dress or another skirt; we will see.

For June I really want to catch up on my Burda challenge garments. I cannot find anything in March to love and am thinking if I just give myself "permission" to skip it, I can move forward.

I also have a couple "unselfish sewing" projects in the works for the kids.


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Last of MMM'15!

Day 22: M7094 top and V1411 pants

Day 23: M6839 top and S2061 pants

Day 24: M6841 top

Day 25: Happy Memorial Day! S2255 shirt

Day 26: Interview day! Burda 3/2014 jacket and V9032 pants

Day 27: M6927 top and S1696 pants

Day 27: M6559 (My S1696 pants grew and grew (why I despise lycra in my pants!!!)

Day 28: NL6108 top and M6654 skirt

Day 29: Tee refashioned from a mens XL and Style Arc jeans

Day 30: B6169 jacket and SA jeans

Day 31: S2351 jacket, NL6110 top and V1411 pants

I didn't repat any whole outfits, which honestly I knew wouldn't be that hard. Well...I totally want to wear my McCall's 5890 dress all.the.time!

I wore both V1411 and M6996 3 times each. I had to force myself not to wear M6996 more throughout the month. I wore M6839 and NL6108 twice each (AND my distressed RTW jeans 3 times - I totally put them on after the interview suit came off. I love those jeans!!).

I wore my Style Arc jeans 4 times! Definitely find myself reaching for them :)

Hope you enjoyed MMM too!

McCall's 7094 (And the Start of MMM'15)

When this pattern came out, I bought it, got home and cut the pattern pieces out. But the fabric I wanted to use wasn't going to work for the view with sleeves! So I used it for M7093 instead :)

I searched and searched and searched my pattern and magazine collection for a pattern "with a yoke and gathers and a band that I could contrast". This is the one flaw with having my entire collection on the Pattern Review site; all of the views of the pattern aren't on the photo. On the line drawing, sure, but I didn't even THINK about this pattern until someone posted a review a few days ago (Aleah at No Time to Sew). YAY!

I wanted to use this crazy vibrant challis I bought at FabricMart last year sometime with black as a contrast. I cut the pattern in a medium (I almost always take a medium for my 39.5" bust). The finished bust was 48" which sounds really excessive but I knew that the small (44.5" finished bust) would not leave enough room for my full bust. There are gathers in the back and that "excess" is more in back than in front. I also knew that the size small shoulders would be too small.

I removed 1" from the back pattern piece; for a total of 2" removed. This took me down to a 46" bust but gave me the much needed space for my full bust.

Just a tad bit of riding up in front still!

It really sits nicely over the butt. I think it was getting caught on my leggings...

The instructions, unfortunately, don't give the 'burrito method' for the yoke; I don't know why the Big4 won't update that already. It's SO easy and takes no extra time!!!!

I used solid black for the interior yoke as I didn't want the spots to show through.

overexposed!

 I was going to use french seams but this fabric has some body to it and probably would've added bulk so I just serged my side seams after sewing. I made bias tape from the black challis for the armholes as you can see...

That challis was a NIGHTMARE on the band. I had to keep the pattern piece with it while interfacing and sewing the collar/facing because it kept getting distorted. As a result it is not super-neat. But it's black and doesn't look bad on...just up close with over exposure.

I also feel like the explanation of how to handle the front/neck bands wasn't perfectly clear. Lots of pinning, double checking, stitching, double checking...

OMG same with the placket/front band. I love that detail but can't seem to execute it well. I spent a LONG time on this unpicking and resewing and unpicking and ended up having to remove my pleat basting and just adjust that front pleat to fit because I was going mad.

Speaking of the front pleat, I don't love it...it just kind of billows out. I stitched it down the first inch and a quarter or so and that seems to help. Another good pressing may work wonders too. :)

1) A not so neat junction

2) PLEATS!! :)

3) I tried like 8 times to get the right to fully overlap the left and gave up. 

4) reduced gathers

After all the drama, it was time for the easy, peasy part, side seams! LOL!

The yellow chalk line is the 5/8" seam.

The first line of stitching was my basting

The second line is where I ended up sewing my seams, using my french curve to blend

Because it was mostly trial and error, I lined the sides up as best I could and used tracing paper to transfer the new stitching line

Can you see the faint blue marks??

I am absolutely IN LOVE with this top!!! And have plans to make another - soon! As soon as this contest is wrapped up! :)

Definitely recommend this pattern, even with the fussy bands!

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If Me Made May makes you stabby (stabby: The feeling that you could grab any nearby sharp implement and stab the nearest thing which may or may not include yourself...) you can click away now!!! LOL!

Day 1: S1980 top and Sandra jeans

Day 2: S1676 dress (with a jean jacket)

Day 3: Burda 6911 with RTW skirt (LOVE this outfit!)

Day 4: In-House Kimono tee with RTW jeans

Day 5: NL6108 top, B5760 skirt and RTW cardigan

Day 6: Burda 7866 top and KS3115 pants

Day 7: M5890 dress

Day 8: Head-to-toe!! B5926 jacket, M6927 top, V9032 pants

Day 9: S2054 tunic

The (SUPER MEGA) April Wrap Up and MMM'15

You guys know I sewed a crap-ton this month...wardrobe contest plus stress relief! I have a temp jo I can start on May 18 which is great. No option of it being permanent though as it would be a step backwards career-wise. But it'll be good for the resume (it's totally easier to get a job WHILE you're employed somewhere!)

To the good stuff...

This month I sewed a whopping 26 3/8 yards! I thought I might hit 30 but no :)

• Burda 6911 in grey jersey - 1.5
• McCall's 7121 dress in print ITY - 1.75 (sitting in the UFO box - no reason really!)
• Burda 08/2014 #108 top in white knit - 1.5
• New Look 6110 top in blue/white/black striped poly - 1.5
• McCall's 6839 top in black/white striped jersey - 1
• McCall's 5523 skirt in taupe suiting - 1.125
• McCall's 6711 jacket in taupe suiting - 1.625
• Butterick 5760 skirt in black/white striped suiting - 1
• McCall's 6969 jumpsuit in chambray - 2.125
• Vogue 1411 pants in cobalt ponte- 1.75
• Butterick 5760 skirt in black suiting - 1
• Style Arc Sandra jeans in dark denim - 1.5
• Simplicity 1980 top in coral polkadot rayon - 1.5
• Simplicity 2369 dress in navy/white ITY - 2
• Butterick 6169 jacket in floral cotton pique - 2 (WIP)
• Burda 6938 pants in black/white print challis - 1.5 (for my daughter)
• New look 6373 jumpsuit in print ITY - 2

That last one? Went to Hancock on Thursday to see if the new McCall's was in (the jumpsuit - I know!) Bought it. Cut it. Sewed it. Will probably write it up when I finish the jacket.

3 tops (only 3?! surprising!)

3 skirts

1 dress

2 jumpsuits (LOL!)

2 jackets

2 pants

1 gift

Favorite: This is America so I don't have to choose!!!  I absolutely ADORE the following:

S2369 dress

V1411 pants

B5760 black skirt (it's so perfect. SO!)

NL6110 top

I've worn both V1411 and NL6110 SEVERAL times and wore the black skirt to my interview for the temp job. And the dress is just awesome so...Totally a winning month!

FAILS: The M6711 jacket. I have tried it on a few more times and think it's about 45% that it's too snug and 55% the fabric. I think it could be really cute and -gasp- may try it again. 

Accomplishments: I triumphed against a silky poly fabric! Woohoo!!!

There are two weeks left in the PR Wardrobe Contest. I need to put together a finalized plan from all of the things I've sewn! I really want to add a jacket but am also thinking I could use the dress and jumpsuit as my "sewer's choice" items...but then I lose that effect of layering to create different looks.

Decisions, decisions!

MMM'15!!!!

I have TONS of handmade garments. I wear them, all the time. usually exclusive to my RTW clothes. But I still love Me made May!

It is YOUR personal challenge so you can do whatever YOU want! It doesn't matter if you only have 5 handmade items or 50! And you are NOT required to post photos! 

So if you're thinking about it, please join!!!

This year I will be wearing at least 1 handmade item daily with no repeats on the weekend. Pajamas/Lounge clothes will not count.

Like last year, I will be documenting daily on Instagram (sewcraftychemist) and will add composite photos to my newly created page here on the blog, Making My Wardrobe Work.