Failure...Well Not Completely

I am not a Stash Buster. I am a Stash Collector.

I do not like fabric fasting...much like I do not like dieting. All that restriction only makes me want, want, want!!

So yeah.

During an episode of packing, I realized I have a boatload of black, grey and black/grey, black/white, black/grey/white stuff. I haven't sewn nearly as many summer items as I planned and of the summer things I have sewn, several have been black, b/w, b/w/g, tan, denim. All good...but I need some color!

Then I asked my husband (he does the laundry), he said "everything you have is black and white". Sigh...

(today I am wearing a black cardigan, white shirt and b/g/w pants - SHEESH!)

I wore my V1395 dress yesterday and found a couple of pretty remnants for tops this weekend and that served to fuel the bug.

I have A LOT of sleeveless tops/shells because I am a lover of cardigans. But sometimes a cardigan is just too warm at work so I need more lightweight tops with sleeves (cap, 3/4, not long sleeved-yet).

I ventured to SR Harris (love that place!) and found some pretties. Pretty much everything in the store is 1/2 off the advertised price on the bolt and if you are knowledgeable about fabric you can really make out like a bandit! I spent $29 on ~ 8 yards of fabric. Not too bad.

I'm not great at identifying "the good stuff" so I mostly looked for things that were labeled.

 

100% Cotton shirting

 

(super soft!) cotton voile

 

Cotton bottom weight

 

Feels like an ITY

 

This one isn't as "slinky" as the blue and feels more like rayon (I should run infrared on it!)

Mini Wardrobe:

I'm out. I haven't touched my machine in a week and won't have much time to sew until next weekend. I don't want to rush and make *something* just to enter the contest. 

I want to get a couple last summer things sewn, sew some tops that can transition to the cooler weather that will be here in 6ish weeks and then start my fall sewing.

I need pants, pants, PANTS!

Finished garments:

I actually finished this dress awhile ago and have even worn it twice! But I planned on making one for my sister for her birthday so I was waiting to post. I'll get to hers; promise.

For now: DD and I both have "new" maxi dresses!

McCall's 6559 which was a PR pattern of the year in 2012; and with good reason. It's a GREAT pattern!

 

I cut a 14 neck/shoulders/armhole and graded to a 16 for the rest. Somehow, the front and back were different lengths (maybe in all the seaming I got off) so I lost a much needed 2" of length, making mine "mostly maxi".

Cutting this one out was a bear but once cut, construction was smooth sailing. Wait...I think it took me longer to ensure I had the front pieces arranged properly than it did for me to sew them together! :) I used the serger for everything and used the 'turn twice and stitch' method for the neck and arms. It's been washed and worn again and that didn't come out poorly at all so...

I did NOT attempt to stripe match but it can certainly be done. But since I only had 2 yards of this, I don't think it would've been worth the headache to try to make it happen.

 

So then Dougie decided she NEEDED one too - of course!

I cut a straight size 8. She has broad shoulders and I knew she didn't need it narrower at the top. I did the other view, a simple front and back (yes, I matched the stripes!) so this was insanely fast to make.

Neither dress was hemmed. The stripes helped to ensure a nice straight cut on the bottom.

Next up:

 

Simplicity Sew Simple A1636 in rayon challis

Week THREE of MMM'14

Eek! 10 more days to go! It looks like I  will make my goal of zero weekend repeats. I still have loads of casual non-work garments that I can wear on the weekends!

Day 15: KS 3115 yoga pants (my only repeat so far)

Day 16: NL 6108 top and B5927 jacket

Day 17: S2054 tunic/mini dress

Day 18: PR Winter Street Dress

Day 19: Burda 6910 top

Day 20: M6519 top

Day 21: Sew Simple A1523 top

Hopefully I'll get my hair done soon :-D

Finished Items: McCall's 6519 and My First Socks!

So, I was working on my Annabelle jackets for the contest, and was having so much fun, and then today, something happened. I was initially worried that I'd get tired of them but when I breezed through #2, I was gung-ho about #3.

I was working on the last jacket and was just not feeling it.

So I pushed it aside and decided to sew something else. And I started working on the already cut M6626 in white gauze. And the gauze was being fussy. So I quit it too.

Enter M6519. An easy-peasy pattern that could give me instant gratification.

I used my quirky patterned fabric that I picked up yesterday from SR Harris and got to work. A couple or so hours later and I have a new top to wear to work tomorrow!

I had to get pics even though it was kind of dark in here :)

I forgot to add a little bit extra for my lady-hips.

With my favorite skinny capris from the Gap

I love my tags!!

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I knit my first pair of socks! I finished them! They're awesome! They're fuzzy!!! :-) My daughter will probably confiscate them but I think I'm confident enough to move on to a sock pattern using sock weight yarn but in a simple pattern. I'm thinking I'm going to try a pattern from the "Toe-Up 2 at-a-time" book by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. We'll see!

I totally bombed the ribbing on sock #1 AND the gussets...on #2 they went better. My kitchner stitch is imperfect but I'm proud of myself for tackling it and my color bands don't match but...so! :)

Ravelry project HERE

A Little Bit of This...Little Bit of That...

I have an intense short list of things I'd like to sew. I'd really like to get more pants. I'd really like a couple of jackets/blazers. And I'd like more tops. I'd like to start replacing my RTW items that are taking up space in my closet with me-mades. Really, really nice me-mades. So that's the plan.

As mentioned before, I cut NL6035 pants in a wool crepe and was left with enough fabric to cut the A-line skirt included in the pattern. I want to make the shell and blazer too; it's a nice complete wardrobe pattern! What I get for not muslining, the pants are a bit narrow than anything I'd normally buy, but they're fitting quite well. I need to add the waistband next. I want to line them because after all, they're wool!

Saturday I just wanted to SEW! You know, I just had the bug. I should have worked on the aprons I need to finish as I could have probably gotten them done. But I cut NL6150 (was going to do the version with the rouched sleeves, but ran out of fabric. OOPS!!).  BUT, I like it as a shell! I will finish off the neckline and arms this week. I hate knit bindings. Meh.

The knit is a small floral rayon knit that I got from FM the last time I was tweaking for fabric. This yard of fabric cost me $1.80. Yes, you read correctly, $1.80. This is a top that's less than $2 and it's cute!

The skirt is made with 100% wool crepe in chocolate, also from FM. $12 for the 2 yard cut and I got pants and a skirt from it! I'd say $8 for the pants and $4 for the skirt. Yep. That's how I'm going to do it :) Add in a zipper (50% off sale) and lining that I got in a FM $8 bundle and this wool skirt is like $6. I like it, I like it a lot!

I'll get pics of me wearing it soon. We've had rain and rain and rain for days. So it's been dark and dreary here and our already tiny apartment is getting no sunlight. I can't go outside and take pictures because my lovely* neighbors like to stand outside and congregate and stare at us. So I'll have to wait for a sunny day or until I wear the items!

I also washed and ironed the fabric for S1696, Amazing Fit pants, a green garbadine picked up from Hancock. It's slightly richer than the green fabric I had for the failed skirt. I paid my daughter $1 to cut the pattern pieces out! :) I had already did a rough cut and iron but still, one less job for me. Yay!

Then I cut out the jacket from M6519 in a navy rayon, linen-look suiting. 

The pattern pieces looked weird - "What is up with those weird extensions on pieces 1 and 4?", I thought.  I tissue fit and decided I needed to take a little bit off the back and bring the waist down in a little. Great. Then I messed up and stitched the dart too far down. And later discovered I went too high up on the dart too. Then I realized the fabric shifted at some point and the pieces for #1 aren't exactly the same. Then I decided the pocket was just silly and fiddly. But I got the back vent down correctly, then I basted pieces together and errr...I choose the final measurements based on "normal" top ease...it's a jacket. It has to go over tops. Soooo I guess it'll go over tanks/shells only. Oops. Then it got fiddlier. I knew I should have quit. And this happened:

Puckers and gathers and what's that random piece of disconnected fabric? Yeah. Put. It. Down. I'll have to pretty much pick the whole thing apart...save for the back center seam! LOL! This fabric isn't as drapey as it seemed but that's okay. The 2 1/2 yard cut cost me $7. So if it ends up being a muslin, I'm okay with that.

I think I'll like it if I can figure out my sewing mishaps!

Lastly, I baked about 20 dozen cookies today. Yes. Dozens and dozens and dozens of cookies. Pounds of butter and sugar. I baked cookies for a cousin who lost his last batch to the TSA agents as he was leaving Minneapolis. I baked cookies for my mom, for my co-workers, and for my greedy, cookie-loving family. Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate Chip. 

Finished Item - McCall's 6519 and Simplicity 2892

These projects were finished last week, I don't know why I didn't blog about them!

McCall's 6519 - A 'wardrobe' kind of pattern. I don't care much for the dress and wonder if the blazer is too boxy for me (I'm shaped like a box already). The pleats on the pants...I don't know about either. Hey, when the pattern is $1 I only need to like *1* item for me to buy it!

The top is meant to hang away from the body and I would have cut a 14 and graded to a 16 after the bust. However, this pattern had the 14 and 16 on separate sheets and I didn't feel like tracing. Yeah...I really like the top!

I also learned a new skill - sewing in bias binding! Woohoo!

It's funny, I jumped into sewing with no reservations. I made buttonholes the first day I used my machine. I've inserted zippers. I've worked on pants and even got one pattern to fit relatively well (New Look 6189 and Simplicity 2700 are on their way!). BUT - I have feared linings and bias bindings. WHY?!?!?!

This was such an easy process to get such a high reward. It makes things look really really pretty! My Pattern Review

The challis was a dream to sew! I want to buy a ton of this stuff and sew everything with it! EVERYTHING! I'm wearing this to work on Monday!

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Simplicity 2892 - swoooooooon. I fell in love with this top when I saw Regan's version. It is such a simple but sweet and feminine top. I messed up the band but I was able to fix it so it's still pretty on the outside even if it's a little scary on the inside. I didn't interface the waistband because, I picked up the smaller pattern envelope for some reason. I usually cut tops 14/16 and the larger size is 14-22. I can only assume they didn't have it when I went in. Eh. I'd cut it a little larger or maybe cut more generous SA because it's not "right" at the pleats. They aren't smooth when it's on. OMG and I couldn't get the blousing right - or I was too sleepy to care. I'm totally gonna rock it though! 

100% Rayon (Tropical Weight) from Hancock Fabrics. I love it! Didn't use much fabric at all, the only reason that it required a bit of fabric is that the waistband (front and back) are cut on the bias.

My Pattern Review

Excuse the 'crazy face'. My daughter was being a stinker and didn't warn or anything. When I posted it (rushing to get it in for Faye's Sew Along!), I didn't have cording for the buttons. I have it now. I am probably going to wear this one for my company photo next week!

I am quickly crossing over. I see the place for poly blends in fabric options but I've gotten my hands on rayon, wool crepe, cotton shirting, etc and yeah, I prefer it already :)

P.S. - The Brother 1034D is ordered and on it's way to me!!!!!!!

Fabric Stash Addition and Finished Items: McCall's 6519 and New Look 6189

Ahhhhh. I got my fabrics from Fabric Mart. I am officially on a fabric acquisition diet, until (eeek! LOL!) I'm thinking May 1st at the earliest. I have more fabric than I can sew right now, but it makes me happyyyyyyyyy.

Here are my newest additions:

The banana suiting will become a blazer. MUST become a blazer! I'd originally bought the camel fabric to become a jacket/blazer as well, but I'm thinking it will become pants as the houndstooth plaid was to become pants but the color/pattern is too busy for my lower half (IMO). If I can squeak out a fitted blazer and trouser shorts I'd be happy. But it's only 2.5 yards so...I dunno. Beautiful grey on grey plaid shall become pants!

This ring/dot jersey is pretty. I want to use it for a top but it's so much of it that I'm wondering if I should make a simple dress. Ooooh. Maybe a sleeveless top and pencil skirt? The flower patterned challis has already become a top (below) and there's enough to make another simple top. Chocolate wool crepe - DROOL!. Pants for sure. Navy rayon linen-look. So, I keep wanting to buy navy bottoms but then I get sad at it because it looks too uniform like. I don't want to look like a flight attendant. I guess pants but I don't want it to make me sad.

Finished Items:
NL 6189, I thought these might become a wearable muslin. If I cut the pants to the pattern envelope length, they *can* be. I tried to lengthen them to full pants, but didn't account for the fact that capri length pants taper in towards the bottom. So they hang weird.

This pattern is awesome. Mimi G reviewed the pattern and said she was able to cut them straight from the envelope. I pretty much did as well. I made them up the first time, and they came waaaaaay too high. I removed 1 inch (and will remove about 1.5" next time) from the length of the front. The waistband is really wide - which I LOVE - but yeah, the pattern as is came too high.

I am really, really happy with the fit of these. I'm stopping myself from cutting every suiting fabric I have with this pattern! LOL! This fabric came from my FM mystery bundle so I'm not certain what it is, but it's definitely suiting.

M6519 - Cute. Cute. Cute.

Normally this would all be too loosey-goosey for my tastes. But I thought the shirt would make a great layering piece and saw some cute renditions of the jacket. I used the 100% rayon challis and boy oh boy. I like sewing with it and it presses like a dream. I bought 1.25 yards of this fabric and have enough fabric to make this blouse again - or well, another simple one. It uses very, very little fabric. Both the front and back are cut on the fold. With a 60" fabric, you really only need 1/2 yard! There's a pocket but my print is busy and you can't even see it. I'd only cut the pocket on a solid and I'd make it smaller. It almost needs to a be a itty-bitty, non-functional, simply cute pocket. It's not full size (like on a button down) but it's a little too big.

LOVE. That's it. I just love it.

I do wish it were a little looser, and if the sizes overlapped (I cut a 14), I'd totally cut a 14 and grade out to a 16 from the waist down. But I am wearing this to work this week. I still have to do the bias bindings and was too sleepy at 1:30 a.m. when I finished it to watch a tutorial.

I'm happy with my sewing progress. I know I'm barely on the tip of the iceberg, but I'm having fun and enjoying myself and that's what counts.

PS:

Visited Home Depot and for a few dollars, scored these  "pattern weights". I used them with the challis and didn't need to pin. This will help cutting go faster.

Diameter: 2", 1.75", 1.5" (they get heavier as they get bigger too)